INSIDE
Volume 62/ Number 35
Southport, N.C.
April 21,1993/ 50 cents
Auditorium
contractor
in default
By Marybeth Bianchi
Feature Editor
The construction of the Odell
Williamson Auditorium has hit yet
another snag.
At their meeting Thursday night,
the Brunswick Community College
Board of Trustees voted to declare the
general contractor, HatcherConstruc
tion Co. of Fayetteville, in default of
its contract and directed the bonding
company, ITT Hartford, to complete
the $3.2-million project.
Despite Joe Hatcher's contention
that "we're the people who can give
you the building the quickest and we
are prepared to do that,” the board,
upon the recommendation of Boney
Architects, decided someone else
should take over the job that was
originally scheduled for completion
‘In spite of all our
efforts, the con
tractor has once
again failed to com
plete the project
when he promised.’
Charles Boney
on October 24,1992.
Hatcher had been given an exten
sion to December 10, and in February
was given 15 days to complete a list of
specific items toward completion.
While the trustees seemed pleased
with the progress that was being made
at that time, Hatcher failed to substan
tially complete the work for a final
inspection on April 13. according to a
letter submitted totheboardby Boney
Architects.
"In spite of all our efforts, the con
tractor has once again failed to com
plete the project when he promised,"
Charles Boney wrote in an April 13
letter to trustees.
Because of "the failure to diligently
See Auditorium, page 6
Related story, page 3
Photo by Jim Harper
A great blue heron prepares to leave his perch in search of breakfast
in an early Southport morning last week.
County smoking lamp still lit
By Terry Pope
County Editor
A second vote is needed before commissioners can
adopt an ordinance that prohibits smoking in county
owned buildings, including the government center at Bo
livia.
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners voted
4-1 Monday, with Donald Shaw voting no, to approve an
amended version recommended by the board of health.
The health board also wanted to prohibit smoking in
county-owned vehicles, but that section was deleted.
No action was taken on another ordinance aimed at
restaurants and retail stores in unincorporated areas of the
county. One adopted by commissioners would only be
effective outside town limits, but the health board has
authority to adopt rules to include the entire county.
"It would be leaving out the most important areas of the
county, if people are really concerned about smoke," said
commissioner Jerry Jones. "Most of the restaurants are
within town limits."
The new version of the ordinance voted on Monday also
lists penalties for violators, including disciplinary action
See Smoking, page 6
Tie-in with Yaupon
Long Beach ponders
sewer for developers
By Holly Edwards
Municipal Editor
After hearing several complaints
from town residents, including a
recitation of the Declaration of Inde
pendence, the Long Beach Town
Council decided Tuesday night to
move forward with its negotiations
with the Town of Yaupon Beach to
extend sewer service to potential
Long Beach developers.
Town manager Tim Johnson and
council members Bill Easley and
David Durr have met twice with
Yaupon Beach engineering consul
tant Finley Boney, and have come
up with a number of recommenda
tions that would essentially hand all
sewer-related costs to the devel
opers. Council members agreed to
discuss the proposal with the devel
opers before making a final deci
sion.
If the recommendations are ap
proved, developers would be
responsible for the design and devel
opment of sewer lines, they would
be required to submit a bond equal
to 115 percent of the total construc
tion costs, to cover any defects, and
they wouU be required to pay a
$2,000 set-up charge, 125 percent of
Yaupon Beach’s current treatment
costs, $200 for each day of construc
tion to cover the costs of a field in
spcctor, and all federal, state and lo
cal permit fees.
"If the developers don’t accept our
recommendations, then we’re back
at ground zero," said council mem
ber Jeff Ensminger.
St. James By-the-Sea developers
Jim Wright and John Atkinson at
tended the meeting, but would not
say whether or not the recom
mended fees were reasonable.
"We don’t want to say anything
until we get it all worked out," At
kinson said. "We’re just glad they’re
cooperating with us."
If the tov/n council does not allow
developer s to hook onto the sewer
See Long Beach, page 14
Democrats in control
but hard work urged
^oneyjCheers-.
