OAK ISLAND — A small coastal town in Brunswick County will have a new town manager next year, after its current administrative leader steps down.
David Kelley announced he will retire July 1, 2024 — at the end of the fiscal year. He will be submitting a formal written notice in the new year, on Jan. 2.
Kelly has been a public servant for more than 35 years in the county. He started with the Brunswick County Water Utilities Department in 1988, followed by holding the chief building inspector and public utilities director in Yaupon Beach in 1992.
According to a release from the town, Kelly’s leadership was integral to the merger of Yaupon Beach and Long Beach to become Oak Island in the 1990s. He continued serving in the public services director role before becoming town manager in 2017.
In this role, Kelly has strengthen working relationships between the town and other government entities. He also helped with better storm response and recovery efforts following major hurricanes, such as Matthew, Florence and Isaias. This includes FEMA Emergency Dune Restoration Projects and funding and engineering long-term beach nourishment for proposed and future projects.
He also has been part of the Oak Island Fishing Pier Replacement Project, rebuilding the Kevin Bell Skatepark and updates to the Middleton Park Complex. He continues to work with NCDOT for pedestrian safety projects, and on sewer system upgrades and planned improvements to the Town’s public parking areas, among many other projects.
“The public interactions, professional accomplishments, and memories made with fellow coworkers comprise my fondest memories since my first day with the Town over three decades ago, to recall all of them would be impossible,” Kelly said in a release. “The time and devotion I have given to this Town could not have been possible with the support of my family, whom I eagerly await devoting my time to moving forward.”
His notice to retire exceeds the minimum four-month requirement in the renewal of the town manager’s contract and will help to ensure stability throughout the remainder of the fiscal year, and the transition to a new manager.
Information on the candidate recruitment process for the town manager position will be will be published in the coming weeks. Learn more here.
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