General News

In accordance with the Public Water and Sewer System Development Fee Act, also known as House Bill 436, Pender County is seeking public review and comment on an analysis that has been prepared by Stantec Consulting Services Inc. which analyzes the maximum fee the County may charge for System Development Fees on new water and sewer connections.

This report presents the results of the comprehensive study, including background information, legal requirements, an explanation of the calculation methodology employed, and the results of the analysis. This analysis is strictly for water and sewer System Development Fees that are designed to recover the cost of water and sewer capacity collected from new connectors to each system. This analysis does not include the evaluation of water and sewer rates paid monthly by existing customers.

A paper copy is available at Pender County Utilities, 605 E. Fremont Street, Burgaw, NC 28425.
This analysis is open for public comment for a period of 45 days and expires on Friday, June 22, 2018. Consideration of adopting the fees will take place on July 2, 2018 at the Pender County Commissioner’s Meeting.

Written comments can be submitted to Pender County Utilities prior to June 22, 2018 by mailing to:

Margaret Gray, Utilities Director
Attn: System Development Fee Comments
605 E. Fremont Street
Burgaw, NC 28425

Or by email to:

mgray@pendercountync.gov

PRESS RELEASE

April 23, 2018

For Immediate Release

Contact Pender County Manager Randell Woodruff, 910-259-1200

PENDER COUNTY –  Pender County Commissioner David Williams will serve as an expert in the upcoming Cape Fear Forward, a panel on economic development on Wednesday, April 25, 5-7 p.m. in the auditorium of Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station, 502 N. Front St.

Williams will join Scott Satterfield of Wilmington Business Development, Natalie English of Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Scott Custer the president of Live Oak Bank, Dr. Adam Jones from the UNCW Cameron School of business regional economist, and Velva Jenkins, from Brunswick Community College’s VP for Continuing Education, Economic & Workforce Development on the panel.

“I consider it an honor to be asked by Chairman George Brown to serve on this regional panel,” said Williams. “I’ve worked on several committees which encourage economic development.”

Williams said Pender County has experienced a surge in economic development recently, with the addition of FedEx, Empire Distributing, and Acme Fish.

The forum is a community outreach program of the Star News.

For more information regarding the forum, please call Pender County Manager Randell Woodruff at 910-259-1200.

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HAMPSTEAD – Let’s play ball! It’s that season – spring – when youth from four-year old t-ball players to senior leagues take to the fields at Hampstead Kiwanis Park.

New to Smith Field is a press box, thanks to an $8,000 contribution from the American Legion Post 167 in Hampstead. Recently a plaque was installed on the side of the press box to acknowledge the contribution of the local post.

“One of our four pillars in the Legion is Youth,” said Jim Williams, who oversees the athletic committee in the local American Legion. “We sponsor at least one baseball team per season.”

This year the post will sponsor a junior team for ages 13-17. Smith Field, a lighted field, is the team’s home field.

Pender County Commissioner David Williams said the press box is a welcomed addition to Smith Field.

“It’s a multipurpose press box,” David Williams explained.

“The upper level is a press box and the lower level is storage,” said Jim Williams. “We will use one section of the lower level to sell snacks and drinks during games.”

Jim Williams said the Legion sponsored team will play against eight to 10 teams during the baseball season.

Admission to see the games are $5. Proceeds are used to fund Legion projects in the community.

“They play seven inning games. We hire professional umpires,” said Jim Williams. “We start every game with the American Legion creed, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the National Anthem. Our goal is to teach good sportsmanship.”

Williams said the head coach is Chris Bass and his assistant coach is Matt Floto. Fathers often help too. The junior team is for youth ages 13-17.

Try-outs for the American Legion team is April 29, 2 p.m. at Smith Field in Hampstead Kiwanis Park. The cost is $150 per player. Anyone with questions regarding the try-outs should call 704-906-9501 or email Williams.202@charter.net.

“The next project is a scoreboard and a public-address system,” said Jim Williams.

Commissioner David Williams said community contributions which benefit our parks are deeply appreciated. Donations, such the one made by Pluris for lighting at Smith Field, are community investments, he added.

“Our community is invested in our youth,” he added.

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BURGAW – The Pender County Board of Commissioners and Wilmington Business Development announced FedEx Freight, a less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, a unit of FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) has selected a 12.5-acre parcel at Pender Commerce Park for a new service center.

“The arrival of FedEx Freight highlights the rise of Pender Commerce Park as one of our region’s most appealing industrial properties, and demonstrates the county’s ongoing efforts t0 create jobs for its citizens,” said George Brown, chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners. The company will be the park’s third tenant. New York-based Acme Smoked Fish and Empire Distributors, a consumer supply-chain leader, established operations in Pender Commerce Park in 2013 and 2015, respectively.

Located on U.S. Highway 421 in the community of Currie, the 450-acre full-service industrial park was completed in 2011 as part of a partnership between Pender County and Wilmington Business Development (WBD).

“Pender Commerce Park is well on its way to being the modern business destination county leaders envisioned in 2006 when we began developing it,” said David Williams, a Pender County Commissioner who also represents the county on the WBD board of directors. “It is an asset that will further our push for greater economic diversification.”

“The choice of Pender Commerce Park by the world’s leading name in logistics is a huge vote of confidence for this fast-rising economic development asset,” said Scott Satterfield, chief executive officer of Wilmington Business Development (WBD), which markets the county to global businesses and provides technical advice to Pender County leaders. “The property is a significant regional product that enhances the convenience and connectivity of Greater Wilmington’s economy.”

Founded in 1956 as the Wilmington Committee of 100, Wilmington Business Development oversees business recruitment and industrial retention for the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County and Pender County. A private, non-profit organization [501(c)(6)], WBD supports its members, partners and allies through a broad array of technical expertise, leadership resources and value-added business services. For additional information, visit www.wilmingtonbusinessdevelopment.com.

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Beginning December 1st, 2017, Pender County Utilities will offer on-line utility bill payment. Please refer to the attached sign-up instructions here. Note:  The actual payment site will not be active until December 1st, 2017.

If the above link does not work, please copy and paste the following into the URL bar: https://pendercountync.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pender-County-Utilities-Online-Bill-Pay.pdf