The minutes below are considered APPROVED, as voted on at the meeting on January 23rd, 2026, from the November 4th, 2025, meeting at Tangier Combined School. There was no meeting in December. Minutes are posted in their entirety below.
Minutes were prepared by Barb Baechtel — much appreciated! Thanks for keeping folks posted.
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Here is the news summary from the meeting minutes — lot of good things happening in Tangier — Miles
On that note, send any positive news about Tangier to mileslayton1969@gmail.com
Approximately 30 residents attended the Tangier Town Council’s Nov. 4, 2025, meeting at Tangier Combined School, where town leaders discussed finances, grants, infrastructure projects and community concerns.
Vice Mayor Beth Thomas called the meeting to order and thanked those present for their continued support of the town. She also announced that the meeting would be recorded. Duane Crockett delivered the opening invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Thomas.
Mayor James Ooker Eskridge welcomed residents and visitors, thanking them for participating in town business. He also expressed appreciation to representatives from the Bayland Group and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for attending.
Council members present included Mayor Eskridge, Vice Mayor Thomas, Tommy Eskridge, Anna Parks, Tracy Pruitt, Kelly Wheatley and Normand St. Pierre.
The council unanimously approved the meeting agenda, following a motion by Thomas and a second by Tommy Eskridge. Members also unanimously approved the minutes from the Sept. 17, 2025, meeting after a motion by Parks and a second by St. Pierre.
During an update on real estate tax collection and the fiscal year 2026 budget, St. Pierre reported that the town had approximately $40,000 in delinquent real estate taxes. He said notices would be sent to delinquent property owners in December tax bills.
St. Pierre said the town would work with residents to establish extended payment plans and would remain flexible. However, he noted that property owners who did not participate in good-faith repayment efforts could face legal action.
He also explained that the FY26 budget remained “a fluid document” because limited information was available when it was first prepared. As new information becomes available, adjustments will be made during the fiscal year.
Tracy Pruitt presented the General Fund report, stating that the fund balance was $1,700.46 on Sept. 17, 2025, and had increased to $2,624.21 by Nov. 4.
Kelly Wheatley reported on the Wastewater Treatment Plant fund, noting that the balance declined from $6,055.16 in September to $2,547.86 in November.
Tommy Eskridge provided an update on Tangier Gas and the fuel dock, reporting an approximate fund balance of $10,000. He said a $5,000 loan payment had been made to Swain Memorial Church, with another $10,000 payment to Pep Up scheduled for the following week.
Eskridge also discussed progress on a Department of Environmental Quality grant related to fuel tank replacement. He said consultant Leo Radkowski advised that the project needed to be revisited because full tank replacement was cost-prohibitive. Radkowski indicated that less expensive alternatives were available, and Eskridge expressed optimism that the project would soon restart.
In the grants report, Parks announced that the town was negotiating with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District to take over operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. She said similar arrangements exist in other Shore communities and that an engineering visit had been scheduled. If completed, the agreement would relieve the town of a major financial burden.
Evan Mazur of Bayland Consultants & Designers, Inc., along with representatives from Bayland and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, presented an overview of a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation study. Mazur explained that the initiative is a three-step, three-year process, with Tangier currently in the first study phase.
Bayland plans to return in the spring for workshops with council members and residents. The goal is to develop a comprehensive plan to seek additional funding in the fall. Engineering plans are expected in 2027, followed by restoration work.
Bayland also plans to coordinate efforts with multiple agencies and organizations to improve collaboration and efficiency.
During public comments, Roger Pruitt of Main Ridge Road raised concerns about boats speeding in the harbor, causing damage to docks and other vessels. He asked the council to consider enforcement measures or signage to improve safety.
With no further business, Thomas adjourned the meeting, with the next council meeting scheduled for Jan. 23, 2026.
Official Minutes
Council Members Present:
• Mayor James Ooker Eskridge
• Beth Thomas, Vice Mayor
• Tommy Eskridge
• Anna Parks
• Tracy Pruitt
• Kelly Wheatley
• Normand St. Pierre
Approximately thirty adult members of the community were in attendance.
