Forum To Look At Issues
Before Voters On Nov. 5
A public discussion is planned
Tuesday, Oct. 2t>. on the five non
candidate questions before voters
when they to the polls Nov. 5.
Sponsored by Frying Pan Pre
cinct Democratic Committee, the
event is open to all, regardless ol
political affiliation, said Vernon
Ward, precinct committee chairman.
The question and answer session
will he held in the Shallotte Middle
School cafeteria starting at 7:.*() p.m.
Representatives of the Brunsw ick
County Board ol Commissioners,
Brunswick Count) Board ot
Education and the county administra
tion will attend to discuss the pros
and cons of each of the five items.
Voters will decide two issues
with their Nov. 5 votes, and will
have the option ol completing an
"exit poll" regarding three other
county wide issues.
Voters will determine whether
count) commissioners and board of
education members will continue to
be elected to staggered four-year
lerms as they are now, or I he entire
ty of each board come up for elec
tion every two years.
Also, they will vote on an elec
toral redistricting plan based on the
I WO I S. Census figures.
Ihe exit |x>ll will ask voters'
views on lire/rescue service dis
tricts. countywide zoning ami non
partisan elections for the school
board.
"Everyone needs to learn more
about those items, which will have a
tremendous impact on Brunswick
County and its future." said Ward.
McNeil Claims Championship
(Continued From Pane 1-A)
rcscni North Carolina next October
18 in national competition in
Leonard town, Md.. for a second
time. Last year Ms. McNeil finished
second in the U.S. women's compe
tition.
Cathy Carlisle, the 19W state
champion, competed at Leonard
town Saturday, placing second in
the women's event.
Judging in the state and national
Competition is based in part on
speed, hut as ihe rules indicate, "the
importance of presentation is upper
most".
Judges may add penally seconds
to a contestant's overall time for un
appealing presentations, such as an
oyster only partially severed from
the shell, blemished b> blood or de
bris. The worst penalty. 20 seconds,
is levied when an oyster is missing
from iLs shell.
Judges may also reward a com
petitor for preparing a particularly
attractive tray h> deducting up to 10
seconds, as they did both Ms.
Simmons and James Saturday,
Ms. Simmons shucked steadily
Saturday, her face hidden by a large,
floppy hat. With the bonus and 44
penalty seconds, she finished with
an adjusted time of 211.-1 seconds,
2.4 seconds behind the champion.
Her base time was 177.4 seconds.
22 seconds behind Ms. McNeil.
After finishing in second place
for the second consecutive year, Ms.
Simmons vowed she will someday
win the stale contest. "I'm just go
ing to keep coming back unul I do,"
she said.
Iliird-place finisher Tara F.
Clcmmons finished in 185.2 sec
onds. w ith an adjusted time of 234.2
seconds after 49 penally seconds
were added.
James, a Louisiana native who
said he's been shucking oysters all
of his life, finished fourth, with 31
penally seconds and a l()-sccond
bonus changing his raw time of
214.3 seconds to 235.3 seconds. He
was ihe only entrant to compcte
barehanded, without gloves.
Also competing were Dorothy
Hill. Lois Hill and Regina Leonard.
Judging the Burger King-spon
sored event were Terry Barbee,
Alan Holden, John Williams, Rep.
David Rcdwine and Chief Judge
Eddie Swcali.
Jay Houston served as head time
keeper. assisted by Phyllis Walters,
Robin Slagle and Chris Lewis.
County Prepares To
Enter Library Dispute
(Continued From Page 1 -A )
outas said, was the best decision
trustess have made regarding the li
brary controversy.
Shallotte attorney Doug Baxlcy
informed the board that it could not
sign the building contracts or incor
porate as a board because it is sub
ordinate to both county commis
sioners and the city of Southport.
In the past, neither Southport nor
the county had adopted a resolution
establishing the powers and duties
of trustees, Baxlcy said. Therefore,
trustees have no power to incorpo
rate since they cannot establish
themselves as a "separate legal enti
ty" outside of its relationship with
local government, he added.
