Sunset Voters Prepare
To Have Say Tuesday On Sewer Plan
(Continued From Page 1-A)
already fully platted for develop
ment. Last year it was cited by state
planners as one of the fastest grow
ing municipalities in North Carolina.
The service area is bounded ap
proximately by the state line to the
southwest, the Atlantic Ocean to the
southeast, an irregular line parallel
to and northwest of U.S. 17, and (he
extraterritorial jurisdiction line for
the Town of Ocean Isle Beach to the
cast.
The Calabash central business
district rates top priority for sewer
service because of its history of
failed septic tanks and lack of space
for repair areas.
As soon as collection lines are in
place, the business district and some
other still-undesignated Phase I cus
tomers will be connected temporari
ly to the l ittle River Water and
Sewerage Co. system in South
Carolina for discharge until treat
ment is available through the South
Brunswick Water and Sewer
Authority. Little River has offered
up to 300.000 gallons per day capac
ity on a temporary basis.
Issue Development, Not Sewers?
Concern for scope and nature of
future development and its environ
mental impact are forces cited by
parties on either side of the referen
dum.
"I think the driving reason for
more acceptability (in this referen
dum) is the environment," said
Tombro. "The population on the is
land has probably tripled since the
previous vote. More areas around
the island have closed to shcllfish
ing."
Adding more pressure for sewer:
Increasingly stringent septic tank
regulations that prohibit develop
ment of small lots that were platted
as early as 25 years ago.
He has produced studies antici
pating that centralized sewer will re
duce pollution from septic tank fail
ure. Effluent disposal alternatives
being considered could relieve de
mand for shallow groundwater for
golf course irrigation and help
recharge groundwater aquifers.
When it comes to protecting the
local environment, "there's almost
universal acknowledgment that sew
er is one part of the solution." said
Billups. "Ocean Isle Beach has sew
er?and open shellfish waters
around the island."
Light opposition to the referen
dum is expected at the polls, though
Sunset Beach Taxpayers Association
members pushed for documentation
of the need for a sewer system and
lobbied hard for concurrent develop
ment of a stormwater management
system.
"I think ihe decision we are going
to make is the most important we
are going to make. It will decide the
future of our town, what it will look
like 10 to 20 years from now." said
What Will It Cost Users?
What will sewer service cost Sunset Beach residents?
No one can answer that question until the system is built and operat
ing.
The South Brunswick Water and Sewer Authority docs expect to
cover the bulk of construction, operation and maintenance costs from
revenues generated from residential and commercial users.
Consulting engineer Joe Tombro estimates that up to 85 percent of
permanent residents?typically a two-person or slightly larger house
hold?will qualify for the $18 minimum monthly sewer rate based on
not having used more than 5,000 gallons of water a month during the
previous year. That's also on the assumption that most residents will be
installing a separate meter during the coming months for water used for
irrigating the lawn or washing cars.
Any household or business with a volume greater than 5,000 gallons
during any month of the year can expect higher overall billings.
If a household's peak monthly usage is 9,000 gallons of water during
July, for instance, the first sewer bill would Ik $38.07.
Future bills would be based on actual monthly usage, but taking into
account that peak demand. If the monthly usage in January were 5,000
gallons, for example, the charge would be $35.82, not the minimum $18.
The bill would reflect a capacity charge of $38.07 and deduction of a
"low usage credit" of $2.25.
island resident Sue VVeddle. a mem- "We are going to look like
her of the Sunset Beach Taxpayers Mvrtle Beach in 10 to 15 years, at
Association. "For the people I talk least on the mainland." she predict
with the issue is quality of life and ed. She bases that view on initial
development. The absence of sewers residential unit projections provided
inhibits rapid, dense development." to the consulting engineers by area
Weddle said she doesn't oppose developers that would push the peak
sewers in and of themselves, but seasonal population of southwestern
doesn't think the community has Brunswick County into the neigh
taken the steps needed to mitigate borhood of 90,000. The figures were
"things that come with sewer". revised after state funding agencies
sought only the number of units for
which developers were willing to
sign upfront assessment guarantees.
