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Public Notices

Carson Smith returns to Pender County Emergency Management, interim post

BURGAW – State Representative Carson Smith will return to his former post as Pender County Emergency Manager as an interim director, effective March 26.

“Carson will be the stabilizing force to lead Emergency Management through this pandemic,” George Brown, chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners, said. “Our Emergency Management and Public Health both have vital leadership roles as they work together to help guide our county through this event.”

Carson attended Topsail schools where he began working in many different aspects of public safety including Pender East EMS, Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department, and Scott’s Hill Fire Department. Following his college education and training as a North Carolina Highway Patrolman, Smith returned to Pender County in the 90s to take the position of Emergency Management Coordinator. Shortly after taking the job, Pender County began facing many challenges created from the unusually high hurricane activity we saw in the mid and late 90’s. There were five Presidential Disaster Declarations due to hurricanes during his time as Coordinator including: Bertha ’96, Fran ’96, Bonnie ’98, Dennis ’99, and Floyd ’99. Smith served as Emergency Manager until he was elected sheriff in Pender County in 2002. He served as Pender County Sheriff for 16 years before running for office as a NC State Representative.

Smith will oversee the day-to-day operations of the emergency operations center as the interim director. He will replace Charles Tear, who resigned, effective March 24.

Advertisement to Bid: Pender County Courthouse – Interior Renovations

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

 

Sealed bids will be received until 3:00 p.m. (local time), April 23, 2020, in the Commissioner’s Room of Pender County Administration Building, 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, North Carolina, and then opened and publicly read for furnishing all labor and materials and performing all work connected with: Pender County Courthouse – Interior Renovations, as indicated in the plans and specifications dated March 29, 2020.

In response to social distancing recommendations by state and local health authorities, bids will be opened publicly through video/audio conference. Conference log-in information to be provided by Architect at the pre-bid meeting. Bidders shall notify the Architect in advance if they wish to be physically present during the bid opening.

 

A mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at 3:00 p.m. (local time), April 8, 2020 at the Pender County Courthouse, 100 S. Wright Street, Burgaw, North Carolina 28425.  Prime bidders and asbestos abatement subcontractors are required to attend. Subcontractors (other than asbestos abatement subcontractor) and suppliers are invited to attend.

Precautions will be taken with respect to COVID-19. If weather permits, the pre-bid meeting will be conducted outside of the courthouse.  In the event of bad weather, bidders shall meet in the courtroom and maintain distance between individuals as recommended by state and local health authorities. Bidders shall bring gloves and any other personal protective equipment desired. Bidders may tour the building in small groups after the pre-bid meeting.    

 

The project shall consist of storm damage repairs and renovations to the historic courthouse in Burgaw.  Work includes relocating mechanical and electrical systems from basement to first floor;  new HVAC systems throughout the building; data wiring; plaster demolition, repair and replacement; custom woodwork to match existing; new accessible bathrooms; new elevator and masonry shaft; ADA upgrades; a new building generator; site work to facilitate drainage; masonry screen wall at the generator and ADA ramp; upholstery replacement for courtroom seating; and miscellaneous paint and floor finishes throughout.    Hazardous materials, including asbestos floor mastic, asbestos ceiling coatings, and lead paint, will be removed under this contract.

 

Hazardous Material Abatement Subcontractors must be pre-approved to be eligible to submit bids and have their bids considered.  The following Abatement Subcontractors have been pre-approved for this Project.

  1. Demolition & Asbestos Removal, Inc., Division of D. H. Griffin; Glenn Collins dgcollins@daricorp.com
  2. CCI; Clay Fields or Justin fields@cci-env.com
  3. Enpuricon, Inc.; Scott Gordon sgordon@enpuricon.com
  4. NEO Corporation; Langdon Williams lwilliams@neocorporation.com
  5. EHG, LLC; Larry Crickmore LCrickmore@ehgllc.com

 

Bid Forms, Plans, Specifications, and Contract Documents may be examined at the Owner’s office at 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, North Carolina, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and the following plan rooms’ websites:

 

Dodge Data & Analytics – www.construction.com

Carolinas Plan Room – www.carolinasplanroom.com

iSqFt + bidclerk – www.iSqFt.com

 

Bidders may obtain a complete set of bidding documents beginning on March 30, 2020 from: McGee Cadd Reprographics, 2527 S. 17th St., Wilmington, NC 28401, (910) 392-5500, e-mail: mcgee01@mcgee-cadd.com, upon the non-refundable payment of services charges.