Baxlcy advised trustees to ask
commissioner; and Southport alder
men for an interpretation of the le
gal status of the tx>ard.
Clegg said he will consult with
Southport city attorney Mike Iscn
berg before the county renders an
opinion in the matter.
"In light of the rapid growth in
Brunswick County and the apparent
need of the library to expand ser
vices in different areas of the coun
ty," Baxlcy noted, "there seems to
exist a clear need for clarification
and understanding of the authority
of the library board."
In his letter to trustees. Cannulas
said the board can only make recom
mendations to county commissioners
concerning the construction and im
provements to library buildings.
He also advised the board that,
under N.C. General Statues, land
deeded to trustees by the town of
Lcland and donations collected
from residents rightfully belong to
Brunswick County.
"Since you were created by the
county," Canoutas staled, "the land
belongs to the county and not to the
town of Lcland or any other city or
organization."
The donations belong in the
county's general fund, said
Canoutas, "to be used as they de
cide, provided it conforms to the
wishes of the donors." Trustees are
prevented from giving money to
anyone except the county, he added.
"Any decision made by your
board without first obtaining the au
thority, blessings and directives of
the county commissioners will sure
ly end up in a court of law,"
Canoutas stated.
I
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i THE BRUNSWICK j^BEACON
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I
COUNTY LEADS STATE IN NEW SEPTIC SYSTEMS
Commissioners Stall Request For Soil Scientist
BY TKRKY l*OI?K
Brunswick County installed more septic sys
tems last year than any other county in the suite.
Officials say that growth has prompted the
need lor a soil scientist at the Brunswick
County Health Department, a position county
commissioners appear hesitant to approve.
Between June ll?lH) and July llWI. approxi
mately 1,244 septic systems were installed in
Brunswick County, said Brunswick County
Health Director Michael Rhodes.
The second highest total was 1 .084 in Wake
County. Neighboring New Hanover County in
stalled 237 systems, said Rhodes.
Brunswick County, with its lack ol a regional
sewer system, traditionally is near the top
among the state's I (X) counties in the number of
systems installed.
"We need expertise in the field to help protect
the groundwater in Brunswick County for the
ciu/ens," said Rhodes.
However, commissioners voted unanimously
to table the request Monday until their next
meeting ami instructed Rhodes to prepare a
w ritten job description for the new position.
Commissioners cut a similar position from
the budget in June by a 3-2 vole. One board
member who voted against die cut then. District
3 Commissioner Gene Pinkerton, told the board
Monday that adding the position would be a
wise investment.
"We should consider the effect it would have
on the economic development of Brunswick
County," said Pinkerton. "We're on the top of a
lot of other lists, loo." Those other lists,
Pinkerton said, include unemployment.
"We need to lixik at the big picture," he
added. "Hopefully, it's going to help improve
the economic conditions. It's very serious."
The person hired would be an authorized
health specialist, capable of doing on-site soil
evaluations as well as oversee the county's low
pressure pi|x- (LPP) sower system management
program. The eounty soil scientist cut from the
budget in June did not make on-site inspections
and was not an employee of the health depart
ment.
Presently, about 20 percent of applications for
on-site soil tests are running five weeks behind
schedule, said Rhodes.
"I've received more complaints in the past
three or four months than I have ever received."
added Pinkerton.
Health Board Chairman Bill Rahon saiil the
department needs the soil scientist to implement
a policy his board approved last month that w ill
better monitor LPP systems. The board moved
ahead of the state when it adopted its LPP regu
lations. deciding not to wail until July when it
w ill Ik* mandated by the state.
"Some of the permitting the suite has been
doing is being put into the lap of local govern
ment." said Rahon.
