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Fourth of July
Celebrate the Fourth of July in Morehead City!
Fireworks will bloom over the downtown waterfront, starting around 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 4th. The fireworks will be launched from Sugarloaf Island, and will provide a spectacular show for all to enjoy.
Please note, there is no concert this year, due to the closure of Jaycee Park as a result of our ongoing stormwater project in the area.
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Holiday Office Closures
Morehead City's Administrative Offices, Library and Recreation Center will be closed on Thursday, July 4th, in observance of the holiday. Regular business hours will resume at City Hall and other buildings on Friday, July 5th.
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Council Approves Manager Recommended Budget for FY 24-25
New Budget Goes Into Effect July 1
The Morehead City Council has approved the first property tax increase since 2020, in order to continue providing an exceptional level of service to our residents and visitors.
At the Council’s regular monthly meeting on June 11th, a property tax increase of 3 cents was approved in a 3 to 1 vote, with Councilman George Ballou absent, bringing the tax rate to 41 cents per $100 of assessed value for the coming fiscal year. This will amount to an extra $8.03 per month for the average homeowner in the city.
In addition, a 3.5 percent utility rate increase was adopted, which will result in an increase of $1.63 per month for the average user’s bill.
The $35,035,870 budget is a 5.36 percent increase from the current fiscal year. This breaks down to a General Fund budget of $22.9 Million, the Water and Sewer Fund at $10.5 Million and the Sanitation Fund at $1.5 Million.
The manager recommended budget approved by the Council was a $6.75 Million reduction from the initial departmental requests throughout the City.
The tax increase will not be utilized this year for the classification and compensation study approved in March, which awarded salary raises across the board for the majority of City employees, with the exception of the City Manager and Attorney. When this implementation was approved at a cost of $1.29 Million, that covered the final quarter of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and the coming fiscal year. It was paid for with a combination of earned interest money and a one-time use of fund balance in the General Fund.
Some highlights of the FY 2024-25 budget include:
- Nearly $1 Million to advance public safety needs for police and firefighters
- $1 Million to improve City parks, docks and grounds
- Hiring an Information Technology Director and an Economic Development Director
- Improvements to City facilities
- Replacement of an Operations Building for Water and Sewer Services
- Continuation of $.05 Million annually for street, sidewalk and drainage improvements
- $1.25 Million for improvement to water, sewer and wastewater infrastructure
You can view a flip book of the adopted budget for FY 2024-25 at a glance here.
The manager recommended FY 2024-25 budget can be found online at www.moreheadcitync.org.
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Morehead City Improves In
Community
Rating System
Morehead City has received great news – we have improved our rating in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System, from a Class 6 to a Class 5.
What does this mean for the residents of Morehead City and our ETJ? The City’s floodplain management activities qualify residents for a 25 percent discount on flood insurance premiums for most policies issued or renewed on or after October 1st, 2024.
This rating comes from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA.
According to FEMA, “This savings is a tangible result of the flood mitigation activities your community implements to protect lives and reduce property damage.”
Morehead City has been a part of the National Flood Insurance Program since 1977, and an active participant in FEMA’s Community Rating System since 1992.
The current Class 6 rating has provided a 20 percent discount for our residents on their flood insurance premiums.
The improvement was made possible through a combination of public outreach, higher regulatory standards, maintaining and implementing planning documents, open space preservation and providing flood protection information and assistance.
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Advance Morehead City:
A New Code for 2025
Advance Morehead City is an initiative being undertaken by Morehead City to update the City’s development regulations to improve the function and appearance of the built environment. On July 8 and 9, the public is invited to provide input on the Advance Morehead City project. This project led by Morehead City Staff and CodeWright Planners and will result in a new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that will guide the growth and development of the City for years to come.
The UDO is a regulatory document that incorporates land use regulations to include subdivision, flood damage prevention, and zoning standards for parking, signage, landscaping, driveway spacing, open space, sidewalks, trails, and more.
On Monday, July 8th, at 5:30 p.m., CodeWright Planners staff will present the Code Diagnosis. The Code Diagnosis provides a series of recommendations for changes to the City’s rules, like making the UDO easier to read or raising the bar for development quality. The presentation will be in the City Council Chambers at 1100 Bridges Street. An open house with refreshments will be held immediately following the presentation in the upstairs foyer, where participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and speak with city staff and the consultant team in more detail.
The code diagnosis includes three components: a proposed framework of changes to the current UDO; a blueprint of the new UDO; and a gap analysis between the City's adopted policy guidance and current regulations.
On Tuesday, July 9th, between the hours of 1:30-5 p.m., residents and business owners will have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one office hours with CodeWright Planners to learn more about the project and ask questions about how it might impact their land or development. These appointments can be made by contacting the Planning and Inspections Office at 252-726-6848, ext. 125, before July 1st.
To follow the progress of the Advance Morehead City project, please visit the project website at advancemoreheadcity.com.
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Peddler and Itinerant Merchant Ordinance
In Effect
Last fall, the Morehead City Town Council adopted the Peddler and Itinerant Merchant Ordinance. This ordinance requires that every merchant selling products to the public at a location other than a traditional storefront to obtain either a peddler or itinerant merchant permit, unless they fall under one of the exempt categories.
A peddler is defined as any person engaged in business with no fixed place of business and who travels from place-to-place with an inventory of goods, who sells the goods at retail or offers the goods for sale at retail and who delivers the identical goods, including sales on foot or from a cart, truck, automobile or other vehicle operated over and upon the streets/highways. This includes mobile food trucks.
