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, August 3, 2026.

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.

During his opening remarks, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard provided an update on the Buxton beach nourishment project, announcing that the dredge Liberty Island officially began pumping sand onto the beach in Buxton on Friday, July 31, 2026. Chairman Woodard praised the county’s contractor, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, for the project’s rapid progress and noted that the project will consist of placing approximately 2 million cubic yards of sand along 2.9 miles of shoreline between the Haulover Day Use Area and the end of Old Lighthouse Road.

Chairman Woodard also shared details about the project’s construction process, explaining that sand is being dredged from an offshore borrow area approximately two to three miles from the shoreline and that work typically affects individual oceanfront properties for only two to three days as crews advance roughly 200 to 300 feet each day. Once construction moves beyond a section of beach, it generally reopens within 24 hours. He added that a second Great Lakes dredge is expected to arrive in mid-August to help keep the project on schedule, with completion currently anticipated by September 30, 2026, weather and ocean conditions permitting.* 

Chairman Woodard concluded his remarks expressing his appreciation to Great Lakes for its partnership and commended the company’s efficiency in advancing this critical beach nourishment effort: “It’s just incredible the amount of work Great Lakes is doing, and we’re grateful to have them as a partner to do the nourishment projects for us.”

For more information about the Buxton beach nourishment project, visit MoreBeachToLove.com. 

*Please note that information regarding the timeline for this project is subject to change due to a variety of factors, including weather and ocean conditions, equipment issues and required maintenance, as well as other unforeseen circumstances. 

Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Matt Kellam, who has served as an equipment operator at the C&D Landfill in Manns Harbor since May 26, 2026, in recognition of his heroic actions while off duty at the beach in Nags Head on July 11, 2026. Chairman Woodard explained that the recognition stemmed from an email he received from Dare County resident Kenny Meekins, who witnessed Kellam’s selfless response after three children became caught in a rip current. According to Meekins, Kellam, with assistance from his wife, Haley, immediately entered the water and safely rescued all three children, demonstrating exceptional courage and quick thinking in an emergency. During the presentation, Chairman Woodard noted that Kellam has been employed with Dare County for only two months, adding that his actions reflect the character and dedication of the people who serve the county and its residents. “This is incredible, folks,” said Woodard as he presented Kellam with the Certificate of Appreciation. “This is the kind of human beings and people that we hire to work for us in Dare County. I could not be more grateful and thankful to you, Matt, for what you did.”

Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodards presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Matt Kellam.

Brightspeed Director of State Government Affairs Steve Brewer presented an update to the Dare County Board of Commissioners regarding two recent telecommunications outages that caused prolonged service disruptions on July 5, 2026 and July 28, 2026. Brewer reviewed the causes of each outage, acknowledged the significant impact the disruptions had on residents, businesses and visitors who rely on dependable phone and internet service, and outlined the steps Brightspeed is taking to strengthen the network and reduce the likelihood of similar outages in the future. The telecommunications challenges affecting Hatteras Island stem from a lack of redundancy in the island’s communications infrastructure. Currently, service providers rely on a single fiber optic line that serves as the primary connection for internet, phone and other communication services. When that connection is damaged or interrupted—whether by equipment issues, storms, construction activity or other unforeseen events—service disruptions can occur across the island. Creating a redundant connection, often referred to as “closing the fiber loop,” would provide an alternate pathway for communications traffic and improve reliability. Brewer noted that the state budget includes grant funding to help improve the resiliency of communications infrastructure serving Hatteras Island. The funding will support completion of a fiber loop that will allow service to be routed to Hatteras Island from the Hyde County mainland if the fiber connection at the other end of the island is disrupted. The approximately $15 million project will provide much-needed redundancy to the system, helping maintain connectivity when a fiber line is damaged or cut. Due to the scope of the project, installation and completion are expected to take several years. In the meantime, Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson, who has been pushing wireless service providers to explore satellite-based solutions to maintain connectivity during fiber outages, shared an important update. In late August 2025, FirstNet AT&T committed to independently backing up its network sites on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands with low-Earth-orbit satellite backhaul capability. The July 28, 2026 outage brought their work to a rapid conclusion. Pearson shared with the board that on July 31, 2026 he was notified that all FirstNet AT&T sites on Hatteras and Ocracoke will automatically switch to a satellite connection when the fiber connection is lost, providing all wireless phone users the connectivity needed to place a 911 call.

