New Ground
Hope Harbor Home is breaking new
ground, with plans to open a
S Women's Resource Center to serve
L families in need. Find out more on
**' Page 5-B.
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First Step
Brunswick County Commissioners
took the first step Monday in
forming a unified county-operated
library system. The story's on Page
8-A.
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Thirtieth Year, Numberl6
THE MUNSWICK MACON
Shallotte, North Carolina, Thursday, February 20, 1992
50<t Per Copy
34 Pages, 3 Sections, 2 Inserts
Leading Lady
Christy King led the West Brunswick
girls to wins over South Robeson and
Fairmont last week. Details are in the
Sports section. Page 8-B.
$?&hurwpji ???'? ?
? I Erratic Market May Affect
- a '94 Property Revaluation
^ | In Brunswick County
BY TERRY POPE
An crratic real estate market has
Brunswick County officials unsure
of how to conduct an eight-year
property revaluation.
County commissioners will de
cide next month whether to conduct
an in-house revaluation using tax
department employees or to contract
the job out to a private firm. It is
likely to cost the county S 10 per par
cel, or around S 900,000.
Under question, too, is whether
the county should assess property
values every four years rather than
every eight years following 1994.
State law says counties must con
duct a revaluation at least every
eight years but docs not regulate
how often one can be performed.
"Progressive" counties arc speed
ing up the revaluation process, with
some choosing two-year cycles be
cause of their constant growth, said
Brunswick County Tax Administ
rator Boyd Williamson.
But in a resort county such as
Brunswick, that growth is often cr
ratic, he said.
"The valuation is not going to net
the return of a 1986," said William
sou. "We're biting our fingernails."
Commissioners Chairman Kelly
Holdcn said he favors a four- year
cycle, but that will be the decision of
another board of commissioners. A
four-year cycle could be done either
in-house or under contract, he said.
Holdcn doesn't think an ailing na
tional cconomy will spell trouble for
the county's tax market.
"Despite the fact that we are in a
recession, Brunswick County is still
growing," said Holden. "There is
still a lot of parcels of property
changing hands."
Complaints over property values
are taken to the Brunswick County
Board of Equalization and Review,
an independent board of five mem
bers appointed by commissioners
that hears property owners' appeals.
Following the 198b revaluation, the
board heard 215 appeals and threw
out 34 of those assessments.
Williamson said the county has
four options to conduct the 1994
revaluation: in-housc with additional
personnel and computer equipment
purchases; in-housc with a private
firm overseeing the job; contracted
labor with the county responsible for
other areas; or contracted service.
The 1986 revaluation, contracted
to W.P. Ferris Co., cost around
S420,(XX), or about S5.80 per parcel.
"I don't think that's going to be
the case today," said Williamson.
The N.C. Department of Revenue
estimates fcsciving SI 2.50 per par
cel tor a .evaluation.
Commissioners have appropriated
money each year since 1986 to the
revaluation fund, but will only have
an estimated S650.000 in the pot as
of June 30, said County Finance
Director Lithia Hahn.
"I'm prepared to do it any way
you want it done," Williamson told
the board. "We can give you a
Volkswagen or a Cadillac."
If done in-house, persons would
visit each of the estimated 90,000
parcels in the county to check for
home improvements and other items
that may affect the present market
values, said Williamson.
Workers must be in the field by
late spring in order to stick to the
schedule outlined for completion by
Juiic 1994.
One advantage of an in-house re
valuation is that local people know
more about local property values
and the county. Residents may re
sent outsiders "shoving something
down their throats," he said.
On the negative side, an in-house
revaluation may be taxing on the
staff, bring about criticism and po
tential lawsuits from challengers.
"If all things are about equal,"
said Holdcn, "I would favor an in
house revaluation. Our people
would be more familiar with land
uses and land values."
The aim of a revaluation is to ap
praise or Value property ut its true
value in money, s&iu Vr'illiarnson.
Market value is the price estimated
in terms of money at which ihc
property would change hands be
tween a willing and financially able
buyer and a willing seller.
mrnm,
STAFF PHOTO BY OOUG R UTTER
STATE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Tommy Harrelson (above right) talks with West
Brunswick High School students at the Southeastern Welcome Center dedication last Friday. To his
right is local businesswoman Annette Odom.
West Students Call For Overpass
At Welcome Center Grand Opening
BY DOUG RUTTER
"Wclcomc tourists. Wclcomc death."
"Why? Because our lives are on the line."
"What will it take, a bus load of kids?"
Posters bearing these and other slogans greeted N.C.
Transportation Secretary Tommy Harrclson and other
dignitaries at the Southeastern Welcome Ccnici dedica
tion last Friday.
About 20 West Brunswick High School students
demonstrated at the ceremony, calling for an overpass
on the U.S. 17 Shailotte bypass just a few hundred yards
from the new center.
Two local residents, Shailotte businessman Steve
Smith and West Brunswick student Misty Carmichael,
were killed last November in an accidcnt where the by
pass crosses N.C. 130.
