In this issue:
- January Village Council meeting canceled.
- Overhead tree cutting started today and is expected to take place on weekdays through next Monday, January 29.
- Mayor sends a letter in opposition to insurance rate increases.
- Update on the oyster reef creek shoreline stabilization project.
- Additional information is available on the 2024 GO Bond.
Reminders & Events:
- Golf cart registration renewals were due on January 1, 2024.
- BHI Transportation will no longer take old paper tickets effective April 1, 2024.
- Project Longevity/Community Care meeting on January 26, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety.
- The next regular Village Council meeting is on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
January Regular Council Meeting Canceled
The Village Council was not able to establish a quorum to conduct January’s regular Village Council meeting on Friday, January 19. Since there were no time-sensitive items requiring Council action, the Village Council will be taking up the Old and New Business items from the 1/19 agenda during its February regular meeting. The February meeting is scheduled to take place on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 7, 2024, immediately after the Village Council completes its two-day annual retreat.
We apologize for any inconvenience the abrupt cancellation may have caused.
Those who wish to attend the retreat and/or the February regular council meeting virtually can do so via Zoom (details HERE). The agendas will be posted HERE.
If you wish to receive meeting agendas and public notices (for public meetings, hearings, etc.) directly via email, please contact the Village Clerk at village.clerk@villagebhi.org with the subject “Sunshine List” to be added to the list to receive agendas and public notices.
A full account of Village Council meetings can be found in the minutes which are posted HERE. Typically, minutes are posted on the agenda of the next month’s meeting (e.g. If you want to read the November meeting minutes, they can be found under the December regular meeting agenda).
Overhead Tree Cutting this Week
Fitness Tree started performing overhead cutting for the Village today, this work is expected to continue weekdays through Monday, January 29. Public Works crew members will be escorting the Fitness Tree crew and do traffic control as they cut along several roads on the island. Efforts will be made to allow for as much traffic flow as possible.
Letter in Opposition to Insurance Rate Increases
Today, Mayor Quinn sent this letter to NC Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey stating the Village Council’s opposition to the proposed homeowners insurance rate increases. The requested increases will raise rates 99.4% for beach areas, 71.4% for eastern coastal areas, and 43% for western coastal areas in Brunswick County. The letter expresses several concerns and refers to North Carolina law that states that insurance rates shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory.
Oyster Reef Project
In follow up to a previous report in October, the Village, Bald Head Island Conservancy, and NC Coastal Federation (NCCF) have partnered with Sandbar Oyster Company to construct an oyster reef located just off the north end of the new Marina Park pier/dock (see visuals HERE). The project will also provide an educational component where visitors will learn about the importance of oyster reefs along the estuarine shoreline. The Village approved funds in the FY24 budget to contribute to the project along with the Conservancy and NCCF.
Info on the 2024 GO Bond
If you missed the Village’s GO Bond Town Hall on December 11, or you want to review the information that was shared, you may still view it online HERE. There are several resources on the 2024 Bond Referendum webpage HERE.
There are two recent additions, the Q&A document and a brochure. Hard copies of the brochure will be available at the Bald Head Association’s annual meeting which is taking place at the Department of Public Safety on Saturday, January 27, at 9:00 a.m.
The Village is accepting questions through February 9, 2024. Those can be sent to GOBOND@villagebhi.org. Below are some important dates associated with the bond referendum.
Important Dates: for the 2024 Bond Referendum:
January 15, 2024 – Absentee ballots for the bond referendum available.
February 9, 2024 – Last day to register to vote in the referendum.*
February 15, 2024 – Early voting period starts.
February 27, 2024 – Absentee ballot request deadline (5:00 p.m.).*
March 2, 2024 – Early voting period ends.
March 5, 2024 – The referendum will take place. Absentee ballot return deadline 7:30 p.m.*
By March 15, 2024 – Canvass of returns by Board of Elections.
* Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters.
REMINDERS & EVENTS
Golf Cart Registration Renewals
Golf cart registration renewals were due on January 1, 2024. If you have not yet registered your carts, please do so as soon as possible, you can do it online HERE. Please remember to include your insurance information, mailing address, and VIN. Entering “on file” or “same as last year” is not acceptable.
If you have already submitted your renewal, please be patient as we continue to process approximately 3,500 registrations. Enforcement will not be in full effect until it is understood that all who have taken measures to register their vehicles have the new stickers.
If you have any specific questions about the annual registration process, please contact Elizabeth Gray, Administrative Assistant, at 910-457-5252 or by e-mail at psadmin@villagebhi.org.
Old Paper Ticket Expiration
Please take note of this recent announcement from BHI Transportation, Inc.:
Bald Head Island Transportation will STOP accepting two-part (“old”) paper tickets after March 31, 2024. “Old” Bulk 40 tickets (only) may be exchanged for a coupon code through March 31, 2024.
Starting April 1, 2024, only QR-coded “new” tickets and transferred or newly issued passes will be valid for ferry boarding.
Click HERE for the announcement. Click HERE for BHI Transportation’s website.
Next Regular Council Meeting
The next regular Village Council Meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday, February 7, 2024, immediately after the Village Council completes its two-day annual retreat. The agenda will be posted HERE. Zoom information to listen-in remotely can be found HERE.
Project Longevity/Community Care Meeting
Save the date of January 26, 2024, for a Project Longevity/Community Care meeting that will take place at 3:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety. Attendees are also invited to dine on their own at Jailhouse Provisions following the meeting. Stay tuned for additional information. Zoom information to view remotely can be found HERE.
Bald Head Association events can be found HERE.
Old Baldy Foundation events can be found HERE.
BHI Conservancy events can be found HERE.
Village Chapel events can be found HERE.
The Village calendar can be found HERE.