Moore County Commissioners fund mandated public infrastructure

On June 3, Moore County Commissioners approved funding for the New Carthage Elementary School, the Information Technology building and a fire engine for Cypress Pointe Fire and Rescue.

Commissioners approved using $3.3 million from its Capital Reserve Fund to build a new Moore County Schools Information Technology (IT) facility. In return, Moore County Schools will use $3.3 million in lottery funds for the new Carthage Elementary School, and the county’s $3.3 million contribution for the IT facility will be deducted from the elementary school’s overall construction budget.

Commissioners authorized Cypress Pointe Fire and Rescue to purchase a fire engine using the pay-up-front option for funding in an amount not to exceed $784,041 for the county portion of the engine.

Cypress Pointe Fire and Rescue received prior approval to buy two fire engines. One has already been ordered. The department is now ready to order the second engine, which costs $1,106,235. If the county pays the full amount upfront, the price would be reduced by $88,000, bringing the total to $1,018,235.

Cypress Pointe has secured a financing offer from a bank that would cover 75% of the purchase price through a 10-year loan at a 4.55% interest rate.

The board approved The Moore County Airport’s request to build two hangars. The county owns the land. The airport will finance $5 million to pay for construction.

Airport Director Richard Coultier said the airport has 105 airplanes based, 70 hangars and some are multi-unit, a five-year waiting list for hangars, and need to expand. The planes contribute to property taxes. They plan three more hangars for another taxi lane to connect to the north and add eight more hangars to the south.

On May 19, County Manager Wayne Vest presented the 2026-27 proposed budget, and he said there had been no changes. On Thursday, June 4, the board will approve the budget.

Read Moore County Commissioners stress constitutional freedoms and county accountability about the budget.

Commissioners approved Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO) changes after public hearings at which no one spoke.

Senior Planner Daniel Orloff introduced a public hearing to allow beauty salons, barber shops and nail salons in to be allowed by right in the Neighborhood Business (B-1) zoning district. Originally, these were allowed but an error removed the businesses by right.

The board approved the proposed UDO correction.

The board approved the UDO amendment to Chapter 6, Section 6.2.C. on Accessory Uses and Structures, General Standards for all Secondary Uses and Structures (Exemptions)) and adjust numbering.

Changes to the maximum size of an accessory structure were considered by the Board of Commissioners earlier, but existing language remained unchanged due to downzoning. The new exemptions are for government facility accessory uses and structures that assist in serving citizens.

Chairman Nick Picerno asked why private citizens were not included.

Orloff said they were going to address including private citizens.

The planning board had voted 5-0 to recommend the accessory use in 6.2.C. with the following language revision:

Accessory uses and structures serving “Emergency Services” Government Facilities shall be exempted from the standards in Section 6.2.D.

The board approved updating the amendment to Chapter 5 – Dimensional Standards, Section 5.1 (Table of Area and Setbacks) Table of Dimensional Requirements, to reduce accessory structure minimum front setbacks from 40’ to 30’ in all residential zoning districts, except for Rural Agricultural (RA), adding “and Rural Agricultural Urban Service Boundary (RA-USB).”

In the Rural Agricultural (RA) zone, accessory structures are permitted a minimum front setback of 10 ft from the front property line, and this is the sole district where accessory structures are allowed in the front yard, with the only exception being an accessory horse stable in RA and RE.

The board approved a call for a public hearing for a Conventional Rezoning of 10.5 acres off U.S. Highway 15-501 from RA and B1 to only B1, owned by Dabbs Brothers LLC. Owners want to sell the property.

The board approved a call for a public hearing to amend Chapter 6 at the request of property owner Amy Parker at 164 Tanner Lane. The proposal is to remove Massage & Bodywork Therapy from the Adult Uses category and add it to the Offices and General Services use category, which would allow Parker’s request.

Commissioners approved a call for a public hearing to amend Chapter 6 Table of Uses, Section 6.2.C.4. (Accessory Uses and Structures- General Standards for All Secondary Uses and Structures – Maximum Structure Size). The change would allow property owners to have accessory structures larger than the principal residence unless otherwise prohibited, such as restricted covenants, setbacks and smaller lots.

The board approved a call for a public hearing to amend Chapter 6 Table of Uses, Section 6.2.C.1 (General Standards for all Secondary Uses and Structures -Permitted Accessory Uses and Structures), Section 6.2.E (Accessory Use Table) of the Moore County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Including the amenity center in HOA covenants, deeds, and restrictions for subdivision lots ensures it’s incidental to the main development. The planning board votes on this proposed change on June 4.

Health Care for Inmates

Earlier this year, the Moore County Detention Center requested proposals for inmate medical services because the current contract expires in June 2026.

The commissioners approved Southern Health Partners and will contribute $55k each year to pool costs.

 The county will pay the contractor up to:

$447,579.96 for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

$464,469.48 for July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028

$482,034.48 for July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2029

$500,302.08 for July 1, 2029 – June 30, 2030

$519,300.48 for July 1, 2030 – June 30, 2031

The next meeting is June 4 at 10 a.m.

Stephanie M. Sellers

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