New Purchasing Officer Will Take Stock' Of County Goods BY RAHN ADAMS As Brunswick County's first pur chasing officer, Billy Ingram can count on one thing in his new job: He'll be counting a lot of county owned things over the next few months. Ingram, who has served as coun ty Building Inspections director for the past 1 1/2 years, moved into the new purchasing office in the Administration Building in Bolivia last week. According to County Manager John T. Smith, Chief Building Inspector Julius "Buddy" Lewis, 34, of Leland, is serving as interim Building Inspections direc tor until Ingram's permanent re placement is found. "I just wanted to make the change and get the people moved around," Smith said of his reason for moving Ingram before a new in spections director is selected. Ingram, 43, of Ash, was named to the 526,486 per year purchasing of ficer job in September. Fourteen county employees had applied for the post, which was advertised in house. INGRAM LEWIS Although county commissioners discussed establishing a county pur chasing department in 1988 and ear lier, the position wasn't created un til earlier this year when the 1989 90 budget was adopted. County officials have favored centralized purchasing in hopes that the county can save money through bulk orders of supplies. However, storage spacc to handle bulk pur chasing is not available. The coun ty-owned Red & While building in Bolivia has been mentioned as a possible warehouse, although it would have to be renovated first. Smith said last week that since the county docs not have sufficient warehouse spacc yet, Ingram's ini tial duty is to review orders that are placed by individual department heads. "Right now, we're doing the same as we did," Smith said. "He's just reviewing the requisitions." Either in January or at the start of the next fiscal year in July, Ingram will begin actually ordering for the departments. Smith said. He added that the most difficult aspect of switching to the new method will be the "changing of attitudes," since department heads have always dealt personally with vendors of their choices. In the meantime, Ingram also will develop new requisition forms for departments to use, and will take in ventory of county stock in the garage, housekeeping and water de partments, Smith said. The county manager said last week that no decision had been made on how Ingram's former in spections director post will be filled, although he noted that the va cancy probably will be advertised in-house, "to give everyone (in the department) an opportunity to ap ply." Except for a period two years ago, Lewis ? who recently was elected as a director of the Lei and Sanitary District ? has been em ployed in Building Inspections since 1985. Smith confirmed that Lewis re- : signed as a building inspector fol lowing a Jan. 12, 1987, incident in which he was charged with speed ing and driving while impaired in a county truck, and misdemeanor pos session of less than one ounce of marijuana. District Court records on file at the Brunswick County Clerk of Court's office show that Lewis pleaded guilty in July 1987 to reck less driving and the marijuana pos session count. The DWI charge was dismissed. He was sentenced to a $25 fine and a 10-day suspended jail term. Lewis later was rehired as a building inspector and was promot ed to chief inspector last year, when the department was reorganized and Ingram was named director. Smith said last week that the 1987 incident would not preclude Lewis from being considered for the permanent inspections director posi tion. Great New Arrivals & Holiday Savings Ladies 3-pc. Knit Suits Just Reduced Ladies' Summer Merchandise Just Reduced Men's Select Group Sweaters Just Reduced Enjoy lovely ladies' fashions by "Well Dressed Ltidy" & Lida Caputo Men choose from acid jeans, dress slacks & stylish dress shirts. Men's 82, Women's Colognes & Eelskin Accessories make great gifts. The Palace Connection V" Resort Plaza, Hwy. 17 S., Shallotte B3 be 754-9334 Layaways Welcome eiMO THE BRUNSWICK BEACON CURRENT RATES CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT 6 MONTHS 12 MONTHS 24 MONTHS UNDER $10,000 8.00% 8.15% 8.00% OVER $10,000 8.25% 8.40% 8.25% *Ask Us About Our New Money Market Rates INTEREST ON ALL ACCOUNTS COMPOUNDED DAILY PENALTY FOR EARLY WITHDRAWAL Security a ml LENDER SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION ?Southport >16130(1 'Shallotte 'Calabash 'Long Beach 457-5246 371-6546 754-4371 579-3595 278-6022 Announcing the opening of... antiques ? collectibles ? gifts November 24 and 25, 10 am to 6 pm Come shop with us for the "best of times" arid put sentiment back into your Christmas giving. AIRPORT PLAZA, HWY. 179, OCEAN ISLE BEACH, 579-9652 Recfiner Specials Holiday Savings on All Living Room Suites Best Buys In Town On Bedding & Bedroom Suites WRITING DESf 599 rwt* sut srr i Ats1 29?, k , ?T ^ ? .tjp.' ;v v i5H Christmas a^5s159SIik -I SHI ?1 ' eiaeo the Brunswick beacon Dinette Specials 6 pc. Group