P8/CS “ * * **CAR-RT LOT * *C 002 AO 113 sH• Vh-srd pruden library 106 W WATER ST EDENTON NC 27932-1854 Wednesday, December 16, 2015 Community honors veterans In weekend ceremony — 6B School system cash reserves still lagging BY REGGIE PONDER Editor The financial reserves of the Edenton-Chowan Schools continue to lag behind the state-recom mended figure despite the school system's strides the past two years in slashing the amount it appropriates from its fund balance. According to a report by Donna Winbome, who audits the local school system's finances, the Edenton-Chowan Board of Education’s governmental funds reported a combined fund balance of $1,727,903, a $59,315 decrease over last year. The board’s Gen eral Fund had expendi tures and other uses that exceeded revenues and other financing sources. Winbome said the finan cial report for the year end ing June 30, 2015, reflects an “unmodified opinion” - what previously was known as an “unqualified opinion” - which is the highest opinion an auditor can give. The report noted the un assigned fund balance was $651,933. Winbome point ed out this was the second lowest unassigned fund balance in the 10 years she has been doing the report for the school system. According to Winbome’s report, the board’s govern mental funds reported a combined fund balance of $1,727,903, a $59,315 de crease over last year. The board’s General Fund had expenditures and other uses that exceeded rev enues and other financing sources. Winbome said the finan cial report for the year end ing June 30, 2015, reflects an “unmodified opinion” - what previously was known as an “unqualified opinion” - which is the highest opinion an auditor can give. The report noted the un assigned fund balance was $651,933. Winbome point ed out this was the second lowest unassigned fund balance in the 10 years she has been doing the report for the school system. Winbome presented the annual financial report at the board’s Dec. 1 meet ing. The financial report in cludes a statement from the school system’s ad ministration regarding the district’s financial outlook. “The ongoing fiscal difficulties and the loss of revenue from state, See RESERVES, 4A "lam very proud of the fiscal conservatism shown by this board and by our staff. In addition to cutting over $400,000 from the budget; we were able to add $427,337 to our undesignated fund balance." Rob Jackson Schools superintendent BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer The annual Christmas Candlelight Tour was a big success and the unexpect edly warm weather brought out large numbers of locals <md visitors to ei\joy the self-guided tour of homes, organizers said. “This was the third best in terms of tickets sold that we’ve had in the tour’s id year history,” said Gregg Nathan, executive director of the Edenton Historical Commission, which spon sors the event. “I’ve gotten great comments; I think people really enjoyed them selves." Nathan said that the number of attendees had declined slightly over last year’s tour that included the historic Wessington House and had t he advantage of be ing able to use a port ion of a two-year $150,000 Golden Leaf tourism grant to help promote the tour and other holiday marketing. Nancy Nicholis said that the Tour ism Development Authority carried out the marketing cooperatively with the EHC aid Destination Downtown Edenton. But EHC President Sally Francis Kehayes said that even though the crowd may have been slightly smaller the beautiful weather had brought smiles to the faces of those taking the tour. See CANDLELIGHT, 4A STAFF PHOTO BY REBECCA BUNCH Guests admire the Christmas items in the gift shop at the Penelope Barker House Welcome Center on Friday, the first day of the Candlelight Tour. Agencies seek to avoid involuntary commitments BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer A conversation between agencies involved in the in voluntary commitment of tire mentally ill in Chowan County Ls helping to create a road map for helping them avoid that fate. Steps in tire process would include getting an area Mobile Crisis team in volved at an earlier stage and easing the burden on the emergency room at Vidant Chowan Hospital. Playing a key role would be the development of a Mo bile Medication Program in 6 0 >.2009 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved the community. Betsy Johnstone of Eden ton, who heads the Albe marle chapter of NAMI (Na tional Alliance on Mental Illness), said a key question raised during the meeting was, “what kind of follow-up cam be done with individuals when they are discharged from psychiatric hospitals so that they (continue tak ing) their medicatioas mid avoid recurring crisis and readmission?” Johnstone noted that there were two avenues to pursue as conversations and collaboration between agencies continue. The first Is to liave law enforcement officers give family mem bers Mobile Crisis contact information and have them contact the agency before See INVOLUNTARY, 3A Panel backs tighter setbacks in wind rule BY PETER WILLIAMS The Perquimans Weekly The Perquimans County Plan ning Board is recommending tighter restrictions on wind power facilities, hut not the one-mile set backs that some opponents want. The recommendation would require a half-mile setback from any residence. The setbacks from property lines and roads would remain as they are - two and half times the height of the wind tur bine, or about 1,500 feet or about three-tenths of a mile. A subcommittee of the planning board was recommending the half mile setback include the nearest property line or right-of-way, not just a half-mile to the nearest ad dress. “I’m not against the project, but I’m listening to citizen’s concerns,” said Brenda Lassiter, a planning board member who served on the subcommittee. “I felt like we’ve comprised and it wouldn't kill the project.” The planning board consists of Paul Kahl, Lewis Smith, Donald Manley, A.O. Roberts and Lassiter. Kahl said he did not vote because as a rule the chairman only votes in the ease of a tie. A.O. Roberts opposed the motion. The planning board was asked to review the Perquimans ordi nance after crowds packed county commission meetings calling for tighter rules. If adopted, the new rules should not impact the Iberdrola wind power project in Perquimans/Pas quotank counties. It would affect the proposed Apex Clean Energy project that would span the Perqui mans/Chowan County line. Apex has not formally sought a condi See SETBACKS, 2A Ferraraccio, Bonner file for county seats BY REGGIE PONDER Editor Commissioner Greg Bonner has filed for reelection in the 3rd District and Brian Ferraraceio has filed to run at-large. Bonner, a Democrat, is the first candidate to file in the district. Ferra raccio, a Republican, also is the first candidate to file at-large. “I have decided to run for county com missioner because there are still many things that need to be done in Chowan County,” said Ferra raccio, who mounted an unsuccessful bid last year to unseat Commissioner John Mitdhener in the FERRARACCIO BONNER 2nd District. “One tiring that needs to be done is better transpar ency,” Ferraraccio said. “I, along with many other citizens, find the board’s lack of transparency very See COUNTY SEATS, 3A “Come Join Us As We Celebrate Our Lord's Birth" ST. PAUL’S, 101 W. GALE ST. The Rev. J. Malone Gilliam, Rector St. Paul’s Episcopal Church invites you to our CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES 5:30 PM FAMILY SERVICE 10:30 PM SPECIAL MUSIC 11:00 PM CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE The Rev. Dr. Rob MacSwain | 1Q:QQ AM

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