Volume 62/ Number 12
Southport, N.C.
November 11,1992 / 50 cents
COUNTY CHAMPIONS
West Brunswick advanced to the state 2A playoffs Friday night by
virtue of its 22-0 win over South Brunswick, and also got to take home
Photo by Ld Harper
the spoils of victory: the Pilot Trophy, symbolic of Brunswick County
football supremacy; and bragging rights for the coming year.
Health fee schedule is revised
By Holly Edwards
County Editor
While admitting that raising prices
may not be fair for everyone, the
health board unanimously agreed
Monday night to implement fee in
creases in several health department
programs, including pregnancy tests
and flu vaccinations.
The board also agreed to support
the recommendations of David M.
Griffith and Associates' (DMG) time
management study, which said the
agency needs an additional animal
controlofficerand public health nurse.
Board member Bill Rabon pointed
out that the fee increases would es
sentially ask the people who use the
environmental health program to sub
sidize those who use health programs.
But, he added, one of the functions of
the health department is to help people
who cannot help themselves.
'The fairness of it is not right, but I
don t know what else we can do.... We all
pay tax dollars to try to supplement ade
quate health care.’
Skip Davis
Board chairman
Chairman Skip Davis agreed.
"The fairness of it is not right, but I
don't know what else we can do to be
fair to everyone," Davis said. "We all
pay tax dollars to try to supplement
adequate health care."
In a tight economy the health de
partment needs to be more self-suffi
cient, he said, but it should not raise
fees so much that people can no longer
use the agency's services. The fee
changes will go into effect on Decem
ber 1.
Despite the increases, health direc
tor Michael Rhodes said the depart
ment will maintain its policy of pro
viding services to everybody, regard
less of their ability to pay.
"If people can’t pay. we still give
the service. We just say the next time
you come in. please pay," Rhodes
said.
The price of a flu vaccination was
increased from $4 to S5. and the price
of a pregnancy test was increased
from $3.50 to $10. However, teens
will still be able to get free pregnancy
tests.
The board also approved fee in
creases fora variety of other services,
including septic tank site evaluations,
water sampling, cholesterol screen
ing and animal adoptions.
Although it costs the county $209
per animal bite investigation and
$1,445 per animal cruelty investiga
tion, the DMG study revealed, the
board agreed to continue to provide
these services for free.
Sheriff; deeds office get salary funds
By Holly Edwards
County Editor
Brunswick County commissioners have recommended about
$58,OCX) in addition^ funding for salary increases in the sheriffs
department and about $11,000 in additional funding for salary
increases in die register of deeds office, about double what each of
these departments had origtnaBy expected to get.
The sheriff and register of deeds -«■ both of whom are elected
officials - were recommended to receive no salary increases.
Sheriff John Carr Davis said he has not seen the commissioners'
final recommendations and therefore could not say whether or not
he would implement them, But he added that be was pleasedwith
anything be could get.
Tm certainly not going to turn down any raises we can get,"
Davis stud. T understand the lower-salary people wiU be raised up
to the minimum level, and that's really where we need it Hopefully
this will make us more competitive with other counties."
The sheriff and register of deeds opted not to take part in the
county’s employee classification and salary study because they said
commissioners were using the studies for political reasons. In June,
alicounty departments were givena 2J>-percentincrease in funding
for salaiy increases. The sheriffs department and register of deeds
office were promised at least an additional 2.5 percent when the
salary study was completed.
However, the sheriffs department will be given about a five
percent increase tot funding, and the register of deeds office will be • ••
given an additional six percent As in other county departments,
commissioners recommended that the additional funds he used to
bring all employees working for sub-standard wages up to the
minimum tevel.andtoawarda2.5-percent raise to those employees
who have been working at or above the state average.
However, register,of deeds Robert Robinson said he was not
See Salary, page 6
Schools' air
quality poor,
not dangerous
By Marvbeth Bianchi
Feature Editor
Indoor air quality is poor at several
Brunswick County schools.
It's bad enough to cause allergic
reactions but not so bad that it will
cause illness. And it won't be easy or
inexpensive to remedy.
That was the latest word Monday
night from William Service, an indus
trial hygiene consultant with the N. C.
Department of Human Resources,
who spent a day and a half surveying
three schools.
Addressing concerns voiced by
parents, teachers, administrators and
school board members. Service said
he did not identify any illnesses "di
rectly attributable” to poor air quality,
but he said the biological contami
nants found in Lincoln Primary.
Leland Middle and Southport Elemen
tary schools could aggravate upper
respiratory allergies in children and
teachers who spend the day in that
environment.
"All the schools I looked at are
safe," Service assured those crowded
into the board room. The problem is
with biological irritants, which are
not carcinogenic; when the irritants
are removed the symptoms will abate.
‘Air quality in
schools tends not to
be great. What
you're seeing is an
elevation of con
taminants that are
already there.’
William Service
Hygiene consultant
he explained.
"Air quality in schools tends not to
be great," he said, and Brunswick
County schools are no exception.
"What you're seeing is an elevation
of contaminants that are already
there."
These contaminants include fungi
and bacteria, which thrive in moisture
and high humidity, and dust mites,
tiny arachnids that live in carpeting,
all of which create irritants that pro
See Schools' air, page 6
ila teosto ryT p a gel?
Health personnel
policy needs work
By Holly Edwards
County Editor
The Brunswick County Health Department's personnel policy is out
of date and has caused the agency problems for years, a representative
from the state personnel office told the board of health Monday night.
weve Known us oeen a
need in Brunswick County for
a long time," Sylvia Johnson
told the board. "But it only be
comes a problem when you
have to dismiss someone, and
then it's too late."
The health department uses
the county's personnel policy,
and Johnson said it is usually
the county manager's responsi
bility to periodically review and
update the policy.
Johnson agreed toreview the
policy at the board's request
and make recommendations for
‘...it only becomes
a problem when you
have to dismiss
someone, and then
it’s too late.’
Sylvia Johnson
State personnel office
improvement. However, sne said it wouta oe aiiiicutt to get tne county
commissioners to implement a new policy.
Former health department employee Zelma Babson is currently
See Policy, page 6
OUTSIDE
I-*—I rntmuaaommsBasssM
Forecast
The extended forecast
calls for variable cloudi
ness on Thursday with
highs in the 70s. On Fri
day expect showers with
highs in the 60s and lows
in the SOs. Partly cloudy
skies are forecast for Sat
urday with highs in the
SOs and lows in the 40s.
Cold weather arrives Sun
day, with highs in the 40s
and lows near freezing.
Tide table
HIGH LOW
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12
8:51 am. 2:34 am.
9:09 p.m. 3:17 pm.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13
9 36 am. 3:19 am.
9:57 pm. 402 pjn.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14
10:26 un. 407 un.
10:51 pm. 4-51 pm.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15
11:21 ajn. 5:00 ajn.
11:51pm. 5:45 pm.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16
— am. 5:59 a.m.
12:19 p.m. 6:44 pm.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17
12:58 am. 704 am.
1:20 pm. 7:44 pjn.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER IS
203 am. 8:11 am.
2:22 pm. 8:43 pm.
The following adjustment! should be made:
Bald Head bund, high -10, low -7; Caswell
Beach, high -5, low -1; Southpoft, high +7,
low +15; Yaupon Beach, high -32, low -45:
Lockwood Folly, high -22, low -8.