PROGRESS SENTINEL
^ ^^XXXXVINO. 24 0SPS1.2-y KENANSVILLE. NC 28349 JUNE 17, 1982 18 PAGES THIS WEEK 10 CENTS PLUS TAX
nflj' ? js *
Duplin Board Agrees To
Keep Tax Rate At 70 Cents
? dfeThe Duplin County Board
or Commissioners last week
agreed to keep the 1982-83
property tax rate at 70 cents
per $100 valuation but could
not officially set the rate
pending a hearing on the use
of revenue sharing funds.
The hearing will be held
June 21. after which the
board will officially adopt the
1^82-83 budget and set the
IJ rate.
^^kt the 70-cent rate, the
owner of property valued at
$50,000 will be billed for
$350 in county property taxes
this year.
The property tax is ex
pected to bring in $4,416,370
on a county property valua
tion of $664,115,833 and a
collection rate of 95 percent.
I! '00 percent of the tax could
be collected, the additional
revenue would be $232,440,*
said Cuunty Manager Ralph
Cottle, who also serves as
budget officer.
The county's budget for
next year is $8,533,855, in
cluding state and federal
fund sources. The total is
? ?
approximately the same as
the current amended budget.
The Oakwolfe Fire District
will levy an additonal 6 cents
per $100 valuation for fire
protection, which will bring
in revenue of $8,404 based
on a 97 percent collection
rate.
The county budget will
give full-time county em
ployees a $400 pay increase.
The board has approved
$1,890,586 for the school
system's current expense
budget and $235,664 for
capital outlay. The school
_ * ? ? *
allocation also will include
$100,000 as a capital reserve
for future construction.
The board asked the school
system to set aside $363,920
for utilities and telephones.
The school system had bud
geted $325,000 for this pur
pose. V
James Sprunt Technical
College is being allocated
$282,550 for current ex
penses and $76,055 for capi
tal outlay. The school was
asked to set aside $118,898
for water and electricity.
Board Delays Pilling
e Vacancy In Kenansville
The Kenansville Town
Board last week tabled a
proposal to appoint John Hall
to the board to succeed his
late wife, Carolyn Hall.
Mrs. Hall, who was
elected to a four-year term on
the board in November 1981,
?d unexpectedly May 29.
e term will expire in
December 1985.
Hall's name was proposed
by Mayor Pro-Tern Earl
Hatcher. Hall has served on
!the board in the past.
Commissioner Jimmy
Johnson said he is interested
fiiijipming. the runner-up-in
the November election.' Don
Suttles, to the vacancy.
Commissioner Ronnie Bostic
?fl the board should con
cr people who had run for
me omce or snown an in
terest in it.
The appointment will be
taken up at the board's July
meeting.
No action was taken on a
request from Dr. E.J.
Raman, mental health
director for Duplin and
Sampson counties, for per
mission to establish a group
home for the mentally re
tarded in the Heath House.
Raman said if the board
grants the request, the
department plans to pur
chase the house, which is
across N.C. 24 from the
Baptist1 Chitrfh. The home is
near the northern intersec
tion of N.C. 24 and N.C. 11,
Board members plan to
discuss the question with
area residents before making
a decision. Town attorney
W.E. Craft said the area has
been zoned for general busi
ness. so there would be no
zoning problems in establish
ing a group home in the
house.
The board was told that
the State Highway Patrol had
ticketed the town dump truck
for not displaying a license
tag and for faulty tail, brake
and turn lights. The license
plate had been placed inside
the truck.
Ivy Bowden. town Alco
holic Beverage Control store
manager, gave the to?m a ]
'check for $3,300 for its 'snare
of the store's 1981-82 fiscal
year profits. Duplin County
received $2,700 as its share
of the profits.
Bowden said the store has
paid the town SI02,400 in
profits since it opened. He
reminded the board that if
sale of liquor by the drink is
approved, the town would
receive 75 percent of the $10
a-gallon tax on liquor sold
for that purpose by the store.
A petition is being circu
lated calling for an LBD
referendum in Kenansville.
The board will meet at 7:30
p.m. June 14 to discuss the
proposed 1982-83 budget,
which it received last week.
The budget calls for spend
ing $191,838. an increase of
s,70'5%
The increase was spread
across all budget items, ac
cording to the late Mayor
Hall's cover letter.
