When I was re-elected four years ago, I was honored to be selected to continue to serve. Since that time, I have devoted hundreds of hours to researching and preparing to make decisions about the issues that have come before the Board. I have served as a Board liaison for the Planning Board, the Forestry Committee, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Beautification Committee.
As alderman, I serve as a member of the rate committee and co-chaired the Yacht Basin Overlay District Committee. As Planning Board liaison, I worked for two years alongside dedicated Planning Board members on the updated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that was adopted last year. The UDO contains major updates that strengthened our zoning, subdivision, tree protection, signage, and other land development regulations that are vital to our community and to our future.
I am especially proud of my work as committee chair when we updated Animal Welfare Ordinance. Because Southport is a small town, we have the opportunity to work together and the Animal Welfare Ordinance reflects one of the opportunities we have had to be our best selves. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to work on behalf of the city and with the citizens of Southport and if re-elected I will continue to do my best for the community we love.
I’m Karen Mosteller, asking for your vote to continue to serve on the Southport Board of Aldermen. Since communication is always the key to finding a better solution, here’s my phone number 910-833-2633. If re-elected, as your Alderman and neighbor I'll continue to need your help so today's decisions will allow whoever owns my house in 100 years to enjoy Southport the way we do now.
Strength in Collaboration
One of my strengths is collaboration. I am proud to have worked with citizens and fellow Board members to accomplish initiatives on behalf of our community.
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Created a Capital Improvement Fund - These funds may only be spent on infrastructure projects like shoreline erosion stabilization, streets, sidewalks, stormwater mitigation and city facilities. Paid parking revenue collected from visitors from communities outside our city limits and tourists could help support this fund. At this year's budget workshop, along with creating a much needed Capital Improvement Fund with an initial $1.2 million dollars, additional projects were prioritized including Brunswick Street Erosion Project, City-wide Stormwater Planning Project, Ongoing Street Improvement Projects, Howe Street Sidewalk Project, Kingsley Pier Re-Build and Completion of Siding Replacement on City Hall. These projects are slated to begin this fiscal year.
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Completed a major overall update of the Unified Development Ordinance
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Strengthened the Tree Ordinance
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Became a member of the Brunswick County Regional Sewer Collection System
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Earmarked funds for the Yacht Basin Pedestrian Corridor Project
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Restored the Yacht Basin City Dock
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Howe Street Sewer Project- 1913 sewer pipe replacement is another step in updating our water/sewer infrastructure making it possible for our City to be able to take advantage of the economies of scale that could, in the long term, lower our sewer rates by allowing the county to become our service provider.
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Completed Bay Street hurricane damage repairs and stabilization
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Taylor Field Park- By year end, we will have a wonderful new park on Rhett St. that will include playground equipment, walking track, small and large dog park areas and exercise stations. This park was made possible by a Public/Private partnership with the generous land donation of James and Ginger Harper in conjunction with funding from the NC Parks and Rec Trust Fund grant program.
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Adopted a Short Term Rental Ordinance-The uncomfortable truth is that when it comes to homes in neighborhoods, the interests of short term rental investors are not the same as the residents who live in those neighborhoods. The value of a home to a short term rental investor is based on the profitability of operating that property as a transient lodging business. The value of a home to a resident of Southport in large measure is based on community. Community means different things - neighborhood, neighbors and connections. The quality of life in Southport primarily depends on the residents who live here. The future of Southport, the community we love and our quality of life depends on keeping the neighbor in the neighborhood.
Moving forward...
If I am re-elected to serve the citizens of Southport, in addition to the projects mentioned above, I am committed to continuing to work on and support critical projects that affect the future of our community. Some of these projects are re-building our water/sewer infrastructure, expanding stormwater infrastructure, implementing the plan for waterfront erosion stabilization, re-locating overhead electric lines underground, improving city streets and sidewalks, developing a plan to dredge the Yacht Basin and creating a local historic preservation commission.
As we make plans to maintain our infrastructure, we must recognize that Southport is the only walk-able historic town in Brunswick County and everyone wants to spend their free time in our community. The decades of slow change are behind us and the small Southport tax base cannot keep up with the escalating pressure of development that utilizes Southport without contributing to our tax base.
We must consider options like paid parking to provide opportunities for visitors coming from the communities outside of Southport to contribute to the maintenance of our infrastructure. Additionally, Brunswick County resources could help fund sidewalks and connectors to create connectivity between Southport’s parks and public spaces. Through funding connectivity projects within Southport, Brunswick County would be serving county residents, who on a daily basis use Southport for their entertainment and recreation.
These are just some of the important challenges and opportunities that lay before us. Your vote on November 2nd will enable me to continue serving our community.