North Carolina Newspapers

Tardy Water System Study Holding Up Expansion In Southwestern Brunswick BY RAHN ADAMS While county utility officials don't have much to say about the delay, a long-range study of the Brunswick County water system ? almost a year overdue ? has been postponed again by a Wake County engineering firm. The S20.000 study ? which was begun in June 1988 by William G. Daniel & Associates of Cary ? was not a topic of open discussion at Monday's Brunswick County Util ity Operations Boaru meeting. However, discussion of other mat ters indicated that the overdue engi neering report is at least indirectly responsible for delaying much needed water system improvements and expansion projects southwest of Shallotic. UOB members Robert Nubel, Burton Myers, Ai Morrison, John Jones and Rudy Simmons attended the 3 1/2-hour meeting, which in cluded a-15-minute executive ses sion recommended by Public Utili ties Director Jerry Webb to discuss "contractual relations." Nubcl ? who directed the meeting in the ab sences of board Chairman D.V. Jones and Vice Chairman Ernest McGec ? said no action was taken during the board's closcd-door con ference with Webb. After the meeting, Webb told the Beacon that preliminary results of the engineering study will not be available until March, even though Daniel appeared before the UOB in mid-December and assured the board that his firm would provide a preliminary report by the end of January and a final report in July. As the Cary engineer himself stated in December, Webb said Monday that Daniel simply "under estimated" the amount of time need ed to complete the study, which was initially expected to be finished in March 1989. This is the fourth time that the study has been postponed. The purpose of the engineering analysis is to identify "major miss ing links" in the county water system and prioritize potential pro jects that would fill those gaps. UOB consulting engineer Alan Lewis reiterated Monday that the study will not recommend specific areas of the county ? special assess ment districts, for example ? where lateral water lines should be in stalled. He said the Cary firm's re port will involve only major trans mission lines. Over the past year, county com missioners have cited the long awaited study as their reason for de laying action on certain water pro jects, such as the proposed exten sion of water service in the Shal lottc Point area and UOB-recom rn ended improvements to the water system southwest of Shallotte. The study is supposed to address system needs through the year 2010. Residents Want Water But approximately 30 Calabash area residents on hand at Monday's meeting told the UOB that they need county water service now, be cause their groundwater is in short supply and of poor quality ? a com mon predicament for many resi dents in densely-populated, coastal STAFF PHOTO BY RAHN ADAMS RAYMOND DAYKA, president of the Bonaparte Retreat II home owners association, ad dresses the county utility board Monday. sections of the county. Two subdivisions represented Monday were Bonaparte Retreat II and Heritage Haven, both located off N.C. 179 between Calabash and Sunset Beach. Several other neigh boring subdivisions have received water service through the county's two-year-old special assessment district program, in which property owners pay for installation of lateral water lines. Bonaparte Retreat II Home Own ers Association President Raymond Dayka presented the board with a 30-namc petition in support of initi ating an SAD projcct in the subdivi sion, which consists of 77 lots and 26 permanent residences. Heritage Haven representative Guy Maple also asked that his subdivision be included in the projcct. With more than 100 lots. Heritage Haven con tains at least 30 dwellings. Maple said. "The board is sympathetic to so many peoole in the county who have poor water," said Nubel, add ing, "The other problem we've run into is that in small, isolated com munities, the unit cost (of an SAD project) is high." He estimated that the property owners' assessment rate could exceed S7 per foot of frontage. Still, the residents indicated that they would gladly pay high assess ments to get county water scrvicc. "Seven dollars (per foot) is still a bargain, if you don't have any wa ter," said Dayka. Another property owner commented, "That's as cheap as putting 'town a new well.. .We just don't have any water ? good or had." Water Supply 'Marginal' Unfortunately, the county water system itself doesn't have enough water to meet peak summer de mands southwest of Shallottc, ac cording to a short-term engineering study that was done by Houston & Associates of Shallottc in the fall of 1988. Noting the county's "marginal supply of water," Nubel told the Calabash area residents Monday that the water system has not been able to keep up with population growth in southwestern Brunswick County since 1984, when water mains were installed. "One of the things we've been re luctant to do is put more burden on the system in that area," Nubcl said. "It's not a particularly good situa tion." He pointed out that ground water wells at Sunset Beach had to be turned on to meet water demand over the July Fourth holiday last year. UOB consulting engineer Jay Houston explained to the gathering that the water system "bottlenecks" at Shallotte. He