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Moore County commissioners approve transportation grant, forensic‑facility fund, water and contract measures
Summary
In a single meeting the board authorized a Community Transportation Program grant application, approved a $4 million forensic facility project ordinance, awarded a $1,066,421 well contract and a biosolids hauling contract, approved LiveScan replacements and a $490,000 loan to the Academy of Moore.
Moore County commissioners on Sept. 16 approved a slate of budget and contract actions covering transportation, public safety, water infrastructure and school financing.
Transportation: The board approved submittal of the FY‑26/27 Community Transportation Program (53.11) grant application. Transportation staff said the allocation for FY‑26/27 is $331,611 for administrative costs with a capital request of $119,815; combined requested funding is $451,426 with a local match of roughly $61,725 drawn from contract revenues. The board opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers and authorized the chair to sign the application.
Public safety and forensics: Chief Deputy Andy Conway requested approval for two LiveScan fingerprint workstations from DataWorks Plus as a sole‑source purchase; cost for the two units was listed as $51,646 and the board approved the request and authorized the sheriff to sign the contract. In a separate vote the board approved a new capital project ordinance to establish a sheriff’s forensic facility (Fund 438) with a total allocation of $4,000,000. Conway said the facility would expand in‑county digital and physical evidence processing, integrate with the state AFIS system and reduce reliance on external testing, which staff said currently causes case delays.
Schools and capital projects: Finance Director Caroline Chong presented revisions to several project ordinances to move unspent balances and earned interest into debt‑service and capital accounts. The board approved updates for the New Area 1 K–5 elementary school project (Fund 481), the 2018 local educational bonds (Fund 482) and North Moore High School (Fund 483). Chong said the Saint‑Helens Community College fire‑training center budget shows a remaining balance of about $982,706 on county books.
Water and wastewater contracts: Public Works recommended awarding the Linden Road Wells and Water System improvements contract to McFadden Homes for $1,066,421 to bring two production wells online; the board approved the award contingent on county‑attorney and finance review and authorized the county manager to sign change orders up to $30,000. The board also approved a biosolids hauling contract with Hot Rock Haulers (doing business as AJ Transport Services) at $31.40 per ton with an estimated FY cost of $150,000.
Loan and appointment: The board approved a $490,000 county loan to the Academy of Moore to support campus improvements; the loan will be repaid over eight years with semiannual payments beginning spring 2026. The board appointed Krista Gilder to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board (term begins Sept. 23, 2025, expires June 30, 2027).
What happens next: Staff will submit the transportation grant application, execute procurement contracts after required reviews, and the planning, finance and public‑works departments will follow up on contract execution and project timelines. The board also reopened a previously tabled UDO text amendment for a public hearing set for Oct. 7, 2025.
