CHERYL JOHNSON, information technology director for Dare County, recently graduated from the 2011 Certified Chief Information Officers Program at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government. Twenty-seven students completed the 240-hour program in 2011.

PAMELA HAY, pblic health nurse with the Dare County Department of Public Health, is the December Dare County Employee of the Month. Hay was presented the award at the December 5 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting by Anne Thomas,health director.

Hay has been with the Dare County Health Department since February of 2000., and works in the Home Health and Hospice Division. She was trained as a nurse by the Navy, and according to Thomas, brought a great deal of experience to the job. She is big on doing things right.

“She traveled to many places around the world, and those travels and experiences allow Pam to relate to just about anyone,” Thomas commented.

Hay loves her work and enjoys working in homes with patients one-on-one. She is an excellent patient educator and according to Thomas, she individualizes her care so that each patient can achieve the best outcomes.

“Pam brings something to the table that just can’t be learned in books,” Thomas continued. “She genuinely cares and is concerned about all the patients she serves. They know they can rely on her for sound judgment and meticulous nursing care.”

Jim Trogdon of NCDOT  reviewed options for fixing Rt. 12 on Hatteras Island at the two breaches caused by Hurricane Irene at the first and only December meeting of Dare County commissioners. The options included beach nourishment, filling and paving the old roadway, moving the road west in one instance and building new bridges over the breaches. Public meetings were scheduled for this week to get comment on the alternatives.

Trogdon also told the board that construction on the new Oregon Inlet span to replace Bonner Bridge is scheduled to begin in about a year, January 2013. Com. Allen Burrus discussed the problem of erosion on the south end of the current Bonner Bridge, showing slides and suggested that DOT develop strategies soon for dealing with it.

The board also discussed the proposed schedule for 2012. Com. Mike Johnson suggested the board hold only one meeting a month, beginning in the afternoon with public comments at 5 p.m. Currently, the board meets twice a month, the first Monday of the month at 9 a.m. and the third Monday at 5 p.m., giving the working public a chance to attend one meeting. Several meetings recently have been short, he said, and fewer meetings would be a convenience for members of the board who work a day job. County attorney Bobby Outten said the only problem with this was that public comment would come after business items were voted on, so the public would have little effect on them. The two-meeting-per month schedule was approved by unanimous vote.

The board also approved several tourism board requests for expenditures from the short term and long term restricted funds: : $100,000 for an exercist trail from the justice center to the new bridge to Manns Harbor; $25,000 for signage for the N.C. Scenic Byway; $150,000 for a park across from Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head; $27,000 for repairs at the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station site; $100,000 to pay for a master plan for the Windmill Point site; and$13,000 to hire an event promotions and marketing assistant.

Appointments or reappointments were made: to the Board of Equalization and Review, Dare County Youth Council, Oregon Inlet and Waterways Commission, Special Motor Vehicle Valuation Review Board, and Tourism Board.

The board unanimously re-elected Warren Judge as chairman of the county board and Allen Burrus vice-chairman. Judge was appointed to represent the county board on the COA board of Directors.

During commissioners comments. Com. Mike Johnson apologized for a comment he made during the heat of activities surrounding Hurricane Irene when he made  reference to “greedy realtors.” He also discussed a youth hunting program on county land that he heads, referring to recent newspaper comments. He said those  chosen for the program were chosen by pulling a name out of a hat or by judging essays, and it wasn’t cronyism. He said he did not break into a building at the landfill, that he had a key,  but on the time mentioned, it was already unlocked. The board voted to put the program in the parks and recreation department to avoid any more misunderstandings.

Com. Burrus said the question of golf carts on the roads in Buxton needed to be addresed for safety’s sake. He also said the county needs to look at better ways to get people on and offf the island in weather emergencies and that some part of the occupancy tax should be used to this end.

