BCC Board Wants Auditorium Construction Back On Schedule
BY SUSAN USHKR
Wmk on the Odell Williamson Auditorium is off to a
sIoa start and Brunswick Communily Coiicgc trustees
want contractors to know they're not happy with that.
Meeting last week, trustees directed Chairman David
Kelly to write Hatcher Construction Co., Inc. of
Favoltevillc, general contractor, "wiih a letter to every -
Kh!v in the world." expressing their concern that the
project is a month behind schedule.
"Tell them the board would like the project back on
schedule, suggested Ai Woolen of Calabash, chairman
of the Building and Grounds Committee.
Woolen said BCC's concerns would be emphasized
also at a meeting with the architect, contractors and sub
contractors.
The lagging schedule is the latest in a series of lime
related problems with the project, which was to be paid
lor w ith part of the proceeds of an SX million BCC con
struction bond issue approved by voters in November
1985.
Work began on the 1,500-scaU S3. 2 million commu
nily auditorium last fall, several years after construction
was first expected to begin. Ii is to be completed near
the end of this year.
Committee member Lewis Suinlcy said he visited the
work site, where workers are laying foundation and
completing site preparations.
"But there weren't many people working: that's what
bothers me. They just don't seem to be putting enough
people on the projcct," he said, with fellow committee
member Jim Rabon concurring.
At a meeting in December contractors blamed the
slowdown on delays in steel drawings. Woolen said, but
that doesn't appear to be the enure problem.
While expressing displeasure with job progress on the
one hand, trustees later agreed to award a series of bid
alternates to the general contractor at an added cost of
$228,953. an elective provided for within 180 working
days of receipt of the bids, and approved a S3 .5 26
change order.
Ben DeBlois, vice president for administrative ser
vices, said the college has enough money from the bond
issue approve u b) voicrs fur iiic auuiuMium io covcr fcic
cost of the additional work. Included will be an upgrad
ed sound system, stage rigging and curtains, paving of
an access drive and 100-car parking lot west of the audi
torium and lighting for the walkways and parking area.
Board members approved the change order to provide
a backflow valve to keep antifreeze from the sprinkler
system entering the county water line, but expressed
concerns that there might be "many more to come" on
the project.
Woolen would like one person designated io handle
approval of change orders. While noi wanting to slow
work on the project, Kelly said the board needs to be
aware of ihe nature of and necessity for any change or
ders sought. On some previous jobs, change orders have
been submitted alier-Uic-lact in some instances and in
others have added substantially to the final cost of the
project, something he wants to avoid this time around.
"1 hate to be driven by their paperwork," he said. "I
have a real fear we're going to have a lot of these "
Except for changes needed to bring the project into
compliance with laws, said Kelly, "We need to let them
know wc expect the building to be built according to the
plans and specifications."
Funds to cover this and future changc orders will be
drawn from a line item set aside to cover replacement of
any unsuitable soils. Soils didn't prove to as much of a
problem with this building as it did with the last, leaving
S22/XX) that can be spent on other needs.
Budget Kased
DeBlois also reported that the slate revenue picture
has improved and BCC will get back a portion of the
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S36,(KX) will be used to offset insurance expenses that
this year had to come from the college's own budget
rather than ihc state Department of Community Colleges
budget.
Committees Appointed
Kelly made committee assignments for the year as
follows: Building & Grounds ? Al Woolen, chairman;
Jamie Millikcn, vice chairman; James Rabon and Lewis
Stanley, members; Finance ? Donna Baxter, chairman;
Malcolm Grissclt, vice chairman; Eugene Hcwctl and
Chuck Lanier; and Legislative ? Lynda Stanley, chair
man; Jimmy Hobbs, vice chairman; Jerry Munn and Ken
Perrone.
Studies I'nder Way
Brunswick County high school students arc being sur
veyed this month regarding interest in various programs
Brunswick Community College is interested in adding
to its curriculum.
These include recreational grounds management,
aquacullure and several allied health programs.
A consortium, made up of the Wilmington Area
Health Education Center, and Bruns vick, Cape Fear,
James Sprunt and Southeastern community colleges, is
seeking S3.5 million in grants in implement programs on
the various campuses to meet current and/or anticipated
worker shortages in allied health fields.
