Moore County commissioners approve PFAS fund, waterline contract and courthouse change order; call hearings on UDO amendments

At its May 2025 meeting the Moore County Board of Commissioners moved forward several capital- and planning-related actions and called multiple public hearings.

Key votes and motions

- PFAS settlement fund: Public Works Director Brian Patnode told commissioners the county had received its first settlement check tied to litigation over aqueous film-forming foam and proposed establishing a PFAS Settlement Capital Project Fund (Fund 04/14) to track incoming settlement dollars and a budget amendment moving the FY25 check into that fund. "We received our first, settlement check from 3m," Patnode said; the board approved establishing the fund and the budget amendment by voice vote.

- Carthage Road / Dowd Road waterline award: Staff recommended awarding the construction contract for the Carthage Road and Dowd Road waterline extension to Metcon Inc., the lowest responsive bidder at $4,008,333.65. The board voted to award the contract, authorize the chairman to sign the notice of award and permit the county manager to sign change orders under $30,000.

- Courthouse construction: Capital Projects Manager Rich Smith presented Change Order #14, described in the packet as a $202,260 increase (resulting contract sums were discussed and staff provided corrected totals); the board approved Change Order #14 and a capital project ordinance revision for the courthouse and detention facilities.

- Elections laptops: Elections Director Tawanna Dixon asked to buy 125 laptops from The Davenport Group for electronic poll books to reduce long-running rental costs and improve security. Dixon said the purchase was in her budget and would be used only for election systems; the board approved the contract and separately asked the Board of Elections to review precinct configuration and early-voting logistics for potential efficiencies.

- Property acquisition: Commissioners approved acquiring two parcels adjacent to the Senior Enrichment Center (Parcel IDs 95000153 and 95000154) for $18,000 plus closing costs; staff noted the tax value for the two parcels is listed as $74,700 and said roughly a half-acre of usable land may be available for additional parking and a secondary entrance.

Planning and public hearings

Planning Director Ruth Peterson presented several zoning and UDO matters. The board called public hearings for 08/19/2025 on: - An amendment to Section 8.56 (Group Care Facility) to align the section with the table of uses; Planning Board 7/10 recommended approval (6–0). - A conditional rezoning call for a 30.9-acre parcel at 444 Farm Life School Road (parcel ID 00006478) for a group care facility owned by Adult & Teen Challenge of the Sandhills; Planning Board recommended consistency and approval (6–0). - Text amendments to Chapters 6 and 19 regarding major subdivisions and applicability in certain gated-community and planned development districts; the Planning Board recommended approval (5–1). Commissioners discussed social-media misinformation and clarified that the proposed changes would still require special-use or conditional rezoning processes and county review — not automatic, carte-blanche development.

Other business and community concerns

Public comment featured two extended statements opposing a proposal to expand airport commercial service at Whispering Pines. Douglas Cote and Kurt Thompson (a registered professional engineer) urged commissioners to consider noise, flight tracks and competing airports and questioned consultant assumptions. Commissioners noted an afternoon airport presentation was scheduled and said consultants had described a regional 50-seat RJ service at this early stage.

Commissioners also heard criticism of Trillium's advisory structure from a commissioner who said the county’s advisory representative resigned over lack of actionable data and questioned program administration and facility utilization; the board directed staff to draft a letter to Trillium and copy state legislators expressing concerns.

What happens next

Staff will: (1) prepare RFQs and next steps for PFAS remediation planning and Eastmoor/other water projects; (2) execute the Metcon contract upon county attorney and finance approval; (3) schedule the Aug. 19, 2025 public hearings called by the board; and (4) draft the Trillium letter for board review.

Votes at a glance

- PFAS project fund and budget amendment: approved (voice votes). - Metcon Inc. notice of award ($4,008,333.65): approved. - Authorization for manager to sign change orders under $30,000: approved. - Polytech Inc. contract amendment (lime slurry) extension to 06/30/2026, not-to-exceed $191,000: approved. - Elections laptops contract with The Davenport Group (purchase of 125 laptops): approved. - Court renovation Change Order #14 (increase ~$202,260) and capital project ordinance revision: approved. - Acquisition of two parcels adjacent to Senior Enrichment Center (purchase price $18,000 + closing): approved.

All votes described above were passed by voice votes unless roll-call is otherwise specified in minutes.

Context and caveats

Several expenditures and contract sums discussed in the meeting materials showed minor inconsistencies in earlier spoken figures that staff resolved on the record (for example, the courthouse change-order figures). Where possible this report uses the corrected figures provided by staff during the discussion or the amounts referenced in motions made on the record.