In this issue:
- Highlights of the June Village Council regular meeting.
- The call for applications for the Planning Board and Commercial Review Board has been extended through July 10.
- Beach Access #7 is currently closed for repairs.
- Bald Head Island remains under a burn ban and Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert.
- Road maintenance update and a look ahead at FY27 maintenance.
Reminders & Events:
- Public Safety Day is this Friday, June 26.
- Pollinator week is this week (June 22-26). Celebrate it at Pollinator Palooza on June 26!
- Duke Energy will test sirens on July 1, 2026.
- Independence Day schedule for Village offices, IPC/PO, parade info, and more!
- Islanders are encouraged to attend a Town Hall on Thursday, July 9, at 1:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety.
- SummerLife, a weekly program designed for high school students, is back this year!
- The summer concert series has kicked off. Check out the schedule & lineup!
- REMINDER: Peak Season Package Delays – We are in the midst of Prime Days!
- The annual water quality report is available.
- The Visitor’s Guide has been updated.
Village Council Regular Meeting
The Village Council conducted its last regular meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Below are a few highlights:
- The Village Council adopted proclamations in recognition of Elizabeth Gray’s service to the Village, the 250th anniversary of the United States, and Golf Cart Safety Awareness month.
- The Village Council also adopted the FY27 Budget Ordinance (please read the statement from the Village Manager below), the FY26 End of Year Budget Amendment, and the Community Rating System Program for Public Information.
- The Village Council approved an Agreement for Sale of Daily ICE Vehicle Permits w/BHI Limited, and the Emergency Transportation Agreement with BHI Transportation, Inc.
- Council discussed Middle Island/SILT Land Preservation Priorities, the PD-2C Development Moratorium, Bald Head Island Transportation Authority Board Appointment, and Volunteer Board Appointments & Reappointments, with no action being taken. Most of these items are likely to appear on next month’s agenda.
- Mayor Quinn announced that he will be leading a Town Hall in July. It will be an opportunity for the Village officials to go over some of the projects and initiatives that the Village is working on and for those in attendance to ask questions and provide feedback. It has been scheduled for July 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety.
Village Manager’s Statement Prior to the FY27 Budget Ordinance Adoption
Chris McCall, Village Manager, made the following statement so that the community and the public could have a good understanding of the result of the budget formulation process:
Based on the input from the public hearing on May 15th and the direction of Council following the second budget workshop last week, staff have finalized the proposed FY27 budget ordinance as included in the agenda. The proposed general fund budget totals $18.2 million. The tax rate necessary to support operations, debt obligations, and capital investments is proposed at .5860 per $100 of assessed valuation. This represents a tax rate reduction of .0647 from the current FY26 rate of .6507. As we discussed throughout the workshops and during the public hearing, several items included in the initial recommended budget were removed or deferred and may be considered separately during the fiscal year should Council choose to move forward. In those instances, a budget amendment would be required to appropriate the necessary funding.
One example discussed by Council was a future comprehensive UDO [Unified Development Ordinance] rewrite. Other significant changes that contributed to the reduction in the tax rate included lower projected legal expenditures, reduced debt service obligations, a reduction in contingency appropriations, and updated revenue projections, including accommodation tax revenue available to support eligible expenditures. Council also recognized that the Village maintains a healthy fund balance position, providing financial flexibility to address unforeseen circumstances should they arise, and supporting the decision to reduce contingency appropriations in the FY27 budget. And with discussions at the workshop last week and Council’s direction regarding employment compensation, including a 2.4% COLA [Cost of Living Adjustment] and funding for a 2.5% merit pool to be administered by management throughout the employee evaluation process.
A full recap with additional details is posted monthly on our website HERE. If you’d like to listen to an engaging podcast reviewing the regular meeting, you can access our podcast HERE. All questions should go to public.information@villagebhi.org.
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 December meeting minutes, they can be found under the January regular meeting agenda).
Call for Applications
The terms of several members of the Village’s Planning Board and Commercial Review Board will be ending this month. The Village accepted appointment applications for both boards and applications were due on June 1 for consideration by the Village Council at its June 18 meeting.
