.•> * .• 4?, .» v .
Big Tax Increase Proposed
County Struggles With Budget
. Property owners in Chowan
County are faced with a possible 30
per cent increase in taxes from
% cents per SIOO valuation to 96
dents and the board of com
missioners are calling for a second
public hearing,on the $2.8-million
budget “to be in complete com
pliance with the law.”
' The question of legality arose
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Volume XLm.—No. 25.
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A Troubled County
Problem With Laws
Chowan County commissioners
Monday morning held a public
hearing on the budget for fiscal
1977-78. It is not a popular budget
and certainly not one which will
win friends or influence people.
It calls for a heafty increase in
property taxes from 75 cents
per SIOO valuation to 96 cents, or
some 30 per cent and except for
inflation increases and $200,000 to
fund “lawful deficits” there is
little, if anything, new included.
Because of a question of legality
raised by a concerned citizen, the
board has called a second public
Jiearing for 10 A.M. on July 1, the
Ta|t day it can legally adopt a
budget for a particular fiscal year.
The second hearing, in our
opinion, will be just as illegal as
the one Monday, but for a different
reason. The initial notice did not
contain a summary of the budget,
a new requirement but one which
was called to the attention of
certain commissioners.
Therefore, to be in their words“m
complete compliance with the
law”, a second hearing was called.
In order to comply with the 10-
day notice requirement, the legal
advertisement is to run in The
Daily Advance, published in
Elizabeth City. The Daily Advance
cannot be considered. to have a
“general circulation” in Chowan
County and does not comply with
Section 1-597 of the General
Statutes of North Carolina
because it has not been “regularly
and continuously issued in the
county in which the publication is
authorized or required to be
published...”
Time has obviously caught up
with the Chowan County Board of
Commissioners with regard to the
levy for property taxes. In this
case it, furthermore, has ob
viously run out on than with
regard to compliance with the
General Statutes and the Local
Government Commission.
Instead of attempting to explain
what they have done and their
intent, they should be consulting
with their attorney in order to
avoid if at all possible any .
embarrassment in the future.
It While we are sympathetic with
ftthe circumstances which have
■Brought them to this point, their
actions are difficult to defend.
Compliance with laws and
regulations over shadows personal
feelings.
..But Not All Lost
/, By the time a majority of the
citizens along the Public Parade
read this one of the last structural
Obstacles facing Chowan County
commissioners in development of
• new courthouse-jail project will
he removed from South .Broad
Street and is resting on Water
Street, overlooking Edenton Bay.
Also, EdentomCtowan Board of
Education will have fit the pieces
together to provide the best
education possible with the local
grilars being provided. This will
fcaurue with other departments
jßmin the county as they join
|wb with the commiSsionen to
best of a' difficult
The per cent pay increase
ct whaMnanymc
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Monday morning during a public
hearing on the budget. Mrs. Lueta
%’leged that the hearing
was ~%,*al because the public
notice contain a suijimary
of the b required by law.
Chaim. %.%~\- Phillips said in
his opinion considers it
legal “like Vi \ and that
them is “no i. %%x>t to comply
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, June 23, 1977
Leary Elected Chairman
Os Democratic Committee
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George Alma Byrum
J. Clarence Leary, Jr.
People Priority
Gov. Jim Hunt is obligated to
give this state a “people’s
government” and his citizens
affairs representative said in
Gates County last week those on
the grassroots level are being
heard as never before.
Walter B. Jones, 11, speaking at
the monthly meeting of Albemarle
Area Development Association at
Chowan River Inn in Gates
County, said he is confident the
concerns of the people will get
priority.
Jones, son of Rep. Walter B.
Jones of the First Congressional
District, said Gov. Hunt said
during his campaign that his
would be a “people’s government”
and he has taken steps to make
this a reality. Traveling 25
counties the representative has
found citizens eager to discuss
one-to-one, and eyeball-to-eyeball
their concerns and suggestions for
making the Tar Heel state a better
place to live, work and play.