Concurrently, BCC is submitting early proposal appli
cations to the state board seeking approval for two of the
allied health programs targeted for its campus, phleboto
my and medical records technology.
Other Business
!n oiher business trustws annriwi'd an undated
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accountability plan for the continuing education depart
ment and heard that:
?Area fire departments arc set to burn a building at the
Southport campus Jan. 25. "We're going to extreme
ends to make sure other buildings arc unharmed," said
BCC President Michael Reaves. "They're not going to
just torch it and try to fight it. They're going to burn it in
sections and put it out several times."
?Also at the Southport campus, heating and air condi
tioning improvements to selected classroom areas
should be completed by the end of the month, opening
the way for local groups and businesses to begin reno
vating classrooms on an "Adopt-A-Room" basis starting
Feb. 1.
?Honey & Associates Architects arc to present the col
lege's long-range plan for the campus at the March 18
meeting.
?Ils members still aren't 1 (XI percent in financial sup
port for the BCC Foundation, according to Rabon, un
like the coHcge's siiif ! unci fsculty
Calabash Still Mulling Sewer System Options
HY DORI COSCROVE C.IRGANUS
Calabash commissioners continue
to explore aliematives for providing
sewer service to the town.
Tuesday night, six out of seven
board members met with Jim
Billups and Joe Tombro, engineers
with the consulting firm of Powell
Associates of North Myrtle Beach,
S.C., in a workshop session to re
view the latest draft of preliminary
figures and scenarios for the system.
Present were Commissioners Ray
Card, Jon Sanborn, Slu Thorn, Bob
Noe, Ed Rice and Mayor Douglas
Simmons.
A second, similar meeting is ten
tatively planned, most likely after an
upcoming public hearing, Billups
said.
Commissioners plan to set the
date for that hearing at their regular
board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 7
p.m.
Ai the hearing, commissioners
want to find out what residents think
about uiC addition of a sewer system
to non-sewea'd areas such as
Hunter's Trace, Calabash Acres and
Acreage Estates. Currently only a
large section of Carolina Shores is
served, by a private utility.
"Testing the waters, you might
say," Card said of the forum.
Once that hearing gives the com
missioners more evidence to consid
er, they plan to meet again with the
engineers to further discuss the
town's options.
After that meeting, Billups said
he and Tombro would be ready to
make their recommendation to the
town.
So far the commissioners haven't
finished culling the options available
to the town Rillups and Tombro
outlined five scenarios Tuesday
night, which arc:
?Purchasing the existing treat
ment plant in its entirety from
Carolina Blythc Utilities;
?Building the town's own plant
and system;
?Tying into the existing Carolina
Blythc system;
?Tying into a regional system to
be considered with Sunset Bcach;
and
?Not doing anything.
Billups is encouraging the town to
keep open options for tying into a
regional system at some point.
"We can't not do anything',"
Sanborn said of the town's options.
Under the current proposal pre
sented in November, the down
town/waterfront business area is rat
ed as top priority for receiving ser
vice. But the engineers maintain that
their figures arc by no means final,
and that public comment will influ
ence which avenue is chosen.
Calabash hired the same consult
ing engineers as Sunset Beach,
which also plans to build a sewer
system, starling with scrvicc to the
island. The towns have discussed,
along with several major landown
ers anil development representatives,
strategies for developing a regional
system as a means of holding down
costs.
Billups said he thinks Calabash
will qualify for the Farmer's Home
Administration loan for which it has
applied. He and Tombro will contin
ue researching other means of fund
ing.
Varnamtown Offers $500
Reward To Deter Vandals
BY DORI C. GURGANUS
With all but three street signs up now in Varnamtown, aldermen there
arc taking steps to deter vandalism.
Monday night aldermen voted uanimousiy to offer a $500 reward
from the town to anyone identifying a person who defaces, removes or
destroys town property, said Paul Vealey. town clerk.
Introduced by Alderman John David Dawson, the resolution is in
tended to help protect the new street signs and other items purchased by
the town.
Vealey said Mayor Judy Galloway is pleased with the new signs and
the near completion of their installation.
