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White Lake forms Outdoor Recreation Advisory Board, elects officers and targets grant funding for town loop
Summary
The newly formed White Lake Outdoor Recreation Advisory Board elected Erin Seiling as chair, agreed to refine draft bylaws, and prioritized pursuing state and federal grants to support an NC State proposal for a multi-use path encircling White Lake.
The White Lake Outdoor Recreation Advisory Board held its first regular meeting July 24, electing Erin Seiling as chair, Sandy Ammons as vice chair and Cathy F. Kinlaw as secretary.
Commissioner Terri Hawley, who convened the meeting at White Lake Town Hall, opened the session and led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Members reviewed and accepted the meeting agenda for the new advisory board, which was created by the Town Board of Commissioners in July 2025.
Board members agreed to continue review of draft bylaws rather than take action at the inaugural meeting. Commissioner Hawley said the committee will circulate the draft bylaws through a shared online document and submit recommended edits for future consideration.
The board spent time brainstorming programming and amenities to animate the waterfront and trails, suggesting items ranging from pickleball courts and bicycle rentals to swim lessons, arts classes, community dance events and a Trails Festival Weekend presence. Committee member Susie Holland noted the board should be represented at the Trails Festival Weekend being planned for Feb. 13–15, 2026, and said she and Commissioner Hawley are coordinating with the Elizabethtown–White Lake Chamber of Commerce tourism committee.
On funding, members agreed the board’s immediate priority should be identifying grant sources. Town Administrator Sean Martin said he will move forward with pursuing a potential grant aligned to a planning package presented in the meeting packet. Members asked about a tourism tax; Martin said the Town of White Lake currently does not levy a tourism tax.
The board agreed to send a delegation to a meeting of the Bladen County Board of Commissioners to introduce the advisory board and its mission. The meeting was adjourned after a motion by Susie Holland, seconded by Sandy Ammons, and the motion passed unanimously.
The White Lake Outdoor Recreation Advisory Board scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 27, 2025.
