Key Information:
- Highlights from the Village Council’s Annual Retreat, and where you can find the full recap, video, and presentation slides.
- Highlights from the Village Council’s March Regular meeting with links to the full recap and podcast.
- FY27 Budget Preparation and where you can find meeting/workshop information, documents, and resources as the budget is developed and prior to its adoption by the July 1 statutory deadline.
Village Council Annual Retreat Recap
Each year, the Council holds an open retreat to meet with consultants, outside specialists, department heads, and other Island entities. The intent is to reorient, update data, and strategize areas of focus for the upcoming year, including potential budget implications.
This year’s retreat took place on Tuesday, March 3, and Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Videos of each retreat topic presentation and/or discussion have been uploaded and organized into a YouTube playlist available HERE. A full written recap of what was presented and discussed can be found HERE.
Below are a few highlights:
- A shoreline management update, which included information about the Frying Pan Shoals borrow site permit, contingency plan if a major storm hits before the Village can use Frying Pan Shoals, an overview of beach conditions, and a recommendation to study long-term cost-effective options to protect the shoreline.
- An overview of the BHI Conservancy’s environmental services contract with the Village, which included information about the health of the maritime forest, population estimates for several island wildlife (deer, coyote, alligator), water quality, and channel deepening concerns.
- Updates from consultants on the wastewater treatment plant expansion, the water & sewer asset inventory program, the Capital Improvement Plan, and the Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure and Investment Program (stormwater planning grant).
- Discussion about the Village’s future. There was consensus on having town halls/group meetings to get Islander feedback, emphasis on fiscal discipline, and focus on essential infrastructure spending needs met before amenities are considered, and building long-term capital reserves.
Village Council Regular Meeting Recap
The Village Council conducted its last regular meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, immediately following the annual retreat. A full recap of the meeting is on our website HERE. If you would like to listen to a podcast version of the recap, you can listen HERE.
Below are a few highlights:
- Approval of the Earth Day 2026 Proclamation, American Shore & Beach Preservation Association’s Centennial Proclamation, and a Resolution Adopting the Southeastern NC Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
- The Council called a public hearing for April 17 on proposed Text Amendments to Chapter 9, Commercial Design Standards.
- There was discussion about the status of the Transportation Authority and the Village’s role, which is primarily that it has three appointed members (Mayor Quinn, Mayor Pro Tem White, Claude Pope) and one island resident (Rex Cowdry) on the board. The TA has decided to actively negotiate with BHI Limited regarding the potential purchase of the transportation system.
The TA board appointed 5 members to a Negotiating Committee (Rex Cowdry is the island resident on this committee). No new public information is available due to non-disclosure agreements.
The Village is aware of questions concerning whether the system has been sold, who owns what, and the role of SharpVue and Limited. There was a discussion about who should be speaking on behalf of the TA and answering questions. It was decided that questions received by the Village from island residents would be put forward to the TA and that the TA should be responsible for answering to the public.
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 January meeting minutes, they can be found under the February regular meeting agenda).
FY27 Budget Preparation
Like last year, the Village will assist taxpayers in keeping up with the budget process by placing all the meeting/workshop information, documents, and resources in one place. Our “Annual Budget” webpage can be found HERE. Taxpayers will have access to the budget schedule, video of the budget workshop(s), presentation slides, meeting minutes, and any additional information produced as part of the Council’s deliberation on the FY27budget. Taxpayers are encouraged to submit questions and comments.
The first budget workshop is scheduled for April 22, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Department of Public Safety. Those who cannot attend in person can view the meeting on Zoom (details will be posted on the Annual Budget webpage and HERE). If a second workshop is needed, it will take place on June 11.