Com. Richard Johnson suggested the county look into self-insuring travelers for lost days when they rent rooms or cottages in the summer. Apparently some travel insurers are threatening not to offer that insurance on Hatteras Island after paying out $10 million after Hurricane Irene.

Outten told the board he needs direction on whether to pursue a certification for the medical helicopter, which is undergoing extensive maintenance. He said such certification would allow the county to receive insurance money for transporting patients. He and the board reiterated that anyone needing air transport in a medical emergency would always receive it, regardless of ability to pay.

The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 3.

The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to extend the financing of the $1,700 assessment owed by all property owners whose lots will be eligible to receive water service as part of the expansion project. The assessment financing was extended from seven years to ten years. The board was able to extend the length of payments to ten years due to changes in state legislation that had previously restricted payments to seven years.

The usual five percent interest rate for assessment financing was eliminated by the Board of Commissioners after hearing public comments in an effort to help those with financial hardships.

The Board of Commissioners also extended the deadline to June 30, 2012 for customers to sign-on to be connected to the water system without paying the full impact fee normally associated with connecting a property to a water system.

With the extended deadline, any property owners who opt to connect to the system before the new June 30, 2012 deadline will owe a total of $447 for a meter fee and deposit and will avoid a $2500 impact fee. All property owners in the project area will still be responsible for the $1700 assessment whether connecting or not. Those who have not signed-on to connect before the deadline and who choose to connect later, will have to pay the impact fee along with the meter fee and deposit when they connect.

For more information, contact the Dare County Water Dept. at (252) 475-5990.

Dare County Board of Commissioners has set a meeting for East Lake Nov. 8, 7 p.m., in the community center to hear directly from the community on ideas and support for zoning in East Lake.  This Special Meeting is in response to a petition that was submitted to the board of commissioners in August asking the County to begin conversations about zoning in East Lake, the only unincorporated area that remains unzoned.  This special meeting was originally scheduled for September 6, but was postponed due to Hurricane Irene.
The special meeting on November 8, is designed to gauge community support for East Lake zoning and the public is encouraged to attend and present comments to the board of commissioners

Recreational trailers (many from trailer parks) that were flooded in Hurricane Irene and hauled to the side of the road on Hatteras Island and what do with county buildings left mostly empty when the county moved to the new administration building were subjects discussed at the mid-month Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night.

Trailer park owners have moved ruined trailers to the side of the road so they can re-rent the lots. They know the trailer owners will not move them, even though it is their responsibility, and the debris is ugly and a safety hazard. Com. Allen Burrus of Buxton said he counted 26 such trailers as he traveled to the meeting.

Bobby Outten, county attorney and manager, said he was working with FEMA to remove the trailers, and he has hopes that that agency will foot the bill. The county cannot go on private property and take damaged trailers, it will first have to go through a lengthy eviction process, he said, and it would probably be better and quicker to wait and see what negotiations with FEMA bring. Com. Richard Johnson said he thought the county should remove them and fine the trailer owners or park owners the $250 allowed by law. Outten and others said the trailer park owners are suffering because of the hurricane and they were reluctant to add to their troubles. Johnson said the trailer park owners should have gotten enough in a deposit when the spaces were rented to cover removal costs. Burrus says if the county picks them up, more will appear on the roadside. He also said the county needs a long-term plan to address the issue.

Despite the differing opinions, the board did not vote on the issue, preferring to allow Outten time to resolve the issue with FEMA.

Burrus and Com. Virginia Tillett also mentioned the problem of ditches full of debris.Outten said so far, FEMA has refused to pay for this item, and the county again cannot go on private property to do it. NCDOT may be able to clean ditches in its right-of-way.

In another hurricane-related item, Chairman Warren Judge said the deadline for national flood insurance has been extended for several more weeks, but application needs to be made as soon as possible, since this will be the last deadline. Outten said when people apply, they should also fill out the Small Business Agency application even if they don’t want or feel they are not eligible for a loan, because there are grants that can be accessed through this application.

