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'■^6-191® THE STATE PORT PILOT Volume 46 Number 36 March 26, 1975 Southport, N. C. 18 Pages 10 Cents Board Against Ward’s County Seat Move ' ’ V By BILL ALLEN The Brunswick County Board of Com missioners went on record opposing any move “at this time” to relocate the county seat and governmental offices to Supply during a special meeting at the Hood Building in Southport Tuesday night. The board voted unanimously to approve a resolution instructing Rep. Allen Ward “to with draw the introduction of such a bill or not to introduce such a bill at this time, as the case may be, concerning the relocation or the voting to relocate the county seat and county govern mental offices to Supply.” The resolution said the board “condemns the manner in which this matter has come to our "?■"/f- *y V ' ■ ' ■’ ’ } -• ;7 ■ attention, and the manner in which it has been pursued to the drafting and proposed in troduction or the introduction of such a bill.” It instructed Sen. Edd Nye to withdraw any and all support of the bill “contemplated or proposed to be introduced or which may have been introduced by Rep. Ward.” Copies of the resolution were to be sent to Sen. Nye and Rep. Ward, who were “instructed forthwith to cease the pursuit of such a bill and report the same to this boad.” £ The resolution, introduced by Commissioner Ira Butler, Jr., was approved without opposition after the words “at this time” were added. Butler said he had no objection to the three words being added. ■mnntri..r*ni—• r He said he wanted to introduce the resolution because he was “highly concerned” about reports that Rep. Ward planned to introduce a bill to relocate or to relocate the county seat and governmental offices in Supply. Chairman Franky Thomas asked Butler if the words “at this time” were included in the resolution or “does it lock the door on it?” Butler said he did not think the words “at this time” were included in the resolution. “I don’t want to jeopardize a move such as this at a later time if it is the will of the people,” Chairman Thomas declared. The chairman told his fellow commissioners and the 25 residents attending the meeting that a neighbor informed him Saturday night that Rep. Ward was planning to introduce the bill. “I do resent — not only as a member but as.;, chairman of the board — that I was not even considered a representative of the people,”'' Chairman Thomas celcared. “Nobody told me about it. I had to find out about it from a neigh bor.” He said he wanted it “clearly understood that tj in no way want to stand in the way of the people. of Brunswick County. I in no way want to hinder any action that they want to take because we are spokesmen and representatives of the people.”'^ Chairman Thomas said he wanted to make, some changes for the better made because. Brunswick County has a reputation across the. (Continued on Page 15) GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES for the City of South- breaking was on 9th Street leading to the new Southport ** port water, sewer and storm drainage project were held Primary School, where the sewer line will be extended first. Monday morning as aldermen and former Mayor Dorothy Water already has been provided for the new educational - Gilbert turned the first shovels of dirt. Site of the ground- facility. , • . ‘Everyone Will Be Heard’ Tax Hearings Are Extended The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners took action to “assure” residents that their tax questions will be answered. Tax Supervisor K.T. Bellamy was authorized to nm advertisements in the county newspapers to “educate” residents about tax valuation concerns. He also was authorized to hire additional personnel to provide service to residents who go to his office to check tax matters. Commissioner Ira Butler, Jr., said he believed that most people wanted to know if they would have a chance to appeal their valuations. Bellamy said he could "assure” residents that everyone would he heard. Bellamy announced that the informal hearings con ducted by Allied Appraisers are being extended until April 4. The hearings were scheduled to end Monday. He also announced that Easter Holiday Easter Monday will be a holiday for most office employees in Brunswick County, although the post offices will remain open. All county and city offices, the office of the clerk of court and all financial institutions will be closed. Historic sites at Brunswick Town and Fort Fisher will be open. School children will enjoy an 11 - day vacation, starting this afternoon and continuing through Monday, April 7. • ‘' Allied will hold hearings April 14-18 to hear only from officials of large industries, businesses and paper com panies. Bellamy reported that an average of 80 people a day are seeing Allied officials at the present time. The number is higher some days and lower other days, he pointed out. “We hope the one-week extension will give everyone a chance to see Allied of ficials,” Bellamy declared. “But we might have to extend it another week.” It was pointed out during the meeting that Monday, March 31, is the last day to list taxes in the county under state law without penalty. “We will list property after March 31,’’ Bellamy stated. “I would not charge a penalty, but that is up to the commissioners.” Emmitt Shugart of the Department of Revenue told the board that residents should list property even if they have questions about valuations. “When is a person lists property, he is actually listing ownership,” Shugart pointed out. “He is not listing accepted values. He can appeal the values at the (Continued On Page 4) Petitions Asking % Separate County Petitions calling for the division of Brunswick into two counties were placed in circulation Tuesday night. Southport Mayor E.B. Tomlinson, Jr., made the announcement during a special meeting of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners at the Hood Building. The announcement was made minutes after the board voted unanimously to express strong opposition to a bill to N relocate the county seat and county governmental offices in Supply “at this time.” The resolution, introduced by Commissioner