For the 20th consecutive year, the Moore County Finance Office has received the Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

Financial Services Director Lisa Hughes and her staff received a standing ovation when the presentation was made during the Moore County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday.

Hughes introduced her staff individually and accepted the award from County Manager Cary McSwain, who made the presentation on behalf of Jeff McCauley, the state representative for the association. McCauley was unable to attend because of a family emergency.

CRAINS CREEK -- A resident served by the Crains Creek Fire Department raised questions about the department's operations during the public-comment period at the commissioners' meeting Monday.

Nancy Sidley wanted to know why the public can no longer vote for the department's Board of Directors.

"With that change imposed at the last election, many of our community thought this to be taxation without representation," Sidley said.

Sidley said that after doing some research, two inspections and an audit, she had determined that the department does not comply with contracts with Moore and Harnett counties and is on probation with the state.

"Yet still I have no answer as to why the community can no longer vote for any members of the board, and I'm hoping by bringing this to the full board of commissioners, you may be able to direct us in a way or help us regain the voting privileges our forefathers intended us to have," Sidley said.

FIRE TAX -- Sidley also asked about the department's use of 42 percent of the budget to pay the salary and benefits for one employee.

"The community of Crains Creek Fire Department has no representation for these tax monies yet yearly are forced to pay these monies," she said. "We have paid these monies to a department that, if my research is correct, is the only department in Moore County that is on probation. It would seem to me the fire department was in better hands when the community had a say-so."

Sidley said she spoke to the county manager and to Commissioner Cindy Morgan about these issues, and both told her the county can only deal with components of the county's contract with the fire department.

CLOSED -- The Board of Commissioners went into closed session after the public meeting Monday to discuss matters related to property at the airport.

However, after meeting behind closed doors for about three hours, the board took no action upon return to public session.

COBLE -- Congressman Howard Coble's swing through the 6th District on Election Day included two stops at polling places in Moore County -- at the Agricultural Center in Carthage and the Pinehurst Village Hall.

His visits were brief.

Coble's schedule began at 8 a.m. with a visit to Emerywood Baptist Church in High Point, followed by stops at polling places in Thomasville and Granite Quarry. He had lunch at a soda shop in downtown Asheboro, then stopped in Randleman, Pleasant Garden, and Elon. He paid a visit to GOP headquarters in High Point, then visited the Special Events Center at the Greensboro Coliseum before heading to an election night party at The Painted Plate.

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