Nags Head Sandbag
Most Dare County residents cannot begin to fathom why, the majority of voters in Nags Head placed Commissioner Anna Sadler back in office in November after she stated that she "did not care what the voters said; and, later apologized. Now she appears ready to slap them in the face again by re-imposing the county wide sales tax (which would make Dare the highest in the state and among the highest in the nation.).
Likewise, it is hard to fathom why Commissioners like Wayne Gray, who was formerly against beach nourishment, and said it would never work, voted to place Renee Cahoon back in office, knowing full well what was coming down the pike. Gray says he is getting out of politics after his current term ends. Is this his way of giving a parting gift(?) to his constitutents?
It's a "given" why Sadler voted for Cahoon's reinstatement; but, why have the residents of Nags Head sat still for it? And, EOD is puzzled by Commissioner Doug Remaley, who not only wants to tax who he can for beach nourishment, but earlier, wanted the town and/or county to buy and maintain a dredge to do the work.
It's time to get to work, folks. Don't wait until you read in the News & Observer, Virginian Pilot or your local newspaper come spring that you will be paying more sales tax again, etc. These people mean business, and rest assured there will be more going on in the background than you will ever learn until it is too late, if you don't act now.
EOD encourages you to call or write your town's elected officials and let them know how you feel about this issue. Each town has a vote on the Shoreline Commission (although the county commissioners can override their vote); and we encourage you to insist that your offiicals speak up. We also encourage residents of the Town of Manteo to get involved in this matter. They should not sit on the sideline until it is too late. Manteo residents should insist that their town mayor accept the seat on the Shoreline Commission that has been ignored up to this date. By not sitting on the commission, Manteo is not looking out for shoreline protection along the shores of Roanoke Island; all of which is covered by the legislated act which dictates how this $24,000,000 can be spent.
Below is the email of these officials (Nags Head is not included, for obvious reasons). We urge you to "cut and paste "and let all of them know how you feel.
Town Officials:
skinner@townofmanteo.com
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8 comments:
Now Ray, I'm a little hurt. You went a whole post on nourishment without mentioning my name.
I think most folks vastly underestimate the importance of critics and skeptics of a proposal.
So what do you think about the financing plan that can be implemented very quickly? The increase in the occupancy tax by 1% puts us even with Currituck, and doesn't affect residents much at all. It takes some value away from the property owners, but not near as much as they can lose if the perception of the Outer Banks is a beach littered with septic tanks and sandbags. (And I promise, we're working to get these items, and the homes that are on the public beach, cleaned up in the short term, as they should be.)
Nags Head uses the additional 1% for the first five years to repay a revenue bond, then from 2016 to 2020, 2% or between 6 and 7 million goes in the fund. After 10 years, you have more money available than simply contiuing the current 1% tax. And don't forget, these funds are dedicated to this purpose by law.
So just on the economics of this proposal, what do you think?
Thanks,
Bob O (personally)
As you know, Bob, I, and I believe the majority of Dare County people am/are totally against beach nourishment in the first place.
But, since you asked how I feel about the 1% occupancy tax increase, I'll respond. I am not in favor of any kind of tax increase to fund this issue. However, if your town is able to pull it off, then I say impose all the taxes on every single person in the Town of Nags Head who favors the project. Ask, them all, by petition (if that's what you like)and see what kind of response you get. Don't tax the rest of the working peoople in Dare County for something they have already told you they don't want. Don't ask the cash-strapped State of North Carolina for money for this folly.
Take only your fair portion of the shoreline bank account, and no more. Try financing the balance with ad valorem taxes and see how far that goes.
Then, when the Town of Kill Devil Hills wants to do a bn project, let them follow the same proceedure. Same for KH, SS and Duck.
Now, I have a question for you.
Let's suppose we have a major hurricane that results in major soundside flooding...destroying soundside shoreline, docks, business properties, equipment, road infrastructure, etc. in Wanchese, Manteo, Manns Harbor, Colington, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras. Where will these people go for help after the Town of Nags Head siphons away the shoreline protection funds. Can they go to the Town of Nags Head for help? What will the residents of KDH, SS, Duck, KH do when their shorelines get damaged?
Can they go to the Town of Nags Head for help?
Note: Does shoreline protection mean protection for income producing shoreline property or protection for all shoreline property? If its for all shoreline property, including soundside (which I believe is true)..then Nags Head is ignoring their soundside residents while looking out for non-resident owners on the ocean. Shame, shame..
If the town of Nags Head voters want to generate funds from Nags Head guests and residents that doesn’t involve others to pay for their beach nourishment and no harden structures (sand bags included) are involved let them try that folly. I don’t want to pay for one penny of it. If I find a any sales tax spent there goes towards beach nourishment I won’t be shopping at the outlet mall either.
Well, IIRC Anna only "won" last election by 17% of the votes. Most of us NH year-round residents (of whom I know) left that space BLANK at the voting booth. So we personally did not vote her back in.
Nobody wants to run against some of the incumbents, but it is highly possible that next election somebody might be able to step up to the plate and challenge her seat.
Heck--look what happened in SoShores! All we have to do is collectively WRITE IN somebody and they might very well take more than 17% of the votes and win!
Do not think any of us NH residents who are against BN will ever forget her comment about "not caring what the voters think."
And, here's a thought for an immediate fix to help the looks and perception of the beach to the vacationers (while BN is hashed and re-hashed to death, while SNH languishes looking God-awful yet another summer)...
Why can't they take a fraction of the proposal money and pay the distressed SNH property owners for demolition of the bad houses, sandbags and septic tanks?
Then use another fraction of the money to take over every distressed and near-distressed lot and to make one or several nice beach access that everyone can use?
Why should the town of Nags Head pay the property owners for demolition of the bad houses, sandbags and septic tanks? It is solely the homeowner's responsibility. They knew the risks of home ownership on the Outer Banks. I feel for these people, but the town should not have to foot the bill for them.
Because the whole town suffers because the distressed-property owners will not *safely* demolish their homes themselves before the ocean takes them, thus causing more mess and danger to the rest of us.
Why not use a tiny fraction of the already-gathered $24 mil.? I am not advocating a new tax for such demolition.
I just want to see a clean-up while the powers-that-be beat the dead BN horse.
jeez, politics
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