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School System Threatened By Deficit; Funds Are Frozen
John Dunn, superintendent of Edenton-Chowan Schools, moved
Friday to freeze accounts involving local funds “as they presently
stand” in an effort to ward off a 130,719. deficit. The drastic measure to
avoid financial disaster at the end of the 1980-81 fiscal year was an
nounced Monday night to Edenton-Chowan Board of Education.
Dr. Dunn issued a three-pronged measure:
1.-Freeze all positions that become vacant which require local money;
2 -Freeze all spending in any local account with a balance; and
S.-Freeze all out-of-county travel which would be reimbursed from
local funds.
“Failure to do this would find us at the end of the year (June3o,l9Bl)
with nosavings and a debt,’’ he told the board. “If we follow this now we
can probably come out without a debt and maybe with a surplus to begin
with in 1981-82,” he added.
The superintendent said the principals believe all purchases that need
to be made with local funds have already been made. “We believe we
have enough materials and supplies to operate (for the balance of the
school year), he noted.
After a conference with J. P. Timberlake, CPA, the superintendent
determined that some $73,905 in local funds remained in the current
budget. However, he said revenue is coming up short--to the tune of
$104,624. This would create the healthy deficit. It appeard that fines and
Something Missing
Regular readers of Hie Chowan
Herald will find a couple of things
missing in today’s edition. It in
volves court news.
Judge R. Michael Bruce of Mt.
Olive is presiding over a criminal
tom of Chowan County Superior
Court. Also, Judge Grafton
Beaman was in town Tuesday for
the regular weekly session of
District Court.
Neither proceedings are
reported because of space
requirements at the last minute.
We have learned on good authority
that Judge Bruce is a top sports
reporter so he will understand the
pressure on deadlines and space.
Both court proceedings will be
reported in full next week.
Getting Closer
Sec. Howard N. Lee of the State
Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development,
and Dr. Parker Chesson, chair
man, Coastal Resources Com
mission, are jubilant over a recent
decision by the U. S. Army Corps
of Engineers. The federal agency
will no longer require a separate
pWMfondredge airtttHrwwfc-fcr
coastal Tar Heelia.
This is a significant
breakthrough in permit
procedures for development
projects in the state’s coastal
waters and wetland areas. The
new procedure, the first of its kind
in the nation, means that most
projects which receive state
permission under the Coastal Area
Management Act will no longer be
required to obtain another permit
from the Corps of Engineers.
The one permit concept, then, is
getting closer. The federal
agency’s decision is a major
hurdle which observers over the
years called insurmountable. It is
a victory for property owners in
the 20-county Coastal Zone. It is a
victory for such advocates of
lessening the regulation maze as
Dr. Chesson and T. Erie Haste,
Jr., of Hertford of CRC, as well as
W. B. Gardner of Edenton and
Riley S. Monds, Jr., of Hertford,
two members of the Executive
Committee of the Coastal
Resources Advisory Council.
At a time when CAMA is headed
for another in a series of
legislative battles, the decision is
powerful ammunition for those
who must face special interest
groups. Regardless of what State
Sen. Melvin R. Daniels, Jr., of
Pasquotank County, may think,
CAMA is not a “no development”
law. This has been proven time
and time again.
Sec. Lee said, “This agreement
with the Corps of Engineers
testifies to the integrity and
strength of our state coastal
management program. This new
permitting procedure will give the
applicant a quicker, simpler
process to follow and eliminate the
necessity of obtaining multiple
permits for coastal development
projects.’’
The new procedure is expected
to reduce state and federal
jlMesshig time by an average of 7
to 14 days. That process presently
? takes about 75 days to obtain both
i permits.
“This action doesnet reduce an*
of ttie state or federal protection?
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Vol. XLVII - No. 6
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Tentative Ordinance Is Passed;
Cable System May Expand
Cable television would be of
fered in parts of rural Chowan
County under a tentative or
dinance passed Monday morning
by Chowan County com
missioners. The first area to be
served would be Cape Colony and
U. S. 17 north to Hertford.
The franchise would be awarded
to Albemarle Cable Telvision
under the ordinance. ACT already
has the franchise for Edenton and
is seeking the agreement with
Hertford and Perquimans County.
Chairman C. A. Phillips ap
peared disappointed that more
area could not be served initially.
However, Don Vicini of ACT said
every effort would be made to
serve other areas in the future.
Phillips said the only hope for the
county is to tie in with Edenton.
Hie cost of service, chosen
from three packages, would range
from $6.96 per month to $16.50 per
month.
