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ublic hearings, special use permits, and town-wide projects. The March Town Board meeting was Tuesday, March 10.

In attendance were Mayor Sally Belangia, Commissioners Paul Jordan, Iris Cooper, Lou Ostendorff, Dan McGuire, and Chris Moffat, Town Manager Diane Miller, and Finance Officer Lisa Millington.

Meeting Recap

• SUP (Special Use Permit) approved for residence at 307 Vandemere Street for use as a short-term rental.
• Public hearing set for April 14 to consider an SUP for Casa Que Pasa (The Taco Tower) ABC license, pending recommendation from the March 18 Planning Board meeting.
• Water Valve and Dinghy Dock projects open for a second round of bids after failing to attract a third bidder in the first round. Miller said the Water Valve Project bid is on track to be awarded on March 26.
• Tourism Board cites miscommunication for unauthorized expenses. Several invoices, totaling $3-$4k, require further funding.
• Butch Rasmussen approved as a member of the Parks and Recreation Board.
• Jim Blackerby steps down as Chair of the Harbor Waterfronts Board. Interested parties encouraged to apply.
• Commissioners reviewing current street assessments before deciding whether to purchase a new street survey from JMT or Pavement Navigators.

The following motions from the February 10 regular meeting were approved in the Consent Agenda: Boat Show Day Resolution of Welcome, Attorney Service Resolution (Oriental’s attorney Scott Davis has served Oriental for 30 years), Arbor Day Resolution, adjusting water bill due dates for Acts of God.

Public Comment

Dog Dirt Dilemma
JoJo Grundstrom thanked the board for the dog park, stating that it has given her and her elderly dog much pleasure. She noted that around November and December, several dogs began eating dirt in the dog park — behavior not observed before. She found it notable that the group reported most of the dogs did not eat dirt elsewhere. Grundstrom said some of the dogs experienced vomiting after eating the dirt, though she acknowledged the vomiting may not be directly related.

Grundstrom shared that last spring she received a large load of compost for her garden and her dog exhibited similar behavior at that time.

“Essentially, a group of us were wondering if there is something going on in the dog park — that maybe some materials are being used, or if the Town Board has any insight into what is drawing the dogs to eat the dirt.”

Grundstrom suggested there may be an opportunity for the dog park to use different materials in the future.

Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental: 307 Vandemere Street

The request for a Special Use Permit (SUP) to operate the residence at 307 Vandemere Street as a short-term rental was unanimously approved. Public hearings at the Planning Board and at March’s meeting received no objections from the public.

Unless evidence is presented otherwise, SUPs must be granted if they meet the following criteria: no police reports have been filed against the property address, the application is complete, the property is within the jurisdiction of the Town of Oriental, the use will not endanger public health or safety, the use will not injure property values of adjoining or abutting properties, the use is in conformity with existing uses in the area.

SUP Request for ABC License: Casa Que Pasa, aka The Taco Tower

The new 3-story structure at the corner of Water and Hodges Street, adjacent to the taco food truck, is Casa Que Pasa — a bar, entertainment, and dining facility. The location spans two properties; only one would be approved for an ABC license. The Planning Board meets March 18 to make a recommendation to the Town Board, which could include a requirement that signs stating “no alcohol beyond this point” be placed to separate the two properties. Alcohol would be served inside Casa Que Pasa only, not in the surrounding parking lot or at the food truck.

Miller noted that Pamlico County Building & Inspections has been working with the Town to ensure compliance, adding, “I can’t sign off on anything without them being compliant on their zoning.” The motion was approved to add a Public Hearing to the April 14 Town Board meeting to consider the ABC license request.

Funding of a New Street Repair Assessment Tabled

Commissioner Jordan shared proposals from JMT and Pavement Navigators to provide an updated pavement condition survey of Oriental’s streets, rating them on an index from zero to 100 and identifying pavement failures and repair strategies. Both proposals were priced at approximately $14,000.

“As we plan for future street repair projects, we really need to think about getting a survey. The biggest thing it will do for us is figure out where we can spend our money.”

Jordan noted the last survey was conducted in 2020, and the NC DOT recommends a new survey every two to three years, while some municipalities conduct one every five years. He added that for streets in better condition, there are preservation technologies worth exploring to extend their life.

Commissioner Cooper confirmed both proposals cover the same scope of work. Commissioner Ostendorff cautioned that a survey identifies where roads need work but does not get them paved, and noted that the town has conducted assessments in the past without working through all identified issues. Miller was asked to provide Commissioners with the most recent assessment for comparison with the new proposals.

