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Active Event

Active Event

Water service will be disrupted at Montague Road TODAY

The Pender County Utilities distribution team is attending a water main leak at 507 Montague Rd. T&H Construction is working with the PCU team.

The team has no other option, but to shut off the water services at 421/Montague to just past the break on Montague Rd., due to repair, being a cut out and replace of cracked line.

The water line will be cut off at 11 a.m. TODAY, Jan. 30. The distruption will impact approximately 10 homes. The repairs are expected to be completed within the next 6 hours, and a coliform bacteria sample will be collected.

A code red is being sent at this time to all affected residents.

PCU recommends a boil water notification be advised to the residents of the listed affected area until further notice.

Additional information will be release if outside of the six hour window for repairs.

Planning board meeting rescheduled

The January meeting of the Pender County Planning Board, previously scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, Jan 22. The meeting will held in the Hampstead Annex Auditorium and will begin at 7:00 p.m. Please call 910-259-1202 for more information.

Recruiting neighborhood volunteers for CERT program

PENDER COUNTY – Pender County will host an informational session about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) on Jan. 14, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Hampstead Annex, 15060 US Hwy 17.

“The CERT program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager.

“CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks,” said Walter Makaryk, a CERT leader. “Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced.”

Anyone interested in learning about CERT should attend the Jan. 14 meeting.

“CERT volunteers are extremely important,” said Makaryk. “They are the neighborhood responders who inform emergency services of downed trees and power lines. They check on their neighbors following a disaster. They are the conduit to retrieve assistance for their neighborhood.”

Read about the CERT program at www.ready.gov/cert.

For more information, watch our Pender County Emergency Management website or Facebook. If you have not signed up for the CodeRed alert system, register for free at https://pendercountync.gov/em/special-disaster-information/emergency-notification-system/ or call 910-259-1210 for details.

Maple Hill VFD receives improved ISO rating

BURGAW – This spring residents in the Maple Hill Fire District will find a savings on their home insurance, thanks to the work of the Maple Hill Volunteer Fire Department, the Pender County Fire Marshal, and the NC Department of Insurance.

“Maple Hill VFD has received a North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) Insurance Rating of a 5/9E,” said Tommy Batson, Pender County Fire Marshal. “The fire department along with other fire departments and other agencies were graded on a point scale in September for this final grade.”

Batson said the point system grading system includes 10 percent from Emergency Communications Center. Fire department makes up 50 percent of the points system. Water supply is 40 percent and Community Risk Reduction makes up the last 5.5 percent for a total of 105.5 points.

“The Maple Hill VFD has been a Class 9 and was the minimum rate fire protection class,” Batson said. “The Office of the State Fire Marshal comes in and reviews many different things in the different areas of the grading system. After a few months the final score from a Class 1 being the best to a Class 10 having no fire protection coverage is finalized.”

We’re pleased that homeowners in March 2020 will receive a savings when the new insurance rating will go into effect,” said George Brown, Chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners. “The fire insurance premium drop will be for all fire insurance policies that are within the five-mile district of the Maple Hill VFD.”

“Anyone living in the five to six-mile area will continue to receive a class 9 E ratings,” said Batson.

“This will substantially reduce insurance rates for homeowners and commercial businesses in the district. Anywhere from $150 to possibly $250 a year based upon the insurance company,” Lee Kennedy, a rating inspector for the North Carolina State Fire Marshal said.

“It was a combination between our department, Nine Mile, Pin Hook, Haws Run, Pender EMS & Fire, and Burgaw,” said Harold Motley, Maple Hill fire chief. “We did water shuttles, we trained together. We do these things to increase the amount of water we can bring to a fire and of course, the engines and the fire trucks and the manpower.”

Residents with questions regarding the ISO rating should contact their insurance carrier.

Blueberry Drop returns Dec. 31

BURGAW – The Town of Burgaw, Pender County, and the North Carolina Blueberry Festival welcome the return of the Blueberry Drop Dec. 31, beginning at 5 p.m. in Historic Downtown Burgaw.

