Your Logo Here
by guest writer Finley Austin
Plenty of prime space is available and pricing is by the square yard. Revenues generated will be used for the Island Inn purchase, rehab, and conversion into a visitor center and public restrooms.
The idea originally conceived of by retiring county manager Bill Rich, Commissioner Tom Pah,l and OCBA board member Sharon Brodisch was approved unanimously by the Hyde County Board of Commissioners via a special late night teleconference meeting. Urgency was required to take advantage of the water tower currently being repainted.
“We didn’t want to reduce available rental space by repainting ‘Ocracoke’ on the tower, so we knew we needed to act fast” said Bill Rich, adding, “It’s going to be beautiful!”
If you are wondering how this came to be, Sharon and Tom provided this reporter with the inside scoop. Sharon relayed: “Bill, Tom and I happened to run into each other at 1718 one evening right after the decision was made by OPS to purchase the Island Inn. Tom commented now the hard part begins – raising the rest of the money. So we started a little impromptu brainstorming session.”
“My best ideas always seem to come after a few beers”, Tom said. “The credit really goes equally to all three of us. All at once we said ‘Let’s turn the water tower into a bill board and rent space’, it was like spontaneous combustion.”
“We were a little concerned some people might object – you know how it is here - so we took a survey of everyone at the bar that night,” Sharon said. “They loved the idea! So we knew we had hit a homerun and needed to get moving on approval and implementation.”
In addition, it was decided the top priority for any monies raised would be for the construction of public restrooms on the Island Inn site. In another brainstorming flash of beer-induced brilliance they decided to take a page form the New Jersey Turnpike playbook and name the restrooms here like there.
“You know, just like the rest stops on the turnpike are named after various people with N.J. connections – think Vince Lombardi, Clara Barton – and we want to do the same thing,” said Tom. “We decided that since she has been such a tireless advocate for more public potties in the village that is was only fitting to call the new facility the ‘Sundae Horn Head’. We thought ‘head’ added a nautical element more suitable for the island.” Upon hearing the news, Sundae said “This may be my proudest day on Ocracoke.” Ms. Horn has long held the belief that more public restrooms will increase tourism. She added, “I have always said if we build it, they will come and go.”
As far as utilizing the tower space there will be a few restrictions: Business logos and names of rental houses only, and they must be in good taste. Advertisers will pay the cost of having their logo/name added to the tower as well as an annual space rental fee. Price rates will vary depending on the location on the tower – the village side of the tower will cost more than the side facing the sound. For additional details, deadlines, and pricing please call the water plant.