An itinerant merchant is defined as any person other than a merchant with an established retail store in the town, who transports an inventory of goods to a fixed building, vacant lot, or other location in the town, and who, at that location, displays the goods, for sale and sells or offers to sell the goods at retail.
Unless your business falls under one of the exempt categories, all merchants under these regulations must obtain a permit. Peddler permits may be obtained from the Police Department and itinerant merchant permits may be obtained from the Planning and Inspections Department.
View the Code of Ordinances on Peddler and Itinerant Merchants here.
For information on Peddler Permits, please contact the Morehead City Police Department at 252-726-3131, or visit 300 N. 12th Street.
For Itinerant Merchant Permits, please contact Morehead City Planning & Inspections at 252-726-6848, ext. 100 or 120, or visit City Hall at 1100 Bridges Street.
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MCPD Offers Summer Events
Registration is open for the Morehead City Police Department's Youth Summer Camp - and it is free!
This camp is Monday, July 8th-Thursday, July 11th, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This opportunity is for rising sixth through eighth graders, and is held at MCPD, at 300 N. 12th Street, Lunch is provided for participants.
There are limited spots still available. Please call Rose Spoonire during regular business hours at 252-726-3131 for details and registration.
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Mark your calendars for National Night Out! This is a free community event with fun, food and games - no tickets or advanced registration required.
Join the Morehead City Police Department and your neighbors for National Night Out, which will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6th, at Carteret Community College.
Complimentary transportation provided by CCATS, with pick up and drop off locations at Rotary Park, Macon Court and Willis MHP.
If you are a local business interested in participating in this great event with a display or donation, please email Sgt. Lori Pittman or call 252-726-3131, ext. 125.
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Library Events
in July
The Morehead City Library, at 202 S. Eighth Street, offers something for everyone!
Please note, the Library will be closed on Thursday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. All events for this date have been rescheduled.
Learn more about the great opportunities available at the Library this coming month by clicking on the items that interest you most:
Preschool Story Time: Children ages 2-6 with a caregiver can attend Preschool Story Time at 9:30 and 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and 11 a.m. on Wednesdays. This month's themes include:
July 2nd-3rd: Fourth of July
July 9th-10th: Sea Turtles
July 16th-17th: Baseball
July 23rd-24th: Sharks
July 30th-31st: Camping
You can learn more about the Library's variety of resources on our website.
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Parks and Recreation News
NFL Flag Football is coming to Morehead City Parks and Recreation, and there are still a few volunteer coaching spots available.
This inaugural season will run from August 13th-October 24th, and the program is full. Two coaches are needed for the Shula Division, which is ages 7-9, while three coaches are needed for the Madden Division, which is for 10-12 year-olds.
To learn more information or volunteer as a coach, please contact Andre Perez, Athletics Supervisor, via email or at 252-726-5083, ext. 703.
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Mark your calendars for Youth Beach Volleyball! Registration opens August 1st, and the season will be held September - October. Matches will be played at the Atlantic Beach Volleyball Court, and the cost is $50 per player. Stay tuned for additional information in the coming weeks.
Volunteer coaches are also needed for this popular youth sport. To learn more information or volunteer as a coach, please contact Andre Perez, Athletics Supervisor, via email or at 252-726-5083, ext. 703.
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You can find the July class schedule through Parks and Recreation below. Please remember the Recreation Center at 1600 Fisher Street will be closed on Thursday, July 4th, in observance of the holiday.
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Don't Miss the Morehead City
Curb Market
Visit the Morehead City Curb Market each Saturday and for the monthly Night Market to see what is new! This historic Curb Market is located on the corner of 13th and Evans streets.
We are delighted to have several returning vendors and to introduce new ones to our corner. The Market occurs every Saturday throughout the season from
8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
In addition, Night Markets are held on the third Thursday of every month, and the next one will take place July 18th.
Mark your calendars and visit the night vendors from 6-8 p.m.
For more information about the Curb Market, please call 252-241-2773.
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MCFD Seeking a Firefighter-Paramedic
Morehead City Fire-EMS is now hiring a Firefighter-Paramedic: Are you, or someone you know, a strong fit for this department?
The salary range for a Firefighter-Paramedic with MCFD is $69,864-$97,810, and the City provides a comprehensive benefits package.
Watch our latest recruitment video above for a glimpse of calls and training MCFD has responded to this year. You can find the position details and apply online at www.moreheadcitync.org/jobs.
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We're Hiring -
Apply Today
Are you ready for a positive career change? The Town of Morehead City is now hiring for a variety of part-time and full time positions across several departments.
Today's featured job opening is for a Building Maintenance Technician. The ideal candidate will have HVAC expertise, and will be a key role in our Public Works Department.
You can find additional details on all of our current job openings and apply online through the button below.
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City Clerk Earns New Credentials
Please join us in congratulating City Clerk Cathy Campbell, as she has earned her Master Municipal Clerk Designation. This is the highest level of qualifications for her role, and she has worked tirelessly toward this achievement.
She joined the City staff in February 2017, after serving as the Deputy Clerk for Havelock. In 2019, she earned her state and international certified clerk credentials from the North Carolina School of Government and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
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Staff Assists Big Rock Week
Thank you to everyone who helped make The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament a success along the Morehead City waterfront! This includes the Morehead City Police Department, Morehead City Fire-EMS and other staff, Big Rock organizers, the fishermen, Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina and everyone who attended.
Watch our video below for a recap of this exciting week along our waterfront.
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Stay Up To Date with Morehead City
There are a number of ways you can stay informed with the latest news, events and alerts from the Morehead City government for free.
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1100 Bridges Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
252-726-6848
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