County to Consider Land Sale to Bojangles
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by John Lentz
Staff Writer
A Bojangles' restaurant may be coming to Carthage, and Moore County Commissioner Tim Lea wants everyone to know about it. Not, however, for the reasons one might think.
While in closed session during Tuesday's regular board meeting, county commissioners agreed to authorize County Manager Cary McSwain to inform the Bojangles' corporation that the county had an interest in selling 1.3 acres, contingent upon a study that is currently under way.
But when the proposal was read in open session without naming the potential buyer or the location, Lea named three points that he said needed to be included in the wording.
"The sentence should read 'potential interest' rather than just the word 'interest' in the property, and the interested party should be identified as Bojangles'," Lea said.
"You said it was in Carriage Oaks, but the board should also let the precise location of the property be known, which is between Hardee's, the war memorial and DSS. I'd like to see those three things in the motion so there's no question about or need for clarification about what we're doing here."
Commissioner Nick Picerno questioned the time limitation stated for the completion of the space-needs allocation study. "The current motion says something about 30 days on the study. Does that tie us into 30 days? Let's strike that and say it is contingent upon completion of the report."
Lea asked that those four parts be included in the motion "since that was what was discussed in closed session."
Commissioner Jimmy Melton said that while he didn't have a problem with the alterations, he felt that adding the additional wording was "unnecessary."
"What the county manager has read pretty well states everything as it is," he said. "I think we can go with what the county manager said."
Picerno said he thought the word "potentially" had to be included, "because we're potentially looking at the sale. I like that piece of it, but the rest I can take or leave."
Commissioners' Chairman Larry Caddell asked Melton if he wanted to make a motion to retain the original language, which did not include the additional four parts. Melton did, but the motion didn't receive any support.
"Does anyone have another motion?" Caddell asked. Lea said he felt that "total clarification" was important. "Mr. Chairman, I would ask and move that the four points made become part of the motion and that we approve it."
Picerno seconded the motion containing the suggested changes, which was unanimously passed by the board. Lea explained his position after the meeting.
"Whenever the county is in the process of buying property, we can do that in closed session, but whenever we're in the process of selling the county taxpayers' assets, that is supposed to be done in open session," Lea said.
"In my opinion, this board violated the open meetings law by discussing the sale of a particular piece of property in closed session, against the advice of the county attorney. According to the open meeting law, this type of procedure has to be done in open session. It's done that way so that we have an opportunity to maximize the return on your assets and then put those monies in the general fund for future needs of the county, therefore hopefully keeping your tax rate low."
"Which is why we've asked for a competitive bid process," McSwain said.
County Attorney Misty Leland said she could not comment on whether or not the issue was discussed in closed session.
Lea also took issue with what he called the "desecration" of the war memorial should a fast food restaurant be placed nearby. "This is not about Bojangles'. This is about respect for the veterans whose names are on the monument and who died in the service of their country," Lea said. "I want the veterans of this county to know that there could potentially be trash from a fast food restaurant left around the area of the monument if this goes through. Is this the kind of image we want displayed?"
Melton and Caddell were unavailable for further comment at press time.
In other news, representatives and supporters of the Moore County school system appeared before the board to urge the county commissioners to approve the school board's budget request.
Four speakers addressed the commissioners, including school board Chairwoman Kathy Farren, who asked the board to pass the requested $95.8 million budget presented April 17. The county's share of the budget totals $25.5 million, the same that the schools received from the county for the current year.
"I believe that the county Board of Education and the county commissioners have a wonderful working relationship," Farren said. "We feel that we are great stewards of our money. We spend the state funds first, then the federal, and we spend the county money last in order to utilize that money to the best of our ability. We thank you for your trust in us, and we look forward to continuing an open working relationship with you."
Caddell responded by saying that "all of us" are products of the Moore County school system.
"We have always tried to support you and we understand the importance of education for our children," he said. "It has been a pleasure to work with the school board, and we look forward to more of the same as we move forward."
Picerno said he wanted to give supporters of the school budget some "reassurance" regarding the county board's decision.
