Shallotte Board Adopts
$1 .2 Million Budget
BY DOUG R UTTER
Shalloltc Aldermen adopled a
$1.2 million budget last Wednesday
featuring increases in water and
sewer charges but no change in the
tax rale.
Town officials have kept the tax
rate at 47 cents per $100 of proper
ty, meaning the owner of a 550,000
home will pay $235 in taxes.
The new budget calls for an in
crease in water and sewer rates
starting July 1. Monthly bills will
jump at least 25 cents for water and
50 cents for sewer ? raising mini
mum monthly bills to $9.27 for wa
ter and $7.50 for sewer.
Based on the 47-cent tax rate, a
tax valuation of $71.5 million and a
95 percent collection rate, town of
ficials expect to collect $319,230 in
taxes next year.
Other revenues expected in the
coming fiscal year include $125,000
in sales lax, $65,000 in utility fran
chise tax, $41,000 in Powell Bill
and $18,000 from the ABC store.
Major expenses in the general
fund include $238,967 for the po
lice department, $133,703 for the
street department, $116,109 for ad
ministration, $102,000 for sanita
tion and $49,793 for the fire depart
ment.
In the water and sewer fund,
town officials expect to collect
$320,000 in utility charges and
$47,000 in connect fees.
Water and sewer fund expenses
anticipated in the budget include
$97,600 to the Brunswick County
Water System, $97,027 in salaries
Planning Board Asked
To Review Sign Rules
Shallotte Aldermen have asked
the planning board to review the
town sign ordinance following a re
quest last week for a variance.
Mike Underwood of Han-Dee
Hugo's convenience store asked the
town board for a variance from the
sign ordinance at last Wednesday's
town meeting.
Underwood wants to put up a
second sign next to the store located
at the intersection of N.C. 130 West
and U.S. 17 bypass.
Shallotte 's sign ordinance allows
only one permanent, free-standing
sign in Highway Business districts.
Underwood said the existing sign
faces N.C. 130, and motorists travel
ing on the bypass can't see it clearly.
He wants to put up a second lighted
sign that faces the bypass.
He said trees and shrubs obstruct
the view of motorists traveling
south on the bypass, and north
bound drivers can't see the business
until it's too late to tum.
"We need exposure...just to let
people know we're open for busi
ness," Underwood said. "We feel that
we're missing revenue, and when we
miss revenue the town misses rev
jpf ; , , ... - .? t . ... ? :
enuc."
Building Inspector Albert Hughes
said the situation at Han-Dee Hugo's
is common at comer lots, where a
sign is easily visible from one street
but not the other.
Town Attorney Mark Lewis said
aldermen could amend a section of
the sign ordinance to allow two
signs at comer lots.
In referring the matter to the
planning board, aldermen indicated
that they would rather amend the
sign ordinance than grant a vari
ance, or special exception to the or
dinance.
Aldermen referred several other
items to the planning board last
week, including two requests for
annexation.
Brierwood Golf Club has asked
the town board to annex 1 .46 acres
where the tennis courts arc located,
and Charles Allen has requested an
nexation of a vacant lot he owns in
Brierwood Estates.
The golf course developers also
have asked the town to zone a piece
of land that is already inside the
town limits. The Brierwood golf
carl shed sits on the property.
In Ground 24-Hour Free
Above Ground Service Estimates
Swimming Pools
service & sales
Call Ricky Kelly - 919-842-8948
Supply, NC
& Sunday
7-11 am
&? TRY OUR
PRIME RIB SPECIAL
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Sunday Lunch Buffet
Relax, we'll do the cooking!
Served 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Now open Sunday nights, too!
SANDFIDDLER
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
HWY. 130 EAST ? SHALLOTTE ? 754-8168
and $65,000 each for maintenance
and capital improvements.
Permit Granted
In another matter last week, al
dermen granted a conditional use
permit that will allow Brierwood
Golf Club to build a new clubhouse
across the street from the present fa
cility.
The town board annexed the site
of the proposed clubhouse near the
intersection of Brierwood Road and
Country Club Drive earlier this year
and zoned the land R-15 residential.
To accommodate plans for the
new clubhouse, aldermen amended
the zoning ordinance month to
allow golf, tennis or swimming
clubs in R-15 districts, but only
with a conditional use permit form
the board.
