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Public Notices

Pender County Commissioners Oppose North Carolina Homeowners’ Insurance Rate Increase

The North Carolina Rate Bureau has filed a request with the North Carolina Department of Insurance that proposes to increase homeowners’ insurance rates statewide by an average of 42.2 percent effective August 1, 2024. To view the letter to the Commissioner of Insurance, click here.

If approved by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, homeowners’ insurance rates in Pender County would increase by 99 % for properties located in beach communities and increase by 71.4 % for properties located in eastern coastal areas of Pender County.

The Pender County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution at the January 16th meeting opposing the proposed increase in homeowner’s insurance rates by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. A certified copy of the resolution was sent to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance, Mike Causey.

In this resolution, the Board states that “it is of the opinion that the North Carolina Rate Bureau’s requested increase is inequitable, disproportionate, and unjustified, and will likely harm Pender County, its residents, its tourism industry, the welfare and property of the County’s residents and property owners, and economic development in Pender County.”

The North Carolina Rate Bureau represents companies that write insurance policies in the state and is a separate entity from the NC Department of Insurance. The North Carolina Department of Insurance is a state agency, and they negotiate with the

To view a PDF of the resolution, please click here.

 

A public comment period is required by law to give the public time to address the proposed rate increase. Public comment period ends February 2nd, 2024.

Emailed public comments should be sent to: 2024Homeowners@ncdoi.gov.

Written public comments must be addressed to 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1201 and must be received by Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III by Feb 2.

Property tax exemption is available for people aged 65 and above and those who are 100% disabled

If you’re a resident of North Carolina who is 65 years or older, or 100% permanently disabled as of January 1, 2024, and your income is below $36,700, you may be able to take advantage of a property tax exclusion. This exclusion applies only to your main residence, but it can result in a reduction of up to 50% in your taxable value. This opportunity can save on your property taxes for the upcoming year, so make sure to check if you qualify for this exclusion.

Application & Supporting Documents due on or before June 1st, 2024.

You can visit the office and pick up a form or call 910-259-1221, and they will mail you a form.

Property Tax Relief Application

 

Pender County to begin field work for 2026 tax reappraisal. Here’s what you need to know

Pender County, NC– The Pender County Tax Department will begin field work for the 2026 Countywide revaluation on Pender County properties starting the week of January 15, 2024. Field appraisers will visit every parcel of land in Pender County (approximately 54,000), including residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial land, to update property characteristics.

A reappraisal is the process of updating all real property (land, buildings, and other improvements to land) values across the county to reflect the current market value as of the revaluation date. Pender County’s next reappraisal will be effective January 1, 2026. It will consider improvements to the land and the property’s exterior condition in the reappraisal.

During the reappraisal field work, our field appraisers will visit every home to measure each property structure and take updated photos of each property. They will knock on every door to reach the homeowner and leave a door hanger on every house or in the hands of anyone they contact on the property.

Field appraisers may have to visit one property multiple times throughout the year for various reasons. If you obtained any permits for your property over the past year, they will visit your property to verify any changes you made. They will also visit your property once for the reappraisal sometime in the next 12-14 months. We apologize if this causes any inconvenience, but to ensure properties are appropriately valued, we need to conduct these visits separately for the current tax year and the reappraisal year. If the homeowner is absent during the visit and the property is fenced, our appraisers will not enter the area. In such cases, the property will be appraised using satellite imagery. Please note that appointments will NOT be made for field inspections.

Members of the reappraisal team can be identified by the following:

  • Their vehicle will be marked with the Pender County logo.
  • Appraisers will be wearing high-visibility vests with the Pender County logo.
  • Appraisers will carry Pender County-issued identification badges.
  • Appraisers will leave a red door hanger at each home (either with the person they contact or on the front door) to give some information about why we are there, along with our office contact information.

“My goal for the 2026 tax reappraisal is transparency and to ensure taxpayers are provided with the information they need to understand the process. The reappraisal is not a tax rate increase. The tax rate is set during the annual budget and is set by the Board of County Commissioners,” said Pender County Tax Administrator Melissa Radke.

A field appraiser is expected to visit each parcel between January 2024 and February 2025. The new tax values will be reflected in the 2026 tax bill.

North Carolina law requires all counties to reappraise real property once every eight years to verify that the tax information shown on properties is accurate. Counties may set their revaluation schedule to every four years if voted on by the Board of Commissioners. Pender County was previously on an eight-year cycle, but the Board of Commissioners has moved up the reappraisal schedule by one year and will now conduct reappraisals every four years.

Material Testing, RFQ # 24-266

Pender County is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified firms to provide Material testing on new facilities commencing construction in the coming year.  Each project will be contracted separately.  All services must be in compliance with Chapter 17 of the North Carolina State Building Code and all other related applicable standards.

The initial project will be the new Pender County Law Enforcement Center (LEC).  Moseley Architects has been awarded the LEC project and will be providing construction documents which may be obtained at www.moseleyarchitects.com/bidding; Scroll to the project name, view all the documents.