“Hie entire program,” Jones
. said, “is designed to make state
government more responsive to
the grassroots.” The goals in
clude:
Keeping state government in
direct contact with the citizens;
Continued On Page 4
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H, of JimHunf8 B <ifflMta
Raleigh, explained the new people-to-peopte program last
Thursday night at a meeting of .Albemarle Area Development
Association. Pictured with him are R.L. Stevenson of HertfcM,
AADA president; Eddie McDuffie, Gates County manager ; ana
Zecfcie Harrell, Gates County extension chairman
with the law.” He added: “As far
as we know we are following the
law to the letter.”
Later it was decided to hold a
second public hearing at 10 A.M.
on July 1— the last day the board
can lawfully adopt a budget for
fiscal 1977-78 and that the notice
would appear in The Daily Ad
vance, published in Elizabeth
Single Copies 15 Cents.
Chowan County Democrats have
elected J. Clarence Leary, Jr.,
chairman of its executive com
mittee, and selected George Alma
Byrum, immediate past chair
man, as the county’s outstanding
Democrat.
The action came at noon
Saturday at the county convention
attended by some 35 people.
Byrum noted that all the
precincts except Wardville were
organized and represented at the
convention.
In brief remarks after his
selection, Leary expressed ap
preciation to Byrum for his
leadership over the past three
years and urged Democrats to
“organize and work to unseat the
lone Republican representative”
(Sen. Jesse Helms.)
Byrum was chosen to represent
Chowan County in competition
with others throughout the state
for an honor to be announced at a
Washington, D. C., function later
this year. He was nominated by
Dr. Clement Lucas and elected
without opposition.
- Earlier,-Bynim had expressed
disappointment with the lack of
participation of executive com
mittee meetings in local party
affairs. He said he hoped this will
improve in the future. Also, he
called on party members to
become more active in state
functions.
Lloyd Griffin, retired executive
secretary of the N. C. Citizens
Association, was recognized and
spoke briefly about getting
younger Democrats involved in
politics.
James M. Bond reported for the
nominating committee and those
chosen were elected without op
position. In addition to Leary,
party leaders for the county in
clude : Mrs. Edward G. Bond, first
Continued On Page 4
Divorces Granted
Five uncontested divorces were
granted by Judge John T. Chaffin
in Chowan County District Court
Tuesday morning. They included:
Charles Eugene Spruill from
Rebecca Bouson Spruill; Betty
Lou Hawkins Pritchett from
James Robert Pritchett, Jr.;
Margaret Rascoe from Lenhart
Rascoe; Sadie Drew Riddick from
Cleveland A. Riddick; and Wanda
Brooks Jordan from Erie L.
Jordan.
City. There is some question as to
whether such a notice will satisfy
the law since The Chowan Herald
is the newspaper of record and of
“general circulation” within
Chowan County.
The budget, as it was discussed
Monday, totals $2,834,827.24 of
which $237,964 is for the Water
Department and no levy is
required for this item. It would
require a 98-cent, rate, based on
slls-million valuation and 95 per
cent collection. An additional five
cents would be charged in the Fire
District.
Mrs. Sellers’ chief complaint,
other than the manner in which
the hearing was advertised, was
that commissioners were not
adequately funding the Edenton-
Chowan Schools.
Commissioner Alton G. Elmore,
who ran for election several years
ago on a better schools platform,
expressed the opinion that the
schools were being adequately
funded. During the discussion, he
said the commissioners would be
accused of having to increase
taxes to purchase property for the
new courthouse-jail complex.
“This is not the case,” he asser
ted.
“We have under taxed for the
past few years,” he alleged. He
continued by saying the county
has used off what reserves were on
hand and must replace them.
Included in the budget is $200,000
for deficits. It was explained that
this was brought about because
federal funding for the courthouse
jail project came in the middle of
the budget year and the county
had not budgeted to purchase the
site —a requirement under the
federal act.
When Mrs. Sellers requested
specifics regarding where the
increase in taxes would be spent,
she was told it would be spread
Continued On Page 4
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NATIONAL LI ARD LEADERS—\V P (Spec) Jones, right,
first commander of the N. C. National Guard in Edenton
following reorganization after World War II and present leaders
are pictured at last week’s reunion here. Left to right are: Adj.
Gen. William E. Ingram; Ist Lt. Robert R. Boyce, station com
mander; and Lt. Col. John E. R. Perry, battalion commander.
(Staff Photo by Manning).
