Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Sept. 24, 1987, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2-A—THK HKl'NSWK'K HKACON. Thursday, .ScpliTnluT 24. 1987 UOB Questions Commissioners' Stance On Utilities Director BY SLSAN USHKR Several members of the Brunswick County Utility Operations Board are asking why an ad for a public utilities director is written in such a way that their candidate for the job doesn’t qualify. That is one of several sore points UOB members were expected to take up Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. in a joint meeting with county commis sioners. Requested by UOB Chairman Robert Nubcl, the meeting is to discuss ’basic relationships and means of operation of the UOB.” which was formed more than a vear ago to help formulate water policies and procedures. According to approved minutes of the advisory board’s Sept. 14 meeting. Kd Gore told fellow UOB members the panel needed "to ex press itself very strongly and very quickly to the Board of Commis sioners that the ad is not for the type of person they need as their director, and that most emphatically they want Mr. i.lohni Harvey to continue in that position, on a permanent basis as had been the understanding and agreement all along.” Har\’ey, county planning director, was assigned as ”admini.strative Confracf Let For Grading Shot Ioffe Bypass Segmenf A Becklej, W.Va., is the apparent low bidder for the contract to clear and grade the first segment of the U.S. 17 Shallotte bypass. The contract will be the first let on the four-laning of U.S. 17 bet ween Bell Swamp (north of Bolivia* and the South Carolina line. Vecellio and Grogan Inc. bid $1.5 million, approximately $600,000 less than the highest of the seven bids opened Sept. 15 in Raleigh by the N.C. Department of Transportation. The bid is 20.5 percent below DOT’S engineering estimate, according to DOT Bill Jones, who added, ’’That’s good.” The contract is for the south end of the bypass. 2.3 miles from its southern tenninus near Old Slmllotte Hoad to Mulberrv Hoad, the state- owned extension of Shallotte’s Mulberry Street. Also bidding on the project were Dickerson Carolina Inc., Monroe, $1.7 millior.: C.M. findsey and Sons !nc.. Howland, $1.62 million: Propst Constraction Co. Inc., Concord, $1.84 million; Jolmny C. Johnson Inc., Mt. Airy’, $1.88 million; W.E. Blackmon Construction Co., Smithfield, $1.89 million; and B.M.C.O. Construction Inc., I.umberton, $2.1 million. The N.C. Board of Transportation is expected to award the contract at its Oct. 9 meeting. Cameron Ixje. an assistant administrator with the N.C. Department of Transportation, said last month that clearing and grading could begin around Nov. 1. Bids for the remaining 2.5 miles of the bypass won’t be opened until June 1988. Paving isn’t due to begin until 1990. Two Claim Interests (Continued From Page 1-A) Michael Easley said earlier this month that the property could still be seized since it allegedly was used to facilitate drug trafficking. Hearing of the civil suit is expected to follow the state’s criminnal action pending against Willis, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Mc Cullough. Copies oi documents given to tenants setting out the reason for the seizure included case material by an unidentified federal agent regarding Resort Plaza. The agent notes that informant “S-1” stated to him in 1982 that ” ’A1 Willis’ (.Alvin Bryan Willis III) from Shallotte, North Carolina, was in volved in the sale of marijuana and cocaine. “Since that time 1 have con tinued to receive information from other informants and law’ enforce ment officers that Willis is heavily in volved in cocaine trafficking.” Further, the document notes, that on September 30,1986, another infor mant, ”S-2.” ’’furnished me with in formation that Willis and Hubert I ll.l,. llulmcsi were using the Resort I’Uizu Shopping Center Office to jrlan the purchase of cocaine, that Willis utilized a telephone in the office located on the subject real property to make arrangements for this co caine purchase, and that on the even ing of September .30, 1986, Drug En- forceinent Administration Agents seized $’22,600 in cash from Willis that was intended for the purchase of the cocaine in .Miami, Fla.” Cooler Weather Is Expected Average daily temperatures were two degrees above normal in the Shallotte area during the period Sept. 15-21, according to Shallotte Point metoerologist Jackson Canady. Canady recorded an average daily- high of 87 degrees and an