Taylortown is asking Moore County for relief on landfill fees charged for disposal of excavated houses in compliance with state orders.

John Sigmon, the town's consulting environmental engineer, asked the Moore County Board of Commissioners at a Monday night meeting to consider giving the town a break on the disposal fees charged at the landfill. He estimated the fees in excess of $100,000, a hefty amount for a small municipality already facing heavy expense covering the excavation work.

Sigmon said it was a one-time request, and the disposal actually amounts to a benefit to the county. Taylortown Mayor Jesse Fuller accompanied him and joined him in presenting a formal petition to the commissioners.

"We would appreciate any consideration you can give us," Fuller said.

The commissioners made no decision during the meeting and expressed reservations about setting a precedent. They asked County Manager Cary McSwain to study the matter further and to prepare a recommendation for a budget work session planned Thursday afternoon.

Sigmon and Fuller addressed the board during the public-comment period held at the beginning of each meeting. Taylortown is excavating and disposing of houses that were condemned and buried a number of years ago but are now regarded as a public safety hazard.

GRADUATION -- The Board of Commissioners hosted a graduation ceremony of sorts at the beginning of the Monday night meeting.

Certificates of recognition and gift bags were presented to the 21 individuals who recently completed the county-sponsored County Government 101 Course. The program is provided free of charge to residents interested in learning about the functions of county government. This is the second year the county has sponsored the course.

Receiving "diplomas" were Ellen Airs, Bill Bateman, Barney Brueck, Patrick Butcher, Bernard Capstick, Susan Capstick, Linda W. Cheek, Sara Hanley, Beverly McNeill, Chris R. Miller, Evelyn B. Monroe, Dr. John L. Monroe, Dondra C. Parsons, Mary Phillips, Randall C. Place, Fred Renner, Shelia Steele, Janet Susan Tow Webb, Tanya White, Jared Woodard and Libby Woodard.

They were honored at an informal reception preceding the meeting in the historic courthouse in Carthage. Helping to present the certificates were Social Services Director John Benton, Child Support Enforcement Director Janet Parris and Clerk to the Board Megan Owrey.

CLOSED -- The Major Capital Projects Task Force, chaired by Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey, held a closed (to the public) session this morning in the conference room at the Public Works Complex in Carthage.

Notice of the closed meeting did not describe the subject matter but said the session would be closed "to prevent the disclosure of information that is privileged or confidential" as spelled out in state law.

The task force was appointed by the Moore County Board of Commissioners to help formulate policy and plans for construction of county facilities, including expansion and renovation of the jail and erection of new office buildings. The panel is also studying proposals from prospective architects.

COBLE -- Congressman Howard Coble spent the weekend in Greensboro, where he rode in the Bicentennial Parade of Decades and attended the Bicentennial closing ceremony and birthday party Saturday.

He attended a retirement dinner honoring Chancellor Sullivan at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro that night.

Coble met with constituents in his Greensboro office Friday morning and delivered a speech to the West Point Society of the Piedmont later in the morning. On Sunday he attended services at Alamance Presbyterian Church, then traveled to Pleasant Garden to speak at the dedication of the Veterans Memorial and Heritage Walk.

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