Call To Order:
Vice Mayor Beth Thomas called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm and thanked everyone for coming and supporting the Town. She stated the meeting would be recorded.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The opening invocation was given by Duane Crockett, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Beth Thomas.
Opening Statement:
Mayor James Eskridge welcomed everyone. He thanked everyone for participating in the meeting. He thanked the
Bayland Group and the members of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for coming to Tangier.
Motion: To adopt the agenda of November 4th, 2025, was made by Beth Thomas and seconded by Tommy Eskridge.
Unanimous Aye. Motion Carried
Motion: To approve the public meeting minutes of September 17th, 2025, was made by Anna Parks and Seconded by
Normand St. Pierre. Unanimous Aye. Motion Carried
Upadate on Real Estate Tax Collection and Update on FY26 Budget:
Normand St. Pierre advised those assembled that there was approximately $40,000.00 in delinquent real estate taxes.
The Town will be sending out notices, including in the December tax bill, to delinquent property owners. The Town advised that they would be flexible in working out payment plans over an extended time period. Any property owners failing to participate in good faith repayment of delinquent real estate taxes may face legal recourse from the Town of Tangier.
Normand went on to say that the FY26 budget remained a fluid document, due to the limited information available when the budget was formulated. There will be edits during the fiscal year, as new information becomes available.
Financial Reports:
General Fund:
Tracy Pruitt discussed the state of the Town’s General Fund. She said that the General Fund balance on September 17th, 2025 was $1,700.46. As of November 4th, 2025, the General Fund balance was $2,624.21.
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP):
Kelly Wheatley began by stating that the WTP fund balance, on September 17th, 2025, was $6,055.16, and as of November 4th, 2025 was $2,547.86.
Tangier Gas:Fuel Dock and DEQ Update:
Tommy Eskridge stated that the Tangier Gas Fund had an approximate balance of $10,000.00. A loan payment had been to Swain Memorial Church, in the amount of $5,000.00. There is an upcoming payment of $10,000.00 to Pep Up next week, towards the Town’s outstanding balance.
Tommy met with Leo Radkowski, our consultant on the DEQ grant, for options on the Tank replacement project. Leo advised that the project needed to be revisited, due to tank removal/replacement being cost prohibitive. He is confident
that there are less expensive options. Tommy expressed optimism that the Town was on track for an imminent re-start to the project.
Grants Report:
Anna Parks announced that the Town was in negotiations with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District to take over the Wastewater Treatment Plant, as they have done with other communities on the Shore. The negotiations look promising and an engineering visit has been scheduled. This would relieve the Town of an immense financial burden.
Evan Mazur, a project lead, along with several other representatives from Bayland Consultants & Designers, Inc. along with representatives of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, who Bayland is partnering with on the National Fish and Wildlife Fund (NFWF) grant – gave a presentation on the scope and goals of the NFWF study. She explained that it was a 3-step, 3-year process. We are currently in Step 1 – the Study. They will be returning in the spring for workshops with the Town Council and residents, developing a full picture of what needs to be addressed on the Island, to develop a plan
to apply for further funding from NFWF in the fall, to fund the project action plan. In Step 2, these funds will be used to develop engineering plans for the projects identified during the Step 1 Study. The engineering plan for the needed projects will be submitted in 2027, for a grant to fund the restoration work, followed by Step 3, which is the actual restoration projects.
Bayland plans to meet with all of the organizations that are working to lend help to Tangier – Virginia State, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, the National Fish and Wildlife Fund, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Ecological Solutions Foundation and the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences – for a collaborative effort. Bayland feels that this network of like-minded stakeholders will work better, more efficiently and with more resources, if they work together, rather than independently.
Public Comments:
Roger Pruitt, of Main Ridge Road, addressed his issues with boat’s speeding in the harbor, and causing damage to other boats and docks. He asked the Town to investigate options for enforcement and/or signage, as this was a safety concern.
New Business:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Beth Thomas at 6:53 p.m.
The next public meeting will be held on January 23rd, 2026.
Tangier Island, Virginia 