said the county's new Northwest Treatment Plant can pump nine million gallons of water per day to Shaliotte; however, the system can carry only two million gallons per day past the town to the Ocean isle Beach, Sunset Beach and Calabash areas. In early 1989, the UOB recom mended that commissioners ap prove a 55 million capital improve ments project that would solve the water system problem southwest of Shallotte. Commissioners have tak en no action on the proposal over the past year. The proposed project involves construction of a 2,200 gallon per minute booster pump station near the intersection of N.C. 179 and N.C. 904; a one million gallon ele vated storage lank near the intersec tion of N.C. 904 and Old George town Road; and a 12-inch trunk line on Old Georgetown Road from N.C. 904 to N.C. 179 near Cala bash. Monday, the UOB agreed to rec ommend starting an SAD project in the Bonaparte Retreat I I/Hcritagc Haven area, as long as the subdivi sions can be added without overbur dening the system. The board in structed Houston and Lewis to re view the proposed SAD's impact on water availability; the engineers arc expected to report on the matter at the board's March 12 meeting. Other Business In other business at Monday's meeting, the utility board: ? Heard a request from Yvonne Bright for extension of county water service into the Mt Misery Road area near Leland. Nubel said the UOB was "stymied" on the request, since water service in that area would require installation of main lines ? a capital project that would be up to commissioners to approve. ? Denied a request from three property owners in SAD 8 (Cala bash area) who contended that the board's policy for assessing their "pie-shaped" cul-de-sac lots was unfair. "Front" footage of pie-shap ed lots is figured by averaging the width of the front and rear property lines. ? Decided to poll property own ers in Fisherman's Paradise, Coastal Shores, Seashore Estates and Carl Andrews subdivisions about whe ther or not they wish to be included in a Holden Beach area water pro ject involving SADs 7, 9, 16 and 18. Calabash Approves Changes (Continued From Pagt 1-A) commission. After a lengthy discussion, town commissioners approved changcs in ,c ordinance establishing the plan ning board. The most notable change is that four of the five regu lar members on the board will be appointed from District II and the ot..er will come from District !. Also, there is one alternate mem ber from each district and three members from the town's extraterri torial area who act only on matters concerning that area. Schaack, who originally pro posed the makeup of the new plan ning and zoning board, said he based his recommendation for the four- to-one district split on the amount of interest shown from resi dents of bod, districts to serve on the board. But some representatives from District I voiced concerns Tuesday about giving nearly all of the voting power to members from District II. Mayor Doug Simmons, who lives jn District I. said he would have bked to sec at least two regular members from his district. District I Commissioner Ed Ricc ?(?Cd ^ makeup of the board. I personally am very unhaD splil*"1 ^ far as ^ four-to-one However, Keith Hardee, the third representative from District I, said ??c nad no problem with the w?v the board was set up. Town Attorney Mike Ramos and others pointed out that the planning and zoning board only makes rec ommendations, which then must be approved by the board of commis sioners. Taubcl said commissioners can lollow the recommendation of the planning board or accept a minority opinion instead. "I hope within five .^u,S "? District 1 and District II, he added. Appointed to three-year terms on die plannmg and zoning board were ati Lewellyn from District 1 and WaiTen Bud" Knapp and Brend gord from District II. District II res idents appointed to two-year terms on the board were Warren Picnak and Hank Muttutat. Planning and zoning board alter nates, who will each serve two years, are Gordon Ragsdale from District I and Schaack from District Representatives from the town's ^*'fai^1n'oriaJ a""03 are Bob Crocker and Bill Rate. They will each serve three-year terms, and a third resi fater ^ **** W'U 5)0 aPP?inlcd In other appointments, Jim Dec han and Ernie Schoeber were each named to three-year terms on the drainage board. Appointees to the building and architectural board arc Hank Ruttcr and Paul Martin, cach for three years, and T. J. Morgan for two years. The streets, water and sewer board will be made up of Darius Lcwellyn, Bob Weber and Phil Nardoci. Lewcllyn and Nardoci will serve three years each, while Weber v.'il! serve two yc3rs Members of the four boards under the Calabash Planning Com mission will hold their inaugural meeting next Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in town hall. Other Business In other business Tuesday, com missioners: ? Met in cxcculivc session for about 20 minutes to discuss a per sonnel matter. Following the ses sion, the board approved a contract with the town's electrical inspector, Terry Willetts. The contract expires July 1, and among other things, requires the inspector to act in a "courteous, professional manner." Recently, commissioners repri manded Willetts for poor conduct on the job. ? Adopted an ordinance support ing installation of