KEY INFORMATION:
- Tomorrow’s regular Village Council meeting is canceled. A special meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, at 9:00 a.m.
- Call for applications to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board.
- Brunswick County remains under Stage 1 restrictions and a burn ban; drought update.
- September is National Preparedness Month; there’s still time to prepare!
- Absentee voting for the November election has started; info on notary services and other election information.
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
- Operation Medicine Cabinet is scheduled for October 7, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Join us for the 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.
- 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 Utilities recommends installing owner shut-off valves ahead of freezing temperatures this winter.
Regular Council Meeting Canceled – Special Meeting Scheduled
The Village Council regular meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, September 18, 2026, has been canceled. A special meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. so that Council can conduct the business for this month.
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, and there will be a podcast episode covering the highlights.
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.
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. 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).
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.
Preparedness Month & Peak Hurricane Season
Peak hurricane season runs from mid-August to late October, and September is National Preparedness Month. The Village has been sharing preparedness messaging on its social media channels this month.
If you have not already, please complete your “before a hurricane” steps NOW. Make sure your emergency kit is stocked, complete your property preparations (especially if your property floods), review your evacuation and communication plans, and make sure you are signed up for emergency alerts. You can find everything you need to know on our emergency preparedness webpage.
The Village regularly monitors the National Weather Service’s Tropical Weather Outlook page, which starts showing active storms in the Atlantic on May 15 each year. As of 8 a.m. today, a low-pressure area is located about 350 miles east of Bermuda. Environmental conditions could
support gradual development of the system during the next day or two, and a tropical depression could form during that time. The system is forecast to move slowly today, and then possibly turn southward on Friday over the subtropical Atlantic. By Sunday, environmental conditions are forecast to become less favorable for development.
Our Severe Weather Event webpage includes a direct link to the NWS Wilmington’s Tropical Weather Outlook page, current weather briefings, and other useful links. When a severe weather event is predicted to impact the Bald Head Island area, the Village will start posting to the Severe Weather Event webpage continuously throughout the event. If Islanders need to take action, the Village communicates this through its CodeRED notification system. Islanders can register for CodeRED in the Village’s portal.
November Election Information
Brunswick County voters are now able to request an absentee ballot through October 20. If you intend to have your ballot notarized by Village staff, please follow the instructions provided on the Board of Elections site.
Below are some key dates regarding the statewide general election:
- Friday, September 4 – Absentee ballots available
- Sunday, October 4 – Residency deadline
- Friday, October 9 – Voter registration deadline
- Thursday, October 15 – Saturday, October 31 – Early voting
- Tuesday, October 20, 5:00 p.m. – Last day to request an absentee ballot
- Tuesday, November 3, 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. – General Election Day
- Tuesday, November 3, 7:30 p.m. – Absentee ballots due at the Board of Elections office
- Tuesday, November 10 (Noon) – Deadline for provisional voters to show acceptable ID
- Friday, November 13, 11:00 a.m. – Canvass
For additional details, including early voting locations and schedule, sample ballots, and more, please go to the Brunswick County Board of Elections website. All inquiries about elections should be directed via email to the Brunswick County Board of Elections or by calling (910) 253-2620.
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
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.
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, and there will be a podcast episode covering the highlights.
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.
Owner Water Service Shutoffs Recommended
It was not too long ago that Islanders were dealing with freezing temperatures and snow! Starting this year, due to the increasing number of island property owners who have been requesting that Village Utilities shut off their water service temporarily for freezes, the Village will not be offering “on-demand” shut-offs for freezing events.
Alternatively, the Village is strongly recommending that property owners install an owner shutoff valve at their residences. This way, the owner or property manager can control the water service coming to the home without having to contact Village Utilities prior to a freezing event AND remember to contact us again when the home is occupied to turn the service back on. Installing an owner shutoff also protects homeowners year-round in the case of a major water leak. The water can be shut off immediately to prevent serious property damage.
Please contact a licensed plumber to install your owner shutoff. A list of plumbers can be found on the BHA’s website. You may also be eligible for benefits from your home insurance provider for installing this equipment.
Thank you for reading this Village’s Voice announcement and for taking the time to stay informed on Village news and events. If you have any questions about the content in this announcement or about the Village’s departments and services, please reach out to us at public.information@villagebhi.org or (910) 457-9700 ext. 1025.