Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Oct. 17, 1991, edition 1 / Page 11
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Committee For ming To Explore Regional S ewer Pro ject Idea BY SUSAN HSIIKK Officials from three South Brunswick Islands towns agreed last week to form a committee to work with en gineers studying the feasibility of a regional sewer sys tem to serve southwestern Brunswick County. "I think it's going to be a go," said Councilman Bud Scran torn, who will represent Sunset Beach on the com mittee. "It may be largely on paper for a long time, but at least we're talking and know what everyone else is doing and can work toward the same thing." "I think that what will make it regional is what we do witli the wastewater," he said, particularly the shared interest in use of kind application on golf courses. Representatives of Calabash, Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach, the Sea Trail and Marsh Harbour golf communities and Calabash area landowner John I'rink gathered last Wednesday at Sea Trail Plantation at the request of Powell & Associates of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Picdmonl-Olscn Inc. of Raleigh. The consulting engineers were rcently hired by the towns of Sunset Beach and Calabash to conduct sewer system studies. The firms called the meeting because, as part of those studies, they were asked to explore the pos siblity of a regional system. Two representatives of the Institute of Government, Jake Wicker and Fryda Bluestein, outlined options for establishing a governing body to build and operate a system to serve multiple towns and adjacent unincorpo rated areas. Having a single governing b*xly could save on overhead and other duplication of costs, they noted. The engineers pointed out dial each of the entities involved have some "immediate need" that could serve as a starting point for discussion. Sunset Beach Town Administrator Linda Fluegcl said she was pleased with the meeting because it was the lirst lime die lowns had met to discuss the possibility of working together on a regional sewer system. At present Ocean Isle is the only town in the south west area with a sewer system, which is being expanded to serve the east end of the island. The largest private system is operated by Carolina-Blythc Utilities, divi sion of Burnett Utilities of Charlotte. That system serves Carolina Shores, which is now part of the town of Calabash. A private effort began about five or six years ago to establish a sewer system in the southwestern section of die county, but a system never materialized. "The prob lem then was that a lot of us had land that didn't need sewer then." said Dean Wallers of Sea Trail Plantation. "Now we're expanding and we're having to deal with stricter regulations regarding groundwater." The regulations are needed to maintain groundwater quality, he said, but make it more difficult lor private entities to meet regulatory standards. Wallers said he believes dial a regional approach in volving the towns is the most advantageous in terms of permit application, funding and management. Wicker reviewed a number of alternatives for man aging a regional system, including contractual arrange ments, service district or sanitary district, and the pow ers available to each lor management and linancing. I"he goal, he said, is to lind the most economical and efficient way to manage a sewer service area of a certain si/c in its current stage of development and planned growth. "You would be acting as one group to deal with state regulations and local government decision mak ing," he said. Morris Brookhart of Picdmont-Olscn told the group that "the true advantages (of a regional system) proba bly won't be evident immediately," but that it was still to their advantage to lay the groundwork early, before facilities are built. Both Odell Williamson, developer of and utilities commissioner for Ocean Isle Beach, and Ed Gore, Sunset Beach mayor pro tem and a partner in Sea Trail Corp., both said they favor a regional approach. "I think ii is a very forward movement," sail! Williamson. "I don't mean taking in areas where it will be HX) years before there are houses built, but the areas that have master plans." "1 wouldn't be surprised to see more funds available for water and sewer system development from the fed eral government because it's rougher out there