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thirtieth Yeor, IN umber y cm? the munswc* beacon She! Icttc, Ncrtn lq roltno , Trii_ns?iiiy#. lot tuo ry 2. 1992 50? Per Copy 26 Pcgss, 3 Sections, 3 !
CP&L LEADS TOP 1 0 LIST *
Property Tax Bills Due Monday
BY TKRRY POPE
Brunswick County property own
ers will have until Monday to pay
their 1991 taxes without facing a
penalty.
Tax statements indicate the dead
line is Jan. 5, which happens to fall
on a Sunday this year. The actual
deadline is Monday, Jan. 6, by 5:30
p.m., said Tax Collector Nancy
Moore.
Through the end of November,
just 16.3 percent of Bninswick
County residents had paid their tax
es, said Ms. Moore. For the same pe
riod las! year, 19,6 percent had paid.
"Considering the economy, dial's
not bad," she said. "The bulk of it is
going to come in within the next two
weeks."
If paying by mail, ihc letters must
be postmarked on or before Jan. 6 to
avoid a 2 percent penalty. Metered
mail must arrive at the office on or
before the 6th to avoid added costs.
Approximately 95,000 tax state
ments were mailed to Brunswick
County property owners in August,
a month later than normal.
Brunswick County Commissioners
delayed the mailing uniii a decision
was reached not to charge property
owners a parcel fee to help pay for
trash disposal.
Business was brisk at the lax of
fice Friday. The jvriixi foiiowing
Christmas is the busiest time of UiC
year for the tax collection depart
ment.
The office hopes to improve on its
95.06 percent collection rate for
1990. That figure was down slightly,
from 95.31 the previous year, said
Ms. Moore.
"We're certainly going to strive
and push for it," she said.
Garnishment Works
A policy approved by commis
sioners in February' gives the lax de
rimneni authority to narnish wages
7 0 Largest Taxpayers For '9 7
SOURCE: BRUNSWICK COUNTY TAX ADM.
PROPERTY OWNERS VALUATION TAX AMOUNT
Carolina Power & Light Co S634 .034,319 S4 ,595, 299.24
E.L du Pontile Nemours & Co 264,921.455 1,814,711.9/
N.C. Eastern Municipal Power 181,456,261 1,315,557.89
Archer Daniels Midland 66,204,085 479,979.61
Cogentrix 34,829,626 252,514.79
Odcll Williamson 27,7 1 5.430 189,895.10
Federal Paper Co 24 ,626,640 1 68,706. 1 2
Bald Head Island Ltd 21.010,146 152,323.63
Brunswick Elcctric Membership 21,862,203 151,431.99
International Paper Co 2 1 ,066.000 144,302. 1 2
(Tax figures include any Doshcr Hospital dissict Hies for which the
taxpayer is responsible.)
and to attach bank assets of those
who owe back taxes. From April to
Nov. 7, the department had collected
$260,180 in back taxes from delin
quent accounts.
"So if they don't pay by the 7th,
we still have the authority to go in
and garnish their wages," Ms.
Moorc noted. "We don't give them
any warning."
Property owners have quickly be
come aware of the policy, said
County Manager David Clcgg.
Before, persons said there was no
incentive to pay on time when the
county wasn't taking quick action to
collect delinquent taxes. Slate law a!
iuwS COuntiCS u) CCiiCvt fcr uUCo that
arc no more than 10 years past due.
"It should make everyone happier
about paying their taxes this year."
said Clegg. "They know it's not an
issue anymore."
County commissioners adopted a
S35 million budget based on a tax
rate of 68.5 cents per S100 in valua
tion for tlte 1991-92 fiscal year, the
same tax rate as the previous year.
Facing slate funding cuts, commis
sioners trimmed the county budget
to keep from raising taxes.
"We're dealing wiih a steady rale
thai hasn't wildly fluctuated as it has
in other counties," said Clegg. "But
1992 is going to be interesting."
Persons who pay after the 6th will
be charged a 2 percent penalty until
Feb. 1 , when it will increase to 2 3/4
percent. For example, a person who
owes S3(X) in taxes will pay S306 af
ter the 6th, a figure that will increase
monthly thereafter.
