Atlantic Beach council approves FY2024-25 audit, awards $153,500 beach-access contract and adopts paid-parking ordinance

The Town of Atlantic Beach Council on Jan. 26 approved the town's FY2024-25 financial audit, awarded a $153,500 contract for construction of a New Bern Avenue beach access, and adopted a paid-parking ordinance that includes wheel-lock enforcement and a free annual parking pass for full-time residents.

Auditor Sam Potts of Thompson, Scott, Price, Adams & Co., appearing by Zoom, presented the audit and reported no significant internal-control deficiencies and adoption of GASB 101 accounting for unused sick leave. Potts said the General Fund posted $10,617,404 in revenues and $9,951,411 in expenditures for fiscal 2024-25, yielding a net positive change in fund balance of $665,993 and an available fund balance of $6,611,903, well above the Local Government Commission's minimum requirement of $3,383,480. He also noted a 99.6% tax collection rate. Potts flagged a Financial Performance Indicator of Concern for the water and sewer fund's capital-assets condition ratio and said the FPIC must be submitted within 60 days; staff told council the town has applied for grants and has reserves to address necessary infrastructure work.

Councilmember Renea Baker moved to approve the audit and Councilmember Austin Waters seconded; the motion passed unanimously, 4-0. (Mayor Pro Tem Harry Archer participated via Zoom but did not vote.)

On procurement, staff said four bids were received for the New Bern Avenue beach access and Bridgeview Construction of Rocky Mount submitted the lowest responsive bid at $153,500. Public Works Director Marc Schulze said the town's engineer verified the bidder's qualifications even though the town had not previously used the firm. Councilmember Joey Dean moved to award the contract to Bridgeview Construction; Councilmember Joseph Starling seconded and the motion passed 4-0.

Council also considered Ordinance 26-01-01, amending Chapter 10 of the municipal code to add enforcement measures including immobilization (wheel locks) after repeated unpaid violations and permitting towing. The ordinance keeps program rates from the prior year and authorizes a $50 boot-removal fee under the amended fee schedule (Budget Amendment #15). The town will offer one free annual parking pass per household to full-time Atlantic Beach residents who provide proof of residency (a current annual lease or utility bill). Councilmember Dean moved to adopt Ordinance 26-01-01; Councilmember Starling seconded and the vote was unanimous.

The council also reappointed Town Manager John O'Daniel as the town's representative to the Eastern Carolina Council; the reappointment passed on a unanimous vote.

The council voted on consent items that included finance reports, budget amendments and transfers, tax releases and refunds, authorization to write off $1,099.60 in delinquent utility accounts, and minutes. The consent agenda passed unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Dean and a second by Councilmember Baker.

The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.; the minutes state that no action resulted from a subsequent closed session called under N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3).