This is an unofficial summary of the meeting produced by the Dare County Public Relations Department. It does not include all items that were discussed at the meeting. Click here to view a PDF of the full agenda packet for the meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, December 1, 2025.

To view the video of the meeting on Dare County’s YouTube channel, please click the button below. Official minutes for the meeting are posted once they have been approved by the board, typically at the board’s next meeting, which is usually held on the first Monday of the following month. To access minutes for meetings dating back to 2017, please click here.

As their first order of business, the Dare County Board of Commissioners voted to elect the board’s leadership for the upcoming term. In a unanimous decision, the board voted to re-elect Bob Woodard to continue serving as chairman and Steve House to remain in the role of vice chairman.

Chairman Woodard—who represents District 2 (Nags Head, Colington and Kill Devil Hills)—was initially elected to the Dare County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and has served in the capacity of chairman since 2014. Vice Chairman House—who represents District 3 (Kitty Hawk, Duck and Southern Shores)—was first elected to the Dare County Board of Commissioners in 2016 and has served as vice chair since December 2024. 

By reaffirming the chairman and vice chairman in their roles, the board underscores its confidence in their proven leadership, experience and steady guidance in advancing Dare County’s goals and priorities. To view brief bios about all seven Dare County Commissioners, and to access their contact information, please visit DareNC.gov/BOC or click the button below.

During the Chairman’s Remarks portion of the meeting, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard provided an update on the county’s ongoing efforts to address the significant challenges occurring on Hatteras Island—particularly persistent flooding and overwash along N.C. Highway 12 and the collapse of 15 homes in Buxton over a six-week period.

Chairman Woodard reported that county officials recently met with NC Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson and representatives from Governor Josh Stein's office, the NC Division of Coastal Management, and the North Carolina Board of Transportation to enable state leadership to fully understand the severity of the conditions impacting the island and its critical infrastructure. He emphasized that these meetings are part of a broader effort to allow officials to see firsthand what residents and visitors are experiencing. Woodard also noted that county officials plan to travel to Raleigh after the first of the year—once legislators return to session—to meet individually with lawmakers.

As he continued his remarks, Chairman Woodard shared a letter he recently sent to North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and every member of the General Assembly regarding the escalating erosion and overwash issues. The letter issues an urgent call for statewide support to address rapidly worsening conditions on Hatteras Island. It outlines severe coastal erosion that has led to repeated home collapses, the increasing vulnerability of N.C. Highway 12—the sole transportation link for Hatteras Island—and the mounting strain on local resources despite more than $275 million invested in beach nourishment by Dare County and its five oceanfront towns over the years.

The letter also details several key requests, including funding the long-established but never-capitalized State Beach Nourishment Fund, advancing long-term strategies identified through the N.C. 12 Task Force and reconsidering the state’s ban on hardened shoreline structures in areas where nourishment alone is no longer sufficient. Chairman Woodard further emphasized that protecting N.C. Highway 12 and stabilizing the coastline is critical not only for the safety and well-being of island residents but also for safeguarding the economic engine that benefits the entire state.

Chairman Woodard concluded his remarks by assuring the public that the Dare County Board of Commissioners and Dare County officials are working diligently every day to address and resolve the challenges facing Dare County and its coastal communities. To view the release that was distributed on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, please click the button below.

Dare County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman and OBX Jeep Charities President Steve House provided an update on the 2025 OBX Jeep Invasion and the nonprofit’s efforts to support the community. OBX Jeep Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides various resources, programs and activities designed to enhance the lives of Dare County citizens. During the meeting, House—who was joined by OBX Jeep Invasion Junior Vice President Jared Weibley—announced that funds raised through the event will benefit multiple local organizations:

• $10,000 – OBX Room in the Inn
• $3,500 – Kitty Hawk Police Department
• $3,500 – Kitty Hawk Ocean Rescue
• $10,000 – Wounded Warriors in Action
• $10,000 – Hearts of Hope Focused on Kids Inc.

Held in September 2025, the fifth annual OBX Jeep Invasion brought more than 800 Jeeps to the Outer Banks to attend the three-day event, which also featured multiple vendors, a fun run, vendor bingo, live music, raffles, food trucks and more at the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head. The 2026 OBX Jeep Invasion is scheduled for September 18-19, 2026. For more information as details about the event become available, please visit OBXJeepInvasion.com. 

Dare Early College Principal Kassie Mount delivered a presentation titled “Mission, Vision and Mascot Development” regarding the new Dare Early College facility currently under construction on the College of The Albemarle – Dare Campus in Manteo. The presentation—which provided an overview of the foundational work underway to define the school’s mission, vision, values and identity—also highlighted stakeholder discussions focused on the purpose of Dare Early College, the impact the school aims to have on students and the broader community, and the qualities that will guide and distinguish its graduates. 

During her presentation, Mount also reviewed the key themes shaping the school’s development—including equity and opportunity, goal orientation and perseverance, and individualized support—and introduced the school’s mascot, the Mariners, which embodies the Dare Early College’s values of resilience, self-discovery, courage and integrity. For more information about the Dare Early College, please click here. To view the slides from the presentation, please click the button below.

The Dare County Board of Commissioners officially approved the 2026 meeting schedule, as follows, with each meeting scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. 

• Monday, January 5, 2026
• Monday, February 2, 2026
• Monday, March 2, 2026
• Tuesday, April 7, 2026 — (Tuesday due to Easter holiday)
• Monday, May 4, 2026
• Monday, June 1, 2026 
• Monday, July 13, 2026 (Mid-month meeting)
• Monday, August 3, 2026
• Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - (Wednesday due to Labor Day Holiday)
• Monday, October 5, 2026
• Monday, November 2, 2026
• Monday, December 7, 2026

The Dare County Board of Commissioners conducts regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year. These meetings are generally held on the first Monday of the month at 9 a.m., although this schedule is occasionally adjusted in order to accommodate holidays. Meetings are held in the Board of Commissioners meeting room adjacent to the Dare County Administration Building, which is located at 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo.

The Dare County Board of Commissioners welcomes citizen participation on advisory boards and committees. This type of grassroots public involvement is the foundation of democracy and a vital part of maintaining Dare County as a quality place to live. Following is a list of Dare County advisory boards and committees with terms expiring during the next three months: 

January 2026

• Working Watermen Commission

February 2026

• Dare County Planning Board

March 2026

• Transportation Advisory Board

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and once an application is submitted to the Clerk to the Dare County Board of Commissioners, it will remain on file for three years. For a full listing of current vacancies, and to access the online application, please click here. For more information, please contact Clerk to the Dare County Board of Commissioners Skyler Foley at Skyler.Foley@DareNC.gov or 252-475-5700. 

Click here to view a PDF of the full agenda packet for the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, December 1, 2025. To view a video of the meeting on Dare County’s YouTube channel, please click