Last Updated on June 27, 2015 – 7:44 AM CDT
Above: Moore County Commissioners Len Sheets, left, and Lynn Cartrite pay the county’s bills during their meeting Monday.
As the Moore County Commissioners begin budget discussions for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, consideration of improving an inadequate electrical system at the Killgore Memorial Library might have to be addressed.
The library’s electrical system came up at the commissioner’s meeting Monday when librarian Deborah Skinner asked them for approval to buy a laminator at a cost of $1,995. The seven-year-old laminator the library currently uses has been malfunctioning for some time, Skinner said, and an electrician determined that a full 120 volts wasn’t being delivered to the laminator.
“The electrician checked all the outlets, and he said they were delivering only 113 volts,” Skinner said. “When the AC comes on, it goes down to 111 volts, and the laminator needs a minimum of 115 volts to work properly.”
The commissioners approved the purchase of a new laminator but with the stipulation it wouldn’t be plugged in until a second electrician checked the library’s electrical system. Skinner also said the library’s lights often flicker.
“We can approve the purchase, but let’s get certification from an electrician that the laminator is getting the juice it needs to run,” Commissioner Len Sheets said. “Let’s make sure the building is safe.”
A few blocks away from the library at the County Tax Assessor/Collector’s office, more wiring issues have to be addressed in that office’s renovation. Tax Assessor/Collector Nikki McDonald told the commissioners she’ll have to spend an additional $1,456.99 to accommodate lines for computers and phones. She said the project will still come in under the $25,000 budgeted for the renovation.
The commissioners also approved the purchase of a chip spreader for the Road and Bridge Department. Supervisor Wes McDougal told the commissioners the spreader will cost $194,000, but he has the money available in his budget from capital improvement and a budget surplus that was created when fuel prices dropped. McDougal will rent the spreader for three months, and that money will be applied to the purchase price. He plans to rent the spreader from July through September.
The commissioners will meet July 13 to begin considering the new budget, and the county’s department heads will attend the commissioner’s July 27 meeting to present their budgets.