Grants and engineering savings lower price tag on multiuse path; harbor bathhouse gets $400,000 grant

Town staff described several capital projects in the recommended FY27 plan and how grants and in‑house work reduced costs.

Andy Grama and Amy said a multiuse path along Jockey's Ridge (Carolista to West Southside Road) was originally estimated at about $1.9 million; after design review the estimate was trimmed by roughly $200,000. Staff said the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau committed $750,000 toward the project. They noted permitting and right‑of‑way constraints may require segments to be narrowed from 10 feet to as little as 6–8 feet in constrained sections to avoid moving beyond the state right‑of‑way.

Amy announced the town received a $400,000 grant from the camera grant program for construction of a Harbor Bathhouse and said she will request additional visitor‑bureau funding this fall. Staff also listed planned purchases including a sanitation truck, culvert cleaner, police vehicles, a vacuum trailer and a Ventrac attachment for path maintenance; some equipment will be shared across departments to reduce duplicative contingencies.

Staff said David (in‑house engineering) agreed to complete remaining design work on the Beachwood multiuse path and the Pinch to Forbes water main, saving an estimated $200,000 in consultant fees. The presentation noted the town is sequencing beach nourishment debt service and public services complex debt service payments for timing convenience; the first combined payment is expected in December.