LESSONS LEARNED FROM HUGO Hoiden Beach Hoping hor Smoother Sailing When Next Hurricane Hits BY DOUG RUTTKR Holden Beach Mayor John Tandy admits the town made some mistakes in handling the rvturn to the island following Hurricane Hugo last fall. A group of Ured and anxious property owners was detained on the mainland while building contractors and others were - allowed to cross the bndgc and sur vey damage. "1 really wasn't satisfied with the way things went the last time at all," Tandy said last week. "I think we learned a lot from that expen cnce." The mayor says things will be different if and w hen the next hurri cane hits, now mat town officials TANDY are armed with a new hurricane evacuation plan which applies some of the lessons learned during Hugo. "We've tried to plug all the holes we could think of," Tandy said. "I'm confident we're going to do a bet m confident we're going to do a better job than we've ever done before ?Mayor John Tandy Holden Beach tcr job lhan we've ever done before." The new plan, which was distributed to town com missioners at their Sept. 10 meeting, is designed to min imize danger to the public and ensure an orderly evacu ation and recovery. "The number one thing is not to lose any lite," Tandy said. "The next thing after that is protection of property." The 32-page plan outlines duties for town officials and employees in five phases of a hurricanc emergency, which begins whenever a hurricane watch is issued. The document also includes lists of evacuation and damage assessment team members, people willing to help answer telephones and equipment contractors who could be called on to help the town recover. Also in the plan arc information sheets for ocean front property owners that outline procedures to follow should they want to rebuild decks, homes or dunes. There also are forms for people who refuse to leave the island to fill out so the town knows who to notify in case of death. One of the biggest changes from previous plans fol lowed by the town is that two commissioners would be in charge of keeping property owners and the news me dia informed following a hurricanc evacuation. Commissioners Gay Atkins and Judy Bryan would run the information post, which would be set up near the foot of the bridge on the mainland. Mayor Tandy said there was no formal contact be tween town officials and landowners following Hugo, and there were all sorts of rumors about what had hap pened on the island. "We didn't have anything in the way of good com munication last time," Tandy said. "That was very poor." If another hurricane hits Holdcn Beach, Com missioner Bryan said lot owners and residents would be able to get hourly updates at the information center. "A lot of people were really upset last year," Mrs. Bryan said. "That's what we're trying to avoid the next time." If there is electricity, she said the town plans to take a video camera on the beach and show the pictures to people waiting on the mainland. Besides its public relations effort, the town also has changed its system of identifying people allowed on the island following an evacuation. Property owners and residents still would be re quired to have vehicle stickers. Special one-day passes have been printed for contractors and other people who would go on the island to work. Home Along N.C. 87 Burns Monday In Unrelated Fire BY SUSAN USHER 3rnc that was ihrcatcnc day by a woods fire that blackcncd more than 100 aercs in the Winna bow-Leland area bumcd Monday night in an apparently unrelated blaze. Flames were shooting through the roof of the Jimmy and Mary Baggett home on north N.C. 87 when a Town Creek Volunteer EMS first rcspondcr and Winnabow VFD Chief David Short arrived shortly after getting the 9:07 p.m. call. "The front of the house was fully involved when 1 arrived," said Short. The front of the house, which in cluded a living room and bedroom, was heavily damage, while the rear of the home was "in pretty good shape," Short said Tuesday. Still, he added, "It's not livable at this time." The fire appeared to have started in the attic of the house. "As best we could determine it was caused from an electrical problem," said Short, referring to the assessment made after the fire by Brunswick County Fire Marsha! Cecil Logan. "There were several indicators that it was electrical in nature." However, firefighters checked to sec if there was any connection be tween the house fire and Sunday's woods fire. The fire had burned into the auto salvage yard that stands in front of the Baggcu house, causing at least three of the vehicles to ex plode. "Since the fire started high in the house we were suspecting it was from sparks from the junkyard," said Short, "but wc combed the area and couldn't find anything that could have sent sparks to the house." Winnabow responded with three tankers and a pumper, with mutual aid respondcr Bolivia VFD re sponding with a tanker and pumper. Short said the Baggeus were not at home Monday night when the fire was reported. "We still haven't had any luck locating them," he said tscsday. early Tucc"~ Pleasant Weather In Offina Sunny days and coolcr nights arc in the forccasi as