Sunset Beach council adopts background‑check ordinance and approves a package of administrative actions, contracts and settlements

The Town of Sunset Beach took a number of administrative actions at its May 2 meeting, including adoption of a municipal ordinance authorizing fingerprint‑based criminal‑history checks for applicants and employees.

Town staff told council the ordinance is intended to provide nationwide criminal‑history checks (fingerprints are particularly useful for out‑of‑state candidates) and that the change would apply to all town employees, including hires for police, fire and administrative positions. Council moved to adopt the ordinance on the floor and the motion carried.

Council also voted to allow procurement invitations to be advertised electronically on the town website to speed timelines and reduce printing costs; staff said the town will continue print outreach where helpful and consider a notice directing users to the website. The council authorized the town administrator to advertise an RFQ for on‑call engineering services.

On fiscal matters, finance staff presented a budget amendment recognizing additional revenues (prior collections, grants, donations, surplus sales and disaster‑recovery funds) to adjust multiple departmental expenditures without drawing from fund balance; council approved the amendment after questions about payroll accounting.

Council approved change orders for the Catchment 7 waterline project to move unexpected utility lines encountered during construction, and approved a waiver/deferral request related to a shallow draft navigation dredging assessment for 416 Marlin Street consistent with prior practice.

Coming out of closed session council ratified a settlement agreement dated Feb. 17, 2026 between Riptide Building Management LLC, STGR Development LLC and the Town of Sunset Beach, and authorized the interim town administrator and mayor to sign a settlement and deed of emergency access easement with Seaside LLC for Cobblestone Creek contingent on Fire Marshal compliance.

Several council members raised earlier payroll and salary paperwork questions during budget discussion; staff said steps will be taken to clarify payroll handling and any retroactive adjustments.