Public Notices

DEQ to hold public input sessions on Flood Resiliency Blueprint

RALEIGH –The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold three public engagement sessions in June to receive input on how flooding, flood mitigation, and resiliency impact North Carolina communities. Public input will assist DEQ in developing the North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint alongside over 100 technical advisors representing Federal, State, County, Municipal, and Tribal governments, non-governmental organizations and universities.

All three sessions will take place in early June. Meeting dates and locations are as follows:

Public Input Session: New Bern

When: 4-7 p.m. Thursday, June 1, 2023
Where: 203 S. Front St., New Bern, NC 28560

 

Public Input Session: Lumberton

When: 4-7 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2023
Where: 1702 West 5th Street, Lumberton, NC 28358

 

Public Input Session: Wilmington

When: 4-7 p.m. Friday, June 9, 2023
Where: 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403

Spanish interpretation services will be available at all meetings.

The Flood Resiliency Blueprint is a statewide initiative to develop an online-decision support tool and associated planning to address flooding for communities in North Carolina’s river basins. The Blueprint will accomplish several key goals, including:

  • Develop community and basin-specific risk management processes to identify and address flooding for NC communities;
  • Develop an online decision support tool which seamlessly guides state, county, municipal, and other jurisdictions to identify and select flood mitigation strategies responsibly, systematically, equitably, and transparently; and
  • Establish a repeatable, statewide methodology for prioritizing, and selecting flood mitigation strategies for future implementation.

More information about the Blueprint is available online.

May 16, 2023

ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program application period closing April 21

More than 1,100 completed projects to date

RALEIGH, N.C.— North Carolinians whose homes were impacted by hurricanes Matthew or Florence have until 5 p.m. Friday, April 21 to apply for the ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program. Supported by the state’s HUD Community Development Block Grant‒Disaster Recovery funding, the program rebuilds or restores homes for eligible homeowners in counties identified as most impacted and distressed by the two storms. The program has completed 1,103 construction projects to date, making it possible for those families to return to safer, more resilient homes. 

The application period closeout will not impact existing Homeowner Recovery Program awards, ongoing projects, case management or customer service. Current program participants with questions should contact their assigned case manager or call 833-ASK-RBNC (833-275-7262) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The fastest way to apply to the Homeowner Recovery Program is through the online application. Interested homeowners may also call 833-ASK-RBNC (833-275-7262) to schedule an appointment at the nearest regional ReBuild NC Center. Visit the ReBuild NC website for more information about center locations and hours of operation.  

The Homeowner Recovery Program is administered by the N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR). In addition to homeowner recovery, NCORR administers programs that include strategic buyout, mitigation, resiliency, community development and affordable housing. Learn more about NCORR programs at: https://www.rebuild.nc.gov/.

April 17, 2023

Pender County Utilities prepares for 2023 water shortage

BURGAW- Pender County Utilities issued a water shortage plan for Southeastern Pender County effective May 1. PCU customers located east of Interstate-40 in Rocky Point along and adjacent to NC 210 as well as all of Hampstead and Scotts Hill will be impacted.

“Pender County Utilities is taking a proactive stance to provide water to our growing county,” said Kenny Keel, Pender County Utilities director. “Recent drought conditions, the lack of available materials, and water tower capacity make it necessary to issue some restraints in Southeastern Pender County.”

Restraints include suspending installation and permitting all new irrigation services, due to material availability and water supply limitations. Temporary irrigation meters and service arrangements can be made with PCU for new sod needs on a limited basis.

PCU strongly encourages private wells or well systems for irrigation purposes rather than using PCU service. If irrigation water is sourced from PCU, the use of sod is strongly discouraged to reduce irrigation water demand.

PCU will enforce irrigation restrictions. Irrigation will only be allowed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Enforcement may include the revocation of irrigation meters until restrictions are lifted.

