TV Cites Charlotte’s I-77 Expense As Reason
EASTERN NC – The Pamlico County Board of Commissioners received a red-hot news tip Monday night from Kenny Heath, mayor of Arapahoe.
In brief remarks, Heath referred to a late June news segment by WBTV of Charlotte, in which three-term State Sen. Vickie Sawyer (who represents Iredell and part of Mecklenburg counties) explained that tolls along I-77 in and around Charlotte are justification to impose tolls on the state’s ferry system serving coastal North Carolina.
Heath said Sawyer’s comments could have a dramatic effect upon our area since the Republican legislator serves as Chairman of the General Assembly’s Senate Transportation Committee.
Referring to the $55 million annual expense of the North Carolina Ferry System, Sawyer said “It is absolutely not a good use of our DOT (Department of Transportation) dollars,” while noting in the TV interview that ‘land-routes’ often exist for areas served by a ferry.
Sawyer added, ‘When I’m paying $25 for my family to be able to access the City of Charlotte, then these people who are going across the beautiful Pamlico River should be able to pay a toll as well.”
Heath urged county officials to contact the lobbying firm that represents Pamlico County in the state legislature. He also suggested any future legislative negotiations should take into account DOT snow removal expenses for the state’s piedmont and western areas, highway monies seldom needed in our area.
“Snow removal is a shared cost, which is the norm in our state. If we don’t jump on this now, we’re going to end up at the community college again,” recalled Heath, referring to a heated and raucous Feb. 2012 public hearing on proposed ferry tolls.
Reached after the meeting, Heath suggested he is something of a news fanatic.
“I am constantly monitoring what the folks in Raleigh are doing,” said Heath. “They sometimes forget that they are supposed to be working for us.”
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