'new chairman
for Brunswick
By Holly Edwards
Municipal Editor
Newly-elected Brunswick County
Democratic Party chairman Roney
W. Cheers Jr. told his fellow Demo
crats Saturday afternoon that above
everything he wants to see his party
unite locally in support of their com
mon cause - to keep Democrats in
office.
"Right now, Democrats are to a
great extent in control. But we can't
get complacent," Cheers warned. "The
very minute you think you've got it
knocked, that's when you're heading
downhill."
But, he added, when it comes to the
residents of Brunswick County, his
interest is in helping everyone, Demo
crats and Republicans alike.
"Ill be working for the betterment
of all people in the county,” he said.
"But I'll need help. I can't do it alone."
Cheers has been a member of the
Shallotte Board of Aldermen for ten
years, and served as a justice of the
peace for six years, a magistrate for
20 years and as mayor of Shallotte for
12 years. He beat out Vernon Ward
and Billy Carter for the chairman's
seat, which was previously held by
Bill Stanley.
On the first vote among delegates
See Democrats, page 6
South Harbor seeking permits
, By Terry Pope
County Editor
Developers are hoping to
turn the old fish factory plant
along the Intracoastal Wa
terway near Oak Island into
South Harbor has an agreement with the
Town ofYaupon Beach to provide the de
velopment with sewer lines
decision within 60 to 75 days.
"We’re not providing any
additional information until
we get further along,** said
Ferrell, "I think right now
anything we bring forward
would be speculative."
w
teme ground ior a zw-acre manna ana condominium complex.
South Harbor/Standard Products Inc. has applied for pcnnits to
proceed with its master plan, which includes 232 las with single
family homes, 71 clustered condominium units, a 100-room motel
and waterway restaurant, a marina with 119 wet slips and dry storage
for 150 boats.
South Harbor spokesman Mark Ferrell of Yaupon Beach said
east of the Oak Island bridge. State officials will receive public
; comments on the application until May 4 and usually reach a
As reqwreanymw.inennnhasapplied far permits with the N. C.
Department of Environment, Heaithand Natural Resources to allow
building in an Area of Environmental Concern covered by the
Coastal Area Management Act (C AMA), Aecordlngto die plans, die
marina would stretch 415 feet wide and 370 feet inland with two
ingress and egress channels each 60 feet wide. *
The channels would slope at depths of eight to ten feet to "promote
watmcircularionand flushing,’ said Ed Brooks, field i^presentatl^p
fortheN.C. Divisionof Coastal Management office in WilmingjM®
. m
The Brunswick County Democratic Party held its annual convention
Saturday and elected Roney W. Cheers Jr. to replace Bill Stanley as
the new party chairman. Cheers called for party members to set aside
petty differences and unite in a common effort to keep Democrats in
office.
| OUTSIDE*
Forecast
The extended forecast
calls for partly cloudy
skies Thursday and Fri
day but cooler tempera
tures, with highs in the
60s and lows in the 40s.
Warmer on Saturday,
with a high in the 70s.
Tide table
HIGH LOW
THURSDAY, APRIL 22
9:02 a.m. 3:02 *.m.
9:16 p.m. 3:04 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 23
9:36 a.m. 3:40 a.m.
9:53 p.m. 3:42 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 24
10:12 a.m. 4:29 a.m.
10:30 p.m. 4:21 p.m.
SUNDAY, APRIL 25
10:47 ajn. 4:59 a.m.
11:12 p.m. 4:59 p.m.
MONDAY, APRIL 26
11:35 am. 5:42 a.m.
11:59 p.m. 5:46 p.m.
TUESDAY, APRIL 27
-am. 6:32 a.m.
12:27 pm. 6:40 pm.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28
12:53 a.m. 7:24 am.
1:28p.m. 7:40pm.
The following adjustment! thould be maule:
Bald Head bland, high >10, low -7; Cat well
Beach, high -5, low -1; Southport, high +7,
low +15, Yaupon Beach, high -32, low 45;
, Lockwood Folly, high -22, low -8.