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Tom Myers - HB Commissioner, 301 Ocean Boulevard West, Holden Beach, NC (2026)

11/21/2025

BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECTS

Over the past 25 years, the Town has completed 24 nourishment projects that have placed a total of 5,249,983 cubic yards of sand on the beach.

Over half of that amount came from two major projects: 1) Central Reach in 2017 which placed 1,430,000 cubic yards; and 2) the FEMA project in 2022 which placed 1,655,000 cubic yards.

The 25-year average is 210,000 cubic yards of sand per year. At $20/cubic yard, this would equate to an annualized cost of $4.2M.

The Town’s share of past project costs has ranged from zero for the FEMA project, to 25% for dredging projects, to 100% for Central Reach.

When planning for future projects, the biggest variables are the cost of sand per cubic yard and the Town’s share of the total cost.

Obviously, the biggest unknown is whether or not we will get hit by a major storm.

11/19/2025

THE PIER VOTING IS COMPLETE – BUT WHO WERE THE VOTERS?

More than two-thirds of registered voters cast ballots in the election, and more than one-third of the property owner households voted in the HBPOA straw poll.

Out of approximately 850 registered voters, 564 (66%) voted on the referendum. Their vote was 351 (62%) NO and 213 (38%) YES.

Out of approximately 2,600 property owner households, 901 (35%) voted in the straw poll. Their vote was 568 (63%) NO and 333 (37%) YES.

It is important to recognize the differences and similarities between these two constituencies.

Over 80% of property owner households were not eligible to vote on the referendum.

A married couple living together in a single property had two voters on election day but only one vote in the HBPOA straw poll. As a result, around 45% of the registered voters could not vote in the HBPOA straw poll.

Despite these differences, the results were almost identical. The message was clear: neither group wants to issue bonds and potentially raise taxes to pay for a new pier.

10/19/2025

GENERATIONAL EQUITY

The concept of generational equity holds that the people who benefit from something should be the ones who pay for it.

For example, the people who will benefit from a new pier should pay for it via the debt service costs, while the people who are currently benefiting from our wide beach should pay for it by setting aside money for future beach nourishment.

Generational equity is basically a fairness principle: the current generation needs to be fair to future generations when it comes to spending (or saving) money.

10/06/2025

Environmental advocates and federal documents warned of it, but now that erosion has accelerated east of the town's terminal groin and in front of newly built multimillion-dollar houses, property owners and developers want answers and solutions, quickly.

09/27/2025

SUPPLEMENTAL STORMWATER MASTER PLAN REPORT

At our September BOC meeting, McGill Associates presented their Supplemental Stormwater Master Plan Report on the additional areas of concern we asked them to investigate.

These areas included OBE east of Dunescape Drive (Area 7) and the three sets of canal streets (Areas 8, 9, and 10).

For Area 7, McGill recommended catch basins and new stormwater pipes tied into the network improvements planned for Area 2 (Mullet Street and Avenue A) along with a dune infiltration system east of Dunescape Drive.

Based on McGill’s analysis, flooding of the canal streets (Areas 8, 9, and 10) during 10-year rain events did not appear to be a significant risk. These areas are more impacted by backside events such as tidal flooding and storm surge, needing solutions that require more than just catch basins and stormwater outflows.

Based on McGill’s work, our top three areas of concern are the 300 block of OBW (Area 1), Mullet Street and Avenue A (Area 2) and the East End (Area 7).

Following McGill’s presentation, the BOC approved moving forward on an agreement with the Corps of Engineers for design and construction work related to Areas 1 and 2.

09/22/2025

THE PIER – HOW WE GOT HERE

When the town purchased the pier in 2022, multiple due diligence studies were performed. They all stated the pier was beyond its expected useful life and came up with different estimates for the repairs needed so it could be safely opened. These estimates ranged from $37,000 to $750,000.

Based on these estimates, the town budgeted $1 million and solicited bids to do the repair work. No bids were received in the first round, but two bids were submitted in the second round. One bid was for $2.2 M and the other bid was just under $4 M.

Based on these bids and the fact they repaired less than 20% of the piles, it became apparent it would probably cost less to build a new pier than to save the old one.

HDR was hired to perform a repair-versus-replace cost analysis. They quickly concluded that repairing the pier would cost more than building a new one and asked if they should continue developing estimates for the repair costs.

We concluded it wasn’t worth $96,000 for them to quantify how much greater repairs would cost, so we directed them to focus only on new construction.

After receiving their estimates for construction and maintenance costs, we proceeded down the path of determining how to finance it and concluded that issuing General Obligation bonds was the best method.

This method requires a referendum, which is where we are now.

08/21/2025

PIER COST DECISION

I have always thought that everybody wants the pier if it doesn’t cost them anything, and nobody wants it if it would price them off the island.

