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
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>.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