Jones addresses local officials

SWANSBORO — As he spoke before an audience of town and county leaders Wednesday night in Swansboro, Congressman Walter Jones opened his comments with words of thanks.

He said they are the ones on the front lines, dealing with constituents and issues in their respective communities on a daily basis.

“I go back to Washington. You may see constituents every day at the gas station, at the store, in church,” said U.S. Rep. Jones, R-NC. “I have great appreciation for the things you do.”

Jones was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Crystal Coast Mayor’s Association, which was sponsored by the Town of Swansboro.

The meeting brought together local government officials from both Onslow and Carteret counties and gave them an opportunity to ask questions about issues impacting the area.

Military growth was one issue that came up, and while the influx of military personnel and families is seen as a good thing for the region, there are challenges that come with the increase, officials said.

Onslow County Manager Jeff Hudson asked about impact aid to help the county with its responsibility to provide an education for the children of military families.

Jones left with a promise to have his staff look into the status of impact aid funding and acknowledged there are challenges that come with the benefits of military growth.

“It’s a good problem to have, but we have to take care of some of the pressures,” Jones said.

Jones also said he’d have staff look into another military-related issue that Onslow County Board of Commissioners Chairman W.C. Jarman said citizens mention often: the closure of N.C. 172.

The road through Camp Lejeune, which connects Sneads Ferry and Hubert, was closed to the public in a move to increase security aboard base.

“We’re asked all the time, ‘Why can’t we get 172 opened back up?’” Jarman said.

During his comments, Jones also addressed other topics of interest to area communities.

He said he’d be meeting in the next few weeks with the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding its Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project.

Some area beach and waterfront communities fear the efforts to modernize current paper maps of undeveloped and unstable barrier shorelines go beyond that and include changes with potential implications to projects such as beach nourishment, dredging and waterfront improvements.

Jones also stated his position on an issue that affects all citizens, health care reform efforts.

“Based on conversations I’ve had with doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators, there are parts of the health care system that need reform,” he said, “but reform needs to be step-by-step, incremental, not in one massive bill.”

Contact Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 910-382-2557.