OUR VOYAGE
INTRO
Our Voyage
Well now, whats a man to do. It's been over a year now and I still don't see a whole lot of positive action in respect to the efforts to fix the problem with the Beaufort sewer system. As I sat and pondered, it came to me. The only thing to do is to spell it out in total detail and no uncertain terms.
Even though I have tried that many times in many ways I will try it again. In an effort to reach the most people possible and keep everyone on the same page, I will be doing this in a very simple manner. We are going to use the OUR VOYAGE link on our web page. This link will contain information that will be sent to anyone and everyone we can think of that may be involved and, or can help.
Let me say this up front as to make no mistake about it; The world will be watching and will judge the actions of the people. This means not just the Beaufort Commissioners, it means EVERYONE. As long as we can be heard, you will be heard of.
In order to bring everyone up to speed it will be necessary to do this in a manner that will make it simple to understand, yet done in great detail. Hopefully this will reduce the amount of repeat questions. It will also make it easier to discuss with someone not familiar to the issue. I will be making these post on a "as can" basis. Please check back regularly.
We have compiled a list of Commissioners, and other Government Officials, publications, television and radio broadcast stations, and environmental groups. They will all get identical e-mails containing the exact same information as will be on the Our Voyage page on our web site.(www.thepollutedloon.com) I encourage everyone to read them, be informed, and take action. It would be less than wise to ignore a chance to gain valuable information. A list of e-mail addresses will be on our web site. Please use them.
The e-mails sent to the newspapers (including this one) can and should be considered letters to the editor even though they may not be addressed as such.
The e-mails sent to the broadcast stations are an invitation to do news reports.
This is going to be a very interesting saga and will make for a continuing coverage story.
The e-mails sent to the many Government Offices and Representatives are a call to task. Don't do what you have to do, do what you can do.
The e-mails sent to the environmental groups are a call for assistance. We are without guidance or funding. At this time the only tools we have are our voices.
The post on our web page will be to make sure everyone knows that the above mentioned have been made aware of the situation. We will also use other pages on our web site to keep everyone informed on who has or has not worked to solve the growing problem.
As for the citizens, keep reading, keep talking, and keep asking.
Although to date nobody has been able to give me a reason (other that cost) that we need to leave things status quo, I still invite all to show me where I am wrong and I will correct the fault or sit down and shut up. Until then, I will keep talking.
The Our Voyage page will be up and e-mails will start going out on Monday 9/22/08.
Clammerhead
READ CAREFULLY and PAY ATTENTION Chapter 1
This is the beginning of the posts and e-mails described on our web site www.thepollutedloon.com. It can be found on our Blog and the Our Voyage page. We invite you to visit the site to view this and other information.
The problem at hand is the Beaufort sewer system, and the kind of decisions that let them get that way, and the type of decisions being made to correct the problems. It is obvious the Commissioners are in large part having to react to the mess they were left by others. This is understandable, but it can be changed. There comes a time when reaction must become action.
Even after Beaufort's new plant is up and running it will not be sufficient. The plant can only discharge only 1.5 million gallons per day. This means if they want to up-grade in the future they have only a few choices. Discharge into another body of water, lagoons, or pump it. This means the chance of pollution from an accidental discharge,or compromised lagoon. They have both been known to happen. The problem with pumping it is; Where are you going to pump it to?
Beaufort will keep growing and they will need to have their infrastructure in place ahead of development. Their Planning board and Commissioners think they are ahead of the game. I don't. With the way large developments are springing up in and around town, it is only a matter of a few years before the new system will be at full capacity. At the same time development will continue Down East, and from the Merrimon/South River Area. This puts Beaufort in a unique position. They are the only Community or Town on the east side of the ICWW that has municipal water and sewer. This means that either Beaufort will handle the most of the waste over the next 10 years or there will be sewer lagoons and inadequate private septic systems littering the shoreline.
Beaufort is and will be setting precedence for the type of development east of the bridges to the Atlantic Ocean. By the time they will be able to begin a update on their system there will developments with their own systems, leaving Beaufort with nothing to offer. This will slow the growth of the town, thus reducing the flow into the Town Coffers.
The Planning Board and Commissioners have the opportunity to step ahead of the game while they are still working on their new plant in town. However they cannot do it on their own. They will need the help of the County Commissioners and our Representatives in Raleigh and maybe even Washington D.C. These people have the responsibility to handle the problems of the future as well as the problems of the day. The County Planners need to prepare the areas east of the ICWW for the future also.
