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Public Notices

RFQ for Architectural Services for Pender County Law Enforcement Center and Jail – New Construction

Pender County is soliciting qualifications statements from architectural firms (hereinafter “Firm”) for contract services related to design and construction services including schematic design, design development, construction documents, prequalification of contractors, bid document preparation, bid services, USDA funding compliance and coordination, and construction administration services associated with the construction of a new law enforcement center and jail complex in Burgaw, NC.

Statements of Qualifications will be accepted up to but no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday July 1, 2021. No submission will be considered if received after this deadline has expired.

To download a complete copy of the submittal instructions and background information packet for the project, click here for RFQ # 210526-126.

The full feasibility study referenced in the RFQ can be found here.

Questions should be directed to Chad McEwen, County Manager, at cmcewen@pendercountync.gov and must be received by 12 noon on June 16, 2021.

Pender County reserves the right to reject any and all submittals.

Lingering smoke near Hampstead

Smoke expected along Highway17 near Hampstead Sunday night, possibly lingering for several days

HAMPSTEAD – There is potential for hazardous road conditions Sunday night and possibly for the next several days due to smoke from the Lea Crest Fire near Hampstead. Smoke is expected to settle at ground level after dark and will likely remain until after the sun and temperatures rise tomorrow morning. The area of concern is along Highway 17 between Highway 210 and Country Club Drive. Communities in the area should expect to see and smell smoke in the air.

All citizens are urged to avoid this area if possible or allow extra time and use caution if travel is necessary.

Pender County issues Burning Ban

BURGAW- Pender County Fire Marshal’s Office has issued a Burning Ban effected on Monday, May 24, at noon. This is a result of extreme dry conditions across the area.

“Pender County has seen a rise in the number of outside fires that are requiring extensive manpower and equipment for containment,” said Tommy Batson, Pender County Emergency Manager. “The area has received little, to no rainfall in the past few weeks. Additionally, the forecasted highs this week in are expected in the 90’s with no rain in sight.”

During the past two weeks as warmer, drier weather patterns have continued across southeastern North Carolina the fire danger has grown higher, and in some cases extreme, especially in the coastal counties.  The chance for stronger winds and very low humidity does not help for fire control operations.

The citizens of Pender County are urged to do everything possible to minimize the risk of fire during this period.

This restriction shall extend outward from all residential structures 100 feet.  This proclamation does not prohibit outdoor charcoal or gas grills provided precautions are taken to prevent fire from escaping those appliances.

According to the North Carolina Forestry Service, under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of new permits is suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $180 court costs.

 

Water and fire safety urged for Pender County residents

BURGAW – Technically it is still spring, but this week, summer weather will arrive in Southeastern North Carolina.
 
“We are currently in a slight drought period,” said Tommy Batson, Pender County Emergency Manager. “At this time, we urge two things – conserve water and be cautious when practicing outside burning.”
 
Sitting around a fire pit is fun, but residents are urged to make sure fires are completely extinguished.
 
“Never leave a fire unattended,” said Batson. “In drought conditions, sparks can easily lead to wildfires. Douse the embers with water before walking away from an outdoor wood fire.”
 
Water conservation is the next concern during a drought.
 
“We urge the public to conserve water wisely,” said Kenny Keel, Pender County Utilities Director. “By utilizing small practices, such as turning off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving and repairing leaking faucets, you can reduce water usage.”
 
According to The Water Project, lawns and gardens require only .02 inches of water per day during warm weather.
 
“Water lawns every three to five days rather than for short periods every day,” he suggested. “Never overwater. This damages plants and our soils do not store extra water.”
 
Keel said for additional conservation tips, visit the county’s website at https://pendercountync.gov/utl/water-conservation-tips/.
“We urge our residents to enjoy the natural resources in Pender County,” said Batson. “Practice fire prevention and water conservation throughout the year, but especially in periods of drought.”

Opinions wanted on Collector Street Plan

As part of ongoing efforts to update the Pender County Collector Street Plan, the County is again seeking input from the community on the draft recommendations found in the link below. The draft is based on previous public input received earlier in the process. Feedback on these draft recommendations will be taken into account before the development of a final draft Plan.

“The future success of this vital planning tool is dependent upon input received from the community,” said Travis Henley, Pender County Planning and Community Development Director.

The link below includes both the draft recommendations as well as a few survey questions designed to capture residents’ opinions on those recommendations.

https://arcg.is/WjT84

NC Gov. Cooper lifts many COVID-19 restrictions

State to lift gathering limits, social distancing requirements in all settings and indoor mask mandate for most settings

RALEIGH: Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. shared an update on the state’s COVID-19 progress. Throughout the pandemic, state officials have taken a data-driven approach and have been guided by the science in making decisions. Following yesterday’s guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that fully vaccinated individuals can safely do most activities without wearing a mask or the need to social distance from others, the state will remove its indoor mask mandate for most settings. Additionally, the state will lift all mass gathering limits and social distancing requirements. These changes are now in effect as of 1:30 PM today.

