County Not Interested in Authority Study
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The Moore County Board of Commissioners is bypassing a proposal to study the concept of forming a new regional water and sewer authority.
At a Tuesday meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously against adopting a resolution prepared by the Moore County Summit Water Task Force proposing "the exploration ... of the formation of a new regional water and sewer authority with the expressed purpose of addressing the current and future water source and wastewater treatment needs of Moore County overall."
The board voted after minimum discussion.
"No recommendation," said Commissioner Larry Caddell, who represents the board on water-related issues, when asked for an opinion.
County Manager Cary McSwain said that the county and municipalities jointly paid for the McGill study of water resources but pointed out that it is a serious issue when the county is called on to consider turning its vast water and sewer facilities over to an independent authority. He said the county's utilities are valued in the millions of dollars.
"The county has made significant progress in remedying the issue," McSwain said, in reference to calls for water improvements in Pinehurst, Seven Lakes and other areas of the county.
The draft resolution has already been adopted or tentatively adopted by some municipalities.
It refers to the McGill study recommendation that "solutions require cooperation between all local governments and utilities in Moore County to address water needs of county residents and businesses for the next 50-plus years."
The resolution notes that no single government unit has the goal or power to address future water needs and an authority would be empowered to take action serving the needs of the entire community.
It does not call for formation of such an authority but proposes instead that the formation of such an entity should be explored.
Commissioner Nick Picerno recommended that the board "just bypass (the resolution) until we have a better understanding." He put that in the form of a motion, and Chairman Tim Lea made the second.
The resolution was distributed at a water task force meeting in July and was discussed on Aug. 5 at the elected officials forum hosted by the commissioners.
In other business, the commissioners voted unanimously to delay action on a resolution for a VISION 100 grant to the Moore County Airport. The board will consider the resolution at the next meeting on Sept. 20.
Michael Nash, vice chairman of the Airport Authority, asked for adoption of the resolution, which would enable the authority to accept a $150,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.
However, acceptance of the grant would obligate the county to provide a $16,667 local match each year for three years.
Nash reported that the airport would use the grant to develop a stormwater project and a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan required by the state by the end of this year.
"We plan to run water and sewer to our new hangar area in order to better serve our customers," Nash said. He added that other funds would be used to address existing safety issues.
The grant represents the airport's annual FAA entitlement and takes the place of the million-dollar grants awarded in the years before the airport lost commercial airline service.
The commissioners also approved a request by Nick Picerno to change the date of the first October board meeting from Monday to Tuesday, Oct. 5. The first September meeting was moved to a Tuesday because of the Labor Day holiday conflict.
Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.
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CSmithson 1 year, 5 months ago
"County Manager Cary McSwain said that the county and municipalities jointly paid for the McGill study of water resources but pointed out that it is a serious issue when the county is called on to consider turning its vast water and sewer facilities over to an independent authority. He said the county's utilities are valued in the millions of dollars."
What utter malarkey from the County!!! They'll stick their necks and our dollars out on the issue of a $50 million bond and a $27 million detention center, but are utterly afraid of TALKING about how the local governments in Moore County might POSSIBLY come together to form and water authority to address the water needs of our residents.
Repeated ad nauseum to Commissioners, the county utilities director, and county manager in multiple discussions on the resolution was the fact that forming an authority does not necessarily mean that ANYONE has to give away, sell, trade, etc. any assets they currently own or will own in the future.
Either the entire County Board of Commissioners and their professional staff don't understand, as the story above explains, that the resolution is to STUDY the issue to see if forming some kind of authority MIGHT be a way to solve our water problems or they fully understand it and raise the specter/ red herring of having to give away all their assets as an excuse to avoid cooperating with other local governments in the first place.
None 1 year, 5 months ago
Very well written ~ Chris.
""No recommendation," said Commissioner Larry Caddell, who represents the board on water-related issues, when asked for an opinion."
