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General News

General News

Request For Proposals for Legal Services

This request for proposal (RFP) is to contract for legal services to be provided to Pender County for the period from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Legal services requested are primarily in the field of land use regulation and enforcement of related ordinances as well as grant administration. Only attorneys who are currently licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina and maintain an office in North Carolina or law firms including such attorneys, may respond to this RFP.

PCD Legal Services RFP Oct 2020

Pender County tax office extends hours, offers Fast Pay Window

BURGAW – As the deadline for tax payments come due in January, the Pender County Tax Office has created a Fast Pay Window as well as extended office hours.

Office hours on Tuesdays will be extended until 7 p.m. at the tax office beginning Dec. 1, through Jan. 5, 2021.

“We will remain open until 7 p.m. to better serve our residents,” said Justian Pound, Pender County Tax Administrator.

In addition to extended Tuesday hours, the tax office will offer a Fast Pay Window for taxpayers who come prepared with a check or credit card with a single-pay statement. This express window is available for anyone who wants to pay the full amount and doesn’t have questions regarding the tax bill.

“We urge residents who want to use the Fast Pay Window to skip the line and pay without delays,” said Pound. “For citizens who wish to pay in person, we want to make this easy and safe during the pandemic.”

For safety’s sake during the pandemic and upcoming colder weather, the tax office personnel urges residents to conduct tax business soon to avoid long lines.

The Pender County tax office is located at 300 E. Freemont St. in Burgaw.

Information is also available online at pendercountync.gov/Government/Departments/TaxAssessing.aspx.

 

Pender Commerce Partners to Continue Investment in Region

Winston-Salem-based Pender Commerce Partners 1 LLC is now in the process of acquiring additional land at Pender Commerce Park in order to develop its second speculative industrial building there in two years. Fresh off the completion of its 127,356 sq.-ft. spec facility at Lot 2 in the park, the company, which consists of Ramm Capital Partners LLC and Taylor Development Group LLC, is now in the due diligence period for 20 acres on Lot 6 to construct a 180,000 sq.-ft. building.

“We are very excited to continue investing in Southeastern North Carolina,” says Chris Ramm, Manager of Ramm Capital Partners, LLC and COO of Taylor Development Group. “There is significant interest in our initial project thanks to Cape Fear Commercial and Wilmington Business Development. We want to leverage this momentum into our next project on Lot 6 in Pender Commerce Park. We have assembled a fantastic development team that we are extremely proud of, led by Landmark Builders. All of us are looking forward to our next Wilmington project and sharing more details in the near future.”

Pender Commerce Park has become one of the state’s most active industrial parks. With Ramm’s planned investment on Lot 6, Pender Commerce Park will boast nearly $115 million of capital investment, 800,000 sq.-ft. under roof and more than 600 jobs. As important, the investment puts Pender County and its partners at Wilmington Business Development (WBD) in a better position to recruit additional industrial employers to the region.

“We enthusiastically welcome the continued investment by Chris Ramm and his partners in Pender Commerce Park,” says WBD CEO Scott Satterfield. “There was a time when industrial inventory was a weakness for our region, but thanks to the vision of developers like Chris that is changing. Demand for and now availability of ready-to-go industrial space has energized our recruitment of major employers to Greater Wilmington.”

In the mid-2000s, Pender County leaders partnered with WBD in charting a vision for the Commerce Park as regional infrastructure upgrades began to take shape. “With plans for I-140 and utility improvements along US 421 in the works, we saw the potential of that property as a destination for a variety companies,” said George Brown, chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners. “This latest investment by Chris Ramm and his partners keeps the momentum going and enhances the park as a regional economic engine.”

The new building can also be considered by existing industry in the region as companies look for readily available industrial space to expand. That’s why both this facility and the initial investment by Pender Commerce Partners 1 LLC are built to be flexible. The buildings are designed in a way that can accommodate single users or multiple tenants.

“The industrial market in Greater Wilmington is as strong as I’ve ever seen it,” says Paul Loukas, broker-in-charge at Cape Fear Commercial. He cites a 5% to 6% vacancy rate once the former Vertex Building is taken out of the mix. Loukas and colleague Will Leonard will continue their brokerage relationship with Chris Ramm at Lot 6. “We are seeing a large amount of interest from tenants in the 30,000 to 60,000 sq.-ft. range, as well as much larger users. WBD has done a fantastic job assisting us in generating several of our larger prospects,” Leonard says. “Being able to potentially house both puts us in a prime position to attract industry.”

