staff photo by eric Carlson Recognized For Service James Mar low, outgoing vice-chairman of the Brunswick County Department of Social Sen'ices Board displays a commemorative plaque awarded to him by fellow members for " outstanding service and dedication" during his six years on the board. Marlowe attended his last meeting as a board mem ber Monday after sen'ing the maximum two consecutive terms. Show with him (from left) are Percy Woodard, Eulis Willis and Brenda Grissett. NQJAXJNCREASE Calabash Drops Manager Idea, Passes 1 993-94 Budget by ERIC CARLSON The Calabash Board of Commis sioners talked about hiring a town manager last week, then dropped the uu 'i oi'u rtKk beforc ad?Pting a 1993-94 budget that maintains the tax rate at 9.5 cents per $100 proper ty valuation. Following a brief and sparsely at tended public hearing on the budget Wednesday night (June 23), the board reconvened for its regular monthly meeting, where Commis sioner George Anderson asked the others if they wanted to consider hir ing an administrator to oversee the town's operations. Several commissioners quickly made their feelings known about the idea. I don t see any reason for a town manager." said Ed Rice. "It makes no sense. He wouldn't have enough to supervise. And for what we could afford to pay, we couldn't get much of one." The town currently has two full time and three part-time employees. 1 don t see any drastic changes in the budget that would justify hiring a town manager," said Ray Card. "I dor. t think there are enough people in town to mandate having one." But Commissioner Robert Noc disagreed, saying the town will eventually need a town manager and could benefit by hiring one now. As the idea fizzled without a vote. Mayor Doug Simmons remarked. "It's good to be thinking about these things. Then he called for a motion to adopt the budget, which passed unanimously. There were lew significant changes in the budget, which antici pates a total of $316,982 in revenues and an equal amount of spending, an increase of $7,274 over last year. As usual, most of the town's income an estimated $123,500, will be derived from its local option sales tax. A total of $85,229 is expected to be collected in ad valorem taxes, based on a total property valuation ol $91.6 million and a collection rate of 98 percent. One of the few new expenses in cluded in the budget is a $6,000 al location to set up a retirement fund for town employees. Only one request for additional funding was made at the budget hearing, where Calabash Volunteer Fire Department President Bob Crocker asked the board to increase its $2,500 allocation for the year. Crocker said the department oper ates on an annual budget of $65,000, of which $14,500 is appropriated by Brunswick County and another $2,200 is derived from local ABC funds. The remainder of the depart ment s expenses are financed through its private fund raising ac tivities. Noting that the town of Sunset Beach appropriates $20,000 to its fire department, Crocker said, "We don't expect you to give us $20,000. But we'll accept anything you can f HOT In July at L BOOKWORM ! will be Jeffrey Archer's Honor Among Thieves John Le Carre's The Night Manager Len Deighton's Violent Ward They help make j\ the summer of ?* '93 a great reading time. Located at the bridge to Holder) Beach Mon.-Sat. 10-9, Sun. 1-9 npj FAX AND FH0T0C0PY V "Tfri 842-7380 v give us." Rev. Henry Opperman, a volun teer fire fighter, also spoke in favor of an inerease in the town's alloca tion to the department. In its only adjustment to the pro posed budget before adoption, the commissione.r. voted unanimously to allocate an additional $2,500 each to the town's fire department and the rescue squad. In other business the board: ?Heard a complaint that Mayor ' Simmons received from a Calabash business owner who said Building Inspector Edward Schaack had "act ed a little rude to one of his salesper sons" by asking her to "get off the property." Schaack said the woman had set up a booth with temporary 1 banners and signs to give away free packages of cigarettes, an activity he said violates several town ordi nances. The commissioners agreed to invite the offended parties to at tend the board's next meeting. ?Discussed a letter from a Carolina Shores woman asking the board to do something about a six-foot alliga tor she has seen frequently in her area. Noting that the reptile "hasn't chewed up any golfers yet," Card suggested that the letter be forward ed to state wildlife officials. ?Agreed to cancel the board's regu lar meetings scheduled for July 27 and Aug. 24. For several years the board has limited its summer meet ings to once a month to avoid sched uling conflicts. THE BRUNSWICK HOSPITAL IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE ASSOCIATION OF KEN L WILLEFORD, M.D. Anesthesiology The Brunswick Hospital SUPPLY, NC 754-8121 THE BRUNSWICK HOSPITAL HIGHWAY 17 / SUPPLY, NC / 919-754-8121 C1993 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON UCB-1: Our $5-a-month Checking Account With No Hassles, No Surprises, And No Minimum Balance. Hi*' mm ^ , r*?t THIS Here IS LEGAL TENDER FOR AU, DEBTS. PUBLIC AMD PRIVATE . .. .v1' Si.. B 82714255 D Washington, day. * tmtfetry. Wouldn't it be nice to know what your checking account is going to cost you every month? What if it were just $5? 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