At some point there will be a need for a centralized sewer and water system for these areas. It should be done before waters are polluted and the land is scattered with individual treatment systems complete with their lagoons. There is an urgency in this matter due to the lack of land suitable for this type of system. One problem with a centralized system is nobody wants it in their backyard. Another problem is nobody wants to pay for it. There also seems to be a lot of doubt that it can be done. This is compounded by the fact that there aren't a lot people willing to try, what ever their reason may be.
Cost is usually the first thing people think about. Although it will be expensive there are ways to make it happen. These cover a wide range of grants, and programs. There must also be adjustments to the current plan that redistribute the cost properly. The cost can also be off-set by recycling and re-sale of the waste material. Almost 98% of the liquid and solid waste can be re-used.
Where to put it is going to be difficult to solve. The types of systems available are hard to place due to this area being surrounded by wetlands. This leads us to the point we need to explore breaking technology that can blend with the technology we already have. There are several types that would work. It won't take a lot of land if the system is done right.
As for the people that are not willing to put in the effort; Why don't you quit your position? If you are going to put in the effort, it is time to kick it up notch. It is a shameful truth that things have been allowed to get this far out of control. It will be to the shame of us all if left to continue. It is the responsibility of our leaders to move ahead of our needs and make sure they are met. This is not happening, or this letter would not be unnecessary. It is the responsibility of all citizens to inspire our leaders to lead correctly. There are some very effective ways to do this.
What it boils down to is, now is the time to act. The actions must be extreme and swift. Our leaders must re-think and come up with better, or it will be to the sorrow of us all. I have requested a moratorium on large developments three times now and there has been no response to that request. If we are not prepared to handle these developments stop allowing them. Don't keep pretending you did not hear the request. Everybody knows you have heard it now.
With the existence of this letter and the e-mails being sent, the excuse of not knowing is no longer acceptable. However, fear not, I will continue to elaborate on the issues. I will do my best to make it easy to understand in detail in order to get things moving in the right direction. If you decide to not accept the information that is your choice. If you decide to take a positive position and go the extra mile, I will help you the same as I ask for help. If you say that it is not your job, then you are mistaken and your mistake will be known. If you don't think it is possible, you need to get together with others and find a way to make it work. If you think that ignoring this issue or me will make either go away, you are wrong beyond all hope. The nature of the beast won't allow that to happen. I will be sending this and other emails when possible. The next chapter will deal with the system type and cost in detail. Read carefully and pay attention.
David Cessna Sr. (Clammerhead)
READ CAREFULLY and PAY ATTENTION Chapter 2
What type of sewer system do we need? This question has been asked time and time again. Likewise there has been an array of suggestions in an effort to answer this question. They have ranged from a countywide system to individual community systems.
With the individual community system we face the problem of what to do with the discharge. We cannot keep pumping it into our rivers. Despite some of the statements made by some of our elected and appointed officials, we all know it is not the right thing to do and one day it will have to stop.
This leaves only a few choices. We could pump it off shore a few miles. I am sure that would make environmentalist happy, not to mention the commercial and sports fishermen. There are many problems with this method. they include ; broken pipes, mass fresh water infiltration, fishing hazards, undetectable pollutant discharge, cost, and more. This method would be repeating the inadequate actions of our predecessors, only on a larger scale with cleaner water. They thought the mass of the area waters would dissipate the effluent and they were wrong.
With the recent lift of the ban on offshore drilling there will be a lot of oil coming in on the East Coast. There are only a few places that can handle the larger ships. Even though the State Port in Morehead City won't be able to handle the larger ones, they will get a large amount of the ones they can handle. Along with the resultant development on that front alone there is going to be stricter standards and more intense testing. This in turn is going to give environmentalist more to argue with, thus ending overboard discharge altogether.
The only reasonable solution would be to reclaim the wastewater. This has problems also. The list includes cost, and that is it. Cost and nothing more. We have the technology. It would cost a very large amount of money to do this in every small community, and these communities are sparsely populated. Thus there are not enough monies available for this no matter how you try to come up with it.
Given to the logic that individual communities cannot do it alone we must face the fact it will have to be a county wide system. Instead of every housing community from Beaufort to South River to Cedar Island having wells and lagoons, everybody can have clean water and efficient sewer services. This will also help reduce the amount of point-source pollution from existing and new septic tanks, thus reducing further tightening of set back regulations. This can only be good for development.There are many other perks to a county wide system, however the main reason is it's the only way it can be financed.
