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Public Notices

Groundbreaking of the Hampstead Bypass celebrated today

NC Department of Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette celebrated with local officials at a ceremonial groundbreaking of the Hampstead Bypass today.

Pender County Chairman David Piepmeyer, who also serves on the Wilmington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO), explained that many community leaders worked and lobbied to get the bypass funding.

The event was Emceed by Landon Zimmer, board member of the NC Board of Transportation. Chad Kimes, Division Engineer at NCDOT, Beau Memory, NCDOT’s Chief Operating Officer, and Marc Finlayson, the executive director of Highway 17/64 Association each addressed the audience of nearly 100 guests.

The first leg of the bypass should be complete in five years, according to Kimes.

 

Pender County Library Hosts Poetry Slam, April 2

BURGAW – On Saturday, April 2, Pender County Library will host a Poetry Slam at the Main Library, located at 103 S. Cowan Street in Burgaw from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

People of all ages are invited to perform their poetry in front of a live audience or to just come and enjoy the show. Performers can sign up when they arrive for the event. Staff members of the UNC Wilmington-based literary magazines Atlantis and Seabreeze will attend as judges.

Winners will receive a prize basket donated from local Pender County organizations and businesses. Refreshments will be provided.

The Poetry Slam is held in partnership with UNCW’s Office of the Arts and William Randall Library and as part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read program in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Pender County Library thanks the volunteer judges from UNCW’s Atlantis Magazine and Seabreeze, Brown Dog Coffee Company for the refreshments, and the businesses that donated to our prize baskets: Burgaw Antiqueplace, The County Seat, Friends of the Pender County Library, The Glass Cloche, Lanier’s Hardware and Rental, the North Carolina Blueberry Festival, Pender County Tourism, and Southern Printing & Electronics Co.

For more information or assistance, call Pender County Library at 910-259-1234 during regular business hours.

DEQ directs Chemours to expand its interim sampling and drinking water plan for the Lower Cape Fear River area

RALEIGH – After a comprehensive review, the Department of Environmental Quality has sent a letter today directing Chemours to expand the scope and detail of its proposed interim sampling and drinking water plan for New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, and Pender counties.

“The interim plan is insufficient and does not include the necessary steps to adequately determine the extent of Chemours’ contamination in the downstream communities,” said DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. “Chemours must contact residents directly, sample more wells, and proceed more quickly to address contaminated drinking water.”

The interim sampling plan was submitted on February 1, in response to the department’s November 3, 2021 Notice. In that notice, DEQ determined that Chemours is responsible for groundwater contamination in New Hanover County and potentially Pender, Columbus, and Brunswick counties. DEQ directed Chemours to expand the off-site assessment required under the 2019 Consent Order to determine the extent of the contamination, and conduct sampling of private drinking water wells to identify residents who may be eligible for replacement drinking water supplies.

DEQ has identified seven areas in which the interim sampling and drinking water plan is deficient, and is requiring Chemours to submit a revised plan within 30 days. The revisions must include, but are not limited to:

  • Expanding eligibility criteria of private wells to be sampled.
  • Starting sampling within 45 days.
  • Directly contacting eligible private well owners.
  • Using a data-driven approach to broaden private well sampling, not limited to 200 per county and not limited to residents who have requested sampling.
  • Including other property types for sampling where a private well is used as the primary source of drinking water, including schools, day care centers, churches, mobile home parks and others.
  • Providing bottled water to impacted residents within three days of receipt of sampling results and providing replacement drinking water supplies as required in Paragraphs 19 and 20 of the Consent Order.
  • Describing a proposed step-out or other approach to drinking water sampling based on the received results.

The response letter and related documents are available online. Residents in the four counties of the lower Cape Fear River basin can request well sampling by calling 910-678-1100.

Rabies detected in bobcat; protect your pets

An important message from Pender County Health Department:
Pender County Health Department has been notified that a bobcat has tested positive for rabies. While the animal was captured in a sparsely populated area off Highway 421, residents are encouraged to avoid contact with wildlife. Do not feed feral cats, dogs, or wildlife. Anyone that sees a wild animal acting strangely or aggressive toward people should contact the Pender County Sheriff’s Department, Animal Control staff at (910) 259-1349.
When rabies is detected in wildlife, it is very important that pet owners assure their pet has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccinations are available at the Pender County Animal Shelter for $5. For details call 910 259-1484.

Structural Engineering Services for the Howard Holly Building, RFQ # 220223-223

Pender County is Requesting Qualifications for Structural Engineering Services for the Howard Holly Building, RFQ # 220223-223.  The Pender County Howard Holly building located at 300 East Fremont Street, Burgaw, NC is showing obvious signs of foundation settlement.  The firm must perform an extensive structural conditions assessment and provide said findings in a report format which can be utilized by the Board of Commissioners and Management for decision making related to the overall structural integrity.  To be considered for this project the Engineer Consultant must exhibit a high level of competence with a demonstrated ability to provide high quality services on time and within budget. As permitted by G.S. 143-64.32, Pender County waives the Mini-Brooks Act and therefore also requests a proposal for pricing of the services as outlined in subsequent sections.  Click here to view the full RFQ # 220214-222.  Submit Responses by 1pm EST on March 21, 2022 by email to:  Allen Vann, Assistant County Manager, Pender County Government avann@pendercountync.gov.  Pender County reserves the right to reject any/all responses.

