Pasquotank County has agreed to help neighboring Camden County fight a Navy jet landing field from being located in the Hale's Lake area.

The Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 Monday to spend up to $25,000 helping Camden's legal fight against the proposed OLF.

Commissioner Marshall Stevenson said he supports helping Camden in its battle with the Navy. The Hales Lake site is one of five being studied for the airfield.

"I certainly think we should do what we can to help Camden," Stevenson said. "If the OLF were to be located in our county, I would certainly hope the same of them."

County Manager Randy Keaton said he was approached recently by Camden officials who said they would be asking their western neighbor for financial support. Camden has budgeted up to $300,000 toward its OLF fight.

Keaton said six years ago Pasquotank also put up $25,000 to help several counties, including neighboring Perquimans, fight previous OLF site plans.

"In this one, Camden approached us about committing money for the project," Keaton said. "Once they came up with a number, then our board put up the same amount."

Keaton said the county's reasons for opposing the OLF are the same as when a site in Perquimans was being considered. A nearby landing field would result in loud jets flying across parts of Pasquotank, bringing unwanted noise and pollution but few economic benefits.

Keaton said the central part of Pasquotank — the area of Berea Church and Northside roads — would be most affected if the Navy built the OLF in Camden's Hale's Lake area.

"The schools and residents (of those areas) would be affected," he said.

Neighboring Currituck County has also pledged $250,000 toward Camden's looming legal battle against the OLF.

Elizabeth City City Council approved an anti-OLF resolution in February that supports Camden's cause, but allocated no money for the legal fight.

In other business Monday night, Pasquotank commissioners also agreed to seek up to $30,000 from the local Tourism Development Authority to pay for needed concrete repairs and diving board replacements at the county-operated Meads Pool.