So now that we have that figured out, all we have to do is to pick out a specific method of treatment, decide where to put it, and pay for it. The best thing going is the type of system being used by the Town of Kinston. In easy terms; It takes out the solids then uses ultra violet light and filters to purify the wastewater without the use of chemicals. It can be done to a point that it is potable. Then this water can be sold to help reduce operating cost and save on ground water demands. This will in turn delay the need for desalinization methods to supply the growing population with clean water.
That takes care of the wastewater, now we will take a look at the solid waste. Almost all of the solid waste can be turned into resalable material such as fertilizer, heat pellets, biodegradable planters, and much more. The process for fertilizer is the least complicated. It is composting 101. Just mix the waste with fiber, turn and wait Repeat. It takes about 15 days. If done properly, this method can also produce methane gas for sale. The other methods are slightly more complicated, but not much. The fiber can be gotten from tree farms which can also be used to discharge unneeded or non-potable reclaimed water. There will always be a certain amount of solid and chemical waste that cannot be reused and will have to be hauled to a landfill somewhere.
Now we understand how to deal with the waste. We need to find a way to pay for it. We have already learned that the waste can be resold reducing operating cost. The lack of need for individual septic systems and community type development systems will reduce building cost that can be diverted into hook-up fees. This will also allow more land to be built on due to the absence of septic systems, lagoons and related setbacks. This means more hook-ups and more revenue.
Another way to help fund this project is to have the large developments which perpetuate the need for this type of system carry the brunt of the cost. The developments on the east end of Beaufort and the golf community on Highway 70 will more than double the amount of sewage needing treatment. They should have been required to handle the full cost of the new treatment plant and Beaufort could have put a matching amount into the reuse end of the process. The County could finish paying for the solid waste reclamation end of this system in return for future privileges at that site. This alone would have allowed Beaufort to handle 3.75 million gallons per day. They could stop discharging into Taylors Creek and reduce the amount of water being pump out of the ground. This would also reduce the chlorine effects in the drinking water we have all despised for so long and the health issues that goes with them. This would also give Beaufort the infrastructure to allow for further annexation resulting in a larger tax base. In turn this would carry both Beaufort's sewer and water needs for the next 20 years if not further. Independent research indicates current plans will falter in one third of that time. Beaufort has already struck their deal with these developments, but they don't have to let anymore developers in so cheap.
Once this stage has been completed other communities can begin to build their reclamation facilities as needed using funds from the areas being serviced. There will be a need for a facility in the South River/ Merrimon area, Atlantic/Stacy area, Smyrna/Williston area, and possibly the North River area. As these areas are being developed, the middle and western end of the county can begin upgrading and tying into the system, both liquid and solid.
This will also lead to opportunities for sharing and funding ventures with other counties.
On top of these revenue sources, there are many, many types of grants and funding programs available through State and Federal Government. If we can get funding for docks and boardwalks, to be sure we can get funding to protect the water beneath them.
There are mass amounts of money to be saved by stopping the special events drain on the Town and County coffers. Things like the 300th birthday of the town, the Pepsi fiasco, the Blackbeard Celebration, and the many other events are nice and have their place. Never the less they should come after priorities have been handled. At the rate we are being developed, they should not be the first in line.
The next chapter will deal with planning and development. Read carefully and pay attention.
Clammerhead
READ CAREFULLY and PAY ATTENTION Chapter 3
Beaufort is running out of room to grow. Room has become so scarce that ordinances are being granted variances, or being challenged in court at an unprecedented rate. Streets are being closed or re-located on a regular schedule. There is an ongoing confrontation on where to put a bridge. The Maritime Museum is going to need a "water taxi" to get visitors to Front Street. The North River Club has set a border for development between hwy. 70 and hwy. 101. There is a relatively small amount of land left to be developed in that direction.
South River and Merrimon are going to start moving toward Beaufort quickly in the next few years. Otway is exploding towards Harkers Island, Smyrna, and North River. Davis is and will continue to grow in all directions. Soon there will be no more room to grow outwards. The elevation and soil composition of our area won't let us burrow. This leaves only one direction to grow. Straight Up. There is evidence of this all around us already, and it has only just begun.
Along with normal growth there is going to be a population increase from the rush for offshore oil exploration. This will be compounded by military increase that is running about 40% ahead of schedule. There are also reports out stating due to inland droughts it is reasonable to believe coastal areas will develop at an expedient rate in order to utilize water desalinization capabilities.
It is this kind of insight that leads me to reason we are going to see growth at a larger rate than our planners ( Town & County) estimate. With this information we can design long range development to retain the charm of Eastern Carteret County while raising the standard of living and preserving our local heritage.