Ramm with Taylor Development Group, LLC put a stake in the ground of the region’s real estate market nearly four years ago with acquisitions of Class A office buildings at Landfall Park and Third and Grace in downtown Wilmington. After noticing a scarcity of available industrial space equipped with today’s amenities, Ramm began working with Cape Fear Commercial on opportunities to build high-quality spec space. Pender Commerce Park was the ideal place.

Ramm’s continued investment also fits nicely into WBD’s product development strategy and helps further execute the vision Pender County leaders have set for Pender Commerce Park. In less than a decade, the property has attracted food processing, assembly, distribution and corporate headquarter operations. “Chris Ramm’s investment on both projects is timely – the region will have attractive, available industrial space just as U.S. industry looks to re-shape supply chains and tailor their expansion strategies for the post-pandemic economy,” Satterfield says.

Wilmington Business Development oversees business recruitment and industrial retention for the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County and Pender County. A private, non-profit organization founded in 1956, WBD supports members, partners and allies through an array of technical expertise, leadership resources and value-added business services. Visit www.wilmingtonbusinessdevelopment.com to learn more.

Advertisement for Sealed Bids for the Sale of Real Property

ADVERTISEMENT FOR SEALED BIDS
SALE OF COUNTY PROPERTY

The Board of Commissioners of Pender County has authorized the sale by sealed bid of the following parcel of real property:

Pender County Parcel ID 3247-51-2755-0000 | Lot 99 Morgan Cove (1.34 Acres) | Minimum Bid: $12,111.45

Pender County Parcel ID 3247-52-1253-0000 | Lot 103 Morgan Cove (1 Acre) | Minimum Bid: $12,061.98

The county will accept sealed bids for the property until 3:00 P.M., Thursday, October 15, 2020, at the office of the county manager, Room 110, Pender County Administration Building, 805 South Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425. At 3:00 P.M., Thursday, October 15, 2020, all bids received shall be opened in public and the amount of each bid announced and recorded. The record of bids shall be reported to the Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday, November 2, 2020.

The Board of Commissioners will determine the highest responsible bidder for the property and will award the bid by its regular meeting on November 2, 2020. Bids will remain open and subject to acceptance until the Board of Commissioners awards the bid.

Each bid must be accompanied by a bid deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid. A bid deposit may take the form of cash, a cashier’s check, a certified check, or a surety bond. The deposit of the bidder to whom the award is made will be held until sale of the property is closed; if that bidder refuses at any time to close the sale, the deposit will be forfeited to the county. The deposits of other bidders will be returned at the time the Board of Commissioners awards the property to the highest responsible bidder.

In order for a bid to be considered, the bidder must be current on payment of all property taxes owed to the county.

The county reserves the right to withdraw the property from sale at any time and the right to reject all bids.
Inquiries about the property and the sale may be made to the calling (910) 259-1200.

