What's inside this issue?

• Save the date! BHA hosts a G.O. Bond Referendum Information Session on Thursday, February 15, 10:00am — submit questions/comments by Monday, February 12, at 12:00pm.
• Village of BHI's 2024 G.O. Bond Referendum — helpful links, important dates and voting information.
• BHA Board letter to the NC Department of Insurance regarding proposed homeowners insurance increase.
• BHA's Association Center renovations progressing well.
• BHA 2024 assessments due February 15, 2024.
• BHA calling for volunteers.
• Just posted — February Island Report.
• Events.
• BHA quick links (ARC and BHA committees) and Board meetings.
• Handy Bald Head Island website links.

Save the Date!

BHA Hosts

G.O. Bond Referendum Information Session

Thursday, February 15, 10:00am

Public Safety Complex

Submit your questions/comments for the panel by Monday, February 12, 12:00pm

BHA will host a G.O. Bond Referendum Information Session on Thursday, February 15, at 10:00am in the Public Safety Complex multipurpose room (273 Edward Teach Ext.). Representatives from the Village of BHI and the BHI Club/Shoals Club will present information, followed by questions and answers. The event will be held online via Zoom and recorded, with the recording posted on BHA's YouTube channel within 24 hours after the event.

Questions and comments can be submitted to the panel prior to the event HERE. The submission deadline is Monday, February 12, at 12:00pm.

To attend online via Zoom, register in advance for this webinar by clicking HERE.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Village of BHI's 2024 G.O. Bond Referendum

Vote on Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Brief Background

The Village of Bald Head Island is planning for a coastal storm damage reduction (CSDR) project in the winter of 2024-25. The full project as proposed will use Jay Bird Shoals to supply the project with approximately 1 million cubic yards of beach-quality sand. The sand will be placed east of the terminal groin along South Beach, down through the area where the sand tube groins are installed. It will restart east of Muscadine Wynd and will fill to the east end of the Shoals Club.

Read more about the background, with additional resources and quick links for the December Town Hall video and slides, an overview article, statements of disclosure and more on the Village's 2024 Bond Referendum web page HERE.

A Bond Referendum

A bond referendum is a voting process that gives voters the power to decide if a municipality should be authorized to raise funds through the sale of bonds, for specific purposes. A general obligation (G.O.) bond is long-term borrowing in which a municipality pledges its full faith and credit (taxing power) to repay the debt over a specified term. G.O. bonds are the least costly financing option available to the Village to finance major capital costs and offer significant savings to taxpayers over the repayment period. 

During the upcoming March 5, 2024, primary Bald Head Island voters will be able to vote YES or NO on two questions. To read the questions, click HERE.

Questions?

The Village is still taking questions. Please send them to GOBOND@villagebhi.org.

The questions and answers will be posted on the 2024 Bond Referendum web page (click on the button below) and will be updated as more questions are received. The questions are being separated by category (finance/tax, shoreline and bond referendum).

Important Dates:

January 15, 2024 – Absentee ballots for the bond referendum will be available.

February 3, 2024 — Residency deadline.

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 (5:00pm).*

March 2, 2024 – Early voting period ends.

March 5, 2024 – The referendum will take place. Absentee ballot return deadline is 7:30pm.* (NOTE: absentee ballots must be RECEIVED BY this deadline, not postmarked by this deadline.)

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.

Voting and Residency

As of January 2, 2024, there are 381 people registered to vote in BHI elections. If you live on Bald Head Island full-time or part-time, you may want to review the voting requirements and determine WHERE you want to exercise your voting rights.

According to the Brunswick County Board of Elections, “The residency qualification to register to vote in a municipality or county is that the persons registering must have, by the time of the election, resided in that municipality or county for at least 30 days with the intent to make that county, municipality, precinct, ward, or other election district a permanent place of abode.” The residency deadline is Saturday, February 3, 2024. (Read Brunswick County's "Clarification on Voter Residency Requirements" HERE.) For the Brunswick County Board of Elections web page, click HERE.

BHA Board Letter to NC Department of Insurance

Regarding Proposed Homeowners Insurance Increase

The BHA Board sent a letter on February 1, 2024, to the NC Department of Insurance (NCDOI) in support of the Village of BHI's letter dated January 22, 2024, expressing strong opposition to the proposed homeowners insurance premium rate increases requested by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. Click HERE to read the BHA Board letter and the Village of BHI's letter to the NCDOI.

Background Information

In its January 5, 2024, press release, the NC Department of Insurance (NCDOI) stated, "Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced that the North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) filed a rate filing with the North Carolina Department of Insurance on Wednesday asking for an average statewide increase in homeowners’ insurance rates of 42.2%. The Rate Bureau has asked for the rates to become effective August 1, 2024."

The NCRB's proposed increase is 99.4% for the territory including beach areas in Brunswick County, which would include Bald Head Island. Click HERE for the 2024 territories with the NCRB proposed rate increase.

Click HERE for the full NCDOI press release announcing the NCRB's rate filing and explaining the public comment period. The public comments period is completed.

Click HERE to read the CBS17 article "Detailed list of NC home rate increase plan by cities, counties from insurance companies."

BHA News

BHA's Association Center Renovations

Renovations of BHA's Association Center are progressing well after the flooding that occurred late last year. Here are some current photos of the work. Stay tuned for more details!

BHA's 2024 Assessments Due February 15, 2024

For 2024, BHA's assessments remained the same as last year. A home is $570.00, and a lot is $190.00. Please remember that BHA's 2024 assessments are due February 15, 2024. The mailed coupon contains an incorrect due date. BHA apologizes for the error and any confusion it may have caused.

