Meeting Replay
Click the link below to watch the meeting replay on the Brunswick County Agendas and Minutes Portal. Note: Brunswick County will no longer use Zoom and YouTube for streaming and archiving moving forward.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners met for a regular meeting at 3 p.m. this Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.
Below is a quick recap of the actions taken on selected agenda items during the regular meeting. Residents can watch the meeting replay, view the full agenda and accompanying reports and subscribe to agenda notifications on the Brunswick County Agendas and Minutes Portal.
This was the last scheduled meeting in calendar year 2025. The first Board of Commissioners meeting of 2026 will be Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.
Meeting Livestreams/Replays Moving to Agendas & Minutes Portal
Beginning Nov. 17, 2025, all Board of Commissioners meetings will be streamed live and archived for replay directly through the Brunswick County Agendas and Minutes Portal.
Meeting livestreams and replays can be accessed in the Portal through the Media (Camera) Icon for each Board of Commissioners meeting date moving forward.
Brunswick County will no longer use Zoom and YouTube for future streaming and archiving. Brunswick County will communicate any changes to how live or archived meetings can be watched should another method become necessary for a particular meeting.
Brunswick County began streaming and recording Board of Commissioner meetings on May 20, 2024. Meeting recordings from May 20, 2024, through Nov. 3, 2025, can still be viewed on Brunswick County's YouTube channel.
Meeting Recap
III. Adjustments/Approval of Agenda
The Board unanimously approved the agenda as amended:
- Commissioner Randy Thompson asked to move Consent Agenda Items No. 8, 9, and 10 (see below) to Administrative Report as Item No. 4, 5, and 6.
- Governing Board – Resolution – NC Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition Position (Blue Crab Harvest Limit Changes)
- Governing Board – Resolution Opposing the Expansion of the Chemours Fayetteville Works Facility
- Governing Board – Resolution Requesting Kratom Legislation and Regulation
IV. Election of Board Chairman
- Clerk to the Board – Election of the Board Chairman: The County Attorney temporarily presided over the meeting to oversee the Board's annual selection of one member to chair the Board. The Board moved 4-1 to re-appoint Commissioner Mike Forte as Chairman of the Board for calendar year 2026 (Yes: Cooke, Forte, Thompson, Williams; No: Sykes).
V. Election of Board Vice Chairman
- Clerk to the Board – Election of the Vice Chairman: Chairman Forte presided over the meeting to oversee the Board's annual selection of one member as the Vice Chairman to the Board. The Board moved 4-1 to re-appoint Commissioner Marty Cooke as Vice Chairman of the Board for calendar year 2026 (Yes: Cooke, Forte, Thompson, Williams; No: Sykes).
VIII. Approval of Consent Agenda
- The Board unanimously approved the consent agenda as amended. The full list of the approved consent agenda items is available on the Brunswick County Agendas and Minutes Portal.
IX. Presentations
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Disaster Preparedness Award: The Board received the NC One Water Disaster Preparedness Award from the NC One Water combined organization of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Water Works Association and the North Carolina Water Environment Association. No vote was taken.
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Golden Manhole Society Award: The Board recognized Donald Dixon as the NC One Water Golden Manhole Society Award recipient. No vote was taken.
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Meter Madness Operations Challenge & Hydrant Hysteria Competition: The Board recognized Trevor Page in his third-place finish in the NC One Water Meter Madness Operations Challenge and recognize our NC One Water Hydrant Hysteria team. No vote was taken.
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Raymond E. “Red” Ebert Award: The Board recognized Mickey Thompson as the NC One Water Raymond E. “Red” Ebert Award recipient. No vote was taken.
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Wastewater Collections Operator of the Year: The Board recognized Jake Elliott as the NC One Water Wastewater Collections Operator of the Year. No vote was taken.
X. Administrative Report
- Administration – Brunswick Community College Property Request: The Board unanimously approved transferring approximately 17.5 acres of Parcel No. 1530000121 to Brunswick Community College for the fire service and driving pad training facilities.
