BAYBORO – Pamlico County Manager Mark Brewington made a convincing case Monday night, explaining to his nine bosses on the County Commission that the absence of Berkley Hill – the one-man 24/7 Animal Control Officer for many years – has created a void in that department of monumental proportions.
Fortunately, Hill is slowly recovering from injuries sustained in a car wreck, but there is some doubt if he will ever be able to fully resume his duties.
Brewington cited data that Pamlico’s nine incorporated towns – Mesic, Vandemere, Bayboro, Stonewall, Alliance, Grantsboro, Arapahoe, Oriental, and Minnesott Beach – comprise less than half of
the county’s 12,500 population, yet generate 60 to 80 percent of all Animal Control calls.
And, up until this point, stressed Brewington, the county has picked up all costs associated with those often expensive, liability-laden, and time-consuming responses.
“Letters (to the towns) are going out tomorrow,” said Brewington, “to solicit their input on this matter.”
Commissioner Candy Bohmert, who once served on the elected board for the Town of Oriental, suggested the time has come. “For me,” she said, “the towns totally need to step up.”
Publisher/Editor