Nobody spoke during a public
hearing last week on the permit. In
granting the conditional use, alder
men followed the recommendation
of the town planning board.
Other Business
In other business last week, al
dermen:
?Met in executive session for 55
minutes to discuss a personnel mat
ll ~
Shalkntc residents tired of dealing with Main
Street traffic may soon be able to scoot around town
in a taxi cab.
J.M. Warren, who has been running a taxi service
at Yaupon Beach for the last 14 years, is interested in
expanding his business into Shallottc.
Warren has asked the town board for a "certificate
of public convenience and necessity," which he needs
before he can operate in town.
If the town board grants a certificate, it wouldn't
be the first time a taxi service has operated in
Shallotte.
Town officials say a taxi service that operated sev
eral years ago didn't last long, mainly because the
need wasn't great enough at that time.
Aldermen can't issue Warren a certificate until af
ter a public hearing, which is required by the town
code. A hearing has been scheduled Wednesday, July
3, at 7:30 p.m. in town hall.
If a certificate is granted, Warren would have to
begin operating within 60 days. A certificate could not
Taxi Service Coming To Shallotte?
be issued for more than one year ai a lime.
In considering the certificate, the code says alder
men should consider the financial responsibility of the
applicant and the chance that the scrvicc would be
permanent, responsible and satisfactory.
Town officials also should consider the experience
of the applicant, condition of tlie vehicles, schedule of
rates to be charged and whether or not the safe use of
the streets by motorists and pedestrians would be pre
served.
Under the ordinance, the town board would have
the right to revoke the certificate at any lime if the taxi
cabs aren't serving the public adequately and effi
ciently.
The certificate also could be revoked if the busi
ness owner fails to keep the cabs in good repair, pay
town taxes and license fees, report accidents or cany
liability insurance and bond as required by state law.
If drivers violate traffic or safety ordinances or
state laws relating to the safe operation of taxi cabs,
the certificate could be revoked.
ter relating to the police department.
Following the closed session, alder
men extended the six-month proba
tionary period for Officer Keith
Croom another six months, on the
recommendation of Police Chief
Rodney Gause.
?Accepted an insurance proposal
from Coastal Insurance and Realty
Inc. of Shallotte. The town will pay
S19.232 for liability, public officials
and law enforcement insurance next
Fiscal year, compared to S17,433
this year.
?Voted to hire John Sterling Single
tary in the maintenance department,
on the recommendation of Public
Works Director Albert Hughes. The
town board also authorized Hughes
to hire temporary help as needed.
One employee has been out sick for
two months.
?Amended the 1990-91 budget,
transferring 54,500 from contingen
cy to sanitation and $500 from con
tingency to professional fees to pay
the town attorney.
?Agreed to send a letter to the own
er of Coastal Plaza, requesting that
something be done to correct a litter
problem. Mayor Sarah Tripp said
people who live near the shopping
center have complained about trash
blowing around behind the building.
The mayor said the public often us
es the commercial trash containers.
?Postponed discussion of the new
police department policy manual.
Town board members plan to re
view changes recommended by
Town Attorney Mark Lewis before
adopting the manual.
IfYouThink
ATMs Should Be Free
Check With UCB.
EasyAsUCB.
How often do you use an
automated teller machine? If
you're like most people, you're
enjoying the convenience of
ATMs more than ever What
you're probably not enjoying is
having to pay extra for it every
time your checking balance
falls below the required mini
mum. Most banks currently
charge for each ATM trans
action. Some as much as 30<t.
That can really add up.
But United Carolina Bank
doesn't think you should have
to pay for convenience. That's
why of the 10 largest banks
in North Carolina, UCB is the
onl y hank with no ATM charges.
None. It doesn't matter what
type of checking account our
Customers have or what their
balance is. From basic check
ing to Diamond Banking?1
UCB Customers use ucb24
machines absolutely free.
Free use of our ATMs.
Another way we make
banking easy.
UNITED
CAROLINA
BA
Like most banks. UCB normally charges its customers a fee for use Please stop by any UCB office or call 754-4301.
of ATMs outside the ucb24 network. ?1991 United Carolina Bank