[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6197034,"mediaKeyId","3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41","parentId",3853935,"title","County accepts $1.21 million EPA grant to design rehab of 12 sewer pump stations","audioSeconds",106,"startMs",7069000,"endMs",7175000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41&start=7069&end=7175","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41/thumbnail_7069000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6197034/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/County-accepts-121-million-EPA-grant-to-design-rehab-of-12-sewer-pump-stations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197034-54aa141b76e76039e6332d1a5d4553a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089513&Signature=eAKzwnbYJTaGtpA7d41FBPdC6S-6Wj4B5d0o9mRtZE6v9MEIXpPuL3ECEouw98eI-0G8bMGa9jYRQnHkZIfw74~dn919lgeEzTnAo90P-d4lUn1qIiWa3oJztZIAdK2GxqoKKulHtOoZv9aKLj2r~auEFkGV3xcOuoWo6V0CisUybQG-NONCXoCdR2mhP3nOEy7S83GafRK0DvPuJK~lmfDAP7P5zkSw3G3QOOrwrHslW0iSLaqPSgDG2B3pLj1cvuByK3Fe0856pLPCYl76HqA7AIDRWZPseREZ0TuYd3zRgN-PLQS7E1pNPOtcq6tnuluDXgwb8rPT5THrKImkPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brunswick County, NC","date","2025-06-18T01:06:01.58Z","article","Brunswick County utilities staff notified the Board of Commissioners on June 16 that the county has been awarded a $1,210,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund design and engineering for rehabilitation of 12 sewer pump stations in the Russell County system.

Donald Dixon, utilities, said the award resulted from a community project funding application made in March 2023. The grant covers design work; the county will provide a $250,000 match from the utilities enterprise fund reserve, Dixon said.

Commissioners approved acceptance of the grant. Staff indicated additional construction funding would be sought in future grant rounds or capital budgets once engineering is completed and cost estimates are finalized.

Dixon told the board that the county applied for several grant opportunities and this EPA award was the one that was allotted to the county under congressional direct spending and community project funding. The manager and commissioners expressed appreciation for the grant and the match commitment.

Staff will proceed with design and engineering work on the identified pump stations and return to the board with procurement, timeline and construction funding requests, as appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brunswick County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting | June 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Brunswick County accepted a $1,210,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant, with a $250,000 county match, to design rehabilitation work for 12 sewer pump stations in the Russell County service area.","taxTitle","Brunswick County, North Carolina","taxId",53179,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197038,"Commissioners authorize local participation in state CPACE program to expand financing options for resilient commercial projects",452,4664000,5116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41&start=4664&end=5116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41/thumbnail_4664000.jpg","/articles/6197038/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-authorize-local-participation-in-state-CPACE-program-to-expand-financing-options-for-resilient-commercial-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197038-64bf894ebb43d4b58b55554e16c3762a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089513&Signature=PPnEr43XDJuYnyw5tqgpLELLXeCQZx8L~JADs6GDQhzASSZXl6NY-uZNdCdkdooiftTUS-gT6aU246ZweHjmwyVYZYagKSAkkYlbl59PZqu196p7iUHpsz00~aF0EpgDw4~ZkoQsQIEzgQfL3Crqg1Bu8gqFkv73lKiB95r6Z4VK9FbLJUaXjmERr3fCp2Q~NwpV6bVpG60PRmKTif350g~Jvm1NAJHSCSsL1mGeQJRzmU5m~GGZc0ufU8BQ2U43XgP2QlNZWzrOFC46E2j8tnXhwYaw8HkUEIOX9~81y471eMhfT2eWMXCYMj-uAtrK3umT-gBj6IkN4GXtLFM5aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners approved local participation in North Carolina’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program on June 16, allowing commercial and certain industrial projects that exceed building code minimums for energy efficiency or structural resiliency to use CPACE financing.

County staff described CPACE as a statutory program administered in North Carolina by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and noted that participation requires the county to adopt a notice of intent, hold a public hearing and then adopt a resolution to be recorded with each project that uses the mechanism. Staff said the county would act as a local administrative entity with Brunswick Business and Industry Development and that the county would not be a lender or be liable for the loans.

The board discussion noted CPACE programs in neighboring counties and that no CPACE loans had closed yet statewide, though proponents said the program can extend loan terms and attract higher‑value investments by allowing financing of energy or resiliency upgrades attached to property tax records.

Commissioners voted to place the CPACE notice and resolution on the schedule and proceed with the required public hearing and local resolution steps so the financing option is available to local businesses.

