Please plan ahead when traveling on and off the island via the NC 58 Bridge:
- Weekday closures can occur between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
- Saturday and Sunday closures can occur between the hours of 7:00 AM and 5:30 PM.
At this time, single lane closures are anticipated to occur on the following dates:
- November 14-19, 2020.
- Following Thanksgiving, contractors will resume with single lane closures on November 30 and continue through December 17, 2020.
- Following the Christmas and New Year's holidays, single lane closures will resume once more and continue through March of 2021.
With any large scale construction project, schedules are subject to change. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
NCDOT Questions
Contact: Lauren Haviland
(919) 707-2677
The Emerald Isle Garden Club Wreath Fundraiser
The Emerald Isle Garden Club, our very own non-profit 501(c)3 beautification organization, is raising funds to support numerous community service projects in Emerald Isle. Residents, businesses and friends of Emerald Isle can help by purchasing a 22" wreath comprised of fresh Fraser fir, white pine and arborvitae.
Wreaths are only $28.00 each. Remember, these lovely fresh wreaths are expected to last well past the holidays.
Quantities are limited and advanced pre-paid orders are being taken now. Pick-up is December 2, 2020 between 10:00 AM and Noon at the Emerald Isle Community Center.
The Emerald Isle Garden Club also offers assorted handmade (by Club members) bows for $5.00 each at pick up.
For more information, or to place an order, please contact Theresa at 252-764-0420 or email us at eigardenclub@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting the beautification efforts of Emerald Isle and the Emerald Isle Garden Club!
NOW OPEN: Channel Drive Beach Access
The Emerald Isle Parks & Recreation Department is pleased to announce that the public beach access, located at Channel Drive, is completely reconstructed. The beautiful wooden walkway now measures 6-feet wide and nearly 300-feet in length. The project is complete and the access is open to the public. Please make a point to stop by and enjoy!
PUBLIC WORKS SPOTLIGHT
A new video, showcasing the Emerald Isle Public Works team is available online. The video is located on the Town's Facebook page and main webpage. Learn about the many services performed by the hardworking team in Public Works.
Emerald Isle Turtle Patrol
Submitted by: Valerie Rohrig
All's quiet on the Sea Turtle front right now. Thankfully, no recent strandings due to the colder weather. Our wonderful volunteers are resting up and already thinking ahead to next season. Questions going thru their minds might include: Will I find tracks next year?, How many nests will we get?, Will I get to see those adorable hatchlings hustling down the sand to the ocean?... you get the idea. For many of us, it's obviously a passion!
Do you have questions about Sea turtles? Our website, eiseaturtlepatrol.org has LOTS of articles archived that might provide you with the information you're looking for.
We also list many book titles that might supply you with the answers you desire. In addition to that, the website has photos and activities. We have a Facebook page with lots of current happenings and updates. You can find the link on the website and easily LIKE us there!
While it may currently be quiet on the beach for turtles, the bird rescuers still continue to make rescue calls. Rescuers collect and transport injured or sick birds to local organizations that treat and protect all kinds of birds. As if being a Sea Turtle Co-Coordinator for Zone 10 isn't enough, thanks to Carla Aldridge for her added passion for bird rescues.
Remember to leave nothing behind on the sand but your footprints!
2020 Emerald Isle Property Tax Bills
The Town of Emerald Isle's property tax bills are consolidated with the Carteret County tax bills, beginning this tax year. Tax bills have been mailed and are available online at https://carteretcountytax.com/. Property owners will no longer receive a direct tax bill from the Town of Emerald Isle.
What Changed on the 2020 Tax Bill?
One Bill:
Carteret County and Emerald Isle Taxes are itemized on a consolidated bill.
Revaluation:
Individual property values may have changed, due the recent market value revaluation process.
Tax Rates:
Carteret County includes a 33 cent tax rate as compared to 31 cent tax rate in 2019.
Emerald Isle retained a 15.5 cent tax rate, identical to 2019.
EI Solid Waste Fee:
Developed residential properties in Emerald Isle include a $255/unit solid waste fee.
The fee in 2019 was $240/ unit.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you see a green insert in your tax billing envelope, do not be alarmed. Residents within a city limit DO NOT have to pay the Carteret County $165 fee associated with bulk waste disposal.
If you are charged the Greenbox Fee of $165, and pay a curbside trash pickup service, please provide proof of service to the tax office. Upon proof of service, we will remove the fee from the bill. The deadline to have this fee removed is January 5, 2021.
Beach Driving returns to Emerald Isle
Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the upcoming Phase III Beach Nourishment project, considerable thought has been given to the issuance of Beach Driving permits for 2020/2021.
