What's inside this issue?

• BHA's 2024 Annual Meeting Update.
• Village of BHI's 2024 G.O. Bond Referendum — helpful links, important dates and voting information.
• 2024 proposed homeowners insurance increase — public comment period.
• BHA 2024 assessments due February 15, 2024.
• BHA calling for volunteers.
• Don't miss — January Island Report.
• Events.
• BHA quick links (ARC and BHA committees) and Board meetings.
• Handy Bald Head Island website links.

BHA's 2024 Annual Meeting Update

BHA congratulates Elizabeth (Betty) Robinson and Steve Smalley for being newly elected to the BHA Board of Directors. We appreciate all candidates who ran. Outgoing Board members Alan Briggs and Robert Drumheller received certificates for the live oak Honor Trees that will be planted on Bald Head Island later this year on their behalf. BHA thanks both Alan Briggs and Robert Drumheller for their years of service and dedication.

The membership passed all of the proposed changes to BHA's Bylaws and Covenants. Thank you to all members for voting.

BHA's Annual Meeting was well attended, both in person and online on Saturday,

January 27, and was full of information about BHA and other BHI organizations, including the Village of BHI, Public Service Auxiliary (PSA), Old Baldy Foundation, Village Chapel of BHI, BHI Limited, BHI Conservancy and BHI/Shoals Clubs.

Thank you to all presenters for sharing about their organizations. And a special thank you to the Village of BHI for the use of the Public Safety Complex multipurpose room for

BHA's meeting.

Immediately following the Annual Meeting, the new Board of Directors met and elected Christine Osborne as President. The Board decided to wait to elect the remaining officers, so stay tuned for updates.

The Annual Meeting recording link is below. Click on the Annual Meeting web page for additional resources (note that the presentation file will be posted early next week).

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.*

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.

2024 Proposed Homeowners Insurance Increase

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. There are four ways the public can provide comments:

• Emailed public comments should be sent by February 2 to: 2024Homeowners@ncdoi.gov.
• Written public comments must be received by Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III, by February 2 and addressed to 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1201.

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 2024 Assessments Due February 15, 2024

BHA's 2024 assessments are due February 15, 2024. The mailed coupon contains an incorrect due date. 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. BHA apologizes for the error and any confusion it may have caused. 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!

Don't miss!

• Dive into your community — volunteer!
• BHA's 2023 Annual Report Packets, Annual Meeting, Voting and Smith Island Social.
• ARC — Design Guidelines 27th edition and decorative items in harmony with nature.
• Monthly ARC Quiz.
• President's Letter.
• BHI native plant series feature — sea oats.
• Letter to the editor — all property owners need to vote.
• 2024 BHA annual assessments.
• ARC improvement ad hoc committee update.
• 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.

Food and Toiletries January Drive

Drop off by January 30

#4 Marina Wynd, BHI

Intracoastal Realty offices throughout Brunswick County join the Brunswick Board of Realtors efforts to provide warmth and nourishment this January. Drop off food and toiletry items at their office at #4 Marina Wynd, BHI, by January 30.

Public Service Auxiliary (PSA) Annual Meeting

Sunday, January 28, 1:00-2:00pm

Public Safety Complex

The annual meeting of the Public Service Auxiliary (PSA) will be on Sunday, January 28, from 1:00-2:00pm at the Public Safety Complex (273 Edward Teach Ext.). Current members of PSA are encouraged to attend, and anyone interested in volunteering for the PSA are welcome to attend. Many opportunities exist for all property owners. You do not need to be a full-time resident to volunteer for PSA. For questions, contact Cam McIntyre at cammacnc@gmail.com.

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.

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.

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