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Kitty Hawk Police Chief Michael Palkovics was pleased to introduce the newest officer to his squad, Officer Corey Morris, at March’s town council meeting. The six-foot-ten Virginia native was named class president of his basic law enforcement training academy, which he graduated from in December of 2023. Morris was sworn in by Mayor Craig Garriss on February 26, where he was joined by his wife Barbara and mother Shirley.

“I just want to thank the Town of Kitty Hawk for trusting me, trusting in me … I won’t let you down,” Morris said at the March 4 council meeting.

The council was happy to welcome Morris to their community. “We want to officially welcome you,” Garriss said. “I can tell you, Chief, you know the decision-makers, we take it serious who we name as our class president and I can tell you it was not really much of a discussion.”

Morris has officially begun his field training with Sergeant Travis Hardman.

After setting two public hearings for April regarding a special use permit/site plan for a new EMS substation and a minimum lot size text amendment, the council heard from town resident Diane Midgett in a presentation about negative effects on her property due to the construction on a bridge on W. Kitty Hawk Road.

Midgett, who owns and occupies 1101 W. Kitty Hawk Rd., has attended several meetings over the course of 2023 and 2024 to speak at public comment regarding the matter. During her presentation, Midgett showed before and after photos and videos of her property and how the landscape has changed since the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reconstructed a bridge on the road that meets her property line. The concerned resident noted that she had involved town attorney Casey Varnell with the matter in hopes of bringing her case to court, which did not come to fruition.

“I’ve asked questions: Why can’t we dredge and put some of that water back up on the ridge?” Midgett hoped her presentation would shed some light on how serious the flooding concerns within their town had become and asked for diligence and awareness when projects such as this came about, which could negatively impact residents.

“This is an NCDOT matter, not a Town of Kitty Hawk matter,” Garriss alerted Midgett. The council members were all in agreement that Midgett should be taking her presentation to the state. “There’s no question that you’ve been wronged,” council member Charlotte Walker said. “There’s no question that you have a situation, but you need to be in Raleigh making this presentation. I don’t know what we can do about it, but Raleigh can.”

Garriss added, “I have personally signed letters to three different people. I met with our town manager this morning and have not heard anything since then … Our next step on your behalf … We’re going to contact the district representative … If we hear nothing from him, we’re going higher, on your behalf.”

The next Kitty Hawk Town Council meeting will take place at town hall on April 1 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit kittyhawknc.gov.

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