OIB Defers Seeking
State Loan To Build
Laraer Water Tank
BY SUSAN USIIKK
Attcr asking plenty of questions
Tuesday morning. Ocean Isle Beach
C ommissioners decided they aren't
ready to pursue a state loan toward
construction of additional elevated
water storage for the town.
No action was taken on proposals
to bill water users based on meter
size or to increase the town water
rate.
Commissioners asked most of the
questions directed to consulting en
gineer Finlcy Boney during a 50
minutc public hearing on the idea of
applying by the end of the .nonth for
a $465,000 low-interest Clean Water
Bond loan from the state. The grant,
it received, would be matched with
SI25.300 in local funds for a total
project cost of around $670,000.
According to a preliminary engi
neering study by Boney, construc
tion of a 500,000-gallon elevated
tank would increase storage capacity
to 700.000 gallons. Me expects that
would meet the town's projected
water storage needs for peak domes
tic use and fire protection through
the year 2020.
State law provides that municipal
ities maintain adequate water re
serves for fire fighting at aii times,
which means maintaining more stor
age than is needed most of the year
for Ocean Isle Beach and other
tourist destinations with populations
that swell dramatically in season.
lie proposed construction of the
tank adjacent to the existing
200.000-gallon tank erected in 1972.
Boney fielded questions on com
parative advantages of an island or
mainland site in surviving a hurri
cane storm surge, dealing with ex
treme seasonal variances in water
usage, the possibility of stagnant
stored witter the feasibility of
alternatives such as drawing water
for firefighting from the island's
saltwater canals
Boney said the tank would be
built to withstand 150 mph winds as
required on barrier islands by the
state building code. If the tank
wouldn't withstand a hurricane
storm surge or peak winds, he spec
ulated. then neither would the bridge
leading to the island or the 12- and
8-inch water mains suspended from
it.
"Then we would have a lot of re
building to do," he said.
Building on the mainland would
require regulating pressure between
Board Approves Greenhouse
Meeting briefly Tuesday morning, the Ocean Isle Beach Board of
Adjustment granted a special use permit for a greenhouse operation with
in the town's extraterritorial area (ETA).
Consideration of the request from Bill Abshire had been delayed
from March 15 until representation from the ETTA could be added to the
membership of the board chaired by Commissioner Debbie Fox.
"We had never had an appeal or permit application come before the
board of adjustments until now," said Mayor Betty Williamson. "We're
trying to do things right."
At the town's request, Monday night the Brunswick County
Commissioners appointed Joseph Frank Williamson, the mayor's son, as
the second ETTA representative on the planning board. Then Williamson
and fellow ETA representative John Frink were also appointed to serve
on the board of adjustment.
Tuesday, Mayor Williamson administered oaths of office to the two
before the start of the meeting.
The greenhouse will be constructed on Beach Drive in Branchwood
Bay on property zoned C-3, commercial highway district. A special use
permit is required in that district for light industrial use such as the green
house, according to Building Inspector Druicd Roberson.
At its earlier meeting on March 15 the board of adjustments granted
an appeal by John Sutton for a side yard building setback variance. He
will be allowed to build a dwelling with less than the required seven feet
setback from the side lot lines.
the new tank and the existing tank,
he said, hut the cost would he in
significant.
Commissioner Kendall Suh said
he thought a mainland site should he
considered for aesthetic and cost
reasons as well as storm safety rea
sons. While the existing tank is
"pretty tasteful," he said, a larger
tank might be "unsightly" as well as
more expensive to huild on the is
land than on the mainland.
However, he still advocated the
existing central island location over
the mainland or either end ot the is
land because of the distribution of
residences and businesses the sys
tem serves.
Boney also said Brunswick
ic ??'(?rl'inn lr\ cnU??? ?? nrnK.
w w -
lem with the meter vault for the 8
inch line under the bridge so that it
can be used to provide water to the
island, supplementing a newer 12
inch line. The town uses the 8-inch
line now only to pump water from
the elevated tank to the mainland
causeway, with a restaurant and
bank the last customers before it
dead ends.
Getting out of the water distribu
tion husiness isn't really feasible for
the town, Boney suggested because
water service and rates are inter
wined with the town's full mix of
services and tax rate.
In the end commissioners said
they still weren't ready to apply for
the grant. They will study the need
for the larger tank a while longer
and consider applying for a grant
when the second luuud of funding
becomes available in September.
"l"he town recently expanded its
sewer system, reducing capital re
serves available in the utility budget.
Investing now in a new tank would
deplete those reserves, said
Commissioner Debbie S. Fox, at a
time when the town needs to be re
building them.
On a related note, a water com
mittee had no recommendations
Tuesday on a possible change in wa
ter billing or on an appropriate water
rate increase.
Led by Fox, th'.* committer h.ul
been studying the feasibility of
switching to billing for water usage
on the basis of meter size rather than
the number of units in a building.
The panel is also looking into rais
ing water service rates to reflect a
county rate increase that went into
effect last year and was not passed
on to customers. The town pays
$ 1.35 per gallon for county water.
Tuesday she said the commiltcc
had "a lot more work to do."
"In looking at changing to billing
by meter size it appears that would
not have a positive effect on town
revenues so we're studying it fur
ther," said Fox.
Brunswick Community College Meeting
To Address Workforce Training Needs
Local business people will preview continuing edu- The purpose of (he meeting is to share information
cation opportunities for employees and offer their own on available workforce educational and training ser
suggestions at a breakfast meeting sponsored by vices and look at ways to improve or expand them.
