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Volume 47 Number 17 November 12, 1975 Southport, TV. C. .20 Pages 10 Cent$
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THE ORAL HISTORY project sponsored by the Brunswick Cointy
Bicentennial Commission is getting underway, and one of the first ta.be
interviewed for her remembrances of old Southport and Brunswick County
is Miss Annie Mae Woodside, former county Superintendent of Schools.
Doing the interview is Mrs. Mary Gornto, executive director of the county
Commission. f
Future Growth Policies
Are Okayed By Board
The Brunswick County
Board of Commissioners
approved future policies and
objectives after recognizing
existing problems and issues
during a special meeting last
week.
County Planner Johnny
Sutton told the board that the
Coastal Management Act
requires that counties adopt
policies and goals based on
tne views of citizens.
Sutton said that the policies
and goals will be the basis for
the land use map for the
county. He said he planned to
present the map to the county
Planning Board tonight
(Wednesday) and to the
commissioners on Monday.
Basically, the com
missioners voted un
animously Tuesday to
approve the policies and
goals first pointed out by
citizens in the public opinion
questionnaires and recom
mended by the Township
Advisory Committees and the
Planning Board.
Most of the recom
mendations were approved
without change by the
commissioners following
discussion. However, com
missioners did change some
of the recommendations.
Commissioners Steve
Varnam, Jr., and Ira Butler,
Jr., expressed concern about
the recommended policy that
the “county should encourage
and call for a referendum on
ABC stores and beer sales at
Consolidation Charter
Wishes Are Reported
By BILL ALLEN
Results of a town charter
survey were reviewed during
public meeting of the Long
Beach - Yaupon Beach
Consolidation Commission
Tuesday night at the Yaupon
Beach Fire Department.
Commission Member May
Barbee reported that 94
copies of the survey, signed
by 104 persons, were returned
tallied. She said that five
persons wrote on the survey
that they were opposed to
merger.
Chairman Hannon Tem
pleton said that the results of
Island Starts
On Road Back
Bruce MacLeod, appointed several weeks ago
as receiver for Carolina - Cape Fear Cor
poration, announced this week that the first
important step in efforts to restore the
development firm to a position of financial
stability has been accomplished with the
payment of all unsecured debts against the
corporation, amounting to over $70,000.
MacLeod stated that all creditors accepted his
offer of 50 cents on the dollar and have received
their payments.
“Many of these people expressed confidence in
the future of Bald Head Island as a resort
development,” MacLeod said, “and most of
them have indicated they wish to continue in
their role of suppliers of materials and service.
They elected to settle at the sub-par figure in
order to avoid delay which would have been
brought on had they awaited the outcome of
lengthy legal actions.”
MacLeod reported that engineers still are at
work trying to develop plans for the marina on
the island at a projected cost that is within
reason. He admitted that this facility, along with
a reliable source of electricity, are the two most
important problems to be solved before building
and development plans will be able to follow the
projected timetable.
MacLeod said he has been encouraged by the
continued, serious interest in the island, not only
by the more than 400 property owners but by
prospective purchasers who have indicated their
desire to buy and build.
the survey, as well as other
information gathered, will be
presented to Institute of
Government officials, who
will write charter of the
proposed new town.
“By no means does this
(survey) finalize thoughts on
this matter,” Chairman
Templeton told the 20
residents attending the public
meeting.
Yaupon Beach Com
missioner Bill Smalley
questioned the results of the
survey, which he said
reflected the views of only
about 10 percent of the
registered voters of Long
Beach and Upon Beach.
“It is a rigged survey since
opposition (to the merger)
can’t be expressed,” Smalley
declared.
Chairman Templeton said
that Smalley was “out of
order” making the statement
since the commission was
only trying to gather facts
about proposed merger.
Later in the meeting,
Chairman Templeton said
that Smally did not provide
any input on the survey. He
said that Smalley wrote on
the survey that “it is a waste
of taxpayers money.”
Smalley admitted that he
wrote the statement that
merger would be waste of
money “at this time.” He
said he had made his views
public about his opposition.
“I will not debate the issue
since we are only gathering
facts,” Chairman Templeton
told Smalley.
Smalley asked that the
number of responses from
Long Beach and Yaupon
Beach be tallied. Chairman
Templeton said the request
would be considered.
Most of the discussion at
the hearing Tuesday centered
about the means of electing
board members. A total of 49
persons, or 47 percent, said
(Continued on page 4)
a general election.”
