N. Topsail Beach met to discuss beach restoration project status

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The North Topsail Beach Board of Alderman held a special meeting Monday night to discuss the Phase 5 Shoreline Restoration Project status, and come up with an alternate plan if the Army Corps of Engineers denies their request for more time.

“There is always someone who would like to see this disappear because they don’t like to see it on their beach, but without this on their beach, we won’t have a beach,” Lloyd Butler said.

Butler said he has been coming to North Topsail Beach for more than 30 years, and has seen the Phase 5 Shoreline Restoration Project first hand.

“It doesn’t bother me that much it because it does so much good,” Butler said.

To this date, crews have finished only 1.7 miles out of the 3.8-mile-long project.

Town Manager Stuart Turille said crews were only able to work 48 out of the 118 project days due to weather and equipment issues.

Because of those problems, the town asked for an extension from the Army Corps of Engineers. Officials said the time extension won’t mean additional costs, and work should be done before sea turtle nesting season.

As the town waits for approval, alderman tried to come up with a back-up plan Monday night.

Turille said under the alternate plan, contractors would come back this fall to complete the project that would cost at least $750,000.

That’s too much to Butler.

“Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money as tight as everyone budget is during these time. I think don’t they need to be wasting $750,000. No way,” Butler said.

So, Butler said he hopes the alternative plan won’t have to come into play.

“If they don’t pass this extension then that’s just money being thrown away,” Butler said.

Several members of the Board of Alderman said they are not happy with the options presented at the meeting and rescheduled another meeting for April 21 at 10 a.m. to discuss more options.