Former Siemens Managers To Open
Molded Plastics Plant In Leland Park
BY SUSAN USHER
Two former managers of ihe closed Siemens Energy
& Automation Inc. plant in Wilmington plan to open a
small, new integrated molded plastics manufacturing
firm in Lcland Industrial Park.
Announcement of the new business venture was made
Tuesday evening by Thomas Monks, executive director
of the Brunswick County Economic Development
Commission, in the first of a series of up to eight new
business announcements Monks anticipates this sum
mer.
Owned by Randolph J. Moore and George W.
Millington, Premier Molded Plastics Inc. (PMPCo.)
plans to hire 15 employees during its first year of opera
tion and expecLs to eventually expand to a workforce of
42. Eight former Siemens employees will make up the
"core" of the initial hires, said Monks, "and beyond that
it's wide open."
Should the balance of the jobs be filled by individuals
from outside the county, he said the plant opening is still
"good news" because it means added tax base for
Brunswick County.
The company will manufacture small plastic compo
nents such as thermostats for targeted markets that in
clude the automotive, electrical distribution, electrical
aftcrmarkct, appliances and power tool industries.
PMPCo. is being formed to meet the need "for high
quality, competitively priced plastics components," ac
cording to a company statement. "Through years of ex
perience in the plastics industry, the owners of PMPCo.
have recognized the need for quality plastic components,
especially thermostats, and plan to develop a niche in
this area of plastics molding."
Siemens manufactured a variety of plastic compo
nents, with circuit breakers a principal product of its
Wilmington site, which at one time had between 150
and 200 employees.
PMPCo. becomes the eighth tenant in Lcland
Industrial Park, moving into the 12,600- square foot
building and three-acre tract previously leased by
Lifcscapcs Inc. Lifcscapcs, which made casual furniture
from PVC pipe, closed in 1991 after defaulting on sever
al loans.
Monks said availability of the existing building will
allow PMP Co. to begin operations "immediately." The
new tenants arc already moving in equipment and begin
ning renovations that include upgrades of the facility's
plumbing and electricity and addition of a loading dock.
It also plans to double the size of the facility, with
building owner I.L. Smith Construction Co. of
Wilmington handling construction of the new space. The
park is located off U.S. 74-76 in northwest Brunswick
County.
"They will have a capital investment approaching SI
million when it's all over with," said Monks, referring to
both the start-up and expansion.
Tuesday night Brunswick County Commissioners au
thorized the EDC to serve as the "pass-through" agent
for a S50.000 loan from the Industrial Building
Renovation Fund operated by the N.C. Department of
Commerce. The low-interest (3 percent) loan will match
a 550,000, 8-percent interest rate loan from BB&T of
Wilmington, for a blended interest rate of 5.5 percent.
Should PMPCo. default, neither the EDC nor Brunswick
County would have any liability, said Monks, though his
office would be expected to make "a good faith effort"
to collect money still owed the state.
The low-interest renovation fund matching loans are
available only as an incentive to create jobs in North
Carolina's 50 most economically distressed counties.
Monks also expects PMPCo. to take advantage of state
Jobs Tax Credits also available only in economically
distressed counties. The company can qualify for a state
tax credit of S2.800 per new manufacturing job created
above a threshold of nine over a four-year period.
Monks said the EDC has been working with PMCo.
principals since March, around the time Moore and
Millington learned of Siemens' intent to close its
Wilmington plant.
The N.C. Employment Security Commission will fill
all positions at the new plant, said Monks, and all in
quiries should be directed to the ESC officc. In
Brunswick County, the ESC office is in Shallotte.
Wages and fringe benefits arc expected to be competi
tive with that of other Leland Industrial Park tenants ?
sta:ting pay of S5.50 to S6 an hour increasing after six
months to a year for assembly workers, and higher
wages for skilled personnel. "We're finding that new
employees arc as or more interested in good fringe bene
fits," Monks said, such as medical and dental insurance.
Brunswick County has only 43 manufacturers, with
14 of those locating here in the last three years despite
the nation's weak economy.
Monks said he anticipates up to eight additional new
business announcements including several later this
month.
