Friendly City News July 2023

This edition was composed by Town Manager, Paula Webb and is the official newsletter for the Town of Swansboro, North Carolina.

Swansboro Rotary Club Donates Defibrillators to the Town

Rotarian and local businessman Ed Radley, shared that he presented the need for automatic external defibrillators (AED) in Town and rotary members took immediate action raising funds for the AED's. The Town is the recipient of two AED's, one placed at the Recreation Center, the other at the Visitors Center.

An AED is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

Thank you for your generous donation!

Muscovy Duck Population

The Board of Commissioners heard from Executive DIrector Toni O'Neil of Possumwood Acres during its meeting July 24th on ways to control our exploding muscovy duck population. In addition, it's important that those that are allowed by ordinance to keep or feed the ducks know the proper diet. A muscovy duck's diet should consist primarily of plants, worms, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, small fish and reptiles. They should not be fed bread of nightshade vegetables such as green tomatoes, potatoes, rhubarb, and eggplants. A quick google search provides a list of foods that may be toxic to chickens and ducks.

• Bread. Although we all grew up feeding ducks bread, it is, in fact, not good for them at all. ...
• Raw Meat. ...
• Raw eggs. ...
• Avocado pits and skins. ...
• Fruit pits and seeds. ...
• Rhubarb & Rhubarb leaf. ...
• onion & garlic* ...
• Raw potatoes and peels.

Rehoming some of the population was recommended and several wildlife agency contacts were provided. Gathering newly laid eggs was also suggested. Officials believe our population to be somewhere around 200-300. According to Ms. O'Neil, a more manageable population would be around 20.

While the Town of Swansboro appreciates the tourist attraction our muscovy duck population brings, please be mindful of the Town Code regulations on the keeping and or feeding the muscovy ducks. Neither is allowed unless the property abuts the White Oak RIver and in the B-1, B-2, or Historic Business District Overlay.

§ 90.03 KEEPING AND FEEDING OF WATERFOWL PROHIBITED.

   (A)   Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to keep or maintain any duck, goose or other waterfowl on any lot or within any pen or other enclosure or building within the corporate limits of the town.

   (B)   Notwithstanding the provision of division (A) of this section it shall be lawful to maintain ducks, geese and waterfowl on private property which directly abuts the White Oak River and which is in an area zoned B-1, B-2, or Historic Business District Overlay; provided, however, that the ducks, geese and waterfowl shall not be kept within any pen or other enclosure or building upon the property.

   (C)   Except as hereinafter provided it shall be unlawful to feed any duck, goose or other waterfowl within the corporate limits of the town, or to scatter or otherwise place any material edible by the ducks, geese or other waterfowl in a manner intended or clearly likely to attract the ducks, geese or other waterfowl within the corporate limits of the town.

   (D)   Notwithstanding the provisions of division (C) of this section, it shall be lawful to feed ducks, geese and waterfowl on private property which directly abuts the White Oak River, and which is zoned either B-1, B-2, or Historic Business District Overlay.

   (E)   Where the duck, goose or other waterfowl is an animal used for therapy documented by a medical professional.

Public Safety/Emergency Operations Center Update

Following the Town's receipt of a $6 million dollar grant award from the State Capital Infrastructure Fund to construct a new Public Safety/Emergency Operations Center (PSB/EOC), the Board of Commissioners adopted an "Action Plan" which asked that a Feasibility Study be conducted and reported back to the Board by August 2023. The Staff and a designated Committee worked with its consultant Becker Morgan to complete that study and it was presented to the Board during its June 21st meeting. The study offers four options that capture the space needs in differing ways. In all options the EOC will be designed as a highly secure and hardened facility capable of resisting Category 4 hurricane conditions. The staff recommended option was Option C or D.

Option A is a concept that identifies all the critical functions of each department and

places them in a new secure building or in the more recent additions that do meet code. The remaining existing spaces would largely be used for less critical functions such as physical fitness, storage, and minor work areas. This option should provide the least costly alternative while improving safety and addressing the EOC component fully. This option would include certain structural and exterior envelop enhancements to the existing, original metal building frame housing fire apparatus. Such enhancements cannot bring the original building to current standards but would extend the utility of the present structure to a future date. Option A – $4.9M in building construction, renovation and demolition costs, 13,658 usable square footage. Site improvements of $500,000; additional/potential costs of $374,000 and soft cost of $540,000. Total budget range (+/- 15%) = $5.4M to $7.3M.

Option B is a concept to build a new facility in place of the present Public Safety Facility. This would require demolishing the existing facility and building back a new freestanding building at the same location. This building would incorporate all the needs of each department. Phasing or providing temporary quarters might have to be considered to maintain continuous operations. This option should provide the middle ground in terms of costs as existing utilities, pavements, and stormwater management features are largely in place and adequate. Option B – $8.8M in building construction, renovation, demolition, and temporary quarters costs, 14,788 usable square footage. Site improvements of $500,000; additional/potential costs of $433,000 and soft cost of $913,000. Total budget range (+/- 15%) = $9.2M to $12.5M.

Option C is a concept that also builds a new facility, however, investigates using another location on the town owned site. This eliminates the need to provide temporary quarters or the acquisition of new land while maintaining continuous operation at the existing facility. Once the newly constructed facility is complete, operations can be relocated from the existing building and the building can be demolished or repurposed. This option should also provide middle ground in terms of costs, but may require extension or improvements to existing utilities, and pavements. Option C – $8.8M in building construction, renovation and demolition costs, 14,788 usable square footage. Site improvements of $750,000; additional/potential costs of $376,000 and soft cost of $922,000. Total budget range (+/- 15%) = $9.3M to $12.6M.

Option D is a concept that provides a new free-standing building that incorporates all the needs of each department. Option D would be constructed on a 'greenfield' site, an off campus location. This option is likely the costliest. Careful consideration will need to be given to site selection regarding impacts and expenses of land acquisition, utilities, drainage, flood plain and emergency response times in addition to the concerns noted previously in the New Site section. Option D – $8.8M in building construction and renovation costs, 14,788 usable square footage. Site improvements of $1,500,000; additional/potential costs of $403,000 and soft cost of $1.02M. Total budget range (+/- 15%) = $9.9M to $13.4M. Note, budget summary does not include land acquisition. Page 11 Swansboro Public Safety Building Feasibility Report – June 2023

The initial expectations for full project costs are in the range of $5 - 14 million. It will be the Town's obligation to secure funding, administer design and construction above the $6 million identified and available. The Town may obligate taxpayers through bonds, capital improvements program, or other means. Loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are available for up to 40-year terms with no down payment required. Other grants may also be available through the Golden Leaf Foundation, FEMA, and other state or federal sources.

Staff is researching all possible loan and grant options available.

A few SwanFest tips:

• Bring a chair or blanket for seating
• Our local sponsors and many downtown businesses will be open for drinks, snacks, and more
• Limited edition SwanFest tumblers will be on sale for $20. These tumblers were created by Re's Creations and are also available at Samantha Ann Photography in Swansboro