Key Information:
- Yesterday’s Public Safety Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast honors two long-serving volunteers.
- Brunswick County Health Services will be administering flu shots on BHI next Wednesday, November 2, 2022.
- Please participate in the NC TOWERS Stakeholder Survey on offshore wind energy (deadline 11/7).
- An update on Duke Energy’s power grid improvement project.
- Upcoming special meetings on November 2 (Village Council) and November 9 (Commercial Area Master Plan Committee).
Reminders:
- PSA’s Chili Supper Fundraiser TONIGHT from 4-7 p.m.
- Halloween 2022 will be celebrated tomorrow, October 29, 2022, from 1-3 p.m.
- Village offices will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2022, in observance of Veteran’s Day.
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast –Yesterday morning, the Department of Public Safety had an appreciation breakfast to show the Department’s appreciation for our dedicated group of volunteers. Mayor Quinn and Village Manager Chris McCall presented Brian and Jane Johnson with plaques during the event. The engraving reads, “in grateful appreciation of your dedicated service to the community and the Village of Bald Head Island.” The Johnsons have been serving as Public Safety Volunteers since 1999. THANK YOU, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson!
Flu Shots – Brunswick County Health Services will be administering flu shots on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety in the bays. Forms are available at the reception desk at Village Hall if you wish to fill them out prior to the event. Please make sure you bring your ID, insurance card, and that you wear short sleeves.
Offshore Wind Survey – BHI property owners are key stakeholders when it comes to offshore wind in North Carolina. Please consider participating in the NC Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies (NC TOWERS) survey. The survey can be found HERE. The deadline to respond to the survey is Monday, November 7, 2022. Feedback from the survey will inform the work of the NC TOWERS taskforce which is charged with advising and providing recommendations to Governor Cooper and the N.C. General Assembly on the responsible development of offshore wind energy in North Carolina. Individual answers will not be shared. Answers from all stakeholders will be compiled into a summary report for the NC TOWERS taskforce. Our Village website has some background and resources on this project, you can view the webpage HERE.
Duke Energy Project Update – Duke Energy is working hard to complete a multi-year power grid improvement project that will help harden their system serving Bald Head Island to storms and allow for isolation of outages and remote automatic repairs. The Village and the Bald Head Association have coordinated with Duke Energy on the upcoming work at the wildlife overlook area.
You may recall this work was expected to take place in mid-August but was delayed and is now expected to begin next week with site preparation. Minimal tree removal and trimming of the area have already taken place. Replanting of the area with compatible species to screen the equipment (over time) will occur after the project is complete. There will be barriers and signage in the work area, please be mindful of this and stay out of the work area.
On November 8th (or 9th if it rains) the existing switchgear will be de-energized and over two days the Mastec crew will be removing the old switchgear. While this is occurring, traffic control personnel will be staged at Sabal Palm Trail and Bay Tree Trail to redirect traffic as there will be no through traffic on Stede Bonnet Wynd while this work is taking place. After the removal of the switchgear, a concrete pad will be poured, this will also require the closing of Stede Bonnet Wynd between Sabal Palm Trail and Bay Tree Trail. This is expected to occur the same week the switchgear is removed.
The new switchgear is expected to be installed on November 14th (or 15th if there is rain), this will take one day and will require the closure of through traffic on Stede Bonnet Wynd while trucks are on-site working. The new switchgear is scheduled for energizing on December 5th. This work is not expected to cause a power outage for customers. As always, if you do experience an outage at your home, please call the outage line at 1.800.419.6356.
Special Meetings – The Village Council will be having a special meeting on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Public Safety Building. Council is expected to open the meeting and go into a closed session, then come back into an open session to proceed with a discussion on the Consideration of Purchasing the Transportation System and Other Assets. View the public notice HERE. View the Zoom information HERE. A statement from the Village is likely to be published after this meeting.
The Commercial Area Master Plan Committee (CAMPC) will be meeting on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Public Safety Building. More details will be sent in an announcement next week. It is an open meeting and in-person, or virtual attendance is an option for those who wish to attend.
REMINDERS:
Chili Supper Fundraiser – The Public Service’s Annual Chili Supper fundraiser is taking place TODAY from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Public Safety Building. Volunteers will be serving chili, salad, and cornbread. Please bring your own beverage. Seating availability is limited so you also may want to bring your own chair as well. Contributions can be made upon arrival or in advance using the QR code in the flyer below.
Halloween 2022 – The island will be hosting trick or treating tomorrow, Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Maps and the list of the participating houses/businesses are available for pick-up at the Maritime Market and are posted on BHI social medial groups. Free trick-or-treat bags will be provided while supplies last. Plastic pumpkin buckets will be delivered to participating houses as a road marker to identify houses easily. Please contact Nicole Mohler (nicole.mohler@kobrekim.com) if you have any questions. Check out the Department of Public Safety’s safety tips for Halloween HERE or our video HERE. Don’t forget to stop by the Public Safety Building for treats!
Veteran’s Day – Village offices will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2022, in observance of Veteran’s Day. This includes the Island Package Center and Post Office. USPS mail will be put up on Saturday, November 12, 2022.
