In this issue:
- Highlights from the May Village Council regular meeting.
- Delays are expected on Federal Road starting tomorrow (5/21).
- Another round of snorkel devices will be installed in the next few weeks.
- We have a podcast!
- Update on road closures on the mainland.
- Hurricane season is almost here!
- Grilling safety tips.
Reminders & Events:
- The Public Service Auxiliary annual meeting is this Thursday, May 22.
- Village offices will be closed on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day & other Memorial Day-related info.
- The first concert in the BHI Yacht Club summer concert series is on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
- Join us on June 11 for a Hurricane Preparedness Forum and on June 27 for Public Safety Day!
- Effective June 1, 2025, hazardous waste drop-off will be scheduled, with no daily drop-offs.
- Village offices will be closed on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in observance of Juneteenth.
- The next regular Village Council meeting is on Friday, June 20, 2025.
- Mark your calendar for SummerLife BHI, youth activities taking place in July!
Village Council Regular Meeting
The Village Council conducted its last regular meeting on Friday, May 16, 2025. A full recap of the meeting is on our website HERE.
Below are a few highlights:
- The Village Council received public comments during its public hearing on the manager’s recommended FY26 budget (view the manager’s presentation HERE).
- The Village Council received information about an on-island remote pharmacy. The Council supports this effort to establish reliable pharmacy services on the island and is assisting interested parties in getting this approved through the NC Pharmacy Board.
- The Village Council was presented with the FY24 audit (view the CPA’s presentation HERE).
- The Village Council adopted a budget amendment, a capital project ordinance for public safety vehicles, and a capital project ordinance for improvements and capital purchases for water and wastewater.
- Chief Gibson reported that the shifts are currently in driver training for the new ladder and pumper truck. Those arrived in Oak Island on May 8. The trucks should arrive on BHI by mid-June.
- Assistant Village Manager Jae Kim reported that the marina channel maintenance dredging started the week of 5/12 and, weather permitting, should wrap up this week (week of 5/19).
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 December meeting minutes, they can be found under the January regular meeting agenda).
Federal Road Delays
Crews will be refurbishing the parking areas for the Bald Head Woods Reserve starting Wednesday, 5/21, until work is complete (may go into early next week). This will cause some delays on Federal Road. Updates will be posted HERE.
Snorkel Devices
Village Utilities and its contractors will start on a second round of snorkel extension installations on several grinder pumps on the island. If supplies are received on time, this work is expected to start on May 29. This is in response to PTC #8 flooding on the island last year. The upgraded devices will not completely prevent stormwater from entering the system, but will provide more operational control and speed up operability after a flooding event. Letters are being sent to the property owners for the second round this week. Updates on this project will be posted HERE.
Podcast
The Village now has a podcast which is available HERE and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, iHeartRadio, and more by searching “Bald Head Island.” The first series of episodes is geared toward folks visiting Bald Head Island and is titled “Before the Horn Blows.” The Village shared the podcast information with the hospitality folks on the island so that they can send it to the renters before they arrive. The audio is AI-generated using information from the Village’s website.
Stay tuned for additional episodes geared toward islanders. We will likely begin producing episodes based on this monthly e-newsletter and specific topics like hurricane preparedness and flood protection. Any feedback is appreciated! (public.information@villagebhi.org)
Road Closures Update
Two mainland road projects are impacting travel to and from Deep Point Marina: the NC-133 (River Road) project and E. Moore Street in Southport.
According to the NCDOT project page (HERE), the E. Moore project’s completion date was postponed from May 13 to July 16, 2025. As a reminder, when E. Moore reopens, please follow the signs for the ferry and refrain from cutting through the Turtlewood subdivision.
The NC-133 project’s contract has incentives built in to encourage the contractor to complete this project earlier than the September 5, 2025, completion date. The maximum incentive would start on June 22, 2025. The Village reached out to NCDOT staff recently to check on the status. They do not anticipate reopening the road by June 22, but they do think it is very possible the road will reopen before September 5.
Hurricane Season
Hurricane season begins on June 1. That’s less than two weeks away! If you have not started preparing yet, please do so now. The National Hurricane Center recently started reissuing tropical weather outlooks. Even a tropical storm can cause power outages, transportation delays, and property damage. Make sure you have your emergency kit stocked. Make sure you have an evacuation plan in place. The Village strongly recommends evacuating over sticking it out through a storm.
Visit our emergency preparedness webpage HERE for all the preparedness information you need and make sure you are signed up to receive Village communications (HERE).
We will also be having a Hurricane Preparedness Forum on June 11 and will have information at our hurricane preparedness booth at the June 27 Public Safety Day (details below), so please attend either event and ask us any questions you have!
Grilling Safety Tips
Outdoor grilling is one of the best activities of spring and summer, and it’s one of the most popular ways to cook food. A grill that is placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. Hot grills can also cause burn injuries. Medical and fire emergencies are two things we all want to avoid on Bald Head Island.
