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On Oct. 7, 2024, Dare County’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to provide no-cost breakfast and lunch to students in all pre-K through 12 schools in the county.

The commissioners agreed to the amount of not to exceed $415,000 annually to defray the cost. The expense will become part of the budget process.

In discussion, Robert L. Woodard, chairman of the board of commissioners said “our kids are the most sacred human beings that live in Dare County. I support this wholeheartedly.”

Dare County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight provided the needed background information for the commissioners’ decision. He was joined at the podium by Board of Education Chairman David Twiddy, Assistant Superintendent Steve Blackstock, and school nutrition director Kelleta Govan.

Currently, under a Board of Education decision, a no-cost breakfast and lunch program is in place for all students. That will continue through the rest of the year.

During the regular Board of Commissioners meeting, several other current topics were raised.

About naval base in Buxton

Woodard updated the commissioners on the situation at the former naval base in Buxton.

Along with board Vice Chairman Wally Overman met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Oct. 2, 2024.

Work at the site started Oct. 4. About a half-mile of matting was put in place to accommodate heavy equipment. An estimated 100 truckloads of contaminated soil will be hauled away from the site to a facility in Alabama.

The Army Corps said it would conduct comprehensive sampling of the full complex. Infrastructure will be taken out if it poses an obstruction.

Some $2.2 million has been set aside by the Army Corps for the work in Buxton. A contractor for a comprehensive study of the site will be announced at the end of October.

During public comment, Buxton Civic Association representative Brian Harris said “I’m real pleased where this is going. We really appreciate it.”

Miss Katie dredge

On Sept. 18, a stop dredging order was issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which said the Miss Katie was dredging outside the box in Army Corps-issued permits. The dredge was warned twice about violations. On the third time, permits were pulled.

Two kinds of data were in play. While Dare County and its third party monitor received data from dredging quality management, it did not receive data that was in use by the Army Corps.

The dredge was in NCDOT’s Manns Harbor shipyard for two weeks. Permits are expected to be released “in the next few days,” said Outten.

Subpoenas received

On Oct. 3, Dare County and the county’s Oregon Inlet Task Force were served with subpoenas for a Grand Jury for the United States District County for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The deadline to provide the documents is Oct. 16 through 18, 2024.

Dare County and the Task Force are “not targets,” said Outten. In response to public comment, Outten said “no federal dollars” were used in building the Miss Katie dredge.

No individuals are required to appear. The county is complying with the request for records.

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