The LEC will be a new construction building consisting of approximately 96,900 sf. Located off Old Savannah Rd. in Burgaw, NC 28425. The project is expected to be bid in February of 2024 with completion of construction at the end of 2026.

The new construction project will consist of:

  • New Sheriff’s Office
  • New 911 Center
  • New detention center 242 beds/350 “core”

The County will negotiate a contract with the selected firm immediately and duties will begin in 2024. The firm will be required to work in conjunction with Pender County leadership, staff, engineers, inspectors, and contractors; engage in value engineering, as appropriate; and providing construction administration and project close‐out services as required.  Due to project funding, all work must be USDA compliant and any applicable documentation must be provided.

Click here to view the full RFQ # 24-266.

All interested and qualified firms are requested to submit their statement of qualifications no later than 10am on January 12, 2024. Submissions received after that date will be disqualified from consideration.  Pender County cannot be responsible for late or misdirected mail.  SOQs must be submitted to the following addresses:   (If submitting a hard copy, please include 3 hard copies and an electronic file.)

By Mail:  Pender County, Attention: Trisha Newton, PO Box 1578, Burgaw, NC  28425.

By Courier:  Pender County, Attention: Trisha Newton, 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC  28425.

Clearly mark outside of package “RFQ # 24-266 Materials Testing”.

Or By email:  purchasing@pendercountync.gov with “RFQ # 24-266 Materials Testing” as the subject.

Commissioning Services, RFQ # 24-265

Pender County is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from NC licensed Design Professionals to  provide commissioning of building mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in the design and construction of new facilities commencing in the coming year.  Each project will be contracted separately.  All services must be in compliance with Section C408 of the 2018 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code (2018 NCECC) and all other related applicable standards.

The initial project will be the new Pender County Law Enforcement Center (LEC).  Moseley Architects has been awarded the LEC project and will be providing construction documents.  The commissioning agent (CxA) will be responsible for commissioning all building HVAC, domestic hot water, and lighting controls included in the proposed project.  The LEC will be a new construction building consisting of approximately 96,900 sf. Located off Old Savannah Rd. in Burgaw, NC 28425. The project is expected to be bid in February of 2024 with completion of construction at the end of 2026.

The new construction project will consist of:

  • New Sheriff’s Office
  • New 911 Center
  • New detention center 242 beds/350 “core”

Commissioning scope shall include all activities described in Section C408 of the 2018 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code (2018 NCECC) and all other related applicable standards.  CxA shall have a valid Professional Engineer (PE) license in Mechanical Engineering within the State of North Carolina.

The County will negotiate a contract with the selected firm immediately and duties will begin in February of 2024. The firm will be required to work in conjunction with Pender County leadership, staff, engineers, inspectors, and contractors; engage in value engineering, as appropriate; and providing construction administration and project close‐out services as required.  Due to project funding, all work must be USDA compliant and any applicable documentation must be provided.

Click here to view the full RFQ # 24-265.

All interested and qualified firms are requested to submit their statement of qualifications no later than 10am on January 12, 2024. Submissions received after that date will be disqualified from consideration.  Pender County cannot be responsible for late or misdirected mail.  SOQs must be submitted to the following addresses:   (If submitting a hard copy, please include 3 hard copies and an electronic file.)

By Mail:  Pender County, Attention: Trisha Newton, PO Box 1578, Burgaw, NC  28425.

By Courier:  Pender County, Attention: Trisha Newton, 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC  28425.

Clearly mark outside of package “RFQ # 24-265 Commissioning Services”.

Or By email:  purchasing@pendercountync.gov with “RFQ # 24-265 Commissioning Services” as the subject.

Pender County Manager David Andrews announces retirement

Pender County, NC – Pender County Manager David Andrews is retiring after 33 years in local government. Andrews announced his plan to retire in a letter to the Board of Commissioners. His retirement will be effective March 1, 2024.

Andrews is from Texas. He began his career as a finance director in the City of South Tucson in 1990.

He joined the Pender County government in September of 2022.

During his tenure at Pender County, he has been instrumental in Pender County’s approach to employee hiring, recruitment, and retention. He has reduced turnover, increased retention, and added new positions. He has also been very active in capital investment projects, including the acquisition of land for implementation of the Pender County Schools $178 million school bond project, which will provide much-needed schools for the growing community. He has been instrumental in the design and permitting phases for a new criminal justice center and the new Health and Human Services Building, which will house the Health Department and the Department of Social Services. With more people moving to the area, he helped move water projects forward, including the land purchase for a new Membrane Water Treatment Plant. Construction of the Scotts Hill water tower will be completed within the next few months. In addition, he also began work on projects that improved the area, including a new Hampstead Library, Central Pender Park, Abbey Nature Preserve Park, and much more.

Andrews says he loves Pender County and plans to stay in the area after he retires.

In a letter to the Board of Commissioners, Andrews says he wants to thank the County Commissioners and the County staff for their confidence in him and their support and collaboration.