“I would endorse a petition
submitted by the people, but I
would do nothing to en
courage it,” Varnam
declared. “I think people
should have the right to vote
on it if they want it.”
After more discussion, the
recommendation was
changed to say that the
“county will work to call for a
referendum of ABC stores
and beer sales at a general
election if proper petitions
are submitted by the people.”
The board approved a list
of 22 future growth policies to
use as a guide for future
county development. “These
policies will be the basis for
future county plans, decisions
and activities,” Sutton
pointed out. “Future plans
and activities will be
designed to implement these
policy statements.”
The county wide future
growth policies adopted by
the board include:
“1. Brunswick County will
follow a “Compact Growth
Policy” that allows existing
areas under development to
develop fully before ex
pansion into new areas, and
new development will occur
as an expansion of existing
fully developed areas.
Engineer Firm Has
Ties With Watergate
By BILL ALLEN
Staff Writer
The firm tentatively
awarded the contract to
provide engineering and
architectural services of the
new Brunswick County
courthouse complex was
convicted of making illegal
campaign contributions
during the Watergate
scandals, The Pilot learned
this week.
LBC&W, Inc., of Columbia,
S.C., pleaded guilty of one
count of violating the law
concerning illegal con
tributions by a government
contractor.
William Lyles, Sr.,
chairman of the board and
president of LBC&OW,
pleaded guilty to two counts
of non-willful violation of the
law about making illegal
campaign contributions.
LBC&W, Inc., and Lyles
pleaded guilty to making
illegal contributions totaling
“at least” $17,000 to the 1972
campaign of President
Prichard M. Nixon, according
to U.S. District Court records
in Washington, D.C. The
contributions were made in.
violation of Sections 611 and
610, Title 18, United States
Code.
The Pilot had heard rur
mors that LBC&W was
convicted in connection with
the Watergate scandal. The
rumor was confirmed by
Daniel Rosenblatt of the
Watergate Special
Prosecution Force of the
United States Department of
Justic of Washington, D.C.
“The architectural firm of
LBC&W, Inc., pleaded guilty
to charges of making illegal
campaign contributions on
September 17, 1974,”
Roseblatt told The Pilot.
“The case came within the
jurisdiction of the Watergate
Special Prosecution Force.”
The Brunswick County
Board of Commissioners has
voted twice in the last two
months to award the contract
for architectual services on
the courthouse complex to
LBC&W.
The county and the firm
will sign contracts for the
architectural and engineers
services on the courthouse
complex “contingent upon a
satisfactory contractural
agreement being work but. ’ ’
Senior Vice-President John
Bordeaux has said that
LBC&W is willing to
negotiate a fee between five
and six percent of the total
project cost. Estimated costs
of the courthouse complex
range between $4 for $10
million.
Many questions have been
asked about why the board
voted to voted the contract
for the courthouse compolex
to a Columbia, S.C., firm
(Continued on page 2)
Begin In December
Southport officials chosen in the Nov. 4 general
election will take their seats on the Board of
Aldermen at the first meeting in December,
according to Mayor Eugene Tomlinson.
Tomlinson said there has been some confusion
about when the new terms start. Newcomers to
the board are Bill Furpless from Ward II and
Mrs. Dorothy Gilbert from Ward I.
Re-elected were the mayor, Ward I Aldermen
Mary McHose and Pierce Horne and Ward II
Alderman Harold Davis. The term of Conley
Koontz in Ward II expires in two years.
“2. Brunswick County will
in addition follow where
applicable a policy of'
“Compact Growth within
existing service corridors.”
This policy will allow existing
areas under development
and areas in existing service
corridors to fully develop
before expansion into new
areas, and new development
will occur as an expansion
from these fully developed
areas.
“3. Urban growth and
development will be
programmed to occur where
adequate services are
available or planned.
“4. Growth and develop
ment will be discouraged in
areas where septic tanks will
not function and sewer ser
vice is not available.
“5. Growth and develop
ment will be discouraged in
areas where soils will not
support buildings.
“6. Growth and develop
ment will be discouraged in
productive agricultural lands
and productive forest lands
when such growth is not in
accordance with the Compact
and Corridor Growth Policies
(land 2 above).
