HALIFAX — Halifax County Commissioners had plenty to keep them busy at their Nov. 5 meeting. Three public hearings concerning economic development lend hope to possible economic improvements for Halifax County. Commissioners commended Economic Development Executive Director Cathy Scott for moving toward land conveyances to businesses which will bring more than 500 jobs to the Valley.

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Thirty year employee Sheila Alford was acknowledged by Halifax County commissioners this week. Alford, a Public Health Nurse director, is retiring from Halifax County Health Department. Commissioner Chair Gene Minton presented Alford with an honorary resolution and thanked her for her dedicated service.

Commissioners granted a request by N.C. Department of Transportation to abandon SR 1753, Alliance Drive. There are no homes on the road and two businesses, one of which is Pelican Packaging. DOT’s reasons given for the abandonment is “to accommodated business expansion.”

Commissioners approved a draw down of lottery funds for the Roanoke Rapids Graded Schools District. Superintendent Dennis Sawyer said the district needs funds to replace roofs at Manning Elementary and Chaloner Middle schools.

The money will also be used for fire alarm systems in Manning and the high school Armory. “The system in Manning is inadequate. We get written up for it every year,” said Sawyer. Commissioner Chair Gene Minton reminded Sawyer that Manning is on the chopping block for possible school closure in the future. Sawyer assured commissioners he would do everything in his power to install a mobile system that could be reinstalled in another location if it is possible. Commissioners supported the request for $590,000.

Halifax County municipalities will have to cough up some bucks if they want to be part of the County’s updated Hazard Mitigation Plan. Chris Rountree said the county applied for a $25,000 grant in April to fund the update, but it was denied. “The county is required to update this plan by April 2010 in order to meet compliance standards for receipt of HMGP (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program), public assistance and other hazard mitigation and disaster relief funds from FEMA and the State of North Carolina following a natural disaster,” he said. Holland Consulting Planners Inc. was awarded the contract. Their “not-to-exceed” plan was for $25,250, while PBS&J bid $24,988 and AMEC Earth & Environment bid $44,998.

Rountree said he talked with representatives of the municipalities and discussed matching funds with them. Based on population, the following amounts are required: Enfield, $1,000; Halifax, $150; Hobgood, $200; Littleton, $300; Roanoke Rapids, $6,800; Scotland Neck, $950; and Weldon, $600. Municipality contributions total $10,000. The county plans to pick up the rest of the tab, $15,250.

There will be no debt service relief by using lottery funds for Belmont Elementary and Weldon Middle schools according to County Manager Tony Brown. In the Sept. 8 commission meeting, Brown asked they approve using lottery funds to retire debt service totaling nearly $280,000 for 2009-10. He said Average Daily Membership funds were generally used to pay the debt service, but for the past two years the state had diverted the funds. Brown hoped to prevent a $281,000 shortfall.

Commissioners complied, but Brown had to report at this week’s meeting lottery funds couldn’t be used. “The guidelines say the construction had to be done after 2002,” Brown said. While it’s the county’s responsibility to pay the debt service, ADM funds fell short at only $131,000. He recommended the shortfall be covered through general funds. “We were trying to find a way the county wouldn’t have to pay that,” Brown said later. Commissioners approved using ADM funds totaling $131,395 and an additional $279,932 from the general fund balance.