Coastal Family Collaborative Executive Director Heather Jennette presented a proposal to the Dare County Board of Commissioners outlining a community-led initiative to establish Tidal Tots Childcare Center, a nonprofit early childhood education center that will restore licensed childcare services to Hatteras Island. During her presentation, Jennette noted that Hatteras Island has been without a licensed childcare facility since the closure of its last center in December 2025, creating challenges for working families, local employers and the long-term sustainability of the year-round community. To help launch the new nonprofit childcare model, Coastal Family Collaborative requested a one-time county investment of $125,000 to cover the cost of leasing the former childcare facility for three years while the organization establishes a stable, self-sustaining operation. Jennette explained that the nonprofit has negotiated a lease for the former childcare center and plans to utilize a diversified funding model—including tuition, state childcare subsidies, grants, charitable contributions and community fundraising—to support long-term financial sustainability while providing affordable, high-quality early childhood education for Hatteras Island families. Following the presentation, the Dare County Board of Commissioners voted to establish a small subcommittee to further review the proposal and work with Coastal Family Collaborative to evaluate the organization’s financial plan and funding request in greater detail. The subcommittee will include Commissioner Rob Ross, Commissioner Mary Ellon Ballance, Dare County Social Services Division Director Chuck Lycett and Coastal Family Collaborative Executive Director Heather Jennette. The subcommittee will meet as soon as possible and report its findings back to the full board for further consideration.

Dare County Public Services Director Spencer Gregory and Assistant Public Information Director Katelin Kight delivered a presentation providing an overview of the proposed one-quarter cent ($0.0025) sales tax referendum that will appear on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot. If approved by Dare County voters, the additional one-quarter cent sales tax would be dedicated to funding improvements, renovations and expansions of Dare County Parks & Recreation facilities identified through the Dare County Parks & Recreation Recommendations and Implementation Plan. The presentation emphasized that the referendum would not result in any tax increase unless approved by voters during the November election.

Gregory and Kight explained that a one-quarter cent sales tax represents one-quarter of one penny on every dollar spent, with the average Dare County resident estimated to pay approximately $14 per year as an individual or about $22 annually for a family based on current spending patterns. The proposed increase would not apply to groceries, gasoline, prescription medications, vehicles or certain agricultural supplies. 

Because the funding would come from local sales tax revenue, both residents and visitors making taxable purchases in Dare County would contribute, with county estimates indicating that approximately 70% of the revenue generated would come from visitors rather than residents. This approach would help reduce reliance on property taxes while providing a dedicated funding source for needed parks and recreation improvements. 

The presentation highlighted the important role Dare County Parks & Recreation plays in serving residents of all ages through youth and adult athletics, after-school and senior programs, wellness activities, special events and recreational facilities across the county. Officials noted that many existing parks and recreation facilities require significant upgrades and that demand for programs and amenities continues to grow. 

If approved by voters, the referendum would provide funding to support projects identified through the countywide recreation needs assessment, including improvements to athletic fields, playgrounds, trails, indoor recreation facilities and other community amenities designed to enhance recreational opportunities for current and future generations. The board received the presentation as an informational update ahead of the November 3, 2026 General Election, when Dare County voters will determine whether to approve the proposed referendum.

To view a PDF of the presentation that was delivered during the meeting, click here. For additional details about the proposed one-quarter cent ($0.0025) sales tax increase to fund Dare County Parks and Recreation improvements, visit DareNC.gov/QuarterCent or click the button below. 

The Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted an ordinance establishing local regulations for the sale of kratom products in Dare County. The ordinance is intended to promote consumer safety by establishing clear standards for retailers, helping consumers identify compliant products and providing law enforcement with a consistent framework for enforcement.

Kratom is a plant-derived product that is marketed for a variety of uses, including pain relief and increased energy, but it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for medical use. The ordinance establishes requirements related to the sale of kratom products, including age restrictions, retailer verification requirements, product labeling standards and prohibitions on products containing synthetic alkaloids, harmful contaminants, adulterants or unsafe levels of certain active compounds.

The adopted ordinance incorporates revisions discussed during the Board of Commissioners’ July 7, 2026 public hearing, including additional requirements related to laboratory testing and product traceability to ensure compliant kratom products can be verified and linked back to specific production batches. The ordinance also updates enforcement provisions to provide law enforcement with the appropriate authority to address violations.

During the public hearing held at last month’s board meeting, Dare County Department of Health & Human Services Director Dr. Sheila Davies presented information regarding the proposed regulations, while Chief Deputy Jeff Deringer of the Dare County Sheriff’s Office discussed enforcement considerations. Following that discussion, the Dare County Board of Commissioners deferred action to allow additional review and incorporation of revisions before adopting the updated ordinance during the August 3, 2026 board meeting.

The Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to submit a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regarding navigation hazards and safety concerns associated with the recently completed USACE Rollinson Channel Maintenance Dredging Project near Hatteras Inlet. Signed by Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard and Dare County Waterways Commission Chairman Steve Coulter, the letter expresses appreciation for USACE’s continued efforts to maintain critical navigation channels while requesting additional action to address conditions created at open-water dredged material placement areas in the Pamlico Sound.

The letter notes that vessels grounded in the disposal areas following the project, prompting safety concerns and subsequent investigations that identified unexpected shallow conditions. Surveys conducted after the incidents confirmed that dredged material placed in the open-water disposal areas had created mounds with depths as shallow as approximately 2 feet in some locations, presenting a significant navigation hazard in areas historically used by boaters. 

While corrective work was later completed by USACE to increase depths to 5 feet, the Dare County Board of Commissioners and Dare County Waterways Commission are requesting that USACE take additional steps to further increase depths in the placement areas to 9 feet for navigational safety and consider measures that will help prevent similar hazards during future maintenance dredging projects.

The Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved moving forward with the enhancement of a piece of property already owned by the county to become a new dog park located at 47730 Buxton Back Road in Buxton. The project will include changing the existing fencing from a wooden split-rail style to a black wrapped chain link style. The purpose of this enhancement is to create a designated, safe and accessible off-leash area for residents and visitors to enjoy with their pets.

During the discussion, it was noted that there is currently no public dog park located on Hatteras Island and that the selected property is already frequently used by community members walking and exercising their dogs. Because the site is not well suited for other county uses, the project will provide an opportunity to create a dedicated recreational amenity for the community. The cost of the project will not exceed $25,000.

The Dare County Board of Commissioners adopted the following proclamations and resolutions to highlight and address various issues of interest and concern:  

• Resolution to Apply for an Asset Inventory & Assessment Grant
• Proclamation Designating August 2026 as Child Support Awareness Month
• Reimbursement Resolution for the Manteo Field House

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: 

September 2026

• Health & Human Services Board

October 2026

• Dare County Library Board
• Thomas A. Baum Senior Center Advisory Board

November 2026

• Older Adult Services Advisory Board
• Dare County Working Watermen Commission

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. View a full listing of current vacancies, and access the online application.

For more information, please contact Clerk to the Dare County Board of Commissioners Skyler Foley at Skyler.Foley@DareNC.gov or 252-475-5700. 

Please click here to view the full agenda packet for the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 3, 2026.