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Dare County’s large item pickup program will be different this year.

Dare’s commissioners approved a budget amendment that paves the way to hire a private contractor to do the once a year pick-up in unincorporated Dare County.

Southern Disaster Recovery, of Greenville, S.C., was the low bidder on a request for proposals published by Dare County Public Works.

The one-time contract is $271,500. The budget amendment calls for using unexpended salary and fringe benefits from the Public Works budget and $115,500 from the department’s fund balance.

County manager Robert L. Outten told the commissioners that the department is unable to conduct the pick-up because the county can’t hire enough people.

The sanitation department is funded through a specific tax on properties in unincorporated Dare County. The rate is $0.09 per $100 valuation for the current fiscal year, an increase from 0.0886. The rate is scheduled to increase again in fiscal year 2023 to $0.0925.

Outten warned that the sanitation rate structure is likely to change. A study is underway, according to a fiscal year 2022 budget presentation.

Dare renewed its agreement with PNC Bank for a five-year term. “The current contract with PNC Bank for services includes deposit, branch, lockbox and integrated receivables, account, zero balance, ACH, reporting and access, card, and account verification services,” states the agenda item. “Pricing is on a per unit used basis which allows flexibility in the future for different options, whether or not with PNC.”

For the Jan. 3, 2022 consent agenda, the commissioners approved the following budget amendments:

—$36,515 to fund the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, a temporary program providing funds to assist low-income households with water and wastewater bills. These federal funds can be spent through September 2023.

—$23,750 increase for work at Cooperative Extension more than the original quote for doors and windows project due to material cost increases. Funding comes from left over funds from the finished Fessenden Center project ($12,276) and contingency ($11,474).

—a $7,500 grant from North Carolina Emergency Management to hold a regional oil spill tabletop exercise. The exercise is planned for Feb. 2, 2022 at the county’s Emergency Operations Center.

—Moving funds for the 800-hour maintenance and inspection of Dare MedFlight’s helicopter. The amendments move $375,000 for an estimated $336,436 bill plus 10% contingency.

In the consent agenda, a contract with BLH, Inc. for servicing county owned fire extinguisher was approved. The annual price is $4,940 for a three-year contract with two one-year extensions.

Dare’s commissioners made the following appointments:

—Stumpy Point Community Building Board. After many years of service, Sheila Golden has resigned from the board. She was first appointed to the board in October 2009. When she resigned, Golden was serving as chairman of the board. Commissioners appointed Tammie Perry-Inscore, who was recommended by the Stumpy Point board.

—Planning Board. James “Buddy” Shelton and Terry Gore were reappointed.

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