Cape Connection

Silva Appointed Police Chief

The Town is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Silva as the new Cape Carteret Police Chief. Chief Silva will begin work on Monday, August 21, and will lead the 7-member law enforcement agency serving our residents, businesses, and visitors in Cape Carteret.

Incoming Chief Silva has served as Police Chief for the Town of Grifton, NC since 2017, and is responsible for all law enforcement activities in this similarly sized community and Police Department. Chief Silva brings approximately 28 years of law enforcement experience to the Cape Carteret Police Department, including previous experience with the NC Department of Revenue's law enforcement unit, the North Carolina State Capitol Police, and the Durham Police Department.

Chief Silva will focus on maintaining and developing cooperative relationships with Town residents and businesses, proactive patrol activities, quick and effective law enforcement response, and improving the overall capabilities and professionalism of the Cape Carteret Police Department. Chief Silva's office will be relocated to the Town Hall building later in August, and he can also be reached via email or at 252-393-2183 or 252-393-8483.

The Town will host a special reception for the Cape Carteret community to meet Chief Silva at 5 pm before the September 11 Town Board meeting at Town Hall. We look forward to Chief Silva's contributions to the Cape Carteret community!

Clubhouse Drive To Be Reopened

At it's July 10 meeting, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reopen Clubhouse Drive between Sutton Drive and Taylor Notion Road. The road has been closed to thru traffic for the past several years, and the existing fence blocking the road will be removed by Town staff in early August. New STOP signs will also be installed at this intersection.

Sutton Drive Drainage Improvements Set to Begin

The Town's contractor, SunLand Builders, is set to begin work on drainage improvements aimed at resolving storm water flooding in the Sutton Drive area. Work involves the grading of an emergency overflow feature across a nearby fairway at Star Hill Golf Course, along with associated ditch and pipe improvements. The project is intended to provide an alternative route for storm water to flow during significant (i.e., hurricane intensity) rainfall events that exceed the capacity of existing storm water infrastructure in this area of Cape Carteret, and should effectively prevent prolonged standing water during future events.

The total cost of the project, including design work, easement acquisition, and construction is approximately $88,000, and funding for the project is derived from Federal ARPA funding awarded to the Town in 2021 and 2022.

The majority of work associated with this project is expected to be complete by mid-August, with minor associated work on an additional ditch feature scheduled for later in August.

Ardan Oaks Drainage Work Set to Begin

The Town's contractor, M&W Land Improvement, is set to begin drainage improvements in the Ardan Oaks neighborhood in early August. Work involves the construction of a new infiltration basin on a Town-owned lot, the construction of an emergency overflow swale leading to a nearby creek, and improvements to existing storm water features serving Ardan Oaks. The project is intended to allow storm water to exit the area via gravity flow during significant (i.e., hurricane intensity) rainfall events in the future, and should effectively prevent historical flooding issues near the intersection of Taylor Notion Road and Ardan Oaks Drive.

The total cost of the project is approximately $135,000, and is funded by a combination of State grant funds and funding derived from Federal ARPA funding awarded to the Town in 2021 and 2022. Work is expected to be complete by the end of August.

Neptune Drive Resurfacing, Drainage Improvements Set to Begin

The Town's contractor, Thomas Simpson Construction, will be resurfacing Neptune Drive between the northern terminus of Holly Lane and Bogue Sound in early August, and the project will also address nuisance street flooding in multiple locations along this segment of Neptune Drive. The Town's Public Works staff will be working in conjunction with the contractor to eliminate standing water areas as part of this project.

The total cost of the project is approximately $85,000, and funding for the project is derived from Federal ARPA funding awarded to the Town in 2021 and 2022. Work is expected to be complete by mid-August.

Town Soliciting Construction Bids for Bogue Sound Drive Drainage Improvements

The Town is currently soliciting construction bids for drainage improvements along Bogue Sound Drive between Park Avenue and Edgwewater Court, and bids are due to Town Hall by Friday, August 4 at 4 pm. A complete bid package is available for review at this link.

Work involves the construction of new infiltration basins, improved ditches, new storm water piping, and new headwalls near the outlet to an existing canal to improve storm water flow in this area of Cape Carteret. All planned work will be funded by State grant funding later this summer or fall.

Western Carteret County Towns Awarded Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant

The towns of Cape Carteret, Cedar Point, Bogue, and Peletier have been awarded a grant from the NC Department of Transportation for the development of a regional bicycle and pedestrian plan that is envisioned as the first step toward future bicycle and pedestrian improvements in Cape Carteret and surrounding towns. The development of the plan will begin later this fall, and will be coordinated by the Down East Rural Planning Organization in conjunction with Town representatives.