Tourism Board Requests Funding for Unauthorized Expenses

The Tourism Board asked for a budget amendment to cover several unfunded obligations. They had requested $26,000 in 2025, but were only granted $16,000. Miller said the communication between the former board liaison and the Tourism Board was unclear.

Commissioners asked how many more expenses to expect. Tourism Board Chairman Marsha Paplham reported the following outstanding invoices:
• $1,395 due in April
• $1,395 due in May
• $1,200 for Oriental Boat Show ads in Our State magazine

Commissioner Cooper asked whether the Boat Show ad was the same as the ad that ran in March 2026. She displayed a copy of the ad and noted the web links referenced last year’s boat show.

“If you just give us a chance to explain at tomorrow night’s meeting,” Paplham said, the Tourism Board would provide details on the amounts required for upcoming advertising invoices. That meeting was held Wednesday, March 11.

“I am excited about that,” said Cooper while Jordan added, “I just want to be clear that we know where all the unfunded obligations are.”

Paplham said nothing like this had ever happened before and that “something had gone horribly wrong.” She assured the Commissioners it would never happen again. Commissioner Ostendorff stated none of the auxiliary boards should be burdening the Town Board with unfunded obligations.

Miller said the invoices could be paid from roll-over funds from the Tourism Boards’ savings account rather than taking from the Town’s General Fund.

Town Manager’s Report

• The 2026 Town Board Budget Retreat is scheduled for March 26–27.

Water Treatment Valve Project Bid
The Water Valve Project received only two bids. The project went out for a second round of bids on March 12 in order to attract three bids.

Miller said she still hopes to award the bid on March 26, noting that this timeline will still allow the engineering firm adequate time to review the bids and make a proper recommendation. Bids rarely receive three bids in the first round of bidding. Commissioner Jordan asked what happens if there are not three this time. Miller replied, “It doesn’t matter in the second round. That is why we always do a formal bid.”

Dinghy Dock Seawall Rebuild Bids
Manager Miller said the Dinghy Dock project came in significantly higher than expected and also did not receive three bids. It is also out for rebid. Miller explained the dinghy dock seawall is in worse shape than the seawall at Hodges Street, adding: “If the dinghy dock seawall goes down, the road goes with it.”

Hodges Street Repair Project – Request for Funds to Representative Davis
Commissioner Jordan thanked Town Manager Miller for turning the application around in less than 24 hours. Miller said it tested everything she had. Jordan also thanked Commissioner Cooper for gathering letters of support.

Butch Rasmussen Approved as Parks and Recreation Board Member

The nomination of Butch Rasmussen to the Parks and Recreation Board elicited several comments from commissioners before being approved with a single nay vote from Commissioner Cooper. Nominees endorsed by auxiliary boards typically pass without comment.

Rasmussen currently serves on the Water Advisory Board and on the Planning Board. His application for the Parks and Recreation Board was pulled from consideration in January until Commissioners had a chance to meet with him.

Commissioners Don McGuire and Paul Jordan expressed reservations on Rasmussen’s appointment, but committed to approving the appointment anyway.

Commissioner Iris Cooper did not comment before the vote, and was the only Commissioner who voted nay. After the meeting, when asked about her vote, Cooper said she could not in good conscience vote for someone she had considered suing for defamation due to comments made during the campaign. Rasmussen posted comments to social media about Cooper when she was running for Commissioner.

Blackerby Steps Down as Harbor Waterfronts Chairman

Miller noted that Jim Blackerby is ready to step down and asked whether anyone knew of a potential replacement, emphasizing that Harbor Waterfronts is a working board.

Commissioner Jordan thanked Blackerby for his service, saying, “He is an unsung hero and the last person to tell you about all the things he has done. Many of those things will last for years to come.”

Dates to Know

The next Town Board meeting is Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The Commissioner Workshop meeting is Thursday and Friday, March 26 & 27 at 9a and 8a respectively.

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Story by Laurie Stahlmann

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Related Links

• March Agenda
• Consent Agenda
• Notice of Public Hearing
• SUP STR 307 Vandemere St
• Manager’s Report
• Public Hearing Casa Que Pasa
• Rules of Procedure and Charter Amendments
• Budget Amendments
• Board Appointments
• Paving Assessment Quotes
• Police Report
• Auxiliary Board Minutes

Posted Wednesday March 25, 2026 by Allison DeWeese