Major decisions about building plans are on the agenda for the Monday meeting of the Moore County Board of Commission-ers. The board will consider schematic drawings for the detention center/public safety center and will hear recommendations from the Courthouse Facility Advisory Committee. Also on the agenda is a decision on an amended contract with the LS3P architectural firm for design of a local government office building.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the historic courthouse in Carthage.

This is the only board meeting this month, and the agenda is long, exceeding four pages.

HEARINGS -- The commissioners will call a public hearing to be held at the Aug. 3 meeting to consider a proposed Rural Operating Assistance Program application to be submitted to the N.C. Department of Transportation/Public Transportation Division.

Five public hearings are called for the Monday meeting. One will cover the county's application for a $400,000 Scattered Site Housing grant through the N.C. Department of Commerce. Two hearings pertain to issues involving ATEX Technologies Inc. at Pinebluff and installation and construction of a sewer pipeline there. Others will concern a Justice Assistance Grant for the Sheriff's Department and an application for a 2009 Capacity Building grant.

The board will be asked to sign an acceptance letter for $3 million from the Construction Grants and Loan Section and adopt an ordinance on the Lake Pinehurst lift station project. The Public Works Department will propose the closing of all solid waste collection sites on Sundays.

This is the meeting at which the tax administrator will be officially authorized to proceed with collection of property taxes for the 2009-10 levy year.

HACKNEY -- State House Speaker Joe Hackney had a quick rebuttal to criticism from state Republicans about his attendance next week at the National Conference of State Legislators in Philadelphia.

The Orange County Democrat, who is president of the conference, said that he would not be at the conference all week and would return to North Carolina to preside for House sessions. Hackney said his travels will cost the state nothing.

Hackney told the Under the Dome column in The News & Observer of Raleigh that the conference played an important role in developing the federal stimulus plan.

At a Thursday news conference, Tom Fetzer, chairman of the state Republican party, criticized Hackney for leaving the state while the legislature is tied up on vital budget matters. Fetzer said Hackney would be spending the week attending ball games and street dancing.

Hackney, whose district includes part of Moore County, brushed aside Fetzer's criticism.

COBLE -- Congressman Howard Coble is back in the 6th District this weekend, but all of his activities are planned in Greensboro.

He attended an ALS fundraiser roast of Norm Mayer at the Starmount Country Club Friday night and the grand opening of Fire Station 53 Saturday morning.

The only thing on his schedule today is attendance at Alamance Presbyterian Church worship services.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.