average daily low of 68 degrees. The ma.ximum high temperature was 90 degrees on the 18th; the minimum low was 65 degrees on the 21.st. Hainfull at Shallotte Point during the period measured .11 inch. Canady said that over the next few days, the area can expect normal temperatures and rainfall. Daytime highs in the mid 80s arc expected along with overnight lows in the mid 60s. ' SAVE NOW ON ^ No Excuses SUMMER PLANTS A limiteid number of No Excuses jeans, miniskirts •Pampas Grass —$1.25 aned jackets, as seen in Seventeen, Glamour, and Aloe Vera now on MTV modeled by Plants Donna Rice, are $1 to $3 available until this supply is gone. •White '■ ' Acid wash, metal wash. Crape Myrtle —4 ft. & 6 ft. colors. Sizes 5, 7 and 9. Jeans $20, miniskirts LEAH’S NURSERY $18. HW'r. 17, JUST no.rth of Call Sue Mauitsby ^ SHALLOTTE. PHONE 754 6994 ^ 754-7126 1 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRUNSWICK^BEACON POST OFFICE BOX 2558 shallotte north CAROLINA 28459 For Award-Winning News Coverage ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: In Brunswick County 7 50 Elsewhere m North Carolina 10.00 Outside North Corolina 12 50 Sr. Ciliien 6.50 9.00 11.50 CompicTc And Return To Abure Address Name Address City, Sfote Zip staff” to the UOB in January by the county commissioners on recommen dation of the UOB. At that same time conunissioners authorized the board to seek a consulting engineer and an attoniey to help with its heavy- workload. At the Sept. 14 meeting Gore said the job description was for a water system superintendent such as the county already has in O. Kenneth Bellamy, not a director of public utilities. The newly-created post calls for a person to perform engineering and administrative work in directing the operation of the water treatment plants and the construction and maintenance of water lines and facilities under limited superx-ision of the county manager. Gore said that until the ad ap peared in papers across the state, he had understood Harx-ey would get the job even though Carter had recom mended an engineer fill it. However, Commissioner Frankie Rabon, a non-voting member of the UOB, reminded Gore the county commissioners had been discussing for months the possible “separate filling” of such a position. Fora suitably qualified person, the Grade 31 “Director of Public Utilities” job could pay from $34,676, to $50,250. That’s xvhat the county had listed in July as suitable pay for a staff engineer. It’s more money than the county’s new manager currently earns, but less than the $40,240 to $58,232 salary range listed for a Grade 34 post of “Director of Utilities Operations” included in a July 1 revi sion of the county’s pay and classification plan. The job ad, Habon said, xxas prepared by two staff members bas ed on their interpretation of the xvishes of the commissioners as ex pressed during several executive ses sions. Gore said the UOB was aware that former county manager Billy Carter, in his capacity as budget advisor, had recommended a separate per son. However, he added that the UOB had stressed it wanted Harx-ey for the job, even if it meant his giving up his current position as planning director. As written, however, Harvey docs not qualify for the job, which re quires that the director be a Iiccn.scd water treatment plant operator with experience in operation of a water plant in a supervisory position. The director must also have graduated from a four-year .school with a degree in environmental technology, engineering, or related field, or an equivalent combination of experience and training. Utilities Operation Board Bucks Proposed Policy (Continued From Page 1-A) Commissioners had met earlier that day; the meeting included a lengthy closed-door session. Iloxvcver, during the public portion of the meeting, commissioners did not discuss the Lockxvood Folly project. The open meetings laxv requires that policy matters be discussed in open session. Copies of the commissioners’ draft policy were distributed to UOB members at Friday’s meeting. Harx'ey told members that commis- sioners vvuiucd iiic UOB iu cuiiinicut on it. The sections of the draft policy specifically discussed by the UOB Friday dealt with the possibility of the county, in effect, fully funding the Lockwood Folly water project. The proposal drafted by commis sioners stated; “The Utility Opera tions Board may certify the trunk or transmission line portion of the developer’s project as an enhance ment of the entire Brunswick County Water System and recommend