By Carol Vaughn — A site visit is scheduled Aug. 19 for an Army Corps of Engineers team to inspect and review sites and discuss strategies for a study of the Chincoteague Inlet.
The new state budget includes the required non-federal funding match to get the federal study underway, Town Manager Mike Tolbert said at Monday’s Chincoteague Town Council meeting.
Tolbert invited representatives from NASA, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service to participate in the site visit.
The study is needed because the inlet area is experiencing rapid changes and shifting navigation channels.
Understanding causes and the rate of change is critical to developing strategies to help protect Chincoteague, southern Assateague, and Wallops Island.
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A bulkhead failed on the northernmost end of Memorial Park on Friday, July 15, Tolbert said.
The failure affects around 50 feet of the old bulkhead and threatens a potential loss of land behind the it.
A temporary safety fence was erected immediately around the area and adjacent property owners subsequently took measures to help stabilize the area.
Tolbert notified the Army Corps of Engineers and also the Wetlands Board about the need for an emergency repair.
He was given the go-ahead by the Corps to make the repair “within limits” and was given the procedure to apply for an after-the-fact permit, according to his report to council.
A contractor was contacted and a price obtained for the repair. Materials should be available within the next two weeks, Tolbert said.
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Chincoteague notified Accomack County that the town intends to pursue instituting a cigarette tax within town limits, Tolbert said.
The Accomack County Board of Supervisors recently approved a cigarette tax in the county, after the state allowed localities to do so.
A public hearing is required before the town cigarette tax can be approved and implemented.
The maximum tax the state allows a locality to collect is 40 cents per pack.
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Chincoteague’s Building and Zoning Department issued 39 building permits in July, with a total value of $713,377.
Town officials recently signed a three-year contract for a cloud-based building and zoning permit service, which once implemented will allow permit applications, request for inspections, document submittals, and other permit functions to be completed online.
The measure is expected to improve efficiency, according to Tolbert.
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The Town Council approved using money from an account with a balance of $282,893 for the first phase of a new heating and air conditioning system for the Chincoteague Community Center.
The original chiller dates to 1996 and is beyond reasonable repair, Tolbert said.
Additionally, the original propane boiler is in need up updates and is inefficient compared to new equipment, he said.
The first phase will cost $167,038 in addition to the cost of electrical wiring and concrete bases for the equipment.
A future phase will include installing additional, smaller heat pumps to better serve partitioned rooms in the center.
The funds will come from an account transferred to the town when the Community Center authority was dissolved.
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The Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Authority has fiber installed from the northernmost to southernmost parts of the island, as well as from the east to the west side and on many cross streets. The authority can provide service to any Chincoteague residence, according to Robert Bridgham, ESVBA executive director.
Bridgham addressed the Town Council at the council’s request.
Installation of broadband to a residence in town typically costs $150 and takes 25 to 30 days, he said.
There are several programs to help customers with costs.
The authority has only seven private customers on Chincoteague currently.
ESVBA is piloting a program offering Chincoteague residents one free month of service to raise awareness of the service’s availability, Bridgham said, noting a mailer was sent out recently.
“It’s the first place we’ve done this,” he said.
The schools, town offices, and the fire department are among public entities on Chincoteague served by the ESVBA.
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Julie Brommer, Chincoteague Island Community Cats president, said during public comment that from January to June the organization trapped, neutered or spayed, and released 49 cats. The organization’s goal for the year is 150 cats. There will be a TNR event Nov. 4 and 5 on Chincoteague.
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Evelyn Shotwell, Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce executive director, during public comment gave “a huge shout out” to volunteers, fire and EMS personnel, police, and others for their help with Pony Penning.
A video she took of the Pony Swim, which she posted to Facebook, received 5 million views so far.
“We’ve already had calls today — they’re booking for next year,” she said.
