Experts in the fields of finance and public facilities will soon be lending their services -- as volunteers -- to the county.

Chairman Colin McKenzie proposed formation of a financial oversight committee during the Monday night meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.

McKenzie brought up the subject during the commissioners' discussion period near the end of the meeting. He credited Commissioners Cindy Morgan and Larry Caddell with the idea.

"We have some experts on finance on this board, but I'm not one of them," McKenzie admitted.

McKenzie said he had received acceptances from Bob Tweed, Dick Westcott and Jim Westbrook and asked his fellow commissioners to add to the list. Morgan advanced the name of Nick Picerno.

Commissioner Tim Lea said the current staff does an excellent job on financial management and planning but said the committee would add resources for the planning process.

"You guys do a super job," Lea said. "This is just a tool to give you an extra arm, another resource."

The commissioners are scheduled to discuss the committee and perhaps add names at a work session scheduled Thursday at 5 p.m. at the historic courthouse in Carthage. The commissioners said they had ideas for other committee members but had not spoken to the prospects and did not want to identify them publicly until they had agreed to serve.

At the same workshop the board will also discuss the major capital projects task force being formed to assist with planning and oversight of upcoming county building projects.

McKenzie said the county especially needs expert advice in planning the expansion and renovation of the jail.

"We need to determine the needs for the jail, because it costs two or three times more to build a jail than to build other county buildings," the chairman said.

Already named to the task force are Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey and Capt. Eddie Johnson, both of the Sheriff's Department; Commissioners Larry Caddell and Tim Lea; County Manager Cary McSwain; Public Works Director Dennis Brobst; Public Safety Director Scot Brooks; and Fire Marshal Carlton Cole.

The board wants to add at least one architect other than the design architect. Brobst reminded the board that the person under consideration as the project manager has an architect's license.

McKenzie suggested Howard Warren of Pinehurst as an architect member. He is a retired architect and is not "moonlighting" in retirement, McKenzie said.

"He's a man who can tell us what we're doing when we sign a multi-million dollar contract," McKenzie said of Warren. "I would like another architect but don't know one."

Lea said he has an idea for another architect but did not identify the person because "I haven't heard back."

The task force will assist the county with planning and oversight of three building projects, including the jail. The other buildings are a local government facility and a public safety complex.

The county has purchased a 21-acre tract in downtown Carthage to accommodate the jail expansion and construction of the two local government buildings. The price was $1.5 million. The property, purchased from Johnny Grimm, is located adjacent to the county jail and extends from Dowd Street to McNeill Street.

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