Funding requests from Wave Transit and Cape Fear Community College are among business before New Hanover County commissioners Monday.
The board will meet at 9 a.m. in the New Hanover County Historic Courthouse. A special meeting will follow a lunch break for the board to receive an update on next fiscal year’s budget.
Cape Fear Community College is asking for $600,000 to eradicate mold and mildew in the college’s McLeod Building, which borders Walnut Street between Front and Water streets in downtown Wilmington. The college also seeks $47,781 for replacement hot water boilers in the same building, according to a memo to the board.
“Due to the serious mold/mildew problem, employees and their operations have been moved from the building,” the memo states. “The boilers are requested to be replaced since wind causes the flames from the boilers to roll out of the sides of the boilers.”
The memo notes both projects were requested for inclusion in the budget for next fiscal year, “but it would seem wise to begin the projects this fiscal year due to their severity and impact on operations.”
The board will also consider advancing Wave Transit as much as $133,333 to help offset a cash-flow deficit resulting from state and federal reimbursements. The amount is half what the county considers appropriate to give Wave Transit to help alleviate the cash-flow issue, the other half to be considered by the City of Wilmington, which likewise provides funding for Wave annually.
The Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority, which governs Wave Transit, initially requested a line of credit totaling $400,000, according to a memo to the board of commissioners. That memo notes the county can withhold its annual contribution if repayment of the loan amount is not made timely.
Film industry support, other business
Other business on the agenda includes a proposal to award consulting services for development of a comprehensive solid waste management plan. Staff recommends awarding the contract to consulting firm CDM Smith Inc., at a total cost of $131,000. (Related story)
Commissioners also plan to discuss a resolution, initially included in their more-routine consent agenda, supporting the state’s film and television industry. The Wilmington Regional Film Commission requested the resolution in response to “negative exposure created by the recent film study,” according to a memo explaining the resolution.
Wilmington City Council adopted a similar resolution at its meeting this week, the memo also notes. The county’s resolution would support not only the film industry but also “the current state tax policy that has caused the industry to grow.”
House Bill 994 would remove the refundable portion of the state’s film tax credit. Rep. Rick Catlin, a former New Hanover County commissioner, is among the bill’s primary sponsors.
At the board’s agenda review Thursday, Commissioner Thomas Wolfe proposed moving the resolution to the regular agenda.
“I know that this is something that means a lot to our local economy, and I feel that the public should be more aware of this resolution and what’s being done with the film industry,” Wolfe said.
The board will also consider a censure and possible removal of Commissioner Brian Berger (Related story). The full agenda can be viewed here.
The New Hanover County Historic Courthouse is located at Third and Princess streets in downtown Wilmington.
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @jrspiers
