County Awards $27 Million Building Contract on 3-2 Vote

As of Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Moore County Board of Commissioners voted along its familiar 3-2 alignment Monday night to award a $27,224,000 contract for the public safety-jail project.

Impassioned pleas against the measure, now familiar at board meetings and rallies, punctuated a public hearing held early in the meeting and lasting two hours. But this time opponents of the project were joined by an impressive array of supporters who urged the commissioners to get moving on construction of a building needed by county agencies and the public.

"That was more than three years ago, and we are still haggling with a small group who want to move the jail and court system away from its present location," said former Commissioner Colin McKenzie during the hearing. "A few days ago, a friend told me to beware of zealots. They are always around any controversy and will do everything in their power to prevent progress and get recognition."

McKenzie was board chairman in 2007 when the commissioners voted to buy 21 acres in downtown Carthage to build a new and enlarged jail, a public safety building and a local government office building. The county paid $1.5 million to the property owner, Johnny Grimm.

McKenzie recalled a series of meetings by the commissioners and public discussions of the land purchase and plans for construction of the facilities.

Also speaking in favor of the project were former Commissioners Archie Kelly and David Cummings - the latter also a former chairman - Carthage Mayor Tom Stewart, Carthage Mayor Pro Tem Jean Riley, Airport Authority Chairman and former county Republican Party Chairman John Owen, Gen. Bud Shaver, J.D. Monroe, Mary Jo Morris and George W. Little, chairman of the Sandhills Community College board of trustees and a former county GOP party chief.

John Marcum, founder and leader of the opposing group Right2Vote, was on the agenda to make a presentation covering his objections to the 192-bed detention center project as it has been designed and the financing to pay for it.

During the meeting, 24 speakers, both for and against, addressed the board on the subject.

The county plans to issue limited obligation bonds to pay for the building construction and also to pay for an estimated $10 million in utility improvements for the village of Pinehurst. Limited obligation bonds do not require a public referendum, as do the more familiar general obligation bonds, the route followed to finance most public school capital improvements.

The Local Government Commission, the state agency that oversees local government financial obligations, has already approved the county's bid to issue up to $50 million in bonds to pay for the building and the Pinehurst utilities

However, Marcum has officially appealed the matter to the full commission, which is not scheduled to hold a regular meeting until Dec. 7.

Marcum headed a long roster of opponents who spoke, including several who have frequently appeared before the board to argue against various aspects of the project.

Bert Patrick, a Carthage activist who was the first opponent to voice objections to the site, again expressed concern that the structure would be erected in an area where children gather. The site, adjacent to the existing jail, is near Carthage Elementary School and its athletic field, two churches and the public library, along with the historic courthouse and the Courts Facility and other county buildings.

Patrick pointed out that the Monday night meeting was the first public hearing called on the issue.

"I'm not against a new detention center," she said. "I'm not against the sheriff. I'm against putting this monster on top of our children."

She waved a petition with about 600 signatures previously presented to the board.

Financing Questioned

When it came time to vote, Chairman Tim Lea and Vice Chairwoman Cindy Morgan cast the dissenting votes against a motion by Commissioner Larry Caddell to award the contract to low bidder D.H. Griffin Con-struction of Raleigh. Commissioners Jimmy Melton and Nick Picerno joined Caddell in voting for the motion.

The vote followed a failed motion by Morgan, who wanted to send the project back to the architect. That vote failed on the same 3-2 split, and echoes the same alignment followed on most votes pertaining to the building project in recent months.

Lea read a statement into the record as soon as the board reached the contract part of the agenda. He repeated his previous objections and said the county had never encumbered a debt in excess of $10 million without a referendum.

"In my opinion, it was bad policy to buy the Grimm property for $1.5 million," he said, adding that the savings from a new project could possibly help meet county education needs.

Morgan acknowledged the need for the new jail but said the county should have handled the project in a different manner.

"I don't feel that we've done due diligence on the numbers," Morgan said.

Morgan said she thinks the county should take another look at the cost of the cells in the detention center and should consider using more beds from the existing jail.

"It has nothing to do with the need," she said of her objections to the existing plan. "It has to do with the finance."

'Right Thing to Do'

Caddell said the discussion has focused almost entirely on the jail portion of the project.

He said that the overall project includes quarters for the Sheriff's Office and a public safety facility for emergency medical services, emergency management and emergency 911 communications.

Melton said he also feels comfortable with his decision and pointed out that the board has studied the matter since 2007.

"I can understand why everyone has strong feelings about this," he said. "I have strong feelings, too. I feel that this is the right thing to do. It is the right plan. It is the right time, and it is the right size."

Melton also pointed out that the bids came in under cost estimates.

Picerno said that interest rates are at a historic low. He expressed no opposition to returning the plan to the architect but argued that this would just require more money and would lose more time.

"The time is right," Picerno said.

'Safe Place to Work'

Speaking in opposition, in addition to Marcum and Patrick, were Doug Middaugh, Libby Moodie, Ralph Redmond, Gordon Ray, Greg Zywocinski, Elizabeth Brower, plus several individuals who did not sign up to speak during the hearing but asked to address the board when Lea offered time to additional speakers.

Objections centered on the size, the location, the need and the financing.

A few supporters also ad-dressed the board later in the hearing. Among them was Chief Jailer Eddie Johnson, who described the difficult conditions in which his staff works.

He mentioned the lack of an efficient air conditioning system, which must be supplemented by fans to maintain the 83-degree temperature mandated by state law. He cited dangerous "blind spots" that make surveillance difficult and pose a danger.

"I beg of you," he said. "We've waited long enough. Give my employees a nice safe and secure place to work."

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.

County Awards $27 Million Building Contract on 3-2 Vote

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