OurTown

NEWSLETTER
Our T own
Published weekly by the Town of Burgaw | August 25-29, 2025
The Town of Burgaw is proud to honor Police Chief Jim Hock as he enters retirement after a distinguished career in
law enforcement. Chief Hock began serving as Chief of Police on June 9, 2015, following more than 18 years of
dedicated service with the Pender County Sheriff’s Office.
During his tenure with the Town of Burgaw, Chief Hock led the department with integrity, strong leadership, and an
unwavering commitment to public safety. He oversaw significant advancements in policing
practices, community engagement, and departmental modernization. Through his guidance, the
Burgaw Police Department strengthened partnerships with community members, expanded
officer training programs, and fostered greater public trust through transparency and
accountability.
In recognition of his outstanding service and dedication, the Burgaw Board of Commissioners
honored Chief Hock with the dedication of a bench along the town ’s walking trail near Rotary
Park. This lasting tribute will serve as a reminder of his leadership and
commitment to the community he so faithfully served.
Chief Hock’s years of service have left a lasting impact on both the department
and the community. His vision and dedication have helped shape the Burgaw
Police Department into a stronger, more connected organization that will
continue to serve the citizens of Burgaw with professionalism and care.
Thank You for your Dedicated Service to Our Town, Chief Hock!
The Town of Burgaw and the Burgaw Police Department invite the community to join
us for the Swearing -In Ceremony of our new Chief of Police, James Rowell. The
ceremony will take place on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the Burgaw
Town Center, located at 108 E. Wilmington Street. We encourage residents to attend
and help us welcome Chief Rowell as he begins this important role in serving our town.
Swearing-In Ceremony
You’re Invited
The Town of Burgaw extends its deepest gratitude to Chief
Hock for his many years of service to our community and
wishes him all the best in his well-deserved retirement!

September 1
Town offices closed in observance of Labor
Day
September 2 | 4:00 PM
Chief of Police Swearing-In Ceremony
Burgaw Town Center
September 4 | 8:30 AM
Tourism Development Authority Regular
Meeting
Burgaw Town Center
September 4 | 11:00 AM
Burgaw Bark Park Grand Opening
Ashe Street Park, 312 E. Ashe Street
September 5 | 8:30 AM
Beautification Committee Regular Meeting
Burgaw Town Center
September 5 | 6:00 PM
Back-to-School Bingo
Pre-registration required.
Historic Train Depot
September 9 | 4:30 PM
Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Burgaw Town Center
September 11 | 5:30 PM
Patriot Day Ceremony
Historic Train Depot
September 17 | 12:00 PM
Senior Lunch & Learn
Pre-registration required.
Burgaw Town Center
September 18 | 5:30 PM
Planning Board Regular Meeting
Burgaw Town Center
September 20 | 7:00 PM
Murder Mystery Dinner
Pre-registration required.
Historic Train Depot
September 25 | 6:30-8:30 PM
Fall Concert
Dees Park
Our Town | Page 2
UPCOMING
N O T I C E O F P U B L I C H E A R I N G
The following item will be heard for consideration at the Town of
Burgaw Board of Commissioners Meeting on September 9, 2025
beginning at 5:30 PM (or thereabout ) at the Burgaw Town Center, 108
E. Wilmington Street, Burgaw. All interested parties are invited to
attend. Written and oral comments welcome.
Agenda Item 1: Consideration of a proposed conditional rezoning
request on ±3.4 acres of land from O&I, Office and Institutional district
to R-7 (CZ), R-7 Residential, Conditional Zoning district located on Worth
Beverage Dr. (SR -1481) and Progress Dr. (SR -1413)( PIN=3228 -58-6970-
0000). The request would permit the construction of a 22 unit, 11
structure duplex development. Applicant Andrew Smith on behalf of
Grand Vision Investments. Assigned Staff: Ron Meredith,
rmeredith@burgawnc.gov, 910.663.3451
Community members are invited to join local officials, first
responders, and civic organizations as they pay tribute to the
victims and recognize the bravery of those who responded on
the day we will never forget, September 11, 2001.
This National Day of Remembrance serves as a solemn
reminder of the resilience, unity, and courage that define our
nation. Residents are encouraged to participate and reflect
on the significance of Patriot Day.
National Day of Remembrance