In the letter, Andrews also stated that he is committed to ensuring a smooth transition by assisting in the handover process, completing ongoing projects, and providing any necessary assistance during his notice period.

In a statement, Chairman Brad George said, “On behalf of the citizens of Pender County and the Pender Board of Commissioners, I would like to congratulate Andrews on announcing his retirement. During his tenure with Pender, his leadership has been instrumental in advancing the county to the next level. We wish him well on his next adventure. The search for a new county manager will start immediately.”

 

Update: Andrews plans to retire June 30, 2024.

Ghost Walk Awards Non-Profit Partners

Burgaw, NC – The Ghost Walk of Pender’s Past gifts its non-profit partners with proceeds from this year’s event.

Stephanie Key, the Ghost Walk’s artistic director, and the Pender County Tourism Office were pleased to award three non-profit partners with the earnings from the event’s October 2023 proceeds.

All proceeds from the Ghost Walk are divided equally between the Pender County Historical Society, Pender Arts Council, and the Historical Society of Topsail Island. Each entity was awarded $1705.00 to apply toward the mission of its organization.

The Ghost Walk of Pender’s Past October event, a haunting historical tour around Burgaw’s historic cemetery, was another huge success, a sellout event for the sixth year in a row.

“Its success can only be attributed to the numerous volunteers who make this event happen,” said Stephanie Key, artistic director. “We have wonderful volunteers who make this annual event even possible.”

The Ghost Walk of Pender’s Past is a collaborative effort of volunteers from the Pender County Historical Society, Historical Society of Topsail Island, Pender Arts Council, Moores Creek National Battlefield, the Town of Burgaw, Burgaw Tourism Authority, Pender County Parks and Recreation, the Pender County Library, Pender County Schools, and Pender County Tourism.

Master Plan for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Extension in Holly Shelter Game Land

The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (FMST), with local land managers and partners, are developing a master plan for extending the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) over four miles in Holly Shelter Game Land. This MST extension will seek to connect existing sections of the MST in Holly Shelter Game Land (that utilize Holly Shelter Game Land unpaved roads) to the US 17/NC 210 intersection. Unlike the current MST in Holly Shelter, the new section of trail will be separated from the Game Land’s road network and have a designated trailhead parking facility. This will greatly increase safety, access to, and awareness of Holly Shelter’s incredible natural resource.

Learn about the project • To learn more and to take survey, visit: https://mountainstoseatrail.org/masterplanhollyshelter.

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Pender County Library, Architectural and Engineering Services

Pender County is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from NC licensed Architectural/Engineering firms to design a new Library that will meet the needs of Pender County and its residents for the future.  The Library is estimated to be approx. 20,000 square feet and located on Hwy 17 in Hampstead.  Click here to view the full RFQClick here to view Addendum 1.  The opportunity for questions has been extended until the due date of SOQs and must be submitted via email to purchasing@pendercountync.gov.  Statements of Qualifications shall be limited to 50 pages, and must be submitted no later than the extended deadline to 5pm on January 5, 2024.  Questions and SOQ’s must be submitted by one of the following:  By Mail: Attn: Trisha Newton, PO Box 1578, Burgaw, NC 28425, Reference RFQ # 24-258. By Courier: Attn: Trisha Newton, 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425, Reference RFQ # 24-258. By Email: purchasing@pendercountync.gov .  Interested firms are required to monitor the website for possible addenda.  Pender County reserves the right to reject any/all submissions.  Addendum 1 has been issued to

This section reserved for Questions submitted and Answers provided:

DEQ Directs Chemours to Expand Well Testing in New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, and Pender Counties

Raleigh, NC – At DEQ’s direction, Chemours is expanding sampling for PFAS contamination in private drinking water wells in New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, and Pender counties.  More than 14,100 additional residences may now qualify for sampling.

This expansion comes after DEQ staff completed extensive review of results to date, floodplain mapping and Chemours’ 2022 updated interim sampling and drinking water plan.  The expanded sampling footprint in the four-county region now includes:

  • A floodplain buffer that includes the Intracoastal Waterway and significant portions of tributaries of the Cape Fear River. Wells within a ¼-mile of this new buffer will qualify for testing.
  • Updated buffers around all detects to include ¼-mile around the parcel, not the well. This ensures neighbors within a ¼ mile of a property with well contamination will be tested.
  • An updated public water supply layer with accurate information for all counties. Wells within ¼ miles of public water lines are eligible for sampling.
  • Additional requirements for biosolid land application sites.

Residents interested in having their wells samples should call Chemours at (910) 678-1100 or complete Chemours’ online form.  If prompted to leave a message, residents should leave their full contact information and address to ensure their call is recorded.  The return call may come from Parsons Environmental, the authorized third-party contractor conducting the well sampling for Chemours. The private well must be the primary source of drinking water for the residence to qualify for testing.

Residents who have previously requested sampling and are newly eligible will be contacted soon to arrange sampling.

Additional information about well sampling for residents in the four county area is available online.

DEQ Press Release.

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