Budget From page 2-A totaling $70,000. This equipment will be split between the Water and Sewer Fund and the Storm Water Fund and will be purchased using installment financing. The Storm Water Fund capital outlay also includes $50,827 for potential storm water infrastructure projects. A contingency of $180,725 (5% of the budget) is included in the General Fund budget for fiscal year 2015. This contingency appropriation is to provide for unanticipated increases in budgetary needs during the course of the year and to be an additional source of funds in the event that the Town must pay all, or a portion, of future beach nourishment costs. No actual expenditures can be made from the contingency appropriation. Funds must first be moved from the contingency appropriation to a department or function and then expended. This movement of funds shall be authorized by resolution of the governing body and will be deemed an amendment to the
Snows Cut From page 1-A to the North Carolina Wildlife Boat Ramp on Annie Drive. According to Assistant Town Manager Ed Parvin, a meeting was held with the Corp of Engineers April 15th. Parvin explained, "Jerry and I met with John Manning from the Wilmington ACOE Real Estate Office today to discuss their future plans for their property adjacent to Snow's Cut. In the near future the ACOE will be conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) to change the status of the property to "Operational." Parvin explained, "The change will accommodate a future survey office that will be manned during regular working hours. With this change the ACOE will be looking to install a fence similar to the one we are required to erect for the Island Greenway. The white hashed line represents the location of the fence. It will be located approximately 12 feet from their property line. There will be a 2' buffer from the fence and then the Town will have an opportunity to relocate the current path in the remaining 10 feet. The future path location is represented by the red line." Parvin explained, "There are some uncertainties with timeline at the ACOE which depends on upcoming budgets. Right now we can anticipate seeing a letter in the coming months that will allow us to comment on the EA." The Snow's Cut walking and bike trail was installed some years ago by the Town of Carolina Beach and runs from the end of Bridge Barrier Road east through the wooded area between homes on Spencer Farlow Drive and the Snow's Cut waterway.
budget ordinance. Funding for future beach nourishment projects has long been a concern as it becomes more difficult to rely upon federal funding. Copenhaver explained, "The Beach Protection Fund was established as part of the fiscal year 2014 Kure Beach Budget Ordinance. It was established as a reserve fund for future beach nourishment expenses, as well as other beach related expenditures including, but not limited to, beach access improvements/ repairs, dune maintenance, dune plantings, beach protection signage, dune infiltration systems, etc. The uncertainties surrounding state and federal funding of future beach nourishment projects was the driving force behind the establishment of this fund. For fiscal year 2015, the revenue source for the Beach Protection Fund will be a transfer of $110,000 from the General Fund. In fiscal year 2014, $96,000 was transferred from the General Fund." Copenhaver explained, "The fiscal year 2015 Town of Kure Beach Budget reflects a thorough review of Town expendi-
tures and conservative, but reasonable, estimation of revenues. As discussed during the annual retreats in 2012, 2013 and 2014, during this budget process and as reported in the news media, the need to increase reserves in anticipation of future beach nourishment costs remains a very significant concern for Kure Beach, as well as other North Carolina beach towns. The availability of future federal and state funds for beach projects continues to be uncertain." He explained, "As a result, Kure Beach’s share of future tri-annual beach nourishment projects could be in excess of $1.2 million. This budget includes a process to continue to build reserves for future beach nourishment needs. The Beach Protection Fund serves as a reserve fund to accumulate funds for future beach related needs, the most significant being beach nourishment. A transfer of $110,000 from the General Fund to the Beach Protection Fund is included in this budget, while fiscal year 2014 included a transfer of $96,000. Also, all or a portion of the General Fund
contingency, totaling $180,725, may be available to further strengthen the Beach Protection Fund depending on the extent of contingency usage during the fiscal year. Additionally, in order to build the Beach Protection Fund to the level estimated for future projects, additional funding sources will need to be identified. In regard to the Water and Sewer Fund and Storm Water Fund, they continue to
address the day-to-day operations of these activities and are providing a reasonable level of reserve strengthening for future infrastructure projects. However, if usage within the Water and Sewer Fund remains at the forecasted lower levels, rates will need to be evaluated in future budget cycles." He explained, "In conclusion, I believe the proposed fiscal year 2015 Kure Beach Budget
supports the goals established by Town Council, reflects the Council’s service priorities and is responsive to the Town’s needs. I would like to express my appreciation to all Department Heads, as well as all Town employees, who participated in the development of the fiscal year 2015 budget." The budget must be adopted by June 30th and begins July 1st.
The trail ends at the Wildlife Boat Ramp on Annie Drive. Based on the map obtained from Town Hall the fence would run the perimeter of the property causing that trail to be relocated. During the Council's May 27th, meeting Town Manager Michael Cramer said, "Currently this is just a proposal" and, "Because we had correspondence in email fashion, it did go to the paper and the paper did a story on it basically that this was going to change. They are in the planning process at this point. What their intent is, they would like to change the use on their property - which they can do all by their lonesome - to operational and have an office structure there where they have surveyors for this general area." He said with that change the Corp's intent is to look at how to secure their entire piece of property. He said, "If they were to go to an operational component, their requirements state they have to be at a higher level of security than what they are currently at." Cramer said a portion of the area is already secured with a fence to house a dock for a dredge vessel. With the installation of a fence around the entire property, a chain link fence with wire across the top, the existing bike path would be relocated to just outside of the fence. He explained the eroding shoreline along Snow's Cut would be hardened to protect the area in a similar fashion to the rocks located in the existing dock area. He said, "Yes, that would impact Town residents if they did that. At this point there is probably a dozen or more property owners that back up
to that area. For the most part only four back up to the chain link fence now. The rest of those properties all back up to an open greenway type area. It would definitely impact their view and the alignment of the trail. We have indications that they would talk about doing the alignment of the trail on their own but other than just telling us what their interest is, they haven't really stated to much." Mayor Dan Wilcox explained, "I have to tell you its really upsetting. We spend all of our time trying to figure out how to provide natural areas and water access and all of that." He said, "I don't know what we have to do, who is in charge of this, who we have to appeal to, but I would really like to get ahead of this and try to suggest that if they need a little more space they take a little more space but not block it off all the way to the bridge. I'm sure they're going to hear from the property owners." Cramer said, "We have very little input into what they do with that. They have to go through an environmental assessment for the property. Which they are anticipating is a three to six month project for them. At that point they would come back to us and tell us what the results were. They don't necessarily have to follow the same types of public communications that we do. We could let property owners know. Send out letters and try and educate property owners. On their behalf we could talk to the Corp and try and find out what exactly they are looking at. Right now it’s very sketchy. They have given us very few details other than it's our property, we want to do this, and this is what we are going to do."
