Meeting for the first time this month, Nags Head commissioners discussed permitting the rental of beach chairs and umbrellas, among other items.

These rentals were allowed last summer with a sunset clause of December, 2011. Planner Elizabeth Teague brough the issue before the board again, saying that they had experienced some violations. The planning board had sent it to the commissioners with the suggestion that the rentals not be allowed east of the first line of vegetation, that the chairs and umbrellas not be stored on or near beach accesses, not be set up before the customer requests it and that the rentals be limited to hotels  and an entity such as nags Head Village and that a permit be revoked immediately if there are any violations. This ordinance passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Bob Oakes was recused from this discussion and vote because of business interests.

The board also discussed the Abalone Street waterline project. The town will complete the loop in the area so there are no dead ends.

In other business, the board:

*Voted in favor of adding “Indoor Training Facility for Dog Agility Club” as a permitted use within the C-3 district;

* Decided to drop the position of alternate member of the planning board because it is so seldom needed.

* Discussed amending the town code section on architectural and interior lighting  to allow liighting from roof-mounted systems.

* Heard a repor from Mayor Oakes who said that 48 percent of the sand applied in the beach renourishment project was below the mean low water mark and was reacting as expected.

* Oakes also reported on the Colony Ridge Advisory Committee meeting, saying there was a good atmosphere.

* Approved a final subdivision plat tor a two-lot division located just north of Bainbridge St.

* Held two closed sessions to discuss ongoing litigation.

The Nags Head Police Department has received numerous calls of concern regarding a presentation on gang awareness, given on January 16, by the Kill Devil Hills Police Department. The information presented at this meeting is correct in that law enforcement has encountered gang members in Dare County over the last 12 months and most of these individuals were from the Elizabeth City area.
There seems to be an impression gang members are the primary perpetrators of crime within our community. To date, the Nags Head Police Department can show no statistically relevant correlation between residential burglaries and gangs.
Elizabeth City has experienced gang-related criminal activity in the past and it’s understood some of these individuals frequent Dare County. All local law enforcement agencies are striving to educate our officers on recognizing gang methodology, in order to deter gangs from our area.
The Nags Head Police Department believes the best way for citizens and visitors to protect themselves against property crimes is by using the following basic crime prevention techniques:

Lock their vehicles when unattended

Store valuables out of sight

Lock exterior doors and windows

Security lighting should be installed on exterior of residence, etc.

These prevention tips are not new; the police department has sent out numerous messages on basic crime prevention techniques using radio, email, and town newsletters, hoping citizens will recognize their importance.
Citizens should not panic or be overly concerned with the information that was shared during the meeting. The message was only intended to provide information on this issue, to remind everyone to be observant/vigilant in their daily routine and to ask for the community’s assistance by reporting all suspicious activity.
If you should have additional questions or concerns regarding this issue, please feel free to contact Police Chief Kevin Brinkley at kevinbrinkley@townofnagshead.net or 252-441-6386.

The Nags Head Community Watch Association’s next scheduled meeting is currently set for Feb. 14.

Due to Valentine’s Day, association President George Moore has asked this meeting be moved to Thursday, February 16 to avoid any conflicts. The meeting will start at the regularly scheduled time of 7:30 .p.m and will be held at the town of Nags Head’s Board of Commissioner’s Room.

On the evenings of January 30 and February 1,  the Nags Head Police Department will be holding in-service training at Nags Head Elementary School.

This training has been scheduled from 6-10 P.M. so it doesn’t interfere with after school activities. There will be numerous police vehicles in the school parking lot during this time period. Please share this information with anyone you think may become alarmed. It is the department’s intent to alert as many people as possible to diminish any unnecessary worry.

ThetTown of Nags Head’s mid-month Board of Commissioners meeting, held as needed on the third Wednesday of each month, has been moved to next Wednesday, January 25 2012. The meeting will begin at 7:30 pm as usual. The February mid-month meeting, if needed, will occur as regularly scheduled on the third Wednesday.

For more information, call Nags Head Town Hall at 252-441-5508.

JUSTIN KUPFER, town of Nags Head Police Officer First Class, has successfully completed Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training in Morehead City and Raleigh and is now a nationally certified DRE. A DRE is trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol. The costs associated with attaining this certification were reimbursed through the State of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services Forensic Tests for Alcohol Branch.

What does it take to become a certified DRE?

Although the focus of the DRE curricula is on the identification of the drug-impaired driver, DRE skills are applied to many different law enforcement activities. The certified DRE is an extremely valuable tool for combating the adverse impact of drugs on the communities we serve.

DRE School is extremely demanding. To receive certification as a DRE, three phases of training must be completed.

POLICE SERGEANT CHRIS MONTBOMERY of the Nags Head Police Departme has graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Va. Sergeant  Montgomery was one of 266 law enforcement officers from the United States and 25 foreign countries to complete the 247th session of the National Academy.

Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy Program, held at the FBI Academy, offers 10 weeks of advanced investigative, management, and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals within their agencies. Training for the program is provided by FBI Academy staff, special agents, and other instructors holding advanced degrees, many of whom are recognized internationally in their fields of expertise.

Montgomery obtained 15 credit hours from the University of Virginia, of which three were courses towards his master’s degree in criminal justice.

“We’re very proud of Sergeant Montgomery and his tremendous accomplishment,” said Nags Head Police Chief Kevin Brinkley. “Only select law enforcement officers in the United States are chosen to attend the National Academy.”