Annually, about XS percent of tax
payers pay before the deadline each
year. About 1 5 percent end up pay
ing a penalty. The names of delin
quent taxpayers are published in lo
cal newspapers in April.
Th?- 'Inn III
The names are the same, but the
order has shifted slightly for Bruns
wick County's "Top 10 Taxpayers"
list for 1991.
According to Brunswick County
Tax Administrator Boyd William
son, there were no new additions to
the top 10 list of county properly
owners. The lisl is dominated by
corporations and businesses except
for one individual. Ocean Isle Beach
developer Udell Williamson, who
maintained his number six spot on
ihc lisi again this year.
Oncc again, Carolina Power and
l ight Co.. with its Brunswick nucle
ar plant in Southport, heads the list
of taxpayers released last week by
the lax office.
At S634 million, CP&L's 1991
valuation increased by about S I .S
million from its 1990 level. That fig
ure fell last year, said Williamson,
because of a scheduled adjustment
for public utility companies.
The result is that CP&L's S4.5
million tax bill is about SI1(),(XK)
more than last year. The Du Pont
company will pay about S300,(XX)
more than last year.
Making the top 10 list were:
CP&L; E.I. du Pont dc Nemours &
Co., a manufacturer of polyester
fiber in Lcland; the N.C. Eastern
Municipal Power Agency, a consor
tium of municipalities which owns
part of the Brunswick Nuclear
Plant's production capacity; Archer
Daniels Midland, formerly Pfizer
Inc., a citric acid producer in South
port; Cogcntrix, a regeneration plant
that sells processed steam to Archer
Daniels Midland and uses surplus
steam to make electricity for sale to
CP&L; Odell Williamson; Federal
Paper Board Co., a timber producer;
Bald Head Island Ltd.. a Bald Head
Island development company;
Brunswick Electric Membership
Corp., a local power cooperative;
and International Paper Co., a tim
ber producer.
International Paper slipped from
eighth in 1990 to 10th this year.
Bald Head Island Ltd. moved up op
position to eighth, and Brunswick
Electric moved from 10th to ninth
this year.
The top 10 taxpayers account for
S9.26 million in lax payments based
on more than SI. 29 billion in prop
erty values, or about a third of the
county's lax base.
State Legislature Delays Local Filing Period
BY TERRY POPE
AND DOUG R UTTER
Stale lawmakers have delayed the
filing period for candidates in the
1992 elections while they work out
bugs in new state House and Senate
and U.S. Congressional districts.
The N.C. General Assembly post
poned the start of the filing period
from Jan. 6 until Feb. 10 after re
porting to Raleigh Monday for a
special session.
Slate Rep. David Rcdwine said
the delayed filing period is sched
uled to end March 2, "assuming ev
erything goes all right" wiUi the re
districting plans.
The U.S. Justice Department's re
jection of a state redistricting plan
for congressional and state races has
thrown the 1992 election process in
turmoil.
Legislators have convened for a
short session to dralt a new plan to
suit the Justice Department. The fed
eral agency says districts approved
last summer favor incumbents in of
fice while "refusing to accommo
date the community".
Rcdwine said proposals to redraw
district lines could leave Brunswick
County divided.
"I'm up here now trying to mini
mize the damage to Brunswick
County," said Rcdwine, who is vice
chairman of the Congressional
Redistricting Committee.
The Brunswick County Board of
Elections was notified by letter
Friday to delay filing for local scats
until further notice.
Locally, filing wa- to have opened
Monday, Jan. 6, for tiirec seats each
on the Brunswick County Board of
"I'm up here now trying to minimize the
damage to Brunswick County
? State Rep. David Redwine
Commissioners and Board of
Education ? (Districts 1 , 3 and 4), as
wel! as county coroncr and register
of deeds.
Incumbents on the board of com
missioners in Districts 1 and 3,
Kelly Holdcn and Gene Pinkerton,
nave uiiiiOuiivvu ut^y will net 5C4?k
re-election.
District 4 Commissioner Frankie
Rabon has not announced his plans.