 

Electronic Documents:  Complete plans, specifications, and contract documents can be obtained electronically on March 30, 2020.  Go to http://infoexchange.ls3p.com and login using your e-mail address and “anonymous” as the password.  Click on the Pender Courthouse Interior Bid Documents download link.

Minority Participation:  Bidders shall note that compliance with the Owner’s Minority Participation Policy is applicable to this project.  The bidder shall make good faith efforts, as defined in the bid specifications, to subcontract 10% of the dollar value of the single prime contract to businesses owned and controlled by minorities.  Individuals who are minorities include women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Asian-Indian Americans.  Bidders are required to submit, along with the bid, information concerning minority business enterprises which will participate in the contract.  The information will include: (1) name and address of each minority firm; (2) description of the work to be performed by each minority firm named; and (3) the dollar value of the work to be performed by each firm named.  Bidders are required to submit along with the bid, specific documentation demonstrating that they made good faith efforts to meet established goals.  A bid which fails to meet these requirements may be considered non-responsive.

Visit NC Department of Administration at http://www.doa.nc.gov/hub/searchhub.aspx to search for Minority/Women Business Enterprises.

 

Bid security required is (5%) of the bid, in cash, certified check or Bid Bond.

 

Performance and Payment Bonds in the amount of (100%) of contract amount will be required.

 

Bids may not be withdrawn for sixty (60) days after bid due date.

 

The Owner reserves the right to reject each and every bid and to waive informalities in bidding.

 

/s/ Mr. Chad McEwan, Assistant Manager

Pender County, Burgaw, North Carolina

Pender County playground guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Burgaw – Pender County Parks and Recreation department’s playground equipment remains open at this time, but Pender County officials are advising residents to bring sanitizing wipes with them to wipe down any playground equipment before it is used.

“Pender County staff have been cleaning and disinfecting the playground equipment at the three county-owned parks, following the recommendations from the CDC, “said Zach White, Parks and Recreation supervisor. “Staff will continue to clean and disinfect the equipment twice per week.”

“COVID-19 spread can occur from touching your mouth, nose or possibly eyes after having contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, according to the CDC,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County health director.

Residents should be prepared to wipe down playground surfaces with recommended cleaning products, if they choose to use county-owned playground equipment.

Here are some recommendations to help limit the spread of COVID-19:
• Follow social distancing: gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited, under the NC State of Emergency, and individuals are encouraged to maintain 6-feet of distance from others.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched (like your phone, tablet, countertops and daily work surfaces).
• Stay home and away from others when you are sick.

Internet connectivity available to Pender County residents

Burgaw – Pender County Board of Commissioners remind Pender County citizens that the Atkinson, Burgaw, and Hampstead libraries will continue to provide FREE public Wi-Fi Internet access.

“Under the recommendations of state health officials, social distancing is a must,” said Erik Harvey, Pender County IT director. “This FREE resource is available for both students and citizens who don’t have Internet access to stay connected and informed of the latest news on COVID-19.”

Available locations for wireless networks:
Atkinson Municipal Library
300 W Henry St.
Atkinson, NC 28421

Pender County Burgaw Library
103 S. Cowan St.
Burgaw, NC 28425

Pender County Hampstead Library
75 Library Dr.
Hampstead, NC 28443

Here’s what you need to know to access the Pender County Library Wi-Fi:

• Provide your own Wi-Fi enabled laptop or device
• Power on your own computer
• Select and connect to the appropriate Wi-Fi wireless network
• Open your Internet browser

Additionally, Spectrum is providing free Internet Service at all their hotspot locations. To locate a Spectrum hotspot in nearest you, go to https://www.ncbroadband.gov/covid19broadband/ and type in your address.

Starting on Tuesday, March 24, Pender County Schools will have designated “hotspots” for students to utilize in school parking lots.

For the safety of the public, the Pender County Sheriff’s Department will routinely patrol the area’s “hotspots.”

“We are working to bring better Internet connectivity to our county,” said Harvey. “In the interim, we urge our students and residents to utilize these free resources to stay connected to school and county updates.”

