Good pitching continued
Tuesday but it was not the
Scorpions this time — 12B
i
June 1, 1994
The State Port
PILOT
I VOLUME 63/ NUMBER 40
SOUTHPORT, N.C.
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Road work, excavation at
Sunny Point intersection has
us wondering — Page 2
50 CENTS PL
Working for a living is
something these students are
getting used to -- IB
Cafeteria
equipment
report due
By Terry Pope
County Editor
A written report could be made public
later this week on the controversial sale of
used surplus cafeteria equipment that was
done without the school board's authority.
Brunswick County school superinten
dent Ralph Johnston said Tuesday he will
make the report public once he receives a
copy. An investigation into the sale has
been completed by an outside attorney.
It should detail how 46 pieces of cafete
ria equipment from Southport Elemen
tary School ended up in the hands of Jarvis
Jones, a Long Beach restaurant owner, for
just $350.
At question is whether any school em
ployees acted improperly in the deal.
"There have been no personnel deci
sions at this point," said Johnston, who
met with the Brunswick County Board of
Education in executive session at a special
meeting Friday afternoon to discuss the
findings with attorney Brian Shaw, who
specializes in school law.
Shaw, representing the firm hired to
conduct the internal investigation, pre
sented the final part of the findings to the
board. He was also instructed to prepare a
written summary which will be released
to the public.
"In terms of what he was charged to do,"
said Johnston, "it is complete. Now he is
compiling a summary of that forthe board."
Johnston said Tuesday he doesn't know
if the school board will want to hold
another meeting to present the findings or
if his office will simply release the infor
mation. Last month, school board attor
ney Glen Peterson said a preliminary re
port recommended specific personnel ac
tion be taken.
Peterson refused to disclose what that
action involved, adding that he could not
comment on sensitive personnel matters.
The board has met twice in executive
session to go over details of the probe
ordered after questions were raised about
the equipment sale, which took place last
summer. Jones reportedly later sold 12 of
See Equipment, page 9
Forecast
The extended forecast calls for
partly cloudy skies on Thursday, highs
in the 80s and a good chance of a
thunderstorm. Partly cloudy skies are
expec ted Friday and Saturday as well,
with highs near 80 degrees and lows
in the SOs.
The State Port Pilot
j&Pilnt Line
THE TALKING NEWSPAPER
Weather updates are available on
Pilot Line. Dial 457-5084, then ex
tension 191.
Tide table
HIGH
3:26 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:17 a.m.
4:S0 p.m.
5:07 am.
5:38 p.m.
5:55 am.
6:23 p.m.
6:42 am.
LOW
THURSDAY, JUNE 2
9:34 am.
10:07 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 3
10:24 am.
11:02 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 4
11:12 a.m
11:53 p.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 5
11:58 am.
-p.m.
MONDAY, JUNE 6
12:40 am.
7:06 p.m. 12:43 p.m.
TUESDAY, JUNE 7
7:25 am. 1:25 am.
7:47 p.m. 1:26 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8
8:07 am. 2:08 am.
8:27 p.m. 2:07 p.m.
The following adjustments should be made:
Bald Head Island, high -10, low -7; Caswell
Beach, high -5, low -1; Southport, high +7,
low +15; Yaupon Bead), high -32, low -45;
Lockwood Folly Inlet, high -22, low -8.
REACHING SKYWARD
Photo by Jim Harper I
Southport city workers were called into action last
week. to reeve a halyard block on the Garrison
weather tower. The city also is called when tower
lighting needs repair.
’Progress* new rallying cry
for these concerned citizens
' By Holly Edwards
Municipal Editor
Long Beach United for Progress stands for exactly what
its name implies, declared the group's president.
Frances Allen said she wants the organization to incorpo
rate and unite all elements in Long Beach, both young and
old, in the pursuit of progress.
"Progress" defined by political committee chairman
Rupert Riley means continuing the residential expansion of
the town.
