In this issue:
- Highlights of the September Village Council regular meeting.
- Public feedback is requested on public restrooms, a tent/pavilion at Marina Park, and a playground.
- 2025 Municipal election – important dates.
- The IPC/PO’s operating hours will change on Monday, October 6, 2025.
- Annual change from chloramines to chlorine will begin on October 7, 2025.
- Duke Energy to test sirens on October 8.
- The Village is still keeping an eye on the tropics – the latest outlook.
- Brunswick County residents are invited to participate in the 2025 Community Health Opinion Survey.
- Go paperless with your Village Utility bill. It’s quick, convenient, and eco-friendly!
Reminders & Events:
- Operation Medicine Cabinet prescription medication collection is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Dosher Memorial Hospital will be having a flu shot clinic on BHI on Tuesday, October 7, from 10-12.
- The 1st Annual BHI Surf Fishing Tournament is set from October 10-12.
- The next regular Village Council meeting is on Friday, October 17, 2025.
- The PSA’s annual Chili Supper Fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, October 24, from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Join fellow islanders on the morning of Saturday, October 24, for a Litter Sweep, followed by awards for heaviest trash, most unusual trash, etc. at the BHI Conservancy!
- Halloween trick-or-treating on BHI is scheduled for Saturday, October 25.
- Cape Fear Marathon & Half is scheduled for Sunday, October 26.
Village Council Regular Meeting
The Village Council conducted its last regular meeting on Friday, September 19, 2025. A full recap with additional details is on our website HERE. You can also listen to a podcast episode recapping the meeting HERE.
Below are a few highlights:
- Under the consent agenda, the Village Council adopted resolutions authorizing the donation of the old ladder truck and pumper truck. The ladder truck will be going to West End Fire & Rescue. The pumper truck will be going to Brunswick County Schools (for training and education of youth).
- A public hearing was held on ordinance text amendments to the Transportation Ordinance having to do with Commercial-Use Vehicles and Trailers. The Village Council adopted the amendments as presented. Along with the adoption, the Council moved to review the metrics at its July 2026 meeting.
- Mayor Quinn continued to provide updates on Village parks programming and investment. This included discussion on a Marina Park tent, public restrooms, median, and lift station landscaping and playground. Council wants feedback from the public on several of these items. More information on how you can do this is found in the next section of this newsletter.
- Staff presented a proposed amendment to the subdivision clearing height, which was recommended for approval by the Planning Board. The Council called a public hearing for the October 17 meeting.
- Staff presented proposed changes to the fee schedule for ICE vehicles, electric commercial vehicles, and special use permits. The Council called for a public hearing for the October 17 meeting, and the Council indicated that it may not adopt the changes at this meeting.
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).
Your Feedback Is Requested
Since the Village Council retreat in February, we have been addressing concerns about the status of our Village parks and facilities and their effectiveness in fostering a sense of community. Discussions during open council meetings and subsequent further preliminary studies have brought three projects to a level of development that could foster meaningful conversation. Additionally, the Village has requested proposals from engineers and architects to further clarify the scope and financial feasibility. Before expending public funds, the Village Council is requesting feedback from Islanders on the projects. We are looking for input that could help direct further exploration, examination of alternatives, and evaluation of merit.
Playground – Previous feedback on future park use indicated that the public would like to have a playground at one of the Village parks. A landscape architect donated time to discuss space requirements and location options. Suggested locations were the Common Park in Cape Fear Station and the Marina Park. While we have received comments from several parties on this particular use at the Common Park, we encourage further location input. We are also seeking general thoughts on the need and character of a playground. Let the Village Council know by emailing them at council@villagebhi.org.
Public Restrooms – Beyond the expressed need, federal and state financial support for our beaches is predicated on their status as “public beaches,” and as such, public restrooms should be provided. Some businesses and non-profits have filled this need for many years, and it is time the Village helps take the burden off these folks. The Village is currently looking at Village-owned properties where restrooms would be appropriately located, see maps HERE (west-end location is near Old Baldy, mid-island location is near the intersection of S Bald Head Wynd and Muscadine). The Village has requested a proposal from an architect familiar with the character of BHI architecture and who has designed restrooms at beaches for municipalities in our region. The project scope, possible phasing of the plan, and final location will be driven by public input and financial feasibility. Let the Village Council know by emailing them at council@villagebhi.org.
