Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 30, 1993, edition 1 / Page 11
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Engineers Announce Plans To Restructure Sewer Financial Plans BY SUSAN USHER Consulting engineers for a proposed regional sewer project involving Sunset Beach and Calabash told Sunset Beach Town Council Tuesday night they are re structuring financing plans for the project. Engineer Joe Tombro also warned that it preliminary design and other work doesn't begin soon, the project could fall behind schedule and endanger eligibility tor state funds to be awarded next July. Council members took several steps Tuesday to keep the project moving forward, hut stopped short of ap proving a request for $50,000 each from Sunset Beach and Calabash for additional engineering services. The funding changes follow the announcement at a Dec. 14 meeting in Raleigh that the project does not qualify for a federal grant from the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA). Also, any FmHA loan would not allow construction in the 100-year tloodplain. which includes the island area of Sunset Beach and portions ot the mainland of both towns. At that meeting, one recommendation was to form a sanitary district incorporating the entire project area, holding an SIS million general obligation Kind referen dum. with a loan from FmHA to be secured by the dis trict's lax base. Tombro said three scenarios will be submitted to the Office of State Treasurer for review. He advocated a package that would include $3.77 million from a state revolving loan fund. S5.5 million in state ("lean Water bonds, and $26.5 million in revenue bonds, which are repaid from sewer system revenues rather than property lax revenues. Paying (>.5 percent interest. Tombro said the project would be paid for in 20 years. If the town chose instead to borrow $15 million from Farmers Home Administration, it would pay 5.25 per cent for 40 years. A third alternative would rely on general obligation bonds, which are secured by the ability to levy property taxes to cover the debt. All three options will be included in the project 201 Facility Study, and are based on a "worst-case scenario." They do not reflect other funding the towns hope to re ceive. such as three $100,000 state Rural Initiative grants, and the possibility of a lower interest rate in a competitive market. Council voted to advertise the town's intent to hold a sewer ..venue bond referendum and appointed Klinker lo replace former councilman Bud" Scrantom as a town sewer project liasion with Gore. The town's three water and sewer authority members were "activated" with no power and no authority." They are only to study and prepare in the event the project is approved. They will lie asked to meet with Gore, Klinker and their counterparts from Calabash to review the three financing packages and make recommenda tions to the town council at its Jan. 10 meeting. Tombro and Hillups said the additional $100.1X10 is needed to move ahead on site selection and acquisition, preliminary treatment plant design, application for a ma jor CAMA permit and evaluation of the suitability of in dividual golf courses to received treated effluent. They said award of state revolving loan and Clean Water bond funds is contingent on the project being "ready-to-go," with plans and specifications completed, by July I W4. or if progressing well, shortly thereafter. If not, the money could be offered to the next project on the state priority list. Mayor pro tem Ed Gore said he was ready to approve the request Tuesday, but new council member Herb Klinker said he needed more details and assurance it would satisfy a slate official that the project is progress ing satisfactorily. "I'm not for spending any more mon ey until I know we are in synch." "He'll tell you the same thing he told us. that we need to get moving." said Barber. Replied Klinker. "Carousels move, hut they move in circles." In another project change, Billups announced at the start of the meeting that Piedmonl-Olsen Engineering has taken over "lead" agency from from Powell & As sociates of North Myrtle Beach. S.C.. but that the two companies are still working closely together." Billups and Tombro are now employees of Piedmont-Olsen and w ill be opening a branch office in Brunswick County. In other business. Mayor Barber asked council mem bers to consider an offer from Sea Trail Corp. to swap sites with the town? exchanging the 247-foot by 150 foot lot on which the present town hall is located for a 250-foot by 200-foot commercial lot fronting N.C. 17'' and across from Angel Trace. The mayor said the Sea Trail site would provide more space for future expansion and parking. The board may act on the proposed swap at its Jan. 10 meeting. n 0 r t h carolin n e w s p apers The average newspaper reader has certain distinct they read When you come right down to it, the average newspaper reader bears a striking resemblence to someone you know very well: your customer. That's because people who read the newspaper are more likely to buy products like yours. And since almost 70% of newspaper readers earn over $20,000, they have the money to be able to afford them. But there may be an even more basic reason why newspapers are so successful at reaching your customers: People read newspapers. Over 44% of newspaper readers have advanced their education beyond high school. And when they sit down with a newspaper, it's be cause they take time to read, for enjoyment and for information. It all comes down to this: Better educated read ers with higher incomes are more likely to be better customers for your products. That's exactly why we can safely say, even the av erage newspaper reader is certainly your above aver age consumer. THE BRUNSWICK BEACON Source: NC Press Services, Inc. State Survey of 1017 people, November 1989. ?
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 30, 1993, edition 1
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