* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          OKAY. 
          WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY 
          [00:00:01]
COMING OUT TODAY. 
          THIS IS A, UH, VERY 
          [March, 2025 Broad Street Pier Groundbreaking]
SPECIAL OCCASION. 
          SO, SOMEBODY ASKED ME EARLIER, HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT? SO WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS A FEW YEARS AGO. 
          HOW CAN WE IMPROVE WATERWAY ACCESS TO OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS? AND OFTENTIMES WE HEAR WE'D LOVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO FISH. 
          WELL, FOR THOSE WHO PERUSE THE RIVER WALK, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S USED FOR FISHING RIGHT NOW. 
          TECHNICALLY IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE. 
          THIS IS A VERY EXCITING PROJECT. 
          A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE PLAYED A PART IN MAKING TODAY COME TO FRUITION. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING, AND THANK YOU ALL TO OUR PARTNERS FOR THEIR HELP AS WELL. 
          WOO. 
          YAY. 
          I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DONALD WILLIS. 
          HE'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION. 
          THEY'VE DONATED SOME FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          ALSO, ROCKY CARTER. 
          HE'S WITH, UH, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE HABITAT FOUNDATION. 
          THEY PROVIDED A GRANT OF $115,000 FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          AND THEN ALDERMAN ASTOR, HE HAS REALLY WORKED HARD BEHIND THE SCENES ON THIS PROJECT, AND HE REQUESTED, UH, ARF ENABLED FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,000 TO GO TOWARD THIS PROJECT. 
          SO THANK YOU ALDERMAN ASTOR FOR DONE SO. 
          IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO GET HERE, BUT WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. 
          AND THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE A FEW PHASES. 
          THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH IS GONNA BE STARTING THIS WEEK, IS GOING TO BE THE PIER PROJECT ITSELF. 
          THE, THE NEXT PHASE IS GOING TO BE THE RESTROOMS AND THE PARKING LOT. 
          UH, DO WANT TO THANK JACK VI, THE COUNTY MANAGER AND THE CRAVEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. 
          IF IT WASN'T FOR THE HELP FROM THEM, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE REALLY NEEDED THEIR RIPARIAN RIGHTS TO PLACE THIS PIER. 
          AND SO THE PIER WILL ACTUALLY BE LOCATED REALLY CLOSER TO WHERE THE BENCH IS OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE. 
          AND SO WHEN THIS THING IS BUILT, IT'S GONNA BE REAR REALLY NICE. 
          THE PIER ITSELF IS GONNA BE 216 FEET LONG. 
          UM, IT'LL GO OUT STRAIGHT OUT TO THE WATER HERE AT THE NOOSE AND AT THE END IT'LL BE 130 FOOT TEE AT THE END. 
          UM, ALL RAILINGS. 
          IT'LL BE COMPLETELY A DA ACCESSIBLE. 
          SO IT'LL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, GET ON THE PIER, WHETHER IT'S TO FISH, BE WITH THEIR FAMILY, LOOK AT THE SCENERY. 
          UM, AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO GET THIS PROJECT KICKED OFF. 
          WOO.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.