BY FLORENCE GILKESON

Senior Writer

Moore County has awarded a $5 million contract to Atlantic Coast Contractors Inc. to carry out major improvements in the Pinehurst sewer system.

Atlantic Coast's $5,075,956.55 bid was the lowest of nine bids, according to Public Works Director Randy Gould, who estimates a saving in excess of $1 million because of the range of bids. Project cost was originally estimated at $6.6 million.

Funding will come from the county's decision last year to issue $42 million in limited obligation bonds. About $10 million was designated for Pinehurst utilities improvements, payment to come from user fees.

The remaining bonds were designated for the public safety-detention complex under construction in Carthage.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners gave unanimous approval to the contract at a Tuesday meeting.

The work is in two parts: rehabilitation and repair of priority areas within the Old Town area and rehabilitation and repair of about 18,500 linear feet of gravity sewer mains around Lake Pinehurst.

Commissioner Larry Caddell made the motion to award the contract, subject to final approval by the county attorney. Commissioner Craig Kennedy made the second.

County Attorney Misty Leland said she would also discuss issues raised by Pinehurst resident Doug Middaugh concerning right of way and easement at two points in the project. Middaugh gave a detailed account of these issues during the public comment period at the beginning of the Tuesday meeting. Leland said she would review these issues with Gould.

Middaugh asked that the contract language be amended to reflect the correct work area for a 20-foot sewer line right of way claimed in the original declaration of restrictions. He also asked the contractor to minimize the easement for access to manholes, particularly the manhole at the rear of 100 Gingham Lane.

The county has already begun its outreach to residents of the areas affected by the sewer improvements. Two public information meetings were held earlier this week for that purpose.

County Manager Cary McSwain advised that residents of the affected areas would be notified as work progresses.

Work is to begin later this month, and the project is to be completed late next year.

In other business, the commissioners agreed to a modification in the $1.5 million contract with Tyler Technologies to update the enterprise resource planning (computer) system.

Tax Administrator Wayne Vest explained that a different module would be more efficient and effective for listing, assessing, billing and maintenance of personal property. He said that Tyler could switch to the preferred module covering software purchase, conversion, implementation and training for $39,973. The increase in maintenance cost is not to exceed $6,410.

Vest added that Tyler has agreed to defer the additional cost until the 2012-13 fiscal year. Tyler owns the companies providing both modules.

At the same meeting, the commissioners approved a purchase order for four half-ton four-wheel-drive pickup trucks with Phillips Ford of Carthage. Phillips was the lower of two bids received for the project. Total cost for the vehicles, title, tags and taxes is $94,293.48.

The trucks are for the Sheriff's Office.

Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey said that the Sheriff's Office uses the pickups and sport utility vehicles for investigative and surveillance work. They are used to transport stolen and/or found property and for patrol duties during inclement weather. The new trucks will be assigned to the four shift supervisors.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.