2004-04-29 Special Meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 30
SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 29, 2004PAGE 23
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Special Meeting on Monday, April 29, 2004, at
5:15 p.m. in Room 501 of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North
Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Julia Boseman; Commissioner William
A. Caster; Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager Allen O’Neal; Deputy County Attorney Kemp Burpeau;
and Clerk to the Board Sheila L. Schult.
Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr. was absent.
Others present were: Assistant County Manager Patricia Melvin; Assistant County Manager Dave Weaver;
and Budget Director Cam Griffin.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the Special Meeting was to
hear a presentation by the New Hanover County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Presentation
Chairman Greer introduced Shelly Miller, Community Conservationist with the New Hanover County Soil
& Water Conservation District and Marilyn Meares, Coordinator of Cape Fear Resource Conservation and
Development.
Ms. Miller reported that the New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District (NHSWCD) provides an
essential service to New Hanover County citizens and their environment. The Soil and Water Conservation
partnership, consists of Federal, State, and local entities. The New Hanover SWCD employs one of the two Community
Conservationists in the State and has made tremendous advancements in this area, benefitting both New Hanover
County and the NC Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The purpose of the NHSWCD is to protect
and enhance water quality throughout New Hanover County and beyond through technical support, land conservation,
storm water management and education and outreach. NHSWCD is currently:
•Preserving Eagles Island as a natural heritage site for education and ecotourism and has to date
protected over three hundred acres through donations and grant funded purchases.
•Serving as the lead agency for the protection of the fifty-five acre Hewletts Creek Greenway
including a watershed effort which includes outreach, training, and restoration; and developing a
buffer cost-share program in Hewletts Creek to protect 20,000 linear feet of shoreline.
•Providing, through a grant, North Chase Homeowners Association $408,000 for flood abatement.
•Educating the citizens of New Hanover County on the importance of water quality and storm water
management.
•Training landowners in understanding and applying storm water best management practices.
She continued, that through a Memorandum of Understanding with New Hanover County, the NHSWCD
provides technical support to New Hanover County Engineering and Planning Departments with sediment and erosion
control plan reviews and soil assessments for preliminary plans. NHSWCD also provides assistance with and
availability of New Hanover County archived aerial photos and soil surveys. Future projects include:
•Stewardship Development Award
•Best management practices guide for homeowners, approved by the Board of Realtors, to be passed
out at real estate closings
•Pet Waste Education Campaign with a focus on veterinaries, groomers, etc.
Ms. Miller concluded that the NHSWCD is requesting $31,800 from New Hanover County towards protecting
soil and water resources.
Chairman Greer thanked Ms. Miller for the presentation.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the Board