Pender County Parks and Recreation seeks public comment

BURGAW – Pender County Parks and Recreation is seeking public comments on the 2022-2032 Pender County Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan.

The public comment period opened Tuesday, February 22, and will close Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

The plan is available for review online by Clicking HERE, and in-person at 805 South Walker St. in Burgaw.

The Pender County Parks and Recreation Department continues to update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan with the goal of better understanding the communities’ current recreation needs as the county prepares for additional parks, facilities, and programs. Since the adopted 2010 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the county experienced significant growth. The county recognizes the important need for additional parks and recreation resources.

Comments can be provided online, via email, and over the phone

Click HERE to submit your comment online

Email comments to: vlacer@pendercountync.gov

Provide comments over the phone at: (910) 259-1274

For more information about the master plan contact the Pender County Parks & Recreation Department at 910-259-1330 or email parksandrecreation@pendercountync.gov.

 

Public Comment Open for 2022-2032 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan

A 30-day public comment period opens on 2/22/22 and closes on 3/23/22 to provide residents and interested individuals the opportunity to give feedback on the 2022-2032 Draft Parks and Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan. The Plan will be available on the County website, and copies will also be  available at 805 South Walker St., Burgaw, NC. Comments can be provided online, via email or over the phone. Comment submission details and a link to the Draft Plan are provided below.

 

Local Emergency Planning Committee highlights disaster preparedness

NEW HANOVER COUNTY – More than two dozen government agencies from Pender and New Hanover counties, several local municipalities, and private business partners from across the region came together at the Wilmington Convention Center on Feb. 3 for the first conference of the New Hanover and Pender Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

The event was an opportunity for officials in the public and private sectors to discuss, review and develop a deeper understanding of the needs and strategies necessary to collaborate and successfully navigate an emergency, should it arise.

“Working together when a disaster happens, whether it’s a natural event or something caused by human error, is so important to keep our communities safe. This was a chance to really dive into what that looks like,” said New Hanover County Emergency Management Technician and event conference coordinator Teresa Smith. “In Southeastern North Carolina, we know a lot about hurricanes and flooding, but those aren’t the only type of disasters that could potentially impact our area. Being prepared for an array of events and scenarios is so critical to safety.”

The conference opened with a welcome by Pender County Chairman David Piepmeyer who stressed the importance of regional collaboration. The event was bookended by two speakers who drove home the importance of being prepared. Charleston firefighter Dr. David Griffin opened the day with an emotional presentation about the 2007 fire at a furniture store in Charleston that left nine firefighters dead and how that moment reshaped the training and skill development of firefighters in the city and across the country. Pender County Fire Marshall Mark Haraway closed the gathering by discussing his role as Fire Chief and Emergency Management director for the town of Apex during a chemical fire back in 2007 at the Environmental Quality Industrial Services plant that made international headlines.

In between those presentations, more than 200 attendees heard from and asked questions of local and state health officials, staff at General Electric, the National Weather Service, community service providers and others about things to consider when developing plans for a major event.

“Hearing from people who have lived through these types of catastrophic events truly drives home just how crucial it is to be prepared and have those open lines of communication between our public and private partners in the LEPC,” said Pender County Emergency Management Director Tommy Batson. “We certainly hope this training and these partnerships are something we never have to call upon, but we also know it could be the thing that leads to a decision that saves someone’s life.”

Partners in the LEPC include New Hanover County Emergency Management, Pender County Emergency Management, City of Wilmington Emergency Management, Town of Carolina Beach, New Hanover County Commissioners Office (with Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr. serving as the representative), New Hanover County Public Health, New Hanover County Fire Rescue, City of Wilmington Fire Department, Pender County Health Department, UNCW Emergency Management, NC Emergency Management, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, NC Department of Environmental Quality, NC Department of Transportation, US Coast Guard, Acme Smoked Fish, Airgas, Alcami, American Red Cross, Buckeye Terminal, Colonial Terminal, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, Celanese, Corning, Duke Energy Sutton Plant, Elementis, GE/ GE Hitachi, HEPACO, Kinder Morgan, NC State Port Authority, Novant Health NHRMC, Piedmont Natural Gas, Praxair, SeaSafety, SR&R Environmental, Stepan, and Sturdy Corporation.

The LEPC is responsible for SARA Title III environmental compliance, HAZMAT training and exercises, site-specific chemical planning programs, coordination of chemical information to emergency responders, and maintenance of the county-wide HAZMAT Incident Management Plan.

Conference planning staff included representatives from New Hanover County Emergency Management, Pender County Emergency Management, New Hanover County Fire Rescue, City of Wilmington Fire, City of Wilmington Emergency Management, American Red Cross, and New Hanover County Public Health.

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