What's inside this issue?

• BHA News.
• Upcoming events.
• Let's Connect! BHA needs your complete contact information.
• BHA quick links and Board meetings.
• Handy Bald Head Island website links.

BHA News

Note from the BHA President:

I wanted to take this opportunity to update the Membership on our progress in finding not only our permanent Executive Director but our Interim Executive Director as well. I am very close in choosing our Interim which will allow us to take the necessary time in selecting our highly qualified, permanent Executive Director. My plan is to keep all members updated using this method during the process.  

Recruiters are being considered and screened for eventual Board confirmation. The selected recruiting firm will be retained to assist in locating qualified candidates for Board Consideration for appointment to this key position. The entire process is likely to take three or four months to complete. 

In the near term, I will be responsible for overseeing our team members, keeping them informed, on task and will provide linkage between the team and the Board. I will endeavor to keep key constituents informed about the progress made; periodic updates will be made and issued as appropriate. 

In the meantime, I thank our outgoing Executive Director, Carrie Moffett again for her 13 years of service and her willingness to aid the Board during this transition. 

Our next Board meeting is September 27th and the Public Session begins at 9:30am. I look forward to a healthy attendance whether it be in person or via Zoom.  

Bald Head Association President 

Christine Osborne  

Village and other Island Stakeholders Announce Settlement on Changes to Ferry Schedule 

The Village along with the Bald Head Island Club, the Bald Head Association, and the Bald Head Academy are pleased to announce that they have reached a settlement with Bald Head Island Transportation (BHIT) on changes to the ferry schedule.  This settlement will help to resolve disputes and avoid the need for litigation before the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). 

In February, BHIT filed an application with the NCUC to revise the passenger ferry schedules in order to improve the on-time performance of its passenger ferry service.   The application proposed to move from the current 30 minute one way/60 minute round trip to a 45 minute one way/90 minute round trip schedule. 

The Bald Head Academy, the Bald Head Island Club, the Village of Bald Head, and the Bald Head Association petitioned to intervene in the proceeding.  While each generally agreed that the proposed schedule would improve on time performance by allowing the ferry more time to onload passengers and luggage, traverse the river, and offload passengers and luggage, each also wanted to understand the impacts of reduced ferry capacity due to fewer ferry runs.  

All Intervenors want to acknowledge that recent changes to ferry operations, such as the improved reservation system and luggage limits among others, have improved on time performance, a reduction in the number of “bump boats”, and an improved passenger experience during the 2024 peak season. 

Since the application was filed, the Intervenors sought input from many other BHI stakeholders and after several months of information sharing sessions between BHIT and the Intervenors, the parties have accepted a “hybrid” schedule (attached) and stipulations which address most of the concerns of the Intervenors including, but not limited to the following:

• Continued 30-minute ferry runs in the early morning from 6 am-9 am and evening beginning at 6 pm 
• Establish a one year “trial period” after which BHIT has committed to making additional changes should the hybrid schedule result in significant capacity issues 
• Establish a bi-annual performance review between parties 
• Eliminate the existing mid-day lunch break  

Establish a reservation system for employees and contractors on the contractor ferry the primary issue preventing full agreement pertains to the Intervenors concern about capacity shortfalls at specific times in the shoulder season and high season when employee and visitor traffic is at its peak.  BHIT has shared that as they gain more experience understanding the impacts of passenger behavior under the new reservation system, they believe the hybrid schedule will reduce or eliminate the Intervenor’s capacity concerns.  The Intervenors have agreed to allow BHIT to demonstrate that the hybrid schedule will minimize those concerns and BHIT has agreed to provide information and meet with the interested parties periodically to assess schedule performance.  

Unrelated to this settlement, BHIT has communicated to the Intervenors its intention to eliminate the “ICard” system, which has been a longstanding benefit to island businesses and organizations.  This system allows for an employee card holder to have their card scanned upon onboarding, with a monthly bill sent to the employer for payment.  The Village and other Intervenors have communicated their concerns about the impact this change will have on island organizations and has encouraged BHIT to work with impacted businesses through this transition. 

Lastly, all parties wish to acknowledge the cooperative nature of the deliberations and negotiations by all involved.  Communication and relations with all stakeholders have improved throughout this process.   Most importantly, ferry users should expect an improved ferry experience and regular review of ferry performance to accommodate BHI’s needs.     

"Let's Connect!"

Help BHA help you by ensuring we have your correct and complete contact information

~ A recent example highlighting why this is so important ~

Here is one example of why BHA needs your correct and complete contact information, including email address and phone number. Recently, a resident reported water coming from their neighbor’s home when no one was at the house. This kindly neighbor correctly notified the Public Safety Department. Public Safety personnel were dispatched to the house and unfortunately discovered that the home did not have a Knox Box, so they were unable to access the home to assess the situation. Public Safety personnel then contacted BHA to see if the property owner had a “Key Holding” agreement, which was not the case. Fortunately, BHA had the correct email address and phone number for the property owners and was able to reach them. In this instance, the water leakage was due to a faulty hot water heater, and the situation has been resolved.

Does BHA have your correct and complete contact information?

Click the button below to email Diane Mesaris your complete contact information, including email address and phone number. Thank you!

What about privacy?

Bald Head Association takes seriously the safeguarding of its members’ personal information. BHA utilizes Enumerate Central, a cloud-based customer relationship management system built specifically for homeowner associations, to store members’ confidential contact information. BHA Board policy requires that personal information stored in Enumerate is not shared with anyone outside of the organization.

BHA's Board of Directors invites property owners and others to join its monthly public meetings in person or remotely via Zoom. 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.

ARC Section B's next meeting has been reschedule for September 26, 2024 at 9:30am. Please note the submittal due date remains September 6 at noon. The next BHA Board meeting public session is scheduled for Friday, September 27, 2024, at 9:30am in BHA's Association Center (111 Lighthouse Wynd).

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