Pavillion – Longtime residents and visitors of BHI may remember that the current Village-owned Marina Park had a semi-permanent tent in which many public and private events took place. With this year’s successful summer concert series, Earth Day celebration, Public Safety Day, rental to private parties, and the possible center for multiple future community activities, there has been interest voiced for the Village to place a permanent structure at the old tent site. An architect donated time to rework an early design provided by Bald Head Island Limited (see HERE), and the village has requested a proposal for services from a structural engineer familiar with the design. A preliminary probable cost of construction is $775,000 (including engineering). Additionally, updating the current restrooms adjacent to the site at the time of construction (cost not included) will be considered. Usage of the new tent/pavilion and potential revenue will also be researched and evaluated. Let the Village Council know by emailing them at council@villagebhi.org.
2025 Municipal Election
The Brunswick County Board of Elections announced last week that Brunswick County voters can now access their personalized sample ballot online. Visit the Voter Search Tool and search for your voter registration record. On your record, you’ll be able to open and review your sample ballot.
You may print your ballot to mark in advance and bring it with you to the polls, or save it on your mobile device and mark it digitally. Please remember: you may use your phone in the polling place to view your marked sample ballot or notes, but communicating with others or taking photos of your actual ballot is not allowed.
A few important election dates:
| Friday, October 3 | Absentee ballots available |
| Sunday, October 5 | Residency deadline |
| Friday, October 10 (forms must be postmarked by this date) | Voter registration deadline |
| Thursday, October 16 – Saturday, November 1 | Early Voting |
| Tuesday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. | All absentee ballots due at the Board of Elections office |
| Tuesday, November 4; polls open from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Municipal Election |
| Friday, November 14, 11:00 a.m. | Canvass |
The Village has a webpage on elections (HERE). Other information about elections can be found on the Brunswick County Board of Elections webpage HERE. Please direct all inquiries about voting to the Brunswick County Board of Elections.
IPC/PO to Close for Lunch Year-Round
Starting on Monday, October 6, 2025, the Island Package Center and Post Office will close for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. year-round. This is due to several reasons, including reduced staffing (the department went from 5 employees to 4 when one position was moved to the IT department in the FY26 budget), how the shifts are scheduled, where some days only two employees are working, and usage of sick/vacation time leading to occasional reduced staff. The current staff have tried to stagger breaks, but often patrons come in and staff want to provide good service so they end up breaking from lunch to help serve them, so they don’t have to wait. A consistent 30-minute closure will ensure all employees get their lunch break and are not working overtime.
Annual Change from Chloramines to Chlorine
Brunswick County Public Utilities has announced that the water system disinfection method will be changing from chloramines to chlorine starting on October 7, 2025, through November 2025. Since the Village uses some County water, BHI consumers may notice a discoloration and presence of sediment in their water. These conditions are not harmful and are temporary. Village Utilities will be changing its method to the same chemicals later this fall (the timing will be announced in a future Village e-mail). For more information, view the County’s full statement HERE.
Duke Energy Siren Test
From Duke Energy – The outdoor warning sirens around the Brunswick Nuclear Plant will be tested between 10 and 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. This is our annual, longer-duration test of up to three minutes.
The 38 sirens within 10 miles of the Brunswick Nuclear Plant will sound at full volume for up to three minutes. To ensure they are functioning properly, it may be necessary to test some sirens more than once. Follow-up testing after siren maintenance may be required after 11 a.m.
Testing is performed in cooperation with emergency management officials in Brunswick and New Hanover counties, who are responsible for sounding the sirens.
Because this is a test, local broadcasting stations will not interrupt regular programming to broadcast Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages. If there were ever a real emergency at the plant requiring the sirens to be sounded, local radio and television stations would broadcast information and instructions to the public.
For more information about the outdoor warning sirens, residents can refer to information available at duke-energy.com/NuclearEP.
Tropical Outlook
As of this morning, the National Hurricane Center is watching two tropical waves in the Atlantic, AL93 and AL94.
- For AL93, environmental conditions are forecast to be favorable for development over the next several days, and a tropical depression is likely to form by the latter half of this week while the system moves west-northwestward to northwestward into the western tropical Atlantic.
- AL94 is expected to move west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph, spreading heavy rainfall and gusty winds into Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands tonight and Wednesday. The system is then expected to slow down and turn northwestward when it reaches the southwestern Atlantic near the Bahamas late this week, and a tropical depression could form when the disturbance is in that region.
