Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Feb. 11, 1993, edition 1 / Page 6
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Beach Co BY DOUG RUTTER South Brunswick bcach officials are becoming increasingly irritated by the lack of progress with under ground wiring projects being coordi nated by Brunswick Electric Membership Corp. BHMC officials say the power company is moving as fast as it can while staying within its budget and juggling other work associated with new construction and line mainte nance. "1 know there arc a lot of folks frustrated by the slowness of it," Holdcn Beach Town Manager Gary Parker said. Work there began in 198S and was originally cxpcctcd to be finished last year. The project is only about half completed. "1 don't know there's a whole lot wc can do about it other than calling them every so often and seeing where we arc on the sched ule," Parker said. People at Holdcn Bcach aren't the only ones annoyed by the slow progress. Town officials also are getting impatient at Occan Isle Beach, where BEMC had made little headway since the work was re quested in 1989. "We're concerned that the project has not moved in as timely a manner as we thought it would," Mayor Betty Williamson said. "Wc knew from the beginning it was a five year project, but we're disappointed with the progress." Bobby Gore, operations manager at BEMC, said Monday progress w ill be made this year at Occan Isle, Holdcn Bcach and Sunset Beach. mmunitie Sections of all three islands arc in eluded in the company's two-yeai work plan. Gore said BEMC has been paying independent contractors to do the work. "The two-year work plan ii> son of like a budget. You're allotted so much money to do work within those two years." Gore said Brunswick Electric was busy last year trying to keep up with new construction in the area. The company added between 3.(XX) and 3,500 new consumers in 1992. "If you've got people in one area they're subject to be pulled off and go to another area that needs atten tion right away," he said. "We're try ing to work three different sections, and that's a lot on our manpower." Sunset Beach Town Adminis trator Linda Fluegel said there have been very few problems with the project since work began last Aug ust. "They're moving along real nice here." Workers have been "careless" at times, however, and BEMC and Atlantic Telephone Membership Corp. haven't always coordinated their work burying power lines and television cables, Fluegel said. Sunset Beach officials were told the project would Like about four years to complete because crews have to be spread out among the three South Brunswick beaches. BEMC is paying for most of die work. Once the project is finished, lot owners in improved areas will be billed SI. 15 per foot plus 3 pcrcent tax. That comes out to about $60 for a 50-loot-wide lot. s Frustrate Beach officials say burying the power lines will make the islands safer in the event of a storm. Underground wiring also is aestheti cally pleasing, which is an important factor in the local lourisi-hased economy. At Ocean Isle, Williamson said the biggest concern is safety. The mayor said old power lines along the oceanfront caught fire three or four times last summer, threatening homes. "We understand that they (HE MO h;?ve to work within their bud get. but we're concerned about the safety here due to power lines dete riorating," she said last week. Parker said BEMC budge! con straints have apparently contributed to the delay. "Like all of us, whether it's public or private institutions, we have limited resources." Before work at Holden Beach started in 1488, BEMC officials esti mated the project would take five years to finish. During a meeting with town official last summer, Parker said the completion date was bumped to 1995 or l*W6. Work is completed from the cast end of the island to High Point Street. Parker said crews have done "bits and pieces" elsewhere and are expected to return around the end of summer or early fall. Holden residents have been disap pointed by the lack of rcccr.i progress, especially after workers accomplished so much in the first 18 months of the project. "I think people got the wrong im pression when they came in here in d By Sputtering Utilities Project 1988 and dove right in ami made a lot of progress right away." Parker said. "I think people got die idea the work wouldn't take that long to fin ish." Mayor Williamson said Occan Isle officials were originally told the project would take five years to complete, starting in 1989. However, work didn't begin in 1989 because of the cleanup re quired after Hurricanc Hugo. The project was further delayed in 1990 when a new substation was built on N.C. 179. Williamson said she spoke with utility officials last fall after the pro ject was discussed at a property owners association meeting. The mayor said BEMC assured her most of First Street would be completed this winter. "We've had some work done, but we feel the spring is coming," she said. "Our beach season is only two or three months away and we cannot have that kind of construction dur ing our beach season." Ocean Isle Beach and Holdcn Beach have had to delay sidewalk construction while waiting for the power lines to go underground. "Our property owners really en joy those sidewalks," Williamson said. "We put our project on hold because of their (BEMC's) request." Holdcn Beach Commissioner Jir.i Fournicr said at a recent