Strongest support for the system
will come from the Sunset Beach
mainland. Weddle anticipates, not
the island, based on her perception
that most of those who settled in the
two areas did so in pursuit of differ
ent lifestyles.
"They don't live on the water. I
don't think they've educated them
selves on all the issues related to the
sewer system, and where they come
from (having a central sewer sys
tem) was the civilized way to live."
she reflected last week.
She is concerned that coming de
velopment will contradict?at least
on the mainland?the desire for a
single-family residential community
expressed by residents and other
properly owners in the latest town
land-use plan, which also spoke fa
vorably of a central sewer system
and addressed the higher building
height cap on the mainland.
Based on building permit trends
on the island, total buildout is ex
pected within the authority's 20-year
planning period, with or without a
central sewer system, say engineers
Billups and Tombro.
Billups questions use of sewer or
lack of sewer as a land use manage
ment tool over alternatives within
local government.
"Those who are concerned about
increased growth should He working
with the town to put planning and
zoning controls in place, he said.
The SUTA has pushed for a con
current stormwater management ef
fort to to handle the increased
stormwater run-off that can he ex
pected from the development that
will occur following construction of
the sewer system, said Weddle.
Partly as a result of that focus.
Sunset Beach and Brunswick
County, working with the Authority,
are pursuing the issue. The town re
cently submitted an application on
behalf of the authority seeking a
state coastal management planning
grant for that purpose.
The Brunswick County Health
Department has endorsed concurrent
development of sewer and stormwa
ter management system.
Earlier this month Brunswick
County Commissioners voted to join
the authority, if system financing
plans proceed on schedule and the
referendum is approved by Sunset
Beach voters. Its membership is also
contingent on time payment sched
ules or grants being available to cus
tomers who cannot afford the hook
on fees.
County participation is needed
because mandatory hook-ons are a
must to receive the state loans.
Authority member governments are
expected to transfer to the authority
their power to require hook-ups
within their respective boundaries.
County Seeking New Planning
Director; Harvey Now Part-Time
BY ERIC CARLSON Harvey's employment with him this
John Harvey, Brunswick County's week.
planning director for more than 13 "It's still up in the air as to what
years, was put on part-time duty last role he will play," Yelton said. "But
week to allow him the opportunity 1 know he won't be playing the role
to care for his wife Betsy, who is se- of planning director. It's a difficult
riously ill. according to County time tor him. He wants to work, hut
Manager Wvman Yelton. he knows he can't. 1 expect that the
The county began advertising for most he could put in would be about
a full-time planning director this half time."
week. Yelton said he appointed staff Yelton said implementing the new
planner Don liggert to serve as act- county zoning ordinance has signifi
ing director until Harvey's replace- cantly increased the workload in the
ment can be found. planning department, a situation
Yelton said Harvey had been out made worse by the recent resigna
of work for almost two weeks tion of zoning administrator Wade
"when it became obvious he could Home, who has been hired as town
not continue full time" as planning manager of Long Beach.
director. The county manager said "They're in a tough situation over
he plans to discuss the scope of there." Yelton said.
Al age (i7. Harvey is eligible for
retirement, hut he has not indicated
any intention to do so. personnel of
ficer Starrie Cirissett said Tuesday
Harvey was hired as county plan
director in Aunus! !!e
was appointed interim county man
ager in April. 1W3, after the sudden
resignation of former County Man
ager/Attorney David C'legg. He re
turned to his former position when
Yelton was hired three months later.
As planning director. Harvey
earned an annual salary of $4'),028.
Yelton said he has not decided how
Haivey would be compensated in
his new part-time position.
The county is offering a salary of
$35.5(*4 for a new planning director.
Pleasant Weather Expected For Holiday
Pleasant springtime weather looks Canady said Tuesday. 56 degrees combined for a daily av
likely for the Easter holiday in the "It may he a little cool at first, bul erage temperature of 65 degrees.
South Brunswick Islands. should warm up toward the week- about 9 degrees above average.
The outlook calls for both temper- end," he said. . . . . . . c .
