Duke Energy outlines Little Creek access upgrades; county could lease and manage site

Duke Energy project manager Ryan Stedicker briefed the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on planned upgrades to the Little Creek access area off Burton Lane and invited county interest in a lease to operate the site.

Ryan said planned improvements include a restroom building, a fishing pier, additional paved parking, a picnic shelter, a short path and dispersed picnic areas. "We're currently in the design phase," he said, and "we're hoping to be able to start construction, hopefully, sometime late fall this year," with realistic completion around fall of the following year.

John (county staff) explained the site is currently operated in partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and Duke Energy; the county does not now operate the site. He and Ryan said the county could choose to become a lessee and adopt the same operational rules used at Beatty's Ford, including signage and sheriff monitoring to discourage commercial uses.

Commissioners discussed the benefits of a county lease, citing operational control and enforcement as advantages. One commissioner recommended scheduling community meetings to gather local input on hours, access and amenities. Commissioners emphasized that any additional amenities beyond the four required items (restroom, fishing pier, paved parking, picnic shelter) would be at the county's request and subject to lease negotiations.

Duke Energy and county staff said they would incorporate reasonable county requests into the design if raised now, and county staff said they will continue discussions about the potential lease and operational details.

The presentation was informational; the board took no final action to lease the site at the meeting.