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.

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view