Caddell's ego prevents him letting go of control over water and sewer resources under Moore County control: Software Sales of course....
1) His conflict of interest as CEO of Southern Software, Inc. whichs provides Municipal Financial Software with support services for a fee of course. The same software package that wasn't let out for bids;
2) His continued interest in Little River Farm Golf Course. Within the Limited Liability Bond, monies are earmarked for two sewer lift stations to be installed on the line from Cartage and Little River Farm Golf Course using our tax dollars.
Caddell is all about control...over his self interests/projects and taxpayers money. There should be an official accounting for all of the Federal Stimulus money being poured into Carthage as well as taxpayers funds that we were not given the right to case our vote. More ethical issues for Moore County TPo3....
ncsnafu1 1 year, 5 months ago
I didn't think it would happen, however, I must admit that I agree with the comments Chris posted above. Anyone reading the proposed study would see that it in no way obligated the county or for that matter, any of the participating communities to turn over or sell existing facilities should an authority actually be formed.
The rejection by the commissioner clearly shows that they don't recongize the unstated foundation of the McGill Report - cooperation between the county and communities is absolutely required for the recommendations in the McGill Report to work. Cooperation, either in the form of community agreements and/or a regional authority, is necessary if ALL of Moore County is to have a reliable water source into the future.
There simply is no valid reason why the proposed study and the current county efforts wrt Pinehurst, Seven Lakes, Robbins, etc. could not be done in parallel.
This decision should cause everyone to question why the county returned to the Water Summit meetings and if they will show up for the September meeting.
CSmithson 1 year, 5 months ago
Sometimes I really wonder what is going on with our County utilities department.
At the August 5th elected officials forum, the County gave a status update on their projects. Following the presentation, they opened up the floor to questions.
I asked a question and received a troubling answer. I’ll tell you about them in a moment, but first I need to provide some background:
Most public water systems must ensure that there is enough disinfectant in the water after it leaves the plant so that the water will be safe as it travels through the distribution system to people’s homes.
Since well water is usually free of microorganisms in the first place, it doesn’t necessarily need to be disinfected to remove anything. Still, a disinfectant, usually chlorine, is added to the well water to keep it from being contaminated in the distribution system.
Surface water, by its very nature tends to have much more organic matter in it. The traditional way of disinfecting surface water has been to use chlorine. Unfortunately, the reaction between chlorine and microorganisms creates some disinfection byproducts (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THM’s) that the EPA doesn’t want in our drinking water. So, most surface water treatment plants have had to switch over to the use of chloramines, which basically means also using ammonia as a disinfectant.
(continuted below)
CSmithson 1 year, 5 months ago
(continued from above)
Let’s get back to our situation. MCPU’s wells use chlorine. The treated surface water they buy from Southern Pines, Harnett County, and potentially from Montgomery County all use chloramines. According to page 288 of “Small Water System Operation and Maintenance”, 4th edition, “Care must be taken when blending chloraminated water with water that has been disinfected with free chlorine. Depending on the ratio of the blend, these two very different disinfectants can cancel each other out resulting in very low disinfectant residuals.”
Several years back, the Pilot reported on this potential incompatibility between the different treatments. Some County representatives even used it as a reason as to why the County stopped buying as much water from Southern Pines as they had in the past. One option the County did and still has is to use chloramines in its well water. If they did this, it would address the issue of potential incompatibilities of treated water from different sources.
Now back to the question I asked the director of Moore County Public utilities at the August 5th meeting. In front of the group, I asked him if MCPU, because of its increasing reliance on new and existing sources of drinking water(Southern Pines, Harnett, Montgomery) treated with chloramines, is considering changing over the treatment chemicals at their wells to chloramines in order to eliminate any concerns about incompatibilities between the different disinfectants. I cannot quote his reply exactly, but he essentially said that there was no issue at all with blending the differently disinfected water except for an occasional funny taste or smell. I was shocked at his answer. Judging by the gasps and whispers of others near me who understand the chloramines vs chlorine issue, others were also in disbelief. Apparently the County knows something a high school chemistry student doesn’t know, much less a basic training guide which one must study to pass even the lowest level of certification to operate a public water system.
