Advisory Board Recommends Pilot
Emergency Medicai Program
BY RAHN ADAMS
County emergency medical services officials last
week agreed that local volunteer rescue squads need
paid daytime help to cover the Shallottc area beginning
this tourist season. But the decision to hire rescue work
ers is up to county commissioners, who would autho
rize the paychecks.
On a motion by Bolivia representative Cecil Robbins,
the Brunswick County EMS Advisory Board last
Wednesday voted 22-1 to recommend that the county
establish a pilot EMS program through the 1990-91 fis
cal year and staff it with eight emergency medical tech
nicians.
If approved by commissioners, the pilot program
would represent the first paid emergency medical
services in the county, which now is served by nine vol
unteer rescue squads. A 10th squad ? Navassa Volun
teer Rescue Squad? is inactive.
At-largc board member Betty Warren of Ash cast the
lone vote against Robbins' motion, saying she felt the
panel's proposal should designate a specific rescue
squad to house the pilot program. Other members coun
tered that the "open-ended" recommendation should be
flexible so thai more than one rescue squad possibly
can benefit.
The 34-member advisory board, which was set up
last year by commissioners, is composed of representa
tives from local municipalities, rescue squads, hospi
tals, educational boards and tne general public. TTie
group met for 2 1/2 hours last Wednesday night at
Brunswick Community College.
Representatives from Boiling Spring Lakes, Cal
abash, Caswell Beach, Long Beach, Sandy Creek, Shal
lotte, Navassa, Varnamtown and Boiling Spring Lakes
VRS were absent, as were Commissioner Kelly Holden
and at-large member Michael Fullwood.
Although the advisory board did not specify where
they felt paid EMS personnel should be stationed, dis
cussion last Wednesday centered on a plea from the
Town of Ocean Isle Beach for improved daytime EMS
response from Shallottc Volunteer Rescue Squad.
As she has stated in previous town meetings. Ocean
Isle Beach Mayor Betty Williamson explained to the
advisory board that a manpower shortage since last fall
at Shallotte VRS has forced Calabash Volunteer Emer
gency Medical Services to answer most daytime calls at
Ocean Isle.
"As our beach season approaches, I'm sure you un
derstand our concern that the situation has not im
proved," Mrs. Williamson said, adding that tourism of
ficials expect this summer to be one of the South
Brunswick Islands' largest tourist seasons ever. She al
so pointed out that Calabash VKMS's regular coverage
area already includes Sunset Beach.
Calabash VEMS representative Alan Howarth and
Coastline VRS representative Kevin Mulholland both
noted that their squads also suffer daytime staffing
problems. "There's an influx of people at our beaches,
and we're all hurting," said Mulholland, whose squad
covers Holden Beach. Howarth added that a large per
centage of his agency's calls comes from the growing
number of golf courses in the Calabash area.
According to county Emergency Management Coor
dinator Cecil Logan, eight EMTs working 12-hour
shifts Monday through Friday could handle daytime
EMS service in southwestern Brunswick County, from
Supply to the state line. Statewide, the average pay for
EMTs is more than $14,000 per year, he said. One of
the proposed eight EMTs would be a supervisor, whose
annual salary would need to be at least $16,000.
Advisory Board Chairman Doug Ledgeu said the
commiuce should not view the pilot program as benefit
ing only one or two squads, since the program's eventu
al goal would be to become a countywide system. He
also emphasized that a county EMS program would not
rcplacc volunteer rescue squads, which would still be
needed to provide their usual "rescue" functions ? as
opposed to ambulance services ? and to provide "first
rcsponder" support on emergency medical calls.
In a related matter, board members voted unanimous
ly to propose that the county begin the search for a full
time EMS director but made no specific suggestions
about the position's job description or salary. Members
indicated that the director's initial task would be to plan
a countywide EMS system.
Also, the committee unanimously endorsed a recom
mendation for the county to authorize the operation of
private, non-emergency ambulance services for
"arranged transports" in Brunswick County. The
board's action followed a presentation from Medic
Alert Transport of Bolton. To make transports within
the county, ambulance services must obtain franchises
from the board of commissioners.
UOB Supports Unofficial Moratorium
On New Taps Southwest Of Shallotte
BY RAHN ADAMS
Although no official action was taken on the proposi
tion, Brunswick County utility officials agreed Monday
that they will have to quit recommending additions to
the county water system southwest of Shallouc unless a
much-talked-about capital improvements project is un
dertaken.
