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Greetings,
Welcome to the July edition of our Town newsletter. Summer is in full swing, the weather hot, and our Belville Riverwalk Park is booming.
Speaking of the Park, did you notice the name change? It's not the Brunswick Riverwalk Park anymore. The park is officially 'Belville Riverwalk'. We're also excited to announce that you can view the Brunswick River online in real time. The First Alert Sky Cam is a live camera (run through WECT) positioned on the Belville Riverwalk that will show current conditions on the river, similar to those at the beach.
Lastly, we have two positions open with the Town of Belville - Planner, and Deputy Finance Officer. There is also a position open on the Parks and Recreation Board. This is an excellent way to get involved with your Town's future. Please visit our website if you are interested in applying.
I appreciate each of you for taking the time and effort to be part of the growth of Belville. I take great pride in our Town. Our residents and business owners are the foundation of our success and without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you for the honor of leading Belville towards its future.
As always, take care of each other!
Sincerely,
Mike Allen, Mayor
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Breaking News
Town Updates
- Upcoming Events
- Water Conservation Alert
- Hurricane Season is Here!
- Recent Events
- Park Updates
- COVID - 19
- Vision 2030 Plan
- Town Emergency Information Website
Board of Commissioners Meeting
Monthly Meetings Schedule
Other Town Updates
- Social Media Update
- Our YouTube Channel
- Job Vacancies: Two employee and one Board member positions are open
Ongoing Belville Riverwalk Park Initiatives
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New Name!
We have some exciting news from the Town of Belville! The Town of Belville is proud to announce that the name of Brunswick Riverwalk Park at Belville has been changed to better capture its location within Belville. The new name is Belville Riverwalk, and new signage will be installed over the coming weeks. We love our park and we're excited to call it Belville Riverwalk!
Below is our current sign for the park. Keep your eyes open for the new sign coming soon!
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Live Video!
We have MORE good news from the Town of Belville! The town would like to announce that a new live camera has been installed in the park to capture the beautiful scenery within the park. The feed will be used by WECT as a part of its First Alert SkyCam Network, available here. The camera’s video will also be available through the Town of Belville’s website.
The camera is located at an integral location along the Belville Riverwalk, close to the boat ramp that was used to help with multiple rescues during Hurricane Florence.
“As our new downtown begins to take shape, we wanted to highlight the location of the Riverwalk Park,” said Athina Williams, Town Manager. “The new camera will be beneficial to our citizens and staff, and we thank WECT for allowing us to highlight the beauty of the Belville Riverwalk through their SkyCam Network.”
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Upcoming Events
Saturday July 23
The Town of Belville is continuing its 45th anniversary celebration by hosting a Garden Party on July 23rd from 10:00AM - 1:00PM at the Belville Riverwalk. Food is from One More Bite food truck and Snowie of the Carolinas. There will be garden vendors such as Angie's Produce and Sweet Nectars Florist. Special appearance by balloon artist Mr. Dantastic & The Queen of Hearts (10:30-11:30AM). Music by Brunswick Big Band. Dress to impress or come as you are. Activities are free, but food is not. Seating is provided but feel free to bring your lawn chairs and sit near the band
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Water Conservation Alert!
To ensure adequate water is available for essential needs, Brunswick County has declared a Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert effective immediately. Water conservation alerts affect all customers of public water systems anywhere in Brunswick County.
Brunswick County asks the users of public water systems throughout the county to be diligent in using water wisely. Demand for water has exceeded 80% of the available production and distribution capacity. As Independence Day
approaches, water demands are expected to increase.
H2GO (Belville) is under the same restrictions since these utilities receive their water from Brunswick County Public Utilities.
Under a Stage 1 Water Alert, water system customers are requested to make voluntary adjustments to their water usage habits to appreciably reduce peak demands. (A peak demand of under 80% of system production and distribution capacity is targeted).
Irrigation demands represent the bulk of non-essential water use, so a primary way that customers can reduce water usage is to limit irrigation. A unified application of voluntary water reductions by all water system users in
Brunswick County can help to avoid mandatory water restrictions.
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Hurricane Season is Here!
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30 with the peak season from mid-August to late October.
To get ready for a hurricane:
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Build an emergency kit.
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Make a family communications plan.
- Know you’re the routes you need to leave your home (evacuation routes). Locate your local emergency shelters.
- Closely watch/listen to the weather reports. Listening every hour as the storm nears.
- Put fuel in all vehicles and withdraw some cash from the bank. Gas stations and ATMs may be closed after a hurricane.
