THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 36, No. 45
USPS 428 060
Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, November 6, 1980
20 CENTS
County bucks national trend , backs Carter
Voters in Perquimans and surrounding
county's bucked a national trend in
marking their ballots for incumbent
President Jimmy Carter on Tuesday.
But not much more than an hour after
the polls closed, network newscasters
were already projecting Ronald Reagan
the landslide victor.
A heavier than expected turnout was
about the only surprise in county
balloting, as some 70 per cent of the
county's registered voters marked their
ballots.
Board of elections chairman William
"Buddy" Tilley surmized that the voter
turnout may have been a record-breaker.
The only real race on the county level
turned out to be no race at all, as District
II commissioner candidate Wayne
Winsiow, a Republican, was buried
under Democrats Joe Noweil and
Charles H. Ward.
Ward led the ticket, picking up 182
votes in the Belvidere precinct, 305 votes
in the Bethel precinct. 434 votes in East
Hertford, 266 votes in West Hertford, 342
votes in New Hope, 69 votes in Nicanor,
383 votes in Parkville, and 56 absentee
ballots for a total of 2,028.
Nowell tallied 1916 votes, with a
precinct by precinct breakdown reading :
Belvidere-198; Be the 1-258; East Hert
ford -403; West Hertford-2M; New Hope
321; Nicanor-74; Parkville-335; absentee
47.
Battling a tendency of county voters to
mark a straight Democratic ticket,
Winilow was able to collect only 936
votes. A precinct by precinct breakdown
reads: Belvidere-96; Bethel-140; East
Hertford-190; West Hertford-152; New
Hope-124; Nicanor-65; Parkville-241;
absentee-18.
Democrat Lester Simpson returns to
the board in District I, with 2,224 votes
against no opposition, and Jeanne C.
White returns as Register of Deeds after
polling 2,624 votes without opposition.
County voters selected Carter over
Reagan by a 1560 to 1210 margin in
Perquimans, and also carried
Pasquotank, Camden and Chowan
Counties by wide margins.
The incumbent was, however,
projected to lose the state of North
Carolina as of press time.
Independent John Anderson polled 63
Perquimans County votes in his bid for
the presidency and Libertarian Ed Clark
won the votes of 17 county residents.
In the governor's race, incumbent
James B. Hunt, Jr. carried the county by
a handy margin, defeating his major
challenger, I. Beverly Lake, Jr.,
Republican, 2,106 to 501.
Incumbent lieutenant governor Jimmy
Green, a Democrat, was also handily
endorsed, defeating Republican William
Cobey, his closest challenger, by a 2,090
503 margin.
Democrat Thad Eure had no trouble
retaining his long held secretary of state
position, defeating Republican
challenger David T. Flaherty by a 2,122
518 margin.
In the state auditor's race, Democrat
Edward Renfrew thrashed Republican
James F. (Jita) Mclntyre, 2,095-479.
Democratic attorney general Rufus
Edmisten turned back a challenge from
Republican Keith Snyder in 2,105-487
county landslide, and Democratic in
surance commissioner John Ingram was
endorsed by county voters over Edwin
W. Tenney, Jr., by a 2,097-527 margin.
A race that proved to be a cliffhanger
state-wide wasn't even close in
Perquimans County as Senator Robert
Morgan, a Democrat, out polled
Republican John East by a 1,980-705
margin.
There was only one local race for the
state legislature, and Democrats Charles
Evans and Vernon James easily defeated
Republican challenger Walter W.
Tucker.
\
County voters favored an amendment
to the N.C. Constitution requiring
justices and judges to be duly authorized
to practice law prior to appointment, by
a 1,995-563 margin.
They also endorsed Elmer C. Lassiter
as the Perquimans County Soil and
Water Conservation District Supervisor.
In the only competitive judicial race,
county voters selected Democrat Willis
P. Whichard, Jr. over Republican Robert
R. Browning for N.C. Court of Appeals
Judge.
Winfall meeting
Hertford electrical
rates , service hit
by JACK GROVE
A group of some thirty town residents
attended Winfail's Town Council meeting
Monday night to push for switching their
electric service from Hertford to
Albemarle Electric Cooperative.
Some 125 residents now get electric
service from the Hertford utility.
Prompting their concerns were the
recent IS percent rise in Hertford's
electric bills and alleged poor service.
Albemarle Electric's general
manager, Ed Brown was at the meeting
to field questions from citizens and
councilmen.
Asked if there would be a definite
economic advantage to the customer,
Brown replied, "Rate comparisons are
more difficult to make all the time." But
he added, "Historically AEMC's rates
have been as cheap or cheaper than the
town of Hertford. Our MM rate Is some
cheaper, not including the 15 percent
increase."