What’s going on up there in Carthage?
SoPinesNo1 1 year, 5 months ago
I think that Chris is right on target. But, the problem with a county authority is that pooling all water resources together still does provide for the future needs of the entire county. The authority needs to be Regional, and include neighboring counties that have excess resources to accomodate our shortage.
And as usual, TODA has all the answers to everything, blame it all on imagined conflicts of interest. Whatever the outcome, the county is limited in it's ability to improve as long as the buffoon Cary McSwain is the manager.
None 1 year, 5 months ago
SoPinesNo1=> Please explain your assumption that my comments are imagined conflicts of interest. I don't blame everything on conflicts of interest...but share with me your contention that my opinion is not supported by incorporation document filings with the North Carolina Secretary of States Office. The documents [time stamped and dated] clearly show that before June 15,2009, BOTH Larry Caddell and Nick Picerno held management positions with Southern Software, Inc., please elaborate on what is "imagined" about a recorded public document?
FACT Read the minutes of last Tuesdays Board Meeting. Caddell said that some of the bond money was being used to install two sewer lift stations for Little River Farm Golf Course: Imagined I think not. Privately owned golf course - it is now owned by private investors. Public conflict of interest ~ in my humble opinion....
Were you in attendance by chance or are you pontificating your assertion on ire toward me or my posts by "imagining" what should be represented as factual information.
As far as your assertion of "having answers to everything", exactly what would you have an interest in seeing or hearing: Audio of meetings, Moore County Finance Debt spreadsheet, Power Point Presentations? What? I have them - read them - listened to audio...have you taken anytime to support your assertions. I think not.
I am a well informed voter and taxpayer. I make no claims that I can't support with documentation. With respect to unethical behavior while in office, here's your link: http://www.ethicscommission.nc.gov/
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2009 SESSION LAW 2010-169 HOUSE BILL 961
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 14-234(a) reads as rewritten: "§ 14-234. Public officers or employees benefiting from public contracts.
Should you have time to read this PDF provided by the North Carolina Ethics Commission ~ form your own opinions: BTW - I didn't draft that document either!
http://www.ethicscommission.nc.gov/documents/HB_961_2010.pdf
Perhaps ~ should most who take time to post threads, would take an equal amount of time to do a little reseach on a topic, better and intelligent discussions could evolve, and the personal assuptions or innuendo would evanesce leaving informational and productive discussions. Until some idot on another blog comes on "with off the wall comments" that has absolutly nothing to do with topic or discussions...just personal thoughts from an uneducated-demented mind.
OBXNC 1 year, 5 months ago
It don't matter how many utilities you have or how much they cost if there is no water flowing through them.
SoPinesNo1 1 year, 5 months ago
@TODA
I think most everyone knows that the two commissioners that you love to hate have ties to Southern Software. What you fail to grasp is that those ties have absolutely nothing to do with the the issue at hand, the County's lack of interest in a water authority study. You point out this Southern Software tie as the reason for numerous votes by the board being 3-2. You believe that Moore County as a customer keeps Southern Software afloat. Maybe if you could see the financials of Southern Software you would realize that their income from Moore County is a drop in the bucket, insignificant:;and if it didn't exist, there would be practically no change in their net proceeds.
The only difference that would be seen is that Moore County would be spending considerably more on similar software.