Aldermen also voted unanimously to install a wheelchair ramp by the
Iront door of the town hall, he said.
Necessary business such as obtaining permits still remains, but the
job should be undertaken with few problems, said Vealey.
In other business, the board unanimously to contract with the county
for regular fire inspections, instead of the town hiring an inspector of its
own.
Mayor Galloway announced this year's annual town birthday festival
and parade will be Sept. 5, over the Labor Day holiday.
Erecting Road Signs A Challenge, Keeping Them
Up May Be The Next
BY SUSAN' LiSHF,k
Erecting road signs al every intersection in
Brunswick County sounds like a large enough
task, but the most challenging job for the county's
sign crew may be keeping the signs up and in
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That will be a top priority once the county's en
hanced 9 1 1 emergency response system is up and
running later this year.
"We're trying to get the word out that this im
portant," said Doug Lcdgett, assistant county
manager and 911 project manager. "It is critical to
good service delivery by the county."
The sign project, like structure numbering, is
under way in conjunction with the county's move
to an enhanced 911 emergency response system
later this year.
When an emergency call comes in, the location
will appear on the computer terminal display for
dispatchers* use. Street signs and house numbers
make it easier lor emergency crews to find their
destinations quickly, without any loss of time.
When the sign crcctors arc dene, between
2,(XX) and 2,500 signs will dot Brunswick County
rights-of-way, horizontal blades of green reflec
tive material with white lettering, mounted on
aluminum poles set in concrete. One will stand at
the intersection of any two roads, streets or even
cartways that lead to structure.
By the iiuic the fiisi 700 signs weie up, about
100 already were in need of repair, said Tommy
Birmingham, a planner and sign project coordina
tor with the Brunswick County Planning
Department.
"We haven't really lost that many," he said.
"It's just that people hit them or bend them, or
bend the blades over."
Cost of replacing a sign runs about S60, he
said.
Ledgett, who is also an attorney, said removal,
theft or malicious damage to the signs are
"chargeable offenses".
Birmingham said the county was warned to ex
pect a loss of between 20 percent to 30 percent of
all signs each year.
"I don't think it will be far off from that," he
Said.
County employees already arc asked to report
damaged or missing signs 10 Lcdgcti. Fire and
rescue workers will be doing lite same, and
Lcdgeti would like the cooperation of other coun
ty residents as well.
Every sign that's removed or damaged not only
costs taxpayers money, but aiso increases tiie nsk
of an emergency vehicle being delayed, he said.
"The biggest thing is to get notice," he said. "If
we don't know a sign's missing we can't replace
it."
Once 911 is in operation the county's goal is a
48-hour turn-around lime on all repairs or re
placements. Any longer and the county could face
potential liability as residents and service
providers come to rely on the signs.
Said Birmingham, "Once 911 is in effect, we
will have to take it and run as soon as we get a
call."
Signs are up in the Calabash, Ocean Isle,
Sunset Beach and Leiand areas. Next on the list is
Shallotte, followed by Supply, Southport and the
rural areas.
County Studies Noise Control
Ordinance
BY TERRY POPK
A comprehensive noise ordinance drafted two
years age finally made it to the Brunswick
County Board of Commissioners' agenda
Tuesday.
Commissioners agreed to study the ordinance
written by County Attorney David Clegg in 1990,
a document that covers everything from car
horns, barking dogs, chain saws and stereos to the
crici of peddlers.
"I'd like a week or two to digest this," said
District 4 Commissioner Frankie Rabon.
"It's talking about how you can't have dogs or
chain saws," he added. Rabon, an avid hunter,
keeps hunting dogs on his property at Town
Creek.
A public hearing is required before adoption.
Board Chairman Kelly Holden had asked that a
hearing date be set Tuesday.
"For the past two years, we have heard a num
ber of complaints," he said.
Most recently, Holden Beach area residents
asked for a noise ordinance at the Jan. 6 commis
sioners' meeting. They told the board that neigh
bors play their stereos so loudly that pictures fall
off the walls inside of adjacent homes
But with no ordinance in place, the Brunswick
County Sheriff's Department is powerless to
make neighbors turn down the sound.
