ATMC to offer cable, Internet, phone service to island

OCEAN ISLE BEACH—Residents on the island of Ocean Isle Beach will soon have an option for cable services.

Allen Russ, ATMC CEO/general manager, spoke to the board of commissioners Tuesday morning about ATMC’s progress in bringing cable, Internet and telephone services to the island area.

“There has been some talk. We wanted to provide video services to Ocean Isle Beach for a long time,” Russ said.

He said costs prohibited that from happening until now. With new technology, ATMC will begin offering services to island residents by May.

“We have already started work. By the first of May we will offer on island service,” he said.

The same services currently available to mainland residents will be offered on the island. Russ encouraged people interested in the services to register at www.ATMC.net/beachtv. He said those registered would be notified as soon as services are available.

“All I can say is we’re local; you’re not at the end of the line with us,” Russ said. “We are your neighbors. Service is what we do…we have been voted five years in a row as the Best in Customer Service by the Best of Brunswick and the Beacon, and we are very proud of that.”

Roundabout

Also during the meeting, commissioners voted to authorize Mayor Debbie Smith to enter negotiations with the North Carolina Department of Transportation concerning the purchase of 1.117 acres of land on Old Georgetown Extension and Ocean Isle Beach Road.

NCDOT offered the town $50,835 for the property due to right-of-way acquisition and damages. Plans are for NCDOT to install a roundabout.

Commissioners weren’t pleased with the initial offer but would prefer to keep the issue out of court.

“The roundabout will be a positive thing for Ocean Isle Beach,” Smith said. “They wanted an answer the day they came in to stay on schedule. They said if we couldn’t come to an agreement they would go to court and take it.”

“The property is currently on the books with the county as $61,000,” commissioner Dean Walters said.

Commissioners would like to get $75,000 for the property. Smith was authorized to negotiate on behalf of the town for the best possible price.

Upcoming events

The board unanimously voted to approve a variety of group activities. The Ocean Isle Fishing Center will have four fishing tournaments: Far Out Shoot Out on May 10-18, Ocean Isle Inshore Challenge on May 31-June 1, Jolly Mon King Classic on June 14-16 and the Fall Brawl King Classic on October 11-13.

The Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization has been approved to continue offering Sea Turtle Talks, an educational program, at the community center. The talks will be 7-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday between May 28 and Sept. 3.

The Museum of Coastal Carolina has been approved to have Family Day on March 30 and Wine Fest on April 27.

The board also voted to submit a formal request to the N.C. legislature to become designated as a sea turtle sanctuary.

“It is an honor for a beach or a town to be designated,” said Sea Turtle Protection coordinator Jim Boyce. “It designates to visitors that we as a beach town are fully in support of not allowing any harm to the sea turtles or their eggs.”

In other business, commissioners:

•Voted to approve a contract with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co. PA to perform auditing services for fiscal year 2012-13.

•Approved an electronic auction through govdeals.com on surplus equipment including several vehicles.

•Renewed the lease agreement with the town and Virginia Williamson and OIB Holdings LLC for the open space containing the statue and bench near the bridge.

•Denied a request for a new zoning text amendment for single-family attached areas.

Rachel Johnson is a staff writer at The Brunswick Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or rjohnson@brunswickbeacon.com.