a 911 emergency telephone system in Brunswick County and a 50-ccnt monthly sur charge for telephone subscribers to help pay for the system. The addi tional telephone charge will take effect Aug. 1. ____ . \Jr\ ^ f /"X A^lt lArl nn n rl IU1VU IV WU V 1U1 cut au* ministrativc clerk who would work part time to assist the town clerk. ? Heard a report from Tom Cassell, chief planner with the state Division of Community Assistance office in Wilmington, concerning the town's ongoing annexation fea sibility study. Due to consolidation, Casscll suggested the town board wait at least one year before pro ceeding with annexation. Town offi cials have not decided what they will do next. ? Voted to advertise in tlie March 15 issue of The Brunswick Beacon the names of people who have not paid 1989 town taxes. Town Clerk Janet Thomas presented a list to commissioners that showed $9,655, or 24 percent of taxes due for the year, has not been paid. ? Talked briefly about taking over maintenance of the streets and ditches in Carolina Shores. Mem bers of the Carolina Shores Property Owners Association (CSPOA) re cently voted to turn over the streets and ditches to the town. But Calabash Commissioners cannot ac cept the streets and ditches until they arc formally offered by the CSPOA. Town officials indicated Tuesday that the streets will not be accepted until they meet the satis faction of the board. "We're not going to inherit their ills," said Commissioner Jon San bom. VA Cemetery To Be Closed Based on current interment rates, the Raleigh National Cemetery will close by the end of this month, ac cording to the Veteran's Admini stration National Cemetery System and Brunswick County Veterans Services Officcr Jess Parker. Burials of caskctcd remains will be made of eligible spouses and children of veterans already interred in the cemetery and of those hold ing gravesite reservations. Burial space is available tn continue inter ment of cremated remains. As a result of the closing, eligible veterans and their families must now consider other locations for gravesites. Of the two other national cemctcrics in North Carolina with available grave space. New Bern National Cemetery will have sites available until 1993, and Salisbury National Cemetery will be open un til the year 2010. Mild Weather To Continue The spring-like weather condi tions that the Shallottc area has en joyed over the past few weeks arc expcclcd to continue through the weekend, according to Shallottc Point meteorologist Jackson Can ady. Temperatures over the next sever al days should be slightly above normal, averaging from the low 40s al night to the low 60s during the day. Rainfall is cxpcctcd to be near normal al about one-half inch. For the period ol hcb. b tnrougn 12, the daily average temperature in the Shallottc area was 53 degrees, which Canady said was six degrees above average. The daily average high tempera ture was 68 degrees, and the nightly average low temperature was 38 de grees. The maximum high temperature during the period was 74 degrees on Feb. 7. The minimum low tempera ture was 28 degrees on Feb. 6. Canady measured 0. 1 1 of an inch of rain during the seven-day period. Steele Resigns (Continued From Page 1-A) son late last week. The four-year term ends December 1991. Due to poor health, Steele said he had been considering resigning for a couple of months. The 71 -year-old said he was forced to miss the last two town board meetings because of conflicting medical appoint ments. "I've enjoyed being a part of the town governing board and regret the fact that I have to leave," he said. In his letter of resignation, Steele also noted the honor and pleasure in of having "served with such f.ne people that are sincerely concerned and aware of the needs of Ocean Isle..." In accepting Steele's resignation Tuesday, Mayor Williamson expres sed the town's appreciation for his service. Petition Presented To Redwine (Continued From Page 1-A) community to go back to the way it was before. However, she would list no concerns with Vamamtown be ing a town. "I'm not having any problems," she said. In her unsuccessful bid for Var namtown mayor 'last fail, Mrs. Var nam did not return a questionnaire from the Beacon. However, she told another area newspaper that while she had first opposed incorporation, she at thai lime, supported the town At least two other would-be town Offlwirtlp f t r?? ?"? r\ tkn r\."% If Imn "T^ rm IIIWIUIJ dlgllVAi U IV |/VUUVSII. I IIV first name on the list is that of Joe Herring, an unsuccessful candidate for alderman who has since moved out of town. Also signing the peti tion is Samuel Terry Vamam, Mrs. Varnam's son, who also ran unsuc cessfully for the town board. Mayor Judy Galloway said she received her copy of the petition Monday night and wasn't surprised by the names of those who had signed, though she said some board members were surprised. "We'll talk with them," she said. "All they need to do is come to talk with us." Mayor Galloway is convinced the two groups can work out any differ ences that might exist. "I really feel confident, I don't feel like these people in the long run will want to go through with this once they hear the facts. 