Public Notices
Pender County Department of Social Services Hampstead Office Extends Office Hours to Better Serve Community
HAMPSTEAD – Effective March 1st, the Pender County Department of Social Services (DSS) is pleased to announce the extension of office hours for its Hampstead Annex Building services to five days a week from 9 am to 4 pm. The department has a dedicated team of three full-time employees specifically serving the Hampstead area, known for their knowledge, compassion, and unwavering commitment to providing essential assistance and support to the community.
The primary objective of this expansion is to enhance accessibility and convenience for clients. The department is confident that the extended hours will prove to be a valuable resource for the community and those in need.
For any inquiries or concerns about these changes, please get in touch with the department directly.
According to Wesley Stewart, the Director of the Pender County Department of Social Services, “We aim to improve the quality of living for the citizens of Pender County by empowering them to meet their human needs and by promoting self-sufficiency. We believe that providing assistance closer to citizens’ homes is one of the ways we can help.”
To learn more about Pender County DSS, click here.
SFEA Honors Pender County Events with 2024 Kaleidoscope Awards
BURGAW – Six Pender County events and festivals received recognition from the Southeast Festival and Events Association’s annual Kaleidoscope Awards. The Kaleidoscope Awards spotlight the best and the brightest in the Southeastern United States Events and Festivals industry as a part of the SFEA Conference hosted by Jekyll Island this year.
“Every year, the ideas presented in the Kaleidoscope Awards applications get more creative, the initiatives submitted get more innovative and inclusive, the competition gets stiffer, and pool of incredible events spreads across the region. A rising tide lifts all boats, and we’re all headed up!” said Jamie McCormick, Operations Manager for SFEA.
The Kaleidoscope Award categories are diverse, covering just about every aspect of the industry, including vendors and suppliers. Pender County Events and Festivals competed in a variety of categories against a record number of applications spanning 30 organizations from nine states and received honors in five different categories.
Gold, Best Green Initiative: Ocean Fest
Silver, Best Event Video: Ocean Fest
Silver, Best Event T-Shirt: Autumn with Topsail
Silver, Best Event Mascot: Blueberry from the North Carolina Blueberry Festival
Bronze, Best Event Program: The Anniversary Celebration of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge
Bronze, Best New Event: Juneteenth
“We are incredibly pleased so many Pender County Events and Festivals received honors from the SFEA,” says Stephanie Key, with Pender County Tourism. “These awards recognize our exceptional events. It demonstrates that we host some of the most outstanding events and programs in the southeast. The awards honor the dedicated individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes to make these events a success.”
Pender County Tourism has been a member of The Southeast Festivals & Events Association since 2021. The SFEA is a membership-based organization composed of festival and event planners, venues, and industry service providers whose goal is to strengthen the industry by hosting educational sessions, networking opportunities, award programs and additional events throughout the year, thus allowing for continued professional growth of members.
For more information about the SFEA visit online at https://sfea.wildapricot.org/main
County Public Advertising Information
The County has compiled a comprehensive presentation that provides a detailed review of the requirements of state law, costs, options, and practices relevant to public advertising information.
Pender County Utilities and CFPUA Collaborate for a Reliable Water Supply Along Highway 421 Corridor
Pender County Utilities and Cape Fear Public Utilities (CFPUA) have come together to proactively establish a robust and reliable interconnection along the Highway 421 corridor located across from the former BASF plant at the county line between Pender County and New Hanover County. The goal of this collaborative effort is to ensure that all customers along the corridor have access to a reliable and continuous supply of water. To achieve this goal, both organizations have arranged for primary and backup water sources, which can provide water to customers without any interruption, even in the case of a line break. This collaborative initiative demonstrates both organizations’ commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and uninterrupted water services to their customers.
“We are delighted to announce that the upcoming interconnection will provide numerous benefits to all our valued customers. Our objective is to deliver a seamless and uninterrupted experience to business owners operating along the 421 corridor, said Anthony Colon, Pender County Utilities Executive Director; this will allow businesses to focus on their core operations with complete peace of mind, knowing that their water needs are being taken care of.”
The project involves digging a hole under Highway 421 to establish a connection between the two water connections. The excavation work is expected to last for less than two days and is not expected to cause any disruptions to the traffic. However, the project completion date has been set for the spring of 2025. The project marks a significant infrastructure upgrade and, upon completion, will ensure a more efficient and reliable water supply for the area.
Tank failure causes explosion in Hampstead, NC; investigation underway
Hampstead, NC – On Friday night, the Pender County 911 center received multiple calls about a large explosion in the area of Lighthouse Court, Hampstead, NC. Firefighters and EMS Station 14 along with the On-Call Emergency Management Staff member responded to the incident.
Upon investigating the incident, it was discovered that the cause of the explosion was the failure of a 10,000-gallon ground drinking water storage tank (hydropneumatic pressurized vessel) that was attached to a large pump house. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities. However, one home in the vicinity sustained damage, with multiple windows being broken out.
Since the Topsail Greens neighborhood has a private water system, the incident left surrounding residents without drinking water. However, repairs were carried out swiftly, and a second water tank was filled with 10,000 gallons of water, ensuring that customers had access to drinking water.