- Administration – Fire Service Funding and Contract Revisions: The Board received information with regard to County funding of the fire service for Fiscal Year 2027. No vote was taken on this item and there were no changes made to the current fire fee structure during this meeting.
Based on concerns expressed by Commissioners about how a change to a fire tax beginning in July 2026 may reduce the chances of the proposed school bond referendum passing in November 2026, a change to replace the fire fees with a fire tax will not be proposed to go into effect in FY 2027. The Board directed staff to instead incorporate a proposed one-time general fund subsidy estimated to be between $10-12 million as they develop the FY27 recommended budget. If approved, this subsidy would provide additional financial support for the fire service countywide in the next fiscal year (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). Staff will return before the Commissioners at the regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, to present alternative strategies to consider for the distribution of the general fund subsidy dollars, should they be available in the FY27 budget.
Staff will also present a draft version of the proposed new contract form on Jan. 20 based on recommendations from the fire funding task force. The new contract form would clarify the County's service expectations and substantially increase financial and service reporting and accountability. Staff on the fire funding task force will continue to work with the Fire Chiefs Association’s leadership in the development of this new proposed agreement.
- Utilities – Adjustment of PTE Utility Dispatcher to FTE: The Board unanimously approved replacing PTE (part-time employee) Utilities Dispatcher with FTE (full-time equivalent) Utilities Dispatch position.
- Governing Board – Resolution – NC Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition Position (Blue Crab Harvest Limit Changes): The Board unanimously approved a resolution supporting the NC Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition position regarding the harvesting of blue crabs to support local and statewide fishermen.
- Governing Board – Resolution Opposing the Expansion of the Chemours Fayetteville Works Facility: The Board unanimously adopted the resolution to oppose the expansion of the Chemours Fayetteville Works Facility. Chemours has requested a permit to expand operations at the Fayetteville Works Facility, increasing the production and potential increases to the discharge of PFAS. The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners have also passed a similar resolution in opposition of this requested expansion.
- Governing Board – Resolution Requesting Kratom Legislation and Regulation: The Board unanimously approved a resolution to request legislation and regulation of the over-the-counter herbal substance Kratom.
XI. Board Appointments
- Clerk to the Board – Board Re-Appointment Ocean Isle Beach Board of Adjustments ETJ: The Board unanimously reappointed Mr. Ron Austin as the ETJ Appointee and Mr. Ed Miller as the ETJ Alternate.
- Clerk to the Board – Calendar Year 2026 Annual Commissioner Seat Assignments: The Board unanimously appointed/re-appointed Commissioners to the various boards the Commissioners are assigned to annually as presented in the agenda packet. As part of the motion, the Board unanimously approved adding Commissioner Pat Sykes as an alternate representative for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (staff will review the Council’s bylaws to verify an alternate is permitted).
XIII. Closed Session
- County Attorney – Closed Session: The Board unanimously moved to enter into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(1) and (3) to approve Closed Session Minutes of November 17, 2025, and consult with its attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege. There was nothing to report upon the Board’s return from Closed Session and no vote was taken.
Learn more about Board of Commissioners meetings and our public comment and public hearing policies.
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Brunswick County Board of Commissioners holds regular meeting Monday, Dec. 1
Meeting Livestream
Click the link below to watch the meeting live and find the future replay on the Brunswick County Agendas and Minutes Portal. Note: Brunswick County will no longer use Zoom and YouTube for streaming and archiving moving forward.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners will meet for a regular meeting at 3 p.m. this Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. The public is welcome to attend in person or watch live on the Brunswick County Agendas and Minutes Portal.
The commissioners’ chambers are on the first floor of the David R. Sandifer Administration Building at 30 Government Center Drive in Bolivia (28422).
This is the last scheduled meeting in calendar year 2025. The first Board of Commissioners meeting of 2026 will be Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.
View the full agenda and accompanying reports and subscribe to agenda notifications on the Brunswick County Agendas and Minutes Portal.