At the June 18 meeting, there was consensus from the Council to reopen the applications and expand the questions on the application to include questions about availability, potential conflicts of interest, clarify if they have interest in one or both boards, and provide a statement of motivation and qualifications.
The applications are now due on FRIDAY, JULY 10, so that the Council can review the applications and potentially make appointments at its July 17 meeting. Previous applicants are encouraged to re-apply with the updated application form.
The updated application form can be downloaded HERE, and hard copies are available at Village Hall.
To learn more about the Planning Board and its responsibilities, view the Village’s Planning Board webpage HERE.
To learn more about the Commercial Review Board and its responsibilities, view the Village’s Commercial Review Board webpage HERE.
Completed applications may be submitted via email to Darcy Sperry, Village Clerk at village.clerk@villagebhi.org or hand-delivered to the receptionist at Village Hall. Any questions can go to Ms. Sperry at her email address or by calling (910) 457-9700 ext. 1001.
Beach Access #7 Closed
Beach Access 7, off Green Teal Trail, is currently closed until repairs are completed. High tides have compromised the steps on the beach side of the access. Any updates will be posted on our social media channels and on the Village’s “Public Beach Access” webpage HERE.
Stage 1 Conservation Alert & Burn Ban
Brunswick County has issued a Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert and burn ban, both of which apply to Bald Head Island.
Water Conservation – to ensure adequate water is available for essential needs. As Independence Day approaches, water demands are expected to increase. This water conservation alert affects customers of several public water systems in Brunswick County, including Village of Bald Head Island Utilities. Please do your part to conserve water as best as you can! Steps like following the recommended irrigation schedule, irrigating only at night, and minimizing the use of washers between 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. are some of the helpful ways to use water wisely. Learn more HERE.
Burn Ban – coinciding with Brunswick County’s recent burn ban, the Village of Bald Head Island is currently under a burn ban. All burning within 100 ft. of any structure is banned on BHI. The ban does not apply to charcoal or gas grills, provided fire safety precautions are taken. Grilling safety tips can be found HERE.
Updates on the Stage 1 Conservation Alert will be posted to our Village Utilities webpage HERE. Updates for the burn ban are posted to our Public Safety webpage HERE. Both updates will appear on our social media channels.
Road Maintenance Update
All road paving and shoulder work budgeted for FY26 is completed. The Village’s paving contractor wrapped up shoulder work last week (week of June 15).
The FY27 budget, which was passed last Thursday, June 18, included $430,000 for a large-scale paving project and was increased by $100,000 by Village Council as a priority initiative. The scheduled paving work for next fiscal year, likely to be completed in fall 2026 (weather permitting), includes:
- South Bald Head Wynd – 850 linear feet
- West Bald Head Wynd – 1,300 linear feet
- Keelson Row – 190 linear feet
- Patchwork – 460 linear feet
- Miscellaneous patches.
Please note that the Village has funds in its annual budget to address potholes. Requests for pothole repairs can be made online via our service request portal HERE (the hammer icon on our website homepage), or you can call us at (910) 457—9700 ext. 1000.
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
Public Safety Day
Mark your calendars for Public Safety Day! It’s this Friday, June 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Marina Park. Let us show you how we serve the island! Get a look inside our trucks and check out our equipment! There will be an obstacle course, a bicycle rodeo, and other activities for kids. It promises to be FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Pollinator Week
Pollinator Week is observed June 22 – June 28. This year’s theme is “Bring Back the Pollinators,” which encourages individuals to take action to protect pollinators. You can learn more HERE and sign the pollinator protection pledge!
There IS a pollinator week event on BHI this year! Bald Head Island Conservancy is hosting POLLINATOR PALOOZA on Friday, June 26, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Help BHI celebrate the pollinators that keep our ecosystems thriving! Learn about native pollinators and discover simple ways you can support healthy habitats at home. Here are the details:
9:00 a.m. – Noon: Pollinator garden planting on the Conservancy campus & Interactive insect and pollinator activities for all ages.
