Dare County’s Board of Commissioners selected Barnhill Contracting Co. to build the new College of The Albemarle campus building in Manteo on a construction management at risk contract.

The board’s Capital Improvements Committee made the recommendation after interviewing Barnhill, Sussex Development Corp. and Whiting-Turner, who has the contract for the new animal shelter.

The interviews took place Monday afternoon, Oct. 21 before the regularly scheduled board meeting.

For the committee interview, a seven-member Barnhill team introduced different project segments and those responsible for those segments.

Barnhill’s Marty Moser, senior vice president for eastern North Carolina, led the presentation.

The firm built First Flight High School and has built higher education buildings at Edgecombe County Community College, Wake Technical Community College, East Carolina University and Elizabeth City State University.

Barnhill has worked with Boomerang, the architecture group selected by the commissioners to design the new 36,000-square foot building, which will be built on the old Manteo Middle School site.

Barnhill built the first construction management at risk project in North Carolina at Edgecombe Community College and has delivered more than 100 construction management at risk projects.

John Smith, project executive, said “this is a hot market.” He acknowledged that the subcontractor market is “very busy.”

The firm will use virtual technology to pinpoint problems.

The Barnhill team suggested welding and HVAC student visits to the site, participating in career fairs and linking students with subcontractors.

During public comment, Sherrod Schuler, the public information officer for the U.S. Small Business Administration, briefed the commissioners on the services available at the Hurricane Dorian Recovery Center at the old PNC Building in Buxton. Despite the administration’s name, during disasters the agency addresses the needs of homeowners and renters.

Schuler urged people to go through the loan application process. “Don’t be afraid.” If turned down, the SBA will refer to the state’s individual assistance program.

Applications can be found online at disasterloan.sba.gov. The center in Buxton closes Oct. 31. The deadline for loans for physical damage is Dec. 16 and for economic injury, July 16, 2020.

Manny Mederios Jr., Kitty Hawk, once again went after the Dare County school board, saying “clearly the school board appears to be impressed with the misguided investment in questionable social issues rather than academic achievement.”

In Buxton, Grace Hallenbeck, in response to visitors lined up while NCDOT worked on NC 12, suggested that cots be purchased and placed at community centers in Rodanthe, Buxton and Hatteras to function as emergency shelters during such events.

In other action, the Dare County commissioners adopted a zoning text amendment for the C-3 commercial zoning district mapped in Avon, Buxton and Roanoke Island to permit commercial storage yards providing “space for a fee for the storage of boats and boat trailers; recreational vehicles, travel trailers and campers; automobiles; utility trailers; contractors’ towable storage trailers.”

On the consent agenda, the board:

– passed a resolution requesting $25,000 for a new seat belt convincer for the Dare County Sheriff’s Office from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

– adopted a resolution asking that Caribbean Way in Rodanthe to be added to the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Highways Secondary Road System.

– approved changing the county’s online payment services provider from Official Payments Corp. to OpenEdge and adding eCheck payment option for paying water and tax bills, with the proviso that county attorney Robert L. Outten arrange for a change in the contract.

The commissioners made the following appointments:

– Veterans Advisory Council: Barry L. Holt

– Dare County Center Advisory Board: Emily Hall

– Juvenile Crime Prevention Council: Shannon Glaser, Todd Heinech

The commissioners announced these upcoming events:

– Essential Housing follow-up, Oct. 29 in Chapel Hill, to be attended by commissioners Rob Ross, Board Chairman Robert L. Woodard, Board Vice Chairman Wally Overman and Outten. The first conference as held Oct. 7 and 8. “We’re committed to trying to do something in essential housing,” said Woodard.

– Legislative Update, Nov. 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn, sponsored by the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce.

– Annual State of the County, Jan. 15, 2020, at Captain George’s Restaurant, which will be the kickoff for the 150^th Anniversary of Dare County.

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