- Recap of Village Council regular meeting.
- Peak hurricane season is here!
- Trash pickup will go to once weekly after September 2, 2024.
- Attention all hospitality providers on the island, join us for a Hospitality Meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
- Annual PO Box renewals.
Reminders & Events:
- Dosher Clinic on BHI will be open on Monday and Thursday through August 29. We were notified earlier today that the clinic will be closed this Thursday, 8/22.
- Village offices will be closed for the Labor Day holiday.
- The next regular Village Council meeting is on Friday, September 20, 2024.
- Help us respond appropriately to fire alarm calls.
- Village Utilities reminds property owners not to plant near sewer tanks.
- Village Utilities is assessing island properties per the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule.
Regular Council Meeting
The Village Council conducted its regular meeting on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Here is a summary of the information shared and the actions that were taken at this meeting:
Under public comment, the Village Council heard from Sandra Gleich who commented on her previously expressed concerns with inadequate traffic control near the ADA beach access at BA #24A, folks leaving partially burned wood behind when they have beach bonfires, and unlicensed driver prohibition awareness.
The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the July 19, regular session and August 5, special session, approval of a Resolution Accepting the 2023 Appropriations Act Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments (LASII) Planning Grant Offer, approval of Emergency Transportation Agreement with Bald Head Island Transportation, approval of Planning Board Reappointments, and approval of Resolution Authorizing Advertising of Surplus Equipment on GovDeals. The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
Under Old Business, the Village Council discussed the proposed minor curfew ordinance and transportation litigation.
Regarding the proposed minor curfew ordinance, Mr. McCall, the Village Manager indicated that based on the comments received at the public hearing, the Village will focus on deterring the unacceptable behavior rather than adopting a new ordinance. He said Village Staff will continue to research what it would take to install cameras at the main intersections that have streetlights. Other items such as additional staffing will be introduced at the beginning of next year as these would require formulation into next year’s budget. Staff will also work on additional public education. Plans are underway to meet with the hospitality community to discuss coordination with other island entities. There was a discussion on getting a group of minors together to understand their needs and discuss ways to help them self-discipline bad behavior to avoid having to impose a curfew.
As to the transportation litigation, Mayor Quinn and Mayor Pro Tem Gardner provided updates on the two items that had some recent activity. There was a public hearing in Bolivia on Sub 23 (proposed ferry services schedule amendment) on August 13. Oral argument was heard in the Court of Appeals on August 14 on the Sub 22 case (Utility Commission regulatory requirements upon a transfer of ownership). View HERE on YouTube.
About the Sub 23 case, Mayor Quinn explained that the Village, BHI Club, BHI Academy, and Bald Head Association all committed to being intervenors in this case and have been collaborating with Limited to resolve this issue before it gets to court. The discussions between the intervenors and BHI Transportation, Inc. are ongoing, there has been some headway and as a resolution becomes clear, information will be shared. These discussions are confidential. An extension was granted for a hearing which will now take place on November 5.
With regard to the Sub 22 case, Mayor Pro Tem Gardner, who attended the hearing, indicated that the Village is opposing the transfer for key reasons that are important for the users of the transportation system and the long-term success of the island. It usually takes about three months to get a ruling although there is yet to be a ruling on the Sub 21 (NCUC regulation of parking and barge services) appeal from 11/29/23.
Under New Business, the Village Council approved the reassignment of Olsen & Associates, Inc. Services Agreement to Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC. Olsen was purchased by Foth and there will be little to no change in engineering staff and scope of service. Service fees will remain the same.
Below are a few items shared in the Manager’s Report:
Public Safety Update
Chief Gibson introduced the new Deputy Chief for Law Enforcement, Philip Horne, who started working for the Village on August 7. Horne has 21 years of experience in law enforcement. He has a diverse background and has worked in several areas from investigations, and SWAT, to school resource officer. He also holds several certifications. Two Public Safety Officer vacancies remain. They hope to have those filled by next month.
Gibson reported that he received updates on the ladder truck, engine, and Ambulance #1. The ladder truck and the engine are still set to be delivered before the end of the year, the ladder truck by the end of November and the engine by the beginning of December. Ambulance #1 is expected to come in mid-December.