"Personally, I don't see any plans at this point to cut the school budget request," he said. "I think the school system is on the right track, and I believe that (School Superintendent Aaron) Spence is a tremendous asset to Moore County. He is taking the system where it needs to go."
Picerno extended a challenge to the school board as a way to "enhance" the educational experience.
"There is a very inexpensive experiment that we might try, and I hope the board will (be interested). I would like to see us fund one third-grade classroom with iPads. It's about a $1,500 expenditure, and I have an idea where that money is going to come from, so it wouldn't increase our budget. I believe it could enhance learning tremendously."
The board also approved an agreement to continue the relationship between the Moore County Library and the Sandhills Regional Library System, a partnership which was first begun in 1962. Sandhills Regional Library System Director Carol Walters made the presentation.
"I was not there when the partnership began, and Moore, Richmond, Montgomery, Anson and Hoke counties joined hands for professional management, but I have been with the system for 30 years," Walters said. "In my family, we say that if it's not broken, then don't fix it."
The board unanimously passed the agreement to "continue providing extended and improved library service to all people in the areas named as we have for 50 years."
Other action included the adoption of a resolution in support of repairs for Camp Easter Road, an initiative that involves a request to the General Assembly by Sen. Harris Blake and Rep. Jamie Boles for $50,000 in assistance.
Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@ thepilot.com.
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Comments
RD28327 1 year ago
Carthage needs BO TIME!!!
prfxshn 1 year ago
Oh my..if Bojangles comes to Carthage I'm going to need a motorized wheelchair.
TooHot 1 year ago
Talk about government getting in the way. What a bunch of hee haw.
LSM 1 year ago
"There is a very inexpensive experiment that we might try, and I hope the board will (be interested)."
This is to be an "experiment"? Sort of like the one hundred monkeys on typewriters I guess. Lets try having an experiment where all the county commissioners are replaced with intelligent people for a change. That would be inexpensive also.
DoubleHeroides 1 year ago
@TooHot: Can you clarify what you are talking about? I didn’t see where the government was in anyone’s way in this article.
DoubleHeroides 1 year ago
@LSM: The experiment was to provide one (1) classroom of students with some additional technology (Ipads) in order to determine if it enhances learning in any way. To disregard the role of technology in the classroom and to disregard the advances in technology since you and I were in school would be a disservice to the students in the classroom. They are going to try it out. Let them at least try to innovate unless you’d rather we sit and do the exact same thing that we’ve always done in our public school systems and stay below every other developed country in the world in terms of education.
Bflat 1 year ago
BoJ's was going to be on the site opposite corner from Flying Tiger and across from McD's & Shell but backed out. That's where the Mini Walmart may go now. There really isn't enough population to support that but someone is determined just like they said a Cracker Barrell would be in SoPines-Aberdeen. Those chains do intensive studies before deciding to locate here and if not enough to support it they don't allow it to go in , no matter who the local owner will be.. I now wonder why BoJ's would even be considered. ....Guess someone is going to buy into the franchise and pad their pockets. Which politician is going to be the owner of the local BoJ's?
skylinefirepest 1 year ago
Hey Bflat, I disagree with you on the support. Southern Pines and Aberdeen have far more restaurants than could possibly be supported by the population, right?? But they are all making it and try to get in any steak place on a Sattidy nite!
Bflat 1 year ago
skyline_Maybe you misunderstood. I don't doubt the support of the area for certain chain restaurants. To further claify, my point is that in Commercial real estate, the Corporate offices of the chain restaurants have very specific criteria in the demographics for allowing a restaurant such as BoJangle's, CrackerB and others to be built. That includes population and traffic counts. Actually CB built a smaller store, the location is contrary to its corporate guidlines, were reluctant to try it, and "someone" was pushing it really hard in a "no matter what" to get it here. In other words, Corporate just doesn't build a restaurant and place it just anywhere without careful consideration. There is a large degree of risk, especially in the current economic downturn.