for some of us than it seems on the surface." While agreeing. Gore cautioned that if the commit tee members "can't move together in a timely fashion" toward a regional entity, some participants might have to move ahead with projects ol their own. Brunswick County was not represented at the meet ing. County Engineer Robert Tucker had been invited but could not attend because he was out of town. One of the engineers with Powell & Associates, Joseph Tombro. said the county's present role in the re gional effort appers to be "passive". James Billups, also ot Powell & Associates, urged the towns to use their intluence to Uy to involve the county since a "significant portion of the population' would be involved. However, County Manager David vJlegg has saiil the county is focusing its clf'-rls on water system con struction. Thousands Get Surprise Tax Notices BY TERRY POPE Persons who failed to lisl vehicles on their 1991 property lax notices arc being hit with a Sl(X) fine in addition to late listing penalties. The Brunswick County Tax Department mailed about 8,(XX) letters last week to county residents who own vehicles or utility trailers they did not list with the lax office. For the first time, a new computer system allows the county to track down prop jik ? my owners who fail to list their vehicles to avoid pay ?? ing taxes, said Tax Admini ? strator Boyd Williamson. 3 The program was ordered by County Manager David Clcgg to help in the collec tion of lost tax revenues to WILLIAMSON the county. Automobiles, recreational vehicles and utility trailers worth an estimated S29 million in Brunswick County have not been listed, said Williamson. The county loses between S2(X),(XX) and S3(X),(XX) in tax revenues each year on those vehicles, he estimated. One cent on the county property tax rate of 68.5 cents per S100 in valuation generates about S300,(XX) in revenues. "We're mainly looking for the people who habitually and continuously fail to deal with the tax officc on ad valorem taxes," said Williamson. "They're out there, and we know it. This is the only way we can make believers out of them." Three years ago, the N.C. General Assembly passed a law making it a SKX) fine on each ve hicle for persons caught not registering them with the local tax department. For the past two years, a notice was printed on the back of county tax statements threatening abusers with a SKK) fine, said Williamson. "We had not been able to follow through with the SKX) fine," said Williamson. "We knew it would be an administrative nighunare." The county tax officc in Bolivia was busier than normal Monday morning from persons re sponding to the notices they received in the mail last week. The phones were busy and small lines had formed at the counter. "We're going to hear from about all 8,0(X) of these letters," said Williamson. The letters list vehicles that were registered with the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles in the person's name but were not listed for tax purposes with the county tax office. It gives the owner 30 days to reply, to indi cate why they should not be fined SKX) for making a false statement on their vehicle regis tration form and why they should not be billed for the late taxes. The taxes levied and the lines arc collectable through garnishment of wages and attachment of bank accounts, the letter states. "A disproportionate number of these letters arc coming back to us," said Williamson. 'That leads us to believe that this is a transient popu lation that moved in, got tags and have moved on. We have no way to track them." Williamson believes his office will collect around S1(X),(KX) in fines and another S1(X),(XX) in late taxes from the crackdown. After the 30-day review period is over, those who arc found to have failed to pay taxes due the county will receive bills in December, sever al weeks before the Jan. 5 payment due date. Some people responding Monday indicated the problem arose when vehicles were listed on a husband's tax form or they had just simply overlooked a utility or lx>at trailer, said Williamson. Another case showed that a woman had paid just S23 in taxes in the six years she has lived in Brunswick County. She owns a mobile home and a vehicle, said Williamson. "Those arc the people that 1 have no sympa thy for," said Williamson. "We're working on those situations on a case-by-casc basis." Without