From the Town | 2020 Census
New Owners, June 2020
Please click HERE to find the most current list of new owners moving into Sea Trail. To find their specific information as to street address, email addresses and phone numbers just log in to the Member Directory section of the website. Please Note: This specific information is only available on the member directory once the new owner updates their profile information themselves.
We will continue to add New Owners to the Newsletter on a monthly basis or as we receive it from our STMA administrator.
Welcome to all!!
Upcoming Election Information | Two Items of Interest
2020 General Election
The 2020 Presidential General Election will be held on Tuesday November 3rd. There are three ways to cast your ballot in North Carolina:
- Absentee ballot by mail.
- One Stop in person Early Voting.
- In person on Election Day.
To be eligible to cast a ballot this year all voters must reside in Brunswick County by Sunday October 4th, and be registered to vote by Friday October 9th. If you have not previously voted in Brunswick County and have submitted a voter registration form through DMV or another governmental agency it is recommended that you verify your registration using the Voter Registration Tool at the Board of Elections web site, https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/elections/2020general/ .
To request an Absentee Ballot by mail each voter must submit a Ballot Request form to the Board of Elections. North Carolina will NOT be doing mass ballot mailings to all voters. You may request an Absentee Ballot at any time for any reason. Ballots will begin to be distributed in early September.
In person One Stop Early voting will begin on Thursday October 15th, and run through Saturday October 31st.
The Early Voting schedule and locations will be finalized at a special Board of Elections meeting on Tuesday July 14th at 6:00 pm in the County Commissioners’ chamber. Should anyone wish to make a comment about Early Voting, the Board has established a Comment portal at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJjecIFxt1kqyrB75Eycp71NuzcFIC83BPFDh0i8319WZzkw/viewform.
On Election Day November 3rd the polls will open at 6:30am and close at 7:30pm. All forms, tools, and additional detailed information are available at the Brunswick County Board of Elections website: https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/elections/2020general/ If you have any questions you may call the Board of Elections at (910) 523-2620.
Board of Elections Poll Worker Opportunities
On a regular day-to-day basis the Brunswick County Board of Elections staff consists of 5 full time employees who manage and maintain the elections process for the 105,000+ voters in the county. At election time however the staff can grow to 300-350 with the addition of temporary help and poll workers. As you have observed many of the Poll Workers are seniors who have the time to contribute to the community. As with any group of this type there is turnover and the need to recruit new personnel.
Being a Poll Worker can be a rewarding experience, and besides it pays $10-$13 per hour based on the experience and the type of assignment. If you think you would like to participate, the link contains information from the poll worker team at the Board. You can register for both an in-person or on-line session by clicking https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/elections/precinct-officials/
If you have any questions please feel free to give me a call or contact Adrianne Rushton, Assistant Deputy Director Brunswick County Board of Elections, adrianne.rushton@brunswickcountync.gov.
Randy Pelton
910 575-2637
Sad News
Richie Chamberlain, husband of Garden Club member, Eileen, passed away yesterday. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Please keep Eileen and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
FREE Air Filters
MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING COVID-19 PROTECTIONS
On Thursday (6/24/2020), NC Governor Cooper announced that Phase 2 will be extended through July 17, 2020. The Town has issued a Message to the Public with regard to Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 147 that will take effect as of 5:00 PM on June 26, 2020. Please click to view the Town’s Message, Executive Order 147, EO-147 FAQ’s and NCDHHS Guidelines.
Thanks,
Lisa Anglin, Town Clerk
Garden Club Newsletter
Voting & Registration Information for NC
If you are new to Sea Trail and/or a current resident who just wants to have further information about the registration and voting process in NC, please click HERE for all of the information needed:
- Registration to vote
- Check registration
- Absentee ballot
PRESIDENT’S UPDATES – 6/14/20
I’ve received a number of inquiries on when we’re going to open the pools, and I wanted to bring everyone up to date on where we are with that right now.
Board members have been meeting regularly to discuss this topic, and we’ve spent considerable time examining the requirements and restrictions for reopening put in place by the governor. We’ve also been in contact with other HOAs in Brunswick County regarding their plans, and we’ve sought guidance from both our insurance agent and attorneys for their opinions. Based on all the information we’ve received to date, I regret to inform you that we will not be opening the MAC pool at this time. We had hoped to have it open by the July 4th weekend, but that will not be possible. Completion of the repairs at the Pink Palace pool continue to be delayed by weather issues, and we don’t know when that pool will be ready for use. However, unless the state restrictions are dramatically reduced, it is doubtful we will have the resources to open both pools this summer.
