By ELENA MARSH
Insider Staff Writer
Like the job itself, the needs of Moore County’s public safety departments are always shifting. That fact was clear as county commissioners this past week heard needs both big and small, with a few pleasant surprises, at their most recent regular meeting.
Commissioners last month approved the purchase of three vehicles for county fire departments along with equipment and vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office.
The High Falls Fire Department is set to receive a new brush truck, a compact vehicle designed to fight grass fires in rugged terrain, for its Glendon substation. The truck, costing about $110,000, was approved for purchase by the county fire commission in July. Similarly to High Falls, the Cypress Pointe Fire-Rescue Department’s more rural fire fighting needs require that its 1996 brush truck be refurbished, for $22,000.
The Eagle Springs Fire Department was approved to purchase a new service truck, a vehicle that carries surplus gear for firefighters, for about $184,000, to replace the current service truck with a blown gasket.
Eagle Springs was slated this year to receive a new fire engine; however, upon further review, the department decided it could extend the life of the current engine and forgo replacement, since the service truck was a greater need.
“As far as the engine is concerned, we can still get a couple of years out of it,” said Eagle Springs Fire Chief Mike St. Onge.
In another realm of public safety, the Sheriff’s Office was able to secure the newest model of Dodge pursuit vehicles after the distributor ran out of the originally ordered 2025 model. For the same price of $251,500 the county is set to receive one 2025 Dodge Durango model and five 2026 pursuit vehicles.
In regard to equipment, the Sheriff’s Office was approved to lease tasers under a five-year agreement for about $560,000.
According to the department, while individual purchases remain possible, the cost of buying tasers, pods or batteries on an à la carte basis is significantly higher.
Under this contractual agreement, all tasers are upgraded to the latest models, with virtually unlimited pods and batteries provided. The contract also includes replacement units as needed, along with multiple training aids and comprehensive training included in the price.
In other business commissioners:
- Heard a presentation from Karyl Fuller, the principal planner for the Central Pines Regional Council, who explained the necessity of approving the Central Pines Rural Planning Organization’s project prioritization list. The list of 17 projects are for future transportation projects in the county and range from highway widenings to railway passenger service to sidewalks.
- Dissolved the Moore County Water/Sewer Task Force and Land Use Plan/Unified Development Ordinance Task Force.
- Appointed Commissioners Vice Chair Nick Picerno to the Department of Social Services Board.
Contact Elena Marsh at (910) 693-2484 or elena@thepilot.com.