He had predicted an upswing in business development
activity this year, regardless of the outcome of the
November presidential election, and that has been the
case as of late February and March. "Most weeks I have
two or three clients in my office."
"It's son of like rain," he said of the cyclical nature of
his business, "it's either feast or famine. You may go for
a long while with activity and no announcements and
then have a lot of announcements."
'Friendly' Lawsuit To Settle
Dilemma On Hospital Lease
(Continued From Page 1-A)
the suit. They also authorized
Chairman Larry Andrews and Vicc
Chairman David Pridgen to seek the
services of Southport attorney
Henry Foy, on Ramos' recommen
dation, since the authority and
HcalthTrust Inc. must have separate
legal representation as opposing par
tics.
The original lease was drafted by
the firm of Lewis & Ramos, of
which Ramos is a partner, with the
intent that the hospital's 10-year
lease would become a 40-year lease
at the first opportunity.
While former Brunswick County
Attorney David Clegg disagreed, it
was Lewis & Ramos' belief, then
and now, that the lease was extended
automatically on June 29, 1984, af
ter a 1983 law ended and before its
replacement became law. The re
placement did not get enacted until
the next business day, its adoption
delayed by Sen. R.C. Soles Jr.'s (D
Columbus County) unsuccessful ef
fort to amend it to exclude
Brunswick County.
However, there are other interpre
tations of what happened during that
interim.
In a Feb. 9, 1993, letter, the au
thority's current attorney, David
Nash of Wilmington, counseled that
during that interlude between bills
the authority lost its ability to enter
into any lease, said Earl Tamar,
chief executive officer of the hospi
tal. Nash based that opinion on the
fact that local governments, and
their appointed hospital authorities,
have only the rights specifically
granted to them by the General
Assembly and therefore, during that
interlude, no law was in effect that
granted the authority the right to en
ter into any lease.
The authority first decided to seek
a declaratory judgment action in
1985 to resolve the issues of the
length of the lease and the status of
general obligations Brunswick
County issued for construction of
the hospital and asked the county to
join it as a co-plaintiff. The matter
was dropped when Brunswick
County declined.
If the lease ends next May, then
the authority must, in the near fu
ture, follow a procedure spelled out
in the 1984 law. The law requires
the authority to solicit proposals
from at least five companies, obtain
information on charges, services and
indigent care at similar facilities
owned or operated by the proposed
lessee or buyer, and hold a public
hearing on the proposals that have
been made.
The authority would not be oblig
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO
THE BRUNSWICK#flEACOI\l
POST OFFICE BOX 2558
SHALLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28459
\NOTICE: Reliable or consistent delivery cannot be
guaranteed since this newspaper must rely on the U.S.
\Postal Service for delivery. We can only guarantee that
your newspaper will be submitted to the post office in
Shallotte on Wednesday of the week of publication, in
time for dispatch to out-of-town addresses that day.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: Sr. Citizen
In Brunswick County U6.30 J5.30
N.C. Sales Tax .38 .32
Postage Charge 3.68 3.68
TOTAL 1036 9.30
Elsewhere in North Carolina J6.30 J5.30
N.C. Sales Tax .38 .32
Postage Charge 8.18 8.18
TOTAL 14.86 13.80
Outside North Carolin J6.30 U5.30
Postage Charge 9.65 9.65
TOTAL 15.95 14.95
Complete And Return To Above Address
Name
Address
City, State
Zip
I I
cd to acccpt the lowest bid.
However, before ii adopts a resolu
tion approving lease or sale of the
facility, the authority must first find
that the agreement would be "in the
public interest," alter considering
whether the lease or sale will meet
the health-related needs of medical
ly undcrscrvcd groups, such as low
income persons, racial and ethnic
minorities and handicapped persons.
A copy of the proposed contract
must be made available to the public
in advance of its approval.
Generally, the new law also re
quires the leasing company to con
tinue providing the same or similar
clinical services provided prior to
the lease; assure provision of care, at
a predetermined level related to
need, to local residents who can't af
ford to pay; not enact admission
policies that have the effect of deny
ing essential medical services or
treatment solely because of a pa
tient's immediate inability to pay;
and accept Mcdicaid/Medicare pa
tients.
