^OVUTIQ^ O % \ m THE STATE PORT PILOT ^6-l9lfe Volume 47 Number 52 July 14, 1976 Southport, N. C. 20 Pages Today 10 Cents m Tax Money Involved In Courthouse Move By BILL ALLEN Staff Writer “A new centralized courthouse complex can be built without any tax money being spent.” The promise, made time after time prior to last summer’s referendum to relocate the Brunswick County courthouse, was proved to be false by the new 1976-77 budget. The new budget, adopted June 24, contains $2,213,440 in a Capital Reserve fund to use for Phase I constructiona t the complex site outside Bolivia. The funds are equivalent to 16.11 cents in tax rate. If the amount had been distributed in the budget the tax rate in Brunswick County would be 25.89 cents next year rather than the present increased rate of 42 cents. Some of the funds could have been used for needed improvements, such as new school construction, for example, and the rest could have been used to reduce the 42-cent tax rate. Commissioners themselves removed $92,560 from the Capital Reserve* fund to use to finish funding the Leland school. The transfer held the tax rate to 42 cents, which was up from 38.5 cents last year. However, the matter is largely academic now since Brunswick County residents, apparently believing the promises, voted more than 2 to 1 last July to relocate the courthouse complex to a central spot between Bolivia and Supply. The approved referendum contained deadlines to accomplish the move. “But it still does not change the fact that Brunswick County people will be paying higher taxes to move the courthouse,” one observer pointed out. “It is certainly not being done with no tax money being spent, as- we were promised.” The observer also questioned Phase I con struction projects and the large amount of the project to be done in Phase I. Phase I covers about 35 percent of the entire project. “Once Phase I is finished, Brunswick County will have three new jails and three new high schools,” he explained. “But the rest of the school buildings will continue to go downhill while we build the new jail.” Commissioner Ira Butler, Jr., made several requests before the new budget was adopted that the board delay for one year spending the projected $188,000 for the new administration building. He said delaying the construction one year would allow the county to lower the tax rate to 40.5 cents. Butler pointed out that his request was not designed to delay the entire project. The cour thouse facilities, the tax collector’s office and the tax supervisor’s office would still be built in Phase I, he noted. By BILL ALLEN Staff Writer City officials were in structed by the Southport Board of Aldermen on Thursday night to see if funds could be “found” to pay city employees more money this year. “We can come up with the money if we want to do it,” said Alderman Pierce Home, who made the original request that all employees be given a three- to five-percent increase. “It is thatsimple.” Alderman Harold Davis, agreeing with Horne, said it would cost the city about $25,000 to give employees a five-percent increase. He said the city could spend $20,500 if it wanted to give each employee a $500 bonus rather than a percentage raise. No city employee was given a raise in the 1976-77 budget. However, Recreation Director Gary Walker was given a $500 bonus since he i - ' .. does" not receive overtime pay Public Works Director Tom Roberts told the board that there was “uneasiness” in his department because em ployees knew Walker had received extra money in the budget while other employees did not receive raises. Mayor E.B. Tomlinson, Jr., said Walker was given a bonus because he is the only city employee who is not paid overtime. Robert said he would explain the situation to his employees. In other business, the board voted unanimously to make a $5,000 loan to “Revolution!” upon the condition that the outdoor musical drama stay in Southport in the future. Robert Britton, business manager, explained the financial situation facing “Revolution!” in making the request for the $5,000 donation. He said that it will cost a little more than $59,000 to produce “Revolution!” this Hospital Committee A steering committee to promote passage of an August 17 referendum in support of a Smithville Township hospital was named during a Tuesday night meeting at Long Beach. Members include Rosetta Short and Otto Maehl of Long Beach, Howard Pinkerton and Jackie Herring of Yaupon Beach, William Beasley and Jan Eaton of Caswell Beach and Margaret Connaughton and Cora Davis of South port. Ex officio members include mayors Harold Crain of Long Beach, Robert Jones of Caswell Beach and Eugene Tomlinson of Southport, and mayor pro-tem Louise Corbett of Yaupon Beach. Tlie steering committee will be responsible for advertising, telephone and house-to-house campaigns, etc., in preparation for the bond vote. Mayor Crain presided at the meeting, attended by approximately 30 persons. Voting Deadline Deadline for registering to vote in the August 17 primary elections and the Smithville Township hospital referendum is