None 1 year, 5 months ago
SoPinesNo1=> "What you fail to grasp is that those ties have absolutely nothing to do with the issue at hand," It's about ethical behavior...which has everything to do with integrity and ulterior motives. I’m sure Moore County isn’t providing a financial windfall for Southern Software, Inc.,- ethically and legally - Moore County has a legal responsibility to put up for bids any contracts where public money is used. With respect to the cost of software applications ~ I’ll speculate that since we as taxpayers will never know what costs would have been associated with a bidding process for applicable software applications, I have personal knowledge about QuickBooks Pro. I really can’t comment on Southern Software’s Municipal Financial Software, but I can say QBP is a software application with programming capabilities for Access as well as SQL. I’m sure you are aware of the capabilities of QBP as well.
With respect to the so called “free” software for the Sheriff’s Department, taxpayers have $43,000.00 plus an on-going contracted support services. Nowhere in the State of North Carolina am I aware of elected officials engaging in a business relationship with a government entity and represent a company in a managerial capacity while holding an elected position. Please provide some insight here that I may have misunderstood.
None 1 year, 5 months ago
"two commissioners that you love to hate" parcing my words here, but no where have I said I hate anyone. I dispise the fact that three commissioners have no interest in hearing the voices of taxpayers.
"Southern Software tie as the reason for numerous votes by the board being 3-2. You believe that Moore County as a customer keeps Southern Software afloat." Your words not mine. Putting the ball back in your court so to speak, Larry Caddell, who represents the board on water-related issues, has skin in the game ~ it's called Municipal Financial Software. Also, perhaps you recall when he was mayor of Carthage, and the Town reached out down south on 15-501 and added Little River Golf Course to their ETJ? Now in the bond package, there are two lift stations going to be built for Little River Golf Course. Interesting to say the least....CEO ~ Water-related issues ~ SOP ~ lack of transparency; twice-the-price for every project. Perhaps I've got this whole thing wrong since I'm the only one opposed to spending benchmarks.
It goes without saying, Caddell, Piceno and Melton have never been challenged on any decisions they've made over the years. When their wisdom is questioned on the way they conduct county business, anger and frustration takes over their common sense. Caddell let his feelings be known at last Tuesdays' meeting. Perhaps you may consider attending some of those meetings and see first hand the dog and pony show.
hcaeb 1 year, 5 months ago
Do you think that all the chemicals in the water is what is giving Moore County the increased rate of Luekemia in the area. We have alot of this disease in our area and to look at the rate of survival vs. death would be interesting. Just a questions, since I have had three friends die of luekemia in the last 5 years. I would like to have a scientist look into this.
None 1 year, 5 months ago
hcaeb=> now that is interesting...new oncology building at First Health. Hummm ~ I wonder....
FaithinUSA 1 year, 5 months ago
My friend died from hodgkins lymphoma 4 years ago in moore county.
FaithinUSA 1 year, 5 months ago
check out this website:
http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=14949 http://www.greensense.com/Features/Action/cancer_on_tap.htm#Alternatives
here is some info on your drinking water and the carcinogens in it...
None 1 year, 5 months ago
Wow ~ FaithinUSA those articles are real eye openers....I'm glad I have two wells.
SoPinesNo1 1 year, 5 months ago
Two commissioners that have/had ties to Southern Software does not in itself constitute a conflict of interest when the topic is a water authority, nor does it constitute a conflict of interest in the construction of a detention center. I'll have to do a little research, but I don't think that Mr. Picerno was on the BOC when the software was donated, so where's the conflict? Do you think he ran, and was elected to cast votes to "make" the county build a detention center to continue using the software?
Had you been successful in securing a few signatures to be a write-in candidate, and had enough write-in votes to be elected, would you refrain from all votes that deal with awarding construction contracts since you have a contractors license? Would you refrain from all votes that have anything to do with law enforcement or a detention center since you have been in law enforcement? Would you refrain from any votes having anything to do with the ABC Board, or permits for restaurants or bars that serve alcohol since you were at one time the manager of the Dockside? I think not.
FaithinUSA 1 year, 5 months ago
Toda i'm on a well also I wont get municipal water...
