Commissioners Balk At
Prioritizing List Of Proposed
> ? ?? ? 1 ? ~ '
Building Projects
BY KAHN ADAMS
Rmnswick County Commissioners agreed last week
that an estimated $25 million worth of proposed capital
improvements projects can't be prioritized because all
of them arc "immediate" needs.
That was the eventual consensus of all five commis
sioners during a two-hour workshop last Wednesday
morning in Bolivia. The session was a continuation of
the board's April 2 regular meeting.
In the only action taken during the workshop, the
board voted unanimoasly to have county workers raze
the dilapidated Red & White Building in Bolivia. The
county bought the building for 575,000 two years ago,
with intentions of renovating the structure and using it
for additional county office space. No renovation wort
was done.
Commission Chairman Gene Pinkcrton reported to
the board last month that the building was beyond re
pair, according to consultants who looked at the struc
ture. Demolition is expected to cost approximately
510,000. If the work was not done by county employ
ees, it would cost an estimated 528,000, Pinkcrton said.
Following a set of "personal notes" that he distribut
ed to fellow commissioners and the press, Pinkcrton led
discussion of financing 15 building projects, three of
which have already been funded ? a jail addition, a new
social services building and a new industrial training fa
cility in Lcland Industrial Park.
"My agenda is simple," he continued, "and that is to
get on with the agenda of capital project projections and
needs to keep Brunswick County going forward with
services to the people."
For the past month, county officials have discussed
arranging public and/or private financing for the pro
posed projects, which also include a 911/emergency
managcmcnt/cmcrgcncy medical services building, new
elementary school at Supply, new sewer plant for the
county government center, water system improvements,
county landfill improvements, roofing work at the com
plex, courthousc expansion, cafeteria expansion and
construction of new office space for the parks and rec
reation, water and land records management depart
ments.
SWF rHOTO BY KAHN ADAMS
SITE CLEARING WORK BEGAN last week at the Brunswick County Government Center for con
struction of a new Social Services Building ? one of 15 capital improvements projects that commis
sioners are thinking about including in a special funding proposal
The board met last month with Ed Regan, executive
director of the N.C. Association of County Commis
sioners, and Raleigh attorney A.P. Carlton to talk about
six different financing options. Pinkerton also met pri
vately with Regan earlier in the year.
Under a plan suggested by Regan, the county would
pay for all of the projects except the school and water
system improvements through installment sales con
tracts ? a financing method similar to mortgage financ
ing, in which the facilities themselves are treated as col
lateral. The school and water system projects would be
funded through general obligation bonds under Regan's
proposal.
The association director estimated that if the county
financed around S21 million, annual payments would
start at just under SI million in the 1990-91 fiscal year,
just over $2 million in 1991-92 and almost S2.5 million
in 1992-93. Resulting tax rate increases would be 2.5
cents in each of the first two years and an additional
one cent in the third year. The county's current tax rate
is 59.5 cents per SI 00 of property valuation.
Commissioner Benny Ludlum questioned Pinkerton
last Wednesday as to why he included the SI 16,000 jail
addition, SI. 08 million social services building and
S800.000 training center in the list of projects to be fi
nanced, since the county already has allocated funds for
the projects.
Pinkcrton responded that money which can be ob
tained for uionc three aiready-fund^ projects possibly
could be used for other capital ventures, such as the
school, for example. "You're just swapping money
from one pocket to the other," Pinkerton said. "You've
got to look at the total picture."
The commissioners agreed that the county already
is committed to the jail addition, social services build
ing, 911 building, training center and complex sewer
plant. Except for Commissioner Kelly Holdcn's com
ment that he feels water system improvements should
occupy the next highest spot on the priority list, the
board was unable to decide on an order of importance
for the projects.
Ludlum was the only commissioner to question the
feasibility of long-term, private financing. "If you went
with the first five (projects) and the school," Ludlum
offered, "what would be wrong with putting the rest on
a bond issue and letting the people say what they
want?" A public referendum is not required to approve
installment contract financing.
Pinkerton pointed out that the proposed projects arc
"mandated" either by the state or by local residents. As
an example, he noted that the county already has paid
55 million on a countywidc mapping project (land
records management) and now needs space to store and
utilize those materials. "I don't need the people of
Brunswick County to tell me that's real," Pinkerton said
of the county's capital needs.
