Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / March 13, 1985, edition 1 / Page 1
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barren Uecorb Volume 88 25* Per Copy Warrenton, County Of Warren, North Carolina Wednesday, March^ 13^1985 Number 11 Revenue Fund Loss 4 Forecast By KAY HORNER News Editor Elimination of the federal Revenue Sharing program as proposed by President Reagan could mean a loss to Warren County of several hun dred thousand dollars it has counted on in the past for funding of the Warren County Jail, Warren General Hospi tal, and Warren County volunteer fire depart ments and rescue squad. Although several pro posals regarding the Revenue Sharing pro gram are currently be ing considered by Con gress, Warren County of ficials who attended a meeting last week of the National Association of Counties (NACo) in Washington, D.C. ex pressed little hope Mon day at their regular meeting for continuation of the program. "My personal view is that we're fooling ourselves if we say it (elimination of the pro gram) is not going to happen," Commissioner J. T. Fleming told fellow board members. "They say they don't have the revenue to share. With the federal indebtedness, it's costing too much. We may get an override in this budget, but that will be it. We're either going to have to cut back or raise taxes." It has been estimated that the ad valorem tax rate for Warren County taxpayers would have to be increased from $1 per $100 valuation to $1.15 per $100 valuation to make up for funds lost through the federal program. Revenue Sharing funds for 1964-85 account for about $340,000 of the county's more than $4,803,000 budget. Chairperson Eva M. Clayton, who also serves as treasurer of Women Officials in NACo, was part of a delegation that attended a briefing at the White House on issues of special concern to local governments. "I came away with a real sense that they're deadly serious (about budget cuts)," Mrs. Clayton said. "They're not playing politics." "We have two alter natives," Commis sioner Francis Alston commented. "Taxes go up or we cut out services. But my suggestion is that we all write to our con gressmen and senators asking them to support continuation of Revenue Sharing and asking the president to withdraw his proposal." Hie commissioners en dorsed a resolution to be sent to Senators Jesse Helms and John East and Second District Con gressman Tim Valentine urging continuation of (Continued on page SB) Owens-Illinois, an Ohio-based company which is completing work on a $20 million corrugated box (riant near Ridgeway, has donated two Scott Alr-Paks to the Norlina Volunteer Fire Department. Presen tation of the life-saving equipment was made last week by two members of the company who work for 0-1, Morris and Wayne Aycock. Shown above daring the presentation ceremony are, from left, A1 Bennett, assistant chief of the Norlina Department; Gene Frey, O-I production manager; Wayne Aycock; and Mike Theiler, O-I personnel manager. (Staff Photo) Oldest Building Wanted For Offices The Warren County Capital Development Commit tee, appointed last December by county commis sioners to evaluate facility needs of county govern ment, has received a proposal from a local real estate and investment group for renovation of a building on Warrenton's Main Street for purchase or lease by the county for office space. The proposal, by The Warren Group, calls for the group's purchase and renovation of the building cur rently housing Davis* Uptown Fashions for a subse quent lease or lease-purchase arrangement with the county. According to Brad Carroll, committee member, a rough estimate of cost, after renovation, for the 6,020-square-foot building has been figured at $150,000. "The other alternative of providing additional space is new construction which would be very, very expensive," Carroll commented, citing estimates of $40 to $45 a square foot for new construction versus $25 for renovation of an existing facility. The building, now owned by Bill Davis of Warren ton, was built around 1830 and is believed to be the oldest on Main Street, Carroll said, adding that pur chase by the county would not only provide badly needed office space but would also prove "exciting" for those interested in preservation. "This would give the county an opportunity to maintain the historical significance of the county while meeting additional space needs," Carroll said. The board accepted the report by the Capital Development Committee and went on record in sup port of the committee gathering further information on the proposed project. However, Chairperson Eva M. Clayton cautioned that the board's action was not to be construed as a commitment to the project. "One caveat I'll snare is mat ail or mis is con tingent on having enough money," she concluded. A question of conflict of interest in that Warren ton businessman Monroe Gardner, a member of the Capital Development Committee, is also one of the owners of The Warren Group was raised by Commis sioner J. T. Fleming. But Carroll assured the board that Gardner had not participated in formation or presentation of the pro posal, and would continue to distance himself from the project. "My remarks are not anti-project," Fleming said, "but I just wanted to get the issue out of the way." Representing The Warren Group in making the proposal to the Capital Development Committee was James C. Harris, Jr., president and part owner. In other business, the board also heard a report from James Dugan, III, architect with C. Robert Shields of Rocky Mount, on renovation in progress at the Warren General Hospital facility. Dugan appeared at the request of the board to ad dress questions raised by a local citizen about Three Grass Fires Reported Burning trash and brush has been listed as the cause of three fires that destroyed almost three acres of grass and woodland in Warren County th?