Vicini said construction work by
the Erie, Pa., firm would begin in
Edenton in the next week.
County Manager Cliff Copeland
expressed doubt that another firm
would be interested in coming into
the county alone.
A second reading of the or
dinance is required in 30 days. If
the ordinance is adopted on
March 2 cable television could be
available to some rival residents
before those in Edenton. Hiis
prospect is because of con
struction being concentrated in
one area at a time.
Commissioner Alton G. Elmore
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forfeitures were considerably overestimated for budget purposes, for the
second consecutive year.
Timberlake, in reviewing the 197990 audit, pointed out that the schools
showed a $24,000 surplus at the end of the year. However, by law he was
required to restrict all but about SIOO of this amount.
In the October 6,1980, budget resolution, the board reflected a fund
balance appropriated of $70,000 which automatically created a $69,889
deficit because of what was actually available from the prior year.
“This deficit would need to have been covered through extra funds or
the budget would have to be reduced,” he said. He added that the budget
resolution is always based on estimates, but it requires careful
evaluation. This was discussed with Dr. Dunn at the auditor’s exit
conference, he said.
To compound the problem, he noted, is the fact that Chowan County
has the same type problem and at the same time the county is the
board’s primary source for local funds.
After Dr. Dunn had announced the freeze on spending local funds,
Timberlake explained that it is very important for the system to
maintain a fund balance of between $50,000 and $60,000. This, he said, is
necessary because of a trend more and more for the system to advance
money and then get reimbursed for the current expenses.
Chairman Eugene Jordan said: “I hope everyone understands we are
Thompson which would have an
indepth evaluation of the
Agricultural Extension program.
Thompson said if the board is
contemplating such a step he
would want to have it done before
he retires February 28.
Elmore said the board should
not limit the evaluation to the
Continued On Page 4
Mr. Tynch, 73
Died Saturday
Vaiden Elisha (Doc) Tynch, 73,
Route 3, Edenton, died Saturday
morning after an extended illness.
A native of Chowan County, he
was the husband of Mrs. Myrtle
Williams Tynch and a son of the
late Thomas Riddick and Roxie
Harrell Tynch.
He was a member of Edenton
Baptist Church and was a retired
fisherman and a member of the
Redmen.
Other survivors include two
daughters: Mrs. Guy Toppin and
Mrs. Thomas Perry both of
Edenton; one son, James Larry
Tynch of Edenton; one sister, Mrs.
Bailey Miller of Edenton; and four
grandchildren.
A funeral service was held
Monday at 11 A.M. in Edenton
Baptist Church by Dr. John Allen. .
Burial followed in Beaver Hill
Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Vernon
Barrow, Kenneth Tynch, Mika
Perry, Melvin Ray Miller, Ellis
Ray Tynch, and Willie SpruOl.
Swindell-Bass Funeral Home
was in charge of arrangements.
Edonton, North Corollno, Thursdoy, February 5, 1981
FIRST SNOW OF SEASON—There seems to be something
special about the first snow of the season. It happened here
Friday! As the sky darkened and a cold front moved through
Northeastern North Carolina, snow began to accumulate. Unlike
deep snow of last winter, this was merely a teaser. Saturday
morning dawned bright but these photographs were taken before
the melting process began. Two pretty scenes were Queen Anne
Park with the Barker House in the background across Edenton
Bay. The Cupola House is always a favorite and the white snow
created a contrast with the mustard color of the historic building.
(Staff photos by L.F.A.)
COA Gets Commendation
The impact of College of The
Albemarle in Elizabeth City was
shared Monday by Dr. Parker
Chesson, president in an ap
pearance before Chowan County
Board of Commissioners. Chowan
is one of seven counties in COA’s
service area and was a leader in
showing regional support in at
tracting a $l.B-million Economic
Development Administration
grant.
Chowan County contributed
$5,300 on a per capita basis to aid
COA’s capital project which has
resulted in a new campus on U. S.
17, north of Elizabeth City.
In a resolution unanimously
adopted, the local board cited 20
years of outstanding service by
COA and joined Gov. James B.
Hunt, Jr., in proclaiming 1981 as
The Year of the Community
College in North Carolina.
COA was the first community
college in the state, starting in
September, 1961 with 182 students
and five faculty members. The
college presently nas 1,159
curriculum students and a full
time faculty and staff of 107
persons. This represents a 12 per
cent increase in enrollment over
the 1979 winter quarter.
With the largest number of
counties and the largest
geographic service area of any
school in the community college
system, COA tailors its offerings
to meet the needs of the people of
this sparsely populated, rural
seven-county area,” Dr. Chesson
said. Approximately 7,900 people
took some type of class sponsored
by COA in 1979-80.