the computer program, the warning about a Sl(X) fine for not listing was "not much more than an idle threat," he said. But now, he adds, "We're serious about this." COMPLETE INTERIOR DECORATING SERVICE ? Carpet ? Vinyl ? Ceramic Tile ? Window Treatments ? Wallcoverings Ruby Floyd Ocean /]e4tenio*& Hwy. 904, #3 Seaside North 579-6091 GREAT TRAVEL VALUES Round trip air fares from Wilmington to ANYWHERE in the USA. From $118 to $338 JAMAICA 3-Nights from $459' Includes: air fare from Wilmington, hotel, taxes and transfers Begins Dec 19 CANCUN 3-Nights from $459* Includes: air fare from Wilmington, hotel taxes and transfers Ask about the many Cruise Specials available between now and December 15! 'Some holiday surcharges apply ^ BRUNSWICK TRAVEL? 150 Holden Beach Rd, Shallotte, NC 28459 754-7484, 1 800-852 2736 AND^jqq FINF Dog Sitter Gets Jail Term A Lcland man who left a dog locked inside a mobile home for more than four days was sentenced Monday to 48 hours in jail. Mike Greco, of Butler's Mobile Home Park, must also pay S243 to the Brunswick County Animal Control for care of the animal plus a SI 00 fine. Brunswick County District Court Judge David G. Wall sentenced Greco to six months in jail, sus pended the sentence and placed him on three years unsupervised proba tion. John Crowder, environment health supervisor for the Brunswick County Health Department, said he was surprised but pleased by the ac tive jail term given to the defendant, who had agreed to baby-sit the dog for its real owners. "He was actually keeping it (dog) for someone else," said Crowder. Animal control officers charged Greco with cruelty to animals. j We Specialize in EXPERT ij Cleaning of Carpet And Upholstery w Not Delighted? 5fKN Don V Pay! CI AtUNTEt CARPET CLEANING A DYE CO. Sening Hrunwick County for I $ yean '89 PONTIAC SUNBIRD AT, AC, AM/FM tilt wheel, 33,000 miles Was $6,995 NOW $5,875 JONES FORD 1-800-832-5328 ? 754-4341 Hwy. 1 7 N., Shallotte ? M-F 8-7, Sat. 9-4 Crowder said the mixed labrador was abandoned inside the mobile home for more than four days with out food. Greco must also serve 48 hours of community service. The dog, taken to the animal Happy Bosses' w*. Day to two of the best bosses in town, Julie ,& Dave I ^We Luv Yal Brunswick Business Service Staff shelter in Supply, is now healthy and in good condition, said Crowdcr. "The owners can now comc and get their dog," he said. SeW Serve \ Copier Don't wait in tine for copies. BBS now has a NEW simple self serve copier. _ Only 10c per copy Great 'or privacy in copying your personal & business papers 01 course, our stall will be glad to do larger copying iobs lor you it you desire! Brunswick Business Service Main St. ? Shallotte ? 754-8300 Hwy. 21 1 , Southport across from McDonald's. 457-4565 HURRY! HURRY! HURRY! Only two weeks left for the clearance sale at... .GOLD & SILVER ^ !' CONNECTIONS Absolutely EVERYTHING on sale and must go! So-come on down... What a Way To Say I Love You! at prices you can afford. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5:30 LOW COUNTRY STORES, CALABASH, 579-5414 ?5^55^. VISA r SECURITY SYSTEMS RESIDENTIAL - COMMERICAL - INDUSTRIAL F2 PELEN, inc Palmetto Electronics & Engineering "Professional Sound & Security" Burglar Alarms 'Closed Circuit TV Fire Alarms 'Sound & Intercom \^Medical Alert 'Digital Dialers (919) (803) 754-5333 249-3333 LICENSED IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA 3769 Sea Mountain Hwy Little River. SC 29566 We are pleased to have provided paving services for Southport Station Si ib division-Soi ithport Helping Brunswick County Grow! Grading And Paving Contractor 754-7177 Asphalt Plant? 2 miles north of Shallotte on Hwy. 17 579-0188 Serving Fine Seafood & Steaks Located on East Second Street Ocean Isle Beach Monday Night Football Food & Drink Specials Dining & Dancing Friday & Saturday Noiv Serving BrealcfcLst 5 am til 1 1 am 1* Festival of Savings 25% OFF SUPER SELECTION OF CLOTHING Includes New Arrivals of FALL & WINTER MERCHANDISE 50% OFF 2 Large Cases of Jewelry 40%-70% OFF Tremendous Selection of Clothing Don't miss this sale at... Quality Ladies' Fashions^ /? J . Missv ? >Jr. ? Petite ? Full Figure tytfr 579-7299 LOW COUNTRY STORES Qf calabash jg0| i |\VY 179. CALABASH TTsT
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 17, 1991, edition 1
11
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