Ira Butler, Jr., was approved after each commissioner had a chance to express his views. The words “at this time” were added with the approval of Butler. Commissioners were ob viously surprised when Mayor Tomlinson announced that petitions will be circulated to divide Brun swick into two counties. “My only comment would be ‘only in Brunswick County’,” said Chairman Franky Thomas. “I don’t have an official replay. It sort of leaves my spellbound.” Chairman Thomas asked if the other commissioner had any comment they would like to make. None of the other commissioners spoke out and the meeting quickly ended. “This resolution tonight by adding the words 'at this time’ just makes this another football and it can be brought up this year or next year or the next year,” Mayor Tomlinson declared. The mayor said he was presenting and circulating the petition “with a great deal of personal regret because this county has been my home since 1939. But I think at this time this petition must be tried with the people.” The petition requests that Brunswick be divided into two counties — Clarendon and Brunswick. Clarendon would include Smithville, Town Creek and Northwest townships and Brunswick would include Lockwood Folly, Shallotte and Wac camaw townships. “The purpose sought to be accomplished by the proposed division of Brun swick County into two new counties is the enhancement of the public good and the interests of the citizens of both areas through the creation of two new govern mental bodies which are responsive to local needs and desires,” the petition reads. “Creation of two new (Continued On Page 4) All County Artists Invited Bicentennial Art Show Planned Here On May 8 An exhibit of the work of county artists will be a feature of the opening event of the Brunswick County Bicentennial celebration. May 8 is the 200th an niversary of the arrival of the courier carrying the news of the Battle of Lexington to Brunswick County en route to Charlestown. The arrival of this courier at Brunswick Town is to be re-enacted with appropriate ceremonies, and the art exhibit will be an added at traction for visitors. This show will feature works depicting historic landmarks or subjects 1 relevant to Brunswick County’s growth and way of life. Open to all Brunswick County residents, including those who live here only in the summer, the exhibit deadline is May S. Information and entry blanks may be obtained from Leggett’s Gift Shop and the county Bicentennial of fice, 114 East Moore Street in Southport, and Thomas Hughes of Holden Beach. They may be obtained by mail or telephone from Mrs. J. Paul Sias, 107 North Atlantic avenue in Southport, telephone 4S7-S50S. Work should be delivered to the county Bicentennial office on Monday, May 5. All work, unless withdrawn. by the artist, will be shown*' later at other locations in the county. ‘This is a great opportunity for county artists to offer their work to the public on an historic occasion,” said Bette Leggett, co-chairman with Thomas Hughes of the county Bicentennial Art Shows, and president of the Associated Artists of Southport. "We hope that our members and all county artists will con tribute their talents to the first event of the Bicentennial celebration." Subdivision Rules Need Changing, Developers Say By BILL ALLEN Changes need to be made in the subdivision ordinance, members of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners were told during a public hearing Thursday night at the Courthouse in Southport. Ocean Isle Beach developer Odell Williamson, who said he represented other developers, proposed that more than a dozen changes be made in the ordinance the county needs in order to offer flood insurance. “I have never seen a bill or law that cannot be improved upon,” said Williamson, who has represented Brunswick County in the General Assembly in the past. “We think our amend ments will make it a better ordinance since we will be able to live with it.’’ Williamson and O’Neil Caison discussed each of the proposed changes at the hearing with County Planner Johnny Sutton and members of the Board of Commissioners and the county Planning Board. The public hearing was called to discuss the subdivision and building registration or dinances. About 25 citizens attended the hearing, which lasted about two hours. Sutton said that the federal government requires that a county enforce subdivision and building registration laws in order to make flood insurance available. The insurance is required on all home loans made in flood - prone areas, which includes most of Brunswick County. While the subdivision ordinance was discussed in detail at the hearing, no one had anything to say about the proposed building registration ordinance. Planning Board Chairman Ed Gore said it was strange that no one had anything to say about the building registration ordinance, which affects all construction in the county. Chairman Franky Thomas announced before the hearing began that the board would make “nodecision” Thursday night. After the hearing, the commissioners held a special meeting to transact business. The board voted on a split decision to award the contract for the 201 study of the waste water, sewage disposal system in the western end of the county to the engineering firm of Pierson and Whitman. Commissioner Steve Varnam, Jr., who made the motion, pointed out that Pierson and Whit man is familiar with the county since the firm is doing consulting engineering work on the water system. Commissioner Ira Butler, Jr., voted in op position. He said he was impressed with the presentation made by four firms, including Pierson and Whitman, at the meeting last Tuesday. He said he “particularly liked” the presentation made by Henry Von Olsen of Wilmington. The board voted unanimously to allow the library board to add death benefits for em ployees under the state retirement system. Butler noted that the employees have not received death benefits. The board voted unanimously to hire a sur veyor to plot land for the proposed boat ramp on the Brunswick River. In answer to a question, County Manager Neil (Continued On Page Two)
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