HOfiG & E*C
SPRINGPORT r
i B I
Volume 23, Number 3:
Count
BY SUSAN USHER
Three developers from the
county's fast-growing south end told
Brunswick County commissioners
Thursday night that increasing the
property tax rate would "put a
damper" on growth.
The developers were among 15
speakers at a county budget hearing
attended by 40 to 50 people. Most of
the speakers favored trimming the
tax rate, but severai defended their
request for a share of the proposed
$22.6 million budget.
Ocean Isle Beach developer Odell
Williamson said it must be a joke,
that commissioners were "just kidding"
or testing public reaction when
they proposed increasing the tax rate
from 59.5 cents to 63.5 cents for each
$100 worth of property.
"The people of this county are
against any tax increase. I can tell
you that right now," said Williamson,
who pays more property taxes than
any other individual in the county.
Hut when he polled the audience of
40 to 50 people, only about naif of
those present raised their liands in
agreement, prompting Williamson to
add,"'I would assume you have a lot
of county employees here."
About 10 of those present were
county employees.
After the hearing, Chairman Chris
Chappell said it was "hard to say"
how much, if any of iiie iax increase
would be cut from the proposed
budget.
Of the five-member board, only
Chairman Chris Chappell said he had
received "numerous" calls about the
proposed tax increase. He postulated
that might be because growth Is so
s - ...
Former D
To Make <
l!Y SUSAN USHER
A former Brunswick County social
services director filed suit Friday
seeking reinstatement to the job with
uiicK pay una oenetus.
The suit, filed in Brunswick Count)
Superior Court by James Orrock ol
Greenwood Acres, names the
Brunswick County Roard of Socia
Services and its members, anc
Brunswick County.
The county is named-and tht
commissioners involved?because
the county would have to provide the
funds for the back pay. benefits and
Supply Mai
Suspect Be
BY TER
A 33-year-old Supply r
day evening at his home,
County Sheriff's Departm*
case.
Mark Tolliver, 33. of R
Road), was pronounced de
by Brunswick County Assi
The Brunswick Count)
ed a call around 7:30 p.m.
the Tolliver residence, sail
prepared news release.
"We have a suspect in
tioned at this time," Dav
"No charges have been fil
The Coastline Volunte<
the scene, but Tolliver wa
ed, said Sheriff's Detective
"The cause, weapons i
at this time," Walton said
waiting for the SBI crime
scene. Until they arrive, w
pened."
The suspect was take
residence, Walton said. T<
Brunswick Hospital in Sup
Rescue Squad for further
The State Bureau of I
was called in Tuesday i
hhoor.i'-?. SBI agents w ..re
the crime scene at daybn
Sheriff's Detective David
JOK bindery
1.2/31/39
II 49? 84 I
lb l/lll
2 Shallotte, Nc
Ql
yAske
r
V'4
PV J
DEVEIXJPERS Paul Dennis, Ma
Williamson and Harry Rickenbai
planatiou during last Thursday's I
visible in his area, the southernm<
tip of the county.
"It's hard to explain that grow
also causes our problems" by :
creasing the demand for services,
said, as well as contributing to t
tax base.
In past *enr.i tiir pi vpubcu uuu{
taken to public hearing has been
product of the county managi
which was then adjusted by comm
sioners. But Thursday's budget w
developed by the five commissione
and staff during numerous long wo
sessions.
SS Head A:
County Rel"
attorney's fees. County Manager E
I ly Carter told commissioners M
day night. County Attorney Da'
i Clegg was to discuss the suit w
commissioners at a 7:30 p.m. bo<
meeting called Thursday to disci
t water system policies.
! Orrock was fired Nov. 30, 1983,
1 alleged "conduct unbecoming
I public officer." He was hired by
department May 26,1981.
Orrock says in his complaint tl
: he was fired "without just cause i
! without being made aware of
I reasons for his termination."
t Killed;
ing Held
RY POPE
nan was shot and killed Tuesaecording
to the Brunswick
:nt, which has a suspect in the
oute 2, Supply (Stone Chimney
ad at the scene of the shooting
stant Coroner Larry Andrews,
r Sheriffs Department receivthat
someone had been shot at
d Sheriff John Carr Davis in a
custody and he is being quests
stated late Tuesday night,
ed at this time."
er Rescue Squad was called to
s dead when authorities arrive
Lindsey Walton,
and names cannot be released
following the shooting. "We're
investigators to arrive at the
e can not determine what haj>
n into custody at the Tolliver
liliver's body was taken to the
ply by the Coastline Volunteer
examination.
nvestigation crime scene unit
light to help investigate the
to begin their investigation of
;ak Wednesday morning, said
Crocker.