The company must also place in
escrow enough money or direct
obligations to retire any outstanding
general obligation bonds the hospi
tal might have. In 1984 the county
had $1.9 million in hospital-related
general obligation bonds still out
standing.
STAFF PHOTO BY ?IC CARLSON
Like This , Daddy!
Two-year-old Elisa Costner of Bessemer City shows her father the proper technique for mixing up a
bowl of sand and water. The two agreed that the surf line was the coolest spot to be on Holden Beach
Sunday afternoon.
DOT Studies Local 3-Lane Projects
(Continued From Page 1-A)
should be finished before October
1997.
A one-month delay in gelling a
full set of planning documents
pushed the start of right-of-way ac
quisition appraisals from September
to October, into a new fiscal year.
DOT is studying the feasibility of
two projects. The first is widening
N.C. 904 to three lanes from north
of N.C. 179 (Seaside) to George
town Road and then 24 feet with 2
foot paved shoulders from George
town Road to U.S. 17 at
Grisscttown. The second is a Caro
lina Bays Parkway from the Soulh
Carolina slate line to U.S. 17 by way
of Hickman's Crossroads, in coordi
nation with a proposed South Caro
lina project to relieve traffic conges
tion around Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Another change in the TIP is a
two-year delay in competition of the
U.S. 17 bypass of Wilmington,
called the Northern Outer Loop, be
tween 1-40 and U.S. 17 in northeast
ern Brunswick County. Eventually
the four-lane divided highway will
route traffic around Wilmington to a
point on U.S. 17 possibly around
Bishop.
Problems with wetlands and land
fills along the proposed route arc
contributing to the delay, with con
struction not cxpcctcd to begin until
late 1998 or early 1999. However,
the plan adds S20 million to com
plete the project's funding, an esti
mated S159.2 million.
Under the proposed TIP, construc
tion of a new two-lane bridge to Oak
Island would begin late in early
1998, with partial right of way and
construction funding provided by
other panics. The project had been
delayed in the current plans because
of right-of-way acquisition ques
tions. Williamson is one of three de
velopers with property along the
planned route who had been expect
ed to work with the DOT in provid
ing right of way.
The TIP also:
?identifies the rehabilitation of
pavement on U.S. 1 7 north of N.C.
87 to U.S. 74-76 at Leland as a "fu
ture need"; and
?schedules replacement of these
bridges: N.C. 130, S.R. 1300 and Sr.
1321 over Wet Ash Swamp, N.C.
130 over the Waccamaw River and
Friar Swamp, on N.C. 133 over
Town Creek and Allen Creek, N.C.
211 over Royal Oak Swamp, N.C.
904 over the Waccamaw River and
Scippco Swamp, S.R. 1105 over
Davis Creek. S.R. 1340 over Juniper
Creek, S.R. 1401 over Pinch Gut
Creek, and S.R. 1435 over Sturgeon
Creek.
July 22 Hearing Set On Bypass Interchange
Shalloltc area residents will
have an opportunity 10 comment at
a July 22 public hearing on plans
for an interchange to be built at the
intersection of N.C. 130 West and
the U.S. 17 bypass of Shalloue.
The hearing will be held at 7:30
p.m. in the Shallotte Town Hall
council chambers, said W.A.
Garrett Jr., hearing officer with the
N.C. Department of Transpor
tation.
The S3. 5 million project is being
built in response to public concern
about the safety of the intersection,
which serves West Brunswick
High School traffic. It was the
scene of a double fatality in
November 1991.
In other safety measures, the
state Department of Transportation
also installed strobe lights, "signal
ahead" signs and rumble strips,
and increased the red light interval
The hearing will be
held at 7:30 p.m. in
the Shallotte Town
Hall council
chambers.
for U.S. 17 traffic.
The proposed interchange de
sign consists of two ramps and two
loops.
A map of the location and de
sign and copies of the environmen
tal assessment were expected to be
available by today for public re
view at the DOT maintenance of
fice on Mulberry Street (S.R.