BHA allows a 30-day grace period for assessments, so late fees and interest do not begin to accrue on outstanding balances until March 15, 2024. Thank you to all who have already paid! For any questions, contact Leigh Ann Fink at 910-457-4676, ext. 27 or LeighAnn@BaldHeadAssociation.com.

BHA Calling for Volunteers!

Much of what Bald Head Association accomplishes is a direct result of the contribution of its volunteers. BHA has a consistent need for new energy to be fused into its six committees — Architectural Review (ARC), Finance, Resource Conservation and Beautification (RCB), Education and Recreation (ER), Long-Range Planning (LRP) and Community Wide Standards (CWS). The time commitment for individuals who volunteer on these committees for three-year terms varies widely and ranges from an occasional meeting to plan an event to regular, monthly meetings to review construction and landscaping submittals. BHA’s property owners’ time, talents, experience and desire to make a difference is what makes our committees work!

New property owners can find volunteering with BHA a fun way to get involved with and learn more about the BHI community, as well as meet fellow property owners. New and seasoned property owners — whether they live on BHI full-time or are part-time residents who aren’t on-Island as much as they’d like to be — can get involved since BHA holds its meetings in person and utilizing Zoom.

With new volunteer terms of service beginning in late January, we hope you’ll consider volunteering with BHA. You just might make new friends, have some fun and impact the quality of life found on BHI for generations to come. Click the button below for BHA's online committee volunteer application. Thank you!

Just posted!

• Love the wild.
• BHI native plant series feature — Coastal Redcedar.
• ARC — Updated lighting guidelines and ARC's 2023 stats.
• Monthly ARC Quiz.
• President's Letter.
• 2024 BHA annual assessments.
• Keeping data secure.
• BHI's lending library.
• Monthly contributors — the Village of BHI, Old Baldy Foundation and the BHI Conservancy.
• Plus much more!

Due to flooding in BHA's Association Center,

all activities are being temporarily relocated during renovations. For the latest updates, check our online event calendar for location information.

Community Potluck Dinner

Monday, February 12, 6:00pm

Relocated to the Public Safety Complex Multipurpose Room

Join us for the next Community Potluck Dinner on Monday, February 12, at 6:00pm. The event has been relocated to the Public Safety Complex multipurpose room (273 Edward Teach Ext.). All are invited!

Make new friends and join those you've known for years. For any questions, contact F.A. McLeod at faatbeach@gmail.com.

Bees, Birds and Butterflies Presentation

Tuesday, February 27

1:00-2:00pm

BHI Conservancy's Fleming Room

The BHI Garden Club will host coastal scientist Allison Polinski and coastal educator Heather Bariso at the Fleming Room of the BHI Conservancy (700 Federal Road) on Tuesday, February 27, from 1:00-2:00pm. They'll be discussing the various pollinators (bees, birds and butterflies) and the flowering plants that are native to our Island. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Barbara Giera at barbara.giera@gmail.com or Grace Valentine at gracevalentine@verizon.net.

BHI Conservancy Hosts

"Shew’s Natural Treasures: The Coastal Plain of Southeastern North Carolina"

Thursday, February 29, 6:00-9:00pm

The Bald Head Island Conservancy is hosting Roger Shew, senior lecturer of geology at UNCW’s Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences, and Jess Bradley, Director of Media Productions UNCW, to showcase the new documentary "Shew's Natural Treasures: The Coastal Plain of Southeastern North Carolina." There will be a Q&A with Roger Shew and film director, Jesse Bradley, after the film.

Doors open at 5:30pm. The event will be held at BHI Conservancy's Fleming Environmental Education Center (700 Federal Rd). The event is FREE, but registration is needed at this link. Contact info@bhic.org for additional information.

Picture Book Writing Retreat

May 3-5

Only 12 spaces available!

"Everyone has a story; what's yours?" Join Jenny Bowman, children's book author and editor for a

Picture Book Writing Retreat May 3-5. The retreat is open to 12 participants. Visit HERE to learn more about this special event on Bald Head Island. For questions, contact Betsi Stephen at betsistephen@gmail.com.

Yoga Classes

~ Classes are paused until Association Center reopens ~

Once yoga classes resume, they will continue to be taught by Pam Moulin on Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:45am-1:00pm.

Pam has 36 years of experience as a fitness instructor and 19 years of experience as a yoga instructor, and she's been teaching yoga on Bald Head Island for 13 years. All levels are welcome. Classes are $20, and participants must bring their own yoga mat. Pam requires that all participants show proof of vaccination against Covid-19. For all new participants, it's strongly suggested to email Pam beforehand (and let her know of any physical limitations) at pammoulin@ec.rr.com.

BHI Transportation

Announces Deadline of March 31, 2024,

for 2-part ("Old") Paper Ferry Tickets

According to BHI Transportation's announcement:

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.

BHA's Board of Directors invites property owners and others to join its monthly public meetings in person or remotely via Zoom. Board meetings are typically held the second Friday of each month beginning at 11:00am EDT. Agendas, approved minutes of previous meetings and a link to the current monthly Zoom meeting can be found on the meeting information web page. Click on the link below to learn more.

The BHA Board will hold its annual retreat in February (date TBD). The next BHA Board meeting public session is scheduled for Friday, March 8, 2023, at 11:00am. Stay tuned for location details.

Like us! Share with others!