town meet ing that the power company knew its work load before it started the project. "The net effect is they've ignored us." Public Hearing Set For Tuesday A public hearing will be held the draft ordinance arc available at The ordinance would establish Tuesday, Feb. 16, by the Brunswick the Environmental Health Section of standards for design, construction County Board of Health on a pro- the Brunswick County Health De- and layout of mobile home parks, posed set of rules governing new partment, said Jan Reichenbach, with special requirements for water mobile home parks and recreational public health educator. and sewer systems, drainage, vchiclc campgrounds. garbage disposal and maintenance. The hearing will begin at 7:30 Existing mobile home or manu- It would provide for annual inspec p.m. in the Public Assembly Build- factured housing parks and rccrc- lions and grading by the health de ing at the Brunswick County Gov- ational vehicle campgrounds would pariment. ernmeni Center at Bolivia. Copies of be exempt from the new ordinance. Boat Ramp Issue On Varnam Agenda Vamamtown officials arc cxpcct- At last month's meeting, a dozen ed to continue discussion of a pro- residents voiced opposition to im posal to improve the community's proving the ramp, fearing it would public boat ramp on Lockwood add to existing parking problems Folly River at their regular monthly near the waterfront. Town officials meeting Monday night said at the lime that most residents "I've had two or three people call want a new ramp. me about the boat ramp and tell me Galloway said town officials also they were coming to the meeting," will discuss collection of overdue Mayor Judy Galloway said. "I'm taxes Monday. The meeting starLs at sure that it will comc up." 7:30 p.m. in town hall. Owner Seeks Setback Variance A Holden Beach property owner meets Monday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. in has asked for an exception from the town hall, said Building Inspector town regulation thai requires houses Dwight Carroll. be set back at least five feci from the Carroll said a survey of the lot at side properly lines. 865 Ocean Boulevard Wesi indicates The Holden Beach Board of Ad- that one corner of Middleion's par jusiment will consider Sieve Mid- lially-constructcd home encroaches dleton's vanancc request when it on the five-fool, side-yard setback. Demos Set Rally, Meeting Tonight Precinct chairman and vice chair- quarters building north of Supply on men are invited lo the February U.S. 17 Business will be followed at meeting of the Brunswick County 7:30 p.m. by a rally "with all good Democratic Party Executive Com- Democrats of Brunswick County." mitice today (Thursday) at 7 p.m. An upcoming fundraising event to be attended by Congressman Charlie Chairman W.A. "Bill" Stanley Rose is among the topics for discus said the meeting at the party head- sion. SERENITY BY TIIE SEA AFTER # SCHOOL CONNECTION For more info call Janie at 754-2132. These classes will operate on school days only and will end on Fri. 5/28/93. Beginning Monday, Feb. 15, there will be classes held for children gr. 4-8 from 3:30-5:00. These classes are designed to help children feel better about them selves. Lack of self esteem can cause problems at school as well as at home. Register by Feb. 12. $25 wkly. Service is our hallmark... George Brown proudly carries on that tradition. When you ^ need quality i Kwikset locks, George is the man to see at Brunswick Building Supply. Too many door keys! George can re-key any existing deadbolt or entry lock for you. Where quality service is commonplace Brunswick Building Supplies Hwy. 179 between Ocear. Isle & Sunset 579-3561 ^KwiKEetl It STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG ?UTU? THE SIGHT OF TOWER LINES overhead is starting to annoy town officials at Holden Beach and Ocean Isle Beach, where un derground wiring projects are moving slowly. Your Family Deserves Good Glean Water Why Lease When You Can Own Your Own? Lancaster Water Conditioning Systems $49825 ( LANCASTEi ^ NOW Ollly V4?C70 with bypass ?Helps save on repairs and water heating eost ?24,000 Grain, fully automatic 'Tastes Great!! *PJ&A Plumbing-Authorized Dealers *4 models in stock Save on 80 lb. t FREE WATER ANALYSIS Bag Salt Only $5" * MILLIKEN HOME CENTER The Shallotte Electric Stores ? Main St., Shallotte ? 754-6002 Leaders in Progress for the South Brunswick Islands You Can SAVE $50000 Towards Your Next Vehicle Purchase BEST BUY ON NEW OR USED CAR 198&Olds Cutlass Supreme $007000 4 Door - 1 Owner - Loaded ' 1988 PONTIAC ! 1991 PONTIAC 1990 P0NTIAC 1990 P0NTSAC 6000 GRAND PRIX ! GRAND AM BONNEVILLE $4,995 $ 10,995 1 *6,995 59,495 -CFRESH GM PROGRAM CARS EVERY WtfcK. -PRICED to SELL > BELL & BELL MONEY Offer Good From 2-10-93 to 2-27-93 >? Must bo presented at time the ^ I deal Is being made. ff | 'Offer goodTith this coupoiTS^ Be,0rc c0n,rac'ls si3ned I 500.00 Toward the purchase of any vehicle on our lot - NEW or USED - CAN BE USED AS DOWN PAYMENT OR APPLIED TOWARD PURCHASE PRICE W/APPROVED CREDIT ONE COUPON PER VEHICLE PURCHASE ? rr Al TRUCKS PONTIAC OLDSMOBILE COMPLETE SERVICE, PARTS AND BODY SHOP DEPARTMENTS ?ilHSfeHSl: 21!: HTheOldsmobile TTw cn* airprfntf* c*rnr* ultZfcnr jr fjvn r tfw inlan QlIfCK BELL & BELL IIwy. 17 ? Little River, S.C. ? (803)280-2355
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Feb. 11, 1993, edition 1
6
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