When the county moved to the new administration building, it left the old one on Budleigh Street in Manteo vacant. Currently, the Girl Scouts and CSI use space in it. Currently there is not enough demand for the space to justify the considerable expense ($1 million is a ball-park estimate) it would take to bring it up to code.

Burrus suggested using it for purposes that will develop jobs for young people or  for a small business development group. Judge also suggested similar uses.

The building next to the SPCA is also vacant, and at this group’s request, the county voted to allow them to use it. The SPCA will renovate the interior.

Most doubtful is the issue of  use of the old alternative school and gym next to Manteo Elementary School. It has serious structural problems, and as Burrus said, “It may be too late for the old gym. Com. Virginia Tillett preferred to look for historic preservation funds to restore it, but tearing it down is an option being seriously considered.

Most commissioners supported having a public meeting to solicit suggestions and requests for the vacant buildings.

In other issues to come before this brief meeting, general contractor Duke Geraghty spoke during the public comments portion, questioning the need for the Bowsertown affordable housing project, saying that builders with property expenses have difficulty competing with those who don’t have this expense.

Com. Max Dutton told the board that contrary to rumors, East Carolina Behavioral Health is active and helping people with emotional and mental problems.  For integrated family services at all hours, the number to call is 877-685-2415; for crisis counseling call 846-437-1821.

During commissioners comments, Burrus urged a permanent solution to the problem of flooded and damaged Rt. 12, whether it is to dredge and fill, building a causeway or bridge.

The board was reminded of the Oct. 24 meeting with DOT at Kill Devil Hills Town Hall on options for improving Colington Road.

Outten presented a resolution to refinance most of the county’s debt, now financed through variable rates, into a fixed rate since interest rates are so low. This passed by unanimous vote.

The next scheduled county board meeting is 9 a.m. Nov. 7, in the commissioners meeting room in the new administration building.

THE FOLLOWING DARE COUNTY EMPLOYEES pictured from left to right were awarded service pins at the October 3 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting: Neries Sullivan, telecommunicator shift supervisor with the sheriff’s office, received her 10 year pin; George Bowman, community program coordinator with the sheriff’s office, received his 15 year pin; and Amy Hill, detention officer with the sheriff’s office, received her 15 year pin.

SANDY SCARBOROUGH, director of the Dare County Center in Manteo, is the Dare County Employee of the Month for Octobe. Scarborough was presented the award by Public Services Director, Tim White, at the October 3 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting.  

As director of the Dare County Center, Scarborough oversees a staff of four and along with her staff is responsible for staffing, staging, and preparing the facility for a range of events and activities.  The public uses the facility for its exercise room, exercise classes, meeting rooms, computers, game room, and stage area.  Meals on wheels operates from the facility’s kitchen.  Also, the center has been used recently after Hurricane Irene as a shelter and a center of operations for FEMA’s relief efforts.  

With all of these things happening on a daily basis, Scarborough has to take on many responsibilities, which was one of the reasons for her nomination for Employee of the Month.  One letter nominating her noted this about her work after Hurricane Irene, “Sandy worked innumerable hours, always going above and beyond expectations – all while sleeping on a Red Cross cot in her office during the recovery.” 

During the presentation of the award, Tim White also had this to say about Scarborough, “[Sandy] is one of the most valuable employees for the county, and is more than deserving of this award.” 

Scarborough, in accepting the award said she was thankful for the recognition.  “Thank you very much.  I truly enjoy my job.  This is an honor.  It is a blessing to work with the members of the community,” Scarborough told the commissioners.

Storm recovery items and a conditional use permit for a Colington campground were on tap for discussion at the first October meeting of Dare County Board of Commissioners Monday.

