Dredging Project

At the Board's workshop on May 16th, all three canal subdivisions expressed a desire to proceed with the dredging of their canal systems in the upcoming winter dredging season. The Town's consulting engineering firm, Right Angle Engineering, was introduced. Representing Right Angle Engineering were Jim Vithalani - Senior Engineer (former Deputy Engineer of the Wilmington District Army Corps), Shane Lippard - Project Engineer and Howard Varnum - Project Manager (former Chief of Navigation Division of the Wilmington District Army Corps). 

The Board held another workshop on June 23rd subsequent to the public hearing on the annual budget the night before. A review of the mechanism required to effect dredging projects this upcoming winter was presented by the Town Manager. The process implemented by the adoption of resolutions and the annual budget includes 1) the establishment of separate dredging assessment districts for each canal subdivision, 2) creation of separate budgets for each dredging district and 3) the setting of the assessment rate for each district. The assessments are $800 for Holden Beach Harbor, $500 for Heritage Harbor and $200 for Harbor Acres. Assessment fees will be based on a per lot basis according to the original platted maps creating the subdivisions and will be assessed/ collected with the normal ad valorem tax billing made in September and due in January. Staff was tasked with assembling a list of required actions and a corresponding timeline required to meet the winter dredging target window. The next meeting has yet to be determined.