Kramer’s Komer
(Continued from page 14)
for a new metal roof for town hall. Before we send this out, we are going
to speak to another community that went through this experience. As our
building inspector has told us, a properly installed metal roof is tremendous. An
improperly installed metal roof is less effective than shingles.
Grant to address street drainage. As previously reported in this column, we
have received a grant from the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management
for the design of street drainage projects in town. We signed a state agreement
for this project and will soon start working with an engineer. Envisioned are very
mild swales installed in the town right of way, with crowned asphalt to move
water into the swales. This grant is for design only, not construction, which we
hope to address in a future budget year when funds are available.
Water system grant. We were not selected for a grant to replace water
lines throughout most of the older east end of town. This NC Department of
Environmental Quality grant program will have a second round this fall, but
I am not hopeful. Quite frankly, it is entirely due to Sonny Cunningham that
our system is in such sohd working condition that we did not compete with
financially distressed systems or systems that had more serious maintenance
issues. We will continue to work on this.
Sidewalk segments for safely crossing Highway 58. As a follow-up to the
discussion of this topic at the July meeting of the Board of Commissioners,
Commissioner Edwards and I visited public beach accesses at Qcean Glen,
Beacon’s Reach and Dayton Place. Related to these beach accesses and crossing
safety, there are ongoing discussions of a sidewalk segment from Dayton Place
on the south side of Highway 58, east to the traffic light at Pine Knoll Boulevard;
a sidewalk segment from the crosswalk at Juniper Road east to Laurel Court
(which was discussed in the spring and had a cost estimate of $100,000 for
construction and $13,000 for design); and a small segment from the eastern
Bermuda Greens driveway to the Hotel Alice driveway (cost estimate of $30,000
for construction and $9,000 for design). I anticipate these specified locations will
be discussed in February when we start next year’s budget planning.
Flood maps. We continue to wait for FEMA to advise us that the new flood
maps wiU enter a 90-day period during which homeowners can appeal the new
maps to the federal government. In the meantime, you may see what zone your
property is currently in by visiting fris.nc.gov/fris. If you need assistance, reach
out to Town Clerk/Planning Administrator Charlie Rocci at 252-247-4353,
ext. 11, and he can walk you through it.
Lightning strike. Sometime overnight on August 7-8, there was a lightning
strike that impacted both town hall and the aquarium. At town hall we had
the most damage from a weather event we have seen in 15 years, including
hurricanes. We regret the inconvenience this caused with our phone service, but
that was just the beginning of the damage:
• The transformer serving the building was destroyed. CCEC replaced it.
• Our phone system was wiped out. We forwarded the main number to the
public safety building so citizens would get a human voice—and had to get
most of the phone equipment at town hall replaced.
• The conference phone in the board room is dead.
• The fire alarm system at town hall was damaged, and as of this writing the
technicians are still assessing this.
• Two desktop computers and a monitor were destroyed, and several
network cards were damaged.
• The exterior parking lot lights at town hall were damaged, but are now back
in service.
• Both board room TVs are out and will be replaced.
• The electronic access controls to town hall are not fully operational; the
contractor was in, and equipment is on order.
• From a server and connectivity standpoint, our modem, router and switch
were all damaged. Spectrum replaced the modem, and our IT contractor
got us running with temporary replacements of the other two. New
equipment is on order.
• At least three security cameras are not operating, nor is the DVR associated
with them. Replacements are on order.
• An HVAC unit in town hall may be compromised.
• Smaller items like the shredder and postage machine are also dead.
We had commercial back-up power supplies and surge protectors on these
major pieces of equipment, but it wasn’t enough protection. We have filed
an insurance claim, and it looks as if this damage will be covered with a very
modest deductible ($500). We are going to take a look at industrial/commercial
level lightning protection.
P.E.O. Pecans
By Karen Askew
It’s that pecan time of year again. RE.O.’s (Philanthropic Educational
Organization) annual pecan drive has begun. Proceeds from the sale of fresh
pecans (never frozen or cold stored) go toward providing grants, loans and
scholarships to support the education of women at all levels, from high school
to the doctoral level and everything in between. To find out more about P.E.O.
visit peonc.org peointernational.org.
Please submit your order and check as shown below. Contact Karen Askew
at 252-671-0522 or kaskew51@gmail.com if you need more information.
Perfect Pecan Halves (1 lb.): $14.00
Pecan Caramel Clusters (8 oz.): $11.00
Glazed Pecans (8oz.): $11.00
Cinnamon Glazed Pecans (10 oz.): $11.00
Chocolate Covered Pecans (12 oz.): $11.00
Salted Cashews (10 oz.): $11.00
Order by October 15 for pre-Thanksgiving delivery.
Make checks payable to Karen Askew and send to
515 Egret Lake Drive, Pine Knoll Shores 28512
. Pecan Halves @ $14.00 = $.
.Clusters @$11.00 = $
. Glazed @ 11.00 = $,
. Cinnamon @ $11.00 = $.
. Chocolate @ $11.00 = $.
. Cashews @ $ 11.00 = $
Order Total: $_
Name:
Phone:
September 2022 I The Shoreline 19