Two other serious wrecks have occurred at the inter
section since the bypass opened last May, each involv
ing trucks that failed to stop for a traffic light on the
four-iane highway.
Harreison, a Souuipon native anti keynote spcakci fut
the dedication, told students that driver error, not the in
tersection, has been responsible for the accidents.
"The road is safe. The intersection is safe," said
Harreison, who visited the families of the accident vic
tims last Thursday. "It's the drivers who are not taking
the speed limit seriously."
The demonstration overshadowed an otherwise pleas
ant, well-attended ceremony. Sunshine and warm tem
peratures made a perfect day for the formal dedication
of the center that opened Feb. 3.
Harreison met with the students before and after the
ceremony and alluded to (heir demonstration in his ad
dress.
"It's great to be in America and know that no matter
who you are and no matter how old you are you have
the right to public assembly," he said.
West Brunswick senior Jason Dosher was among the
students who stayed out of school Friday to attend the
ceremony. Other students left school early to show their
support for an overpass.
"We know it's going to take time," Doshcr said. "But
we want it in as short a time as they can get it done."
West Brunswick Principal Ed Lemon said most of the
demonstrators either stayed out of school Friday or had
their parents' permission to leave early.
However, about eight students received in-school sus
pensions, some oi iiicin foi leaving school early wi'Jioui
parental consent.
"Thai's no different than any other lime they eul
class," Lemon said. "What we didn't want was students
leaving campus without their parents knowing about it."
Chris Russ, a 1991 graduate of West Brunswick, said
the state should have used the S1.2 million it spent on
the welcome center for an overpass.
'Take the money out of this piece of junk because it's
not needed," Russ told the transportation chief. "This
isn't doing Misty Carmichacl any good. This isn't doing
Steve Smith any good."
Responding to a question about why an overpass
wasn't included in the final bypass plans, Harrelson said
siutiicS SiiOvvCu it waSii t jUSu*<Cd al ihul Umc.
Hanelson said four-laning all of U.S. 17 is the N.C.
Department of Transportation's top priority in
Brunswick County. That alone will improve safety on
the busy coastal highway, he said.
The DOT's design branch is working on a feasibility
study that should help N.C. Board of Transportation
members decide if an overpass is needed at the bypass
intersection.
Marilyn Williams of Wilmington, who represents
Brunswick County on the state board, said last week it
would take "several years" to design and build an over
pass if it is approved.
In the meantime, Harrelson promised tough enforce
ment of the 55 mph speed limit through a cooperative
effort of the Shallotte Police Department, N.C. Highway
Patrol and N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles.
"Every accident that's happened here has come from
high speed," Harrelson said. "We want this to become
known as a speed trap."
(See WEST STUDENTS, Page 2-A)
Two Held
Two Shalloilc residents were ar
rested Tuesday on drug charges by
the BPJP.S'vick Coyniv .Sheriff *<!
Department.
Thirteen charges were filed
against Godfrey Lanier Hankins, 27,
of Mulberry Street, said Detective
David Crocker of the narcotics divi
sion.
Hankins was chargcd with five
counts of possession with intent to
sell and deliver cocaine, five counts
of sell and deliver of cocaine, main
taining a residence for keeping and
selling cocaine, maintaining a ve
hicle for keeping or selling cocaine
and felonious possession of a
firearm, said Crocker.
He was being held in the Bruns
wick County Jail Tuesday under
SI 50,000 bond.
Also chargcd with maintaining a
On Cocaine Charges
rcsidencc for keeping or selling co
caine was Lisa King, of the
same Mulberry St,c?:t address.
Crocker said. She was being held in
jail under S2.500 bond Tuesday.
Dciective R.D. Todd obtained a
search warrant for the residence af
ter receiving an anonymous tip from
someone in the community, said
Crocker.
Officers seized SI, 460 in curren
cy, three weapons, drug parapherna
lia and gold jewelry from the resi
dence, said Crocker. A vehicle was
also confiscated, he said.
According to documents on file at
the Brunswick County Clerk of
Court's office, Hankins was convict
ed of cocaine possession in Bruns
wick County Superior Court on
Nov. 29, 1990. He received a two
year suspended sentence, a 90-day
active term, $500 fine and was
placed on supervised probation.
Varnamtown Board Replaces Resigning Alderman, Clerk
rv nnm c niioriAviie i? . _ ... ...
BY DOR I C. GURGANUS
Vamamtown aldermen moved quickly
Monday night to replace a town alderman and
the town clerk, both of whom resigned.
In unanimous votes the board appointed Will
(W.H.) Mumford of Riverside to replace
Alderman Fayc Galloway and hired Edward
McLelland to succeed Paul Vealey as clerk.
Mrs. Galloway, who was elected to the board
in November, has resigned effective Jan. 28,
Vealey said Tuesday.
Ms. Galloway, sister-in-law of the mayor,
gave only personal reasons for her resignation,
Vealey said, adding that the mayor has known of
Mrs. Galloway's plans for some time.
Mumford, a retiree, has lived in Varnamtown
the past two years and has never sought public
office.