We also encourage you to visit our beautiful pollinator garden at Marina Park, view our educational signage, and learn about pollinators and the role native plants play!
Siren Testing
The outdoor warning sirens around Duke Energy’s Brunswick Nuclear Plant will be tested between 10 and 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The test will last five to thirty seconds. No public action is required.
For more information about the outdoor warning sirens, residents can refer to the information available on Duke Energy’s website HERE.
Duke Energy customers can sign up to receive phone, text, and email alerts HERE.
Independence Day Holiday
Golf cart parade – Details about the Old Baldy Foundation’s annual Golf Cart Parade can be found HERE. The parade will take place on Saturday, July 4th, this year. Our Public Safety Department will be participating in the parade. Spectators are encouraged to treat the parade participants respectfully and refrain from spraying them with water or throwing objects as they pass by, and vice versa for parade participants.
NO FIREWORKS – Fireworks are not allowed on Bald Head Island. This includes sparklers.
Offices closed – Village offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026, in observance of Independence Day. This DOES NOT include the Island Package Center and Post Office. Please call 911 if you need a Public Safety Officer to come to you.
IPC/PO schedule – To allow for USPS packages to be delivered on Friday, July 3, the Island Package Center and Post Office will be OPEN on Friday, July 3, but will be CLOSED on Saturday, July 4. The last FedEx and UPS packages are expected to be delivered by barge on Thursday, July 2. USPS packages will be coming to the island via passenger ferry on Friday, July 3.
REMINDER: Please provide additional time for your packages to arrive on the island (delivery time info HERE) and promptly pick up your packages when they arrive at the IPC/PO. ALL packages that are not picked up within 30 days are automatically returned to the sender, no exceptions.
IPC/PO customers can check to see if packages are on the island by using our online tracker HERE.
July 9 Town Hall
Islanders are encouraged to attend a Town Hall on Thursday, July 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety. It will be an opportunity for Mayor Quinn to go over some of the projects and initiatives that the Village is working on and for those in attendance to ask questions and provide feedback. This is not an official meeting of the Village Council; however, several Council members may be in attendance to receive information. No action will be taken during this event.
SummerLife
The Village Chapel recently announced the return of SummerLife! Designed for high school students, SummerLife offers a fun, welcoming environment where students can connect, build friendships, and enjoy meaningful experiences together on Bald Head Island.
SummerLife is free and open to all high school students, and no sign-up is required. The goal of the program is to create a meaningful and enjoyable experience where students can relax, form lasting friendships, and grow through shared experiences during the summer season.
One of the weekly events includes an evening cookout at our Department of Public Safety with basketball, games, and fun. More information HERE.
Summer Concert Series
Bald Head Island Yacht Club’s summer concert series is back this year! It kicked off on June 3, and the next concert is scheduled for next Wednesday, July 1.
IPC Package Delays – We are in the midst of Prime Days!
As previously reported, Islanders should expect USPS package delays again this peak season. Prime Days are June 23-26, and this is expected to cause further delays. If you have guests and visitors who plan on utilizing the Island Package Center this season, you may want to consider reaching out to them to let them know of the delays. If they are only staying for one week, it may be presumptuous to expect a delivery during their stay. More details HERE.
Annual Water Quality Report
Village Utilities has released its annual water quality report (CCR – Consumer Confidence Report). It can be viewed HERE. It is posted on the Utilities webpage, and the link to view it will be included in the next utility bill.
Updated Visitor’s Guide
Last year, the Village released its first edition of our Visitor’s Guide and premiered several visitor-focused podcast episodes titled “Before the Horn Blows.” Due to the recent closure of the dog park by the Bald Head Association, we updated the guide and the podcast accordingly. We also updated the trash schedule and the recent guidance we put out on package delays during peak season. HERE is a flyer for the updated guide, which includes a QR code that takes visitors directly to the publication. HERE is a link to the guide itself. HERE is a link to the podcast.
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 event info HERE.
The Village calendar can be found HERE.
Find us on Linktree.