- Highlights from the December Village Council regular meeting.
- Update on the 2025 CDSR project.
- Updates on N.C. 133 construction and repair of E. Moore Street in Southport.
- Handicap parking sign installation and enforcement.
- Holiday fire safety tips.
Reminders & Events:
- Annual golf cart registrations.
- Village offices will be closed Tuesday, December 24 through Thursday, December 26.
- Island Package Center & Post Office holiday schedule.
- The next regular Village Council meeting is on Friday, January 17, 2025.
Regular Council Meeting
The Village Council conducted its last regular meeting on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. A full recap of the meeting is on our website HERE.
Below are a few highlights:
- The Village Council adopted the Village’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan.
- The Village Council approved a contract with McKim & Creed for the Design of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase II.
- The Village Council accepted an anonymous donation of $25,000 for the clean-up of Common Park.
- Village Manager, Chris McCall, gave a Post-Storm After-Action Review Summary presentation. The presentation can be viewed HERE.
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 August meeting minutes, they can be found under the September regular meeting agenda).
2025 CDSR Project
The Village’s 2025 Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project is now underway. Sand placement started on the evening of Thursday, December 12, on the west end of South Beach.
A reminder on what to expect:
The beach will remain open except for the areas of immediate construction where a 1,000-foot section of the beach will be closed at any given time when nourishment is underway. 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 close a particular section of the beach. There will be a large pipe that carries the sand slurry down the beach and heavy excavation equipment which will be working 24/7 until the project is completed. There will be noise from the large machinery 24/7, this will include the “backup signals” from the machines and lighting which are required for the safety of the crew. Sand ramps will be spaced along the beach (approximately every 400 feet) to allow beachgoers to walk over the pipe and access the ocean.
Please help the construction crew by being mindful of the construction fencing and signage. Do not go beyond any signage or barriers as doing so may place yourself and others in harm’s way.
The Village will be updating the project webpage (HERE) and posting regularly on its social media channels (HERE) as the project progresses. Please direct any questions to the Village Public Information Officer at public.information@villagebhi.org or (910) 457-9700 ext. 1025.
Road Construction
N.C. 133 – N.C. 133 and Funston Road is now closed to through traffic for a bridge construction and culvert replacement project. The project got underway last Saturday, December 14. The closure impacts approximately 1/2 mile of N.C. 133 from north of Funston Road to south of Funston Road. Funston Road is closed at the intersection of N.C. 133. Signs, including “road closed” and “detour”, are in place. Drivers should be mindful of the detour and be cautious near the work zone.
- Through traffic from the south should follow N.C. 87 to U.S. 17 to N.C. 133 at Belville.
- Through traffic from the north should follow U.S. 17 to N.C. 87 to N.C. 133 north of Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point.
The completion date is set for fall 2025, however, there are incentives for the contractor to complete the project earlier.
East Moore Street – East Moore Street in Southport, near Deep Point Marina, was damaged in September during Potential Tropical Storm #8 and has been closed ever since. According to the NC Department of Transportation crews began to replace the existing washed-out culvert with a single-span bridge on December 9, 2024. This $2.4 million project will also include new guardrail and waterline. The project is expected to be finished in the spring. Drivers should be cautious near the work zone. Road closure information HERE.
Handicap Parking Signs
New handicap signage is being made and will start going up at Village-owned buildings soon. For conformity, the Village is making the signs available to commercial property owners. Requests for signage can be made through the Village’s online service request portal HERE.
Enforcement will begin as soon as the signs are posted, so if you do not have a handicap placard, do not park in spaces that have this signage, or you will receive a $250 state citation.
Note: As far as the placards, Public Safety advises those who have placards to make a copy of the one they use for their vehicle on the mainland and to affix (tape) the copy to the inside of the windshield (not blocking the view of the driver).
Holiday Fire Safety Tips
The National Fire Protection Association reports that one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles and that two of every five decoration fires happen because the decorations are placed too close to a heat source.
To cut down on this risk, please follow these tips to avoid a fire in your house:
- Place candles out of reach of children and where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.
- Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
- Use flameless candles near flammable objects.
- Do not burn Christmas trees, wreaths, or wrapping paper in the fireplace.
- Always use a screen on the fireplace when a fire is burning.
- Never leave candles or fireplaces burning unattended or when asleep.
- Check and clean the chimney and fireplace area at least once a year.
- Do not plug too many lights into a single electrical outlet, this can cause an overload. It’s important to keep wires away from heat sources such as space heaters and fireplaces.
Please also remember to water your Christmas tree daily. Between 2018-2022, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 155 tree-related fires each year!
Christmas trees are accepted at the Village’s Timbercreek Mulch site. The Timbercreek Mulch site is located off North Bald Head Wynd between Needle Rush Court and Towhee Court. Map HERE.
REMINDERS & EVENTS
Annual Golf Cart Registrations
Golf cart owners are now able to apply and pay for annual golf cart registration renewals. This must be done online. A “2025 Golf Cart Registration Renewal” button has been added to the Village’s webpage (HERE).
This year, please note the date you submitted your renewal. The Village’s webpage will be updated regularly as stickers are available for pick-up at the Department of Public Safety. We will be indicating what renewals have been processed by the date they were received. We process renewals in the order they are received. As of the publication of this issue of the Village’s Voice, all renewals submitted through December 10 in which the stickers are not being mailed are ready for pick up at the Department of Public Safety. Please note that the administrative office hours for 12/17 – 12/19 are 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
We’ve been delayed in processing renewals this year due to the number of new carts replacing those damaged by PTC #8 and incorrect information being entered.
Please make sure you verify your cart number (the number on your big registration sticker), cart serial number (like a car’s VIN), and insurance information when registering.
Village Offices Closed
Village offices will be closed Tuesday, December 24 through Thursday, December 26. This includes Public Safety administration. Please call 911 if you need a Public Safety Officer to come to you. The IPC/PO will be open on December 26. For more details, view the IPC/PO holiday schedule below.
Island Package Center & Post Office Holiday Schedule
The IPC/PO will be open for extended hours on Monday, December 23, 2024, and will open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. The IPC/PO will be closed on Tuesday, December 24th, and Wednesday, December 25th. Although the Village offices will remain closed on Thursday, December 26th, the IPC/PO will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day. View our holiday mail and package tips HERE.
Next Regular Council Meeting
The next regular Village Council Meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the multi-purpose room in the Department of Public Safety (273 Edward Teach Ext.). The agenda will be posted HERE. Zoom information to listen in 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.
Project Longevity/Community Care event info HERE.
The Village calendar can be found HERE.
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