SBTA Membership Meeting

Meeting Minutes

March 30, 2024

 

 

Opening

The Easter weekend Saturday membership meeting of Sunset Beach Taxpayers Association was called to order at 10:30 am on March 30, 2024, at the Sunset Beach Community Center, 200 Station Trail, Sunset Beach.

Attendance

Board members present:  Mark Cramer, Tom Barker, and Bruce Hovermale.   Absent:  Ken Sekley, Nina Marable, John Wells, and Mac Nelson.

 

Attendance:  19

 

Presentations & Discussion

 

Mark Cramer opened the meeting with a welcome, introduction of board members and members present introduced themselves.  Mark thanked Ann Jensen for her service on the board and recognized SBTA Board Member Emeritus Ray Puknys who was in attendance.

 

The members present voted to approve minutes of the September 2, 2023, Labor Day Saturday          membership meeting.

 

Bruce Hovermale provided the results of the Board election:  Tom Barker 32 votes, Mark Cramer 33 votes, and Nina Marable 34 votes.  Of the 105 members in good standing eligible to vote, 34 cast votes—32% of eligible members voted.  He announced that the three candidates had been re-elected to the Board.

 

Mark Cramer reviewed the proposed amendments to the bylaws that had been distributed by email to the membership.  Bruce advised that he had received no objections to the proposed amendments, and therefore in accordance with Article VI b) of the Bylaws, the proposed amendments were adopted.

 

Bruce Hovermale noted the passing of Rich Cerrato, a former Sunset Beach mayor, councilman, and SBTA member.

 

Mark Cramer reviewed the proposed Town parking plan and distributed a a map showing the locations of the parking addressed by the proposed plan.   The plan is now with the Town’s engineer to study the proposal regarding the technical details.  A robust discussion followed, with questions and comments on various aspects of the proposal.

 

Bruce Hovermale reviewed the Palm Cove HOA request to the Town to sponsor a state dredging fund grant to address the significant erosion on the bay side of Palm Cove.  It was noted that the Town Council has now approved the Memorandum of Understanding with the HOA to support the application for the grant with the HOA funding the entire project including the Town’s costs.

 

Bruce Hovermale provided status on the Shoreline Management (Dredging) Project.  The contractor has advised the Town that the project work has been completed ahead of the March 31st permit deadline.  The contractor will now remove the equipment, any remaining spoils, and restore the areas of the Town Park and Majestic Oaks property used.  Once all costs have been settled, the final project cost will be confirmed.  John Corbett, a Town Councilman, advised that the Town’s goal is to be in a position to issue the assessments to the affected properties by the issuance of the 2024 property tax bills.

 

Tom Barker reviewed the status of the Angel’s Trace proposed development.  The Planning Board has recommended disapproval of the application.  The application will now go to the Town Council for approval/disapproval.  It was reported that members of the Town Council were in negotiations with the developer on various aspects of the conditional rezoning request, and that a new public hearing would be scheduled for May 2nd.  The Town Council would then vote on approval or disapproval of the revised rezoning request.

 

Tom Barker reviewed the proposed beach regulations for the 2024 season.  Councilman Corbett clarified that single pole wind-driven shading devices are not included, only two or more poles.  A tri-fold pamphlet explaining the new beach regulations is available at Town Hall.

 

Mark Cramer raised the concern regarding recent news of multiple staff departures among the Town staff.  John Corbett gave a synopsis of the changes.  Mark also raised concern about next year’s Town budget and any possible tax rate increases.  John Corbett advised that they are early in the budget process as department needs are currently being developed.  Given the level of development, it is still too early to give any indication of whether the Town Council will hold the tax rate steady or seek an increase.

 

Member comments:  Katie Hovermale advised the one of the original SBTA members, Sue Weddle, passed away this week in Texas.  Sue was instrumental in forming the SBTA as well as the formation of the Bird Island Preservation Society which led a successful campaign to preserve Bird Island as a state nature reserve. 

 

A few people spoke about the prevalence of golf carts being driven on the island by unauthorized drivers, plus speeding.  Councilman Corbett asked that members should email the Town about these incidents and cc: council members, which will increase the likelihood of follow-up by the police department.

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Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 pm.