The question has always been: where is the tipping point?

HDR submitted their final report at our meeting on Tuesday, so we now have engineering estimates of future funding needs over the life of the pier.

This total is $3.6M, or $72,560 per year annualized, for maintenance, repair and replacement costs.

These ongoing costs are in addition to the estimated construction cost financed by the bonds.

Hopefully, everyone can now decide if the costs are acceptable or past their tipping point.

08/11/2025

FIRE PROTECTION

As discussed in recent newspaper articles, local fire departments are being challenged in keeping up with the dramatic population growth in Brunswick County. New housing developments need fire protection as soon as they are built, so fire departments must quickly ramp up their personnel, facilities, and equipment.

Fire departments are currently funded by the Fire Fee shown on our property tax statements. This fee is based on the heated square footage of buildings, or the acreage of vacant lots. The fee pays fire department expenses, including the new Tri-Beach fire station being built on Sabbath Home Road.

However, the Fire Fee is proving to be insufficient and there is movement toward implementing a Fire Tax based on property values.

Brunswick County is currently developing a Fire Fee to Fire Tax transition plan and is performing their analysis of the tax rates needed to adequately fund fire services in each district. Their target date to complete the rate analysis is August 29th and final recommendations for the Fire Tax are targeted for January 20th.

The Fire Tax will likely result in Holden Beach property owners paying more for fire protection due to our high property values.

Any future Fire Tax rate needs to be reasonable and equitable to the taxpayers on Holden Beach, especially as it pertains to paying for a new fire station on the island. For example, it would not be fair for us to pay for a fire station through our property taxes if it should be paid through the Fire Tax.

Stay tuned as this issue continues to progress and evolve.

07/19/2025

PIER LIFECYCLE COST ESTIMATES

At our BOC meeting last Tuesday, HDR presented a report summarizing their preliminary analysis of the estimated lifecycle costs associated with the new pier. These costs and estimates were broken down into the following categories:

• Maintenance – Ongoing activities focused on routine inspections, preventative care, and minor upkeep to ensure the pier remains safe, functional, and visually appealing throughout its service life.

• Preservation – Minor repair activities to address specific deterioration and/or extend the expected service life of the pier.

• Rehabilitation – More substantial repairs or upgrades performed to restore functionality, address localized deterioration, or enhance structural performance beyond routine maintenance.

• Replacement – Full replacement or reconstruction of the entire pier or a large portion of it.

• Reactive Work – Response activities designed to address unforeseen damage or failures.

HDR estimated the timing and cost of maintenance, preservation and rehabilitation work as shown in the chart below. Their final report will also include cost estimates for replacement and reactive work.

These lifecycle costs will be in addition to the estimated not-to-exceed $7.3M construction cost discussed last month. While construction costs can be financed by general obligation bond debt, operating and maintenance costs will need to be paid out of our annual budgets.

06/22/2025

2025-26 BUDGET

We passed our 2025-26 budget at our June BOC meeting last week. The budget achieved the following goals: 1) no tax increase; 2) no new long-term debt; 3) no deficit spending; and 3) maintaining strong fund balances.

The budget was very similar to last year, with no significant changes to ad valorum, occupancy tax, or paid parking revenues. The base charge for sewer service will increase by $3.90 per month to cover a projected shortfall.

Major expense items included the completion of sewer lift station #2, the bathrooms on Block Q, Lockwood Folly dredging, pier final design, and a concert venue on Block Q.

Salaries increased 2.5% for cost-of-living and 2.5% for merit raises. No new vehicles will be purchased, and no new staff positions will be added.

As illustrated in the chart below, our existing debt service costs will be going down dramatically in the next couple of years, freeing up money for other purposes.

06/20/2025

PIER COST ESTIMATE

At our BOC meeting last Tuesday, HDR presented the Not-To-Exceed (NTE) cost estimate of $7.3M.

HDR’s estimate is based the design requirements we gave them (i.e., pedestrian rated 1,000 foot wood pier with a “T” at the end) and the use of a work trestle for construction, which is the most expensive method. The estimate includes demolition costs for the current structure and a 25% contingency factor.

At a future BOC meeting HDR will be providing lifecycle cost estimates for operating and maintaining the new pier over its expected useful life.

Also, our bond attorney reported the LGC is allowing things to move forward, but at all our meetings we must tell the public that a new pier will not be insurable for storm damage, so we will be on the hook to repay the bonds even if the pier is destroyed by a hurricane.

The picture below shows how a work trestle is used for construction of a pier.

Tom Myers - HB Commissioner

11/21/2025

11/19/2025

10/19/2025

10/06/2025

09/27/2025

09/22/2025

08/21/2025

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