THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 40. No. 3? USPS Hertford. Porquin..-, Co**,,. H.C.. Thorny, *??. u. KM
25 CENTS
Public hearing evokes controversy among Hertford Council
ay J AWE WILLIAMS
A resolution to seek federal
grant funding for a portion of the
monies needed to develop a
shopping center on U.S. 17 in
Hertford was met with an
indignant outburst from one
Hertford council member during
a public hearing prior to Monday
night's meeting of the council.
jesse n arris, a member of tfte
Hertford Town Council and
owner of Harris Shopping Center
in Hertford, led a one man
crusade in questioning the
judgement of the developer and
financial backer of the shopping
center, along with the judgement
of other council members.
The purpose of the hearing was
two-fold, with the first portion of
the hearing dedicated to
establishing the economic
development needs for the Town
of Hertford.
Tom Webb, a consultant with
Webb and Claywell, Inc. from
Mount Airy, N.C., met with the
council and citixens present to
The S-Bridge in Hertford will
close Monday for repairs to
the draw. The project is
expected to be complete in
mid-September. (Photo by
KenCastelloe.)
discuss qualifications set by the
Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) for
an Urban Development Action
Grant.
Monies for the grant have been
appropriated by Congress with
$110-million set aside for small
communities to stimulate urban
development.
HUD has developed a distress
list compiled of communities
that have not shown a great deal
of growth in the past ten years.
Hertford is among the
communities through the nation
that appear on this list.
Webb told the group that funds
are available to towns that have
a business or industry that is
interested in opening in the
community that will increase job
availability in the area and bring
in additional tax dollars.
Once a town has a business or
industry committed to opening
they can present an application
to HUD for funding of a portion of
the project, generally between 20
and 25 percent.
The project developer is
responsible for the initial equity
involved, generally 10 to 15
percent, and for arranging the
Financing for the remainder of
the project.
If the town is is granted the
funding, they will hold the second
mortgage on the project, and will
je repaid the money with a five
percent proposed rate of interest.
The repaid money will be kept
in a loan project fund, and can be
used by the town to finance other
smaller scale projects for
economic development.
The second portion of the
hearing was to decide the
possible activities to be included
in an application to HUD for
funding.
A proposal has been made to
the town by George Gunyo of
Garner, N.C. to develop a
shopping center on U.S. 17 in
Hertford. The proposal calls for a
18,000 square foot, grocery store
with a deli, a 8,400 square foot
drug store and a 6,000 square foot
variety store, in addition to these
a reputable fast food chain has
shown an interest in locating in
the proposed center.
Harris stated early in the
hearing that the idea "wouldn't
work," and went on to say that
the entire idea behind federal
grants was "nothing but a form
of communism."
Harris further stated that the
developer and financial backer
of the center had "no idea of the
figures that they're talking about
in putting up a center here. There
is no way that Hertford can
support another shopping
center."
Harris stated on several
occassions during the hearing,
and in the ensuing meeting of the
council, that his personal
holdings (Harris Shopping
Center) had nothing whatsoever
to do with his opposition to the
proposed shopping center.
He stated that an
advertisement run in this
newspaper's last edition was
"insufficient notice to the
general public" in making them
aware of the time, place and
purpose of the hearing, and that
he felt that the people should
have a say-so as to whether or
not the town applied for federal
funding for a portion of the
project.
The general consensus of the
council was that the public had
been properly notified of the
hearing, and that a great deal of
positive interest was displayed
by the people.
Hertford Mayor Bill Cox then
presented a resolution to the
council for their signatures
indicating that they would
proceed with an application for
an UDAG grant.
Harris then stated that he
"saw no reason whatsoever to
act on this resolution tonight." "I
don't know at this point whether
I'm for this thing or against it,"
Harris added.
Cox told Harris that the
application would have to be
presented in August to be eligible
for the grant. He also stated that
he was "surprised that you don't
know if you're for or against
this."
Cox told the group that he had
been present at a Perquimans
County Committee of 100 board
meeting last week, and gave an
update on the proposed center.
He said that the committee,
comprised primarily of local
businessmen, went on record in
support of a resolution to support
the center.
Councilman John Beers lauded
the move as a "step forward for
Hertford. We need it, and I am
calling for a vote to adopt it, (the
resolution.)"
