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A committee appointed by Southern Shores Town Council asked Dare’s commissioners to consider funding a library branch for the northern beach area, including Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, Duck and Martin’s Point.

In June 2019, the Southern Shores Town Council formed a library committee to investigate the feasibility of a modestly-sized Dare County library branch. The committee has representatives from Southern Shores, Duck and Kitty Hawk.

In October 2019, a voluntary survey was circulated and open to residents in the three towns plus the Martin’s Point community.

Those survey results from 403 respondents showed that 91% said having a northern branch for essential library services is important; 80% support a northern Dare branch; and 75% would use library more if a branch was located in northern Dare.

In December, the findings were presented to the Town Council, which asked the committee to make a proposal to the Dare County commissioners.

The committee came to the commissioners Feb. 18 with a location: 6 Juniper Lane. TowneBank is offering to lease 2,570 square feet for $1 per year for 10 years. The space is about the size of the Hatteras Library. The building will need to be modified for library use.

Some 1,800 library cards from the northern beach area were used in the last two years.

Dare County Librarian Jonathan Wark said a one-time cost would be an opening day collection at about $10,000. Committee member and presenter Lilias Morrison quickly responded, “there are other sources than county funding.”

For Avon, Dare’s commissioners approved a consulting engineering contract with Coastal Science and Engineering for preliminary work on the village’s Beach Nourishment Project. The project will cover the area from the Avon Pier to Askins Creek North Drive, a distance of about 1.5 miles. The contract timeline calls for the feasibility study to be ready around the end of August this year. The cost is slightly less than $167,000 dollars.

The commissioners approved an easement agreement in front of the Hatteras Village Medical Center for installation of the sidewalk. A detailed engineering plan for the village’s sidewalk is underway. Permits have been acquired.

CenturyLink finally billed Dare County for services at the Regional Emergency Communications Center and for E911 operating costs.

CenturyLink failed to bill the county the final portion of the project and never starting invoicing the county for E911 operating costs, as explained in the Feb. 18 commissioners’ agenda book.

County staffers asked many times about the issue. The message from CenturyLink was no outstanding amounts were due.

Staff didn’t agree and left the capital project budget open, and budgeted the annual contract amount in the E911 fund operating budget.

CenturyLink finally responded and $431,546 is now due.

The commissioners agreed to pay the bill with funding from multiple sources and a capital project ordinance amendment.

In the consent agenda, the commissioners approved:

– a NC Statewide Emergency Management Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement, Revision 2020. The agreement is used to share resources across the state during day-to-day events, as well as disasters.

– a water department budget amendment acknowledging a NC Department of Public Safety Emergency Management grant to procure prime mover (truck) and message board.

– renewing a service agreement with CENERO for preventive maintenance and technical support for three years from the company that provided the audio visual system at the Emergency Operations Center.

– the audit contract for fiscal year 2020. The contract is the third year of a four-year agreement with Potter & Company and is at $67,830, an increase of 2% per the agreement.

– a four-year computer lease for the Dare County Sheriff’s Office for 10 laptop computers from Dell. Funding for the lease is within approved budgeted amounts.

– an agreement with McGuireWoods Consulting to provide lobbying services for Dare County at the General Assembly. The agreement calls for a monthly payment of $5,000.

Chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners Bob Woodard announced that the board will hold its April 20 regularly scheduled meeting at the Fessenden Center in Buxton. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. Public comment usually follows the chairman’s opening remarks.

The board’s next meeting is March 2 at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room, 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr. in Manteo.

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