One resident wanted to know if Brown
could guarantee that her current
wouldn't be "drained off" when
Albemarle Chemical "turned on big
electric motors." Brown answered, "To
my knowledge we're not having
problems of that type now."
During the course of the discussion it
was brought out that an attempt was
made some four years ago to switch
users from the Hertford system to the
AEMC system. Several present voiced
recollections that Hertford town officials
were unwilling to even discuss the issue.
Brown stressed that he was not at
tending the meeting as an advocate
either way on the issue. However, when
asked if AEMC was willing to accept the
transfer of customers, he said that the
nine-member AEMC board of directors
had expressed a favorable interest if
negotiations ended in a fair and equitable
transfer.
He did say that the power lines and
transformers used by the Hertford utility
were not compatible with those of AEMC
and thus would be useless to his utility.
He cited the customers themselves as the
main transferable asset.
On the advice of Town Attorney, James
Singletary, petitions will be drawn up for
signature of affected Winfall residents.
Singletary indicated that this was the
necessary first step in showing interest
in the transfer. Court action was raised
as a possibility by some residents if
Hertford resisted efforts to arrange the
transfer.
On other legal matters concerning the
town, Singletary reported that he had
drawn up a list of proposed local or
dinances, and had researched proposed
annexation and zoning laws.
The council voted to annex into the
town 500 feet from the edge of the
following roadways: the East side from
the Town Office Building to the junction
of U.S. 17 and N.C. 37, the North side of
U.S. 17 (Business) to the junction with
S.R. 1220, both sides of S.R. 1220, and the
South side of U.S. 17 (Bypass) from the
S.R. 1220 junction to the Perquimans
River.
The council then passed a formal
"Resolution for intent of Annexation"
required by state law, which included a
call for a public hearing on the measure
next Dec. 29. I
In other matters the council:
?Approved a request by Cheri Williams
that would allow four homeowners near
Albemarle Chemical Co. to plant trees on
a town right of way as a screen from the
company;
?Heard W.M. Knight of Crown Point
Development Co. report that water lines ,
were in at the new River Croft sub- .
division and that the streets there would
be paved with asphalt instead of the v
planned gravel surface;
P
?Amended the town budget to shift $2,500 c
to the Chlorine, Insurance and
Miscellaneous accounts from the $6,466 r
in the Surplus account; b
?Asked that a comprehensive report of v
income and expenditures for the water d
system be presented at the next meeting, tl
Well done
lertford Mayor Bill Cox received the
own's second Community of Excellence
Vward from Governor James B. Hunt,
Jr. during ceremonies held in Raleigh
last Wednesday. Hertford was one of 100
North Carolina communities awarded
during the second annual Governor's
Conference on Economic Development.
A town
excells
The town of Hertford was officially
honored as a Governor's Community of
Excellence in Raleigh Wednesday during
the second annual conference on
economic development.
Hertford Mayor Bill Cox was present to
accept the town's second award of ex
cellence from North Carolina Governor
Jim Hunt.
"I am proud of the progress which
communities like Hertford have made
during the past year," said Hunt, "It is
an achievement which they can look
upon with great pride. But more im
portantly, the work which has been done
in qualifying for this honor also
represents a big step toward better job
opportunities."
To qualify for the award, Hertford was
put to the test of meeting the basic
criteria required by new industry.
Representatives of the N C. Depart
ment of Commerce, posing as electronic
component company officials, met with
town and county officials in June.
A total of 100 communities, all with
populations of 15,000 or less, received the
awards. Thirty-five of the recipients
were first-time winners.
Highway signs noting the honor have
been provided.
Resident, tax office tangle
The Perquimans County Board of
lommissioners will seek a ruling from
tie N.C. Attorney General's office on
rhether or not the county tax assessor
an enter a construction project in
rogress without the permission of the
wner.
The decision came after Hertford
esident Carl Skinner complained to
oard members that county tax super
isor Keith Haskett had entered an ad
ition to his home without permission for
le purpose of making a tax assessment.
"Keith Haskett says he has the right to
go into my house without permission to
examine it but the town attorney says he
does not," said Skinner.
"Also, Keith asked me several times
why I was trying to hide it (the addition)
from him," he added.
"I'd like to know what can be done
about it," Skinner said. "The people of
Perquimans County have put up with his
arrogant manner long enough."
Haskett, however, said that he had
seen the addition while on county
business and had asked construction
workers on the premises if he could go in
and look around.
According to county attorney John
Matthews, Haskett appeared to be with
in his legal boundaries.