Staff said individual projects would return to the board for approval of the required recorded documents when developers apply.","Board approved notice and resolution to participate in the state CPACE program, a financing option for commercial projects that meet energy efficiency or resiliency standards; staff said the county assumes no loan liability under the state program.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197043,"County planning unveils interactive residential development dashboard",680,3039000,3719000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41&start=3039&end=3719","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41/thumbnail_3039000.jpg","/articles/6197043/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/County-planning-unveils-interactive-residential-development-dashboard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197043-f93efb76c5b52cc6598451ad9be6537c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089513&Signature=cGGwcOJ5z~GsIGWJF1zUrl6Ltqo9kc5fnarNKFtC3lN8DbA2sQ6zA5fdOkPP-4BDEdFcj7a~j-MMrXrDObzn491VeMMumJg-mfwMYtRgPULKDstOXT7qtx4UClQ1E56oGIlbj9BIMs0u0Y6dICEc~ove6XIjQuIbo1rVZWPWglOk7pZZRQ-MO76ZCDPd2gZKulYhj0Dgdo6ufLhpxn8xUFWGIkw4KhExO9Z99RGFN9hKo6TS7EHX8A8xtbcIChEeDsF2JpZUNwkc5bF1j2loCaBTdvMJiENrU0LKZwQpLXHkCXy6R05zqlVkNhmqHZD6TMMmjupFQj5bSD~nb609Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brunswick County planning staff demonstrated a new online residential development dashboard at the June 16 Board of Commissioners meeting that maps and summarizes residential projects in the county dating to 2015.

Planning staff said the dashboard shows approved subdivisions and multifamily projects, proposed developments that have passed technical review, abandoned projects, annexed projects and developments within the city of Northwest (which contracts planning services to the county). The dashboard marks construction progress for each development, displays approval dates, approved plan documents and the number and type of approved units.

Garrett Hawkins, GIS planning analyst, walked commissioners through the interface and highlighted data‑export capability, an imagery toggle and a search tool that accepts development name, case number, address or parcel number. Planning staff said the dashboard is updated monthly after planning board meetings.

Kirsty (Planning Department) and Hawkins said planned improvements include a denied‑developments section, a units‑under‑construction field, deeper historical data predating 2015, and a forthcoming commercial development dashboard as well as rezoning and special‑use permit dashboards. Staff noted the dashboard currently performs best on a desktop and that mobile optimization is planned.

Commissioners asked whether municipalities could be included; staff replied some towns already host equivalent tools (Leland was mentioned) and that expanding the county dashboard to other municipalities would require further coordination.

The dashboard is available on the Brunswick County website under the Planning Department’s development dashboard and map section.","Brunswick County Planning Department introduced a publicly available residential development dashboard showing approved, proposed and abandoned projects since 2015; staff plans additions including denied cases, units under construction and commercial and rezoning dashboards.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197048,"Brunswick County adopts $313.1 million FY2026 budget; board approves ARP‑fund amendment for one‑time public safety and solid waste costs",656,3981000,4637000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41&start=3981&end=4637","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41/thumbnail_3981000.jpg","/articles/6197048/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/Brunswick-County-adopts-3131-million-FY2026-budget-board-approves-ARPfund-amendment-for-onetime-public-safety-and-solid-waste-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197048-c07a4155154cb21fb65f19ce967a2e53/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089513&Signature=kXoMeUMva26mwXTHwT-0z4~si9U8Rikv7H3tUrSKRI4W6a3CHd426vsGdzUDtUG1z~-zekfDgLkk1M8sOcU7S5TBsUX5RzoNaUd~hyzEgpCxPAzhAINh95~LxxkoOVxtNvMa~cxSBD5~EcLdBa96aaxS7nEXQeC2sFPMHDYIxUw5Z4~Zm~GSZ2iQB556peF3KXm-9oo8HRMEhSJoCbj9ZUmLAmIljUvEZU5UzBiGYejHlGvcyAbNXvCUh~AVdGTohL9YX9pzJFBIL7V~cstwQyYRlvw3DEavUe94m6gcOO2fG9KjocqsHuCTA-xgZw8lXpR3NjCwS~20kXtLPcT99Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners adopted a $313,100,000 fiscal year 2026 budget ordinance on June 16 and approved related documents, including a schedule of fees, a five‑year capital improvement plan and a resolution governing use of opioid settlement funds.

The public hearing on the budget was closed at the meeting; staff requested formal adoption. After discussion and expressions of differing views about tax rates and spending priorities, the board voted to adopt the FY2026 budget. The vote passed 3–1 (vote names not specified in the meeting record).

Commissioners thanked county finance and administration staff. Finance Director Aaron (last name not stated) and the manager received repeated praise for producing a balanced proposal, while some commissioners said the result is tight and that holding the tax rate required dipping into ARP funds and fund balance.

The board also approved an amendment to appropriate $883,569 from ARP‑enabled fund balance to cover certain one‑time public safety and solid waste costs. According to staff, those ARP funds were redirected from previously identified board priorities and cover items that otherwise would have been in the FY2026 budget.

