The widening of N.C. 24-27 at Carthage and of N.C. 211 from West End to Pinehurst and improvements to the Morganton Road-U.S. 1 interchange will advance to 2009 construction status if the latest Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is adopted.

The proposed TIP is on the agenda for the Monday afternoon meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of calling a public hearing for the Oct. 20 board meeting.

Also proposed is advancement to right of way acquisition status of the N.C. 24-27 bypass of Carthage by 2009 with construction status scheduled for 2011. However, it deletes the alignment option presented by the N.C. Department of Transportation to build the roadway through the Needmore community.

The scheduling of a feasibility study for the N.C. 5 Western Connector around Pinehurst is included. The connector would run from N.C. 211 to N.C. 5 by using existing roads where possible. Under consideration are Chicken Plant Road and Linden Road.

If approved, the feasibility study would be scheduled for 2009 with advancement to right of way acquisition status by 2011.

Other items in the latest TIP are: right of way acquisition status for the widening of N.C. 211 from Aberdeen to the Hoke County line by 2013; feasibility studies for N.C. 73 to McCaskill Road improvements, N.C. 22 improvements/rerouting, widening U.S. 15-501 between Legacy Lakes in Aberdeen and Laurinburg and widening of U.S. 15-501 between Carthage and Pinehurst.

Another feasibility study is suggested for N.C. 690 improvements in response to BRAC (base realignment) and to ensure coordination with Cumberland County.

REZONING -- In connection with the commissioners' Monday meeting, the Moore County Planning Board has taken the unusual step of calling a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.

The board has been asked to take action on a request for a zoning change to enable a small industry to set up shop in an existing facility in the Skyline community off US 1 between Vass and Southern Pines.

The planning body will forward its recommendation to the commissioners in time for the commissioners to hear the matter during their regular 4 p.m. meeting, also at the historic courthouse in Carthage.

The Monday morning meeting will take the place of the Planning Board's regular meeting that would have been held Thursday night under other circumstances. The Thursday night meeting has been canceled.

Both boards are asked to consider a request by SunPak Foods to change zoning from B-2 Highway Commercial to I-2-CUD heavy commercial conditional use district for the proposed use of food processing and packaging.

AGENDA -- Also at the 4 p.m. meeting, the commissioners will conduct a public hearing on a revision of the animal control ordinance and will call a hearing for their next meeting to consider adoption of the Small Area A plan.

Other items on the agenda include consideration of an agreement covering a grant from the N.C. Rural Center for a Stonehill Pines project at Foxfire and an amendment to the Library Board of Trustees bylaws.

During the meeting, the board will recess briefly and reconvene as the East Moore Water District Board to authorize an easement with Progress Energy in order to provide power to the Thurlow Lake Booster Station.

FORUM -- The first of two candidates' forums open to the public will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Seven Lakes West Community Center.

Candidates for state Senate, state House of Representatives, district attorney and district court judge will be featured.

Sponsors are the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, and the Seven Lakes Civic Club. The forum is open to the public without charge.

A second forum, featuring Board of Education and Soil and Water Conservation candidates, will be held Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Senior Enrichment Center on U.S. 15-501 north of the Pinehurst Traffic Circle.

The league is sponsoring this forum.

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