- If authorities ask you to leave, do so quickly.
- If you leave (evacuate), be alert to flooded or washed-out roads. Just a few inches of water can float a car. Think: Turn Around, Don't Drown.
- Keep a photo I.D. that shows your home address. You will need it when asking police if it is okay for you to re-enter your area or home.
- Secure your property.
- Bring inside all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
- Cover windows with permanent storm shutters or board up windows with 5/8” plywood, cut and ready to install. Tape does not stop windows from breaking.
- Put in straps or extra clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will lower roof damage.
- Trim trees and shrubs around your home, so they are more wind resistant.
- Clear clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
- Reinforce garage doors. If wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
Know the terms:
- Hurricane Watch – hurricane conditions (sustained winds greater than 74 mph) are possible. Watches are usually issued 48 hours before the beginning of tropical-storm-force-winds.
- Hurricane Warning – hurricane conditions (sustained winds greater than 74 mph) are expected. Warnings are usually issued 36 hours before the beginning of tropical-storm-force-winds.
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Tropical Storm Warning – tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible within 36 hours.
You can follow this link for more information, including what to do during and after a hurricane and past hurricanes in NC.
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Recent Events
2nd Annual Kids Fishing Day
Our 2nd Annual Kids Fishing Day event was held on Saturday June 18th. We had a great turnout. Lots of kids caught fish - some even caught a crab!
Huge thank you to our sponsors:
Bob King
WithersRavenel
Dr Michelakis Smiles and Implant Dentistry
Eagle Island Fruit and Seafood
Coastal Seafood & Propane
NC Farm Bureau Insurance - James Brendle, Agent
Tex's Tackle and Bait
Front Street Brewery
Intracoastal Angler
Food Lion Village Road
Piggly Wiggly
NC Marine Fisheries
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Park Updates
New Statues at the Veterans Memorial
Huge thank you to Skip's Tire for the donation of the Veterans Memorial statues. It is a great addition to honor those who served. New bricks were also added to the Veterans Memorial.
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Angie's Fresh Produce
Angie's Fresh Produce is now at the Belville Riverwalk. They offer delicious fresh fruits and vegetables along with Seaview Crab's line of fresh seafood. .
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COVID-19
Brunswick County COVID Tracker - Weekly Community Level Data (June 23)
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CENTERS FOR DISEASE PREVENTION & CONTROL’S (CDC) NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COVID-19 VACCINES
The CDC now recommends Moderna & Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines as best choice for most people for preventing severe infection from COVID-19. People who prefer to receive the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will continue to have access to it, given they do not have any contraindications, as will people who cannot receive an mRNA vaccine. The CDC emphasizes that receiving any vaccine, including the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, is better than being unvaccinated.
All community members aged 5 or older are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Children aged 5-17 are eligible for the Pfizer version of the vaccine only. Brunswick County Health Services requires written permission from a parent/ legal guardian to administer vaccines to those aged 5-15. Click here to learn more and download the consent form: Coronavirus - Brunswick County Government
Brunswick County Health Services continues to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. You can schedule a vaccination appointment online by clicking here: Brunswick County Health Services - novelHealth or by calling the Public Health Line at 910.253.2339 Mondays through Fridays from 9am until 5pm, excluding holidays. Additionally, Brunswick County continues to offer clinics. See Upcoming Clinics at brunswickcountync.gov/covid19clinics.
WHERE CAN I FIND FREE N95 MASKS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY?
- Brunswick Senior Resources Inc. Centers (BSRI): Click here for locations
- Retail pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy, as well as select grocery stores (see a full list of pharmacies participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program by clicking here)
- Municipal Town Halls: Stop by Belville Town Hall, M-F between 8-4:30; masks are available while supplies last. You may also click here for more information.
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Town Emergency Information Website
You may access the Town's emergency information page by clicking here or visiting us at townofbelville.com/emergency-information/. Here you will also find a link to sign up for Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation's (BEMC) outage texting service known as COAST (Cooperative Outage and Status Texting). This service will allow members to report and receive an outage status.
On the emergency information page, you will also find a list of important phone numbers, the NCDOT Division 3 Guide, the Brunswick County Access and Functional Needs form, along with several other important pieces of information relating to our Town.
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Board of Commissioners Meeting | |
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At the June 27th Board of Commissioners meeting, the Board received public comments on two text amendments:
- Amending Article 5 (Zoning Districts, Permitted Uses and Dimensional Requirements) of the Zoning Ordinance which Creates a Zoning District classified as a Conservation District for the protection of Estuarine waters and coastal wetlands.