Lastly, PCU reminds all developers that new commercial or residential developments must be able to provide acceptable fire suppression systems, either from PCU or independent of the county water system to meet NC fire code and water extension requirements. Proposed developments require a third-party Professional Engineer certification verifying adequate water flow and pressure for fire conditions.

“As of March 30, Pender County is in Moderate Drought conditions,” said Keel. “We may be forced to make further adjustments to these restrictions based on drought conditions.

“Our key concern is fire safety and providing clean, safe drinking water to PCU customers,” Keel stated.

PCU is currently constructing three new water supply wells and a new 500,000-gallon elevated tank in Scotts Hill. This project will assist the county’s water capacity until a reverse osmosis water plant is constructed in the impacted area. Completion of one well is expected to go online in December, with the additional two wells to go online in early 2024. The elevated water tank, which is under construction on US Hwy 17 in Scotts Hill, will not be completed until May 2024.

“Pender County Utilities has been impacted by tremendous growth, current supply chain supply issues, and inflation pressures,” said Keel. “We need to take these measures seriously to ensure we have water available for fire suppression and general consumption.”

2023_Restriction Zone_reducedsize
April 6, 2023

County tire disposal policy

Pender County Regulations for Commercial and Residential Tire Disposal           

 

  • Pender County policies on tire disposal for residents are as follows. No more than five (5) tires are allowed per day per resident at any of the county sites that accept tires as well as the Transfer Station. These sites are in White Stocking, Willard, Burgaw, Montague, and Rocky point. If a resident has more than five tires they must go to the Transfer Station in Hampstead and pay the required fee.

 

  • Per the county ordinance, loads of commercial tires can only be taken to Rocky Point Convenience Center and the Hampstead Transfer Station, and quite possibly in the future only be accepted at the Transfer Station. These loads can be no more than one hundred (100) tires per week and must be laced properly when loaded to ensure that the trailer is at maximum capacity when it is hauled. The issue with the commercial tire businesses bringing tires to the Convenience Centers is that the trailer fills quickly and often the residents must wait for the trailer to be hauled before they can dispose of their tire/s.

 

  • Pender County tire policies are similar to other counties. For instance, New Hanover County only has a landfill and whether you are an individual or a business you must take the tires there. There are no convenience centers in NHC. Lincoln County prohibits tire disposal from businesses at any of their eight centers. Only residents of Alleghany County have access to their Transfer Station and no businesses are allowed. Durham County also prohibits commercial tires from their two convenience centers.

 

  • Pender County offers commercial tire businesses the two options of manually disposing of their tires. Another option is contacting Central Carolina Holdings (CCH) to have a trailer placed at their business site for permanent use or once to get excess tires cleaned up. The businesses will be responsible for all charges incurred with the trailer except tire tonnage. Pender County will pay for all tire tonnages.
March 23, 2023

New convenience centers stickers are arriving this spring

BURGAW- Pender County Solid Waste will issue new vehicle window decals this spring for resident use at the convenience centers and the Transfer Station.

“Until the new stickers arrive from the printer, Pender County Solid Waste will have a grace period for residents,” said Kenny Keel, Pender County Utilities director. “Residents should continue using the last issued decals into the spring.”

Two new decals will be issued per household through the mail. Additional decals will be available for purchase at $40 each. New decals can be purchased at the Pender County Utilities office, 605 E. Fremont St. in Burgaw, or from the Hampstead Transfer Station on Tuesdays through Fridays.

Residents can pay for full-service trash disposal or recycle-only disposal for use at the county’s multiple convenience sites and the Transfer Station. The charge typically appears on resident tax bills.

Keel said residents often hesitate about affixing the decals to the windshields of vehicles, however, that is a requirement for site access. If a vehicle is traded, simply scrape a portion of the decal from the windshield and the county will replace the decal for residents. He added that if a vehicle is totaled in an accident, take a photo of the windshield and the county will replace the decal at no cost.

“We look forward to providing the new decals this spring,” said Keel.

March 20, 2023
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