Camden Yacht Club Disputes $4,800 Trash Fee, Asks Why County Rejected Land Offer

CAMDEN, N.C. — Camden County charged the Pasquotank River Yacht Club $4,800 in solid waste fees on its 32 boat slips, though club representatives say its bylaws ban live-aboards and members haul away their own trash. Commissioners agreed Oct. 5 to take up the fee on marina slips at their Nov. 2 meeting.

At the same meeting, a club director said the county rejected the club's written offer to buy the waterfront property it leases with a one-word verbal reply: no. He asked the board for its reasons.

$150 on every slip

County Manager Erin Burke told commissioners that both of the county's marinas had contacted her about the fee. She said every slip was charged individually because of the potential that someone could live aboard a boat.

One marina has some live-aboard slips, but most of its slips are not, Burke said, and the other bans live-aboards.

She said the board could consider waiving the fee for slips where policies, bylaws, or owners prohibit live-aboards. "But I would need a directive from the board to do that," she said.

James Dayo, speaking for the yacht club, said the $150 fee on each of its 32 slips raised the club's county bill from a little under $2,000 to about $6,600. He said that cuts into what the nonprofit can do on an annual budget of about $40,000.

Dayo said the club's bylaws prohibit live-aboards. Asked by a commissioner whether the club has a serviced dumpster, he said it has no waste pickup, and members take trash home after events.

Waiver form does not apply

Dayo asked whether the club could file the county's solid waste waiver form. Burke said that form is specifically for vacant properties and that the board would need to give staff direction on slips.

Dayo said his research into state law shows solid waste fees must be charged to a residence or a user that produces waste. "In our case, that doesn't exist," he said.

State law allows counties to charge several kinds of solid waste fees, including collection fees, for use of disposal facilities and for the availability of those facilities. Which type Camden adopted, and how it defines a billable unit, was not discussed at the meeting.

Dayo said the tax office told him it was following direction from the board and the manager. He asked commissioners to change this year's bill and to remove the fee on the club's slips permanently.

Burke said it would be cleaner to bring the issue back as a November agenda item. That would give staff time to review bylaws and draft language for both the yacht club and Lamb's Marina, she said, and commissioners agreed.

The property offer

Barry Keys, a club director, said Burke had told the club the county did not want to be in the leasing business and asked whether the club would be interested in buying the property it leases. The club consulted lawyers, obtained a commercial appraisal and submitted a written offer with a letter explaining its reasons, he said.

Keys said the club's docks are deteriorating and will need a significant investment.

He said the club fears a future board could take over the property or sell it at public auction after the club pays for repairs. "And then we get the privilege of buying back our investment," he said.

"We got a response to our written offer, a verbal response, and that response was one word: NO."

— Barry Keys, Pasquotank River Yacht Club director

Keys said the club received no explanation. "If you had concerns that we could address, we don't know what they are," he said.

The chairman said public comment is not a back-and-forth. He said it would be more appropriate for the county manager to reach back out with more information, and that the board could take up a property sale in closed session at a later date.

"We would love that," Keys said.

The board did not say why the offer was rejected or disclose its amount, and it took no action on a sale.

Commissioners meet next on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Camden Public Library boardroom.

Reporting note: This story is based on the Camden County Board of Commissioners' Oct. 5, 2026, meeting recording. The account of the purchase offer and the county's response comes from the yacht club. The Tribune has not reviewed the offer, the appraisal, or the lease.

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• Paid Camden's Solid Waste Fee? You May Be Owed a Refund