Proposed Water-Sewer Rates
Leave Beulaville Citizens Sizzling
a
B\ Sharon Overton
Staff W riler
The Bculaville Town Board
meeting was moved out to
the garage when over 50
a'ngrv eitzens showed up to
speak out against the pro
posed 1982-83 budget for the
town on Monday. June 7
The $209,867 spending
(J^n contains a $60,000 in
crease in the water and
sewer rates to cover depre
ciation on the new system
plus increases to pay for
? $-46,708 in bonds and interest
on the project. The rate hike
would literally triple the
average citizen's water bill,
according to Mayor Wilbur
Hussev.
aTIic present rate is $8.00
Wnimuni for the first 3.000
gallons. 75 cents for each
1.000 gallons up to 20.000. 60
cents up to 40,000. 52 cents
up to 100.000 and 45 cents
for every 1.000 gallons over
100.000.
"Water and sewer rates
have been much lower in the
past inun ihey should have
been." said Hussey. "We're
just now getting around to
fixing that."
The proposed budget also
ealls for a $5,000 increase in
revenue front property taxes:
however, board members
have not yet decided on the
individual tax rate. The
present rate is 60 cents per
$100 valuation.
For most citizens, the
problem of higher ,w ater and
sewer rates was compounded
by the poor performance of
the company contracted to
make improvements on the
water and sewer systems.
East Coast Construction Co.
of Jacksonville was hired
ninix mnttfhc ano tix iAA ?<\ tU<>
p ?
existing sewer system and to
build a new sewage treat
ment plant. Thcv were sche
duled to complete the projeet
this past March. When the
work was not finished on
time, the town began charg
ing East Coast liquidated
damages of $200 a day.
Recently, the Corps of
Engineers inspected the
work being done on the
sewage system and reported
that it was approximately 80
percent complete. They esti
mated that it would require
another 30-60 days to finish
the project. They also re
commended that the town
not make any further pay
ments on the SI50.000 owed
to East Coast until a revised
project schedule could be
drawn.
As of June 2. subcon
tractors Kipco and Pleasants
were also placed under liqui
dated damages.
Finley Boney. the town's
engineering consultant.
agreed that East Coast was
not getting the job done.
"IV.. ..... .... I...I , -?.-?.?
with so much total disregard
for his work." said Bohey.
Since construction began,
many citizens have com
plained of bad-smelling
water, holes left at the
service lines, and lines that
don't meet state require
ments.
In further action, the
board:
? tabled a motion to
award the water tank con
tract to Charlotte Tank
Lining. Contractors began
submitting bids on April 29
to repaint, sandblast and
relinc the town water tank.
The low bid of $15,772 came
from the Charlotte company.
Kcnansville and Rose Hill
awarded contracts to the firm
last week and if Beulavillc
decides to follow suit, each
town could realize a savings
of almost $800. With the
discount, the total bill would
be $14,974.
? On the recommenda
tion of Police Chief Aubrey
Murphy, the board approved
a motion to renlare the virld
sign at Wilson and Quinn
streets with a stop sign.
According to Murphy, moto
rists traveling north on Wil
son cannot see vehicles com
ing east on Quinn. There will
be at least a 30-day grace
period after the sign is
erected before officers begin
issuing citations.
NEW I IKE RACK - The Friends of the Library recently
made ; donation to the Dorothy Wightman .Library in the
form o a new bike rack and coat rack. The racks together
were worth over $500. Librarian Roberta Williams said
that in order to make the gift possible, each officer and
board member w.<s required to raise $12.50 through a
project of his or heroin choosing. L-R. kneeling- Brandon
Hobbs, Bobby Hughes. David Page and Cicero Hall.
Standing - Virginia Penney, board of directors; Roberta
Williams, librarian", and Arthenia Hall, board of directors.
Farmland Treatment
Started In Duplin
Farmland treatment pro
cedures to reduce soil loss
and stream channel blockage
have begun in the Limestone
Creek, and Muddy Creek
sired areas of Duplin
County 'even though funds
for the work remain on
"hold."
The land treatment is ex
pected to improve the pro
ductivity of area fields and
woodlands, p von thnnoh
channel clearing and deep
ening work is delayed.
Kenneth Futreal. Duplin
County soil conservationist,
said Friday. Unless soil can
be kept in place, no amount
of stream channel work will
do much good, he said,
explaining that the channels
would Till up again with silt
and debris.
