COURTLAND
Picking a company to replace the roof of the Southampton County Office Center will be among the subjects discussed on Monday, Nov. 28, by the Board of Supervisors; the meeting begins at 7 p.m.

This past Tuesday, four competitive bids were received, the lowest of which was $183,000 presented by Custom Roofing. The company, which works out Ashland, has reported strong references, according to the report by Michael Johnson, county administrator. He added There was an out-of-state erroneous bid of $19,300, which was supposed to be $119,000. But state code does not allow it to be amended or modified.

For the work, 40-year shingles will be used, with the first 20 years non-prorated, he wrote, adding that the installation will also be warrantied for a 5-year period. The existing roof is coming to the end of its 25-year this coming spring.

The matter of roof replacement was considered last spring, and to include with the Fiscal Year 2017 budget. The storms of this past September and October caused many leaks.

“With winter approaching, the long term consequences of a leaking roof far outweigh any modest savings achieved by an additional 6-month deferral,” Johnson stated.

He described the General Fund reserve as healthy, which also includes a $30,000 insurance settlement from hail storm damage in 2013. Further, Johnson estimates the county’s rebate of excess tip fees to SPSA will come in about $107,000.

The one public hearing concerns the request by Keith Munroe for a conditional use permit to have livestock in the R-1, Residential Zoning District. Specifically he wants chickens and goats to be allowed at his property on Sycamore Avenue in Sedley.

They serve as therapy animals for his children, according to Munroe.

When he initially made the request to the Planning Commission in October, a few residents spoke against allowing the permit. In summary: “If you want farm animals you have to live on a farm,” according to Cheryl Stepp, who added she’s also seen the goats having been out of the yard. Munroe said she was lying.

That evening, though, the majority of commissioners gave their approval for the supervisors to support the permit provided there be no more than three goats, none of which should be “screamers;” a functioning coop with no more than 12 chickens — guineas and roosters are not allowed; and a fence at least six feet tall.