"It's a shame that we, as neighbors, can't get
along so that we don't ne&l these guidelines,"
said District 2 Commissioner Jerry Jones.
The rules would prohibit excessive or unnec
essary noises from a person, firm or corporation
that disturbs, injures or endangers the quiet, com
fort, repose, health, peace or safety of any other
person.
It also outlaws:
?horns or signaling devices on automobiles,
motorcycles, bicycles or other vehicles on any
street or public place cxccpt when used as a dan
ger warning;
?stereos, televisions or musical instfumenis
audible at a distance of at least 50 feet from the
building, structure, property or vehicle from
which it is emitted;
?keeping of noisy animals that disturb, injure
or endanger the quiet, comfort, peace or safety of
any other person;
?discharging of exhaust from any non-com
mercial steam or diesel engine, chain saw, power
motor, motorboat or motor vehicle except through
a muffler,
?cars, molorcyclcs or other vehicles that arc
out of repair and crcaung loud, grating or grind
ing noises of duration or frequency that disturbs
others:
?shouting or crying of peddlers, hawkers and
vendors; and
?drums or musical instruments used to attract
attention to any performance, show or sale.
It would not apply to fire, rescue, police, sher
iff, ambulance or other emergency vehicles. Also,
parades, sporting events and other public func
tions held in churches, gyms, arenas, theatres,
amphitheaters, stadiums, rifle ranges and gun
clubs would be exempt.
Other Business
In other business Tuesday, commissioners:
?Accepted petitions with the names of an esti
mated 1 ,5(X) residents opposed to a five-year solid
waste disposal contract with Waste Industries of
Raleigh. Burness Hewctt told the board the con
tract would not save the county money.
Waste Industries may start garbage collection
and open recycling stations by March 1, said
Clcgg. The county will still operate the landfill in
Supply.
?Accepted the annual town and county valua
uons and tax levies from Tax Administrator Boyd
Williamson. The 1991 valuation of Brunswick
County is $4.1 billion, creating a levy of S29 mil
lion. Valuation for the Doshei Hospital District is
SI. 7 million for a levy of 5685,747.
?Changed the name of Sommerset Drive in
Calabash to Shady Forest Drive following a brief
public hearing.
?Tabled a request from the 5th District Civic
Association to revise its lease agreement with the
county on a building al the old Leland school
park. Four-County Head Start wants to hold class
es in the building and is willing to renovate it for
free, said Commissioner Donald Shaw. The board
wants representatives from both groups to explain
the deal at its Feb. 4 meeting.
?Approved budget amendments to prepay a
S24.80X lease on a solid waste truck; to accept
sni.202 for a capital project at Tclcchron at the
Leland Industrial Park; to accept S750 in state
funds for environmental health services.
?Took no action on a policy request from the
Brunswick County Resources Development
Commission that asks for blanket approval for
grant applications to private industries.
?Heard from Clcgg that the county may need
to cut the number of people who serve on the
Keep America Beautiful Board from 13 to seven
because it is having problems getting quorums for
meetings.
?Arrrnieii by a 4-1 vote, a bid of S153.KK)
from Waste Industries of Raleigh to purchase two
rolloff trucks, two tractors, two trailers and a
transfer trailer from the solid waste department.
The county must advertise for upset bids. Shaw
voted no.
?Set a public hearing for Feb. 4, 6:20 p.m., on
a request to change the names of six county roads.
?F-xtended for six months the position of 911
program planner, Lee Hitchcock. The 911 pro
gram was originally scheduled for completion in
January, but will not be ready until April.
?Appointed Karl Andrews to the Brunswick
County Utility Operations Board to replace
Richard Trexler, who resigned.
?Voted to pay $100 a month to any municipali
ty now coordinating a recycling program until the
county can being its program under Waste
industries in March. Sunset Beach and Calabash
had asked that the county keep funding recycling
trailers in placc there. Bush Rccyclerx of
Florence, S.C., charges $200 to pull away a full
trailer
STAFF PHOTO BY TERRY POPE
PIANNER TOMMY BIRMINGHAM . county sign project coordi
nator, assembles a sign in a temporary workshop set up at the gov
ernment center in Bolivia.
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