The planned watershed
projects include 45 miles of
channel restoration. 56 miles
of channel excavation, in
stallation of fishing access
areas and a recreation area in
the drainage basin of the two
creeks in the Beulaville
Chinquapin area.
The creeks drain into the
Northeast Cape Fear River.
Misuse of the land over the
last 250 years resulted in
stream channels clogged ?
with silt and debris, pre
venting drainage and re
ducing productivity.
Futreal said the Agricul
tural Conservation Prooram
has money available for cost
sharing with land owners in
the treatment program.
"To date, we have long
term contracts involving a
total cost of $151.t>40 with 19
landowners." he said. "We
are obligated for SI06.028 of
that total and already ha' e
paid out $26,500."
The soil conservationist
said he expected funds for
the watershed projects to be
released soon. A freeze on all
watershed construction
starts last year prevented
anticipated advertising for
bids early this year. The
projects were ?. proved for
funding last year.
Futreal said 50 land
owners have applied fur
long-term soil treatment
contracts. H<r >*?1 netted 200
to 250 contracts eventual'*
will be signed.
"We're trying to contract
with land owners who have
the most serious soil loss
problems," he said.
The soil treatment oro
cedures will involve estab
lishing field borders and
filter strips of grass to hold
soil and filter sediment,
pesticides and excess ferti
lizer out of runoff water on
the land. Also included will
be the building of grassed
waterways to allow escape of
excess water without tearing
up the land, critical area
stabilization on land subject
to severe erosion and mini
mum tillage or "no-till" as
farmers call the practice of
planting a field through the
stubble of the previous crop.
The Agricultural Conser
cation Program shares in the
cost of some of these pro
cedures at varying rates.
It pays 75 percent of the
contract cost of field borders,
til) percent of the cost of
grassed waterways. SIO per
acre the first year in a no-till
program and 75 percent of
the cost of critical area
stabilization.
Popularity of the no-till
nrdoram is inrroa^ino
t o - ? e> *
Futreal said. He estimated
15.000 to 20.000 acres of
Duplin County farm land arc
being managed in this man
ner.
The two watershed pro
jects have been in the plan
ning and talking stages for
nearly 20 years. They cover
about 72.000 acres.
Total cost of the projects is
estimated at $3.9 million, of
which $323,000 is the value
of land rights supplied by the
county. The remainder of the
county's share of the cost is
estimated at about $570,000.
Magnolia Votes 4 - 2, Budget
Returned For Consideration
The vote was four in favor
and two against. Although it
was a majority, the vote
wasn't enough to pass the
Magnolia budget for the
1982-83 fiscal year.
Two problem areas that
helped to stall the spending
plan arc the one-dollar hike
in garbage collection fees
and a 5 percent across-the
board raise in employees'
salaries.
Commissioner Howard
opposed the new garbage
fees, saying that they should
remain at S-4 instead of the
requested $5. Mayor Melvin
Pope argued that the town
would need the extra funds
in the future for the purchase
of a new trnrk for rhe
department.
"We can worry about that
when the time comes." said
Howard. Pope replied that it
would be unwise to budget
"w ithout a cushion."
Commissioner Tucker
spoke out against raising em
ployees' salaries by 5 per
cent. Tucker suggested that
Magnolia "follow suit" with
the state and enforce a pay
freeze. In 1981. workers for
the town ol Magnolia re
ecived a 7 percent increase in
t hnif n-n
The budget being consid
ered by the board is a
$175,170 spending play, up
$18,095 from last year. It
provides for a 60-ccnt per
$ 100 valuation tax rate and a
$6 minimum water and sewer
fee (no increase). The pri
mary changes are those in
garbage collection and em
ployees' salaries.
In further action, the board
voted to charge two Mag
nolia residents only the water
rate on meters being used
solely for watering gardens.
Despite what Commissioner
Becton called "opening a can
of worms." town board
members decided to consider
each citizen's request for
such a rate separately in
stead of passing a new ordi
nance.
Mayor Melvin Pope had
asked that the board allow
him to use the water at an
abandoned house near his
garden. Since the house was
not hooked up for sewer.
Pope requested to be billed
only at the water rate.
There is a one-dollar dif
ference between water and
sewer rates above 3,000
gallons since sewage is more
expensive to treat. The mini
mum rates for both are $6.
"You're trying to deter
paying sewer bills," said
Bccton. "You ought to allow
everyone so much water
without the sewer rate for
watering gardens and wash
ing ears."
