Moore County, NC Commissioners hear abortion debate
The Moore County Board of
Commissioners heard public comments on the June 24 decision to overturn the
1973 Roe Vs Wade law allowing abortion at the regular 19 July meeting.
Citizens packed the old
Carthage courthouse.
Prior to the regular
meeting, citizens held a peaceful demonstration on the sidewalk around the
courthouse. One group requested Moore County be a sanctuary for life and to not
allow abortion clinics, and a second group opposed the request.
“It’s great to see such a
large group of people,” said Vice Chair Catherine Graham.
During public comments, there
were 12 speakers in support of life, requesting that commissioners make Moore
County a sanctuary for life and to not allow an abortion facility.
There were 10 speakers
against making Moore County a sanctuary for life and to allow an abortion
facility.
Calvary Memorial Church
Pastor Charles Garrison said the Declaration of Independence and the Bible in
Genesis declare the inalienable right to life. He shared statistics from
1996-2020 abortion clinic data that shows 96.5% of abortions are for social or
economic reasons.
Garrison shared that .39%
of abortions are for rape, 1.4% is to save mother’s life, 1.28% is to preserve
a mother’s mental health, and 6.9% are for eugenics when defects are detected.
Tim Russell said he was
speaking on a large group of voters who support abortion. He said there is a
small minority trying to change the current law. He submitted a resolution to
the commissioners seeking preservation of the right for abortion through North
Carolina law.
Speaker comments included:
*A story on praying for pregnant mothers
and how a timely adoption came to fruition for the family, providing the only
grandchild.
*Statement on 26 centers supporting
pregnant women and their children.
*Statements on freedom to choose abortion.
*Support for Moore County as a sanctuary
for life.
*Stories from women who regret abortion in
youth.
*A statement compared a fetus to an
organism—the same as a fungus.
*Statement on life beginning at
conception.
*Statement on commissioners needing to
provide low-cost daycare and more sex education.
*Story from a woman who survived a threat
from her father to be aborted and now has 19 grandchildren and is ecstatically
grateful for life.
A presentation from the
Executive Director of Partners in Progress on the Workforce Development
Realignment provided recommendations to evaluate how the workforce and economic
development programs work together.
There are eight separate
prosperity zones, and 22 development boards cross the zones.
She said the governor
recommended realignment with the Mid-Carolina Workforce with Cumberland,
Sampson, and Harnett Counties, and Lumber River. A letter of intent was drafted
by the clerk and the board voted to take steps to realign.
In new business, the board
approved the resolution authorizing Moore County as a member of the Sandhills
Regional Library System, as part of the 10-year member renewal process.
The board approved
$50,000 in funding for school nurses to provide care in the public schools for
the 2022-2023 school year. The funds come from the state and must be used for
the purpose of nurses in schools.
Presently, there are 14.5
nurse positions with one part-time nurse in the Moore County public schools,
and they need 17 to meet state recommendations of one nurse per every 750
students.
Moore County Schools has
one nurse per every 900 students.
The board agreed to
support a legislative request for the North Carolina General Assembly to revise
the Program Enhancement Teacher Allotment for kindergarten through fifth grade
to kindergarten through eighth grade. This would allow 15-16 more teachers and
would help all counties.
The board agreed to enter
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) for 2022-2024. The agreement verifies county support for all social
services programs, expect for medical assistance.
There will be no
financial impact on taxpayers for the DHHS agreement.
The board accepted two
preliminary tax settlement reports on who listed personal property but owned no
real property and whose taxes remain unpaid for 2021-2022, and reports for
real, personal, and motor vehicle taxes.
In 2020-2021, the county collected
99.74% in taxes, the highest ever. The county has collected over 99% for 30
years, creating a state record.
The board charged the Tax
Administrator with collecting personal property taxes for 2022-2023.
The board approved a
request to lower the 2022-2023 planning and inspections fee for new residential
and commercial construction from $500 for same day inspection cancelation down
to $250.
The end.
Stephanie M. Sellers
Journalist
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