The Town of Burgaw is partnering with Ardurra to create a Comprehensive Storm Water Master Plan. This important
project will identify storm water needs throughout the town, evaluate the current drainage system, and develop a
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to guide upgrades and improvements over time.
As part of this effort, Ardurra has held a public input meeting and met in person with town staff to discuss key concerns
and priority areas. However, gathering additional information directly from our residents and businesses is still essential
to creating a plan that meets the needs of the entire community.
To gather your input, an online survey has been created. Your feedback will help identify problem areas, capture local
experiences, and ensure the plan addresses real -world concerns. Whether you ’ve noticed drainage issues, flooding
spots, or simply want to share your perspective, your participation will make a difference.
Help Shape Burgaw’s Storm Water Master Plan
How to Participate:
• Complete the short survey online by
visiting: https://arcg.is/1yn04W3
• Or scan the QR code with your
smartphone to go directly to the
survey.
Your voice matters! Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and help shape Burgaw’s storm water future.
Our Town | Page 3
Once Upon a Time
in Burgaw...
August 1877
Burgaw was selected for the county
seat over South Washington by a
vote of 934 to 741. By virtue of
an Act of the North Carolina
General Assembly the county seat
was named Stanford, which did not
survive long as a name. The U.S.
Post Office Department never
adopted the name.
Each week, we’ll be sharing a little piece
of Burgaw’s past! Join us as we step back
in time and discover the stories, photos,
and fun facts that make our town so
special. Stay tuned each week for "Once
Upon a Time in Burgaw"
Sign up for Eye on Water
Leak alerts can be set up to send via text or email
so you will know be the first to know when a
potential leak has started. The system flags
consistent usage over a 24-hour period as a ‘leak’,
so make sure to check daily for spikes in usage. You
can access Eye on Water via a web browser or
mobile app.
There are also step-by-step instructions on our
website to guide you through signing up, setting
leaks alerts and learning how to read the graphs on
the home screen.
For assistance, call Public Works at 259-2901.
https://eyeonwater.com/signup

Grand Opening of the town’s first
dog park to take place on
September 4
Our Town | Page 4
Burgaw Parks, Recreation & Tourism Activities and Events
The Town of Burgaw is excited to announce the
grand opening of the Burgaw Bark Park on
Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 11:00 AM. The
celebration will take place at Ashe Street Park,
located at 312 E. Ashe Street.
The Burgaw Bark Park is a new community space
designed for dogs and their owners to enjoy safe,
outdoor recreation. Featuring open play areas and a
welcoming environment, the park provides a place
for residents and their furry companions to gather,
exercise, and socialize.
To mark this special occasion, the Town invites all
community members, along with their four -legged
friends, to attend the grand opening ceremony. The
Bark Park represents another step in Burgaw ’s
ongoing commitment to creating family -friendly
amenities that enhance quality of life for residents
and visitors alike.
Bring your pup and join us in celebrating this
exciting addition to Ashe Street Park!
Relive the era of Beanie Babies and the
Spice Girls by stepping into the world of the
gnarly 1990’s! Amid the neon lights and slap
bracelets, a darker underbelly emerges at a
mall grand opening, revealing secrets and
suspense that will knock your beanie off.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it:
untangle the mystery while navigating
through ‘90s pop culture references. It’s not
just nostalgia; it’s a chance to solve a
murder that’s more perplexing than a
Rubik’s Cube. Dust off your Walkman,
tighten your scrunchie, and join us in solving
the crime of the decade!
Saturday, September 20 | 7-10 PM
Historic Train Depot
Cost is $60 per person, including dinner, 3
drink tickets, and a show!
BURGAW PARKS, RECREATION &
TOURISM AND THE MURDER
MYSTERY CO. PRESENTS
Visit burgawnc.gov/register to
purchase tickets today!

Mayor
Olivia Dawson
Mayor Pro Tem
James Malloy
Commissioners
Jan Dawson
Bill George
William Rivenbark
Michael Pearsall
Town Manager
James H. Gantt
Town Clerk
Kristin J. Wells
Town Attorney
Norwood P. Blanchard, III
Town Hall
109 N. Walker St.
Burgaw, NC 28425
910-259-2151
mail@burgawnc.gov
www.burgawnc.gov
Office Hours
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday-Friday
PUBLIC WORKS
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
NUMBER
PHONE # 910-470-0457
This phone is only answered after
hours, between 4:30 PM - 7:30 AM,
and is for water and sewer
emergencies only . Unless Public
Works has been given prior notice
from Town Hall, Public Works
cannot turn your water on due to
non-payment shut off.
Utilities
663-3445
Parks & Town Events
300-6401
Human Resources
663-3444
Permitting & Inspections
663-3452
Public Works Department
259-2901
Police Department
Non-Emergency
259-4924
Fire Department
Non-Emergency
259-7494
Elected & Appointed
Officials
Board of Commissioners Meetings
Second Tuesday of every month at 4:30 PM
Public Forum/Public Hearings at 5:30 PM
Planning Board Meetings
Third Thursday of every month at 5:30 PM
Tourism Development Authority Meetings
First Thursday of every month at 8:30 AM
Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee
Meetings
Second Monday of February, May, August,
November at 5:30 PM
Beautification Committee Meetings
First Friday of every month at 8:30 AM
All meetings listed above are open to
the public; oral and written
comments always welcome. The
meetings are held at the Burgaw
Town Center, located at 108 E.
Wilmington Street, Burgaw, unless
otherwise posted.
Meeting agendas can be found on the
town’s website at BurgawNC.gov.
Notices for cancelations and special
called meetings will be posted on the
town’s website and weekly
newsletter when necessary.
For questions or assistance, please
contact the Town Clerk at 910-663-
3441 or kwells@burgawnc.gov.
CURRENT MEETI NG
SCHED ULE
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