Though neither he nor any other commissioner
would offer a priority list, Ludlum also suggested a plan
in which the projects would be spread out over several
years. Pinkcrton answered, "If we've got one (project)
we can put off for seven or eight years, we don't need
to be sitting here talking about it"
The chairman indicated that additional work ses
sions will be needed to work out the capital improve
ments financing plan prior to the board's budget work
shops later this spring. Interim County Manager David
Clegg was instructed to consult with financial experts ?
such as Carlton ? to obtain more definite cost figures on
project financing. Also, Pinkcrton said county depart
ment heads would be asked to give estimates of addi
tional space they need in their departments.
ABC Merger Nixed
(Continued From Page 1-A)
towns with ABC stores, including
Bclvillc, Boiling Spring Lakes,
Calabash, Long Bcach, Occan Isle
Bcach, Shallottc, Southport, Sunset
Bcach and Yaupon Bcach. Mixed
drink sales also arc legal at Bald
Head Island.
However, until the county estab
lishes its own ABC store or merges
with an existing system, businesses
in the county's remaining munici
palities and unincorporated area
cannot receive mixed drink permits
due to the law that requires a busi
ness to buy liquor for its mixed
drinks from the ABC system whose
jurisdiction covers that business.
State and county ABC officials
told the Beacon last month that sev
eral Holden Beach area businesses,
in particular, had inquired about the
availability of mixed drink permits.
As a municipality that was "dry"
prior to last November's county -
wide referendum, Holden Bcach is
one of the towns now under the
county ABC system's controi.
The county ABC board picked
the merger route because establish
ing a county ABC store would take
up to six months, the officials said.
Estimates of the cost of starting a
county store range from 5138,000 if
the building were leased, to more
than $250,000 if a new building
were constructed, according to
county ABC board member John
Ramsey.
After meeting with N.C. ABC
Commission administrators in Ra
leigh last month, the county ABC
board approached Boiling Spring
Lakes about a possible merger, ap
parently because Boiling Spring
Lakes ABC is the smallest of the
county's nine municipal ABC sys
tems and it is located closest to
Bolivia. With both governmental
boards' approval, Clcgg and Ms.
Jess began merger negotiations
April 6.
Ms. Cumbcc said Tuesday that
the town commissioners specifical
ly objected to two provisions in the
proposed resolution involving
membership of the merged ABC
board and the sharing of expenses.
According to a resolution draft
which Clegg presented to county
commissioners Monday, the merged
ABC board would be composed of
six members, representing the
members of both bodies' present
three-member boards. However,
one of the Boiling Spring Lakes
representatives would be a "non
voting member."
The other provision that Ms.
Cumbcc referred to states: "That
the cost of utilities, rent, salaries
and other fixed operational costs
shall be borne by the Boiling Spring
Lakes ABC Board. In the event that
fixed operational costs of the board
increase, the said board may con
sider whether or not a pro rata share
of the increased costs may be
charged to the Brunswick County
receipts."
Clegg told county commissioners
Monday that he talked with Boiling
Spring Lakes officials after the spe
cial town meeting, and that he
thinks iiie town wiii continue to ne
gotiate terms of the merger. He
added that the draft would serve as
a "framework" for further negotia
tions.
To facilitate a merger with Boil
ing Spring Lakes ABC or any other
municipal system, the county board
unanimously adopted the merger
resolution by adding the phrase,
"and any other alcoholic beverage
control board in the county," to all
references to Boiling Spring Lakes
ABC.
Corps Designing Test
(Continued From Page 1-A)
As chairman of the House sub
committee on natural and economic
resources and vice chairman of the
appropriations committee, Redwine
said he will be working close with
the proposal once cost estimates are
obtained.
Meanwhile, local proponents of
the dredging plan formally request
ed the county's financial support at
the Brunswick County Board of
Commissioners meeting Monday in
Bolivia.
Wallace Smith, a member of the
Lock wood Folly River preservation
group Save Our Shellfish (SOS),
presented the board with a letter
from long-time Holden Beach resi
dent John F. Holdcn, who first pro
posed the Eastern Channel dredging
strategy at an SOS meeting in
March 1989.