Monday, July 19. Information about voting requirements and places of registration is available from the Board of Elections office in Boliva. The South port - Oak Island Chamber of Commerce office (457-6964) may be contacted about how to register in the Oak Island and Southport I and II precincts. summer. He said $15,000 to $20,000 was needed to com plete financing of the the grounds at Ocean Trail Convalescent Center and earning Bicentennial badges. Members of j the troop are (left to right) Daniel Varnam, Billy Smith, Shawn Gore, Scott Powers, Mark Todd, Wayne Beck, David Lancaster and Gary Gore (kneeling). The youngsters cleaned the yards so the residents of Ocean Trail could sit under the shade trees, a spokesman noted. Board Favors Hospital Vote The board of directors for the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce has approved a resolution calling for the continued operation and expansion of Dosher Memorial Hospital. Citing the hospital as an incentive for citizens to vacation and live here and for industry to locate in the area, the board urged passage of an August 17 bond issue that would pay for the renovation of the facility. Following is the resolution draw by the chamber: “Whereas, the Southport-Oak Island area is popular as a resort and retirement community and citizens who vacation and live here have come to rely on convenient medical facilities; and “Whereas, much of the prosperity of Brun swick County and especially the Southport-Oak Island area can be attributed to the Carolina Power and Light Company and Pfizer plants which would not have located here if it had been for convenient medical facilities; and “Whereas, it is the desire of the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce to continue to attract vacationers, residents and businesses that will increase the prosperity of the county and the community ; and “Whereas, the Board of Directors of the South port-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce feels that such development of the recreational, residential and industrial communities will be greatly restricted if convenient medical facilities are not maintained; Now therefore, the Board of Directors of the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce approves a resolution calling for the continued services of, and improvements to, Dosher Memorial Hospital; and urges support of the bond referendum to support Dosher Memorial Hospital that will be decided Augusut 17.” Director Presents Dog Death Report By EMILY HIGHTOWER Staff Writer Reports of killing of dogs at a county landfill have been investigated, Yaupon Beach commmssioners were told Monday night. County Dog Control Director Ed Clemmons ap peared before the com missioners to respond to a letter they wrote him and to report generally on the operation of the dog pound. The board of com missioners wrote Clemmons May 18 to inquire whether dogs were being killed at the landfill. “There were dogs slain,” Clemmons said Monday. But he said the dogs had been released to the wardens by a Yaupon Beach resident in the presence of a local law of ficer. When a dog is released, dog control officers may put it up for adoption or may dispose of it if it is maimed or diseased. The resident later returned to claim her dog, Clemmons said. When she was told it had been destroyed, she adopted another dog from the pound. Clemmons told the board that his investigation had been thorough. “I did not attempt to cover-up anything,” he said. During a June 7 report to the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners on the same issue, Clemmons said, “I can assure you that it (killing dogs at a landfill) will not be repeated.” He also said the employees responsible had been reprimanded. Clemmons said Monday night the objectives of the county dog control program are to strengthen application of the state rabies control law and to protect humans, livestock and wildlife from uncontrolled dogs and from canine diseases. During the five months the dog pound has been open, Clemmons said, employees have handled more than 900 cases of unwanted dogs. Less than one percent of this number were dogs that had to be picked-up and were not. signed over by their owners, * he said. ; The pound has also dealt! with 30 to 35 dog bite cases, he? reported. The commissioners passed* a gun ordinance which! makes it illegal to discharged shotguns, rifles, pistols orJ explosive devices within the! town limits. £ Excepted are police or law! enforcement officers or* (Continued on page 2) ‘RevolutionV Special Next Tuesday and Wednesday will be “two for one” nights at “Revolution!” To express their appreciation to Brunswick County citizens who have worked for and with “Revolution!” the producers have authorized next week’s special. Anyone who clips the coupon published on page 6 in The State Port Pilot and buys (me reserved seat will get another seat free. Only one coupon may be redeemed per family. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Satur day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and l to 5 p.m.Sunday.