ONLINE PERMITS: Beach Driving Permits are available for online purchase via the EIPD. A beach driving permit may be purchased online by visitingwww.emeraldisle-nc.org/beach-driving
Emerald Isle Police Department customer service representatives are available to assist via phone by dialing (252) 354-2021. The hours of operation include:
9am until 8pm Sunday-Thursday
9am until 10pm Friday-Saturday.
Beach Nourishment Closures: For safety reasons, certain sections of Emerald Isle beaches must be closed during the 2020/2021 Beach Driving season. Closures are unavoidable, due to the construction of the estimated $40M Phase III Beach Nourishment project.
- Beach nourishment can only occur between November 16, 2020 and April 30, 2021.
- Click here to watch an example of Beach nourishment
- The Town of Emerald Isle anticipates smaller/ defined sections of the beach to close, while those areas area being nourished.
- Phase II Nourishment areas include the following sections of the Emerald Isle beach:
- Between the Point and Lands' End
- Sea Dunes toward the Dog Leg
- The far east end of Emerald Isle
Authorized beach access ramps are located at the Ocean Drive "dog-leg" (near mile marker 15 on NC 58), at the end of Black Skimmer Drive (across from Police Department), and at The Point (at the terminus of Inlet Drive at Bogue Inlet). Driving on primary dunes, as well as other vegetated areas, remains STRICTLY prohibited.
Beach Driving Period: The period for Beach Driving is scheduled to occur from September 15 to April 30, with the exception of the 10-day period near Easter. This period includes the Friday prior to Easter, until and including, the Sunday that occurs 7 days after Easter. For 2021, beach driving will not be allowed at all from April 2 - April 11, 2021.
Highly Important Disclaimer: By purchasing a 2020/2021 beach driving permit, permit holders understand that there will be no refunds or discounts provided due to beach closures of any kind. Closures may be caused by nourishment activities, beach conditions, and/or other unavoidable events.
CCEC: Thinking about solar? Give us a call.
If you are considering purchasing a residential solar (photovoltaic) system - with or without battery storage - please call CCEC to discuss our interconnection policy and how the addition of solar panels will impact your electric bill before you sign the dotted line. We want you to be a prepared and educated solar consumer. Solar companies may not have knowledge of all the cooperative's policies or rates that apply to interconnected solar systems. Learn more at
www.ccemc.com/Renewables.
Bogue Banks Water Corp.: New Cellular End Points are Here!
Bogue Banks Water Corporation is proud to announce that we are now offering Orion cellular endpoints as an upgrade for customers. Endpoints are transmitting antennas on the meters that send out the meter readings to our technician's receiving devices. The endpoints that are included with the meter upgrades are not cellular based, but instead 'talk' to our in vehicle reading systems.
However, cellular based endpoints 'talk' by - you guessed it - cell towers! A smart phone app is available that will communicate with the cellular endpoint, giving the customer real time 24/7 info about the water flowing (or not flowing) through the meter.
What are the benefits to having one of these cellular endpoints? Well, with the smart phone app, you will be able to see daily meter readings. You can set up alerts in your app to let you know when usage exceeds a certain amount or when there is constant flow for more than a few hours. These alerts can also be sent to multiple contacts (for example, your maintenance company). If a pipe leaks you can know in minutes, rather than days or weeks! Other potential benefits include monitoring your irrigation usage in the summer or checking for usage when no one is supposed to be at the residence. For more information on how the app works and what it can show you, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xzSZ0ImI-s
The cellular endpoints do cost more than the standard we install and carry an additional monthly charge for the cellular service, cloud storage, and access to the "Eye on Water" app. We are offering customers the opportunity to replace their current endpoint with a cellular one for a one time install charge of $40.00 and a $1.00/month service fee to cover the cellular service. Currently this is limited to the first 500 customers to sign up. Once all the meter upgrades are completed or after the first 500 units are sold, the one-time charge for the cellular endpoint will be $140.00. The $1.00/month will stay the same. Please call our office at 252-354-3307 if you would like more information.
Phase III Beach Nourishment- Coming in 2021!
Phase III of the post-Florence beach nourishment program is scheduled to occur between January and April 2021. The near $32 million contract will be completed by the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) company, the same company that performed Phase I and Phase II of the nourishment along the Bogue Banks. The project is funded in part by FEMA, the State of North Carolina, and Carteret County Beach Nourishment Reserves.
Please reference the map above. Segments marked in YELLOW identify the Phase III areas scheduled to be nourished in 2021.