ATMC awarded USDA ReConnect grant to bring high-speed internet to Pender County

ATMC announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the cooperative a $21.6 million dollar grant to help fund its ‘Faster Pender’ project which will allow the Shallotte-based company to expand high-speed internet access to over 7,000 addresses in rural Pender County. Gigabit broadband internet access will be made available to 6,853 residential addresses, over 285 businesses, 19 educational facilities, nine healthcare facilities, 15 critical community facilities, and 209 agricultural operations. ATMC will contribute $7.2 million dollars in matching funds to bring the total project investment to $28.9 million.
“The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now – as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.”
In December of 2019, the USDA announced the availability of a second round of funding under the ReConnect Program. Through the ReConnect broadband program, the USDA has over $600 million available for grants, grant/loan combinations, and low-interest loans. Applications for the second round of funding were accepted between January 31, 2020 and April 15, 2020.The funds awarded must be used to cover the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.
“It is a huge honor for ATMC to once again be a recipient ReConnect funding from the USDA,” said Keith Holden, ATMC CEO. “This grant will make a considerable impact in Pender County for many years to come by helping us bring high-speed internet to thousands of residents that have been without it for far too long. We would like to extend our gratitude to the UDSA, Congressman Rouzer, the Pender County Board of Commissioners, and all the residents, farmers, business owners, and community leaders who provided letters of support for the Faster Pender project. That support was key in helping us win this critical funding.”
With a project of this size, there is a great deal of preliminary work that must be done before actual construction can begin. ATMC anticipates construction of the new fiber-optic network to begin during the middle part of 2021 after all necessary program paperwork and environmental studies have been completed.
The network will cover approximately 538 square miles, including underserved communities west of Interstate 40 to the Bladen County line, including Atkinson and Currie, and unserved areas east of Burgaw and Rocky Point. The network will enable the delivery of high-speed internet speeds of up to 1Gigabit per second as well as telephone and home security and automation services.
“Once upon a time it was the interstate system, water and sewer that was key for commerce, and quite frankly today if you don’t have broadband, none of that matters,” commented Congressman David Rouzer. “Broadband is the infrastructure of today and of the future.”
Chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners, George Brown, also spoke at Friday’s event saying, “Imagine not being able to use a computer or phone because of a lack of high-speed internet, that’s a reality for many in our county. It’s not about congratulating the folks that made this grant happen, today congratulations are in order for the people of Pender County who will benefit tremendously from this grant.
We are so thankful to Secretary Perdue, Congressman Rouzer and ATMC for this gift they’ve given to Pender County.”
While this will be the first time ATMC has served residents and businesses in Pender County, the cooperative has been serving rural North Carolinians for more than 65 years. ATMC has a great track record of using grant funds to provide high-speed internet to rural areas. In 2010, ATMC received $16 million dollars through a USDA grant to build a fiber-optic network to the unserved communities of Nakina, Guideway, and Old Dock in Columbus County. In May of 2019, ATMC was awarded $1 million dollars in grant funding from the NC GREAT Grant program which is allowing the company to bring fiber-optic service to underserved homes in the Beaverdam community. Last December, ATMC won a $7.9 million dollar grant from the USDA ReConnect Grant program to serve Columbus County residents near Tabor City, Hallsboro, Lake Waccamaw, Bolton, and areas north of Whiteville. And, in the last few weeks, the cooperative announced that it had been awarded $3.7 million dollars from the NC GREAT Grant program to provide fiber optic internet services to approximately 2,600 residents and businesses in rural portions of Columbus, Robeson, and Duplin counties.
For more information about ATMC’s progress on the ReConnect Grant, visit www.fasterpender.com or call 910-754-4311.

NOTICE OF EMERGENCY MEETING

Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.12(B) (3): The Pender County Board of Commissioners hereby provides public notice of an Emergency Meeting of the Board as follows:

Time: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5 p.m.
Place: By phone. The Press and Public may call in by dialing 910-390-2867 to listen to the meeting. No PIN will be needed.

Purpose: The Board will meet to consider a contract and name an Interim Emergency Management Director. The Board may also enter into Closed Session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11:3. To consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged. General policy matters may not be discussed in a closed session and nothing herein shall be construed to permit a public body to close a meeting that otherwise would be open merely because an attorney employed or retained by the public body is a participant. The public body may consider and give instructions to an attorney concerning the handling or settlement of a claim, judicial action, mediation, arbitration, or administrative procedure. If the public body has approved or considered a settlement, other than a malpractice settlement by or on behalf of a hospital, in closed session, the terms of that settlement shall be reported to the public body and entered into its minutes as soon as possible within a reasonable time after the settlement is concluded.
No other discussion or action will take place.

Questions may be directed to the County Manager’s office by calling 910-259-1200.

Posted and distributed this the 25th day of March 2020.

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NOTICE OF EMERGENCY MEETING

Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.12(B)(3): The Pender County Board of Commissioners hereby provides public notice of an Emergency Meeting of the Board as follows:

Time: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 3 p.m.
Place: Pender County Public Assembly Room
805 S. Walker Street
Burgaw, NC 28425

Purpose: The Board will meet to discuss it’s response to COVID-19 with regard to county operations. The Board may also enter into Closed Session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11:3. To consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged. General policy matters may not be discussed in a closed session and nothing herein shall be construed to permit a public body to close a meeting that otherwise would be open merely because an attorney employed or retained by the public body is a participant. The public body may consider and give instructions to an attorney concerning the handling or settlement of a claim, judicial action, mediation, arbitration, or administrative procedure. If the public body has approved or considered a settlement, other than a malpractice settlement by or on behalf of a hospital, in closed session, the terms of that settlement shall be reported to the public body and entered into its minutes as soon as possible within a reasonable time after the settlement is concluded; and 6) To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee; or to hear or investigate a complaint, charge, or grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee. General personnel policy matters may not be considered in a closed session. A public body may not consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, appointment, or removal of a member of the public body or another body and may not consider or fill a vacancy among its own membership except in an open meeting. Final action making an appointment or discharge or removal by a public body having final authority for the appointment or discharge or removal shall be taken in an open meeting.
Questions may be directed to the County Manager’s office by calling 910-259-1200.

Posted and distributed this the 23rd day of March 2020.

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