* week. On Taerlw. Warren ton Rural Volunteer Fire Department extinguish ed a grass, brush and woods fire on property owned by Earl Williams in the Quick City area of Warrenton, according to Capt. Walter Gardner with the department. The N.C. Forestry Ser vice assisted in ex tinguishing the blaze, reported at 12:40 p.m. Land adjacent to Williams' property was also burned, but the owner of the property waa unknown. On Sunday a fire on property owned by Joey Greer on Embro Road (Continued on page SB) methods and materials used in replacement of the roof at the hospital and the cost involved. Dugan responded item-by-item to two pages of comments forwarded to the board by a citizens' ad visory committee appointed recently to study alter native methods of care at the hospital. The comments addressed specific materials used in the roof installation and cost variations. Dugan responded to each one individually and assured the commissioners that materials in the roof construction had been installed according to manufacturer's specifications, and that costs savings of about $8,700 below the amount bid would be credited to the county. Inspections have been conducted weekly by Dugan, whose firm is overseeing the project, and inspection reports have been sent to the office of the county manager, Dugan said. School Boord Takes No Action Decision Delayed On Building Use By KAY HORNER News Editor Unanswered questions about the legality and logistics of subleasing school property to a private, for-profit con cern led school board members Monday night to postpone action on a proposal that called for location of a vegetable processing and packag ing plant on the campus of John R. Hawkins School in Warrenton. The proposal came from John R. Hawkins Alumni, who currently lease three buildings on the campus from the School Board and would like to sublease two of the buildings to Farmers Best Food Industries, represented locally by L. C. Cooper, who serves as a consultant to the company. According to the lease agreement with the alumni association, a sublease can be granted only with the board's approval. Cooper explained that vegetables produced by local farmers would be received, washed, and packaged at the faci lity, which would also house offices for the operation. Cooper estimated that $12,000 to $15,000 would be used to renovate the former administration building for use as the main plant. A second building would be used ( Lake Gaston Infestation Targeted ( Concern over the growth of an aquatic weed in Lake Gaston has led to the formation of the Lake Gaston Council composed of represen tatives of the five counties surrounding the lake. Warren County commissioners Monday ap pointed Agricultural Extension Chairman | Russell King, Soil Conservationist David Har rison, and Lake Gaston resident Jack Brunton | to the council, which will work with appropriate authorities to control the weed. According to King, the weed poses no im mediate threat to the lake. However, com plaints from residents increased significantly in 1984 and there is concern that the water quality of the lake could be potentially im pacted by uncontrolled application of chemicals by individuals attempting to eliminate the weed. The council plans to apply for federal and state funds to control growth of the weed, and Virginia Electric & Power Co. (VEPCO), which constructed the lake for hydroelectric genera tion of power, has agreed to pay a local match of 15 percent of the weed control project. The weed, while providing excellent cover for young fish, is counter-productive because the lake bottom that would normally be available for nest-building fish, such as largemouth bass, is obliterated, King said. Approximately 300 to 500 acres of the 20,000-acre lake are currently infested, King said. About 25 acres were treated with spray ing last June with fair to good results. Wtaaera of the SpeOlaf Bee teat Ihnraday at War rea Ceaatjr High School are ptetared, left to right, Dam Howard, third place; AmJe Rldeat, aecead place; aad Angela BaQaace, flrat place. The ceateat for storage. Plans call for the en terprise to expand to another site in about three years. Questions about school property being used by a private, for profit company were raised by Board Attor ney Lewis A. inompson of Warrenton. "it s one thing to lease a facility at little or no cost to a public service organization," Thomp son said. "But you're ex (Continued on page 8B) Mayor Tells Board Tag Sales Largest In Recent Years Routine matters were the business of Warren ton's Town Board at the tegular monthly meet ing Monday evening in the Town Hall. The commissioners spent an htfur. discussing the usual committee reports and announcements before going into execu tive session to discuss a personnel matter. Mayor B. G. White reported that a concert ed effort had been made during the past two weeks by the office staff and the police depart ment to remind the residents of Warrenton of their responsibility to display town tags on their vehicles. Since January 1, he said, a totpl of 605 tags had been sold in the town of fice, the largest number in recent yeara. With spring approach ing, beautification of the town took a front seat on the agenda, and the board voted to purchase a |300 edger for use in trimming along the side walks. A letter from Richard Hunter, repre senting the town's Beau tification Committee, was read, noting the committee's approval of (ieorgei Harwell's request to remove two trees fromshis property on Bragg Street. It was noted that Burwell planned to replace the trees as well as another tree which had been cut down recently. Finance-Commission er Eddie Clayton presented a number of budget amendments for consideration by the board. All but one in volved minor transfers (Continued on page 8B) Miss Ballance Spelling Champ Angela Ballance, an eighth grade student at John Graham Middle School, was named the top speller among Warren County's 4th-8th grade students at the conclusion of the Spell ing Bee held at Warren County High School on Thursday night. Miss Ballance cor rectly spelled "oxida tion" and then "philoso pher" to take - top honors. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ballance of Warrenton. Second place was captured by Amie Ridout, a sixth grader at Hawkins School. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Egerton Ridout, Jr. of Warrenton. Dawn Howard, an eighth grade student at Norlina Middle School, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Howard of; Littleton, took third place. Eighteen participants competed in the apell down representing grades four through eight. In previous years the Spelling Bee had been limited to sixth graders. This year's contest was qxnaored by the John R. Hawkins alumni and Prkuk, Inc. All participants and alter nates received certifl
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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