In 1979-80, 9 per cent of the
curriculum students were Chowan
County residents, according to Dr.
Chesson. The winter quarto- adult
education courses include 14
classes in Chowan. During the fall
quarter 318 residents were
enrolled in 21 adult education
classes. Mrs. Pauline Travis
worts as coordinator of the adult
education courses.
in this problem because of a shortfall in money coming in.”
Shortly, Dr. Dunn noted that it is time to begin the 1981-82 budget
process. It was decided to continue on the committee system which in
volves all board members in establishing priorities, etc.
Also, board members appeared upset that Chowan County Board of
Commissioners did not have the Naval Junior ROTC request on the
Monday agenda. Representatives of the two boards visited a project in
Norfolk last month and the school board had promised to reply to federal
officials by February 15.
The board authorized the superintendent to take whatever action
necessary after hearing from the county. Some $25,000 in local funds are
needed to start the program at John A. Holmes School.
In another matter, board members received a draft copy of the tri-
County Educational Center prospectus. Jordan said the Steering
Committee from Chowan, Gates, and Perquimans had done an excel
lent job. “The committee feels like in the long run it is going to do the
job for us,” he added.
Dr. Dunn announced that Chowan Junior High School is accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. White Oak School and
Edenton-Chowan Schools haved gained affiliated status. Dr. Dunn said
this is a result of reorganization.
Also, Chowan is one of two
counties in which COA has part
time supervisors of adult and
continuing education classes. Mrs.
Judy Earnhardt of Edenton works
in this area.
One of the two learning labs
operated by the college is in
Edenton.
Dr. Chesson also pointed out the
valuable service being rendered
by Jim M. Hare as a member of
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Dr. Parker Chesson
the COA Advisory Council, and J.
Gilliam Wood as a member of the
newly formed COA Foundation,
Inc.
Continued On Page 4
Savings And Loan
Finances Reported
“Although record high interest
rate made 1980 a difficult year, I
am happy to report that Edenton
Savings & Loan Association ended
the year in a strong financial
condition.”
This was the opening statement
of James C. (Pete) Dail,
president, at the annual meeting
of stockholders. He pointed out
that total assets on December 31.
Continued On Page 4
Single Copies 20 Contt.
State Reviews
; Demolition Plan
John A. Mitchener, 111, has filed
a Notice of Proposed Demolition of
< four buildings in Edenton’s central
I business district. The notice, as
filed with the Historic District
• Commission, includes three
buildings vacated by Rose’s and
one now occupied by Tarkington’s.
Ralph Parrish, zoning ad-
I ministrator, points out that the
I local ordinance does not prohibit
or restrict demolition of buildings !
in the historic district but does
I require a 90-day written notice, i
I Mitchener’s proposal has met 1
with concern from the Division of
Archives and History of the N. C.
Department of Cultural
Resources. In a letter dated
Janpary 2, Dr. Larry E. Tise,
director, said it is the opinion of
his staff that the demolition
“would have a serious adverse
effect on the character of down
town Edenton and on the Edenton
Historic District.”
Dr. Tise, who is no longer with
the department, suggested a false
front alternative to total
demolition or complete
rehabilitation. “Mr. Mitchener
could retain the facades of the
existing buildings and erect a new
two-story structure behind then,”
he wrote. “The upper portions of
the facades would have the ap
pearance of stage props without a
second story.”
In an earlier letter to local of
ficials, Mitchener pointed out the
importance of a viable central
business district. However, he
noted that the buildings under
consideration must be replaced if
the type tenant desired is at
tracted. Also, it was pointed out
that the second floor space is not
desirable to many tenants,
therefore, he would propose a one
story replacement for the existing
space.
Mitchener has agreed to
Continued On Page 4
Road Deleted
From Program
A rural unpaved road Chowan
County Board of Commissioners
sought to get on l the state’s
secondary road improvement
program has been deleted.
W. E. Moore of Plymouth,
district engineer, said the Lester
Lane Road (SR 1326) was to in
clude surveys, plans and right of
way acquisition in order that a
project for upgrading could -be
considered in a later program.
“When we attempted to start the
field survey, there was con
siderable protest from one
property owner who stated out
right they would not sign for a 60-
foot right of way,” according to
Moore. Other property owners
were then unable to work
something out.
Marc Bas night of Dare County,
a member of the State Board of
TTransportation, instructed the
district office to handle the matter
after Chowan officials expressed a
desire to have the road improved
by the state if it was possible.