Highlights of the Dare County Board of Commissioners July 17 Meeting

The Dare County Board of Commissioners met on July 17, and a number of Hatteras Island-related topics were covered on the 16-item agenda.

Actions and discussions that affects Hatteras Island included the following.

Sunday Alcohol Sales Approved for Unincorporated Areas

In response to a request from the Outer Banks Restaurant Association, the Board unanimously approved an ordinance to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages before noon on Sundays.  Senate Bill 155, known as the “Brunch Bill” was signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper on June 30 and gave authority to local governments to approve the serving and sale of alcoholic beverages at 10 a.m. on Sundays rather than noon. The Dare County Ordinance was approved by all Commissioners with an immediate effective date for licensed premises’ in unincorporated areas of Dare County.

Planning Items  

A number of planning issues were discussed at the Board’s July meeting and the following actions were taken:

Introduction of New School Superintendent

John Farrelly, the new Superintendent of Dare County Schools, was introduced to the Board by Board of Education Chair Bea Basnight. Farrelly began work July 1 and has hit the ground running.  He thanked the Board of Education for giving him the opportunity and spoke of working to make Dare County’s school system the highest performing in the state. Farrelly praised the talented employees and leaders in the school system and said he is thrilled with their level of commitment to excellence. Farrelly promised to be a superintendent involved and visible in the local community.

Hatteras Inlet

Following a request from Commissioner Danny Couch, the Board directed County Manager Outten to gather information about initiating an economic impact study for Hatteras Inlet. In addition, the County Manager received the go ahead to request that dredging for Hatteras Inlet occur in August rather than later in the year since the dredge vessel is expected to be out of service by September. The Board authorized the transfer of $110,000 to the State from the County’s inlet maintenance fund to cover the County’s 25% match for this dredging project.  

Rodanthe Recycle Center

Beginning August 1, new policies will be implemented at the Rodanthe Recycling Center to deter the dumping of prohibited material at the facility. The Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Only the following items will be accepted at the Center: glass, corrugated cardboard, paper, plastics #1 through # 7, steel cans, aluminum cans and electronics.

The following items are prohibited: motor oil, C&D materials such as lumber, toilets, sinks, furniture, mattresses, yard debris, tires, batteries, appliances and grills.

Dare County Child/Adolescent Telepsychiatry Services Proposal

At the request of Vice Chairman Wally Overman, Health Director Sheila Davies reported on the need for psychiatry services for the children and youth in our community. Davies presented information about a tele-psychiatry pilot program to provide psychiatric services through pediatricians partnering with ECU or Vidant Health. With the projected financial model indicating a gap of approximately $25,000 for the first year, the Board committed these funds to establish the program.

Next Meeting of the Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners’ next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 7 at  9:00 a.m. For more information about the Dare County Board of Commissioners, including full agenda packets and the video of entire meetings, visit darenc.com/boc.