to the Brunswick County Board of Commis sioners that the County of Brunswick participate in up to one-half of the total cost of that portion of the pro ject, said funds to be appropriated from monies designated for water line construction projects.” The draft also provided that “the developer shall receive water con nections to lots or parcels within the developer’s subdivision or residen tial development at no cost to the developer uniii such time as Liie cosi of the water services connection so provided equals the total sum of the developer’s portion of the water line project subject to this policy.” At Friday’s meeting, UOB Chair man Robert Nubel said he felt the board should again recommend to commissioners that the Ixickwood Folly project be handled in accor dance with the county’s Special Assessment District (SAD) policy. ”I think the original policy concer ning special asse.ssment districts xvas the correct way to go,” Nubel said. He pointed out that the commis sioners’ proposal contained no guidelines to determine a cost/benefit ratio, and that revolving funds for other water projects would be depleted by deviating from the SAD policy. UOB member Edward Gore called the commissioners’ proposal a “white-washing.” Gore said he was concerned that county taxpayers wouin bear the en tire cost of the water project, and that property owner along the 1.6 mile trunk line to Ixrckxx'ood Folly would not be assessed for the availability of water service in accor dance with the county’s existing six- inch water main maximum assess ment policy. He said 10 to 20 property owners along the line were inx'olved. “The developers don’t need this,” Officials Upsef- (Continued From Page 1-A) blowing axxay from the site and leaching of toxic metals such as arsenic and selenium into the soil. Chumley has said KBK’s operating plan precludes either of these hap pening. County M.inager Smith suggested the county monitor two trucks that will make six trips each per day over the 30 miles between Southport to I^rland to haul ash from Cogentrix to KBK’s site. Othenvise, he said, “if not managed properly they could leave a big mess alongside the road.” Adopt Policy Following an hour and 45 minute closed door session to discuss person nel, land interest acquisition and attorney-client matters, commis sioners approved the concept of “in verse condemnation” as it applies to properties within two special xvater assessment di.stricts for which the county is unable to obtain x’oluntary easements for line installations. The vote xvas 4-1, with Commis sioner Frankie Rabon opposed. I.,ater Rabon said, “I never liked the idea of government being able to condemn -someone’s property, to do something xvithout the proper j owner’s permis sion.” Recommended by the Utility Operations Board, the procedure alloxvs the county to proceed with a public improvement that affects an individual’s property, leaving it up to the owner to file an action in inx'erse condemnation against the county seeking damage.s for the interest that has been taken. According to .Michael Ramos, at torney for the UOB, there are txvo parties in S.A.D. No. 2 and as many as 20 in S.A.D. No.3 from whom the county won’t be able to get casements for one reason or another. Other Business In other business, commissioners; •Received copies of a proposed $3.58 million water budget, but tabled discu-ssion until County Manager John T. Smith can review the docu ment and make his own recommen dations. Until then the county system will continue operating under an in terim budget. The budget total, up from $2.8 million last year, excludes debt retirement for general obliga tion water bonds, paid for out of the county’s general fund, and includes a supplement of $903,’275 from the general fund. •Set several meetings; a meeting on Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. with Resources Development Executive Director Michael deSherbinin, followed by a joint meeting at 7 p.m. with the Utilities Operation Board; a joint meeting with the planning board on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. regarding the subdivision ordinance; and a public hearing on subdivision roads on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.p[i. •Approved spending $875 in court facility fees for renovations of the District Attorney’s offic>,- in the cour- thoursc. A snack machine room ad joining the D.A.’s office will be taken in to make room for another pro secutor on the staff and to provide a holding room for witnesses