During an emergency meeting on Wednesday, the North Topsail Beach Board of Alderman debated reopening their town to visitors.

In open discussion where the Mayor stated she had “already made up her mind” and “the right thing to do”, Mayor Mcdermon recommended re-opening both the short term rentals and the public parking lots. A stated check in of Saturday morning for the rentals was given by the Mayor, by letting the Rental ban expire when it is currently scheduled to end on the 8th. The meeting ended with a public declaration made by the Mayor to open the rentals on Saturday the 9th, and parking on Friday the 8th.

Dissenting opinions of concern were given by alderman in attendance. Availability of food supplies, contamination of the community with the increased visitors from areas of higher infections rates, sanitation of rentals, overall increase of risk to the community as a whole, and the many unknowns that still surround this virus, were just a few of the reasons given.

Alderman Tom Leonard proposed that the Rental Ban be extended until the end of the Governor’s Phase 1. An already decreased inventory in the local food stores, and the concerns of the community about the spread of Covid-19 were given by him as justification.

Police Chief Younginer asked the Town to re-open public parking due to the high demand that was being put on his staff. With public lots closed, many folks are parking illegally, creating a problem to constantly enforce. With the lots open, officers could then focus on more serious violations.

Paid parking was briefly discussed, but banter of it was shut down by the Town Attorney who had to remind the Mayor that this was an emergency meeting, and that this topic did not fall under the emergency agenda.

Since the Town is under a current State of Emergency, the decision to re-open both parking and Rentals lays solely on Mayor Mcdermon. A press release is expected today to outline the re-openings for this weekend.