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At the February Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners meeting, only three board members were present: Mayor Ben Sproul and commissioners Ivy Ingram and John Windley. Commissioner Terry Gray was absent; he was admitted to the hospital a few hours prior to the meeting. Commissioner BJ McAvoy had previous commitments to the First Flight Middle School championship basketball game, which he coaches.

The agenda included a public hearing to update an ordinance dealing with soil erosion and sedimentation control to meet state requirements. After having no one come forward to speak and little discussion from the board, Windley moved to approve the ordinance, finding it consistent with plans and reducing damage to storm drain facilities. All were in favor.

Following the hearing, Sue Kelly, chair of the Community Appearance Commission, presented the 2018/2019 Community Appearance Awards. There were three overall winners chosen in the following categories: Best Overall Appearance, Most Improved and Best Multi-Business Appearance.

Before Kelly announced the winners, she recognized those in each category that received honorable mentions, including Front Porch Café, Slice Pizzeria, Chip’s Beer and Wine, Ten-O-Six, Sandbars Raw Bar and Grill, Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint, See Sea Motel, Ashley’s Espresso Parlor, Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf, Southern Bank, Rooster’s Southern Kitchen and Nags Head Hammocks.

Country Deli won the award for best overall appearance multi-business. The award for most improved went to Mom’s Sweet Shop. Derik Wineland was present to accept the award on the shop’s behalf. The Outer Banks Brewing Station won the award for overall appearance. Karen Davis accepted the award on their behalf.

Another special recognition took place at the meeting: Joseph Lewis, a senior at First Flight High School, was recognized for his achievement on becoming an Eagle Scout.

Lewis is also a member of the Order of the Arrow, a rare achievement that exemplifies leadership and responsibility. Sproul awarded Lewis the Mayor’s Achievement Award and a speech from Theodore Roosevelt. “It makes me very proud anytime anybody can reach this fantastic achievement,” Sproul said. Sproul is a third generation Eagle Scout.

Following the presentations, street improvement recommendations for fiscal year 2020/2021 were presented based on surveys taken by the Public Works department. Street and drainage improvements for the fall of 2020 include Cedar Dr., Captains Ln., Teakwood Ln. and Captains Cr. For spring 2021, E. and W. Helga St., E. Fourth St., Briggs St., E. Dean St. and E. Martin St. were deemed worthy of street/drainage improvements.

American Engineering and Pete Burkhimer, town engineer, submitted proposals of $58,400 for the fall projects. $6,000 is the projected cost for bidding, totaling $62,400 for the improvements. If bidding occurs separately for fall and spring, the spring projects are proposed to amount to a total cost of $54,500.

The board felt as though the plan was sound and Windley made a motion to approve the proposal as presented, which carried.

The final main topic of discussion was Meekins Field. Assistant planning director Cameron Ray presented the findings of the West Side Recreation Group regarding the future of Meekins Field.

Ray said that Meekins Field is currently closed due to its proximity to the reconstruction of the Kill Devil Hills water tower. Because of its state of disrepair, WSR and planning staff have evaluated the park and suggested multiple improvements.

Ray showed a redesigned layout of the park, including a public art wall, updated and all-inclusive play equipment, sports fields and more. “A project like this is certainly a good candidate for Outer Banks Tourism Board grant,” Ray suggested.

If a grant is requested, the grant would be due in August. Therefore, Ray and the staff recommended that the board approve for them to design a concrete conceptual site plan for approval in the next few months.

Sproul liked the preliminary design and would “love to see as much packed into the site as possible,” on the next sketch presented to the board. “Go as ambitious as we can,” he added. Sproul authorized staff to go ahead and get cost estimates and design and more comprehensive plan.

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