"I don’t think anybody has tried to impede growth," Riley
said. "But we as a group would not like to see the town
change into a so-called 'Myrtle Beach.’"
At the same time, Allen acknowledged that the group is
a political action committee (PAC), and makes no secret of
her feelings toward the current town council nor her future
plans for launching another political campaign.
Allen ran for a seat on the town council and Riley ran for
mayor in the last election. They, along with council candi
dates Helen Cashwell and David Drummond, were sup
ported by Concerned Citizens of Long Beach. All were
defeated by incumbents and new council member Kevin
Bell.
The state board of elections later ruled that the group had
to register as a PAC if it wanted to continue to raise
See Progress, page 6
Projects added
Beach tax rate
could go down,
but how much?
By Holly Edwards
Municipal Editor
A part-time town planner position, an answer to Poly-carts along
Beach Drive, a new youth work program, a stepped- up street paving
program, a basketball court and funding that will contribute to
planning and future construction of a gymnasium at the recreation
center, a new fire station and a new water storage tank were among
proposals discussed Tuesday night during the Long Beach Town
Council's final budget workshop.
A number of changes were made to the proposal Tuesday, and
therefore the final numbers are not yet available. But mayor Joan
Altman promised the tax rate would be lower than the current rate
of 41 cents per $ 100 of property valuation. Just ho w much lower has
not yet been established.
The proposal calls for no increase in the water rate, though a
decision ultimately will depend on the county's water rate for the
next fiscal year, the mayor said. However, the yearly charge for
trash collection would increase slightly to $43.20.
A five-percent, cost-of-living salary increase for all full-time
employees also is included in the budget.
A public hearing on the proposal will be held prior to the council's
See Beach tax, page 9
Walters named
beach manager
By Holly Edwards
Municipal Editor
Cape Fear Council of
Governments executive
director Jerry Walters is
expected to assume his new
position as Long Beach
town manager on Monday,
June 27.
The Long Beach Town
Council voted unani
mously at Tuesday night's
budget workshop to enter
into a one-year contract
with Walters at an annual
salary of $45,000.
Walters also will be pro
vided $300 a month for use of his private vehicle for town business,
and up to $ 1,000 for to cover costs of moving from Wilmington to
Long Beach.
Walters, 41, has been providing town officials with advice and
has acted as a consultant since April 5. His $7,240 contract for
consulting services expires June 30.
The town has been without a manager since Tim Johnson
resigned effective February 14. Town clerk Pat Brunell has been
acting town manager during the interim.
Walters was selected from among 24 applicants, and mayor Joan
Altman indicated that there were a number of highly qualified
people among them. She pointed to Walters' ambition and exper
tise as the prime reasons for his selection.
"He has a broad range of qualifications," she said. "And, the
board has had the advantage of being able to work with him for a
while, and 1 think they all feel very comfortable with him."
Walters also said he has established a good working relationship
with town officials.
"I think it's a good situation and a very positive board," he said.
See Walters, page 9
‘The manager is
not political by the
nature of the posi
tion. The man
ager’s responsibili
ty is to carry out the
council’s policies.’
Jerry Walters
Commission denies AEC request
Environmental protections already in place, panel says
By Terry Pope
County Editor
Local zoning laws are now viewed as the best way to provide environmental
protection for an area north of Southport where a mining operation is proposed
Last week, the Coastal Resources Commission voted not to designate a 5,000*
acre tract around the Walden Oeekestuary as an "area of environmental concern",
AECs are used to regulate development in sensitive coastal areas. The map
includes 1,000 acres either owned or leased by Martin Marietta Aggregates, which
Church Road,
aquifer from heavy industrial damage, said GRC chairman Bugenc Tamlinsoa of vsig
Southport.
theptoposal in March.
water dependent industrial use." said Tomlinson. "Her motion is not dead."
heavy industrial use to residential use. >
Commissioners also passed a protective ordinance to bars mines which use
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