While recyclables will be heading to the same destinations, New Hanover County and the Town of Wrightsville Beach are entering into an interlocal agreement transferring collection and management from the town to the county.
The arrangement is estimated to save the town more than $40,000 in the 2014-15 budget, cutting down on manpower hours, fuel and other costs.
“It’s really a win for us,” town manager Tim Owens said.
Board members unanimously approved the interlocal agreement during the Tuesday, May 13 meeting, with the understanding that the county will maintain its own bins.
Three of the town’s current 30 cubic yard bins will be used for vegetative debris, while the remainder will be sold. The county bins, with a capacity of 40 cubic yards, will be located in the same recycling center spot adjacent to town hall.
While newspaper recycling was left out of the interlocal agreement, it will be added back in so residents can recycle all items they are currently recycling, including glass, aluminum, plastic, cardboard and mixed paper.
The one-year contract is renewable with a 90-day termination clause.
Board members also unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing the transition of Martino’s Italian Deli from carry out to a restaurant with 42 seats following a favorable recommendation from the Wrightsville Beach Planning Board.
The deli, located at 7041 Wrightsville Ave., will have indoor and outdoor dining along with men’s and women’s restrooms.
No conditions were recommended, because the property is located in a C-5 district without residential properties nearby.
The town now has a new private access easement ordinance to aid landlocked lots, another unanimous approval by the board after wording clarification and following a favorable planning board recommendation.
Board members added wording stating the easements must be surfaced to some capacity, like gravel or pervious concrete pavement, with town approval. The easements should be no less than 10 feet for accesses 100 feet in length and 12 feet for accesses more than 100 feet.
“We feel like this is necessary,” said Tony Wilson, parks and planning director. “… Over the years there has never been a number there.”
Property owners will have to devise the improvement and prepare a maintenance agreement acceptable to the town, so there is oversight.
The town will also see new video surveillance cameras in the coming weeks after approval of a $60,500 project for the Wrightsville Beach Police Department.
Police chief Dan House said the cost came in lower than anticipated, and the cameras can be installed in about two weeks, increasing visibility of figures and cars within view with zooming capabilities.
During the June 12 board meeting, members will take another look at variance requests after previous confusion about wording within the decision points, specifically the term unnecessary hardship, and appeals.
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