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A Dare County classification and compensation study will happen this year.

The county’s Board of Commissioners selected Evergreen Solutions, LLC, of Tallahassee, Fla., on March 7, 2022 as the firm to complete the study in 5.5 months.

Seven firms submitted responses to the county’s request for proposals, which were reviewed by county manager Robert L. Outten, finance director David Clawson and human resources director Elizabeth Riley.

The trio recommended Evergreen. The commissioners authorized Outten to negotiate a contract and return to the board with a contract and budget amendments to pay for the study.

Evergreen proposed a contract price range between $48,500 and $56,500, depending on the number of job classifications benchmarked for the salary survey.

Benefits will be included in the study.

Outten said at the conclusion of the study, the county will “know what it takes to compete.”

The six other firms submitting proposals were Baker Tilly, of Plano, Texas; Bolton, of Washington, D.C.; Gallagher Human Resources and Compensation Consulting, of Richmond, Va.; JER HR Group, with offices in Greensboro, New York and Iowa and a training network in Raleigh; Management Advisory Group International, Inc., of Fairfax, Va., Greenville, SC, Asheville, Columbia, SC and Nashville, Tenn.; and Piedmont Triad Regional Council, of Kernersville.

At the March 7 meeting, the commissioners approved two agreements relating to the Avon/Buxton beach nourishment projects.

On Dec. 6, 2021, the Board of Commissioners approved Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, LLC as the apparent low bidder for the two projects. The board authorized Outten to execute the owner/contractor agreement with Great Lakes. The agreement calls for $25,870,000 for the two projects.

On Dec. 22, 2021, Dare County received five bids to place 12,500 linear feet of sand fencing and 132,500 grass sprigs on the beaches of Avon and Buxton in the nourishment areas, states the meeting’s agenda book. Coastal Transplants, with a price of $74,119, was the apparent low bidder. The commissioners approved the document and authorized signing of the owner/contractor agreement.

The commissioners adopted resolutions setting up financing for vehicles budgeted for purchase this fiscal year in the operating budget. Truist Bank is the lender of $2,980,682 at an interest rate not to exceed 1.45%. The financing term for this loan is 36 months.

Truist Bank is also financing $1,345,236 for the acquisition of heavy equipment for Public Works. That expenditure comes from the 2022 Capital Improvements Plan. The interest rate is 1.83% for 59 months.

In the consent agenda, Dare’s commissioners:

– Entered into a lease and sublease with the state’s Department of Administration for ground to build a 340-foot tower and equipment building to use for the VIPER strategic communications system at the request of the State Highway Patrol. The lease runs from March 1, 2022 to Feb. 28, 2032. The rent is $1 for the full term. The commissioners approved the ground lease agreement, sublease agreement and memorandum of lease and authorized signing.

– Approved an encroachment agreement among the Dare County Water Department, Kampgrounds of America and NCDOT to install a fire hydrant on an existing water line.

– Agreed to a budget amendment to account for the purchase of eight emergency pumps as directed by the NC General Assembly in Session law 2021-180, House Bill 105. The amendment is for $425,000.

– Approved a budget amendment for purchasing a light/surveillance camera trailer with $37,771 authorized under an existing Homeland Security Grant Program.

Under appointments, the Dare Commissioners:

– Reappointed to the Manns Harbor Marina Commission Paul Mann V, Jeff James and Jessie “Troy” Outland Sr.

– Appointed Stephanie Webb to fill the Human Services Sector Seat on the Dare County Transportation Advisory Board.

– For the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council, reappointed George Berry and appointed Thomas Floyd to fill the unexpired term of Kelli Harmon, who resigned.

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