In this issue:
- Highlights of the September Village Council meeting.
- BHI Transportation Authority update.
- The Kent Mitchell Nature Trail property has been offered to the Village to maintain in perpetuity.
- Brunswick County provides information about the county’s latest revaluation.
- Brunswick County remains under Stage 1 water restrictions and a burn ban; drought update.
Reminders & Events:
- Join Project Longevity on October 6 for a gathering with the DPS Chiefs and Emergency Management Planner Teren Winters from Brunswick County Emergency Management.
- Duke Energy will test outdoor warning sirens around the Brunswick Nuclear Plant on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
- Operation Medicine Cabinet is scheduled for October 7, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Join us for PSA’s BBQ fundraiser on Friday, October 9, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
- The 2nd annual BHI Surf Fishing Tournament is scheduled for October 9-11.
- REMINDER: Applications to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board are due October 16.
- The next Badwater Marathon & Half is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- The next regular Village Council meeting is on Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Brunswick County Utilities and Village Utilities have scheduled their annual change from chloramines to chlorine.
Village Council Regular Meeting
The Village Council conducted a special meeting on Wednesday, September 23. Its last regular meeting, scheduled for September 18, was canceled, and this meeting was scheduled to conduct the business for September.
Below are a few highlights:
- During public comments, Village Council heard from five citizens on topics including the proposed amendments to the Transportation Ordinance regarding trailers, requests for the Village to seek a static line exception for certain oceanfront properties by submitting a Beach Management Plan to the NC Division of Coastal Management to change the Village’s policy on the oceanfront development line, and erosion caused by stormwater outflow near Bald Head Creek.
- Council adopted resolutions regarding the Village’s asset assessment inventory (AIA) grants for water and sewer. Two of the resolutions indicated the Village’s intent to close out the previous AIA projects, while the other two resolutions approved the applications for additional grant funding to continue AIA-related scope of work.
- Council approved real estate purchase agreements for two parcels near the BHI Marina (Parcel 260JA00602 and 260JA00603). One property is known as the utility contractor parking lot that is on the right as you are leaving the BHI Marina area. The other property is between the golf cart rental lot and Lighthouse Wynd. It includes a sand path that ends at Timber Bridge.
- Council received updates on several topics including: the development moratorium in the PD-2C and PD-3C commercial zoning districts, the BHI Transportation Authority, marina channel entrance maintenance, Village parks, a meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers on their re-evaluation of the Sand Management Plan and Memorandum of Agreement to perform additional sand placement during channel maintenance events, BHI Conservancy Annual Report, and more.
A full recap with additional details is posted monthly on our Village Council meeting recap webpage. All questions should go to public.information@villagebhi.org.
A full account of these meetings can be found in the minutes, which are posted on our agenda webpage. 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).
Transportation Authority Update
The Village Council, by way of Mayor Quinn, a Transportation Authority (TA) board member, received a status report from the TA. That report was provided in the agenda packet for the September 23 meeting. At the meeting, Council expressed concerns about the lack of information provided to the public. There was consensus to write a letter from the Village to the TA requesting information in a way that is accessible.
Rex Cowdry, a TA board member, indicated that he has designed a website and will be putting it up within the next month, which will include an address to which comments can be directed to the TA. He said the TA is aware of the communication gap, that its attention has been elsewhere, and that they are not heavily staffed. He said that some information can be disclosed to the public, that negotiations have not started yet, and that information in particular will not be disclosed.
Kent Mitchell Nature Trail
During the Village parks discussion at the September 23 Council meeting, it was announced that Limited intends to transfer ownership of the Kent Mitchell Nature Trail property to the Village (for $1). The boardwalk segments of the trail are in disrepair and are estimated at around $48,000. Council expressed strong support for restoring the boardwalk and value its ecological, educational, and public-access importance and emphasized legal protections to ensure the area remains a nature trail in perpetuity.
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
If you missed the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement public hearings, you can still submit your comments online, by phone, or email through October 15, 2026. Your feedback is an important part of this process. Information about the replacement project and access to the comment form and phone number can be found on the NCDOT’s project webpage.
2027 Revaluation
Brunswick County recently announced upcoming dates and important reminders regarding the county’s latest revaluation, which goes into effect at the start of calendar year 2027. Property owners are expected to receive a notice showing their updated 2027 property value by the end of March 2027.
A revaluation (also known as a reappraisal) is a routine update to property tax values to bring them back in line with the current sale price of properties. The county’s state-certified in-house appraisers have diligently and carefully researched and analyzed sales in our local market to determine an estimate of market value for all properties as required by North Carolina law.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to receive your new assessed value in 2027:
- An increase in your property value does not necessarily mean your next tax bill will increase.
- It is currently impossible to determine how your new assessed value affects your property taxes until the County, your municipal government (Bald Head Island), and/or other public entities that serve your property adopt their FY 2028 operating budgets and set tax rates. This is most likely to occur in late spring or early summer 2027.
