See noise poll at end of story.
By Connie Leinbach
With little fanfare, the Hyde County commissioners Monday night voted unanimously to approve a fireworks display July 3 on Ocracoke.
Bill Rich, Hyde County manager, said the Occupancy Tax Board on Dec. 22 approved the $20,000 expenditure for an 18-minute display. Money for the show will come out of Occupancy Tax funds. The county will be the contracting organization and insurance certificate holder.
Rich said the county received 25 letters on the subject, with two of those against it.
The show will be put on by Pyrotecnico of Columbia, SC, according to a proposal explained at both the Occupancy Tax Board meeting and the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association meeting.
Sundae Horn, OCBA travel and tourism director, had explained that Darlene Styron and Teresa O’Neal contacted David Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Hallac was very interested in making this happen on Ocracoke, Horn said, and the group decided that the best location would be at the end of the NPS base parking lot in the grassy area beside the public boat launch area.
“As a business owner, it’s fantastic,” said Jason Wells, owner of Jason’s Restaurant, after the Occupancy Tax Board meeting. “Over the last several years, business has dropped over July 3 to 5. As a parent, my son has never seen fireworks. So I’m excited for the kids to see fireworks.”
This year’s show will be the first time a fireworks show has happened on the island since the accident July 4, 2009, when four fireworks company employees were killed when an explosion occurred while they were unloading the truck in the early morning.
Sentiments in recent discussions in the last few years about reviving fireworks have almost split down the middle with some islanders for bringing them back and others still wary about the safety as well as the fiscal responsibility of spending a large sum for something that doesn’t directly benefit the community.
In other business, the commissioners agreed to further investigate modifying the current Ocracoke noise ordinance.
While Will Doerfer, special assistant county manager, submitted a report about his recent decibel meter readings in the village, the report findings were not discussed. Doerfer’s report can be viewed here.
The ordinance was enacted a few years ago to control the level and duration of outside music and noise. According to the ordinance, amplified music can only be played to 70 decibels and only until 10 p.m.
From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. the ordinance only says that “noise” must be indoors and/or contained on one’s property. To read the ordinance, click here then scroll down to page 8.
Hyde’s proposed changes include setting a decibel level maximum after 10 p.m. of 43, which Doerfer’s research showed is “a quiet office environment.”
In the first public comment period, islander Jim Borland, said he reviewed the proposed ordinance changes and suggested that noise from “aquaculture” jobs be included in the exceptions. He also suggested that the commissioners consider different sound levels in different areas of the island, which is what the town of Oriental does.
Some of the island’s natural sounds are higher than 43 decibels.
“A cricket is pretty close to 40,” he said. “Sound carries more around water than on the mainland. We need to research this more before we jump into anything.”
Sean Death, who owns the Ocracoke Bar & Grille, asked to be put on the agenda, and Earl Pugh Jr., board chairman, said he would when the board votes on the ordinance.
Ashley Harrell, who owns Gaffer’s Sports Pub with her husband Red, said uncertainty about the noise ordinance is holding up her plans to book nighttime bands.
“If this 43 decibels happens, I’ll be out of business,” she said.
Commissioner John Fletcher said there’s never going to be agreement on the ordinance, and to set it and be done with it.
Tourists come here to have a good time, he said.
“This idea of closing the island down at 10 p.m. might go over at Cross Creek (a nursing home on the mainland), but not with the business people here,” he said. “If it’s too quiet it will be a death knell to businesses.
“Stop pussy-footing around, and say what it’s gonna be and let’s act like grown folk,” he continued. “For summertime, this beach needs to rock.”
As for the large mallard duck population on the island, Doerfer said he is still gathering community support about humanely removing them, which involves getting permits from several government agencies.
There’s a man (who wasn’t named) on the mainland open to sheltering them, but when Fletcher asked about who is paying for feeding them, Doerfer didn’t have an answer but said he still looking into all the costs.
An unofficial estimate is that there are about 300 in and around the heart of the village near Community Square. In addition to their droppings possibly creating health hazards, some fear that in spring, when courtship resumes, this number will triple.
The commissioners also appointed three islanders to three vacant seats on the Ocracoke Development Ordinance Board of Adjustment. They are Jake Johnson, Bill Monticone and Daphne Bennink.
We come to the island at least 4-5 times a year, I even have great, great grandparents buried behind the lighthouse. We come to get away from our normal lives and enjoy ourselves. We always camp at the Beachcomber campground and we hear the bands from Gaffers but expect and want this to be part of our experience. It is never so loud that it keeps us from sleeping so please let there be indoor and outdoor music after 10 pm. It is part of Ocracoke especially in the summer time. William Moore
I think the before 10PM level should be raised somewhat and after 10PM could be 70. Forty three is a ridiculous number. A barking dog is louder.
Comments are closed.