Gibson said that two of the four shifts of 911 dispatchers have received a tour of the island. They came with a list of places they wanted to see. He announced that the Sheriff’s Department is donating two Dodge Chargers to the Village. One is going to replace the existing 2009 Dodge Charger with over 300,000 miles that was donated by the department in 2021. These primary and secondary vehicles will be used by PSOs to make transfers of detainees to the Brunswick County jail when required.
Public Services Update
Mr. McCann reported that the Dune Ridge Main project (off South Bald Head Wynd near Peppervine Trail) is expected to wrap up within the next two weeks with the site cleared and back to normal. There have been some delays due to receiving the wrong components which needed to be reordered and then Tropical Storm Debby. He apologized to the residents who have had to look at this construction site for most of the summer.
McCann announced that the new speed bumps are in, and they will be installed to replace the rumble strips that are getting torn up by wear and tear and excessive heat. There will be one bump to replace three strips. This will not include the hill going down South Bald Head Wynd to Federal Road. Consideration will be made to add one of the new speed bumps around the new ADA access. He added that Public Works will begin using a DOT-regulated reflectant on the items they use for traffic control in hopes this will help with the visibility issues that have been reported to the Village, particularly on Stede Bonnet Wynd. Some of the signage will be replaced and reflective rectangles will be added to the medians.
Other Items
IPC/PO Update
Mr. Kim gave an update on the Island Package Center & Post Office. There was a 10.6% increase in packages received in June and a 16.7% increase from last year. He expects to have the new price agreement from FedEx on next month’s agenda for approval. Negotiations with USPS continue, and progress is being made on this agreement.
AIA Grant
Kim reported that the contractor working on the Asset Inventory Assessment remains on time and on budget and is still expected to make a presentation to the Council at its February 2025 meeting.
NCBIWA Conference
Kim announced that the NC Beach Inlet & Waterway Association (NCBIWA) will be having its fall conference on November 18 and 19 in Wilmington. He asked Council members to let him know if they would like to attend and if arrangements need to be made to stay downtown.
Tropical Storm Debby
Mr. McCall put together a summary of the Village’s response to Tropical Storm Debby. He wanted to acknowledge that the Village started pre-storm preparation well before the impacts of the storm entered our region. It served as an exercise for staff to implement components of the Village’s Emergency Management Plan. Public Services Staff focused on stormwater management and coordinated with BHI Club to monitor the lagoon levels. The bypass lagoon was opened to release some water from the lagoons although there was not a large amount of excess water to be concerned about. Staff participated in conference calls with Brunswick Emergency Services throughout the event.
Shoreline Protection
McCall showed the Council recent aerial photos of the groin tube field which show that there has been a loss of sand in this area and that this may require a larger percentage of the 500,000 cubic yards of sand that is going to be placed on the beach for the upcoming 2025 Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project. It is too early to determine how much, if any extra material will be needed, but it is something that may come up if conditions do not change.
McCall also shared recent aerial photos of the sandbag revetment at the Shoals Club. There was also some sand loss in this area. He reported that the CAMA permit for the additional sandbags was submitted this week. It is expected that it will be denied and before the Coastal Resources Commission in September or October for a variance hearing.
The Frying Pan Shoals borrow site effort is still underway. As is the work with the Army Corps of Engineers on a Memorandum of Agreement for additional work to take place during the next Wilmington Harbor Inner Ocean Bar Project. The Village submitted its public comment on the Wilmington Harbor Deepening Project.
The Village is still working with the regulatory agencies to get a 30-day early start on the 2025 Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project so the Village’s contractor can start mobilizing and staging equipment on the west end of South Beach.
A full account of these meetings can be found in the minutes which are posted HERE. Typically, minutes are posted with the agenda of next month’s meeting (e.g. If you want to read the November meeting minutes, they can be found under the December regular meeting agenda).
Peak Hurricane Season is HERE!