Councilman Billy Winslow
seconded the motion to adopt the
resolution, adding "I personally
don't see how we could sit here
and disapprove of this thing
tonight. I think we should be
jumping for joy that it is
available."
After further extensive
discussion the motion was
brought before the council for
voting. The motion carried with
three votes in favor of the
resolution, and Harris abstained
from voting.
If the town's application is
approved by HUD, Cox stated
that ground breaking for the
facility could be expected as
early as December.
Hertford "S" Bridge to close for repairs
By JANE WILLIAMS
Getting the rough spots out of
Perquimans County's infamous
"S-Shaped" Bridge has been
among the top priorities of the
community ftfr.quiWtf \?hfte, and
the dream is about to become a
reality.
The plans for re-structuring
and re-surfacing of the bridge
are coming off of the drawing
board after several years, with
work on the bridge scheduled to
begin on Monday, August 20.
According to Robert Spence,
Bridge Maintenance
Superintendent for Districts 1
and 2, the project will consist of
removing the timber from the
draw proper and replacing it
with a steel floor and beams
before re-surfacing the draw
portion of the bridge with
asphait.
"For several years there have
been problems with pot holes on
the draw proper because of
rotten timbers in the floor of the
draw. We have gone in and
replaced the timber on several
occassions, but due to the
condition of the bridge it has only
been a temporary solution,"
Spence said.
Bridge work was scheduled for
earlier in the summer in hopes
that work would be complete
before the school term began,
thus hampering bus traffic
between Hertford and Wftfall.
Delays in the work were brought
about after the Bridge
Maintenance Department rah
into "red tape" in acquiring
permits from the Coast Guard to
close the draw during the period
that the maintenance project will
be underway.
According to Spence the bridge
balances on a small bearing that
could cause the draw to tip if
opened during the repair period.
Spence stated that there is a
possibility that the bridge can be
stabilized for opening on the
week-ends while work is
underway, but that for general
purposes the public should not
plan to enjoy the use of the draw.
The bridge will be closed to all
vehicular traffic for the duration
of the project. Small boats that
do not require the opening of the
draw for passage will be
permitted to pass under the
bridge.
Spence said that foot traffic
would be maintained on the
bridge during the working
schedule, but fishing on the draw
will not be permitted during the
hours when workmen are present
on tlje bridge- Fishing will be
permitted on the draw after the
crews leave, and at either end of
the bridge during the working
day. v
In commenting on the
proposed bridge maintenance
project on Monday night, the
Hertford Town Council discussed
problems that have arisen due to
the heavy pedestrian traffic on
the bridge, and the problem with
littering and vehicle traffic on
the bridge because of its heavy
u?age as a fishing site, especially
during the evening hours.
Members of the council, as
well as the Hertford Police
Department and the bridge
maintenance crew have
expressed great displeasure at
the amount of debris that is left
on the bridge after an evening of
fishing.
Council members discussed
the possibility of closing the
bridge for fishing purposes if
individuals who fish from the
bridge will not remove their
debris before leaving the site.
The council members were
advised that they would be within
their rights to prohibit fishing
from he bridge, and indicated
that they would do so if the
current problem was not
alleviated soon.
Another problem that has
arisen in current weeks has been
that of people fishing from the
wrong side of the bridge thus
blocking the flow of traffic across
the structure. A sidewalk is
available across the bridge to
accomodate walking traffic and
fishing. Neither activity is
permitted on the curbed side of
the bridge.
Council members requested
that this newspaper urge the
general public not to abuse the
privilege of the bridge, and
agreed that the bridge would be
closed for fishing in the near
future if the fishermen did not
heed their warnings.
The present maintenance
schedule for repairs to the bridge
targets the project to be
complete around September 12.
B.C. Owens, Bridge
Maintenance Supervisor from
the Elizabeth City Department,
will supervise the work.
Art and craft displays to highlight festival
By JANE WILLIAMS
The 1984 Indian Summer
Festival, scheduled for
September 14 and IS in Hertford,
will take on a new feature this
year.
An arts and crafts tale and
display will be set up In Missing
Mill PaVk, and Grubb St will be
closed to passing traffic for the
event.
According to Jean Humphlett,
publicity chairman for the 'M
festival, several area craftsmen
have already signed up tor
booths during the festival, and
the festival committee are
I
already assured of a good
selection of crafts.
Among the craftsmen that plan
to sale and show their wares
during the festival are Joyce
Olson of Elizabeth City. Olson's
booth will feature handmade
printed teddy bears that have
become a hit with children in the
area.