Requests for county water service in southwestern
Brunswick County and the water system's potential in
ability to meet future peak demands in that area were
main topics of discussion at Monday's two-hour meet
ing of the Brunswick County Utility Operations Board.
UOB members D.V. Jones, Robert Nubel, Ernest
McGcc, A1 Morrison and John Jones were present.
The meeting included a 30-minutc executive session
requested by Chairman D.V. Jones to discuss "attomey
clicnt matters." Jones said no action was taken during
the closed-door conference widi UOB Attorney
Michael Ramos.
The utility board's discussion of recommending a
possible moratorium on water taps followed a request
from Calabash area resident Raymond Dayka for an up
date on the status of Special Assessment District 15.
Dayka, president of the Bonaparte Retreat 11 Home
Owners Association, and about 30 other residents of
Bonaparte Retreat 11 and neighboring Heritage Haven
subdivisions presented petitions for water service two
months ago.
In February, the UOB agreed to recommend starting
the new SAD 15 project, as long as the board's engi
neers determined that the subdivisions could be added
without overburdening the water system. UOB consult
" Some of these short-term
(water) needs need to be
addressed and need to be
presented to the county
commissioners again."
? Jay Houston
Consulting Engineer
ing engineer Jay Houston reported Monday that the two
subdivisions, which include 79 dwellings, would re
quire an estimated 20,000 gallons of water per day.
Houston reiterated the UOB 's concerns that the water
system cannot supply enough water to meet peak sum
mer demands southwest of Shallotte, as was pointed out
in a S7.500 engineering study that was completed by
Houston's engineering firm in the fall of 1988.
In early 1989 and again last October, the UOB rec
ommended that commissioners approve a S5 million
capital improvements project that would solve the water
system problem southwest of Shallotte. Commissioners
have taken no definite action on the matter, despite
pleas from the utility board and Sunset Beach Town
Council for the county to implement the project.
The proposed project involves construction of a
2,200-gallon-per-minute booster pump stauon near the
intersection of N.C. 179 and N.C. 904; a one million
gallon elevated storage tank near the intersection of
N.C. 904 and Old Georgetown Road; and a 12-ir.ch
trunk line on Old Georgetown Road from N.C. 904 to
N.C. 1 79 near Calabash.
In his written report to the utility board, Houston not
ed Monday that he could not recommend against setting
up SAD 15, because the two subdivisions' anticipated
usage was relatively low and becausc the county has
not instituted a "moratorium" on water taps southwest
of Shallotte.
"Essentially what we're saying is, SAD 15 is in se
quence now...and I guess it comes down to a political
decision, and that we throw that (decision) back to the
county to make," Houston told the board. He later
added, "These people like Mr. Dayka arc in dire straits,
and they need some help...Some of these short-term
needs need to be addressed and need to be presented
again to the county commissioners."
Responding to a question from Nubcl, Houston noted
that at least three new golf course projects ? which he
would not identify ? are being planned in the Calabash
area. The engineer also pointed out that a golf course's
water usage tends to lower the groundwater table in a
given area.
County Public Utilities Director Jerry Webb in
formed the board that commissioners were to meet in
recessed session Wednesday (April 11) to discuss fund
ing methods for proposed capital improvements, includ
ing water system enhancements.
When Dayka asked if he and his neighbors should
put "pressure" on commissioners to approve the capital
improvements project, D.V. Jones responded, "I'd say
you've got to talk to them. They're the ones holding the
ball; the ball's in their court."
Prior to the UOB's unanimous vote to rccommend
setting up the new water district, Nubcl suggested that
the utility board tell commissioners that SAD 15 will be
the UOB's last recommended addition to the system
southwest of Shallotie until improvements are made.
"We've told them there's a (water) shortage," Nubcl
said, "but we haven't told them that there's a point
where we can't make further recommendations" of
adding new water customers, including golf courses.
Morrison's motion to rccommend initialing SAD 15
came on the heels of Nubel's remark, which elicited no
objections from other members. However, Morrison
confirmed Tuesday that his motion did not formally
propose a moratorium on new water taps southwest of
Shallotte, even though members apparently agreed that
they could recommend no more additions after SAD 15.