The Machinery Act of North Carolina
says that any building appraised for the
purpose of taxation must be visited and
observed by a competent appraiser,
Matthews said.
"It seems to me that to adequately
appraise, he would have to do this (enter
the building)," Matthews said.
Nevertheless, Skinner argued that that
the tax assessor has a! least a moral
obligation to seek permission before
entering construction projects.
"Personally, I think something ought
to be done," said Skinner. "I don't feel
anybody should be allowed to into my
house without permission. There are
proper ways to do things and going into
somebody's house without permission is
not one of them," he said
(Continued on page 2 )
Annexation eventual
Zoning beyond boundaries set
The Hertford Town Council has
decided to proceed with steps begun four
years ago to tone the allotted one-mile
around present city limits.
Extra-territorial limit zoning, initiated
in June of 1976, was abandoned when the
planner developing the ordinance
changed Jobs, said Hertford Mayor and
Town Manager Bill Cox at the town
council's regular monthly meeting
Monday.
Hie area to be zoned at that time was
00 of Grubb Street Extended, down the
Ballahack Road, which winds back into
town, according to Cox.
But the 'council moved Monday to
extend the initial zoning territory to
include much of the one-mile radius
allowed by law.
Although zoning past present boun
daries would not add to the town's
present tax base nor require the ex
pansion of town services, Cox told the
council that he felt such action wu
Important as a protective measure (or
the town of Hertford.
"It would help insure that the town gets
the type of businesses and growth that is
desirable," said Cox.
Council member J esse Harris, who
abstained from voting either for or
\
against zoning, expressed apprehension
in the possible negative effects zoning
could have on eventual annexation.
"If we zone now, it could cause hard
feelings in the people that live in those
areas," said Harris, "and if there's a
feeling built up against zoning, it could be
a subtle deterrent from annexation."
Harris emphasized that he felt an
nexation, particularly extended to in
clude Don Juan Shirt Manufacturing
Company in the city limits, was needed
to increase the town's tax base. "We
should annex that area to include Don
Juan," said Harris, "because we need a
larger tax base."
Commissioner John Beers explained
that while annexation had been the
council's eventual intent when the extra
territorial zoning limit had been initiated
four years ago, he felt that zoning now
was necessary for the town's protection.
Voicing compliance with Beers, Cox
said, "I can't see anything wrong in
zoning the borders around the town of
Hertford to provide us with some control
aato what goes out there."
Cox added that he Mt zoning would
ease the town's eventual plan to annex.
"Proper toning would be a step toward
annexation," said Cm. "Through
meetings and hearings it would allow
people to get involved and acquainted
with what zoning would do and even
tually help us with annexation," he ad
ded.
In other business, the council heard
from Howard Capps, a community
planner involved with the revitalization
effort in the town's King Street area.
Capps told commissioners that the
community development project,
initiated some three years ago, was well
on its way to completion, with one house
yet to condemn, one family left to
relocate, and acquisition pending on only
two properties. Some 23 households have
been removed from substandard
structures in the King Street area, and
moved into "desirable homes," said
Capps.
Grading, stone work, paving, curbing
and gutting work is expected to begin in
early spring, according Capps, who
added that several contractors had ex
pressed interest in building both apart
ments and single family dwellings.
"We're getting to the point that we can
notify the people who lived in the area or
nearby, and let them know they can bid
oo the properties," said Capps.
CapfM then recommended that the
council begin applying for funds to ex
tend revitalization efforts, noting that
grants should be readily available.
"You've already addressed the worst
area in town, so from here on out, it
should be easier," he said.
The council unanimously moved to
begin the application process which, if
funded, would extend renewal efforts to
the area next to Gum Street (parallel to
the cemetery) and also to the other side
of the present King Street development.
Also at Capps' recommendation, the
town moved to separate their land use
plan from the county's. Required by the "
Coastal Area Management Act, the plan |
is designed to identify problems and j
issues that could confront communities
in the next five years, and project an
overall picture of desired land use in
1885.
Capps told the commissioners that he
felt a separate CAMA land use plan
would aid the town in applying for state
and federal monies, such as the grants
needed to extend the community J
development project. a
According to Capps, the town's 7
share for the plan will only be $405, in ?
addition to providing some clerical f"
assistance. ?
Tie a yellow ribbon
aycettes Betty Hare, Barbara Nixon
ad Fajre Bunch (left to right) tie a
ellow ribbon around a tree on the
ourtbouae lawn in a feature of aupport
Mr the hoatagea. The Jaycettea are
rearing yellow ribbona on their lapela
and offering ribbon to members of the
community as part of their "Tie a Yellow
Ribbon" campaign for the hostage* in
Iran, who marked the anniversary of
their capture on election day.