Pine Knoll
Shores Town Meeting
Static Line
Removal Voted Down
Council members
voted 3-2 against endorsing a request for a hearing on removing the
Coastal Resources Commission’s (CRC) static vegetation line. The
vote followed a second presentation on the issue by County Shore
Protection (CSP) officer Greg “Rudi” Rudolph.
The reasoning
behind the request for a ruling comes from an argument that the Pine
Knoll
Shores static vegetation
line does not meet the CRC’s current definition. The towns of Salter
Path and Indian
Beach
have already passed resolutions to support the request. Because all
three towns were included in the beach restoration project that
caused the disputed vegetation line in 2001, Rudolph said the CSP
office was waiting on Pine Knoll shores before requesting the CRC
ruling.
Commissioner
Ted Lindbland proposed a three-part motion for the board to: 1)
endorse the county position to request a declaratory ruling from the
CRC to abolish the current static vegetation law, 2) Create an
ordinance for existing homes to prevent any seaward building past
the old static vegetation line, and the current stable vegetation
law and 3) Make part of the ordinance require that no development
can be farther forward to the line of static vegetation than the
adjoining properties on either side.
Town engineer
Chris Jones explained that removing the current static vegetation
line would possibly give some of the town’s 19 affected homeowners
the ability to rebuild their homes if 50% or more of the property
were damaged. Currently, properties that are noncompliant with the
static vegetation line are not allowed to rebuild their homes if
more than 50% is damaged.
After the vote,
commissioner Lindblad asked Rudolph if the CSP would persist in
requesting a declaratory ruling from the CRC. Rudolph replied that a
new plan would have to be formulated with regard to efforts to
remove the line without the sanction of
Pine
Knoll Shores.
Any changes brought about by the ruling would probably not affect
the town, and only affect Salter Path and Indian Beach, he said.
New
Budget Adopted
The Board of
Commissioners passed the proposed budget for the coming FY 08-09 by
a vote of 3-2 during the regular meeting Tuesday night. Commissioner
Bob Danehy argued against the proposal, saying that he could easily
find another $100,000 to come out of the budget. Commissioner
Lindblad added that no more reductions could take place and motioned
for the Board to adopt the budget as it was presented. Town manager
Kramer agreed, saying that although the plan was an “ugly baby,” it
was “the town’s ugly baby,” and they needed to vote.
Clean
Beaches Week
Mayor Joan
Lamson of Pine Knoll Shores proclaimed June 29 – July 5 to be “Clean
Beaches Week” during the Board of Commissioners regular meeting
Tuesday night. The proclamation, which was passed unanimously by the
Board, encourages all Carteret County residents to visit, enjoy and
protect our natural resources.
Town
Auditor Approved
Members of the
Board of Commissioners voted to employ the services of Martin
Starnes and Associates, CPAs, as Town Auditor. Martin Starnes and
Associates was chosen for its lower proposed cost to the town over
the next three fiscal years, around $2,000 less than the other
proposal submitted by Pittard Perry and Crone, Inc. Kramer added
that the company was picked for its section dedicated to
municipalities and its extensive experience with local governments
similar to Pine Knoll Shores.
Motor
Vehicle Tax Correction
Town manager
Brian Kramer told the Board of Commissioners that he was urging Pine
Knoll Shores residents to update their vehicle information at the
DMV Web site. Because Pine Knoll Shores postal codes are actually in
Atlantic Beach, motor vehicle taxes were being credited to the town
of Atlantic Beach instead of Pine Knoll Shores. Residents were asked
to go to the DMV Web site and fill out three specific fields: the
resident’s address, mailing address and vehicle location. If filled
out correctly, the change will ensure taxes get corrected, Kramer
said.
New
Stop Sign Adopted
Members of the Board of
Commissioners voted unanimously to pass a resolution to add stop
signs at Fairways court.
The vote came despite the protests of Jerry Walters, who said a
report on National Public Radio claimed that putting in stop signs
instead of yield signs decreased vehicle gas mileage by 5% and that
he was for removing all stop signs in the town.
“Do you really
need them in Pine Knoll Shores?” he asked.
“I don’t think you do.”
In
Other Business
·
A
meeting is scheduled on July 17 at 6pm with Carteret Craven EMC to
discuss the energy alternatives for Pine Knoll Shores. The meeting
is expected to address wind power.
·
Contracts for the public services of emergency pumping 08-09,
clearing for emergency access 08-09 and vegetative and C&D debris
removal 08-09 were voted on and all three passed unanimously.
Contracts were awarded to Godwin Pumps, Garrison Construction of
Newport and Ceres Environmental Services of Sarasota Fla.,
respectively.
·
Pine
Knoll Shores Town Hall will be closed Friday, July 4.
·
Don
Dixon of Kites Unlimited presented Mayor Joan Lamson with a new Pine
Knoll Shores flag to grace the Town Hall. Dixon said it was “the
finest type of flag ever made, fitting for the finest town ever.”
·
County Shore Protection Officer Greg “Rudi” Rudolph gave a
presentation to the Board of Commissioners, explaining the new
County Shore Protection Web site, protectthebeach.com. The site
provides the opportunity to access a wealth of information about the
coast.
Read more articles in the
May print edition of Island Review.
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