The Village’s Fire Prevention Ordinance (Section 12-53) states:
Cooking fires contained within a commercially available, solid-fuel burning, portable, outdoor cooking appliance, but only to the extent that such portable appliance shall be located at least ten (10) feet from any structure and within twenty-five (25) feet of a permanent water source connected to a hose that is able to reach the location of the appliance, and shall not be located upon any wood or composite deck or balcony attached to such structure or underneath any roofed structure, including any porch, awning, or balcony overhang of a structure.
Following the Village’s ordinance will reduce fire emergencies and property damage caused by grills and ensure that islanders can quickly respond to any mishaps that may occur when grilling out. Violating this ordinance could result in a $500 fine.
Here are a few grilling tips from the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA):
- Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
- The grill should be placed well away from the home, and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
- Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
- Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
- Never leave your grill unattended.
- Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
For more information about grilling safety and other fire safety topics, go to nfpa.org/education. Also, check out the Village of Bald Head Island YouTube channel for a short grilling safety video.
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
PSA Annual Meeting
The Public Service Auxiliary (PSA) annual meeting is this Thursday, May 22, at 4:00 p.m. in the Department of Public Safety’s multi-purpose room. They will be voting on the new team organization. All are encouraged to attend, including folks who want to join.
Memorial Day
Offices closed – Village offices will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of Memorial Day. This includes the Island Package Center & Post Office and Public Safety administration. Please call 911 if you need a Public Safety Officer to come to you.
IPC/PO Schedule – Please note that the IPC/PO will be closed from 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Trash Pick-Up – The Village’s solid waste contractor will go to the twice-weekly pick-up schedule starting May 26. So those who are on a Monday pick-up will also get a pick-up on Thursdays, and those who are on a Tuesday pick-up will also get a pick-up on Fridays through Labor Day.
Memorial Day Ceremony – The Old Baldy Foundation and the Village Chapel of Bald Head Island are sponsoring a Memorial Day Ceremony on May 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Village Chapel. Please join them as they honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Featuring the Village Chapel Choir, a keynote address by Captain Terry Bragg (US Navy-retired), former executive director of the Battleship North Carolina.
Bald Head Island Transportation, Inc. has released its Memorial Day weekend schedule. You can view it HERE.
BHI Yacht Club Summer Concert Series
The BHI Yacht Club 2025 Summer Concert Series kicks off on May 28. The Village is a sponsor and will have a law enforcement presence and even our own booth! Come say hi! These events will take place at Marina Park from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., mostly on Wednesdays.
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
The Village will no longer accept hazardous waste drop-offs daily starting in June. Hazardous waste includes paint, chemicals, and electronics. The last day for property owners to drop off hazardous waste at Public Works is May 30, 2025. After that date, the Village will be scheduling specific weeks during the year in which this type of waste will be collected from property owners at Public Works and promptly taken off-island.
This is a common practice for counties and municipalities on the mainland and helps protect the collection area from contamination. The Village will add the drop-off schedule to its Trash & Vegetation Pick Up Calendar and Village Calendar, and as soon as the dates are arranged, we will publish this information.
Hurricane Preparedness and Public Safety Day
Join us on Wednesday, June 11, for a Hurricane Preparedness Forum. We will have representatives from the National Weather Service Wilmington office, Brunswick County Emergency Management, and Village staff available to share information on hurricane preparedness and answer any questions you may have. You can email questions in advance to public.information@villagebhi.org.
Join us on Friday, June 27, for our annual Public Safety Day! It’s always a fun and educational event for the whole family. We will have our Department of Public Safety’s apparatus and equipment on display, activities for kids, and educational information, including a hurricane preparedness booth. We have invited several local agencies to join us to show everyone their stuff! The Public Service Auxiliary will be serving free food, donations will be appreciated.
Juneteenth
Village offices will be closed on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in observance of Juneteenth. This includes the Island Package Center & Post Office and Public Safety administration. Please call 911 if you need a Public Safety Officer to come to you.
Next Village Council Meeting
The next regular Village Council Meeting is on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The agenda will be posted HERE. Zoom information to listen-in remotely can be found HERE.
SummerLife BHI
We’re excited to announce SummerLife, a fantastic opportunity for high school students to have fun and connect this JULY!
Activities include a beach day with beach volleyball, soccer, a game night and cookout at Public Safety, a scavenger hunt and drive-in movies, and a night at BHI Club with a pool party, games, pizza, music, and more!
This program is generously sponsored by several island organizations, including the Village of Bald Head Island and its Department of Public Safety, the Village Chapel of Bald Head Island, the BHI Club, BHI Conservancy, Wendy Wilmot Properties, and Bald Head Island Services.
Sign up information and additional details 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 event info HERE.
The Village calendar can be found HERE.
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