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Commissioners approve contract with Checkmate for lobbying on new middle school; $10,000-per-month fee shared with school system
Summary
The board voted to approve a proposal from Checkmate to provide lobbying services to pursue state funding for a new Person County middle school; the agreed fee is $10,000 per month to be shared between the county and the school system, with 30-day termination and regular updates from the lobbyist.
The Person County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with Checkmate for lobbying services aimed at securing state funding for a new middle school.
County Manager Kathy introduced the proposal and said the fee would be $10,000 per month and that the cost would be shared between the county and Person County Schools. She said funding exists in the current budget for the remainder of the fiscal year and that $60,000 was budgeted in the governing body contracted services line in the FY26 recommendation should the board approve continuing the arrangement next fiscal year.
Kathy described prior successes with state funding for airport and other projects and said a professional lobbying firm could prioritize the school request at the state level while also remaining aware of the county's other priorities. The draft contract called for regular updates from the lobbyist and included a 30-day termination provision.
A commissioner moved to approve the agreement; after brief discussion the board voted by voice and the motion carried with "the ayes have it." No roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.
Clarifying details - Fee: $10,000 per month (to be shared between county and Person County Schools). - Funding: manager said current-year funding exists and $60,000 is proposed in FY26 governing-body contracted services. - Contract terms noted: regular (weekly or biweekly) check-ins and 30-day termination clause.
The vote: motion to approve the agreement carried by voice vote; the transcript records the motion and the chair's announcement that "the ayes have it." No individual vote breakdown was recorded in the transcript.