The one-page letter urges county
commissioners to cooperate with
state and federal officials and pro
vide financial backing for the
dredging project
"All parts of this great country
are competing for industry and
tourism. Lockwood Folly River of
fers possibilities in both," wrote
Holdcn. "It provides employment
for many local people and has the
potential of producing oysters for
an increasing population at a time
when worldwide shellfish produc
tion is decreasing.*'
MORGAN & SON'S
AUTO BODY SHOP
Sunset Officials Ask For Improvements
(Continued From Page 1-A)
Commissioner Benny Ludlum,
who made the motion to appoint
Bellamy, indicated at the board's
April 2 meeting that he wished to
replace Robinson because he often
missed the RDC's monthly meet
ings due to other commitments.
However, Ludlum said two weeks
ago that he intended to nominate lo
cal surveyor Thomas Morgan for
the post.
Commissioner Kelly Holden cast
the dissenting vote Monday. After
the meeting, Holden said he voted
against Bellamy's appointment be
cause he feels the former clerk of
court is a "controversial figure."
Bellamy resigned as clerk of court
in September 1987 after he pleaded
guilty to possession of more than
one gram of cocaine.
Ludlum told the Beacon that he
decided not to nominate Morgan
due to apparent opposition that sur
faced after he mentioned the matter
April 2. The commissioner added
that he nominated Bellamy because
the Holden Beach area resident was
interested in the RDC position and
had "paid his debt" where the 2 1/2
year-old drug ease was concerned.
In September 1987, Bellamy was
sentenced to a two-year probation,
which was lifted by a Brunswick
County Superior Court Judge in
January 1989, on a recommendation
from N.C. Attorney General Lacy
Thornburg. During his probation,
Bellamy was not allowed to hold
public office.
In other appointments Monday,
Jesse Clcmmons, Bill Dunn and
Wilbur Earp were appointed by ac
clamation to serve on a newly
formed blue-ribbon committee to
study county solid waste issues.
Commissioners voted April 2 for
the three-member committee to re
place the 12-mcmbcr Solid Waste
Advisory Board, which had been
formed in April 1989. Clemmons,
Dunn and Earp are former members
of the defunct advisory board.
Other Business
In other business at Monday's
meeting, commissioners unani
mously:
? Voted to name a proposed new
industrial training facility at Leland
Industrial Park the Brunswick Com
munity College Industrial Educa
tion Center. The facility is expected
to open this summer in advance of
Exidc Electronics' plant opening in
the industrial park late this year.
?Heard "Save Our Shellfish"
representatives' request for the
county to help fund the proposed
dredging of the Lockwood Folly
River's eastern channel (see related
story).
? Agreed to forward to the N.C.
Department of Transportation a
state road petition for Lexington
Avenue in Parkwood Estates, Le
land.
? Adopted a resolution to estab
lish national standards for youth
sports and coaches applications, as
recommended by county Parks and
Recreation Director Bobby Jones.
? Awarded low bids on a Caw
caw Water District clearing and
snagging project to A.D. McLamb
& Sons Construction of Shallotte
for clearing travelways at a cost of
$2,500; to Edwards Company and
Dexter Hughes of Ash for clearing
slopes and canal bottoms, 532,000;
and to Somerset! 's Landscaping and
Construction of Shallotte for the
purchase of galvanized pipe,
S2.341.03.
? Proclaimed May 6 through 12
as Extension Homcmakcrs Week,
and the month of April as Keep
America Beautiful Month in Bruns
wick County.
? Endorsed the Town of Cala
bash's appointment of town Com
missioner George Taubcl to the
Brunswick County Emergency
Medical Services Advisory Board.
? Amended the county's solid
waste ordinance to allow used tires
to be accepted for disposal from
municipal garbage collcction sys
tems.
? Amended the county's trans
portation development plan to re
flect the Brunswick Interagency
Transportation System's recent ap
plication for a SI 02,900 grant to
cover the purchase of four new vans
and other transportation-related
needs.
? Awarded a S101.800 contract
for an electrical distribution exten
sion project in Lcland Industrial
Park to low-bidder Harris Electric
Company, Wilmington. The county
will be reimbursed by Econonomic
Dftvp.lnnment Administration
(EDA) grant funds.
? Passed a resolution to apply
for $337,333 in EDA grant funds
for additional utility improvements
at Lcland Industrial Park.
? Adjourned until the board's
regular May 7 meeting.