Currently development is pretty much a free-for-all. There are very few restrictions on design, inhabitant numbers, business types, or zoning. Where there are ordinances, it seems pretty easy to get a variance. This method of development is more suited to large sprawling regions searching for industry. Our area needs to be carefully groomed in order to accommodate people, not industry.
Structures such as condos, multifamily buildings, hotels, and other tall ( three story + ) dwellings have problems that go with them. Some of these are fire and rescue issues and compacted population problems. There are also the storm safety and damage issues. Beaufort, Core Creek, and Cedar Island have the only roads into our unique area. Almost everyone will have to travel hwy. 70 or hwy. 101 to evacuate.
If our area allows this type of development there will be serious consequences. It is time to look at other plans. Our area will continue to grow regardless of what type of development we allow. Instead of the larger housing and private housing development, we need to cater towards individual housing for families. Let the areas west of the ICWW have the hotels and condos. Keep this side for the locals and families. This type of development will draw citizens that care about the area and will take care of it.
Individual family development will also create jobs for the area, instead of jobs for large development contractors. The supplies will come from local businesses. The monies earned here will be spent here, not somewhere else.
Rather than be infiltrated with private developments on this side of the ICWW, lets turn this side into one very large private development with individual homes for decent individuals. It will be far better to have citizens with life investments instead of just financial investments. We will still get plenty of tourist and they will see we respect our area, thus provoking them to respect it also.
This can be examined much further, but the current type of development must stop until we come up with a better plan. I have made the request many times, and I will make it again. For the sake of all involved, ALL TOWN AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CALL FOR A MORATORIUM ON ALL LARGE DEVELOPMENTS. Especially east of the ICWW.
The next and final chapter in this series will be an over-site of these publications and the meaning of them. Read carefully and pay attention.
Clammerhead
READ CAREFULLY and PAY ATTENTION Conclusion
Is it important to vote? We are told it is our right and our responsibility, and we will be heard and represented by the ones we elect. They all say they will do the right thing when it comes to their duties, while they criticize the actions of their predecessors. Sadly in many cases this will also be their legacy, as they too will be criticized for the same actions. There is only one solution to this problem and it will not come from the people we elect. It can only come from us. It is important to vote, but your vote will not count unless you demand representation. Your demands will not be heard unless you persist until they are met. Your vote is just the beginning of both your rights and responsibilities.
For some time now I have been sending e-mails, having letters published, and appearing on television to draw attention to things concerning the Beaufort sewer system and other environmental issues in our area. In doing so I have described the problems we face and their possible solutions. Although the descriptions I have given were of general context, they are true and merit further examination. They tell of the dangers we face and the damage they will cause. They offer a better way of taking care of our area and it's environment. I have also asked for the help of the Beaufort Town Commissioners and the Carteret County Commissioners. The help they have given was the Beaufort Mayor Richard Stanley telling me I was barking up the wrong tree and County Commissioner Pete Allen telling me he has no earthly interest in my opinion. To this date not one Town or County Commissioner has shown me where I am wrong or offered a better solution.
This leaves the conclusion either I am right, they just don't care, they are inept, or a combination of the fore mentioned reasons and so far nobody has proven me wrong. The answer to that is a mute point. The point of interest is; what are we going to do about it. It is up to us to solve the problem by sending a strong message to the ones in office and the ones running for office. This message must tell them we want better, and if they don't do better we will find someone who will. They must know we are going to hold them responsible. We must let them know that we will be watching and remembering. We need to remind them of our right to call for investigations, and incite their removal.
Before you cast your vote, know who you are voting for. All of the candidates running for office say they want to protect our environment, create jobs, improve schools, revamp planning, and serve the people of our area. Do they, or are they just saying that to get our votes? There is no sure way of knowing. There are however ways of knowing what they have done in the past. Examine their records, and see what they have or haven't done to help our area. See who they agreed with and what decisions they have made. Ask if they went the extra mile to do what is right. Decide if they will be as accessible once they get elected as they were when they were asking for your vote. Will they come see you every chance they get or will they let you come see them when they get time? Question if they will be the ones to represent us or if they will be the next set of hurdles we must clear to get things fixed. Research if they have special interest that might jeopardize their objectivity.
In just a few days we will reach our final voting day for this election. The people we elect will shape our future. They will be in office until their term expires or they have to be removed. If they have to be removed it will be us that must remove them. When you cast your vote be ready to take responsibility for your decisions. Don't just put them in office, put them to work. If they won't do the job right, get rid of them.
