Homeowners who benefited from a block grant project perked up a routine public hearing before the Moore County Board of Commissioners Monday night.

With laughter and tears, five speakers expressed appreciation for the county's sponsorship of a $400,000 federal grant to replace substandard housing or relocate low- to middle-income families.

"These flowers are really happy," said Geneva D. Cumming, 86, who told of her pride in planting a flower garden at her new home site.

Her son, Jerry Dowdy, added his thanks for his mother's new circumstances and said, "She has really been blessed."

They were followed by Annie King, Barbara Simmons and Lottie Mason, who shared their happiness with homes that now have adequate lighting, plumbing and heating and the restoration of pride in home ownership.

"This money was not spent in vain," said Simmons, who said the home was now so satisfactory that her nine-year-old granddaughter was able to have her first sleepover there.

The commissioners, unaccustomed to receiving much praise, were also moved by their remarks.

"You don't know how much we appreciate your coming here tonight," Commissioner Jerry Melton said. "We don't get this kind of comment very often."

The public hearing was a routine requirement for close-out of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awarded to the county in 2006. The grant, known as a scattered site housing project, provided relocation or replacement housing for five low or moderate income families.

The federal money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-ment and is channeled to counties through the N.C. Depart-ment of Commerce Division of Community Assistance.

Unlike other CDBGs, the county is not required to provide local match funding in order to draw down the grant.

By officially approving the close-out, the county is now eligible to apply for a new scattered site housing grant later this year. The program, funded on a three-year cycle, assists owners of homes, not people who rent housing.

Planning Director Joey Raczkowski said he had invited the homeowners to participate in the hearing. His agency, the Department of Planning and Community Development, administers the block grant program.

In other business, the commissioners awarded a grinding services contract to Simmons and Simmons Management Inc. not to exceed $130,000 in the first year with a Consumer Price Index adjustment annually not to exceed 3 percent thereafter. The board's vote authorizes the county manager to execute the contract.

The board also awarded a $96,539 contract to Phillips Ford to replace two compact pickup trucks and two utility bed trucks.

Interlocal cooperation agreements were approved authorizing the county to provide fire inspection services for the municipalities of Carthage, Cameron, Pinebluff and Robbins, a similar agreement for building inspection services for the town of Robbins, and to provide assistance to Robbins for administration of the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.

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