UNSW
)rth Carolina, Thursday, Ju
EJECTIONS RAISE
id To li
m- %
r' V %
son Anderson, Odcll county's new b
cker listen to an ex- by the state,
ludget hearing of the
?t Commissioner Herman Love sai
he had received more calls about th
th proposed building permit fees tha
in- the budget.
he "The only feedback I've got on th
he budget is about parks and recreatioi
the extra money there," he added.
-* Mnt uh^uf half of IhAco crv>?kln
>*- * * * . >
a Thursday night objected to a tax ir
;r, crease, if for different reasons,
is- Sunset Beach attorney an
as developer Mason Anderson said thr
irs $1-5 million increase in the county
rk tax base during the past year shoul
be sufficient to provide the addition.
?ks Court
lire Him
ill- said the board did not allow a hearir
on- for him to defend the charges that 1
vid had sexually harassed an employe
ith Donna Hinson Rivenbark of Suns
ird Harbor. He says his rights wei
oss violated both under the Fifth Amen
ment to the U.S. Constitution ar
for under state law.
a In April, the State Personnel Cor
the mission has upheld the opinion
hearing officer Barbara Coward th
hat Orrock should be rehired,
ind Ms. Coward had heard testimoi
the in the case in an August 24-29 hearir
He in Brunswick County. During th
hearing Ms. Rivenbark testified th
Orrock had "stared and leered"
her and made suggestive remarks.
Ms. Coward recommended in 0
tober that Orrock be rehired, recei
ing net back pay and accrued sii
leave and vacation leave, and th
the board pay his attorney's fees. SI
said the social services departme
had failed to show that Orrock hi
sexually harassed Ms. Rivenbark.
The Commission's recommend
tion is not binding on the social s<
vices baord. Citing its disagreeme
with the recommendation, the boa
has refused to rehire Orrock. 1
stead, last month it directed boa
attorney Mary Easley to discuss
settlement with Or rock's attorne
William Fairley. The settlement w
to include a bar against furth
litigation against the social seme
board.
In his suit, Orrock said he has "t
hausted all administrati'
remedies," thereby establishing t
record necessary for the matter to
heard in Superior Court
The suit asks the court to order t
social services board to reinsta
him, with back pay and accru
leave, and to direct the county to pi
vide the funds for this, plus to p
reasonable attorney's fees and ott
costs.
Another former social servic
employee, Alinda Meares. also h
gone to court in an effort to get ba
her job. She has asked the court
order the county to reinstatement 1
with back pay and benefits provid
under a settlement she reached h
year with the social services boat
Among other things, the county ci
tends the social services board <
not have the authority to negotn
that settlement
ICK#!
ne 20, 1985
;D TO TAX 1NCRE
ve With
.
' " ^0^ ' 1
^
milding inspections program, mandated
d money the county needs to operate
ie and provide essential services during
n next year.
"We cannot justify this increase in
ie rate by on the basis of inflation," he
i, said.
A favorable tax rate and fiscal
a resnonsibility. he added, liave helped
> draw new people and new businesses
to the county, adding new jobs,
d Asking commissioners to study the
it budget again, Anderson appealed,
s "Don't let's put a damper on this
Id growth we're receiving."
a! While supporting a "desperately
fink Si
^ ^gB
xi
iJ ^
2 g&f ^
at * ' -?*?
be />
Crownec
Ill
sd Kelly Nichole While of Shallotte,
Fourth of July, is flanked by secom
a" Rountree on her left and first i
?r- I
nt
E County Pre
I Effort Said
es
BY SUSAN USHER
ac- Reappraisals of county property
ve are 95 percent complete, revaluation
he project manager Brent Weisner told
be Brunswick County commissioners
Monday night,
he rive local listers have completed
ite visits to property in Sunset Beach,
ed Ocean Isle Beach. Calabash and the
ro- first three rows of Long Beach,
ay They're expected to complete
ier Holden Beach this week and move into
the area behind the beach, he add es
ed- Listers are also working in
as I-eland, Carolina Shores and the area
ck north Ocean Isle Beachto
In late July Weisner's staff will
ier complete a schedule of values for the
led beard's consideration. The goal of
ist the schedule is to have uniform
rd. values for like properties.
jo- "We're putting it off as king as
lid passible because there are so many
ite sales this tune of year," Weisner
said. "I want to see as many sales as
REACC
25c Per Copy
ASE
i in Its A/
needed" county water system, he B
criticized delays in completing its
distribution system and the proposed i;
allocation of $880,000 from the c
general fund to the water fund t
(primarily general obligation bond t
revenues). f
He said he couldn't propose cuts 4
unc-uy-iiiie, oui suggested uie parks s
and recreation budget "can be trim- I
med substantially".
