A dispute surrounding a county contract with a utilities tax reduction specialty firm has been settled out of court.

In the settlement, the county agreed to pay $34,239 to Utilities Reduction Specialists Inc., doing business as Tax Reduction Specialists. The private entity agreed to accept the payment. However, neither side acknowledged liability in the dispute.

The agreement was approved as part of the consent agenda at the Monday meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.

CAMERON FIRE -- The Cameron Fire Department was recognized Monday, when the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution marking the department's upgrade in insurance rating as a rural fire insurance district.

County Fire Marshal Carlton Cole reported that the N.C. Department of Insurance has announced that the Cameron district has earned a rating of 6 in its latest inspection. The higher rating means that homeowners in the district may be eligible for reduced premiums on property insurance.

The Cameron Fire Insurance District encompasses the town of Cameron and the Cameron Fire District. The coverage applies to residents within five road miles of the fire station.

Commissioner Larry Caddell read the resolution and made the presentation.

"The public doesn't know the amount of work you do when you're not answering a fire call," Caddell said to the Cameron delegation. "As a volunteer myself, I know how much time is spent on such things as training and preparing equipment."

COMBS -- Also earning accolades at the Monday meeting was Timothy C. Combs, building code supervisor with the Moore County Planning Department.

Combs recently achieved a standard fire inspector Level III certificate awarded by the N.C. Code Officials Qualification Board. This represents the highest level of achievement an inspector can attain in any of the five inspection trade areas: building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and fire.

Fewer than 200 inspectors in North Carolina have earned this certificate in all five inspection trade areas since the program was founded in 1977.

Board Chairman Colin McKenzie read the resolution, which calls attention to Combs' "outstanding level of professionalism and commitment to his profession, staff and the citizens of Moore County and the state of North Carolina."

COBLE -- Congressman Howard Coble is back in the 6th District for the congressional summer break.

He opened the congressional recess by attending a reception in his honor Saturday night in Asheboro.

The 6th District Salute to Howard Coble called attention to his recent milestone as North Carolina's longest-serving Republican member of the U.S. House.

Coble spent Monday meeting constituents with appointments in his Greensboro and High Point offices. That night he threw out the first pitch at the Hi-Toms baseball game at Finch Field in Thomasville. On Tuesday, he toured the Timco facility and met with HA-HA (Helping Amputees Help Amputees) at Women's Hospital, both in Greensboro.

He spent Wednesday morning in Rockwell, where he met with the Rockwell Fire Department, toured Packaging Services of the Carolinas and toured Randy McCombs Hobby Shop.

In the afternoon he toured the North Carolina Research Campus and met with David Murdock in Kannapolis, then met with the Miller's Ferry Fire Department in Salisbury.

Coble was the speaker for the dedication of Randleman Lake in Randleman Thursday morning.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.