Neither have school board incum
bents Doug Baxlcy, Robert Slockctt
and Donna Baxter of Districts 1, 3
and 4 respectively; Coroner Greg
White; or Register of Deeds Robert
Robinson.
Filing had already been delayed
for state House and Senate scats
pending approval of a rcdislricting
plan.
"Hopefully, the primary election
will still be conducted on the regular
scheduled dale," said Alex K.
Brock, director of the state Board of
Elections.
Under that schedule, the primary
election would be held Tuesday,
May 5. Filing was to open Jan. 6 at
noon and close Feb. 3 at noon.
All elections will now depend on
approval of the rcdistricling plan.
TTie plan devised by the General
Assembly this summer was rejected
by the Justicc Department in
December, saying new district lines
weaken minority voting strength as
protected in the 1965 Voting Rights
Act.
The state revised the 14th House
District, which now includes
Brunswick and Columbus counties
and Cape Fear I and II precincts in
New Hanover County, by expanding
its territory and turning it into a two
member district. Columbus County
is presendy represented by Rep. Leo
Mercer and Brunswick County by
Rep. E. David Redwine.
Locally, the 18th state Senate dis
trict also was reconfigured, dropping
a portion of Cumberland County and
picking up a portion of New
Hanover County.
Boundaries of the 7th Congres
sional District now represented by
Rep. Charlie Rose were modified as
well.
Because of population growth, the
slate added a 12th congressional dis
trict in the Piedmont and a minority
district from Durham to Elizabeth
City.
On Monday, Redwine said there
is a possibility that portions of
Brunswick County will be included
in new state and congressional mi
nority districts.
He said the Navassa, Woodbum
and Hoods Creek communities may
be included in a new stale House
minority district along with commu
nines in New Hanover, Columbus
and Pender counties.
The Justice Depanmeni also
wants another congressional minori
ty district in North Carolina.
Rcdwinc said a district running from
Charlotte to southeastern North
Carolina is one of the possibilities
being considered.
"Right now nobody knows," he
said. "We'll probably get a clearer
view next week."
Rcdwinc said the suite legisla
ture's two redisricting committees
will start meeting next Tuesday and
develop plans to present to the full
General Assembly when it recon
venes Jan. 13.
If lawmakers pass redistricting
plans incorporating Justice
Department recommendations,
Redwine said it should only take a
few days to gel federal approval.
"We feci like wc can get it all
eleared up and changed by Feb. 10,"
Rcdwinc said.
New boundaries are drawn every
10 years to rcflccl population
growth based on the U.S. Census.
Brunswick County's local redis
tricting plan set new boundaries for
the county's five residential districts
for school board and county com
mission and was approved by a ma
jority of voters in November.
That plan did not displace any in
cumbent commissioners or school
board members now holding office.
New district lines, drafted by
Brunswick County Commissioners,
affect residency requirements for
candidates only. Voters countywide
nominate and elect candidates from
all districts.
STAFF PHOTO BV DORl C GURC.AMUS
Feast For The Birds
A hungry seagull snatches bread from the hand of Lisa Reynolds
ofXenia , Ohio, while she and her family enjoy a Christmas after
noon on Ocean Isle Reach. Thus is the Reynolds' last Christmas
stateside for a while, as Usa s husband. Ash, has oeen stationed in
England for four years by the Air Force. They visited family here
and brought twin daughters Katie and Kristy to see the ocean for
the first time.
VA Officials May Help
Pick County's Officer
Brunswick County Manager
David Clcgg says he will get help
from the slate Veterans Affairs divi
sion when interviewing candidates
for the county's vacant Veterans
Service position.
Clegg said Friday that he will ask
someone from the state office to as
sist him oncc the pool of 207 appli
cants has been narrowed down for
interviews. He hasn't indicated
when those interviews will be held.
The scat became vacant in Octo
ber when Jess Parker retired and
moved to Washington. His longtime
assistant, Julia Hayes, a veterans
service officer, was then named act
ing director.
Brunswick County veterans orga
nizations have lobbied Brunswick
County Commissioners, asking that
a veteran fill the post.
Commissioners haven't discussed
the controversial position at their
meetings or said when they would
like the matter resolved.