There are 56 such LPP systems in Brunswick
County now that must be monitored for poten
tial groundwater and estuarinc water pollution,
said Rhodes. LPP systems use a series of pipes
and a mechanical pump in soils where tradition
al gravity-fed systems arc not suitable.
"Some of these larger systems will uike an
entire day to do an annual inspection," said
Rhodes.
The resignation of two environmental health
specialists in July prompted a backlog in on-site
inspections, said Rhodes. The department will
be back to 1 (K) percent if a trained specialist
who has been offered a job accepts it, he said.
The department would need S22.IXK) to fund
the soil scientist position from Jan. 1 to June 30,
said Rhodes.
But the department only has S 1.5(H) in lapsed
salaries, said Kelly Holdcn, board chairman. "If
it's funded, it'll have to be funded out of (coun
ty) contingency."
Other Business
In other business Monday, commissioners:
?Appointed John Thompson, of Leland, to the
Brunswick County Planning Board, to rcplacc
Thomas Dixie, of the Northwest community,
who resigned from the board;
?Reappointed Robert Maultsby ol Bolivia to
the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission
Advisory Council:
?Accepted a deed of dedication from Bella
Croft Townhomcs on N.C. 179 for water lines
installed by the developer;
?Approved three budget amendments: 1 ) to in
crease state funding for the Brunswick
Interagency Transportation System by S 10,849;
2) to increase state funding for the elderly and
handicapped assistance program by SI 5,773:
and 3) to increase building inspections by
SI 5,0 15 for local fees from the new Supply
Elementary School and the Odell Williamson
Auditorium oil the Brunswick Community
College campus:
?Designated the Brunswick County Planning
Board as the steering committee for the coun
ty's 1992 Coastal Area Management Agency
(CAMA) Land Use Plan Update;
?Accepted the low bid of S99.988 from Jewel's
Excavating and Utilities of Swansboro to build
the N.C. 904 solid waste convenience station at
Seaside. Other bids were Lonnie Locklcar and
Sons of Pembroke, SI 26.430; Wayne's Backhoc
Servicc of Shallottc, S 1 4 3 ,62 1 ; and Zeigler
Construction of Surlside Beach, S.C., S157,4(X);
?Agreed to negotiate for two 10-foot easements
in Oakridgc subdivision and one 10-foot ease
ment in Heritage Haven, valued at S600, S700
and SI, 950 respectively, for water lines in
Special Assessment District (SAD) 12.
?Accepted two petitions from residents in pro
posed SAD 19 in the Town Creek community
from Commissioner Frank ic Rabon, who said
residents there oppose the water lines.
Funding Method Appeals To Average Taxpayer
(Continued From Page 1-A)
keep the canals and bays drained to
prevent flooding of property. Over
the years, the drainage district was
abandoned. It became a controver
sial issue when commissioners were
asked by the Brunswick County
Soil and Water Conservation chair
man to take over operation of the
district after residents began com
plaining of Hooding problems.
To form service districts, all
property owners must be notified by
mail and commissioners must hold
a public hearing before they can be
established. District boundaries
most likely will not coincide with
those of the county's five electoral
districts, said Lcdgctl.
Electoral districts are based on
population counts rather than on
properly values.
"Some have an awful lot of area,
but I don't know if they'll raise a lot
of dollars," said Lcdgctl.
Representatives from the fire and
rescue units in each district would
form a committee to review the dis
trict budgets and advise commis
sioners on what tax rate to set.
Departments within municipalities
may choose to bccomc pari of the
scrvicc district by simple resolution.
"II they choosc not to, they don't
have to he in the district," said
Clcgg.
Departments within a district can
work together to avoid duplication
of equipment and can afford the
needed supplies and training that
can improve fire ratings, thus low
ering homeowner insurance premi
ums, said Ledgctt.
"When a department's fire rating
goes down, that translates directly
into the people's pocketbooks," said
l-cdgett. "What they are saving on
insurance premiums can pay for the
assessments."
