BY FLORENCE GILKESON

Senior Writer

A multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan adopted by the Moore County Board of Commissioners is expected to alleviate some problems related to the risk of disasters prompted by natural forces.

The plan with the long name covers Moore County and all 11 municipalities and updates an existing plan.

"A tremendous amount of work has gone into this process," said Commissioner Tim Lea in making the motion to adopt the plan at the board's May 17 meeting. "We appreciate the work the planning department did."

Commissioner Jimmy Melton made the second, and approval was unanimous.

Jeremy Rust, staff long-range planner with the Department of Planning and Community Development, reviewed the process and the content of the plan for the commissioners.

Rust said the planning board has given unanimous approval, and the governing bodies of all 11 municipalities have likewise adopted resolutions of acceptance. The Local Emergency Planning Committee has likewise endorsed the plan.

Hazard mitigation is defined as the practice of reducing risks to people and property from natural disasters.

The process involves recognizing and adapting to natural forces. Rust said the Federal Emergency Management Agency further defines it as any sustained action taken to reduce long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards.

Existence of a hazard mitigation plan is expected to be an important factor in time of natural disaster, such as flooding, if the county needs to apply for federal or state emergency assistance. It can also be a factor in determining eligibility for such things as federal flood insurance.

The resolution adopted by the commissioners authorizes the county planning director to implement terms of the plan. That authority includes cooperating with "federal, state and local agencies and private firms which undertake to study, survey, map and identify floodplain or flood-related erosion areas, and cooperate with neighboring communities with respect to management of adjoining floodplain and/or flood-related erosion areas in order to prevent aggravation of existing hazards."

A public hearing was called to consider the plan, but no member of the public signed up to speak.

I n other business, the commissioners called a public hearing for their next meeting at 6 p.m. June 7. This hearing will be the first of two required to consider a $70,000 application for fiscal year 2011 Individual Development Account Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. This is an existing program initiated in 2009 with a two-phase commitment in partnership with the Northern Moore Family Resource Center.

The board also approved an amendment to the engineering contract between the county and Hobbs Upchurch & Associates for the $600,000 CDBG urgent needs grant project in the River Bend subdivision. The project involves installation of a culvert and other improvements in a road that was washed out by torrential rains accompanying Tropical Storm Hanna in 2008.

The amendment shifts $9,000 from one line item to another line item, transferring money for a task costing less than budgeted to another task expected to cost more.

To approve two change orders for the East Moore Water District Phase III construction project, the commissioners adjourned as the county board to convene as the East Moore district. After approving the change orders, they reconvened as the commissioners.

The district has received $5 million in loans through the Rural Development arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finance Phase III. Two contracts for construction were awarded in March to McArthur Construction and T.A. Loving Co.

Because of the tight timeframe for the bond expiration, Assistant County Manager Ken Larking also asked the board to allow the manager or his agent to execute future change orders in accordance with the adopted project ordinance.

The board tabled a request to approve one bid award and one housing rehabilitation contract under the 2009 Scattered Site Housing Community Development Block Grant.

The commissioners approved an update to the county's Analysis of Impediments to Further Fair Housing and Fair Housing Plan and adopted a resolution of commitment to further fair housing.

The board also approved a revised funding plan for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and authorized an application to the N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for a $50,000 grant.

Other action included:

n Tabled consideration of an agreement regarding airport matching funds from room occupancy taxes collected for the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

n Directed the county manager to draft a letter to St. Joseph of the Pines in support of the Providence Place Carthage II project.

n Accepted the quarterly fiscal report by the chief financial officer on behalf of Sandhills Center for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.