Resources, News, and Announcements

From the Mayor’s desk – 7/3/25

Police & EMS Departments:

We are all set for another big weekend.  Stahlman Park will be set up for the Command Center with reserve officers and other visiting agencies in to help us this weekend.

As we all know, fireworks are prohibited in Village of Surfside Beach, but not on county beach.  Please do your part to not light fireworks in VOSB and also to inform and educate others about moving down to county beach if they are lighting fireworks.  Fines and evidence seizures will occur in VOSB for fireworks violations.

Last thing, if you still want to donate snacks and drinks to the Command Center, we will be accepting them at City Hall today and at Stahlman starting tomorrow.  Thanks in advance!

Beach & Parks:

Initial large road repairs completed at Surf/Main entrance, Sand Dune Ct, Coral Ct, and Bay Ave.  Cement is cured and barricades lifted.  Thanks for working around the street and golf cart path closures.  The next planned large repair is scheduled to start in a few weeks at Surf & Thunder.  We will plan to block this intersection for multiple days for this concrete work and will need to work with those in the houses on Thunder on their plans for access during this period.

The skid steer worked the beach this week to pull large and small debris up towards the dunes.  We will be coming behind with a truck, trailer, and chainsaw after this weekend to remove and dispose of the larger items.

Finance:

Another very busy week in Finance.  We worked on preliminary budget prep with Emergency Management (Frank), Parks & Roads (Toby), and City Hall (Amanda/Josh).  In addition, we reviewed with Council the budgets for PD, EMS, and Beach, with an introduction of Emergency Management on Tuesday and Wednesday.  This is a significant amount of prep work and honestly, clean up from where we had been in accounting practices in the past.  Again, hats off to both Christie and Mindi in Finance to get us to place where we can have a genuine understanding of the VOSB finances.  We aren’t there yet, but progress before the 4^th this year has been significant.  Budget meetings continue next week on Tuesday.

Public Works:

New lift station pumps and VFD installed this week.  This along with the preventative maintenance agreement on the asset should put us in a good position for operation of our Pompano lift station going forward.

We have been working with TCEQ on 2 pages of violations that they had open from 5 years ago, plus.  Each of the violations was corrected in the past, but TCEQ does not have proof in hand, and therefore they all remain open in their eyes.  The burden of proof then falls back to VOSB, and Erick has collected proof on the majority of these and mailed in binder #1 of proof to the TCEQ this week.  The goal here is to continue to work with TCEQ and ensure that we fully close each and every outstanding violation from their perspective.

Repeat, but important:  Muni-Link utilities billing software change is getting close to Go Live date which is July 11^th.  As we have been working the transition, we have uncovered incorrect billing errors (underbilling) that will be corrected going forward.  The current basic water rate is $41.50 and basic garbage rate is $20.81.  If you had been paying less than that, it was in error that was in your favor, but that will change.  All the rates will be current when we switch on July 11^th.

Some notes on Muni-Link about what you can expect with the change.  Also, please look at the Village of Surfside Beach website along with our Facebook page for more details.  Muni-Link:  If you pay your water bill at City Hall today, then you will be able to still pay in person or mail just like before.  If you pay online, then you should receive an email by July 17^th with your new account number and CID number.  Use these to access the new online customer portal.  If you don’t receive by July 17^th, please call City Hall.  Important note:  your August water bill will include your new account number and CID number.  Again, you will need these to log into the new customer portal.

Other Items of Interest:

We had a visitor from the TCEQ on Friday last week to take the “before” pictures of the groin project, Surfside Groin and Beach Nourishment (SWG-1998-02508).  The 2 groins will extend 1) perpendicular out from the main entrance and 2) diagonally from about where Beach meets Texas, towards the jetty.  With beach nourishment planned in those areas as well.  To reiterate from my last update, we finally have the permit in hand from USACE.  The GLO along with Coast & Harbor Engineering are working final design details and then bidding.  According to Coast & Harbor, “the goal is to start construction at the beginning of 2026 but will be dependent on the bidding timeline with the GLO as well as some final design details that need to determined.”  In addition, we just signed off on a permit to the US Coast Guard for the required navigation aids at the seaward end of the groins, due to their location in navigable waters.  These will be raised lights with signs at the end of each groin.

The new restaurant sure does appear to be moving along nicely.  Here’s what we know to help curb the rumor swirl…”The Salty Parrot” will be a restaurant serving local beach food options.  There are 2 retail shops planned for the main deck on the portion that is jutting out.  The top level will be used as an events center, and the lower level will be a bar with food and also has the option to open garage doors for open air.  I’ve heard that they will have a life sized carving of a pirate with parrot on his shoulder decorating the restaurant.  Now you know!

Thanks as always to the SOBA volunteers who make our Village look so patriotic with the American flags stretching from the start of Fort Velasco all the way to the county line down Bluewater Hwy.  Much appreciation to that crew!

As we celebrate our country’s independence this weekend please take a minute to reflect on what it means to be an American.  Not just our rights and privileges that our forefathers fought and died to protect. Being American is making a change, and making good changes. Being American is being welcoming, being caring about other people, and being proud of your country. And it’s forgiveness. It’s not holding grudges on anything—I mean, where’s that going to get you?  On the 4^th of July we celebrate together, because we are all Americans.  One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.     

As always, I hope that you have a great day and enjoy the holiday weekend in wonderful Surfside Beach!  I hope to see you around this weekend.

Thanks,

Zach

05/01/2025

SCAM ALERT: Beware of Fraudulent Emails Posing as City Communications

The Village of Surfside Beach has been made aware of scam emails being sent to residents, falsely claiming to be from official city departments. These emails may request personal information, demand payments, or contain suspicious links.

Please Note:

• The City will never ask for Social Security numbers or bank details via email.
• Official emails from the City will come from addresses ending in @surfsidetx.org
• If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a message, do not click any links or download attachments.

If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from the City, mark it as spam. When in doubt feel free to call the City first. 979-233-1531

Help us spread the word by sharing this post. Stay alert and stay safe!

— The Village of Surfside Beach

Notice

This year's levy to fund maintenance and operations expenditures exceeds last year's maintenance and operations tax levy. The following statements must be included in the ordinance, resolution, or order setting this year's tax rate. The statements must be in larger type than the type used in any other portion of the document.

VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.

THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 3.50 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $-1.99.

Notice

Public Works After Hours: 979-248-2085 (Please Text)

Notice

If you need help obtaining a WPI-1 for Windstorm Inspection, feel free to call the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Angleton Office at 800-248-6032, option 4, then option 3; or you may hire a Texas Certified Windstorm Engineer.