PLEASURE ISLAND, NC (WECT) – Leaders in Pleasure Island will discuss ongoing issues in their communities with New Hanover County Commissioners at an informational meeting this week.
Issues will include beach renourishment, dredging, and the county's newly created ‘Sandman' position.
Kure Beach Mayor Dean Lambeth said he wants to know what it will take for beach towns to receive more money from a Room Occupancy Tax. Every part of the county, whether it's a municipality like Wilmington, or unincorporated territory like Castle Hayne, receives 6% of what is collected in its respective region.
More than half of the money from each area goes to beach renourishment, except for the Wilmington Convention Center District. The money from overnight guests in the area between the bridges from Fourth Street to the river supports the convention center. Lambeth said some of the money should support the beach towns.
"They're what people come to the beach for, not the convention center," Lambeth said.
He also hopes to sway county commissioners into financially supporting the removal of pipes left in the ocean from an old Dow Chemical plant. Lambeth already received a $50,000 commitment from Governor Beverly Perdue for the project, but it lacks a local match. His plan calls for New Hanover County to cover the second $50,000 until it can be reimbursed.
County commissioners will also have to consider the possibility of a plastic bag ban in the beach communities. Kure Beach Town Commissioner Emilie Swearingen said the issue already has the support of local organizations, but it needs a push from county leaders.
"I think the point has come that we're not going to put it off again for another year," said Swearingen.
The ban would not be a punishment for people using plastic bags, but more of a working relationship with businesses to encourage paper or cloth bags at checkout.
Kure Beach leaders will join their Carolina Beach counterparts and the county commissioners Wednesday morning.
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Town leaders will meet with county commissioners to discuss future projects for the beach town.