County commissioners also have
the power to establish fire and res
cue tax districts, as opposed to ser
vice districts.
However, in tax districts, electri
cal power generation plants, such as
Carolina Power and Light Co. and
Cogentrix in Southport, would be
exempt from paying assessments. In
service districts, such companies are
assessed the same rate as property
owners.
North Carolina counties are es
Mild, Dry Weather Ahead
Both temperature and rainfall
will continue lo be near normal over
the next fews for the South Bruns
wick Islands, with very little precip
itation and mild temperatures in the
forecast.
Shallotlc Point weather watcher
Jackson Canady said he expects
temperatures to average in the low
50s at night up to around 70 degrees
during the daytime, with less than a
half-inch of rainfall.
The period of Oct. 1 5 through 2 1
gave the region a maximum day
time high of 82 degrees on Oct. 15,
and a minimum evening low of 46
degrees, which was recorded on
Oct. IS, Canady said.
The average daytime high was 75
degrees for the period, and the aver
age evening low was 5 1 degrees, for
an overall average daily tempera
ture of 63 degrees. Canady recorded
three-tenths of an inch of rain at
Shallotte Point.
He said that these readings were
normal for this tune of year.
Set Clocks Back
Saturday Night
With the end of Daylight Sav
ings Time (DST) this weekend,
plenty of people will enjoy an
extra hour of sleep Saturday
night.
DST ends at 2 a.m. Sunday,
so don't forget to reset all the
clocks in the house an hour ear
lier before going to bed Saturday
night.
Carolina Eye Associates
Takes Pleasure
In Announcing
The Association Of
Alan W. Brown, MD
SURG1CAI. St MEDICAL TREATMENT Ol' llll! KYI'
Phone 754-5434
(800) 422-1S64
Brunswick Hospital ? Supply, NC
Open Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00 pm
AJ'tr) W Ejcwji Ml) ? Cforgf W Tali-- MD * Robot t G Mattm. MD
Cilogoty J Mini > y MD * Daiuol K Massnei MD
tablishing scrvicc districts to fund
lire and rcscuc units at a rapid pace,
said Ledgett. An estimated 80 per
cent of the piedmont counties have
established districts. Neighboring
New Hanover and Pender counties
have also joined the crowd.
"Most counties will go to them in
the future," said Ledgett. "as the
dollars get light. It also gives the
public a little more control over
how their money is spent."
In July, Nord gave commission
ers a bleak picture of the rising
costs for a typical department like
Civietown Volunteer Fire
Department, which has three lire
trucks and an average of 30 volun
teers.
The department pays an annual
insurance premium of around
S5,(XX), mortgage of S4,(XX) per
year and S2.250 to equip each lire
fighter, said Nord. Pagers are S350
cach, which departments have been
told are needed by volunteers to
maintain standard fire insurance rat
ings.
A single breathing apparatus is
SI, 400. A fire coat and pants can
cost S500. Some departments pay
an insurance premium of more than
S9,0(X) yearly, said Ledgett.
"But it's our responsibility to sec
that people have adequate protec
tion," added Nord. "If the depart
ment loses its ratings, it's the home
owners that suffer."
Residents in different districts
will likely pay different rates.
"Theoretically, they could charge
cach district the same," said
Ledgett. But that isn't likely to hap
pen, he added, since the depart
ments' needs will differ, as will
property values.
Ledgett said the Nov. 5 poll is a
"gcxxl way to lake a pulse on what
the residents feel" about service dis
tricts. He is ready to develop plans
for the county's districts should
commissioners call for a public
hearing.
It would take a couple of months
to study and to develop the districts,
he said.
"It'd be tight to have it in place by
July 1," said Lcdgctl. "But I don't
think it would be difficult to do."
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THE BKUNSWICK&BEACON
Established Nov. 1,1 962
Telephone 754-6890
Published Every Thursday
At 4709 Main Street
Shallottc, N.C. 2X459
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Six Months S5.55
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