It is my belief that if you are not ready to take responsibility for your vote, then don't vote. There is too much at stake to vote for the wrong reasons or without care. If you are one of the people running for office and in your heart and mind don't think you are going to do the job right, withdraw your name from the ballot and or vote for the one that can and will. If you are in an office not up for re-election this year and are not doing or going to do the job right, take this opportunity to resign. If you intend to stay in office, be prepared to hear from me and anyone else I can get to contact you at our leisure.
I encourage everyone do take the time to research the candidates and their histories before voting. There is information on the local candidates and their response to some issues on our web page www.thepollutedloon.com The manner in which they have responded to the issues I have approached them with should demonstrate the way they will respond to other issues. Even if my concerns are not your concerns, will they make your concerns their concerns?
There are candidates for positions that are open that I have not e-mailed on these issues. Even so, if they are to represent our area they should have been paying attention to the local media enough to be aware of the many times I have drawn attention to these issues. Yet they have not contacted me either. I invite them to contact me now and have their response published on our web page.
I will conclude this series entitled READ CAREFULLY AND PAY ATTENTION by once again asking anyone that can prove me wrong, or wants to comment on the issues I have brought forth, please do so. If you can't prove me wrong, help do what is right. If you are not ready to do what is right, then don't vote until you are. Sometimes it is just as important to not vote.
David A. Cessna Sr. ( Clammerhead )
A New Plan
It is obvious that we have a situation at hand that requires a new plan and a new way of doing things.
We have over-development, and are running out of room to grow.We also have a major discontent between different groups of people, all fighting for what they all feel is their right to our area. The commercial fishermen are at odds with the recreational fishermen. Environmentalist are disagreeing with developers. Citizens are disappointed with our politicians and nothing seems to be getting better.
I have done a lot of research on the issues at hand and feel confident that we can find a solution that will work. It will take us through a very delicate time in what could be our defining moment in history. There is a way to make Carteret County an example for coastal development. We can use our rich heritage to enhance tourism and development in ways not yet being utilized. This can be done while protecting our environment, which is vital to the survival of all of our citizens.
In the days to come I will be sharing these ideas via this web site, publications, the media and e-mails. It will take some time to do this, just as it will take time to see action and results. However if we wait any longer, it could be too late. I encourage anyone with ideas or criticism to e-mail us at thepollutedloon@gmail.com
I don't have all the answers, but I do believe there is a better way and this is a start. The ideas I have are undoubtedly better than the sinking spiral we are caught in. Together we can save Carteret County from being destroyed at our own hands. Please join me in this effort
Clammerhead.
A New Plan Chapter 1
Now that we know we need a new plan, we need to decide what type of plan we need. Before we can do that we have to take a look at the future of Carteret County. We must choose the type of people and businesses we want here. We must make a plan to use our lands and resources wisely. There are also the plans of others from outside our area we must account for.
There is going to be a much larger than anticipated amount of people moving into Carteret County. This will be due to many reasons, the least of which will be retires, as in the past. The new draw will be big industry and military. Now that we have the possibility of drilling for oil off the coast, there has already been a push to re-plan land development. There wont be any big oil ships coming in to the Port at Morehead City, however there will be a great many service and supply ships that will move in and out of our area. The oil companies won't want to pay the high cost of using the State Port. Why should they when there is all the land available along the I.C.W.W. There is a large amount of land left undeveloped along this route between the State Port and Pamilco Sound. This route consists primarily of Newport River, Core Creek. Adams Creek and the Neuse River. This land is perfect for marine shipping and has both water and land routes to New Bern, thus making it valuable for handling and shipping large structures and bulk supplies. It will be good for housing developments to shelter the oil company employees. There will also be a strong development surge along Hwy 101 between Beaufort and Havelock. A large amount of this will be supply services and housing for oil industry related business and workers.
There will be a big demand for housing for the military, reaching from Cherry Point to Atlantic. A great deal of this will be from the expansion taking place at both bases. The amount of people expected to move in the area related to the military has been grossly under-estimated. This can be largely attributed to the lack of forsite dealing with the oil industry. With that amout of oil industry located on the east coast of the United States, there will be an increase in military presence. These people will flood the entire area from New Bern to Cedar Island.
There will continue to be retirees moving into our area, however they will be a minority of the influx of newcomers. They will often occupy the waterfront lots, and metro neighborhoods. They will be a great many condo's built along the rivers and beaches to accommodate some of them along with the tourist. Every inch of land and waterfront will be claimed and used.
With this information in mind, it might be wise to look at reasons other than those having been previously explored into the efforts to get a certain type of bridge across Gallants Channel, in a specific location. It might lend some understanding to the " around your elbow " route from Havelock to the State Port also.
In our next chapter we will look at the economical and environmental impact on our area.
Clammerhead