“7. Brunswick County will
encourage a variety of
housing types including
single family, duplex, low -
profile apartments and high -
rise apartments. Apartments
including low - profile and
high - rise will be restricted to
low density with
requirements for provision of
open space to be main
tained perpetually. Apart
ments will, however, be
permitted only where the full
range of urban services are
provided.
“8. Brunswick County will
encourage a balanced growth
(Continued on page 2)
More Names Sought
For Leland District
Leland Sanitary District
Committee members turned
in petitions Nov. 5 required in
order to form a sanitary
district, but J.W. Johnson,
Jr., chairman of the com
mittee, said that more time is
needed to work on the project
to assure enough signatures.
“Since a large number of
residents are not familiar
with the details and would
like to ask questions,
members of the committee
will be at the Parker’s Food
Store on Friday and Satur
day, Nov. 14 and 15. If you are
a landowner and have not
signed the petition, you may
do so at this time since it is
very hard to contact
everyone on the door - to -
door canvass that is being
done at the present time,”
Johnson said.
Signing the petition does
not require you to purchase
the water,” he explained,
“but everyone who hooks - on
at the time the lines are in
stalled will have a nominal
fee to pay and persons
hooking - on at a later date
will have a much larger bill
due to increased costs of the
tap on.
“Some pec pie in the Leland
area have very good water,
but as a whole the water must
have a conditioner to make it
suitable for household use.
“Even a person does not
desire the water for his or her
personal use the community
will benefit from having the
water and will have better
fire protection with the use of
fire hydrants, which will be
available for everyone,”
Johnson added.
“The fire department will
certainly benefit since most
of the water is obtained from
DuPont and it could mean the
difference in saving a house
or any burning structure,” he
noted.
If you cannot come to
Parker’s on these dates,
please call Mrs. Jennie Mintz
at 371-3964 and someone will
be able to contact you. Please
help us to help you have the
water available when you do
need it,” he concluded.
Lons Beach Totals $80-Million Base
By BILL ALLEN
Staff Writer
Long Beach has a total 1975
tax base of $80,032,136.
The announcement was
made by Town Manager John
Berry during the regular
monthly meeting of the Long
Beach Board of Com
missioners Thursday night at
Town Hall.
Berry said the $80-million
tax base is based on the total
amount of the tax notices
mailed to Long Beach
residents and property
owners this year.
In other business, the board
took action to begin “con
crete” plans to construct a
water system in Long Beach.
The board voted
unanimously to enter into “a
mutually • accepted written
contract” with Pierson &
Whitman of Raleigh to
provide engineering services
for the construction of a
phased water system within
the financial means of the
town.
The action was taken after
Commissioner Russell
Morrison told the board that
the “time has come to start
moving on the water
ssystem,” which has been
under discussion for years.
Berry reported that Far
mers Home Administration
officials have recently
contacted the town to see if
Long Beach was still in
terested in the proposed
water system. Morrison
noted that FHA has “$2.9
million set aside to start the
water system” at Long
Beach.
After briefly reviewing the
contract, Commissioner Ellis
Dudley expressed concern
that Pierson & Whitman
planned to charge the town
eight percent for engineering
services. He said the figure
was six percent the last time
the contract was discussed.
“I can’t swallow eight
percent,” Dudley declared.
“They (Pierson & Whiteman)
are only being paid 5.5 per
cent for Phase II work on the
county water system.”
Town Attorney James
Prevatte, Jr., who works
closely with the county water
system since he is also the
county attorney, agreed with
Dudley.
Prevatte said the eight
percent charge is “somewhat
high. It is higher than I am
accustom to seeing. ’ ’
Prevatte suggested that the
board hold a special meeting
with Pierson & Whitman
officials tq discuss the
proposed fee as soon as
possible. Board members
agreed with the town at
torney.
Berry told Commissioners
Nancy Leggett and Dudley
that he did not believe a letter
of intent would satisfy FHA
officials, who want the town
to “move” on the water
system. He pointed out that
the board approved prac
tically the same resolution at
the April 23,1975 meeting, but
nothing happened.
“FHA wants to see con
crete action and not a letter of
intent,” Berry told the board.
“They want us to make a
move,” Morrison added.
However, the board voted
unanimously to notify FHA
about the approved motion at
the request of Dudley.
Berry told the board that he
had contacted the U.S,
Bureau of the Census to
determine how much it will
cost to have an official
population count made at
Long Beach.
The town manager con
tacted the Department of
Administration after Powell
Bill funds were “drastically”
(Continued on page 2)