Brunswick Community College. . . . , ,
.. ?... ,,? .. t. . ? _ . A nuest speaker, Glvnda Lawrence, associate direc
The Preparing the Workforce for the Future meet- . ? .? ? . . ... .. ?
u u iii .u d/-/- it i \ ii tor ot existing industry services with the N.C.
ins will be held on the BCC campus F riday, April 1, ? . . .. % .f ? ? ... ..
r n ~><\ . o ? Department ot Community Colleges, will discuss the
from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. ' , .. e . I 6 .
Associate Dean of Continuing Education Velva state s perspective ot workforce preparedness.
Jenkins said the session w ill address initiatives such as All interested business persons are welcome, but
workplace literacy, occupational training. Job Training reservations are required no later than March 29 so that
Partnership Ac! opportunities, pre-employment training, adequate arrangements can be made. To reserve a
new and expanding industry training and resources and space, contact Jenkins' office at 754-6900, 457-6329 or
assistance for small businesses. 343-0203, Ext. 380.
Great Rates Are
AsEasyAsUCB.
24 to 35 month CD
Annual Percentage
Yield (APY)
I he minimum balance to obtain this APY is $ 1,000.
The Personal Touch. Easy As UCB.
For additional rates and ta ws or for more injonnation,
ph ase visit any ('( li office or call 754-4301.
Ir\i telephone mimlfi fot the hewing im/wnetl, l-NlXhS76-65-t\
I his APY is accurate asoC Manh 2. IW Noi availahlr lur brokered deposits
A penally may lx- imposed lot eaily withdrawal
M?<nf*i l'0C
<L ^
STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHER
Digging In At Ocean Isle
Long-sleeved shirts on toddlers were the only clue summer hadn 7 arrived Saturday at Ocean Isle
Beach. While older, more skimpily-clad heachgoers basked in the sun or hit the waves, Wiley, 2, and
her brother, Foster, I, dug a large hole and tunnel with the help of their parents, Mr. and Xtrs. Hobby
Marshall of Beaufort, S.C.
O p en Spline
Brunswick County's
#7 Nite Club
Wednesday-Saturday, 6 PM until
Back By Popular Demand
Live On Stage
Friday and Saturday
March 25 and 26
niAMnun nnmr
liinifiwnii unwii
singing Country ? Rock & Roll ? Beach
Fu!! ABC Permits ? 842-7070
Located on Holden Beach Rd., Holden Beach
Vote For Experience,
Energy and Integrity!
Dear Friends, Neighbors,
and Fellow Citizens:
As you are probably aware, I
am seeking the office of Sheriff
of Brunswick County in the up
coming election. This decision is
the result of a lifelong ambition.
Beginning with my swearing-in
/at Holden Beach in 1983 as
North Carolina's youngest offi
lU ,L ~ l cer, I have devoted much work
*y ^ and many long hours to arrive at
this point in my career.
Those of you who know me
know that I am dedicated to
making Brunswick County a safe placc for my children and
yours. You probably feel as I do?that the drug problem in our
county is clearly the root of many other crimes. 1 don't think
anyone would question my sincerity, given my record, when 1
say to the drug dealers and users that their activities can no
longer be tolerated in this county. 1 have seen firsthand through
my daily work with the children of this county what a difference
a step in the right direction can make.
Our Sheriff's department needs to continue to take steps to
improve its operation and professionalism. I have been a mem
ber of this Sheriff's department tor nearly eleven years and, over
the years, have seen areas I feel need attention. 1 would like to
see the door of our Sheriffs department open 24-hours a day to
serve our people. I would like to improve the relationship of this
department with all municipal departments by forming a City
County Drug Task Force. 1 would like to see the D.A.R.F. pro
gram expanded into the junior and senior high schools.
These are but a few of the goals 1 would work for when elect
ed Sheriff But these goals cannot be realized without your vote
of confidence. Together, we can.
/7?-7<?-4P ? ~IU~<
?National D.A.R.E. Officer of Year
?State D A R E. Officer of the Year
?Brunswick County D A R E.
Program Coordinator & Narcotics
Investigator
?Certified NC Law Enforcement
Instructor (over 1,000 hours
taught)
? Brunswick County Sheriff's
Department
Lieutenant. Narcotics Investigator
since 1990
Uniformed Patrol Sergeant (1987
1990)
Uniformed Patrol Deputy (1983
1987)
?B A. Criminal Justice UNCW
(1985) Honor Student
? NC Advanced Law Enforcement
Certification (1989)
?Brunswick Community College
Basic Law Enforcement Instructor
since 1989
NC Fire & Rescue Instructor since
1991
? Holden Beach Police Department
N.C. 's youngest police officer
(1983)
?Certified CPR Instructor, EMT
?NC Institute of Political Leadership
?Member & Active Participant
N.C. D.A.R E. Officers Association
National D A. R E. Officers
Association
N.C Law Enforcement Officers
Association
Supply Baptist Church (Sunday
School Teacher)
Brunswick County Shrine Club
(Treasurer)
Sudan Temple, New Bern, NC
Scottish Rite, (32nd degree
Mason)
Shallotte Lodge 727 (Master
Mason)
Ronald E.
?SHERIFF
FISH FRY
Sun., Mar. 27
4:30 PM
Lockwood Folly
Community Bldg.
ALL
PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT RONALD E HEWETT SHERIFF. ALBERT PARKER TREASURER