Deputy stands watch over Pamlico commissioners' meeting

BAYBORO -- For the first time in anyone's memory, an armed deputy was present for a Pamlico County commissioners' meeting Monday, standing at attention for nearly three hours.

"I heard there were going to be some Bay River (Sewer District) issues discussed and it might get heated," Pamlico Sheriff Billy Sawyer said Tuesday. "I decided to calm it down in case there were any hotheads."

As it turned out, there were sewer issues and concerns discussed, but no raised voices or confrontations.

Mark Valentine, spokesman for a Raleigh group called the Environmental Investigation Coalition, expressed concerns about a number of topics, ranging from Bay River's sewer capacity and use of grant money to water quality and a high cancer death rate in the county.

Art Hough, superintendent of Bay River, gave the board a requested update on the operations and status of the independent county sewer system. He said the system did reach allocation capacity in 2004-05, but has been progressing since then with the completion of a new reuse plant in Oriental. That was made possible with $13 million from the developers of River Dunes, a 600-home development near Oriental.

Hough said the new plant allowed Bay River to discontinue sending waste from Oriental to Bayboro for treatment before going to the county spray site near Arapahoe. He said he was open to attend public meetings to answer questions about the sewer system.

Earlier, Valentine said his Raleigh coalition had been in contact with Hough several times in recent weeks.

"He (Hough) has been enormously accommodating and has provided us with everything that we have asked for," Valentine said.

"The bottom line in our objective is to investigate and find out if there have been irregularities in the obtaining and spending of state and federal grant money for the establishment of sewer capacity, and if those funds have been spent the way they were supposed to have been spent," he said.

Valentine said his Raleigh group had recommendations for Bay River Sewer and for the commissioners.

"We feel like there ought to be a comprehensive impact study made that includes things that have happened since the last impact study," he said. The updated information he requested included FEMA flood maps, the new coastal stormwater rules, soil conditions and the effect of the state prison in Bayboro on Bay River's operations.

"What we want to do is help provide solutions to some of the issues," he said. "We are not here to point an accusing finger at anybody. This is about economic viability and development."

Valentine then introduced representatives of a Virginia development group, which plans to build a "Waterfront Sportsman Inn" in the town of Stonewall.

Spokesman Renee Warren said the WFS Investment Group had bought about nine acres of waterfront property on N.C. 55 in Stonewall.

She pointed out that Pamlico County lacks overnight lodging. The proposed inn, with 32 to 36 rooms, would have an eating establishment featuring local favorites, along with potential for small meeting and conference facilities.

Warren said the site was strategically located near new planned residential developments and would provide lodging for potential land and home buyers, as well as for families of hundreds of children who attend several large summer camps in the county.

She said the new facility would provide jobs and tax money for the county. To move forward, she asked the commissioners for assurance of utilities - water and sewer - assistance with a marketing survey and a list of what incentives the county could offer.

The board did not take any action on the three presentations.

The commissioners meet again Dec. 1, when new board member Ken Heath and re-elected Commissioner Chris Mele will be sworn in. The board will also chose new leadership that night. Current Chairman Doug Brinson lost his seat to Heath in the recent election.