Developer Harry Rickenbacker c
urged commissioners also to "think s
about the budget and live within our i
means." {
The former school board member
questioned the size of expenditures 1
for animal control and parks and i
recreation and suggested that cducn- t
tional funding be "redirected toward ;
scholastics" and away from ex- s
tracurricular activities. i
Schools Seek More
Superintendent of Schools Gene 1
Yarbrough disagreed with those who <
argued lower taxes were the key to <
attracting growth. I
"I don't think low taxes can say it i
all in attracting someone to the coun- I
ty," he said, adding that amenities 1
such as the school system's educa- I
tional standing also count heavily. !
Even after substantial trimming, t
he added, the school board is about I
$100,000 short of the general
operating budget proposed by the <
county.
He ana Board of Education Chair- !
man James Korstner also asked commissioners
to reconsider their re- i
quest for a long-term capital construction
plan, with funds to rebuild I
Union and Lincoln primary schools i
and add a third huildinit tn Smith
W2*W
> ' >
I Little Miss N.C. Fourth
Little Miss N.C. 1-aFaye Nance on
1 runner-up Renee pageant pictures ai
unner-up Andrea
>perty Reval
To Be On Sc
possible before I stick my neck out."
So far, he said, appraisals have
been consistent with sales analyses.
Property valuations will be based
on the schedule of values adopted by
the commissioners. Tax notices are
to go out sometime in October under
the schedule agreed upon by W.P.
Ferris 4 Co. and the county.
Chairman Chris Chappell said
Weisner has talked with several local
groups about revaluation and is
available to talk to others.
Eisht-five nercent af the infnrma
lion about the county's 70,000 parcels
of land has been coded and 70 percent
of the land data entries completed.
Weisner said 40 percent of all improvements
had been reviewed,
while 30 percent of the file information
has been verified with the field
information.
FEMA Reimbursements
County commissioners also accepted
170,913 in reimbursements
y
IN
TM
26 Pages
|
leans'
runswick High School.
While the schools will get approxmately
$1 million for equipment pur:hases
and small construction jobs,
omAi.nl .
IIC ainuuill Ul Hie tuuill) a eul ill IUUion
to the schools' capital reserve
und has not been set, but will include
0 percent of the county's half-cent
ales tax revenues, as required by
aw.
Reworking one school during the
toming year would deplete the
lystem's reserves, Yarbroug'n said,
inless additional monies are ap>ropriated.
"I hate taxes as much as you do,"
rorstner said, but added that money
s necessary to provide good schoolng.
The county will pay the price of
in under-financed educational
;ystem, he said, through its jails and
velfare services.
Sheriff John Carr Davis defended
lis department's request for 10 more
uuployees, citing an increase in
:ounty population of 14,000 and comilaints
about response time and inability
to reach the department by
:elephone. The department lias two
ess employees than in 1979, when
here was a reduction in force, he
laid. So far Davis' request is intact,
hough changes may be made before I
he budget is adopted.
"I'm not asking for any more than
?e need," he said.
Residents J.M. Caton of Bolivia,
S.E. Meditn o: worm west ana KODcrt
Sellers of Shaliotte also spoke aguinst
my increase in the tax rate.
While the county must plan to meet
the infrastructure needs of its
residents, Sellers cautioned against
(See OBJECTIONS, Page 2-A)
i
STA#F C?0'0(? UJIAN UVKM
i Of July
her right. The story and more
re on page 7-A of this issue.
uation
hedule
from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency for expenses
incurred as a result of Hurricane
Diana last .September.
The money will be divided up as
follows among departments: landfill,
$44,332; sheriff, $5,621; building and
grounds, $1,225; paries and recreation,
$18,190; fire departments, $75;
rescue squads, $244: health, $75; and
water system, $556.
Computer Project
Approved a bid of $108,354 from
Cott Index Co. for a computer system
to be used by the Register of Deeds
Office in conjunction with the clerk of
court and tax offices
None of three bids submitted met
specifications. Instead of readvertising,
Register at Deeds Kuuert Rubinson
and Emory' Thigpen of Govern- i
ment Consultants, negotiated with
the low bidder for a package that included
all specifications plus an addi(See
COMPUTER, Page l-A)
iV
.. i