"They haven't indicated it to me,"
said Clcgg.
Ms. Hayes, a non-veteran, has ap
plied for the county-funded position
and was endorsed by Parker as the
logical candidate to fill his shoes.
The candidate chosen will be
"very oriented to Veterans Service
issues," said Clcgg.
"Those applicants will have to be
well-versed in veterans issues," he
said. "Wc will be looking for a
benchmark of compeicncc in deal
ing wiih veterans and their fami
lies."
According to the District 4
Veterans Service office in Wilming
ton. Brunswick County is home to
an estimated 5,990 veterans.
Steve Guthrie, senior veteran ser
vice officer of District 4, said the
Veterans Administration estimated
S4.8 million in benefits would be
distributed in Brunswick County in
1991 to veterans, their dependents
and survivors.
"A lot of industries in Brunswick
County don't generate that kind of
income," said Guthrie. "It's like a
little industry."
Debate has also focused on
whether to shut the Brunswick
County office down and have veter
ans rely on the Wilmington District
4 office, which also serves New
Hanover, Columbus, Onslow, Pen
der and Bladen counties.
"It would be a huge mistake,"
said Guthrie.
His office is one of 15 district of
fices statewide. Ninety of the stale's
l(X) counties also have their own
full-time local Veterans Service offi
cer.
County officers are responsible
for day-to-day interface with clients
while district officcs provide tcchni
(See VA OFFICIALS, PaRt- 2-A)
Here's What South Brunswick Leaders See For '92
BY DORI C. GURGANUS
AND DOUG R I) ITER
South Brunswick Islands officials have vastly differ
ent forecasts and predictions for the year ahead.
Some are starting the year with plans to complete
big projects, while others are hoping to keep a good
thing going or to simply improve on 1991 .
Wastewater management wiii iikeiy he a key issue hi
at least three of the six area towns, and probably more.
Ocean Isle Beach plans to expand its sewer plant this
year, and Calabash and Sunset Beach will consider
building systems.
Here's a brief Itxik at what local leaders expect in the
year ahead:
Varnamtown
Mayor Judy Galloway said she knows of no big
She lists several projects lhat the town plans to con
sider or pursue in the year ahead such as regular recy
cling service and taking bids to expand the sewer system
to the island's cast end.
The town also expecLs to hear whether it is eligible
for reduced fkxxi insurance rates lhat the town applied
lor in 1991.
Mrs. Williamson said the police department will
contiiiuc Willi ils criuic prcvcrdioR program this year.
Police officers are currently engraving owner identi
fication on valuable appliances and household items and
keeping serial numbers on a computer at the station.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should play an
important role in Ocean isle's progress in !lW2.
Mayor Williamson said she is "very excited" about
ihe Corps' dredging project in the Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway that will place lX),(XX) cubic yards of sand on
the east end of the island.
plans lor ihc upcoming year, cxccpl
for the paving of the town hall park
ing lot.
The mayor said she would wail
until the new board, which includes
two newly-elected aldermen, settles
in and see what they decide to lack
?c next.
Mayor Gaiioway was in ufficc
when the previous Varnanilown
*/ b?ard purchased the lown hall in
(iALLOWAY i yxl> and proceeded in 1991 to fix
up the building and its grounds.
Ocean Isle Beach
Betty Williamson, who was elected to her third lull
term as mayor of Ocean Isle Beach in November, said
that 1992 will "continue to be busy" for the community.
Also, if ihc Corps determines that the project is fea
sible, Shallotte Inlet could he dredged for the first time
in a number of years.
Mrs. Williamson said it would
benefit the fishing industry and is
greatly needed for navigational
purposes. If the project is approved,
that sand could also lie used to re
lUHirish the beach.
Also in 1992, Brunswick
Electric Membership Corp. is to
move ahead with placing utility
wn i iamcan lincs undcK"*"*1 Plans call for
Williamson ciecuical. telephone and cable tele
vision lines to be relocated underground.
Once this project is finished, Mrs. Williamson said
the town will be able to build sidewalks along more of
(See (SOUTH BRUNSWICK, Page 2-A)