Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 30, 1993, edition 1 / Page 6
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Town Survives Split-Up Threat, Elects New Mayor BY ERIC CARLSON The town wc know as Calabash was threatened with extinction in 1993. But it managed to. survive with a continued effort to build a new sewer system while holding a surprisingly quiet election campaign that re sulted in the selection of a new mayor and three new commissioners. The year began with the presentation of a study by a Raleigh accountant suggesting that the Carolina Blythe sewage treatment system might not be worth its $4.5 million asking price, at least not to another private utility company. Engineers pointed out that the facility would be worth more to a municipality, which would not have to make a profit or pay as much in taxes. In late January, State Sen. R.C. Soles dropped a bombshell on the town when he announced that he would introduce legislation to split Calabash into two towns along district lines. He said the move was in response to growing animosity between residents of old Calabash and the residential golfing community of Carolina Shores. Despite hearing only three people out of 200 speak in support of his bill at a February public meeting. Soles said he would stand by his vow to introduce the bill, calling it "the best way to get their attention." In March, representatives of Carolina Blythe told the board that the $4.5 million asking price for the utility was "not negotiable" and that the company would no longer deal with any consultant hired by the town to ne gotiate a purchase price. Blythe executive Coleman Burnett insisted that the town's hired engineers had not evaluated the purchase option fairly in their recommen dations to the board. At the same meeting, the commissioners voted unan imously in favor of a resolution informing Sen. Soles that "his efforts to split the town are not in the best inter est of Calabash." The senator later ignored their wishes and introduced legislation that would re move Carolina Shores from Calabash if a ma jority of voters in either district approved the split in a referendum. Later that month. Calabash and Sunset Beach were joined by Holden Beach. Ocean Isle Beach and Shallotte in a request to Gov. Jim Hunt for state funds to study the feasibility of a regional sewerage system to serve all five towns. Four mayors and 18 town board members met in Bolivia to hear engineers explain the advantages of forming a joint system and to discuss ways of attracting state money to pay for it. In late April, the board asked Town Attorney Mike Ramos to take legal action against a Shallotte lawyer for alleged sign violations on property he owns in Calabash. But instead of waiting for the court papers to arrive, Attorney Benedict Del Re filed a lawsuit against the town claiming that building inspector Edward Schaack had harassed him. trespassed on his property and offered sewage district. to take money for designing improvements that would allow him to pass a building inspection. Schaack denied the allegations, which attorney Ramos called "merit less." As the state legislative session drew to a close. Sen. Soles asked a N.C. House subcommittee to withhold ac tion on his bill to split Calabash, citing evidence of re laxed tensions between the two districts. After briefly considering an additional al location to hire a town manager, the commis sioners dropped the idea and adopted a 1993 94 budget that maintained the previous year's tax rate. As plans for the proposed sewer system were modified to eliminate Carolina Shores from the service area, the board discussed the idea of canceling a promised referendum on the project. The idea was tabled repeatedly as commissioners con sidered a new offer to sell Carolina Blythe from owner Billy Burnett. While the asking price remained the same, Burnett told the board he would finance the entire pur chase in a way that would allow the town to provide sewer service without seeking outside funding. In mid-November, the board sponsored a public fo rum to explain three options for sewering the town: the joint system with Sunset Beach, the Carolina Blythe purchase and a new proposal to create a Calabash A new board look office Dec. 14 with incoming Mayor George Anderson praising his predecessor Douglas Simmons for his service and devotion to the town during four terms of office. Also sworn in were new commissioners Forrest King, Teddy Altreuter. Edward Schaack and Alvin Leisey Jr. As the year drew to a close, the town received an un wanted Christmas gift when the Farmers Home Administration announced that Calabash and Sunset Beach would not qualify for the $4.1 million in grants they had sought to help pay for the sewage system. But the project lives on as engineers work with the new board to explore other financing options. Tutor Training Scheduled For Sat., January 22, 29 The Brunswick County Literacy Council will conduct a free tutor training workshop on Saturday, Jan. 