ihc end of summer approaches. S hallo Ue Point meteorologist Jackson Canady said area residents can expcct temperatures to average near normal, with rainfall a little be low average. Thai translates into temperatures ranging from the mid 60s at night into the mid-80s during the daytime, with probably less than a half-inch of rainfall. "It's about as nice as you can ask for this lime of year," he said. For the period Sept. 11-17, Canady recorded a maximum high of 93 degrees on ihc Uih and a minimum low of 60 degrees on the 17th. An average daily high of 89 de grees combined with an average nightly low of 69 degrees for a daily average temperature of 79 degrees, which Canady said was about two degrees above average. He recorded .56 inch of rainfall. Septic Tank Rules Amended (Continued From Page 1-A) Until 1977 counties in North Carolina set their own rules for is suing site permits for septic tanks, though general state "guidelines" existed. In 1977 the state made its first attempt to standardize regula tions statewide. The first major amendments to the septic tank rules came five years later. The more stringent rules adopted at that time addressed spe cific soil types, water table separa tion, drainage and "restrictive hori zons" such as hardpan. Rhodes said the local health staff fell some questionable soils could be utilized in ways not allowed un der the new rules. A study completed here showed that some sites with restrictive hori zons could be used, he continued, which would allow septic tanks to be used in places they otherwise could not have been used" under existing rules. The department surveyed 100 lots with septic tank systems placed in fill dirt and in operation since 1982. "We didn't find any that were failing," said Rhodes. "That made us believe that the methods in use before 1982 were not that bad. They were working." Results of that study were sub mitted to a legislative study com mittee, co-chaired by Rep. David Redwine, that began meeting in 1987. The panel recommended changes affecting site evaluations, including upgrading of qualifications and training for those conducting the evaluations and state funding for re search, as well as changes in the regulations. Most of those changes went into effect this year either in the form of legislation or changes in regula tions. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRUNSWICK ^BEACON POST OFFICE BOX ?558 SHALLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28459 AND GET ISLAND LIVING, TOO! ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: Sr. Citizen In Brunswick County J6 30 J5.30 N.C Sales Tax .32 .27 Postage Charge 3 68 3 68 TOTAL 10.30 9.25 Elsewhere in North Carolina U6 30 J5 30 N.C. Sales Tax .32 .27 Postage Charge 8 18 8 18 TOTAL 14.80 13.75 Outside North Carolina J6 30 J5.30 Postage Charge 9 65 9 65 TOTAL 15.95 14.95 Complete And Return To Above Address Name Address City, State Z'P STAFF PHOTO BY TtHKY forf FIRE HAD ENGULFED the front of the Jimmy and Mary Baggett residence on N.C. 87 Monday night when firefighters arrived. No one was at home when the fire was reported. Suit Aims To Block Construction (Continued From Page 1-A) The suit contends also that the stale ignored concerns expressed by agcncics that commented on the project dunng the permitting pro cess. It claims the state did not explore, as required, alternatives to the pro posed project, and did not fully con sider both the direct (immediate) and indirect (reasonably foresee able) impacts of the project on all aspects of the human and natural environment. TV M rv' 11 m onto alls?r*n/11?' mt/ln A IIV uuvuxivxui tuiv^vwi^ inuuv no reference to a land use plan com pleted in 1980 by the town of Sunset Beach, to a boat landing thai would be destroyed by the project, or 10 fragile plant and animal species that might be adversely af fected by the project. Defendants argue short- and long-term adverse effects of the project would include, but not be limited to, the following: ?Threats to public recreational ar eas including the ocean beach; ?Threats to a number of endan gered and threatened animal and plant species, including the logger head sea turtle, the wood stork, the piping plover and sea beach ama ranth; ?Loss of the boat landing on the Sunset Beach causeway, which pro vides water access at high and low tides for recreational and commer cial boaters and fishermen; ?Increased pollution of shellfish waters resulting indirectly from in creased development (run-off from paved areas) ?Change in the visual impact of the bridge on the current "low-key appcarance" of the island: ?Other changes in the human en ir*?y\nvyr\nnl nomalti ?? fooiA# ? tiviuiiviii, uuiiivt j u iu.)ivi "|?accu lifestyle; and ?Pressure for zoning changes re sulting from construction of the pro posed bridge on water quality, shell fish, property values, community services and the "distinct family oriented nature" of the existing community. The suit also asserts that the six permits issued were based not only on the "flawed" documents, but also on "misleading communications" from the defendants regarding use and ownership of a public commer cial and recreational boat landing which would be destroyed by the new bridge. The boat landing would be dc stroycd, with no plans for replace ment, when the existing causcway is removed as a means of mitigating the net loss of wetlands resulting from the project. DOT has contended that the boat landing is "unofficial" and that users are "permissive trespassers." The plaintiffs contend that the pub lic has earned an casement by pre scription to the landing?regardless of who owns the properly?through continued use of the site for more than 20 years. Tt.. -- ?? -f U. . 