Property Owners To Be Polled
(Continued From Page 1-A)
she felt that the SBTA should con
ccntratc on "alternative creative
ideas" to preserve the quality of life
on the island, rather than keying in
on just the bridge issue.
Durham attorney Jim Maxwell,
who represents the SBTA in an on
going lawsuit over public owner
ship of oceanfront property (Lot 1
A) just east of Sunset Beach Pier,
noted that his firm has researched
legal fights to stop bridge construc
tion projects in other parts of the
country and has found that none
was successful once the government
decided to build a particular bridge.
Emphasizing that he was not at
tempting to "solicit" the SBTA as a
client by commenting on the matter.
Maxwell said two possible benefits
of legal action would be that a fed
eral lawsuit might delay construc
tion of the new bridge and further
publicize the association's concerns
about the potential impact of the
high-rise bridge on the island.
The group's bridge fight garnered
considerable attention earlier this
month when Duke University Orrin
Pilkey held a press conference at
Sunset Beach Pier and announced
that he had rated Sunset Beach as
the "best" barrier island community
in North Carolina. Association offi
cials also were on hand to voice
their opposition to a high-rise
bridge.
SBTA President Clete Waldmiller
told members Saturday that the
press conference was attended by
reporters from the Washington
(D.C.) Post, Philadelphia (Pa.) In
quirer, and Chicago (111.) Tribune,
in addition to reporters from local
and slate media outlets. Newspaper
clippings on Pilkey's announcement
and issues related to the bridge
adorned one wall of the Sunset
Beach fire station, where Saturday's
meeting was held.
Waldmiller estimated that a legal
fight would cost the association a
minimum of $5,000 and would re
quire a fund drive. In a treasurer's
report by Mrs. Pelletier. members
learned that the organization's cur
rent bank balance is just under
$3,500.
However, Knapp later suggested
that each family in the association
contribute $50 toward the "Save
Our Bridge" campaign ? a fund
raising effort which he said could
raise at least $25,000. When SBTA
Director Minnie Hunt reiterated that
the group "will not bring the lawsuit
if we don't have sufficient money,"
several members staled that they
would write checks for their contri
butions Saturday.
Mrs. Hunt, who also is secretary
of the organization, indicated that
association members probably will
be given two weeks to respond to
the poll after ballots are mailed. To
authorize legal action, 66 percent of
the membership would have to vote
in the affirmative. Officials also
noted that according to SBTA by
laws, ballots which arc not returned
are counted as affirmative votes.
VFD Sets Barbecue
Calabash Volunteer Fire Depart
ment will sell pork barbecue dinners
in a fund-raiser at the fire station
Saturday, April 21.
Plates will include coleslaw and
candied yams in addition to barbe
cue, and will sell for $3.50 each.
Proceeds will benefit the depart
ment
Normal Temps
Are Forecast
Seasonable temperatures and
slightly less rain than normal are
expected in the Shallotte area over
the next several days, according to
Shallotte Point meteorologist
Jackson Canady.
Temperatures through the week
end should average from the low
50s at night to the low 70s during
the day. Rainfall should measure
less than one-half inch, which
would be a normal level for this
time of year.
During the period of April 10
through 16, the daily average tem
perature in the Shallotte area was 62
degrees, which Canady said was
normal for mid-April.
The daily average high tempera
ture was 73 degrees, and the nightly
average low temperature was 51 de
grees.
The maximum high temperature
during the period was 78 degrees on
April 15, Easter Sunday. The mini
mum low temperature was 38 de
grees on April 12 and 13.
Canady measured 0.4 of an inch
of rain during the seven-day period.
THE BRUNSWKK?ttACON
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 $10.30
Six Months S5.50
ELSEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA
One Year $14.80
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.
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: Sr. Cltl7im
In Brunswick County (-)6.30 U5.30
N.C. Sales Tax .32 .27
Postage Charge 3.68 3.68
TOTAL 10.30 9.25
Elsewhere in North Carolina Q6.30 U5.30
N.C. Sales Tax .32 .27
Postage Charge 8 18 8.18
TOTAL 14.80 13.75
Outside North Carolina Q6.30 U5.30
Postage Charge 9.65 9.65
TOTAL 15.95 14.95
Complete And Return To Above Address
Name
Address
City, State
Zip