I agree that the restaurants seem to be doing well and are busy on Saturday nites. This is especially true with the new startups and "new" that creates a line to get in. However, they have to be busy many nights to turn a profit. We have seen several restaurants close up like The Barn and others as the new have come in. Some of the success of the chains is due to Tourism and not entirely on the local resident population. Think on that for a while.
MichaelFlorence 1 year ago
Who cares - If a private company wants to build it let them. Sell the property and lets move on. If someone is concerned with how the property is going to be developed then let them step forward and buy it and build a park or whatever. If not then let BoJangles open up and sell some chicken.
Toda 1 year ago
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2011 S 2 SENATE BILL 67 Corrected Copy 2/28/11 Short Title: Sunshine Amendment. (Public) Sponsors: Senators Clary, Tucker, Goolsby; Apodaca, Bingham, Blake, Brock, Brown, Brunstetter, East, Forrester, Gunn, Harrington, Hartsell, Hise, Hunt, Jackson, Meredith, Newton, Rouzer, Rucho, Stevens, and Tillman. Referred to: Judiciary I. February 16, 2011 S67-v-2 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE BY AMENDING THE 2 NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION. 3
So much for the RUSE of Senate Bill 67 titled the Sunshine Law.
Rest assured when the public door is closed, something subliminal is happening to taxpayers. Blake and Tillman thank you for your votes and support!
Toda 1 year ago
Violations of state law and ethical behavior continues to permeate actions by the County Board of Commissioners. People should be outraged! But then again they were elected to take care of our business regardless if their behavior is legal or not!
Toda 1 year ago
Violations abound....
LeeMcGraw 1 year ago
Heck man, what's the problem? Sell the land. Good job! I hope you will sell all you do not need. Thank all five of you commissioners for the crud you go through No one, or no company, is going to invest in something that they know would lose money.. The more government owned land that can be sold to private sector,the better. Now it is tax revenue plus the sell. Secondly, The Vets memorial will not be dishonored...not in any way. It may, in fact, make it more visable. This article already has given more awareness. Point... Carthage has a gift in the form of a plaque mounted on granite, from France honoring McConnell who flew for the LaFayette Esquidrille in WW1. (actually before we entered the war) Anyway, it sat in front of the "Rock" building which is also known as the community building. People were concerned, including myself, that the monument should not be moved to McConnell Airfield where Pik-N-Pig is located. 3 weeks before the vote, I placed 4 quarters and a note on a small piece of paper under the coins on the plaque. It read "If you are reading this, thank you for visiting, and these coins are yours!" I went back two days before the meeting and the note and coins were there. I actually expected a sarcastic note (I would have) but the truth probably is that no one visited it in 3 weeks. At the Pik-n-pig location (Still town owned and on loan only) it is viewed by thousands. It really is. Our last American WW1 pilot (from W.V.)died just before the dedication. I know Roland contacted him and he was thrilled at the prospect of it being seen. Still, it is not a bad thing to be concerned. Vets from every war have seen terrible things, but I wonder if anything has ever been more damaging than the lethal words and spit bestowed upon the vietnam vets? It's ok to question what goes around the memorial, but after the hell our vets have seen, don't worry about the land...it's just land. That leads to number 3...we just use the land while we are here. We should take care of it. Most likely it was land the native americans were on and didn't bother building a courthouse, filing a deed, and fencing in.
LSM 1 year ago
@DoubleHeroides: Now how could offering ONE third grade class out of the maybe fifteen third grade classes in Moore County Schools an IPod prove anything but an experiment in throwing away a bunch of money. The $1500 can not be possibly correct as an IPod 2 is about $500.00, and there are about twenty-two students in the average class. Would the highly responsible third graders take them home, how long would they last and function, how much for internet connect fees, who would repair them, the questions are endless. Filling a teacher's position would be more effective in a child's education, and provide revenue back to the county. The main point is this, it is easy to spend other people's money, without regard that the US is still in a recession, and really no solution on the horizon.
