Board decides to expand Buxton nourishment service district By IRENE NOLAN

County assessor Greta Skeen and David White, chief residential appraiser, discussed a map of damage done to the properties in the three areas during major storms dating back to Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

At least three commissioners — Woodard, Beverly Boswell, and Jack Shea — seemed to be leaning toward a Map 3 service district.

However, other commissioners noted that there had not been significant damage to properties in the Map 3 area during storms.

“I’ve been here 10 years, and I haven’t seen any flood damage in those areas,” White told the commissioners.

“I’m concerned about the catastrophic one that hits one day,” Woodard said.

“I think we need to go with what history tells us,” Commissioner Wally Overman countered.

County manager and attorney Bobby Outten, when asked his legal opinion of whether he could defend adding parcels in Map 3, said he would have a difficult time defending that action in court, considering what the county’s employees had said about little flood damage in the area.

During the discussion, Woodard noted that “the majority is for (Map) 2” and asked for a motion.

The motion to establish the properties in Map 2 as the Buxton Service District for beach nourishment was made by Overman and seconded by Commissioner Margarette Umphlett.

Hatteras Island commissioner Allen Burrus had previously said he opposed raising any taxes to pay for the project, but could live with Map 1 or 2.

In the end, the vote to establish Map 2 as the proposed district was unanimous.

The county must now prepare a new report, publish a new map, notify property owners in the new proposed district by mail, and set a public hearing four weeks after the new information is mailed.

Judge asked that the public hearing be held in Buxton “after work hours,” and Woodard agreed.