Guard Holds 30th Reunion
Adj. Gen. William E. Ingram of
the N. C. National Guard was
keynote speaker at the 30th
reunion of the organization in
Edenton held at the armory
Saturday night. Six honorary
memberships were presented and
two veterans recognized for more
than two decades of service.
Mrs. Iris Mills received a
special service award in memory
Police Actions
An SBOO typewriter was stolen
from the office at John A. Holmes
High School Sunday night after
entry to the building was gained
through a rear door where a glass
was broken.
Police Chief J.D. Parrish said
the breaking, entering and larceny
is still under investigation.
Also, an unknown quantity of
clothing was stolen from Jay’s
Store on Oakum Street following a
break-in Saturday night.
In other police activity, the
arrest of Jeffrey Warren Jackson,
16,1207 North Oakum Street, was
noted. Jackson is charged with the
possession and manufacture of
marijuana.
Chief Parrish said five plants
were growing in his backyard.
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STEPS DOWN—R. L. Spivey of Perquimans County, right
stepped down Friday night as president of the Albemarle Law &
Order Association. Pictured here with him at a Nags Head
banquet is Mel Bunch of Edenton, ALOA project director.
CRIME FIGHTERS-Dist. Atty. Tom Watts of Elizabeth City,
right, is shown with Police Chief W. C. Owens during Friday
night’s meeting of Albemarle Law & Order Association. Chief
Owens was elected president of the group and Watts was keynote
speaker.
Owen President Os ALOA
NAGS HEAD Police Chief
W.C. Owens of Elizabeth City was
elected president of the 10-county
Albemarle Law & Order
Association here Friday night and
R. L. Spivey of Perquimans
County, who has headed the
organization since its inception,
was recognized for outstanding
leadership.
Dist. Atty. Tom Watts of
of her late husband and William
White also received the service
award for in excess of 20 years of
service.
Honorary memberships went to
L. F. Amburn, Jr., Robert W.
Moore, W. Earl Smith, Mayor Roy
L. Harrell, Dr. Richard Hardin
and Mrs. Rachel Phelps. The
Chowan Herald and Edenton
Chamber of Commerce were cited
for meritorius service.
Lt. Robert R. Boyce, station
commander, welcomed nearly 230
people to the banquet and W. P.
(Spec) Jones, the first com
mander following reorganization
in 1947 responded.
Special guests were introduced
by Carroll W. Jones and Gen.
Ingram was introduced by Lt. Col.
John Perry, battalion com
mander.
Others appearing on the
program were Henry A. Powell
and Paulette Lane.
The program carried a brief
history of the unit which included
the following: “Despite criticism
and discouragement, the men
responsible for the organization,
or more properly reorganization,
of this unit in 1947, stood steadfast
in their desire and determination
Continued On Page 4
Elizabeth City delivered the
keynote address, calling for a
“team effort” on the part of
citizens, officers, prosecutors,
judges and administrators to
curtail crime. The speaker said
even with the best efforts of people
in this area, crime continues to
increase.
He specifically pointed out the
contribution ALOA is making
through training of law en
forcement personnel and
progress being made in the
judicial system.
Watts cited so-called “vic
timless crimes” a bunch of
“hogwash”, saying: “Weknow too
well we are all victims of crime.”
He said this country must be
aware of the “decay from within”
and we must not turn our heads on
the warning signs.
Chief Owens is the senior
member of the Governor’s Crime
Commission and will direct the
area association with the aid of
Mayor Charles Evans of Nags
Head, first vice president; Sheriff
Troy Toppin of Chowan County,
second vice president; Sheriff
Frank Cahoon of Dare County,
secretary; and Cleveland Paylor
of Plymouth, treasurer.
W. B. Gardner of Edenton was
chairman of the nominating
Continued On Page 4
Toppin Honored
E. C. Toppin of Edenton has
been named Legionnaire of the
Year by the N.C. Department of
the American Legion as well as
elected Division Commander over
61 Legion posts east of Raleigh and
north of New Bern.
A member of Edward G. Bond
Post 40 since 1971, Toppin has
served locally as post commander
and adjutant. Toppin is a past
District Commander and has held
various state posts including vice
chairman of the New Post
Organization and Development
Committee and vice chairman of
the Publications Committee.
Toppin is employed by the
Carter’s Ink Company.
\ E. C. Toppin