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