This decision to not reopen the MAC pool right away was not taken lightly. Our decision was based on the following:
- The number of newly reported cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations due to this virus are increasing in both North and South Carolina, with record numbers of new cases reported the past few days. Since Sea Trail is predominantly a community of senior citizens, the most vulnerable population in the current pandemic, introduction of the virus into our community could be devastating.
- The restrictions set by the State are very extensive, and we do not have the resources to ensure they can all be met all the time. If a complaint for non-compliance was filed against the association or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services was to inspect the pool and identify any compliance issues, the association could be fined and the pool closed for an extended amount of time, possibly until the pandemic is declared over.
- Our insurance agent has informed us that any legal action related to COVID-19 falls personally on the board members, because our Director and Officer insurance policies do not cover actions taken during a pandemic. Such coverage is impossible to obtain, because no insurance companies are willing to include infectious disease events in their policies. Based on this, he has advised us not to open the pool until the governor relaxes the current restrictions. Our attorney has given us the same advice.
- The ABCPOA (Alliance of Brunswick County Property Owners Associations) has sent information that of the 20 HOAs they have been in contact with, 9 are not opening their pools at all, 10 are opening at significantly reduced capacity, and one is open for lane swimming only by reservation.
- CAMS, a community management company that has as clients numerous local HOAs and Condo association pools, is reporting that many of their clients who opened their pools when South Carolina relaxed their restrictions are now closing them due to the inability to adequately adhere to the required restrictions.
We will continue to monitor changes in the guidelines and will assess the situation. Our pools are key amenities and keeping them closed is something none of us want to do. We appreciate your support of our decision at this time.
Please continue to enjoy the beauty of Sea Trail and Sunset Beach during this very different summer season! Be Safe!
Jack Phillabaum, STMA President
Summer is Here at Houses Place!
- We are limited to 50 percent capacity both inside and outside. Outside seating is available.
- Staff and customers should observe the 6 foot social distancing rules at all times. We have rearranged the seating to accommodate this.
- Parties are limited to 6 or less people.
- Staff will wear face masks.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available.
- Hours will remains the same for the time being.
- Carryout and daily specials are still available
Household Hazardous Waste Collection (TBA)
Ocean Isle Museum Foundation Postpones Wine Fest to 2021
Due to COVID-19, the Ocean Isle Museum Foundation has postponed its annual Wine Fest fundraiser to April 24, 2021. If you have already purchased reservations to this year‘s Wine Fest, you will be contacted by a staff member. Questions? Call the museum at 910-579-1016.
Terry Bryant, Executive Director
New Owners May, 2020
Please click HERE to find the most current list of new owners moving into Sea Trail. To find their specific information as to street address, email addresses and phone numbers just log in to the Member Directory section of the website. Please Note: This specific information is only available on the member directory once the new owner updates their profile information themselves.
We will continue to add New Owners to the Newsletter on a monthly basis or as we receive it from our STMA administrator.
Welcome to all!!
Use of Property Owner Cards
Currently, other than the Parking Lot on the island of Sunset Beach and Tennis Courts, all STMA facilities remain closed to all STMA property owners. In addition, the STMA Board has decided until further notice that only Sea Trail Property owners will have access to STMA facilities. Thus, until further notice, property owners will not be permitted to transfer use of their access cards to guests, short term renters, or any other individuals that are not Sea Trail Property owners. However, guests of property owners can access STMA facilities when they are in the company of a property owner. The STMA Board believes these restrictions will help insure the safety of all STMA Property Owners from contracting the Corona Virus.
House’s Place & VAC Pool Opens!
- We are limited to 50 percent capacity both inside and outside.
- Outside seating is available and open.
- Staff and customers should observe the 6 foot social distancing rules at all times. We have rearranged the seating to accommodate this.
- Parties are limited to 6 or less people.
- Staff will wear face masks.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available.
- Carryout and daily specials are still available
Please call 910-766-6193 with any questions or check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/housesplace