North Topsail condo owner says town is ignoring building safety concerns

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, NC (WWAY) — A North Topsail Beach condo owner is speaking out, alleging the town altered a building inspection.

During public comment at Wednesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting, Jeff Wells—whose fiancée owns a condo in the Topsail Dunes condo complex—expressed his concern about the safety of the building.  

Wells claims a report from an independent roofing contractor found the building unsafe and in need of repairs.   

Last October, WWAY reported on water damage to the condo, and the HOA’s refusal to fix the roof.   

After getting nowhere with the HOA, Wells requested an inspection from the town.  

“I sent several emails, letters, in writing requesting that an inspection, a safety inspection be done on the roof because you could see that there was significant deterioration,” he said. 

When the town didn’t send an inspector, Wells contacted NC Representative Carson Smith’s office.  

The state representative’s office asked Onslow County to inspect the roof. The county agreed, but Wells says the town refused to allow a county inspector to look at the roof. 

Wells says the town sent their inspector, but he wasn’t able to climb on the roof because of his age.  

“No physical inspection of the roof was ever actually completed,” Well noted. “He was never able to get on the roof, he was never able to take any photos or do any actual inspection according to the state guidelines.”  

Despite that, the inspectors report obtained by WWAY states the roof is fine and does not pose a safety concern.   

An attached letter from the town’s attorney Trey Ferguson states the town considers the matter closed and that “any further action is a civil matter between the individual unit owner(s) and the Homeowners Association.” 

Wells, who’s already in active litigation with the HOA, says he’s worried about the safety of other tenants.  

“Thousands of pounds of water sitting on that roof could lead to possible or complete structural collapse of these roofs and I don’t want anyone getting hurt,” he said. 

WWAY reached out to the entire Board of Aldermen and the town manager but have not heard back as of Wednesday evening. 

North Topsail Mayor Joann Mcdermon said she has no comment. 

Fred Fontana—who is Topsail Dunes’ HOA Vice President and a former town alderman—was at Wednesday’s meeting and said he did not want to comment due to active litigation.