Lona Dunbar of Elizabeth City
will feature her cera miss and
needle work at the festival, and
Pittercrafts, Inc. of Edenton will
display their yard and porch
furniture. Pittercrafts will be
taking orders during the festival
for furniture production.
Helen Strain of Edenton will
offer magnets, yarn dolls and
crocheted items during the
event.
From Chesapeake, Virginia, J.
Calon Smith will return for his
third appearance for the Indian
Summer Festival, bringing with
him his highly sought after wind
chimes, woodwork, folk art, soft
ducks, strawberries in basket*,
and toilet tissue holders.
Julian Creef, alto of
Chesapeake, will offer a wide
variety of woodwork at the
festival.
Tansy Pinner will offer a wide
array of articles at the festival
*
including ceramics, woodwork,
magnets, baby items,
needlepoint, pillows and stuffed
animals.
Raymond and Larretta Sedler
of Moyock will return for this
years festivities with their all
natural jams and jellies.
Don Vick, an Elizabeth City
goldsmith, will display his own
creative designed jewelry and
will take orders at the festival for
jewelry designed to your
specifications.
Elvis Perry of Hertford will
display his handmade hearth
brooms that have become a
popular item in the area.
Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson of
Hertford will return to this years
festival with a wide variety of
crafts including crocheted
novelties, snow flakes, bells,
Christmas decorations, fridges,
Halloween items, baby sets,
plastic needlepoint and wooden
novelties.
Dianne White of Hertford will
offer handmade wreaths and
baskets that are created with
local natural materials. She will
also take orders for her products.
The deadline for booth
registration, set for August 22, is
approaching fast, but those
wishing to display and sell their
\
crafts still have several days left
to sign up for a booth for the
festival.
Individuals and groups that
wish to obtain a booth for the
September festival should
contact Crafts Chairman
Carolyn Lane at 428-7423 or call
the Chamber of Commerce
Office at 426-5657.
Booths are available for the
festival at a charge of $10.00 for a
ten foot by ten foot booth and
$15.00 for a ten foot by twenty
foot booth.
Booths are also still available
for the sale of food during the
festival and information can be
obtained by calling Eva Rae
Landing at 426-5693. Clubs and
individuals are encouraged to
ttke advantage of this
opportunity to raise additional
monies during the festival.
Space U also available for art
diiplays and can be obtained by
contacting Brenda Hollowell
through the Chamber of
Commerce office.
Plans for the festival are
Bearing completion, and it is
expected that this year's festival
will be a memorable occassion
*tr all who attend and
participate.
F riday break-in
nets $13,000 take
By JANE WILLIAMS
An early morning break-in
netted approximately $13,000
worth of merchandise for
burglars last Friday at a
Perquimans County business.
Hertford Marine, a relatively
new business in the county
located just beyond the southern
city limits of Hertford on U.S. 17,
was entered by burglars shortly
after 1:00 a.m. on Friday who
took merchandise totaling
approximately $13,000 in value.
?
Entrance to the building was
gained by cutting an opening into
the side of the building,
approximately five feet high and
seven or eight feet wide.
Joe Brickhouse, owner and
operator of the business, stated
in a telephone interview on
Monday that among the stolen
merchandise were several
Mercury outboard motors, used
motors, a CB radio and fuel
tanks.
The incident was reported to
the Perquimans County
Sherriff's Department on
Friday. State Bureau of
Investigation Agent Dwight
Ransome and members of the
Chowan County Sherriff's
Department aided in the initial
investigation.
Perquimans County Sherriff,
Julian Broughton, could not be
reached for comment early this
week, however a spokesperson
from the dispatcher office stated
that the sherriff had related that
the investigation is pending and
that there are no suspects at this
time.
Riverside Insurance Agency
hat recently relocated into a
building on the corner of W.
Grubb St. and Punch Alley.
On hand for a ribbon cutting
last Friday were: Mary
Jasileum, secretary for the
firm; Hertford Mayor BUI
Cos; Nellie Ruth and Crafton
Matthew*, owners; County
Commissioner Welly White;
Chamber of Commerce
President Shirley Perry; O.
B. Rawls of NCNB; Jane
Williams Editor of THE
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY;
and Mary Harrell, Director at
the Chamber of Commerce.
(Photo by Ken CasteDoe)