Connie Orr
Robbinsville – Graham County Commissioner Connie Orr learned of a law-enforcement raid near where she lives, in which suspects ridiculed law enforcement about the shabby state of equipment used by the Graham County Sheriff’s Office.
She made a motion during Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting for the county to spend up to $75,000 to replace worn-out equipment. Her motion passed unanimously.
The money will go toward paying for 17 rifles, 13 protective vests, 15 Tasers and 25 radios.
She said the county needs to do all it can to protect its citizens – and its law-enforcement officers – under warlike conditions against drug dealers and other criminals.
Sheriff Brad Hoxit – who was at the meeting along with some of his senior deputies – thanked the board.
Other news and notes
* Graham County Project Manager Jason Marino submitted a project update for the proposed $20-million justice center that provided new insights into the project. There was no discussion about his report during the meeting, but Marino reported that Moseley Architects is conducting a cost-benefit analysis of three proposed sites for a new – or renovated – Graham County Justice Center.
The Graham Star has previously reported that the location was a site off West Fort Hill Road.
Also previously mentioned was a renovation and expansion of the existing courthouse.
New to the mix was a location not previously mentioned in previous public reports: renovation or new construction at the old Oak Valley Hardwoods Plant off Snowbird Road, which has been unused for years.
The property owner is listed as Oak Valley Hardwoods Inc., out of Waxhaw. That company was warned by the state to clean up a sludge pit where two stray dogs drowned over the summer. It is unclear whether the company acted on the warning.
* Commissioners appointed Robbinsville Alderman Debbie Beasley to fill 1-of-2, newly-created seats on the Graham County Travel & Tourism board of directors. The board added two seats after then-commissioner Dale Wiggins expressed a desire to remain on the travel board. His old seat was filled by Commissioner Connie Orr. Beasley also serves as interim director of the Robbinsville Tourism Authority.
* The board added another $48,000 to the Graham County Board of Elections to pay for costs associated with the runoff for sheriff in the 2022 Republican primary, and legal and staff costs associated with a voter challenge in the Town of Lake Santeetlah.
* The board approved the spending of $677,012.50 to Adams Contracting Co. Inc., for riverbank stabilization and snag removal along Little Snowbird Creek.