Despite successful resolution of the incident, there are concerns regarding the cause of the tank failure. The Topsail Greens Homeowners Association’s president has formally requested a thorough investigation into the matter. This investigation will provide a chance to learn from the incident and create preventive measures to mitigate future risks.
Information on Solid Waste Decals
Utilities Request for Bids – Batson Road Waterline Extension
Pender County Utilities – Rocky Point/Topsail Water & Sewer District
Burgaw, North Carolina
Batson Road Waterline Extension
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids for the construction of the Batson Road Waterline Extension will be received, by Pender
County Utilities, at the offices of Pender County Utilities, 605 E. Fremont Street, Burgaw, NC 28425,
until 2:00 pm local time on Thursday February 29th, 2024, at which time the Bids received will be
publicly opened and read. The Project consists of constructing approximately 2,100 linear feet of 6-
inch and 500 linear feet of 2-inch waterline to serve the circle located at the southern end of Batson
Road.
Bids will be received for a single prime Contract. Bids shall be on a lump sum and unit price basis, with
additive alternate bid items as indicated in the Bid Form.
The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is:
HIGHFILL INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, P.C.
3804 Park Ave, Ste A
Wilmington, NC 28403
Contact: Lizzy Wade
ewade@hiepc.com
Tel 910-313-1516
Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office on Mondays through
Fridays between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents
from the Issuing Office as described below.
Bidding Documents also may be examined as follows:
- Online at iSqFt Plan Room (www.iSqFt.com)
- Online at Carolinas Plan Room (www.carolinasplanroom.com) or visit one of their physical plan rooms, including McGee CADD in Wilmington, Greenville, and Fayetteville.
- Online at Construction Journal (www.constructionjournal.com)
- Online at Dodge Data & Analytics (construction.com/dodge/)
- At the office of the Pender County Utilities, 605 E Fremont St., Burgaw, NC 28425 (910-259-1570), on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
- At the office of the Engineer, Highfill Infrastructure, 3804 Park Ave Ste A, Wilmington NC 28403, on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
Bidding Documents may be ordered and downloaded online by registering with the Issuing Office at
Cary, NC with Lizzy Wade, who can be reached at 910-313-1516 or ewade@hiepc.com.
Following registration, complete sets of Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the Issuing Office’s website as “zipped” portable document format (PDF) files.
Bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.
Bidders shall submit proof of qualifications to perform the Work as described in the Instructions
to Bidders.
Owner: Pender County Utilities
By: Anthony Colon
Title: Executive Director
Date: January 30, 2024
ROCKY POINT/TOPSAIL WATER & SEWER DISTRICT SECTION C-111-2
BATSON ROAD WATERLINE EXTENSION
HIGHFILL PROJECT NO. PEN2201
SECTION C-111-2
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
+ + END OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS + + Click here to view a PDF of this Request for Bids.
Copyright © 2013 National Society of Professional Engineers, American Council of Engineering Companies, and American
Society of Civil Engineers. All rights reserved.
Pender County Commissioners Oppose North Carolina Homeowners’ Insurance Rate Increase
The North Carolina Rate Bureau has filed a request with the North Carolina Department of Insurance that proposes to increase homeowners’ insurance rates statewide by an average of 42.2 percent effective August 1, 2024. To view the letter to the Commissioner of Insurance, click here.
If approved by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, homeowners’ insurance rates in Pender County would increase by 99 % for properties located in beach communities and increase by 71.4 % for properties located in eastern coastal areas of Pender County.
The Pender County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution at the January 16th meeting opposing the proposed increase in homeowner’s insurance rates by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. A certified copy of the resolution was sent to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance, Mike Causey.
In this resolution, the Board states that “it is of the opinion that the North Carolina Rate Bureau’s requested increase is inequitable, disproportionate, and unjustified, and will likely harm Pender County, its residents, its tourism industry, the welfare and property of the County’s residents and property owners, and economic development in Pender County.”
The North Carolina Rate Bureau represents companies that write insurance policies in the state and is a separate entity from the NC Department of Insurance. The North Carolina Department of Insurance is a state agency, and they negotiate with the
To view a PDF of the resolution, please click here.
A public comment period is required by law to give the public time to address the proposed rate increase. Public comment period ends February 2nd, 2024.
Emailed public comments should be sent to: 2024Homeowners@ncdoi.gov.
Written public comments must be addressed to 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1201 and must be received by Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III by Feb 2.
Property tax exemption is available for people aged 65 and above and those who are 100% disabled
If you’re a resident of North Carolina who is 65 years or older, or 100% permanently disabled as of January 1, 2024, and your income is below $36,700, you may be able to take advantage of a property tax exclusion. This exclusion applies only to your main residence, but it can result in a reduction of up to 50% in your taxable value. This opportunity can save on your property taxes for the upcoming year, so make sure to check if you qualify for this exclusion.
Application & Supporting Documents due on or before June 1st, 2024.
You can visit the office and pick up a form or call 910-259-1221, and they will mail you a form.
Property Tax Relief Application