Peak hurricane season runs from mid-August to late October. Our area was recently spared the worst impacts from Tropical Storm Debby, but this served as a reminder to always be prepared during this time of year. Take this opportunity to make sure your emergency kit is restocked, that you have reviewed your evacuation and communication plans, and that you are signed up for emergency alerts. You can find the links to sign up and all you need to know on our emergency preparedness web pages HERE.
The Village continues to monitor the Atlantic for storm activity. As of right now, Southeastern North Carolina faces no imminent threat. You can always find up to date and accurate information from the National Weather Service Wilmington Office and the National Hurricane Center.
Trash Pick Up
Trash pickup will go to once weekly on September 2, 2024. Pick up will be Monday and Tuesday only. Biweekly pick up will resume after Memorial Day 2025. View the Village’s trash and vegetation pick up calendar HERE. This includes an up-to-date map of the pickup areas.
Hospitality Meeting on October 23
The Village is inviting folks from all island entities who provide hospitality services to guests and visitors to the island for an inaugural meeting. This includes realtors, rental partners, VRBO, Airbnb, etc. At this meeting, we will discuss how we are currently communicating with the people who come to Bald Head Island, ways in which we may improve communication to express the island’s values, discover information gaps and needs, and learn how we can partner with each other to make each trip to Bald Head Island the most positive experience it can be. This will be a dialogue with Village staff and attendees.
Please help us disseminate this information to others in your organization who may benefit from attending. RSVP to Carin Faulkner, Public Information Officer, at public.information@villagebhi.org to secure your seat. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
Annual PO Box Renewals
Island Package Center & Post Office staff wants to remind PO box holders that they are required to renew their PO Box each year. When a PO Box is expired, an annual renewal form is placed in the PO Box. These forms need to be filled out and turned in as soon as possible. Please make sure to use your Bald Head Island address and not your off-island address when filling out the form. Completed forms should be handed to IPC/PO staff at the counter. If you need a blank form, those are also available at the counter.
REMINDERS & EVENTS
Dosher Clinic
Dosher Clinic will be operating through August 29, 2024, on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The clinic provides telehealth services, and a medical assistant or nurse is on the island to support the patient and telemedicine cart. We were notified earlier today that the clinic will be closed this Thursday, 8/22. For more information, please view our webpage HERE.
Labor Day
Village offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2024, for the Labor Day holiday. This includes the Island Package Center & Post Office and Public Safety administration. Please call 911 if you need a Public Safety Officer to come to you.
Next Regular Council Meeting
The next regular Village Council Meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the multi-purpose room in the Department of Public Safety (273 Edward Teach Ext.). The agenda will be posted HERE. Zoom information to listen in remotely can be found HERE.
Fire Alarms
Since smoke detection systems on Bald Head Island are monitored by an alarm company, once your smoke detector goes off, your alarm company is notified, and a 911 call is dispatched to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Many of these calls end up being caused by cooking smoke or shower steam, which are not emergencies.
Property owners can help our DPS in these non-emergency instances by calling the alarm company immediately after the smoke detector goes off to let them know that there is no emergency. This is relayed to our DPS through dispatch. DPS will still have to respond, but with less manpower and equipment, and no lights and sirens. This will keep more of our officers and equipment available to respond to other emergencies and make our roads much safer.
Please relay this information to your renters and guests.
Planting Near Sewer Tanks
Village Utilities would like to remind property owners to avoid planting near sewer tanks. The roots of trees, shrubs, and plants can interfere with the operation of the equipment and require additional maintenance which could be avoided. The rule of thumb is to plant at least two feet away from a tank. Property owners are required to call 811 to have utilities located before digging. Property owners should also trim the vegetation surrounding the tank regularly to provide access to the tank.
Lead & Copper Rule
Village Utilities personnel have been assessing island properties per the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule. This may require them to do a small amount of excavation to check the water lines at the meter. All Village Utilities staff drive vehicles and wear uniforms with the Village of Bald Head Island logo and are authorized to do this work. For more information, read our Lead & Copper Rule Fact Sheet HERE.
Bald Head Association events can be found HERE.
Old Baldy Foundation events can be found HERE.
BHI Conservancy events can be found HERE.
Village Chapel events can be found HERE
Project Longevity/Community Care events can be found HERE.
The Village calendar can be found HERE.
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