Newspapers / State Port Pilot (Southport, … / Oct. 27, 1999, edition 1 / Page 17
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Southeast Branswidi Sanitani District Commissioner Jenny L. Austin 3741 Oakwood Drive A beautician and teaching assistant, Ms. Austin, 47, is a life-long area resi dent. She is chairman of the Southport High School reunion committee and a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She has been active all her adult life in civic, church and educa tional activities. Gene G. Formy-Duval 4921 Southport/Supply Road A real estate broker and general con tractor, Formy-Duval, 61, is past presi dent of, Ocean View Methodist Men. He is a member of Brunswick County Board of Realtors and its 1995 President. He was 1995 Realtor Of The Year and has been an equal opportuni ty housing and cultural diversity com mittee member. He is current SBSD chairman. Donald Gray Goins 4839 Coastal Drive An officer of the state Marine Patrol, Goins, 57, has lived in the area for 31 years. He is currently a member of the Brunswick County Airport Commission and chairs the SBSD board of adjustment. Charles M. Me Wells 4225 Main Sail SE A 17-year resident of the area, Me Wells, 44, is a water distribution supervisor for the Town of Oak Island. He is a volunteer firefighter, an emer gency medical technician and advisor to the Oak Island wastewater commit tee. Lou Roberti 4479 Millwright Circle Roberti became a resident of St. James Plantation 1 1/2 years ago. He is retired and a member of the St. James government liaison committee. He is a member of Knights of Columbus and volunteers his time to a number of causes. Polling place: American Legion Hut, Southport To be elected: three commissioners If you are elected, what will be your top three goals as a member of the district’s' governing board? (1) Eliminate assessment tax. (2) Reevaluate rates. Our rates should be made more afford able. We must stay as we are presently. Having Oak Island or the county take us over would only serve to increase our financial burden. (3) Do whatever necessary to promote a spirit of cooperation between Board members. This is the foundation for smooth operation and man agement of our district. There should be no conflicts of interest with any board member elected. Also, meetings should be at night, so . all who wish to attend can do so. . 1) A healthy environment will have priority in any sewer action taken. (2) Strive to eliminate trie property tax. (3) See that sewer service is available to every resident in the district and promote orderly growth. If elected, I will work to improve the relation ship between the SBSD and county govern ment. I will also work to unify the SBSD elect ed officials. . , ■".7 \ ' ' ’ ' '7 If I’m elected my top three goals would be: (1>) Look into lowering taxes or providing ser vices for our tax; (2) Look into lower sewer rates (as) they are much too high; (3) Move the monthly meeting to evening hours so more , people can attend. My platform is simple. First, I would want the commission to ensure: (a) The best possible service to all eligible district residents and commercial establishments; and (b) hire a dis trict manager to run the daily operations. Second, it is important that there be a plan to reduce the fees and taxes the residents current ly pay, sooner rather than later. Third, the com mission needs to either participate in or inves tigate, discuss with the residents and then cre ate and adopt a plan for the growth of the sani tary district that considers, along with other options, the recent county regionalization stud ies. What is your opinion of your district’s current year budget? Does it offer ser vices you want to offer in the most affordable manner? Line items in the budget should be made clear er. Items in the budget seem to be over-estimat ed and should be looked at with a magnifying glass. Rates should reflect usage. Being author of this year's budget, I have to defend it and, as of September 30, 1999, we're right on target. Relocation of the district office amounted to an annual savings of $3,000 in rent. With the current obligated debt service, this budget is as lean as possible and (is) still able to meet our obligations. I question the present budget. If the county ser vices are utilized — law enforcement, building inspectors, etc. — perhaps the SBSD would not need to tax the people of the district. The district's current budget should be man aged by a manager who has experience in municipal government. Until that time, I don’t think we will do anything in an affordable man- . ner. At the June 28, 1999 SBSD budget hearing, I spoke out that there were expense items that could be reduced and realistic sewer usage pro jected that could increase revenues and, when both combined, would reduce fees and taxes. I still feel that way today. If (a) the fees and taxes were reduced, (b) all eligible residents were able to get district services, (c) allotments were either taxed when granted or withheld until a building permit is issued, and (d) a dis trict manager hired, then I would feel that the district services are offered in the most afford able manner. Why should the voter select you over your opponent^)? I have proven my commitment to this district with regular attendance of meetings, boldness of voice and repeated requests for night meet ings. Night meetings are the first step for us to reclaim our district. I do not serve on any other boards or commissions in our district, nor do I work for any towns our district is in, thereby I do not bring any conflicting interests that would affect my ability to make fair and honest decisions on your behalf. I do not have any personal agenda other than to do my very best if elected. My focus is dedication to the people of the dis trict. Having served as commissioner for four years and