- Adopting Text Amendments to Portions of Article 5 (Zoning Districts, Permitted Uses, and Dimensional Requirements) of the Zoning Ordinance for the purpose of increasing the maximum density (residential units per acre) in the Central Business (CBD) and the Multi-Family (MF) Zoning Districts.
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The Board passed Resolution R22-14 Designating July as Parks and Recreation Month. The National Parks and Recreation theme is ‘We Rise Up For Parks and Recreation,” to remind everyone to focus on the exponential value that Parks and Recreation professionals bring to the community. Click here to learn more. | |
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The Town of Belville provided a donation to Brunswick Family Assistance. Elle Thomas, Community Outreach
Administrator, was at the meeting to receive the check from the Town. Brunswick Family Assistance has several programs, including food,. rental assistance, financial assistance, a book bag drive, a Christmas program, and a summer food program.
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The Board of Commissioners welcomed Ian McLeod. He is the Town of Belville’s newest addition as our Grounds Maintenance/ Recreation Assistant. Please stop and say hello to Ian if you see him at the Belville Riverwalk. Welcome, Ian! | | |
Monthly Meetings Schedule | |
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July Monthly Meetings Schedule*
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Planning Board Meeting - July 12th at 6:30 PM
- Parks and Recreation Board Meeting - July 14th at 6:00 PM
- ABC Board Meeting - July 19th at 6:30 PM
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Board of Commissioners Meeting - July 25th at 6:30 PM
*Please check with the Town or follow press releases and notifications for meeting cancellations and changes.
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(1) Social Media Update – Are you connected to the Town's Facebook page to receive information from Town Hall? Follow the links below to join us on social media so you don't miss any announcements!
Town of Belville Facebook page
Town of Belville Instagram page
Town of Belville LinkedIn page
Please note that we will soon be merging the Belville Riverwalk Park Facebook page with the Town of Belville page. Please follow the link above to be sure you're following the Town's official Facebook page. Thank you!
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(2) Meetings Available on YouTube – Did you know that the Board of Commissioners and Planning Board meetings are available to watch on our YouTube channel? To see all of the videos currently available, click here and be sure to subscribe so you do not miss any new videos!
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(3) Job Vacancy: Planner - We are hiring a Town Planner for the following responsibilities: Current & long-range planning, coordinate technical review of development & zoning regulations/applications, assist Planning Board and Board of Commissioners. Must have excellent written, oral & organizational skills and significant site plan review understanding. Engineering experience preferred. Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field & 2 years of relevant experience required. Must be AICP certified. Knowledge/proficiency using ArcGIS; MS Office; ability to work both independently & in team environment. To learn more about the position, please visit our website: www.townofbelville.com/jobs/. | |
(4) Job Vacancy: Deputy Finance Officer - We are hiring a Deputy Finance Officer to serve as a strategic partner in support of all town missions delegated by the Board of Commissioners with responsibility for all financial services, including general accounting, payroll, investments, treasury functions, grants, financial reporting, the capital improvement plan, budgetary compliance, providing fiscal and budget staff support for departments, and procurement. To learn more about the position, please visit our website: www.townofbelville.com/jobs/. | |
(5) Welcome Elise Graham! She joins us as an intern from the NC Works Work Experience Program (WEX). She's working as a special assistant to the Town Manager. We're glad to have you on board, Elise!
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(6) Parks and Recreation Board: Position Open - the Board is advertising for a position to fill a vacancy which starts in July, and will expire in April of 2024. The application deadline is Wednesday, July 20th. For information, please call Town Hall at 910-341-2456. | |
Ongoing Belville Riverwalk Park Initiatives | |
Duke Energy Education Pavilion
The Duke Energy Education Pavilion is located along the Park's boardwalk. Please contact Town Hall at (910) 371-2456 for up-to-date information and reservations.
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Riverwalk Farmers' Market | | |
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Seaview Crab Company
Seaview Crab Company will be at the Farmer's Market on Thursdays from 2pm-5pm, Fridays from 11am-5pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.
Angies Fresh Produce has joined the Riverwalk Marketplace! Come check it out!
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Riverwalk Veterans' Memorial
Our Veterans Memorial, located on the south side of Riverwalk Park, continues to grow. For more information about adding a name to the memorial, please contact Jim Bucher or go directly to Polar Engraving to place your order online.
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Beginning stages of the memorial. | |
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