Village Updates on COVID-19 BHITA and WHMP

COVID 19 Update:

  • Governor Cooper has extended the State’s modified stay at home order through February 28, 2021
  • The State’s new tool to identify which vaccine group you are in
  • Brunswick County is now administering COVID-19 vaccines to Group 2
  • Brunswick County case numbers

Other Updates:

  • Bald Head Island Transportation Authority updates
  • Construction for the Wilmington Harbor Maintenance Project (WHMP) began on Friday, January 22, 2021

Reminders:

  • Free mulch is still available at Island Mini Storage
  • Tomorrow night you have an opportunity to provide input on the Southeastern NC Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan
  • Village Council’s annual retreat is next Tuesday, February 2, 2021
  • Village Hall remains closed to the public until further notice

COVID-19 UPDATE

Modified Stay at Home Order Extended – Today, Governor Cooper announced that he will extend the State’s modified stay at home order through February 28, 2021.  The 10:00 p.m. curfew, capacity limits, mass gathering limits, mask mandates, and other restrictions will remain in place.  Cooper indicated that case numbers have stabilized in recent days but that the number of cases is still high.  The percent positive tests are still in the double digits.  He said it is not time to “let our guard down.” 

The Governor reported that 99.8% of the first doses of vaccine the State received from the Federal government have been administered, but that the sticking point is that there is not enough vaccine.  There are thousands of shots but millions of people that need the shot.  He did say that the Federal government will be increasing the number of vaccines coming to the state by 16 percent over the next three weeks. 

Find My Vaccine Group – In North Carolina, a free COVID-19 vaccine will be available to all who want it, but supplies will be limited at first. The State wants to make sure people are vaccinated as quickly and fairly as possible, starting with people who are more likely to get COVID-19 and those more likely to get dangerously sick from it.  The State has developed a tool to help you determine which vaccine group you are in.  You can access the “Find My Vaccine Group” tool HERE.

COVID-19 Vaccinations for Brunswick County – Brunswick County is now administering COVID-19 vaccinations to folks in Group 2, which is anyone 65 years or older regardless of health status or living situation.  County Health Services will continue to vaccinate members of the population who are eligible under Group 1 (health care workers and long-term care staff and residents). More information about the vaccine such as how to make an appointment to receive one can be found on the County’s website HERE.

Current Case Numbers for Brunswick County – The latest NC County Alert System report indicated that 86 out of the 100 counties in North Carolina are “red” which indicates critical community spread. Brunswick County is included in the red counties.

Case numbers are typically updated daily on Brunswick County’s dashboard on THIS WEBSITE.  The County is currently experiencing technical issues and this site will direct citizens to the State’s COVID-19 dashboard until the County dashboard is up and running.

OTHER UPDATES

Bald Head Island Transportation Authority (BHITA) – Bald Head Island Club submitted THIS LETTER of support of the Village Council’s request that the Local Government Commission (LGC) defer its review and approval of the bond sale.  Today, the Village received a copy of THIS LETTER from BHITA chair Susan Rabon to the LGC in opposition of the Council’s request to defer its review and approval of the bond sale for six months and that they intend to move forward with the process.  

The Village has created THIS WEBPAGE to provide public access to Bald Head Island Transportation Authority documents and it will remain active during the transition period of ownership of Bald Head Island’s transportation system from Bald Head Island Transportation, Inc. to Bald Head Island Transportation Authority.

Sand being pumped on the South Beach shoreline (Photo taken 1/25/2021)

Wilmington Harbor Maintenance Project (WHMP) – Great Lakes Dredge and Dock started pumping sand on South Beach last Friday night (January 22, 2021). Please follow the Village’s updates on THIS WEBPAGE. The page includes progress maps and photos of the project site and is being updated by the Army Corps of Engineers and Village staff regularly. If you have property near the project area and will have renters, this page will give them an idea of what to expect during construction.  Due to the many variables associated with the construction progress, such as mechanical or weather impacts, it is extremely difficult to forecast when the contractor will have a particular section of the beach closed. 

REMINDERS

Free Mulch – Free mulch is still available for pick-up next to Island Mini Storage (2 Edward Teach Extension). Islanders can just pull over and load up! 

Public Meeting on the Southeastern NC Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan – A final draft of the Southeastern NC Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan is available for review and your feedback is requested regarding this plan. An online public meeting will be held tomorrow night (Thursday, January 28, 2021) from 6:00 p.m.– 7:00 p.m. to present the plan and its findings and recommendations and to answer any questions about the plan from the public.  Feedback received at this meeting will be reviewed, considered, and potentially used to modify the plan if needed.  

Registration is required so if you are interested in attending this meeting, please sign up at the link provided below. 

https://zoom.us/j/98414113440?pwd=YjZUbWk5Y1JBNWgxdTJUbXl4aTRwUT09

A draft of the plan can be viewed at the following link: Southeastern NC Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan

Should you have any questions about the plan, or if you are unable to attend the public meeting, but wish to have your comments considered, please email Nathan Slaughter at nslaughter@espassociates.com or call 919-415-2726. 

The Village Council will be considering adoption of this plan at its March regular meeting.

Council Retreat – The Village Council’s annual retreat will be next Tuesday, February 2, 2021 beginning at 9:00 a.m.  Immediately after the retreat, the Council will conduct its regular meeting for the month of February. The exact timing of that regular meeting is unknown as it is dependent on the completion of the retreat. Those who wish to listen-in to these meetings can call 1-855-369-0450 Pin # 4178T83. Hold music may play between meetings and if any breaks occur.  The meeting agendas will be posted HERE.

Village Hall – Out of an abundance of caution, due to exposure and increased positive COVID-19 cases in Brunswick County, Village Hall has been closed to the public until further notice due to minimal staffing with remote-flex work schedules.  If you have business with the Village, we ask that you please use our online options, e-mail, or call for an appointment.  Please call 910-457-9700 and the auto-attendant will direct you to the appropriate department.  General questions can be e-mailed directly to public.information@villagebhi.org. Utility payments are to be dropped off in the box on the porch at Village Hall. Notary services are available at the IPC/Post Office.