Nags Head Board of Commissioners, meeting in their first and only session for December Wednesday, voted against allowing LCD, LED or plasma digital signs, ones with moving images, at Nags Head businesses. The vote was 3-1, with Com. Doug Remaley casting the only vote in opposition and Com. Anna Sadler not present at the meeting.

This followed a public hearing which saw several people speak in favor of these digital  signs which are becoming incresingly popular.  One of the speakers represented Outer Banks Mall which, the representative said, would like to have a digital sign to advertiee smaller businesses there which have trouble getting noticed.

The pros of the signs are that they are convenient, can be changed remotely without worrying about any letters blowing off and they are eye-catching. The cons, according to Elizabeth Teague, town planning director, and members of the board, are that they are not esthetically pleasing and could be distracting to traffic.

Com. Renee Cahoon said she wasn’t against all such signs, but she thought those like some in Currituck, are ugly and distracting and are so bright it hurts the eyes. Com. Remaley diaagreed, saying, “We are regulating ourselves into oblivion.” He said the whole signage issue needs to be revisited. Teague said Kitty Hawk has prohibited the signs, as has Virginia Beach, Va. after trying to find ways to restrict the most objectionable of them.

The signs such as banks use to denote the time of day are allowed, and the four businesses which already have digital signs will be allowed to keep them. The town has a digital sign at the town hall and, as the board noted, the town will be excluded from the rule.

The board also revisited its rule permitting onsite rental of beach chairs and umbrellas at the bathhouse at The Village of Nags Head and at hotels. There was a sunset clause on this which is about to expire. Teague said there has been no trouble with the bathhouse concession, but the ones at the hotels had been an enforcement problem. The board voted to allow the sunset to lapse and for the staff to bring back recommendations as to how to incorporate this into a permanent rule.

After a public hearing, the board voted to permit the installation of concealed building mounted antennae as a conditional use within the Commercial Residential and General Commercial Zoning Districts.

During public comments, two people spoke in favor of the digital signs, two people spoke in favor of retaining the beach chair/umbrella concessions, and Bob Muller, a former commissioner, asked the board to budget funds to televise the candidates’ forums, since otherwise interested citizens have to scramble to provide the $400 cost for this.

Roberta Thuman of the town manager’s office was awarded the Employee of the Year designation. Also nominated were John Wilkinson, fire department; Laura Geller, police department; Todd Workman, public works; Christy Blevin, administrative services; and Kelly Wyatt, planning department.

Cliff Ogburn, town manager, updated the board on storm damages. he said damages in the town came to $377,000, that property owners whose facilities sustained have been damaged were notified and most have responded. He asked for $58,000 for estuarine repair, but this was put off to obtain more information. He said the town hall roof was damaged and needs to be replaced. The town can apply to FEMA for some of the $40,000 cost since it was damaged in the storm, in addition to ordinary wear and tear. The roof is only about 15 years old, and Mayor Bob Oakes thought it was unreasonable to have to replace it that soon. “I w ould just expect that we’d get more than 15 years out of a roof,” he said. Ogburn said the new roof would have shingles rated for 130 mph winds, and this might help.

Ogburn also presented the annual report, noting that the town has a 99.75 percent tax compliance, one of the state’s highest. He said the town had done 30 septic system inspections and had received several grants. He said there was an increase in requests for single family home approvals, although the town saw a decrease in large single family homes. Commercial facilities saw a 38 percent decrease. The police department has a new drug dog, he said, and a handler is being trained. Public works has seen a two percent decrease in total refuse poundage but recycling is increasing. One major water project was completed and water taps decreased. He also noted that there has been only a very minimal amount of sand loss since beach nourishment was completed.

During commissionerscomments, Remaley suggested the town give employees a $100 bonus; Susie Walters, a newly-elected commissioner, suggested the town change its mid-month meeting time to 6 p.m., from 7:30 p.m., and Cahoon suggested this be taken up during the upcoming retreat.

Doug Remaley was elected mayor pro tem and took his oath of office as did Susie Walters, newly elected commissioner, and Renee Cahoon who was re-elected.

The next meeting is set for 9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Nags Head Police Department announces the following criminal activites for the month of November: 

Assault with a deadly weapon was reported Nov. 15 in the 500 block of First Flight Lane and a person was arrested on warrants.

Officers were called to the area of First Street and Skipjack Lane Nov. 15 regarding a person acting in a suspicious manner. Upon arrival they located a 20-year-old male concealing a sword under a long coat. After he resisted efforts to secure him, officers were able to subdue the individual without injury. He was determined to be a person with autism and was released to his parents.

Crimes Under Investigation

(Tips can be reported to Kill Devil Hills PD or Crime Line)

Breaking and entering with larceny was reported at a  residence in the 3100 block of Seagate Court. A flat screen television was stolen.

A vehicle arson was reported at a residence in the 500 block of Airstrip Road. A window was broken out and a homemade fire bomb thrown inside the cab of the vehicle.

An auto scanner valued at $5,000 was reported stolen  in a vehicle break-in.

A Czechoslovakian Military issued 9mm handgun was reported stolen from a residence in the 100 block of E. Ocean Bay Blvd. In addition to the handgun, two AK-47 magazines fully loaded with .223 caliber ammunition were taken.

On November 11, counterfeit $100 bills were passed at two local businesses. The currency was a $100 bill made from a “washed” $5 bill, and a “pen check” did not reveal the bills as fake.