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and continuing on Saturday, Jan. 29. from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Town Creek Recreation Park Community Building on U.S. 17 near Winnabow. Susan Eggert will lead the 12-h(.ur workshop on the Laubach method of reading. For more information or to pre-register, call 7S4 7323. Brunswick Faces Same Public Health Dilemmas, Issues As State And Nation BY LYNN CARLSON Public health issues making local headlines in 1993 reflected larger statewide and national problems. Smoking Kegs A proposed countvwide crack down on cigarette smoking went down in flames in mid-October, af ter six months of study and revision by a committee of health profession als and laymen, smokers and non smokers. The law would have banned smoking in all workplaces and buildings without separate ventila tion systems to serve smoking and smoke-free areas. A majority of people attending a September public hearing on the proposal said they oppose govern mental controls on where people may smoke. Brunswick County Board of Health members Dr. Brad Kerr, Dr. Jeffrey Mintz and Nurse Pat Nutter voted in favor of the regulations, but lost out to members Don Warren, Bruce Quaintance, Patrick Newton and Arthur Knox, who opposed the measure. Dr. llany Johnson ab stained. saying he is against smok ing as a public health hazard but was uncomfortable with strict govern mental control of the issue. Cigarette smoking was banned from public areas of the Brunswick AT OCEAN ISLE BRING HOME THF6KAC0N On Sale At ISLANDER RESTAURANT OCEAN ISLE BEACH SHOP OCEAN ISLE EXXON STATION OCEAN ISLE PIER OCEAN ISLE SUPERMARKET PARTY MART SHEFFIELD'S OCEAN ISLE MOTEL J. SCOTTS RHODA KAYS CAFE ROBERTO'S PIZZA North Carolina Municipal Bonds are exempt from Federal, state and local taxes. You keep 100% of what you earn ? and that's what counts. For more information call: 919/763-1641 or 1^00-288-5055 Frank D. Vol! Financial Consultant Wheat First Securities tM?mtti9nbmvMSK 102S. St-cond Street Wilmington, NC 28401 ?Rata npniiKl ?? yiald u> ".atunty aa ?? Mvkil condition* may aflact pneaa, availability and oarty call lot radampbon AMT ay apply Anumai 31% Fadaral and 7* Stata la? County Government Complex. Certification Nixed In January, Brunswick County restaurateurs rose up in opposition to a proposed plan to certify all food service workers. A program outline was drafted by a committee of restaurant own ers and workers and was taken to public hearing in June. At the hearing, most speakers said they opposed the proposed $500 fine proposed for non-compliance. In November the health board, which had undergone several membership changes since the idea's introduction in January, voted down the proposal. Rabies Scare In September, Ash resident Ray mond Ludlum shot a raccoon later determined to be Brunswick Coun ty's first confirmed case of rabies since the current statewide epidemic began. The next week, three chil dren, two adults and two unvaccinat ed dogs were exposed to a second rabid raccoon, also in Ash, and un derwent treatment to protect them selves against the virus. The weekend after the first case was publicized, more than 1 .(XX) ra bies vaccinations were administered by four local veterinarians in week end clinics they sponsored in coop eration with the Brunswick County Health Department. A countywide leash law was en acted requiring dog-owners to con fine their animals to their own prop erty, with the exception of hunting dogs on a hunt. Sewers, Septic Tanks In April, the health board unani mously endorsed the concept of a combined regional central sewer and stormwater runoff management sys tem for southwest Brunswick County. It joined eight other governmental entities in seeking state funds to study the possibility of such a sys tem; the funds were not appropriated in 1993. In May, the board announced its intent to enforce rental occupancy limits by notifying property owners who rent beach cottages that they may be penalized if their homes are inhabited by more occupants than the septic tank is permitted to serve. Later in the month, the board granted a grace period of one year before the crack-down, agreed not to send letters to property owners and arranged to meet and talk with real estate agents about the issue. In June, a group of real estate agents warned the health board that strict enforcement of occupancy rules would have a dire effect on the local tourist economy. In July, state officials said the sep tic tank rules would be enforced statewide. Chairman Resigns In late May, the health board chairman. Ocean Isle Beach chiro practor Dr. H.J. "Skip" Davis, re signed. citing personal reasons. He was succeeded by Shallotte busi nessman Maliston "Moe" Stanley, a health board member who has been active in minority health promotion efforts. Money Matters Early in the year, fees were dou bled for many animal control, clini cal and environmental services of fered by the health department. In October, the health board voted to ask the county commissioners for $137,000 to upgrade the depart ment's nursing programs. (Success in Our success this past year was because of you. We look forward to con tinuing our relationship and wish you health and happiness in 1994. Happy New Year From The Staff Of V Mark A. Lizak, MD Board Certified Specialist: FAR, NOSE & THROAT Conveniently located in the Doctor's Office Complex at the Brunswick Hospital, Supply, North Carolina. For Appointments Call: 754-2920 'Best zv is fits for a safe & prosperous 9{ezv year to aCC our oCd, our nezo and our future customers! I ... Our New Year's Resolution To You: To serve you, our customers and friends, with continued quality, competitive prices and the best service and parts we can possibly provide. from all the people in our sales, service, office and parts departments at... Ocean City Cars, Inc. "Your" Brunswick County Chevrolet-Geo Deoler 910-754-7117 ? Hwy. 17 N., Shallotte ? 1-800-242-0373 ' ???? , . . 1 CI 993 I HI BRUNSWICK Bi-ACON
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 30, 1993, edition 1
6
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