“The Blueberry Drop was a huge success last year,” said Cody Suggs, Burgaw Parks and Recreation director. “We’re pleased to offer our residents and visitors a fun, family-oriented way to ring in the New Year.”

The event will feature Fayetteville-based Rivermist Band and their classic variety rock music. Entertainment will include a fire twirler and fire truck. The Burgaw Lions Club will sell hot chocolate. The NC Blueberry Festival will offer presale tickets to the annual pancake breakfast as well as merchandise.

“Last year’s event packed out the Historic Train Depot,” said Suggs. “This year, we’re closing a portion of Fremont Street for the staging of the blueberry drop, the band, and most importantly, our retailers and restaurants will be open, creating a street fair atmosphere.”

The fun will begin at 5 p.m. and the blueberry drop will take place at 7 p.m. – which is midnight Greenwich Mean Time. Food trucks will be on hand all evening long.

“Dropping the blueberry at 7 p.m. allows us to celebrate as families,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County Tourism director. “We’re pleased to partner with the Town of Burgaw and the NC Blueberry Festival on this uniquely Burgaw/Pender County event.”

The Blueberry Drop is a free event. Outside alcohol or pets are prohibited.

For more information call Burgaw Parks and Recreation at 910-300-6401.

 

Pender County Seeking Input on Local Transportation Prioritization

Pender County will hold open houses to solicit input for the Local Transportation Prioritization program on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room, located at 805 South Walker St., Burgaw, NC 28425 and on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Hampstead Annex, located at 15060 US HWY 17, Hampstead, NC 28443.

Staff will give a brief presentation on the transportation planning process and accept submissions for potential transportation improvement projects, which will be forwarded to the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization or Cape Fear Rural Planning Organization for inclusion in the NC Department of Transportation’s bi-annual prioritization process.

If you wish to submit a potential project but are unable to attend the open house please submit the project input form, available at https://pendercountync.gov/pcd/ and return this to Pender County Planning and Community Development by mail, in person at 805 South Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425, or to sshore@pendercountync.gov.

For questions please contact Sam Shore at 910-259-1274.

Water system update

Water customers of Pender County Utilities, in Pender County, along the Scotts Hill area on Inlet Drive, High Tide Drive, Ebb Drive, and Sandbar Drive, are advised that due to a water main break, water was temporarily turned off to conduct a water main repair in the area on Nov. 19.

Water service has been restored.

Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system.

Therefore, consumers in the area noted above are advised to boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation) or use bottled water until this advisory is lifted. This advisory will be in effect for a minimum of 24 hours.

Vigorous boiling for one (1) minute should kill any disease-causing organisms that may be present in the water.

Water customers are strongly urged to conserve water whenever possible.

This advisory remains in effect until further written notification is issued.

Pender County residents urged to prepare for Hurricane Irma

The Pender County Office of Emergency Management urged residents to prepare for Hurricane Irma.

“We’re tracking this storm,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “Every Pender County resident should take precautions to prepare for Hurricane Irma.”

Collins said families should have emergency kits ready.

“Be sure your emergency supplies kit has enough bottled water and non-perishable food to sustain each family member for three to seven days,” Collins said. “Include a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, toiletries, change of clothes, blankets or sleeping bag, rain gear and appropriate footwear. Also include copies of important documents, such as birth certificates and insurance policies.”

While preparing for a family emergency, don’t forget to plan for your pets. Gather supplies for your pet and put them in an easily-accessible container.

“Now is the time to prepare your home,” said Collins. “Clean out gutters and clear property of debris that could damage buildings in strong winds”

The Pender County Office of Emergency Management urges all residents to secure lawn furniture, gas grills, and items that can be become flying debris. Collins said residents should prepare for possible power outages.

Homeowners will need to purchase items such as lumber and shutters now. Pre-drill the window casings, Collins said.

“Residents in flood-prone areas should know local evacuation routes,” Collins said. “We are not issuing a voluntary evacuation at this time, but we want all Pender County residents to know the routes.”

“We are monitoring Hurricane Irma,” said Collins. “It’s important for residents to keep up with weather advisories.”

Residents may register for CodeRed, the county’s emergency alert system, at http://www.penderem.com.

Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com.

If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.

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