Separately, the board adopted a resolution approving use of opioid settlement funds and approved the county’s five‑year capital improvement plan and schedule of fees as part of the package.

The budget vote followed public comment and more than one commissioner’s remarks about balancing service demands and long‑term fiscal prudence. One commissioner said the board had weighed an increase in the tax rate but concluded the current budget could be adopted while keeping the millage flat, using nonrecurring sources where necessary.

Staff will implement the FY2026 budget starting July 1, 2025, and will return to the board with required follow‑up items as the fiscal year proceeds.","The Board of Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget ordinance, schedule of fees, five‑year CIP and an opioid settlement resolution; the board also approved an ARP‑enabled reserve appropriation to fund one‑time public safety and solid waste items.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197053,"Brunswick County commissioners debate short‑term staffing aid and long‑term fire funding plan",5033,2302000,7335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41&start=2302&end=7335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853935-4f191cb2dbfc0ac270be2a4f7971ee41/thumbnail_2302000.jpg","/articles/6197053/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/Brunswick-County-commissioners-debate-shortterm-staffing-aid-and-longterm-fire-funding-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197053-f25988b051f3f380e763c8c74bc12c4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089513&Signature=KP~x6elazC8m8DG9hmHCc0Bojz8iWGXP-RoIHKZdzj1Cku5fWlxWfdSmueWUzZ1REzucyjM2TUyfa8ffPF0D7ZkqIFRp3pZ586HNlpSmMU0USIpAJ4b1KaZ~ApbCqWBiAEBC~igyBb~PaO~4EUQ7iiPidGO5X0jJLYqhpezbKdvjBDnu1wI3ZquqwLNLwkd6iGOnjdU-Ta6Nw3lgB1XnbVkDAk7n4AQsW62jTWgLyyA3KsGBvt5Y06oK6YW4r~xk0pIDU-NKjkIGYGxOHjjPkLEccmT1gpnG~FAIbmyomkpQ1Ne~ylaNUBwhKi9q0tJBrH~9~minyYm35ogmGU8PAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Thompson urged the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners on June 16 to quickly develop interim measures to ensure minimum, standardized staffing at volunteer and rural fire departments while a longer‑term funding plan is prepared.

The topic drew extensive public comment and more than an hour of discussion among commissioners. Mayor Rich Holt of Southport and resident Jean Turner told the board municipal fire departments bear substantial costs when serving unincorporated areas; Turner said St. James has ordered a pumper and a ladder truck to serve its district and called current county fire fee compensation “very inadequate.”

“Every citizen deserves that in this county,” Commissioner Thompson said, arguing that insufficient staffing could delay rescues or cause injury. Thompson described the board’s long‑range goal as developing a new funding mechanism in fiscal 2026–27 but said the county may not be able to wait until next July to address immediate staffing shortfalls.

Several commissioners supported the concept of changing how fire services are funded but opposed using one‑time fund balance transfers to create recurring payroll obligations. Commissioner Williams said he would not support using a $7 million one‑time draw from fund balance to create ongoing staffing costs without a firm long‑term funding path in place. Other commissioners warned that tapping fund balance could reduce reserves needed for disaster recovery or other one‑time needs.

Staff told the board they have been working with the tax department, legal counsel and the fire administrator to develop alternative funding scenarios and that the county aims to present several options to chiefs and municipal leaders by late summer and a recommended strategy by January 2026. The manager framed that schedule as necessary to allow municipalities time to incorporate changes into their budgets.

No motion to appropriate the requested $7 million for recurring staffing passed at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to prioritize the issue and directed staff to accelerate development of alternatives and a timeline for both an immediate staffing approach and a sustainable funding model for county fire services.

The board also heard that New Hanover County and Gaston County have approved a commercial PACE program (discussed separately) and that nearby jurisdictions are recruiting firefighters, which could affect local volunteer retention and hiring.

Commissioners asked staff to include chiefs and municipal officials in the late‑summer review and to return with a concrete timetable and proposed agreements for how any interim staffing support would be administered and evaluated.

The board moved on to other agenda items without taking a formal appropriation or adopting a final funding plan for fire staffing.","Commissioners discussed Commissioner Thompson’s proposal to develop 24/7 paid staffing for rural volunteer fire departments and asked staff to produce alternatives and a timeline for countywide fire funding; no appropriation was approved at the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County accepts $1.21 million EPA grant to design rehab of 12 sewer pump stations

Commissioners authorize local participation in state CPACE program to expand financing options for resilient commercial projects

County planning unveils interactive residential development dashboard

Brunswick County adopts $313.1 million FY2026 budget; board approves ARP‑fund amendment for one‑time public safety and solid waste costs

Brunswick County commissioners debate short‑term staffing aid and long‑term fire funding plan