Tropical outlook updates are posted HERE.
The Village will continue to monitor the forecast and notify Islanders if action should be taken via the CodeRed notification system (sign up HERE). If you have not started your hurricane season preparations, please do so now. There are several resources on the Village’s website HERE, including the recording of our June hurricane preparedness forum and our podcast episode on hurricane preparedness.
Health Needs Assessment Survey
From Brunswick County Government – Brunswick County Health Services is partnering with Dosher Memorial Hospital and Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center to conduct the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and wants your input.
Brunswick County community members are invited to provide feedback through the 2025 Community Health Opinion Survey as part of the CHNA. The information collected by this survey and the CHNA process will identify the most critical health issues facing Brunswick County and help guide programs and resources to meet the needs of community members.
The survey can be accessed online in either English or Spanish. Paper copies of the survey are available at Brunswick County Health Services in Bolivia, all six Brunswick Senior Resource Center locations, and all five Brunswick County Library branches. This anonymous and confidential survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and will be available through Oct. 3, 2025.
For more information about the Community Health Needs Assessment process or to obtain paper copies of the survey, contact Brunswick County Health Educator Rachel Crowder at 910.253.2312 or via email.
View original message HERE. Sign up to receive Brunswick County Government communications HERE.
Go Paperless – Get Your Utility Bill by Email!
Tired of waiting for the mail? Sign up to receive your monthly utility bill directly in your email inbox. It’s quick, convenient, and eco-friendly!
To enroll, just give us a call at 910-457-9700, ext. 1000.
Switch today and enjoy:
- Faster delivery
- Less paper clutter
- Easy record keeping
Thank you for helping us go green while making bill payment simpler for you!
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
Operation Medicine Cabinet
Do you need to empty your medicine cabinet? Then make sure to attend Dosher Memorial Hospital’s semi-annual “Operation Medicine Cabinet” drug take back event on Wednesday, October 1, between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Local residents are invited to drop off unwanted and expired prescription medications at the hospital front entrance (924 N Howe Street, Southport) where law enforcement then takes what is collected for safe incineration.
One of the conveniences of this event is that it is designed so that you can “drive through and drop off,” without having to leave your car.
Please note: Sharps will not be accepted at this event.
Flu Shot Clinic
Dosher Memorial Hospital will be having a flu shot clinic on BHI on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 10:00 to noon. The clinic will take place at the Department of Public Safety in the bays. Please pull around to the back of the building and park there. Make sure to bring your ID and insurance card.
First Annual BHI Surf Fishing Tournament
The first annual BHI Surf Fishing Tournament is scheduled for October 10 through October 12. The event is being organized by The Craftsmen Group, LLC. Details and registration for the tournament can be found online HERE.
Proceeds from the tournament will be going to Kids Making It, Inc., a woodworking program for at-risk, low-income, and disadvantaged youth.
Next Village Council Meeting
The next regular Village Council Meeting is on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The agenda will be posted HERE. Zoom information to listen in remotely can be found HERE.
PSA’s Chili Supper
The Public Service Auxiliary’s annual Chili Supper Fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Department of Public Safety from 4 to 7 p.m. This fundraiser supports the tireless, courageous efforts by the Village’s Public Safety teams.
In addition to the chili, chips, and brownies, they will have a cornhole competition! There are more details in the flyer below.
Litter Sweep
The Bald Head Association and the Conservancy are co-sponsoring a Litter Sweep on Saturday, October 25th, from 10 am -12 noon.
Participants will start at the parking lot near the Maritime Market to receive their area to clean and other supplies. All participants should report back to the Conservancy by 12 noon. Trash will be weighed and prizes awarded for the heaviest trash, most unusual trash, etc.
The Conservancy is having a Southern Living Day on the 25th; Southern Living is a co-sponsor of the Litter Sweep.
Trick-or-Treating on BHI
The Bald Head Association is hosting island-wide trick or treating on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. If your home or business will be participating, please sign up (HERE) by October 15, 2025, to have your location listed as a candy distribution location. For questions, please email info@BaldHeadAssociation.com and/or visit the BHA webpage HERE.
Cape Fear Marathon & Half
The Cape Fear Marathon & Half is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Details about this race, including the race map, 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 event info HERE.
The Village calendar can be found HERE.
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