Pilot Light: Public Hearing Monday on Rezoning for Dog Training Facility

A quasi-judicial hearing at the Monday meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners will consider a Rural Agricultural Conditional-Use District request from a local firm interested in training dogs to detect explosives.

The commissioners will convene at 6 p.m. at the historic courthouse in Carthage.

The zoning change is requested by K2 Solutions Inc., a local company that has secured a military contract to train dogs to sniff out bombs and other explosive devices. The 95-acre tract on McIntosh Road off Union Church Road is presently zoned Residential Agricultural-40.

A quasi-judicial hearing differs from a legislative public hearing in that only facts may be presented in evidence and public opinion is not considered in reaching a decision.

Because of pending contract deadlines, the county has speeded up this process. The Planning Board has called a special meeting for Monday morning to consider the request and to make a recommendation to the commissioners. A few other items have been added to the agenda for the 11 a.m. meeting, which will take the place of the board's regular October meeting.

PUBLIC WORKS -- The commissioners' Monday night agenda also includes a number of items requested by the Public Works Department.

One is an amendment to the county's contract with the Rural Economic Development Center for water system improvements at Dormie Club. The board will consider adoption of a tap fee payment plan policy and a contract with McGill and Associates.

Two public hearings are on the agenda, one on proposed text amendments to the county zoning ordinance, the other a rezoning request for 32.12 acres of a 967.97-acre tract from RA to Light Industrial.

COBLE -- Congressman Howard Coble met with Greensboro Parks and Recreation leaders Friday morning and met constituents in the afternoon.

On Saturday he attended the opening of the Northern Guilford GOP headquarters in Summerfield.

The 6th District congressman started his Sunday with visits to two churches, a service for a new Marine at Magnolia Baptist Church in Greensboro, then his own church, Alamance Presbyterian.

In the afternoon, he will attend the opening of the New Korean Community Service Center in Greensboro and will be present for a major announcement concerning the future of Davidson County Community College in Thomasville.

Coble will meet with constituents for appointments and will tour Moses Cone Hospital Monday morning before returning to Washington.

MILITARY -- The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed an appropriations bill containing $600,000 for the Military Business Park in Fayetteville.

The funding is included in the Transportation Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill.

"The defense industry plays a critical role in North Carolina, with a $23 billion annual economic impact," said U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, a North Carolina Democrat. "North Carolina has the third largest military footprint, but ranks 24th in defense contracts. I am pushing to increase the amount of defense contracts for North Carolina businesses, and this investment in the Military Business Park will help attract them to our state."

Hagan added that she will be working with House colleagues to make sure this project is included in the bill that reaches the president,

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.