"I'm quite excited that my name came up," he
said Tuesday. "Maybe it's because 1 helped out
with the (street) signs. It's going to be a fun
time."
Vealey announced his own resignation
Monday night, citing "health reasons" related to
last year's surgery as his motivujon. Vealey had
served as the town clerk since shortly after the
iown's incorporation in September 1988, first as
a volunteer and then as a part-time employee.
His successor, McLelland, begins work April 1.
In other business, the board agreed to contract
with the county for fire inspections. Vealey said
the county will provide the service on an "as
needed basis."
Beach Committee To Study Abuses Of Septic Systems
BY DOUG RUTTER
A Holdcn Beach committee will be asked to
rccommend ways of controlling the abuse of sep
tic tank systems and meeting the island's long
term wastewater management needs.
Holdcn Beach Commissioners approved the
new five-member panel at their mid-month meet
ing Monday night at the request of Town
Manager Gary Parker.
Parker, who has been working on a wastewater
management program since last August, said he
needs help to tackle the "mammoth and complex"
project.
Mayor Wally Auslcy appointed Commissioner
Sid Swarts to serve as chairman of the committee.
Board member David Sandifer also will serve,
along with three residents to be named later.
Commissioner Jim Foumier's motion to form
the committee is the latest in a series of steps de
signed to promote better management of wastew
ater on Holdcn Beach.
Town officials have discussed the need for an
island-wide sewer system and the environmental
risks associated with overloaded sepJc systems
for several years.
Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to
form the new commiucc, but Swarts said the
town should do more right away to deter viola
tions of state health regulations.
Swarts said houses on the beach should be shut
down if town officials find out there are more
bedrooms than were allowed under the provisions
of the septic tank permits.
"We know that this is being violated," Swarts
said. "We're doing nothing to enforce the laws we
swore to uphold."
As an example, Swarts said the certificate of
occupancy should be pulled if a home has five
bedrooms and was only permitted as a four-bed
room house.
But Commissioner David Sandifer said the
number of people in the houses is the real prob
lem, not the number of bedrooms.
Even if the town controls the number of bed
rooms. he said people could still build huge four
bedroom houses and stuff too many people in
each room.
Planning Board Chairman Roger Williams said
he knows of a three-bedroom house on Holden
Beach with nine beds in it
Williams suggested the town use exit flow me
ters that would show how much wastewater
leaves each house.
Parker said educating people about septic sys
tem maintenance and setting up a mandatory
schedule for pumping tanks would probably be
part of the town's management program.
School Board, Commissioner
Races Begin To Take Shape
Primary and general elqftion
races began shaping up this week for
both Brunswick County Board of
Education and Board of Commis
sioners races.
A second Republican, Janet Pope
of Shamrock Drive, Shallotte, filed
for the District 1 school board seat.
Two Republicans filed from
District 3 for the school board, in
cumbent Donna Baxter of Boiling
Spring Lakes and Peie Bamette of
Route 2, Leland.
A fourth Republican filed for the
District 3 scat on the Rninswick
County Board of Commissioners,
setting the stage for a lively party
primary. The latest to file is Joseph
Tyler Lenins of Long Beach.
Another Republican, Jene Sellers,
filed for the District 4 commis
sioner's seal.
Charles L. (Chip) Carroll of
Route 2, Riegelwood, filed for the
at-large seat open on the Brunswick
County Soil and Water Conservation
District Board of Supervisors. The
seat is presently held by Mary Earp
of the Funston community and was
previously held by Carroll. Both are
farmers and livestock producers.
Across the region, incumocnt R.
C. Seles Jr.. a Democrat and Tabor
City lawyer, filed for the state
Senate. He was first eler'cu rom the
18th District in 1977, and previously
served four terms in the State House
of Representatives.
Rep. Leo Mercer of Chadboum, a
funeral home director and retired
postmaster, filed for one of the two
seats in the restructured 14th House
district. He is seeking a third term in
the House, previously elected to rep
resent the 1 5th District.
Who's Fifed
COMMISSIONER
District I
?Don Warren. Dem.
District 3
?Steve Foster, Rep.
?Joseph Tyler Lenins, Rep.
?Bob Slockett, Rep.
?Tom Yeagle, Rep.
District 4
?Jcnc Sellers, Rep.
?Tom Simmons, Dem.
SCHOOL BOARD
District 1
?Joseph V. Brust, Rep.
?Janet Pope, Rep.
?Sam Fletcher Frink, Dem.
District 3
?William F. Faught, Dem.
?Carlton L. Sligh, Dem.
?Bill Fairley, Rep.
District 4
?Pete Bamette, Rep.
?Donna Baxter, Dem. (I)
REGISTER OF DEEDS
?Edward F. Mintz, Dem.
?Bill Kirby, Rep.
CORONER
?Greg White. Dem. (I)
STATE HOUSE
14th District (2 seats)
?Leo Mercer, Dem. (1)
STATE SENATE
18th District
?R.C. Soles Jr., Dem. (I)
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
?Charles L. (Chip) Carroll