1348) near Shallotte. The packet
had not arrived as of Tuesday.
At the hearing DOT officials
will explain the proposed design,
right of way requirements and pro
cedures, relocation advisory assis
tance and the state-federal relation
ship for the project.
Individuals will be allowed to
present statements, questions or
comments or to submit material
pertaining to the proposed design
at the hearing. Information will al
so be accepted for 10 days follow
ing the hearing by Garrett at P.O.
Box 25201, Raleigh, N.C. 27611.
According to Garrett the DOT
will provide reasonable accommo
dations, aids and services for any
qualified disabled person interest
ed in attending the hearing.
To request assistance, those in
dividuals should contact Garrett at
least seven days in advance of the
hearing at 1-919-250-4092.
Holiday Crowds Pock Beaches , Roads, Businesses
(Continued From Page 1-A)
was a good day," said Carson
Durham of Carson's Cards and Gifts
in Shallotlc. "We've had some tou
rists coming through, even though
most of our business is still local.
People have been saying they didn't
want to leave the air conditioning."
Twin Lakes Seafood at Sunset
Beach has seen many tourist seasons
come and go, and this Fourth of July
weekend was "fantastic," according
to Clarice Holden. "The people are
here, no doubt. The season got off to
a slow start, but it's booming now."
Why might that be? It depends on
who you ask.
Sloanc credits the growth of the
South Brunswick Islands golf indus
try with packing the beaches' rental
units. "The golfers come here in the
spring and fall and when they see
how nice the beaches are, they come
back in the summer and bring their
families."
He also says advertising by the
county and South Brunswick Islands
Chamber of Commerce helps.
For Bass, an exceptional fishing
season has made all the difference
between a good season and a great
one. "First there were the most whit
ing I've ever seen," he said. "Then
there the summer spot season has
been good, which is unusual ? I
don't know whether it's spring spots
or fall spots they're catching out
there now."
Bass, who serves on the Holden
Beach Board of Commissioners,
jokes that he can tell business is
brisk through one foolproof indica
tor:
"I'm not hearing any gripes."
r
Brace For More Hot Weather, Little Rain
No major changc in the weather
in expccted during the coming week
for the South Brunswick Islands
area, which means more high tem
peratures ahead but not much rain
fall.
Shailotte Point meteorologist
Jackson Canady said he expects
temperatures to range from the low
er 70s at night into the lower 90s
during the daytime, with approxi
mately a half-inch of rain.
For the period of June 29 through
July 5, he recorded a high of 95 de
grees that occurred on both July 4
and 5, and a low of 69 degrees that
occurred July I.
A average daytime high of 92 de
grees combined with an average
nightly low of 75 degrees for a daily
"/ don't expect any
general rainstorms.
None are due unless
something develops
unexpectedly."
? Jackson Canady
average temperature of 83 degrees,
which is about three degrees above
average for this time of year.
He recorded no rainfall at his
Shallottc Point residence, but said
some areas had seen isolated show
ers and thunderstorms.
That pattern will continue, he
said. "I don't cxpcct any general
rainstorms," he said. "None are due
unless something develops unex
pectedly."
High temperatures and high hu
midity have combined to create a
heat index with an apparent temper
ature "pushing 110" this week, said
Canady. The index indicates the
combined effect of heat and air
moisture on human comfort, with an
apparent temperature of 79 the low
est that typically causes most per
sons to feel uncomfortable.
"The kind of heat we're having is
not only uncomfortable but can be
dangerous," said Canady. "Hope
fully most people are taking heat in
to account when making their
plans."
THE BRUNSWICK&WACON
Established Nov. 1, 1962
Telephone 754-6890
Published Every Thursday
Ai 4709 Main Street
Shallottc, N.C. 28459
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
One Year S10.36
Six Months S5.55
ELSEWHERE IN
NORTH CAROLINA
One Year $14.86
Six Months $7.90
ELSEWHERE IN U.S.A.
One Year $15.95
Six Months $8.35
Second class postage paid at
Shallottc, N.C. 28459. USPS 777
780. Postmaster, send address
changes to:
P.O. Box 2558,
Shallotte, N.C. 28459-2558