“We can take this step today because the science shows our focus on getting people vaccinated is working,” said Governor Cooper. “But to keep moving forward – and to make sure that we keep saving lives – more people need to get vaccinated.”

The ability to lift restrictions sooner than anticipated following the CDC’s guidance shows the importance of vaccinating all North Carolinians. As of this week, even more people can get vaccinated. Younger teens between 12 and 15 can now get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Young people are vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, just like everyone else, and the percent of COVID-19 cases in North Carolina children 17 and under has been increasing.

North Carolina continues to focus on distributing vaccines quickly and equitably. To date, the state has administered over 7.7 million doses. 51% percent of those 18 and up are at least partially vaccinated, and 46% percent of those 18 and up have been fully vaccinated.

“I am so proud of the incredible progress we have made in beating back this pandemic,” said Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “Vaccines continue to be incredibly effective at protecting individuals from this terrible virus. And as more and more people get vaccinated, the results show in our stable metrics with lower cases, lower hospitalizations, and lower deaths.”

In accordance with the new CDC guidance, there will still be certain settings where masks and other safety measures will be required. Masks will still be required in child care, schools and camps as most children are either not yet vaccinated or are not yet eligible to be vaccinated. Everyone, including people who are fully vaccinated will still be required to wear a mask in certain settings such as public transportation, health care settings like hospitals, doctor’s offices and long-term care settings like nursing homes, and certain congregate settings like correctional facilities and homeless shelters.

NCDHHS will continue to have strong public health recommendations for individuals to continue to protect one another until more people are vaccinated. People who are not vaccinated should wear a mask and maintain distance in all indoor public settings and in outdoor settings when they can’t maintain six feet of distance.

Masks are strongly recommended for everyone at large crowded indoor events like sporting events and live performances.

NCDHHS recommends public-facing businesses post signage reminding guests to social distance and wear a face covering if they are not fully vaccinated; remind employees to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19; have a plan to immediately isolate and remove sick workers, and clean high-touch surfaces once a day. Businesses may choose to continue to require that their customers wear masks.
The Department of Health and Human Services will also continue to expand strategies to reach people who have not yet gotten vaccinated.

Information on the state’s vaccine distribution is available at YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish). People can find nearby vaccine providers using NCDHHS’ online tool, Find a Vaccine Location. The state’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline number is 888-675-4567.

Read the Executive Order.

Read a FAQ about today’s Order.

Library announces outdoor storytime

Pender County Library is pleased to announce that Storytime is now being hosted in person on the library lawn, 10 a.m. Tuesday mornings at the Hampstead Branch and 10 a.m. Thursday mornings at the Main Library in Burgaw (weather permitting).

Outdoor Storytime features stories, songs, and movement for children ages 3-5. Pender County Library encourages Storytime attendees to bring a blanket to sit on. Masks are not required during Outdoor Storytime; however, the CDC recommends masks for adults and children 2 years and older in outdoor settings where consistent social distancing is not possible.

Additional details about Outdoor Storytime, as well as other programs and events, at either Pender County Library location can be found by visiting the library’s website, penderpubliclibrary.org, or by checking out Pender County Library on Facebook and Instagram. You can also call the library and staff would be happy to answer any questions by phone. No registration is required to attend Outdoor Storytime.

For more information or assistance, call Pender County Library at 910-259-1234 (Burgaw) or 910-270-4603 (Hampstead) during regular business hours.

Pictured above is Youth Services Librarian Dee Smith reads Goodnight Moon to a family on the lawn at the Main Library in Burgaw.

Pender County monitors area fuel emergency, issues a state of emergency

BURGAW- Pender County officials are closely monitoring the fuel emergency, the result of a cyber-attack on Colonial Pipeline late last week.

“Pender County will ensure the continuity of local government operations,” said George Brown, Chairman of the Pender County Board of County Commissioners. “The fuel disruption may extend through this week, according to our communications with state officials. We have issued a state of emergency and we are proactively addressing county staffing to ensure the safety of Pender County residents.”

“Analysts say it will take days for normal conditions to return,” said Brown. “Experts advise motorists not to panic purchase or hoard fuel as that will prolong shortages and spikes, making the situation worse. Motorists are asked to purchase only what fuel is immediately needed and to avoid fill the tank until the pipeline resumes operations.”

“As of 5 pm today, county leadership has implemented a plan to ensure that all emergency and essential employees are able to commute to and from work to serve the County residents, “said Chad McEwen, Pender County Manager.  “We are confident this plan will provide for continuity of all emergency departments, including DSS, Health, Utilities, Emergency Management, and the Sheriff’s Office.”

On May 11, Governor Roy Cooper issued a State of Emergency Executive Order 213. Included in this order is a statute regarding gas price gouging. Residents who witness price gouging should contact the North Carolina Department of Justice.

 

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