Brunswick Co. Commissioners pass abandoned boat ordinance

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — After years of work, the Brunswick County Commissioners passed the abandoned boat ordinance.

Captain Mose Highsmith of the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office was the person designated to draft the boat ordinance several years ago.

The plan regulates the docking and anchoring of boats in the county and prohibits them from being abandoned.

Captain Highsmith says that the abandoned boats have been a major problem in the area and this decision is the right one.

“Well there’s been a need recognized for the last couple years that there is a growing number of boats that have been left in various areas of the county,” Highsmith said. “They become either obstacles to navigation or they sink in place and become somebody’s problem to deal with.”

Captain Highsmith says the decision tonight came with very little discussion as the change needed to happen.

Captain Highsmith says that the job is not done.

It’s up to his team to enforce the laws to make the change for the area.