Sunset Beach moves forward with two projects

March 26, 2023, will mark 60 years since Sunset Beach was incorporated as a town. To celebrate this, Town Administrator Lisa Anglin asked for the council’s OK to hold a 60th anniversary celebration in the Sunset Beach Town Park on Saturday, March 25.

The council unanimously voiced support for the event, and instructed Anglin and town staff to move forward in planning it.

More information about the celebration will be reported by the Brunswick Beacon as it is learned.

Town Park Gazebo project bid accepted

The council approved Carolina Bluewater Construction, Inc.’s bid for the construction of a gazebo in the Sunset Beach Town Park.

The town received two bids for the project, the one from Carolina Bluewater Construction, Inc. for $164,900, and one from Site Solutions for $200,494.

The council expressed support for going with the Carolina Bluewater Construction bid because, one, it is the lower bid and, two, they have done work in Sunset Beach prior.

“They’ve demonstrated they produce a solid reliable product,” Councilman John Corbett said.

Councilmen Charles Nern and Mike Hargreaves echoed Corbett’s sentiment. Hargreaves made the motion to accept the bid, with Corbett seconding. The motion passed unanimously.

Work on the project will begin immediately, Anglin said. She added that some areas of the park will be closed during construction.

The new gazebo will be used as a stage for the town’s summer concert series.

Anglin noted that the project should be completed in time for the town’s March 25 anniversary celebration, as well.

Council approves scope of work for 40th Street Shoreline Protection Project

The town council moved to approve phase three of the 40th Street Shoreline Protect Project. The phase includes engineering and design of the project.

The project was initially approved through the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management’s Resilient Coastal Communities Program. The town was awarded a grant for $49,865 to cover the engineering and designing aspect of the project; the total cost of this phase is $49,900.

The town will have to cover the difference in cost, which totals $35.

Anglin said there’s “potentially grant funding for phase four” and that the town will pursue that funding. Phase four entails construction of the project.

McGill Associates PA will be doing the engineering, surveying and permitting involved with the project.

The erosion protection project will stabilize erosion on 275 feet on both sides of 40th Street, north of North Shore Drive, and restore and develop roughly 135 feet of living shoreline in that stretch.

McGill Associates estimates that phase three will take roughly 180 days to complete.

The motion to approve the scope of the work passed unanimously.

More information on the project can be found in the Jan. 9 meeting agenda packet.

Town adopts MOU with Sea Trail Masters Association regarding street signs

Anglin said the Sea Trail Masters Association (STMA) approached the town about replacing the standard street sign posts in the community with decorative posts.

The town supplies all street signs and standard posts, but Anglin said she informed STMA that the town could not provide decorative posts.

“The [STMA] representative advised that they are willing to purchase, install and maintain the decorative posts, and the town agrees to provide the signs,” Anglin said.

Nern asked Anglin if all the signs in Sea Trail would be replaced with new signs as a result of the MOU. Anglin said if the signs are in good shape, they will be reused, so they will not be replacing all the signs. She added that the town has an inventory of signs because they are often stolen or damaged.

The agreement would add no cost to the town, as the signs are already purchased by the town.

The council voted unanimously to approve the MOU.