, . 4- # . 1 , Canady recorded a high of 78 de
atures and rainfall to be near normal. , ,u . .. . ^ \ .. .. . i-?* i
... u 11 I he week of March 22 through 28 urees on both March 22 and 24, and
temperatures should averai?e .. ... & * . .. , ., ... ..
4 .: ... . ... .u was unseasonably warm with grea- a low of y) degrees the night of
from the upper 40s at night to the . J . c ,, b ^ b
... , . ? .. ter-than-average rainfall. March 23.
upper 60s during the day, with &
around one-half inch rainfall, Shal- A daily average high of 75 de- He measured 2.15 inches of rain -
lottc Point meteorologist Jackson grees and a nightly average low of fall at his home south of Shallotte.
Suit Against County Headed
BY ERIC CARLSON after the meeting
A federal lawsuit filed against Ramos said a federal judge last
Brunswick County by former build- Thursday ordered the two sides "to
ing inspector John W "Billy" Ing- engage in settlement negotiations,"
ram appears destined for an April 11 but no agreement was reached.
trial in U.S. District Court after Ingram's lawsuit, filed in May,
lawyers for both sides failed to reach 1993, claims he suffered "mental an
a settlement of the case last week. guish and severe emotional distress.
The Brunswick County Board of humiliation and embarrassment, de
Commissioners met in closed ses- nial of professional standing and
sion for about 45 minutes Monday reputation and loss of earnings"
evening with County Attorney when he was fired three years earli
Michael Ramos and co-counsel er.
from Wilmington to discuss the The suit asserts that the county vi
pending action. Board members said olated its personnel policy by dis
the\ could not comment on the case missing Ingram with "no notice or
For Fed Court
warning" and denying him lhc right
to appeal.
The lawsuit requests a jury trial
and asks that Ingram he reinstated
and awarded hack pay, lost benefits,
punitive damages and attorney fees.
In a response to the suit filed last
July, the county asserts that Ingram
was a "probationary" employee at
the time of his firing and was there
fore not protected by the personnel
policy. It claims Ingram was fired
"for not performing his duties in a
satisfactory manner" and denies that
there were no warnings given before
his termination.
The response further states that
Ingram "has tailed to mitigate the
damages he claims to have suffered
by failing to obtain other work."
I
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Making A Point
STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHER
Local issues from preservation of Bird Island to cleaning up Lockwood Folly River found a forum last
week when the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission met at Sea Trail Plantation at Sunset Reach.
Above, John llolden uses historic photographs to build his case for reopening Eastern Channel to im
prove flushing actum and water quality in Lockwood Folly River. Though slight improvement was not
ed this past year, much of the river remains closed to shellfishing. Stories from the CRC meeting are
on I'age I2A.
Moth Spraying Set To Begin
(Continued From Page 1-A) no effect on plant pollination, birds
that is toxic only to caterpillars and or aquatic lite, Coleman said.
certain agricultural pests. It is mar- A special Gypsy Moth Hotline
keted to home gardeners under the has been established for those who
commercial names "Worm want more information about gypsy
Whipper" and "Dipel." moths and the eradication program.
On 4,(KM) acres where scientists That number is 1 -800-449-9007.
have determined that Bt could harm
rare or fragile species, an insect I Jlrjrh
virus called Gypchek will be used ,*~l 1 L'C,CI IUCU
against the moths. Gypcheck is only (Continued From Page 1-A)
produced in government labs and is Chapel hill professor David M.
in short supply. The local eradica- I .a wre nee, also says board members
tion program will use up the nation's cannot be prohibited from disclosing
stockpile of the virus. what happens during an executive
Neither of the pesticides is con- session.
sidered harmful to mammals or to "What little case law there is sug
other insects, according to gests that if a public body sought to
Brunswick County Agricultural enforce such a prohibition, such as
Extension Agent Miiton Coleman, by censuring or attempting to sus
The sprays are water soluble and pend a member, it might be violating
will be washed away with the first that member's constitutional rights
rain. The applications should have of free speech."
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