for the Grand Jury, which has a room across the hall from the snack room. •Asked for cost estimates for ex panding a community building at Maco to be revised to reflect a 12-foot by 59-foot building as requested earlier. •Heard from the N.C. Attorney General’s office that an elected of ficial is entitled to serx-e on both the Utilties Operation Board and the Brunswick County Planning Board without it constituting dual office holding. A question had arisen earlier about Sunset Beach Coun cilman Ed Gore serving on the two county boards by appointment of the commi.ssioncrs. The state constitution allows an elected official to hold one other ap- pointix'e office. Assistant Attorney General James Wallace Jr., based his opinion on the county’s description of the planning board’s "official” nature as opposed to UOB members being empowered only to make recommendations to the commissioners. •Approved tax releases and refunds for the month of August. •Unanimously approved a contract with Jerry Lewis & Associates engineering firm of Shallotte for engineering of and resident inspec tion of construction in special xvater assessment districts now under development, with the engineering cost not to exceed $5,000 and with bills to be submitted monthly for pay ment. The contract can be ended on 90 days’ notice by either party. SALES & REPAIRS I on all makes and models of vacuums and sewingj I machines. VACUUM CENTER Suriwood Shopping Center Hwy. 17. North Myrtle Beach 1.803-249-7259 Gore said. "It’s a nice gift from all the taxpayers of Brunswick County to excuse those few residents and property owners along this line from the six-inch line assessment and to repay all the monies through free taps within the subdivision of what the developing firm runs in order to excuse those few people along the xvay. “That, gentlemen, is not right in any sense of the word when we’re go ing to these other hundred locations to extend water and we’re going to be asking for assessments.” But UOB Vice-Chaimiaii AiphuiiZa Roach reminded Gore that commis sioners would have the final word on the policy since the UOB is only an advisory board. “Do you feel like you can get your commissioner to vote for it (to observe standard SAD policy in the Lockwood Folly project)?” Roach asked Gore. “I don’t have any idea,” Gore replied. At their Aug. 20 meeting, county commissioners reached a concensus and Chairm,'!>i Grace Beasley advis ed residents along the proposed water lines that the board did not in tend to assess the property owners any portion of the lines’ cost. After discussing various policy alternatives, UOB members unanimously agreed that the board’s first recommendation to commis sioners would be that the developer should pay additional assessments for the propertj- owners .nlong the Lockwood Folly line. Other alternatives discussed in cluded: suggesting that the developer build his own water system; having the county construct the line and bill the developer for it; observing standard SAD policy; making assessments upon water line hookup by property owners; and hav ing the county pay six-inch line costs and the developer pay additional line casts. Nubel also suggested that the UOB make commissioners aware of the "ramifications” of deviating from previous policy for [.ockxvood Folly. THE BRUNSWICKAbEACON Established Nov. 1. 1962 Telephone 754-6890 Published Every Thursday At Main Street Shollotte, N. C. 28459 SUBSCRIPTION RATES IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY One 'ifeor S7.50 Six Months $4.00 ELSEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA One Year $10.00 Six Months $6.00 ELSEWHERE IN U.S.A. One Year $12.50 Six Months $7.00 Second class postage paid at the Post Office in Shallotte, N. C. 28459. USPS 777-780. Are any of these problems yours? 5 or more points Rates too high Can’t get insurance then call "THE PEOPLE WHO SPECIALIZE IN BETTER RATES FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE POINTS" WEST mSURANGE Located in the Professionol Enterprises Office Seaside Plaza, Hwy. 179, Ocean Isle Beach Tony Britt (919)579-8170 Soles Represenialive Jues. & Thurs 9-5 Z'A% MORTGAGE LOANS •OTHER LOANS AVAILABLE* HOME EQUITY •CONSTRUCTION •BEACH PROPERTY •HOME IMPROVEMENT •COMMERCIAL •LOTS •CONSUMER •CONSOLIDATION #First Investors SAVINGS & LOAN, INC. CALL 754-5400 Coastal Plo7a, Hwy 17 S, Shallotte Whiteville - 642-8143 LENDER
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 24, 1987, edition 1
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