The plan will identify desired bicycle path and sidewalk improvements along NC 24 and NC 58 in each municipality, and also consider strategies to develop connectedness among the four towns in the future. Significant public participation is planned, and further details will be provided when the planning effort begins later this year.

The estimated total cost for the development of the new plan is approximately $50,000, and the Town of Cape Carteret's share of this cost is approximately $2,500.

Town Receives NCLM Grant Funds

The Town recently received approximately $2,400 of grant funding from the NC League of Municipalities to improve the safety and efficiency of Public Works employees. A total of $2,000 was awarded toward the cost of a new John Deere Gator vehicle that will be used for a variety of Public Works tasks, including litter pickup along NC 24 and NC 58, and the remainder was awarded for the purchase of new safety signs to alert motorists of Public Works employees working in street right of ways. Grant funds were delivered to Ryan Hutchinson, Public Works Director, in early July. 

Town Election Set for November 7

The 2023 municipal elections are scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, and the Mayor position and 3 seats on the Board of Commissioners are up for election. The following candidates have filed for the 2023 election:

Mayor (1 position): Will Baker.

The Mayor's term is 4 years, and will expire in 2027.

Board of Commissioners (3 positions): Courtney Barnhill, Gheorghe Cormos, Roy Fish, Heather Grainger, John Ritchie, Jeff Waters, Cameron Watts.

The two candidates for the Board of Commissioners receiving the highest number of votes will serve 4-year terms expiring in 2027, and the third-place candidate will serve a 2-year term expiring in 2025.

The terms of current Board members Steve Martin and Charlie Morgan expire in 2025, and they will continue to serve alongside the winners of the 2023 Town election.

Next Vegetative Debris Collection Begins September 25

The next Town-wide vegetative debris collection event will begin on Monday, September 25. Residents should place vegetative debris at the curbside between September 9 and September 25, and Public Works staff will collect the debris as soon as possible beginning on September 25.

Limbs should generally be limited to 8 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. Please avoid placement directly under utility lines and large trees.

Town Seeking Volunteers for Fall Festival!

The Town is working hard to produce an improved and expanded Fall Festival, and the 2023 event is scheduled for Saturday, November 4. The Town is seeking volunteers to help plan the event, and also to staff the event on Saturday, November 4.

Please call (252-393-8483) or email Barbara Owens, the Town's event organizer, if you'd like to volunteer. We'd love to have your help!

Town Working to Develop Email Database of All Cape Carteret Property Owners -

Please Help Us Communicate With You More Effectively!

The Town continues to seek ways to improve our communication with our customers, and is currently in the process of implementing new customer relations software, online permitting and payment services, a new Town website, and more.

One element of these efforts is the development of a comprehensive email database of ALL residents and property owners in the Town. To assist us with this process, we are asking all residents and property owners in the Town of Cape Carteret to send an email to Barbara Owens that simply includes your name, property address, and email address. The Town will utilize this information for official Town business only, and will be working to tailor our communications more individually in the future in an effort to keep you better informed about the Town's initiatives and activities.

Thank you for your assistance!

Upcoming Town Meetings

The Board of Commissioners will hold its next regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 14 at 6 pm.

The Planning Board will hold its next regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 15 at 6 pm.

The Parks Improvements Committee will hold its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 22 at 6 pm.

All meetings are held in the Debbie E. Stanley Boardroom at Town Hall, located at 102 Dolphin Street.

Stay Informed About the Town of Cape Carteret!

The Town of Cape Carteret is committed to providing timely, concise, and relevant information to the residents, property owners, businesses, and visitors to Cape Carteret, and "Cape Connection" is a great way to stay informed about the Town's issues, activities, and initiatives.

To join our mailing list, please click HERE , scroll to the bottom, and enter your email information. 

In addition to "Cape Connection", the Town offers the following opportunities to stay informed:

• Follow us on Facebook at Town of Cape Carteret NC.  Please note the "NC" on the end.

• Follow us on Instagram - townofcapecarteret .

• Follow us on Twitter - @TownofCapeC .

• Visit the Town's webpage at www.townofcapecarteret.org .

In addition, all of our customers are always welcome to call us at 252-393-8483, visit us in person at 102 Dolphin Street, or email Town staff .

Thank you for your interest in the Town of Cape Carteret!

Did You Know?

The Town of Cape Carteret operates with a total of 15 authorized positions, and there is currently one vacant position. Of the Town's 14 current employees, 9 employees began their service to the Town within the last 3 years.