Carthage Board of Commissioners meeting on Oct. 19 included negotiations on adding 10 RV hook-ups to the existing 25 at the Gilliam-McConnell Airfield’s campground, the Airport RV Park. The additional 10 RV hook-ups have already been approved, and the board discussed how to get the owner to build a bathhouse at the same time of the addition instead of afterward.
No paperwork was found to mandate a bathhouse requirement for the additional hook-ups.
At present, all RV’s coming in are self-contained.
The board passed a ruling to cut off water and sewage to the airport if a bathhouse was not constructed in a reasonable amount of time.
The Airport RV Park is adjacent to the Pik N Pig restaurant, and according to owner Roland Gilliam people “fly in to eat from everywhere, and campers come in for golf and some are hospital travel nurses.”
In other business, the board will continue the discussion on a proposal to renovate Sandhills Community College’s Training Center. The property is owned by the college and is listed as educational use. It was suggested that the area may be used for technical HVAC training.
Also, during the meeting, the board passed a motion to offer the 457 retirement plan because some employees coming in from other organizations have that plan and want to continue.
The Town’s part-time planner, Kathy Liles, conducted a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant Application. It was revealed that the grant would be for low to moderate-income families and for the Moore County area, $80,000 was moderate. The four areas of focus for the grant is to support telehealth, protect vulnerable citizens, to assist small businesses (less than 100 employees) and study trends in pandemic spread.
During the public comment session, Carthage resident Brandon Barber announced that he will run for mayor next year and said that he would like to be active on the fire department. He also shared complaints.
Barber said that a swimming pool across the street from his residence had an unsecured fence and mosquitoes. The pool is owned by the former mayor.
“It is a cesspool,” Barber said. “I went through proper channels and nothing has been done.”
The board said it allows 30 days for a defendant to respond.
The board voted down this year’s Christmas parade due to coronavirus concerns and lack of participation.
“Not worth the safety of children and people of Carthage,” Chalflinch said.
The board’s next meeting is on Nov. 16.
Article by Sandhills Sentinel Journalism Intern Stephanie M. Sellers.