1 lie tuiltc^l Ul CJ piv scription was an argument used in the SBTA's recent successful legal action to have "Lot 1-A" at Sunset Beach declared a public acccssway. In addition to temporary steps to block "further planning, financing, contracting or construction" of the bridge, plaintiffs are asking the court for a declaratory judgement, a decision that declares the rights of the two parties. They seek court or ders that would declare the Finding of No Significant Impact unlawful, void permits issued on the basis of the earlier environmental studies, and declare that the defendants vio lated a federal law that requires consideration of alternative actions. r\ a / _ S-\L?: _ _ n r r\ .? _i _ _ _ UMb wnn-t: fu i\t:v.?ivt; cviutniLe (Continued From Page 1-A) "I don't see any need to rush," County Engineer Robert Tucker Clegg said. "Frankly, I'm quite has been named interim head of the pleased with Mr. Tucker's handling building inspections department of it. I'm not ready to provide that and, according to Clcgg, is working department with another period of with the church to help to get them instability." back on track with the official in- . . . ? _ , spections. Since the county never . e need now is to allow Tucker received the money for the permit, ume ??/e-estabhsh a day-to-day technically the "county nev? pro- rou"nc [OT th? bu,1?ing inspection vided services." Clcgg added. staff and to allow him to observe Determining if "ere arc other ^ operauons and to identity any similar incidences may not be easy weaknesses that need to for the department. No other ma- * Messed. dences have been brought to "I want him to look at the depart Clegg's attention so far. ment from a professional point of Clegg is also rewriting the job view," Clegg said. He said he thinks description for the head building in- Tucker's engineering background spector's position. will be helpful in that respect. This Week s Events SUNDAY-FREE PIG PICKING 8f COOKOUT1 Come watch MASCAK races with us. MONDAY-QenUemen's Night. 50< draft. $1.00 beer. $1.75 house drinks. TUESDAY-Free dance lessons by Jim Stone-shaft. 2-step. and more. WEDNESDAY ar THURSDAY-Live music by Steve Logan- \ beach, country & classic rock. No cover charge.. THURSDAY-Ladies' Might-free roses. 251 wine, 50< draft. ? $2.00 margaritas Plus. Steve Logan playing a musical variety. | Open 2 PM with daily drink specials. Phone 754-7501 1 oa forest Drive, Shallulte. across from Jones ford at Joe's BBQ. "Hl?*c-hC-Lut WI! Employee Acquitted A district court judge last week cleared a Brunswick Electric Mem bership Corp. employee of assault ing a union leader after a May 9 contract negotiating session. Robert W. "Chip" Lcavill, staff assistant to the cooperative's gener al manager, was charged with sim ple assault after an encounter that involved Doug Smith, chairman of Local 495 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The two scuffled al the end of con tract talks hcid at the N.C. Baptist Assembly at Oak Island. Each later said the other started the incident. Smith, who filed the chargc, was fired by BEMC the following day. On Sept. 10 in Brunswick County District Court Judge Jerry A. Jolly found Leavitt not guilty of assault. Lcaviu said in a prepared state ment released last week, "We arc glad that this incident has come to a conclusion and concur wholeheart edly with the judicial outcome." Smith could not be reached for comment last week on several at tempts, but had earlier told a Wilm ington reporter he planned to ask the state Attorney General's ofTice to investigate the ruling. The union has also Hied a com plaint with the National Labor Rela tions Board, arguing that Smith's dismissal and other actions by BE MC management arc part of an ef fort to discourage union participa tion at the electric cooperative. A decision has not been announced by the NLRB. Smith is seeking rein statement and back pay. A majority of eligible BEMC workers voted last September in fa VOr of ioininu thf* union Th/* h??r_ ?J o * gaining group represents more than 60 employees, including linemen, warehouse workers, dispatchers and drafting and mapping coordinators. PROFESSIONAL CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ?Distinclive New Homes ?Additions/Renovations 30 years professional experience H.E. KEPPEL CONSTRUCTION, INC. LICENSED 919-579-9346 The Painless Window. ARE YOUR OLD WINDOWS WORN OUT? ALWAYS IN NEED OF REPAIR? OR REPAINTING? Replace your old windows with the "Painless" solution?The All-Vinyl Window. AFFORDABLE PRICING ? FREE ESTIMATES Cooper Awning Company P O Box 1431. Myrtle Beach. SC 29578 80J-Xlfr-