The board also voted to
transfer the town's present
workman's compensation
polio to one offered through
the Duplm County League of
Municipalities. The policy,
which supposedly will save
the town 15-20 percent, is
with Interlocal Risk Manage
ment Agency and will be
effective beginning Tune 13.
1082.
Green and white decals
will replace city tags next
vcar. Town C'lerk Kathryn
Pope estimates that the
decals w ill save Magnolia car
owners 27 cents.
Dobson
Graduates From
Science And
Math School
Nathaniel Dobson, son of
Mrs. Louise F. Dobson of
Teachey. was among the 138
members of the first class to
graduate from the N.C.
School of Science and Mathe
matics on June 12. Com
mencement speakers Gover
nor James B. Hunt Jr. and
Dr. Lewis Branseomb, chief
scientist and vice president
of IBM. congratulated the
members of the "pioneer
class" on their impressive
academic accomplishments
and challenged them to
strive for excellence as they
continue to live and learn.
X
Kose Hill Approves Budget
*No Pay Increase For Town Employees This Year
By Sharon Overton
The Rose Hill Town Board
voted in a $506,700 1982-83
budget list Tuesday night,
deciding against raising
taxes, water and sewer rates,
and town employees' sala
{jtathough they were given
a* percent across-the-board
pay hike in 1981, town em
ployees will not see a change
in the figure on their pay
checks this year,
i July 1, 1982 will begin the
third fiscal year for Rose Hill
without an increase in the tax
rate. The rate will be figured
at 70 cents per $100 valuation
and the town expects to
crfect over $97,000 of the
%c? leyy
ihe water and sewer rate
| ' *
t
will once again cost city users
$5 for the first 3.000 gallons
plus a prorated amount
according to use on gallons
beyond 3.000. Garbage col
lection fees will be raised one
dollar, jumping from S4 to
$5.
The Rose Hill Police De
partment received the big
gest share' of the general
fund with an allotment of
$65,000. The sanitation de
partment got about half as
much with a budget of
$34,000. The street and re
creation departments re
spectively received $24,000
and $7,200.
This year's budget also
provides for a new fu'1 time
position combining dis
patcher and possibly dog
catcher duties. The job
conies with an $8,000 salary
to be taken out of federal
revenue sharing funds.
However, unless a new law is
passed before September.
1983. federal revenue
sharing funds will be com
pletely cut off and the town
will have to pick up the bill.
Calling last year's spend
ing plan a "false budget."
Rose Hill Mayor Ben Harrell
said that the $799,000 de
crease in spending this year
is due to the absence of a
$813,000 HUD grant that was
figured into the total last
year.
In further business, the
board put off until next
month a decision to hire pri
vate garbage collection ser
vices for the town. Two
companies have bid on the
f
contract. Grady and Hall
Associates of Kenansville.
and Waste Industries of Wil
mington. Grady and Hall told
the board last Tuesday night
that they would be able to
provide services to the town
at a rate of $4.45 per resident
per month. This would entail
six months of once-a-week
collection ard six months of
twice-a-week. Waste Indus
tries has proposed a $5 rate
unless the town can assure
them a minimum of 1.700
users. With this guarantee,
the rate would be lowered to
$4.50.
Rose Hill, like other towns
in the county, is looking into
private garbage collection as
an alternative to replacing
old equipment.
The board also delayed
voting on a lease that would
allow Univision Cable
Systems, the firm presently
installing cable television in
the Duplin area, the right to
attach a microwave receiver
on the town water tower.
Two Univision representa
tives were given an "agree
ment in spirit" and told that
terms of the lease would
most likely be drawn at a
called meeting later this
month.
If constructed, the receiver
would serve Wallace,
Teachey, Greenevers and
areas up to the Warsaw line.
Univision has already re
ceived permission to install a
similar receiver on a tower in
the t-riendship community
and is looking at Kornegay as
a potential third site.
According to Univision,
the last customer in Wallace,
Rose Hill and Teachey
should be hooked up for
cable television bv January
10.1983.
The board awarded the
water tank contract to Char
lotte Tank Lining. The firm
submitted a low bid of
$17,100 for relining. sand
blasting and repainting the
tank. Kenansville hired
Charlotte Tank Lining earlier
last week and pending a
decision by Beutaville, the
bill could be cut by almost
$800 for a cost to the town of
just over $16,000
1