1 think they're being mis led. "Our purpose (as a town) is to stay as much like we arc as we can be," she continued. "I think they've been told that we're planning on adopting a lot of rules and regula tions that people would have to fol low, which isn't the case." Of the concerns she's heard ex pressed about the town, Mayor Gal loway said the question of town tax es is the only real issue. Towns people are currently taxed at 4.5 cents per $100 valuation in addition to paying county laxes. Most of those elected to the town board ran on a platform advocating keeping ihc tax rate low. However, Simmons, spokesman for the petitioners, would not dis cuss the group's reasons for seeking unincorporation. "I'll be honest with you," said Simmons. "I'd rath er not say anything right now. I be lieve the petition speaks for itself." Rcdwinc acknowledged that his handling of the petition will relate also to the N.C. General Assembly's adjournment resolution regarding the unrnminw shnrl r.lprtinn-vpar ? r - ------ 0 j ? . ? session. "It says we arc to take up non controversial local bills," said Rcdwinc. Both he and Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. would have to sign a state ment saying the Varnamtown bill was not controversial, he continued, with non-controversial meaning "that somebody won't call for a public hearing." However, Rcdwine said thai should the Varnamtown board go to legislative commiucc hearings on the bill ? which he said he thinks it would do as a matter of course ? and ask for 8 public hearing, then he could end up in violation of the ad journment resolution. Animal Cruelty Case Continued The trial of Calabash veterinarian Dr. Kenneth Nea! has been resched uled for Feb. 27 in Brunswick County District Criminal Court, ac cording to the clerk of court's of fice. Neal, 30, operator of Calabash Animal Hospital, appeared in dis trict court Monday morning to face four misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. However, the trial was continued two weeks at the prosecu tion's request. Neal has denied the charges. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Hicks handled the case Monday. Neal appeared in court without an attorney. After his Jan. 31 arrest, the veterinarian said he was represented by a North Myrtle Beach, S.C., lawyer. The charges against Neal stem from four separate incidents that al legedly occurred at his animal hos pital between Nov. 7, 1988 and Jan. 4. He is accused of beating two cats and two dogs. Brunswick County Animal Con trol began a month-long investiga tion Jan. 5, after a complaint was filed by one of the pet owners, Deb bie Somersett of Grisscttown. Veter inary examinations of her 3 1/2 ycar-old cat indicated that it had suffered a broken tooth, mild con cussion, paralysis to one side of its body, bruises and bleeding from its lips and gums. If convicted, Ncal could rcceivc a possible maximum sentence of up to a year in prison and be fined up to $1,500 on each count. Also, ac cording to a spokesman for the N.C. Veterinary Medical Board, an ani mal cruelty conviction could result in revocation or suspension of Neal's veterinary license. THE BRUNSWICKfefEACON Established Nov. 1 , 1 962 Telephone 754-6890 Published Every Thursday At 4709 Main Street Shallotte, N.C. 28459 SUBSCRIPTION RATES IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY One Year S10.30 Six Months S5.50 ELSEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA One Year S14.80 Six Months $7.85 ELSEWHERE IN U.S.A. One Year $15.95 Six Months $8.35 Second class postage paid at the ! Post Office in Shallotte, N.C 28459. USPS 777-780. DR. CHRIS MOSHOURES OPTOMETRIST WHEN TO REMOVE LENSES Only extended-wear contact lenses may be worn round the clock, awake and sleeping. While extended-wear contact lenses are a type of soft lens, not all soft lenses are designed for extended wear. Standard hard and soft contact lenses should be removed for sle eping (yes, even naps) since corn eal swelling may occur due to a reduction of available oxygen. If you should inadvertently fall asle ep while wearing standard lenses, instill a few drops of saline solu tion (for soft lenses) or lubricating eye drops in the eyes to loosen the lenses before attempting to remove them. Unless otherwise instructed, you should also remove lenses be fore swimming or showering. Water could enter your eyes; the lenses might shift, fall out, or float away. In addition, soft lenses could absorb chemicals (such as chlorine) and impurities from the water. One possibility, if this is inconvenient, is to wear special swimming goggles when exposed to water. * * * * In the interest of better vision from the office of: Brunswick Vision Care Chris Moshoures, O.D. Pine St., Shallottc, 754-4020 Salt Marsh Sq? Calabash, 579-4020 ?one nf thfi hp?t Major Medical plans for individuals . . . ' according to Money Magazine ?No pre-authorlzation. ?Guaranteed renewable for life. ?Pays 100% of all eligible expenses after deductible. ?Up to $1,000,000 for each covered accident or sickness. ?Deductibles from $250 to $5,000 ?Savings up to 30% in many cases. ?Rated A+ (superior) company by A.M. Best. ?Recommended by National insurance Consumer Organization (Family Circle magazine) For additional information, complete the coupon below and mall to Major Medical, PO Box 1214, Shallotte, NC 28459, or call Dennis Jessen at (919)842-8393. NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE/ZIP TELEPHONE (Home) (Work)