Mayor Wilcox said, "At a minimum we need to find out who to appeal to" and relay that information to the property owners. He expressed concern with an easement the Town obtained to locate the bike path on the Army Corp property some years ago. Cramer said he had not seen the easement document but anticipated it was a "right to use" rather than an easement that would require the Corp to allow the Town to use the land for the path. He said the Town needs to research their rights and documentation as well as more specific plans from the Corp. Wilcox said, "It wouldn't be the first time a government agency's mind was changed if there were substantial concern from the community and people spoke out on it. If this bothers us - it bothers me - if it bothers council collectively, we could get behind it, citizens could get behind it, and perhaps even if there is no process we can create one. Start a movement of sorts." Wilcox said, "To put up the barb and chain link fence through there is depressing."
Councilman Gary Doetsch said, "It's something we need to be careful about because this is not the only place we partner with the Corp of Engineers." The Town also works extensively with the Corp to provide beach nourishment and inlet dredging projects including securing federal funding. Cramer said he would contact Army Corp officials and make further inquiries. For years the property owners on Spencer Farlow Drive with homes bordering the land have enjoyed access to the wooded area and the banks of Snow's Cut. The land is owned by the Corp and those homeowners have no actual right to access the land. Assistant Town Manager Ed Parvin said, "Another issue they've had, if you see the development closest to the bridge, a lot of those folks have gone in and cleared a lot of the property there and that's lead to what they believe some erosion there. That's part of their process to, they would want to secure that" by plac-
ing rocks along the banks to prevent further erosion." Cramer said property owners walk through the land creating trails to access the waterway for fishing. He said some owners have often mowed portions of the land to keep a clear line of sight to the waterway. Doetsch said the Corp's land in that area is designated as a spoil area. If the Corp of Engineers dredged Snow's Cut in the future, they could place that material on that land. Council member Sarah Friede said, "I do think if we have owners there that are taking advantage of that open woodland, it is in fact not their property. I see the Corp's position on that. The owners may not be aware of what the limitations on the trail are. In their mind they are keeping the grass cut to keep down the bugs." She said, "There may need to be a three way conversation with the owners, the Town and the Corp so that we can all come to some sort of way to live together happily without a seven foot fence with barb wire on top."
8A
NCDOT to Host Public Meetings for Vehicle/Railroad Traffic Separation Study in Wilmington NEW HANOVER CTY : May 27th, 2014 - The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold two public meetings to gather information on how and when the public uses existing railroad crossings in various locations throughout Wilmington in Brunswick County. The meetings will take place on Monday, June 9 and
Tuesday, June 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Wilmington Community Center, 401 South 8th Street in Wilmington. Citizens may stop by at their convenience; there will not be a formal presentation. NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and receive comments on the type and frequency of use of various railroad crossings in
the city. The goal of NCDOT is to ensure the safety of passengers and train crews, motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and the surrounding communities. For additional information, contact Nancy Horne, NCDOT – Project Engineer, Rail Division, Engineering and Safety Branch, by phone (919) 715-0296 or by email
nhorne@ncdot.gov; or Scot Sibert, NCDOT consultant with STV/RWA Consultants, Inc. at (704) 372-1885 or scot. sibert@stvinc.com. NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to participate in these meetings. Anyone requiring special
services should contact Ms. Horne as early as possible so that arrangements can be made. NCDOT will provide interpretive services upon request for persons who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English. Kindly request it prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.
Fire
knocked down within 15 to 20 minutes. Last year firefighters responded to a fire at 104 Virginia Avenue on February 20th, 2013 across the street from the most recent house fire. Chief Griffin said that house was under construction and suffered severe damage to a room on the second floor. No one was injured.
The construction was complete and crews were painting the interior earlier in the day. The power was not in service. Fire officials, the State Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the cause of the fire. Chief Griffin said the fire was largely contained to one room and firefighters put the
flames out quickly. But the fire had burned hot enough to burn through the floor. While on the scene of the 2013 house fire on Virginia Ave, firefighters responded to another fire at marker 4 in Freeman Park just before 2:30am. Port-a-johns on a trailer where basically fully burned. A Carolina Beach Police officer had patrolled the
park approximately one hour earlier and only noticed one vehicle in the area. It was a standalone trailer with 6 port-a-john units on it. The trailer is valued at $3,700. The port-a-johns were $525 each. Delivery was $600 for all six of the port-a-johns. Chief Griffin said no connection between the two incidents was ever established.
From page 1-A Some construction work had recently been performed. Chief Griffin said upon arrival fire fighters stopped the fire where they found it, preventing it from spreading to the rest of the home and adjacent structures. The fire was
Gazette, May 28, 2014
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