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Oriental’s Town Board voted 4-1 Thursday (May 17) to approve the harbor area land swap with Chris Fulcher.

Before the Board voted, about a dozen members of the public spoke, none in favor. Among the concerns raised: how much room visiting boats would have to maneuver, whether the environmental setbacks on the lot the Town is getting would limit construction of a restroom (a touted feature) and whether the town negotiated strongly enough to get more harborfront land and more water rights.

The vote — in which Warren Johnson was the only commissioner to oppose the deal — has elicited some reaction from readers, such as Carol Small, George Sechrist, Larry Summers, Jackie Mahan.

George Sechrist writes: The town commissioners need to brush up on their math. It will be a two boat dock. Is that what Oriental has in mind?

Oriental’s Town Board is poised to approve a land swap with harborfront property owner, Chris Fulcher. The Town would give up 13,900 square feet of right-of-way at the harborfront end of South Avenue and all of Avenue A, as well as 80 feet of harborfront. It would get 4,500 square feet of property, 55 feet of harborfront and a dock. Town officials say restrooms could be built on the land.

The dock — and not having to build one from scratch for transient boaters — had been a selling point when Town officials first unveiled the deal, but in recent weeks they’ve been saying that the dock off the Fulcher property may have to be replaced – thus negating that savings.

Additionally, some sailors in the area have questioned if the dock and water rights will allow enough maneuvering room for visiting boats. The Parks and Rec Board has drawn up questions about the deal as well.

Another question: why the Town didn’t seek more land and water rights from Mr. Fulcher. Town Manager Bob Maxbauer and Commissioner Larry Summers say the town went in to the negotiations with the position that its rights-of-way — almost a third of an acre near the harbor and river front — were worth nothing.

Writing about the issue, Grace Evans, Jim Privette, Carol Wright..

Jim Privette shares a letter he sent to the Town Manager, Mayor and Commissioners: As stewards of the Town’s public assets, it would be a mistake to approve a swap with anyone on the terms that have been discussed to date. Chris Fulcher is not at fault here. The Town has failed to negotiate responsibly and thereby failed to receive terms that are fair and appropriate.

(The issue generated a lot of letters when the deal first came up in February. That longer archive of letters is, here.)

In March, TownDock.net’s “‘Shipping News’ featured the ‘Nancy Ellen.’“shippingnews/nancy-ellen David Smith had worked for years to convert the workboat and was making a maiden voyage on her when he and a friend stopped in Oriental.

Mark LeGwin wrote in to share a memory of the boat’s rebuild. I am one of a group of homeowners that live near where Mr. Smith performed most of his restoration on this vessel. Many mornings I enjoyed watching his progress and listening to his Blue Grass music playing while he worked….

The contract for the Town of Oriental’s Land Swap with Chris Fulcher is on the table. The Town would abandon Avenue A (6,000 square feet) and the end of South Avenue (7,900 square feet) which has 80 feet of waterfront. In exchange, Fulcher would give the Town one parcel of 4,500 square feet (he’d add on 500 square feet he gets from the ROW) and one dock and two wooden buildings.

Town officials have said that because on that lot, the Town can build restrooms, though questions have arisen on how much of the lot was buildable. The dock as well may need repair or replacing, thus negating the savings that had been previously. (The deal, town officials had said, would save the Town the cost of building a dock from scratch in Town waters off of South Avenue.)

The contract also states that the Town gives up any claim it might have had to other rights of way – besides Avenue A and South Avenue — that maps or plats may show to be on Fulcher’s fish plant property.

That and other aspects of the contract have sparked some letters:

Doug Sligh writes: This land swap has always seemed like a bad deal for the town, but the details make it a much worse deal.

May 8 is Primary Day — for all three parties — in NC. Democrats have their pick of several candidates wanting to run for Governor. Republicans will choose their favored candidates in the Presidential primary. Ditto, the Libertarians.

More locally, there are GOP primaries for the State House and State Senate seats. The State Senate primary has three candidates: current House Representative Norman Sanderson, Pine Knoll Shores Mayor Ken Jones and Jarrett Bay Boatworks owner, Randy Ramsey. Writing about the race are Dan Reitz, Larry Harkey, Howard Basnight and Tom Hesselink…

Boatbuilder Tom Hesselink writes: He is experienced at how government and private industry can work together with positive outcomes. And what he doesn’t know he will learn…quickly.

Howard Basnight writes: Regrettably, politics has become ugly and I have tried to stay out of the fray. However, with the continued attacks against Randy Ramsey, I cannot stay silent any longer. Yes, I work for Randy Ramsey at Jarrett Bay Yacht Sales and I want to make that clear up front.

On the proposal to charge a toll on the Minnesott and Aurora ferries views from Larry Summers, Al Herlands, Gail Good, Dan Rubinstein, Sam Myers, Greg Piner, Jennifer Baker, Jack Taylor, Bruce Gammon, J.M.Smith, Ben Casey, Keith Sexton, Mary Cancel, Bill Chaplik, Bob Birch, Joe Mattea, Jeff Broughton, Robert Kruger …
From Bob Kruger ..A “free” lottery ticket would be issued with each voluntarily paid toll. Only those who wished to play the lottery would pay the toll.
From Ken Laser:… Regarding Pamlico’s State House Representative Norm Sanderson’s remark at the Ferry toll hearing: What exactly does “I can’t be that kind of politician” mean?

Thoughts and views on the land trade at the harbor from Carol Small, Larry Summers, Don Mau, George Secrhist, Candy Bohmert, Doug Sligh, Ben Cox to name a few.
From Jim Privette: I suggest the Town Commission stick to the basic facts. The total amount of land and water frontage being offered are patently inadequate. It does not pass a basic sniff test.