FaithinUSA 1 year, 5 months ago
Toda : heres another eye opening fact
http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/fats_and_cancer.html
ita a little off topic but very important
FaithinUSA 1 year, 5 months ago
This article may help a lot of people and give them some info to remedy their chlorine intake..
http://www.healthynewage.com/chlorine-cancer.htm
None 1 year, 5 months ago
SoPinesNo1=> You seem to have no concerns with the two commissioners who have ties to a company doing business with the county. Not my documents but those filed by Southern Software, Inc with the Secretary of States Office.
"constitute a conflict of interest when the topic is a water authority" since The County of Moore failed the trust of taxpayers when they purchased software for Municipal Utilities without a bidding process. Yes - their actions are unethical.
"I don't think that Mr. Picerno was on the BOC when the software was donated" Caddell was on the board and donated? Try $43,000.00. Godfrey said in his power point presentation that the value was $340,000. That doesn't make any sense at all. It's not worth a dime if no one is willing to pay that much...beta testing is worth something to SS, Inc.
"Do you think he ran, and was elected to cast votes to "make" the county build a detention center to continue using the software?" Doubtful - but doesn't his remuneration come in the form of insurance through SS,Inc? He still owns the building along with Drew Fish. Rental income....
"deal with awarding construction contracts since you have a contractors license?" I could probably invoke priviledge like Caddell on software and not bid the construction and build without letting bids...Municipal Financial Software.
"refrain from all votes that have anything to do with law enforcement or a detention center since you have been in law enforcement?" how many on the task force were county employees and how many were selected from the community? How many has/had any design or building experience? -0-!
"would you refrain from any votes having anything to do with the ABC Board, or permits for restaurants or bars that serve alcohol since you were at one time the manager of the Dockside?" John B and I never sold software to the county, nor have I ever worked for ABC. No conflicts there.
Did you happen to read: http://www.ethicscommission.nc.gov/documents/HB_961_2010.pdf
I think not!
Well rounded individual I might say - experience in business, building, finance, personnel, computer technology, and a little education to go along with all that as well. You seem to know me well?
ncsnafu1 1 year, 5 months ago
@Toda: You've kept many of us enlighened for several days on your position that a conflict of interest occurred by Messrs. Caddell & Picerno wrt SS, Inc. As a new topic and one that has the potential of being real, why don't you report on how the two gentlemen with the tax administrator selected the Grimm property in 12/09 over all other properties available and brought it to the other commissoners to vote on?
None 1 year, 5 months ago
ncsnafu1 => I shall not give up on conflict of interest with Caddell and Picerno, especially Caddell who is seated on the Sandhills' Board of Trustee's ~ has a special ring to it. I've been making my point for longer than seveal days.
"why don't you report on how the two gentlemen with the tax administrator selected the Grimm property in 12/09" there has never been another option according to Sheriff Carter when he spoke to the commissioners. I know Ron Jackson offered a bid on the property based on the appraised value...but the county wanted it more at twice the price.
I'm sure you have a link to MC website that will shed some light on the "other properties" like the old prison unit on 15-501....Why don't you ask your coach why we can't vote on spending our money? Did you know there is another town hall meeting in Pinehurst tomorrow night? Hummm...apparently I'm not a minority.
I need to qualify your assumption: "Had you been successful in securing a few signatures to be a write-in candidate" I did aquire more than 100 signatures with the help of several other's who are opposed to business as usual in Carthage; 129 to be exact! However the political wheels didn't turn in my favor when two pages were not considered because the top of the two forms didn't have "commissioner" written. Since I was the only write-in canidate - I was told that I could have been running for Sheriff! Politics runs deep in this county...it was only 39 signatures.
None 1 year, 5 months ago
"two gentlemen with the tax administrator selected the Grimm property in 12/09" wasn't Caddell and Picerno sitting commissioners on 12/09? Picerno was still CEO on 6/15/09 SS Inc. - I just made that up - since it is a legal document on file with the NC Secretary of State's Office....