OCBA Draft Minutes From April
Ocracoke Civic and Business Association
DRAFT Minutes
Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Ocracoke Community Center
Meeting was called to order by President Rudy Austin at 7:04 p.m. Board members present: Justin LeBlanc, Connie Leinbach and Jim Borland. Members/others present: Sundae Horn, Kris Noble, Sherry Carawan, Darlene Styron, Sue Dayton, David Mickey, Corky Pentz, Kim Meacham, Ann Ehringhaus, Nancy Leach, David Tweedie, George Chamberlin, Dick and Janey Jacoby, Chaeli Moyer, Philip Howard and Tom Payne.
Minutes: The minutes of the March meeting were approved
Treasurer’s report: There was no treasurer’s report
NPS report: Ed Fuller reported that the new chief ranger, Daniel Vanzura, who most recently worked at Yellowstone, will attend the May OCBA meeting. Pre-nesting closures have been installed on the beach. From March 1 to April 7, the NPS sold 152 annual beach-driving permits and 109 weekly permits. Last year during that time, 111 annual permits and 48 weekly permits were sold. He said they have been looking at some possible Sound-side access points, and off of South Point Road might be best. However, driving to any Sound point requires a permit and only federal legislation could change that. He said the same private company that was contracted last year to provide life guards has been hired again for this year.
Travel & Tourism Director’s report: Sundae Horn said the OCBA needs a new answering machine since the current one is not working. She was authorized to purchase a new one.
A motion was made and carried to spend $360 to take out an ad in the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce relocation guide.
Photos of Ocracoke taken by Melinda Sutton will be in the May issue of Wilmington Living.
An upcoming issue of Canadian magazine, Doctor’s Review, will include a story about the pirates of the Carolinas, featuring Ocracoke. It was written by the travel writers that OCBA hosted last fall.
The Occupancy Tax Board declined the request of $31,000 to pay for fireworks this year noting that the price is too high and the date that Pyrotechnico can do them is not actually on July 4. Sundae said that the price for fireworks is about $1,000 per minute and most shows last 18 minutes. The extra cost is to pay for a barge from which to launch them in the Sound. The Tax Board suggested fireworks next year should be on July 4. Discussion about the noted decrease in business around July 4 since the island discontinued fireworks following the 2009 accident. Bob Chestnut noted that if businesses do really well in July we don’t have to expand the shoulder season. George Chamberlin asked if we really need more people here in July and that we need more in June. Discussion about revamping July 4 activities.
A motion was made by Darlene Styron and seconded by Justin LeBlanc to ask the Hyde County Commissioners to sponsor fireworks July 4, 2016. Motion carried with two opposing.
The Hyde County Chamber Issues Forum lunch will be at 11:30 a.m. May 12 at the Berkley Manor. Heidi Walters of the TRAC program, an affiliate of Visit NC, will be the speaker to talk about their tourism promotion program.
Portable hand-washing units: David Tweedie reported that the Hyde County Health Department is requesting that hand washing available at the Ocrafolk Festival (and all festivals where food is served) and is seeking financial help with this from the OCBA. Online research shows that they can be rented or purchased with rental being $180 plus $150 for delivery; ones to purchase are $800 to $1,100. Then there would be the problem of storage. Sue Dayton noted that she saw hand-crafted hand-washing stations at a festival she attended and that they might satisfy the health department.
A motion for David to look into these options and come up with a plan was made by Darlene Styron and seconded by Jim Borland. Motion approved and carried.
Request by Little League: A motion fro OCBA to sponsor the Blue Claws baseball team for $400 was made by Sundae Horn and seconded by Connie Leinbach. Motion approved and carried.
Discussion on OCBA’s position on Hyde County’s request to do tourism for Ocracoke:
The following points were made: Look at where businesses already advertise; use the county’s economic development department to help us but not spend as much as they’re suggesting; we have 4 1⁄2 months to get people here for September and October; we’re all of the opinion that Kris Noble’s office work with us and push forward; Dare County tourism doesn’t advertise anything south of Hatteras; before we talk about advertising we need to think about infrastructure, such as restroom; why can’t Hyde County help us get public rest rooms around the village?
The Army Corps of Engineers budgets $300,000 for dredging the Rollinson Channel (the short route) and the Ferry Division is spending more than $400,000 for studies. Why can’t they take that money for studies and apply it toward dredging? The fulltime tourism person the county is proposing shouldn’t also be the public information officer. The people of Ocracoke want to be in control of the Occupancy Tax money. If it’s a Hyde County employee where’s the line?
A motion for the OCBA to meet with Kris Noble and others in Hyde County to discover the current state of our marketing and to come up with a joint plan was made by George Chamberlin and seconded by Ann Ehringhaus. Motion approved and carried. Kris will meet in the morning with Sundae, Connie, Sherry Carawan and Justin to begin this process.
New business: Kim Meacham explained the Open Source concept where Ocracoke businesses can market their products worldwide thus stretching way beyond what we already have.
Announcements: Janey Jacoby said volunteers are needed to help with the British Cemetery Ceremony May 8.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.mm.
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, May 13; 7 p.m. Ocracoke Community Center
Respectfully submitted, Connie Leinbach, secretary