In other action at Monday's meeting, the utility board
voted to rccommend that commissioners adopt the final
assessment roll for SAD 10 (Calabash area), with an as
sessment rate of S5.38 per assessable foot. Total cost of
the project is S120.495.
Also, the UOB instructed Webb to contact county
and state officials about possible emergency measures
to supply county water scrvice to at least five Mt. Mis
ery Road residences whose wells are contaminated by
gasoline. Resident Belinda Causey said a state environ
mental management agency suspects the gasoline is
leaking from abandoned gas tanks at an old scrvice sta
tion in their neighborhood.
Calabash Officials Debate Future
Of Commercial Trash
Pickup
BY DOUG R UTTER
Several Calabash officials have
opposing views about who should
no* i f r\r ironk r?I/>l'i?n ? n
I S**J ?V> VVttllllVIVIUI U UJI ? pivivup 1 ? 1
town ? an issue that will probably
be seuJed as commissioners prepare
the budget for next fiscal year.
The town cunently pays for trash
pickup at all residences and busi
nesses wiihin the old town iiiniis,
while Carolina Shores residents
take their garbage to a community
dump.
Commissioner George Taubcl
questioned the policy of free com
mercial trash pickup at Tuesday
night's regular town meeting, and
said he planned to present estimates
for sanitation service for the entire
town at the April 25 meeting.
Taubel said he thinks the town
will have to stop paying for trash
pickup at commercial establish
ments, including restaurants, when
the new fiscal year starts July 1. He
argued that the town paying for
trash pickup at businesses is not lair
to residents who pay the same tax
raic but don't get the same benefits.
The commissioner said some
businesses pay less than $200 a year
in town ujaCS but rcccivc in ore than
SI, 000 in free trash service from the
town. "It is obscene for the taxes
they pay and the services they get,"
said Taubel.
Commissioner Phyllis Manning,
who serves on the town committee
reviewing trash service, said 90 per
cent of the town's sanitation bill is
for commercial pickup. She added
that Calabash is the only municipal
ity served by Chambers Develop
ment Company that pays for all of
the commercial trash pickup.
Commissioner Keith Hardee,
however, objected to the proposal to
do away with free commercial trash
pickup. He said he wouldn't vote
for it until the town starts receiving
tax dollars from Carolina Shores in
the middle of next fiscal year.
Supporting Hardee, Mayor Doug
Simmons said the town set its tax
rate at 24.5 cents per $100 of valua
tion so it could afford to pay for
trash pickup for businesses and resi
dents.
He said free commercial trash
pickup is justified because business
es pay more taxes than residents.
Also, Simmons said he frequently
has residential garbage piled in the
dumpsters at his business and would
have to "guard" them if the town
changed its policy.
The town contract with Cham
bers, which calls for pickup at busi
nesses, doesn't expire until 1992.
However, it can be canceled with or
without cause if at least 30 days no
tice is provided.
Study Continues
A brief status report on an ongo
ing annexation feasibility study for
Calabash turned into a lengthy dis
cussion on the lack of water avail
able southwest of Shallotte and al
ternative means of wastewater dis
posal.
The cost of extending water ser
vice to the two areas being consid
ered for annexation has been esti
mated at $127,000, according to
Alan Lewis and Don Covil of the
Shallotte engineering firm Houston
& Associates.
The town is looking at annexing
a residential area east of town and a
resort area southwest of town.
Providing water to the residential
area would cost about $110,000,
while getting water lines to the re
sort area would cost about $17,000.
The local engineering firm was
hired in December 1988 to com
plete the engineering portion of the
town's annexation feasibility study.
Tom Cassell of the state Division of
Community Assistance has been
looking at which areas qualify for
involuntary annexation under state
guidelines.
After hearing the cost estimates
Tuesday, town officials and the en
gineers talked at length about the
critical need for more water pres
sure in the Calabash area. They also
discussed golf course spray irriga
tion as a means of sewage disposal.
No "Horsing" Around
Commissioner Taubel said he
hopes to block any effort to estab
lish a topless nightclub in Calabash,
adding that he's heard rumors of
plans for such an establishment.
Taubel plans to work with the
town attorney and bring a draft or
dinance to the April 25 meeting that
would prohibit topless bars in
Calabash.
In doing so, Taubel said he hopes
to avoid problems experienced by
town officials in Atlantic Beach,
S.C., who arc trying to keep out es
tablishments such as the "Crazy
Horse."
