To the Editor,

Along Pamlico Beach area, the damage from Hurricane Matthew was thankfully nowhere what it was after Hurricane Irene. Most of our debris consisted of limbs, sticks, pine needles and pine cones (by the millions), and that was a far cry from having destroyed homes left in the middle of the road. The word got around that, once again, thankfully, the county was going to provide storm debris removal.

Since there were many areas in Beaufort County that had much more damage than we had here, most of us just got our debris out to the roadside over the next week or two. After that time, I began to hear some talk that the county was only going to pick up debris from the Bath area on westward, excluding the Pamlico Beach area. I really didn’t think that was accurate, so I called County Manager Brian Alligood, who didn’t think that was true either, and he sent me on to county planner Seth Laughlin.

Seth hear my issue and let me know that the Pamlico Beach area was definitely going to be picked up, but the issue was that the contractor was using double bed trucks, and that there was no way they would be able to turn around at either end of Pamlico Beach Road, nor would their “scoop” mechanism be able to do much with pinecones and needles. To address these issues, they were looking at alternative methods and not to worry, they would get it done as soon as possible.

By the end of the very next day, all of the debris along Pamlico Beach Road was removed. I know that government at all levels often takes a lot of criticism from citizens from time to time. In this case, I want all to know that Mr. Alligood and Mr. Laughlin were very timely and professional in their response to a citizen inquiry and deserve a great deal of thanks!

 

John Chrystal
Belhaven