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Dare County commissioners approved a lease agreement with College of The Albemarle for the new academic building in Manteo.

The lease term is 30 years at $1 per year. The agreement calls for $30 to be paid when the lease begins, which is the day the certificate of occupancy is issued for the new building.

County manager Robert L. Outten indicated that a second lease will be needed for the property now in college use on Russell Twiford Road, also on Roanoke Island.

The new community college academic building is one of several major projects underway in Dare County.

At the commissioners meeting on Jan. 4, 2021, the board passed an amendment to the capital project ordinance for the expansion of the Health and Human Services building and new animal shelter.

The ordinance amendment includes change orders, finalizations of costs and owner contracts that require budget amendments.

The net dollar change for both projects is zero.

For the animal shelter, the amendment covers nine change orders, all under $25,000. Under the project ordinance, the county manager has authority to sign all change orders under $25,000. The change orders cover items like dog park fencing, an additional fence gate, relocating the exterior sign to Airport Road, an additional base metal cabinet. Additionally, the amendment picks up the county’s cost for a refrigerator and two propane tanks and increased costs for six dog cages and two televisions.

The Department of Health and Human Services project amendment covers five change orders already signed by Outten. Changes include items like matching existing door hardware, rerouting chiller piping, architect expenses, construction testing, replacing an existing kitchen hood. One change order was for $26,295 for increasing the furniture, fixtures and equipment category. The board’s action authorized Outten to sign the change order.

In the consent agenda, the board approved:

— A financial assistance agreement with the state’s Department of Environmental Quality and a budget amendment accepting $7,434.37 in financial assistance for increased dredging in navigation channels associated with Oregon Inlet.

— A budget amendment for a $4,500 grant from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners for installing wheelchair lift gates on three of the Dare’s Transportation Department vans. The grant covers half the cost with the remaining half coming from the maintenance and repair section of the Transportation budget.

On Dec. 21, 2020, the commissioners appointed Tim Beacham to the Dare County Tourism Board to represent the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce. The commissioners were notified after that meeting that Beacham was not eligible because he was recently elected as the Chamber’s chair-elect. At this Jan. 4 meeting, the commissioners appointed Bambos Charalambous.

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