"I don't think it's what the people
we represent want," said Taubel.
Mayor Doug Simmons agreed,
saying, "We need to nip it in the
bud."
Other Business
In other business Tuesday, com
missioners:
? Referred a petition for contigu
ous annexation to the town planning
and zoning board. Charles E.
Kronewetter of Marsh Harbour
Yacht Club has requested annexa
tion into the town limits. Building
Inspector Edward Schaack said the
request was in response to a recent
vote by the town board to seek spe
cial state legislation to expand the
town limits and that he expects
more letters of support.
? Met in executive session for 15
minutes to discuss a personnel mat
ter, but took no action. Mayor Sim
mons said the board is considering
changes in the method of compen
sation for the code enforcement of
ficer.
? Heard a report from Mayor Pro
Tem George Anderson concerning
the town taking over maintenance
of streets and ditches in Carolina
Shores. Anderson said the streets
are in "generally good repair" but
some need improvements and some
don't meet state standards. Roads
that don't meet state standards
would not be eligible for state '
Powell Bill money. He also noted
that a beaver dam in one of the
ditches off Persimmon Road will
have to be taken care of before the
town assumes maintenance.
? Set a special meeting for Fri
day, April 20, at 10 a.m. in town
hall. Commissioners will meet with
the planning and zoning board to
discuss changes in the town ex
traierritorial boundaries and related
mailers.
? Heard from Schaack thai
another convenience store and with
gasoline plans to locate on N.C.
179, even though there are already
four within the town limits. "I don't
see how the man expects to make a
living here unless he sells gas for 15
cents a gallon," said Commissioner
Ed Rice.
? Adopted a calendar for prepar
ing and adopting the 1990-91 fiscal
year budget. The commission will
hold a special meeting Tuesday,
May 1 , at 7 p.m. to begin the budget
process. Officials plan to hold the
budget hearing May 22 and adopt
the budget June 12.
? Heard from Taubel that the
N.C. Department of Transportation
(DOT) has turned down a request to
lower the speed limit on Calabash
Road, also called Country Club
Drive, from 45 mph to 35 mph.
? Heard from Commissioner
Stuart Thorn that DOT officials will
be at Northwest Drive in Carolina
Shores April 26 at 10 a.m. to talk
about plans for a barrier between
the residences on the street and U.S.
17.
'i "3^*"
^L<?fc=Z
7*'"~ z ~
Fishing Like 'Mad'
STAFF PHOTO BY RAMN ADAMS
Friends Cody Groeber (left) and Brandon llaynie, both of Anderson, S.C., try their hands at fishing
in Mad Inlet at the west end of Sunset Beach Sunday morning. The boys said no fish had taken
their bait, although they were getting plenty of nibbles ? from unwanted crabs.
IN BOLIVIA
BRING HOME
THEtBEACON
On Sal* At
BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COMPLEX CAFETERIA
KOPFS STATION
SOUTHBOUND STATION
AT OCEAN ISLE
BRING HOME
THEtBEACON
On Sal* At
ISLANDER RESTAURANT
OCEAN ISLE BEACH SHOP
OCEAN ISLE EXXON STATION
OCEAN ISLE PIER
OCEAN ISLE SEAFOOD
OCEAN ISLE SUPERMARKET
PARTY MART
SHEFFIELD'S
IN SHALLOTTE
BRING HOME
THEfBEACON
On Sal* At
BILL'S GRILL
THE BRUNSWICK BEACON
COASTAL DRUGS
FOOD LAND
FOOD LION
HAN-DEE HUGO'S
HILL'S FOOD STORE
HOMESTYLE LAUNDRAMAT
JOE'S BAR-B-QUE
KERR DRUGS
KIRBVS SIZZUNG SIRLOIN
MARKET EXPRESS
MINUTE MAN
OCEAN PALMS EXXON
PORT GAS STATION
POST OFFICE
RESORT PLAZA
SANDFIDDLER
SCOTCHMAN
SHADY PARK EXXON
SHALLOTTE PLAZA
TWILIGHT MOTEL
WILSON'S SUPERMARKET
Make Your Easter
Bunny Appointments
NOW? Before It's Too Late!
Let us have your special gift
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579-5990
Sonrise Square, Sunsfci beach