Meeting Livestreams/Replays Moving to Agendas & Minutes Portal
As of Nov. 17, 2025, all Board of Commissioners meetings will be streamed live and archived for replay directly through the Brunswick County Agendas and Minutes Portal.
Meeting livestreams and replays can be accessed in the Portal through the Media (Camera) Icon for each Board of Commissioners meeting date moving forward.
Brunswick County will no longer use Zoom and YouTube for future streaming and archiving. Brunswick County will communicate any changes to how live or archived meetings can be watched should another method become necessary for a particular meeting.
Brunswick County began streaming and recording Board of Commissioner meetings on May 20, 2024. Meeting recordings from May 20, 2024, through Nov. 3, 2025, can still be viewed on Brunswick County's YouTube channel.
Agenda Preview
Below are a few selected items from the agenda that the Board of Commissioners will discuss and take possible action on during the regular meeting.
IV. Election of Board Chairman
- Clerk to the Board – Election of the Board Chairman: The County Attorney will temporarily preside over the meeting to oversee the Board's annual selection of one member to chair the Board.
V. Election of Board Vice Chairman
- Clerk to the Board – Election of the Vice Chairman: The Chairman shall preside over the annual selection of a Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
IX. Presentations
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Disaster Preparedness Award: Request the Board receive the NC One Water Disaster Preparedness Award from the NC One Water combined organization of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Water Works Association and the North Carolina Water Environment Association.
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Golden Manhole Society Award: Request the Board recognize Donald Dixon as the NC One Water Golden Manhole Society Award recipient.
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Meter Madness Operations Challenge & Hydrant Hysteria Competition: Request the Board recognize Trevor Page in his third-place finish in the NC One Water Meter Madness Operations Challenge and recognize our NC One Water Hydrant Hysteria team.
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Raymond E. “Red” Ebert Award: Request the Board recognize Mickey Thompson as the NC One Water Raymond E. “Red” Ebert Award recipient.
- Utilities – 2025 NC One Water Wastewater Collections Operator of the Year: Request the Board recognize Jake Elliott as the NC One Water Wastewater Collections Operator of the Year.
X. Administrative Report
- Administration – Brunswick Community College Property Request: Request the Board consider transferring approximately 17.5 acres of Parcel No. 1530000121 to Brunswick Community College for the fire service and driving pad training facilities.
- Administration – Fire Service Funding and Contract Revisions: Request the Board receive information with regard to County funding of the fire service for FY 2027.
- Utilities – Adjustment of PTE Utility Dispatcher to FTE: Request the Board approve replacing PTE (part-time employee) Utilities Dispatcher with FTE (full-time equivalent) Utilities Dispatch position.
XI. Board Appointments
- Clerk to the Board – Board Re-Appointment Ocean Isle Beach Board of Adjustments ETJ: Request the Board consider the re-appointment of Mr. Ron Austin as the ETJ Appointee and Mr. Ed Miller as the ETJ Alternate.
- Clerk to the Board – Calendar Year 2026 Annual Commissioner Seat Assignments: Request the Board appoint/re-appoint to the various boards the Commissioners are assigned to annually.
Public Comment and Public Hearings
Most regular meetings include a time for public comment before the Commissioners at the beginning of the meeting. Some meetings also have public hearings for specific issues. The public hearings are similar to a public comment period but pertain to one topic.
Individuals wishing to speak during a public hearing should sign up before the meeting starts on the form at the door dedicated to public hearings. This form is separate from the form used to sign up for public comments at the beginning of the meeting.
Speakers wishing to distribute any related documents, printed comments or materials to the commissioners should deliver at least eight copies to the county clerk at least fifteen minutes before the meeting starts.
Learn more about Board of Commissioners meetings and our public comment and public hearing policies.
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Media Inquiries
Media are requested to contact Brunswick County Communications by noon on the day of the meeting to help facilitate requests for interviews before or directly after board meetings. Brunswick County will post a recap of the meeting with actions taken at brunswickcountync.gov.
For media inquiries, contact Communications Director Meagan Kascsak.
Stay Informed