Resources for businesses impacted by COVID-19

Helpful links for your business

Wednesdy, March 25, 2-3:30 p.m. take a free online class from the Small Business Center entitled “Preparing Your Business for the Threat of Coronavirus.”

You must register online for this online panel discussion. Access is limited, so please, register today.

If COVID-19 has impacted your business, there’s assistance available.

Businesses and individuals may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or 1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Here’s a link for more information on low interest loans.

Be sure to visit SCORE, a free service with helpful links designed for your success.

The Small Business Administration offers information for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Click here for the link.

Misinformation and panic are two viruses you can control. Be informed. When in doubt, go to the CDC  or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for COVID-19 information.

Protecting Your Mental Health During the Coronavirus Outbreak

It’s important to note that we are not helpless in light of current news events.We can always choose our response. If you are struggling, here are some things you can do to take care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty:

We are in this together, and help is always available. If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can also reach out to The Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

For more information click the link: https://afsp.org/taking-care-of-your-mental-health-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/  

 

Pender County Board of Elections warns of voter registration scam

State Board Investigating Possible Text Messaging Scam

Raleigh, N.C. – The State Board of Elections is investigating a possible scam targeting North Carolinians with unsolicited text messages regarding their voter registration status or asking them to register to vote.

Recipients of the text messages should not click on the link embedded in the text and delete any such text messages from their phone.

The link sends recipients to what purports to be Vote.org’s website, but Vote.org officials confirmed Thursday that they are not sending the text messages.

The State Board is investigating and will alert state and federal authorities about the issue.

The State and County Boards of Elections have received numerous calls and emails from concerned recipients of the text messages.

“We know these texts can be confusing to voters, and we take this situation very seriously,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “We urge all North Carolinians to get information about voting and voter registration from trusted, reliable sources, including your state and county boards of elections.”

Voters can check their registration status at any time using the State Board voter lookup tool here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.

If you would like to register to vote, the voter registration application can be found here: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering

For more information on voter registration in North Carolina, visit the State Board website at https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voters/Registering-to-Vote.

Vote.org also released a statement on Thursday:

“We at Vote.org take voter integrity and protection very seriously and ask that voters reach out directly to officials if they believe they have been contacted without solicitation. Text messages received in the last week were not that of Vote.org. We will continue to protect your vote, stay in communication with the North Carolina State Board of Elections and encourage voters to reference state registration websites and our official platforms at Vote.org. All communications received from Vote.org are marked as being such and can be found on official platforms.”

Pender County residents with questions regarding voter registration may call the Pender County Board of Elections at 910-259-1220. Due to COVID-19 CDC recommendations, the office is closed to the public, but staff is working. Residents with paperwork to complete can leave it in the drop box at the Board of Election on South Walker St.

 

 

NC 2-1-1 available for health information

NC 2-1-1 is an information and referral service that families and individuals can call to obtain free and confidential information on health and human services resources within their community.

“Services like NC 2-1-1 are critical during times of emergency,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “North Carolinians can now call 2-1-1 to get the information they need while we continue working together to prevent the spread of this virus.”

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in North Carolina, go to ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus.

Due to anticipated high call volume, those seeking general information about COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to sign up for texts. People who are trying to locate specific services would benefit by calling. To learn more about NC 2-1-1, visit nc211.org.

 

North Carolinians can text COVIDNC to 898211 to receive general information and updates about COVID-19. Sign up now to get regular alerts on the rapidly evolving situation and North Carolina’s response.

SBA loans available to local businesses

U.S. Small Business Administration Grants Governor Cooper’s Request for Disaster Declaration to Support Small Businesses

RALEIGH: The U.S. Small Business Administration granted Governor Roy Cooper’s request for a disaster declaration for small businesses that are suffering economic losses due to the new Coronavirus, COVID-19.

“Many small businesses are desperate right now and this SBA approval will help,” said Governor Cooper. “Even more is needed and we will continue to push for additional assistance while we work to protect the health of North Carolinians.”

At the Governor’s request, the SBA granted a disaster declaration to small businesses across the state, allowing affected businesses to apply for low interest SBA disaster loans.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov.

Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or 1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Loan application forms can also be downloaded at disasterloan.sba.gov.

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