chairman for the last ten months, I have gained a personal knowledge of the requirements placed by the governmental agen cies. The voter should vote for me due to the fact that I have been a resident of Brunswick County for 31 years. I have been involved in environmental issues with the Division of Marine Fisheries for the past 20 years. I feel that I know many of the problems and needs of the people who live within the district. My contracts with the many state agencies will . help me do a better job. I will do the best job I am capable of, provid ing for the district by making responsible deci sions and keeping an open mind and door for taxpayers. r,ve-worked for municipal govern ment for 14 years and have prepared budgets and worked in many other areas of government structure. I will work with neighboring com munities for quality of life. I also have experi ence in wastewater. Since I am retired and new to the district, I do not have any hidden agendas nor am I behold en to any other commission, municipality, group or organization. Being retired allows me tb provide the needed time, both day and night, to being a commissioner of the people. My background is financial, legal, engineering, business planning, and a heavy involvement in community activities. With this experience, I am well qualified and eager to undertake the commitment, if elected, to devote the same amount of time and energy needed to fully rep resent the people of the sanitary district. Northstar DISCOUNT MORTGAGE CORP. I We finance oceanfront property Renovation funds available at market rates for primary residence and secondary homes ■ Tax-free exchange intermediary Free consultation ■ 20 year Lot loans at 9.250% . 750 points (mim. loan amount $50,000) ■ 95% Financing on Second Homes 30 YEAR FIXED Conventional 7.750% .000 points JUMBO 8.00% .000 points 15 YEAR FIXED Conventional 7.370% .000 points JUMBO 7.750% .000 points Cash FlowMaximizer 3.95% minimum payment 1st year Call Charles Jolly We Give You Credit For Your Good Credit 910-278-1238 or 800-706-9050 428 Caswell Beach Rd • Oak Island NC 28465 • E-mail:mavin@bcinet.net Rates subject to change without notice and are based on conventional loan amounts of $150,000-$240,000 and Jumbo loan amounts $240,001 - $650,000 quoted as of 10/26/99 and reflect a 1% origination fee. V CITIZENS OF BOILING SPRING LAKES Ihe items listed in Mayor Tully s advertisement in last week s paper deserves some comment. The only change in services 1 have detected in the past two years has been the hiring of a full-time building inspector and the reduction of police officers. The building inspector, whose approved budget salary of $33,280.00 issued a building permit for a storage building in an area that was not zoned for it, too much salary for that type of service. The Public Safety Commissioner, with Mayor Tully’s approval, terminated the previous approved Federal Police Grant Program, causing a loss of police officers hired under this program. The so-called savings of $30,000 by terminating the grant has generated an $80,000 expense for four new police vehicles so each off-duty police officer can have a police vehicle at home. When questioned, Commissioner Toland’s response was “it allows quicker response time for backup and adds a crime deterrent for the neighborhood”. I think the time required for backup from a police officer who is completely asleep and must wake, dress and respond is much too long in a life or death situation, better to call a roving police officer. As for the crime deterrent, it only deters crime in the immediate area. The hidden agenda by Mayor Tully and Public Safety Commissioner Toland to replace the previous police department offers created such a shortage that at times the city held to depend on the Brunswick County Sheriffs Department for both backup and regular responses at night and on weekends. If this is Mayor Tully’s example of increased service, I don’t want it. Much has been said about the county reevaluation of property. It is the largest increase, if not ever, then at least in recent history.'Mayor Tully has used a third grade explanation in an attempt to falsely lead us into believing he has by himself granted us a 30% tax break. Let’s play a third grade game. Let’s take your increased property value as decided by the county. Let’s multiply it by .35, last year’s city tax rate. Now take that same property value and multiply it by .25, this year’s city tax rate. It should equal a difference of 30%. Taking this into account, all of us will still see an increase in city taxes. Any legal government knows that following a reevaluation a tax mill rate •’ reduction is in order. Otherwise the increase in taxes would surely land them in court. Numbers, what a game we can play with them. Installed drainage pipes - way too little, way too late. County EMS - better to have saved our rescue service than to let it fold and hand Over all the equipment and building we the taxpayers helped to pay for. Post office - now we spend $6,000 of the taxpayers money to upgrade a building the city does not own, to entice the citizens back after they have expended their monies to change their addresses at the bank (checks), new mail boxes and to all those who they correspond with. Better to wait and petition for a real post office paid for by the federal government. Are you as tired as I am of a government whose majority members have already discussed and decided city business prior to the public meetings? Who has treated the sunshine law as if it<was class reunion? If so, please vote for‘a change in government November 2. Paid for by Lacy Prince ^Pcucif CO. Prince Boiling Spring Lakes
State Port Pilot (Southport, N.C.)
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Oct. 27, 1999, edition 1
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