The board was told officials can’t go on private property to remove severely damaged recreational vehicle campers and that it is up to the owner to remove them, even if they haul the pieces to the side of the road. The county is still working with FEMA to get temporary trailers for residents who lost homes. Sixteen families have qualified for the trailers, so far, but none have been brought into the county yet. Houses will be provided after the bridge in Hatteras is complete. The National Park Services will allow temporary (six-month) hook-ups for some of the trailers at one of its campgrounds. Com. Virginia Tillett asked about cleaning out ditches, saying aerial spraying for mosquitoes at $100,000 each time is a waste if the ditches where the mosquitoes hatch are not cleaned. Crowder Gulf, the county’s clean-up company, has the equipment, she was told, but the county is waiting for notification from FEMA as to whether this agency can pay for it. The county does not have enough in the storm fund to do this.

The board also approved a conditional use permit for Marshy Ridge Retreat Campground at Colington. The primary issue was whether to require the owner to ensure that the trailers were removed before a hurricane or other flooding event was expected. Commissioners Richard Johnson and Jack Shea thought such a requirement for this campground would be unfair because the county had not required it for previously-approved campgrounds, so the CUP was approved without this requirement.

In a discussion on the capital improvements plan, the board discussed the new helicopter that is included in this plan. They discussed selling the one in use now, keeping it to use when the new one is down, buying a smaller one and buying a larger one. Com. Jack Shea said the county needs to do a value analysis on it. The CIP was approved by unanimous vote.

Sheila Davis made a presentation on the telepsychiatry project  in association with Albemarle Hospital. Davies heads the Missions of Mercy Free Dental Clinic and New Telepsychiatry Service. The goal of the telepsychiatry component, she said, is to reduce the number of involuntary commitments and reduce the stay of those committed.  This service is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is expected to expand eventually to late night hours.

The free dental clinic is planned for October 28-29 at Family Recreation Center in Kill Devil Hills. Last year, services valued at $800,000 were rendered, she said.

In other business, the board voted to accept a safety grant for the sheriff’s office that would install cameras in some vehicles, approved plans for the Dare County Arts Council renovation for the old courthouse, approved a request from the ABC Board for county-owned property adjoining the Manteo store and accepted a preliminary assessment resolution for the Roanoke Island Water System project.

County attorney Bobby Outten brought to the board’s attention a proposal from AT&T to build a free-standing cell tower on the property next to the airport but no action was taken on this. The board also discussed what to do with the former administration building located in Manteo and the old alternative school building. Currently, CSI and the Girl Scouts are using rooms in the old administration building. The old alternative school has structural damage in back and is being used occasionally for athletics.

Com. Virginia Tillett said she had gotten some calls from people complaining about their yards being torn up and not replaced properly by water project workers and about employees of the company doing this work not being polite.

Com. Allen Burrus said a permanent bridge over the new inlet needs to be built.

In employee recognition, Sandy Scarborough, director of The Dare County Center, was named Employee of the Month and three employees were recognized for years of service.

The next board meeting is set for Oct. 17 at 5 p.m.

DARE COUNTY COMMISSIONER VIRGINIA TILLETT has been appointed to a one-year term as an at-large member of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ (NCACC) Board of Directors by NCACC President Kenneth Edge, a Cumberland County commissioner. Commissioner Tillett previously served on the NCACC Board of Directors as an at-large director in 2009-10.

The NCACC is the official voice of all 100 counties on issues being considered by the General Assembly and state and federal agencies. The NCACC’s Board is comprised of five officers, 18 district directors, county commissioners who are members of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Counties and several presidential appointees who either chair association steering committees or serve as at-large members, as Tillett does. The board of directors meets several times throughout the year to develop statewide policy goals in such areas as taxation and finance, agriculture, environment, justice and public safety, health and human services and public education.

Commissioner Tillett has been a member of the Dare County Board of Commissioners for nine years and has served on many local boards and committees during her time as commissioner. She currently serves on the Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, the Dare Day Committee, the Dare County Center Advisory Board, the Library Board, the Older Adult Services Advisory Council, the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee.

The first meeting for the NCACC Board of Directors under new President Kenneth Edge will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk on October 14 and 15.