- The 2027 Revaluation is still not complete, so be cautious of any claims about how much property values or taxes are increasing, whether by dollars or percentage. Wait for your official mailing from Brunswick County to see what your property’s new assessed value is (estimated to arrive February or March 2027).
- Market value is set by the choices of buyers and sellers in the marketplace. The Brunswick County Tax Office does not create market value. Your local tax office analyzes market sales to determine market patterns and trends in different locations across the county.
- Property values will not change uniformly throughout the county or even within the village—a lot depends on market conditions and recent sales in your neighborhood. Your assessed value could increase, decrease, or remain the same.
Additional information can be found in Brunswick County’s full announcement, revaluation presentation, and FAQs.
Stage 1 Water Alert Remains in Effect
In an August 31 announcement, Brunswick County announced that it moved from Stage 2 to Stage 1 water restrictions. Under Stage 1, all water usage adjustments become voluntary. Please review the announcement for details.
Coinciding with Brunswick County’s June 8 burn ban, the Village of Bald Head Island remains under a burn ban.
Updates to the water conservation alerts will be posted to our Village Utilities webpage. Updates for the burn ban are posted to our Public Safety webpage. Both updates will appear on our social media channels.
The Drought Management Advisory Council’s most recent report indicates Brunswick County remains in D3 – extreme drought conditions.
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
Project Longevity
Project Longevity is having a gathering on Tuesday, October 6, at 1:00 p.m. at the Bald Head Association. The meeting will start with a meet-and-greet with Department of Public Safety Chiefs Buddy Brooks and Philip Horne and our new Public Safety Director, Paul Anderson. Then, at 1:30, attendees will hear from Teren Winters, Emergency Management Planner at Brunswick County Emergency Management, who will share what Islanders need to know about living within the 10-mile zone of Duke’s Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant.
Duke Energy Siren Test
Duke Energy will test outdoor warning sirens around the Brunswick Nuclear Plant on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The full-volume 3-minute test will take place between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. No public action is required. More information.
Operation Medicine Cabinet
Dosher Memorial Hospital’s 31st semi-annual Operation Medicine Cabinet is coming up on
Wednesday, October 7. Safely dispose of your unwanted or expired prescription medication during this event. The drop-off location is at Dosher’s Memorial Hospital Front Entrance (924 N. Howe Street, Southport). The convenient drive-through event will be open between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Proper disposal helps prevent prescription drug misuse and keeps medications out of our waterways and environment.
Please note that sharps cannot be accepted at this event, but they will have information available on safe at-home sharps disposal. For more information, call 910-457-3900 or email marketing@dosher.org.
Public Service Auxiliary BBQ Fundraiser
The Public Service Auxiliary invites all Islanders to join them for a delicious BBQ dinner on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building (273 Edward Teach Wynd). All fundraising proceeds will support the Village’s first responders and community programs.
COST: $25 per plate (includes pork BBQ, slaw, baked beans, cornbread, & brownie). Take-out BBQ pints available for purchase!
2nd Annual BHI Surf Fishing Tournament
The second annual BHI Surf Fishing Tournament is scheduled for October 9 through October 11. The event is being organized by The Craftsmen Group, LLC. Details and registration for the tournament can be found on the event website.
Proceeds from the tournament will go to Kids Making It, Inc., a woodworking program for at-risk, low-income, and disadvantaged youth.
Call for Applications
There is a new vacancy on the Planning Board, and the Village Council is requesting applications to fill the vacant alternate member position with a term ending in June 2027. Applications will be accepted through Friday, October 16. To learn more about the Planning Board and its responsibilities, view the Village’s Planning Board webpage.
The application form can be downloaded online, and hard copies are available at Village Hall.
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.
Badwater Marathon & Half
The Badwater Marathon & Half is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. More information about the race can be found on the event website.
Next Regular Village Council Meeting
The next regular Village Council Meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Meetings are held in the multi-purpose room in the Department of Public Safety (273 Edward Teach Ext.). The agenda for the meeting will be posted on the agenda webpage. Zoom information for listening remotely can be found on the meeting schedule webpage. If you are unable to attend, we will be publishing a written recap on the Village Council meeting recap webpage.
Annual Change from Chloramines to Chlorine
Brunswick County Public Utilities announced that it will be changing its disinfection method for water from chloramines to chlorine on October 1. The Village will follow on the week of October 12. These conditions are not harmful and are temporary.
Along with this change, the Village will be blowing out dead ends to “burn out” the free chlorine. This may cause some ponding on Village roads. Consumers may notice some discoloration, which can be cleared by running outside spigots. Call (910) 457-9700 ext. 1000 for assistance.
For more information, view the County’s full statement and the Village’s full notice, which is posted on the Village Utilities webpage.
ISLAND EVENTS
Bald Head Association
Old Baldy Foundation
BHI Conservancy
Village Chapel
Project Longevity
Village of Bald Head Island
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