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1996-09-13 Special Meeting NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 13, 1996 BOOK 25 PAGE 598 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held an Emergency Session on Friday, September 13, 1996, at 3:00 P.M. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; WilliamA. Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.; Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen 0' Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell. Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and requested the Director of Emergency Management, Dan Summers, to report on the status of current situations as a result of Hurricane Fran. Director Summers gave an update on general conditions of the County. He reported 96% of electrical power had been restored to businesses and residences of New Hanover County. The Health Department had given 900 tetanus shots to people in Carolina and Kure Beaches. Seventy-three additional volunteer fire fighters arrived from out-of-town with seven fire apparatuses to assist the area. There were 204 National Red Cross workers supported by 350 local workers. The American Red Cross, Baptist Men, and the Salvation Army supporters served 164,000 meals in the Wilmington area. The Salvation Army, working with 350 volunteers, served an additional 54,895 meals to the community. BellSouth had substantial infrastructure problems, particularly on Wrightsville Beach. Emergency 911 calls have been 50% above normal totaling approximately 16,000 emergency calls per day. The community has received help from various groups, such as the National Guard, Uni ted Way, the Coast Guard Diligence crew, Davidson College's Building and Construction Trades Department, and UNCW students. Colonel Bud Martin, N. C. National Guard Tactical Operations Commander, reported 800 National Guard personnel were covering the area from Jacksonville, N. C. to Fort Fisher. The military policemen were patrolling the beaches in the Topsail area; another 30 personnel were sandbagging the area washed out on Highway 50. There were 225 personnel housed in the Fort Fisher area working closely with the local police departments and patrolling the Carolina Beach and Kure Beach areas, while 103 personnel were working in the Wrightsville Beach area. The remaining 100 personnel were maintenance supporters of the tactical operations center. As security concerns decrease, the Guard will perform other support activities, such as tree clearing at the schools. Chairman Greer, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation to Colonel Martin for the assistance given to the community by the National Guard. Director Summers reported the Emergency Operations Center had remained open and advised that several briefings had been held with the FEMA Disaster Field Office located at the Airport. Also, the Relief Center at the Community Boys' and Girls' Club continues to distribute canned foods, bottled water, and other supplies. In checking for housing shortages, the Salvation Army reported there were two housing needs in the inner city. As the beach communities open, more temporary housing will be needed. FEMA does not provide trailers or temporary housing. The County will need to expedite the use of existing housing units by promptly addressing construction and repair concerns. The emergency shelter at Dorothy B. Johnson School will close on September 14, 1996, and DSS will relocate the few individuals that remain. Commissioner Caster asked about the status of the EOC and recommended closing the operation in the evenings. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 13, 1996 BOOK 25 PAGE 599 Director Summers stated the EOC would not be operated past 11:00 P.M. for the weekend and hopefully would only be opened from 8: 00 A.M. to 5: 00 P.M. beginning next week. He explained that agencies who do not have resources in the field depend upon the EOC. When the situation becomes more controlled, the EOC will be able to return to normal business hours. Commissioner Barone reported she had heard that an inspection fee for repairs to a condo unit at Carolina Beach was $160 per unit; and she asked the Inspections Director if that was correct. Director of Inspections, Jay Graham responded he would investigate the complaint. He reported the Inspections Department had completed the damage assessment of the County on Sunday, September 7, 1996. Normal operations of the Inspections Department had been suspended in order to undertake the damage recovery process. Many homes and businesses were without roofs, walls, electrical meters, or air conditioning units that will need to be returned to habitable conditions. To better manage the process, mobile permitting sites have been established at Ogden Volunteer Fire Department, Myrtle Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Wrightsville Beach Town Hall, and Carolina Beach Recreation Center, as well as the downtown Inspections Office to deal with repairs. When a home needs to be reconstructed or the repairs are above 50% of its value in damage, permits will have to be issued at the downtown office in order to address Health Department and CAMA concerns. Director Graham explained the main mission of the Inspections Department was to assist the public in returning to their homes and businesses. Addressing current construction projects will become secondary. The inspectors will need to remain flexible while abiding by regulations that have been established. He stated that constant communication has occurred with the Board of Directors of the Home Builders Association, architects, engineers, and associated general contractors in the County. All of these agencies have been understanding and given wide-spread support to the County during this crisis situation. Limited inspections have been made on projects that were in progress. In conjunction with the mobile permit sites, the American Institute of Architects, Home Builders Association and Professional Engineers Associations will have representatives offering their services as Start Teams. Beginning on Monday, September 16, 1996, from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., the Start Teams will be at the mobile permit sites, as well as the downtown office, to give advise to homeowners on safety precautions, how to assess their damage, and who to contact for repairs. In response to the construction community, since the Inspections Department has been too busy to do regular inspections, alternate avenues have been pursued. The State Building Code Council and the State Department of Insurance have given builders permission to hire architects and engineers to perform building code inspections, which will relieve the County's Inspections Department, help keep the contractors in business, and keep the code compliance program in effect. A request has been made to the N. C. Licensing Board for General Contractors to suspend rules concerning contractors from other states who are duly licensed. N. C. General Statutes require a contractor to be licensed under the State of North Carolina. By recognizing these licenses, it would allow more contractors to work in our area. Director Graham has recommended that the Board of County Commissioners should request the Governor to issue an Executive Order authorizing the N. C. Licensing Board to suspend this requirement. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 13, 1996 BOOK 25 PAGE 600 Motion: Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Caster to request the Governor to issue a Directive or Executive Order to allow general contractors licensed in other states to work in New Hanover County on a temporary basis due to Hurricane Fran. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. In further discussion, Councilman Glenn Ivey of Kure Beach, reported that Kure Beach received severe damage and stated access was still limited to the area. Contractors were directed to the Town Hall to receive passes to specific locations. At the Community Center, tetanus shots and food were being distributed to those in need. Chairman Greer recommended that the news media inform the public that Kure Beach is open to residents and contractors, not to sightseers. Mayor Herb McKim of Wrightsville Beach expressed appreciation to the Commissioners for their support. He reported access to the beach was limited to residents, property owners, business owners and their employees, as well as identified contractors and workers. The waterways remain closed to boating. Many houses were damaged and three homes were completely destroyed. Commissioner Sisson commented on the amount of devastation to the berm and the dunes at the northern end of Wrightsville Beach and asked if this would shift the priorities in terms of requesting beach renourishment funds? Mayor McKim responded that the renourishment issue will have to be re-studied in its entirety. The County and the tourist industry will need to address the serious situation now confronting the beach communities. Wrightsville Beach is without a berm from Station 1 to the north end of the beach. A high tide could be devastating to this area. There are several safety concerns with some streets impassable and structures exposed. City Manager Mary Gornto reported the City had resumed normal operations in addition to moving forward with the recovery efforts. She expressed concern for flooding, cave-ins, and problems to the stormwater systems due to excessive rainfall. Other cities have loaned jet vacs to clean out the storm drains, and some of the work has been contracted out. City Manager Gornto commented on the visit by Secretary Henry Cisneros of HUD to the City. He addressed concerns of the Block Grant Program saying requirements would be waived and the 1997 funds would be released on October 1, 1996. Funds intended for low to moderate income families and housing projects can be distributed to persons in need who would not normally qualify to receive block grant funds. Congresswoman Eva Clayton has been trying to encourage Congress to give additional supplemental block grant appropriations to be used for emergency circumstances. These supplemental appropriations will assist agencies that depend on block grant monies from being affected in the coming year. Matching requirements for the Home Loan Program and FHA requirements will be waived enabling a 90-day forbearance period for persons needing financial assistance to acquire or repair their homes due to damage or destruction. Citizens who are unable to make their payments will be given a three-month grace period. The Section 8 Program has also been approached for assistance to better serve the citizens of the community. County Manager Allen 0' Neal reported the schools would be reopened on Monday, September 16, 1996. Special inspections were needed at the Wrightsville Beach School and some classrooms and activities were being temporarily relocated to St. Marks Church. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 13, 1996 BOOK 25 PAGE 601 Director of Environmental Management, Ray Church, stated the vegetative debris collection was going well and reported that Wilmington Materials, as well as several other sites, were collecting debris. Approximately 1,600 tons were crossing the scales as opposed to 1,000 tons during the debris removal from Hurricane Bertha. Director Church reported a major concern was the removal of construction and demolition material (C&D). He recommended not accepting large quantities of C&D materials until the process could be reviewed and another disposal site could be found. Separating the materials into different types of waste, such as appliances, wood waste, vegetative, and garbage would allow more efficient handling. The Corps of Engineers has been informed about the shortage of landfill space, and Staff has requested the Corps to accept the responsibility for the C&D clean-up process. Director Church stated the County has requested Waste Management, Inc. to reopen the company's transfer station and to deliver materials to Sampson County so relief can be given to the County's facilities. He explained that because of the large volume of trash coming in, it was difficult to separate materials. If the process could be slowed down to where the materials could be separated, appliances could be recycled as well as other metals, and wood waste could be ground at a later date or used as boiler fuel. Hazardous household waste, such as paint cans or aerosol cans, could to be dealt with separately. Director Church recommended closing the landfill to C&D materials with the exception of pickup loads from homeowners. Demolition debris from houses and motels should be prohibited. Motion: Commissioner Barone MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Sisson to prohibit accepting any C&D materials larger than household loads in the New Hanover County Landfill to become effective 7:00 A.M., September 16, 1996, with development of staging locations for the accumulation of the C&D debris. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Discussion was held on informing the public about the C&D materials pick-up. County Manager 0' Neal advised that a press release would be prepared. Chairman Greer, once again, expressed his gratitude to everyone for the hard work and cooperative efforts given during this emergency situation. County Attorney, Wanda Copley, requested the Board to adopt a resolution suspending the prohibition against the residential occupancy of travel trailers and recreational vehicles to allow displaced residents to use these vehicles for living quarters. Motion: Commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Mathews, to adopt a resolution to suspend the prohibition against residential occupancy of travel trailers and recreational vehicles contained in Section 61-1 and 69-7 of the New Hanover County Zoning Ordinance for a period of ninety days with the condition that a building permit be obtained for each unit at the same permit fee as is charged for mobil home permits and the County Health Department approve the means of sewage disposal for each unit. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. A copy of the resolution lS hereby incorporated as a part of the minutes, and is contained ln Exhibit Book XXIII, Page 25. Commissioner Sisson expressed concern for the blockage of County storm drains. He suggested contacting Jim Cook to see if the N. C. Department of Transportation could be of any assistance. He, also, stressed the importance of being aware that overworked NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 13, 1996 BOOK 25 PAGE 602 employees may suffer Post Traumatic Stress. He recommended that help be made available to employees and stated the Southeastern Center could provide professionals to help with this problem. County Manager O'Neal stated a system had been devised to identify employees who had sustained damages or losses. County employees will be given an opportunity to make contributions to help these individuals. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 4:20 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the Board