OneNativfe 1 year ago
An Ipad classroom is a total joke, just hilarious on so many levels. By the time this gets implemented, there will already be several levels of new technology. Government does not even BEGIN to move fast enough to keep up with technology. The ideas our government has about education are so demented. I hate to see what this country will look like if I live 50 more years.
Toda 1 year ago
Someone on the County Board of Commissioners should explain why they want to allow a fast food restaurant to build adjacent to Moore County's only memorial? That makes no sense at all.
Should this land sale that was conducted in a secret meeting in violation of NC Meetings Law known as the Sunshine Law go forward without resistance of the people, law suites should be in keeping with any violation of state law. Criminal Behavior!
Toda 1 year ago
Can anyone believe this from the mouth of Cary McSwain?
Toda 1 year ago
""Personally, I don't see any plans at this point to cut the school budget request," he said. "I think the school system is on the right track,"
Lest we not forget that Sandhills pulled $160,000 out of the building and grounds budget to fund the police department! So what else is hidden in plain sight that the taxpayers are not allowed to see?
Put the budgets up on the County Website and not just skimpy power points with meaningless numbers.
Toda 1 year ago
@LSM 13 hours, 16 minutes ago => Well ~ well ... all is not lost here. The number for the IPODs is more like $15,000. from a company owned by two of the commissioners. Think in terms of political fodder for the cud eating grazers out here who are clueless to the shenanigans perpetuated by TPO - 4.
Toda 1 year ago
Note on open meetings laws: "To establish or instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in negotiating (i) the price and other material terms of a contact or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange, or lease; or (ii) the amount of compensation and other material terms ..."
The Clerk to the Board should without duress cognizant haste, make public the minutes of the closed session pursuant to 143‑318.11. Closed sessions. The elections are long over but the subliminal tactics continue
clodfelter37 1 year ago
Way to go Lee McGraw. I could not have said it better myself.
RD28327 1 year ago
Dang, I'm hungry! I gotta wanna needa havea Bojangles! I just gotta drive to Sanford, Aberdeen or Biscoe for my Bo ifx! Doggone it! LOL
LeeMcGraw 1 year ago
Thanks clod...lol Rube, it only makes sense we get one. I seem to get behind a chicken truck every morning. My mom wants a Red Lobster in the County. God fordid the lobster huggers, (identified by the numerous scars and swollen noses), would protest. The free market is a great thing.
Toda 1 year ago
And Lee they ain't making anymore land. The taxpayers own the land since TPO-3 purchased Carriage Oaks to have more available land for expansion - right? Now Caddell and company want to sell off county land so later down the road when another board (hopefully) will have a need for another Human Services Building or county building.
Why is there so much interest in that property unless it's another Larry Caddell pet project. Does he own interest in the franchise? More ethical issues with the current Board of Commissioners.
mooremedic 1 year ago
Not getting into the politics being played here but really isn't this a terrible place for a high traffic business?.....there is no easy ingress or egress and it's a long wait to come out of DSS trying to get back into downtown....
Bflat 1 year ago
Which politician has an interest in BoJ's? I do not think the taxpayer's land should be sold, especially not when any politician is involved for finiancial gain and that especially applies to anyone on the Board of Commissioners.
JohnMcKenzie 1 year ago
Nice post Lee, I like chicken and a few more jobs in Carthage would be a good thing.
Bflat 1 year ago
There is other land available in Carthage for Boj to put its restaurant. BoJ chose another site previous to this and backed out. County land should not be sold.
LeeMcGraw 1 year ago
Well...wherever...I can tell you that County land offers no revenue for the town. None. Any business on any land in town is revenue for the town and the County. Why would we, the taxpayers, want to hold onto land we are not using? Keeping land for the sake of keeping it is no different than paying taxes on land you are not using. Even though the county pays no revenue to Carthage, it is losing money for every piece of land COUNTY WIDE that it retains when marketable. Whatever...hopefully they will buy something else close by if you want to act like congress. Just don't screw it up...we have citizans having Bo attacks. I hope you have a leg to stand on. Keep us abreast. Don't make us wing it.