Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / April 23, 1992, edition 1 / Page 6
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: . v * tr J ?%- 1?i: A <%. y^v-^sT , - . ' '^', - - *> ? ' ?' .i .. ; ?-/vt- '? ? ?&?*??? - STAff PHOTO BY MAWOmf MECIVIRN AMERICAN FLAGS flap in the Faster breeze, welcoming visi tors to Ocean Isle Beach. Mayor Hetty Williamson (right) and | Janet Sanders planted the ensigns as part of a causeway heau tification project. Surprise Display Greets Residents And Visitors To Ocean Isle Beach Residents and holiday visitors to Ocean Isle Beach (OIB) were aston ished list weekend as liiey approached the bridge to the island. Two columns of fluttering American flags lined both sides of the causeway, the red, white and blue flashing atop tall silver poles. Forty- lour of them, spaced 20 feet apart, turned the area into a military parade ground. This beautification project was undertaken by Mayor Bctty Williamson and Town Commissioner Janet Sanders, both serv ing on the bcauiification committee for the town's Property Owners' Association, j They were "planting" flags at 6:30 Friday morning, with the help of Dave Harrcll and Police Officer Danny 1 lunter. "It's a joint town and property owners' project," Williamson ex plained. "We try to do something every year to beautify the causeway. We wanted it to be special for Uie holidays.' The flags will fly, Williamson said, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on every holiday weekend throughout the year, but will remain in place daily throughout the week of July 4. Most of the S 1,700 cost is being borne by the POA, according to Williamson. "We started beautifying the causeway about five years ago, adding something every year," she said, pointing to the Christmas tree planted last year, and crepe myrtle bushes planted three years ago. The area has been landscaped on both sides of the highway and planted with flowers and (lowering trees. This year's contribution is the most spectacular, the two women agreed. "We've been hearing reactions all day," Sanders said. "One person said tears came to her eyes; another said he was shocked." Williamson reported a woman telling her, "It makes me feel so spe cial," to which the mayor responded, "You ARE special, and that's why we've done this. It's a way of saying Ocean Isle Beach is a very special place to visit." COMBINATION PROPOSAL 'UNIQUE' Turnout Light For First Public Hearing On Sunset Beach Sewer System Plans BY SUSAN USHER A proposed combination sewer system/storm water management plan at Sunset Beach could bccomc a demonstration project because of its unique approach, a trio of engi neers told a group of 35 people at the local fire station Monday night. Mayor Mason Barber said he was disappointed at the turnout for the first public hearing on the proposed sewer system becausc the meeting, which last three hours, would have been a way of getting information to a lot of people at one time. It was held at the fire station instead of town hall in anticipation of greater attendance. Those who did got to ask ques tions following a one-and-one-half hour overview by consulting engi neers Jim Billups and Joseph Tombro of Powell Associates of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Phil Smith of Piedmont Olscn Henslcy of Raleigh. Questions ranged from how the system would be funded to itspo tential impact on the coastal envi ronment. The engineering consultants are recommending the town procccd with a new master stormwater man agement plan concurrent with devel omcnt of a sewer system, but also even if plans for a sewer system arc scratched. The stormwater plan would address not only management to ensure that future development of any size does not contribute to addi tional water pollution, but also pro vides for remediation. One proposal, for example, sug gests lying emptied septic tanks on the island to provide individual site stormwater control. Offset Increased Run-Off The stormwater managment sys tem addresses a key concern raised by agencies thai must issue permits for a municipal sewer system: con trol of increased surface run-off that typically occurs with increased den sity of development accommodated by sewerage. Run-off is considered a major source of water pollution. While the pbn cannot be imple mented throughout the entire 15,000-acrc Sunset Beach-Calabash sewer study planning area, it can be put in place in Sunset Beach, the mayor said after the meeting. "It will include the island, and that's the most sensitive area, the area they're most concerned about," he saidBillups said the projected cost of S10.5 million is conservatively high, and will decline if Sunset Beach and neighboring Calabash join together to develop a regional treatment plant. The actual cost of the system is estimated ai SI 1.5 million, but the town's net cost to the town would be closer to SI 0.5 million after reim bursements from developers for de velopment-related costs. Of thai DOCKERS NITECLUB HOTTEST & NEWEST In Brunswick County Area Sports Enthusiasts-Enjoy our 52" wide screen TV with ALL satellite channels LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Friday & Saturday by Magnum Top 40 AndSouthern Rock >\ Thursday-Ladies' N'ight out, 1/2 Cover and Drinks kj! Beer ? Wine Coolers y( Open Wed. -Sun 4 PM-2 AM 1 lolden Beach Road, I lolden Beach ? 842-7070 No cover Chugc Sundiy-WednestUy THE CAPE FEAR FOOT a INTER SOUTH BRUNSWICK ISLANDS MEDICAL PARK HWY. 17 SOUTH AND UNION PRIMARY SCHOOL ROAD Professional, Thorough and Gentle Foot Care ?Heel Pain / Heel Spur ?Bunions, Corns, Calluses ?Warts, Ingrown Nails ? Insurance Filed For You ? Blue Cross Costwise Provider I)r. Gregory Young, DPM Medical & Surgical Specialist of the Foot and Ankle ?Running / Sports Injuries / Broken Bones ?Diabetic Foot Care / Nail Care ?Alternatives to Surgery ?In-Office Surgery ? Most Insurances Accepted ? Medicare Assignment Accepted By Appointment Only 579-0828 Cl?1 THE BRUNSWICK Rf AC ON sum, S9 million would be needed initially, and another SI. 5 million within one to two years. Mayor Barber said a bond refer endum would be major source of revenues for construction of the sys tem. Island resident Sue Weddle's commcnt was typical. "If there is an environmental need for sewers, then I'm for sewers," she said. First, she wants evidence to that effect, she said, such as additional coliform bacteria samples taken dur ing summerTurnou, when homes on the island with septic tanks designed to serve four-member households must handle waste from crowds of eight or more people all season long. Responded Councilman Bud Scrantom, "To answer your ques tion, we're going to do it." To Serve 1,400 Initially System cost estimates arc tenta tive and are based on providing ser vice initially to a large customer base, approximately 1,400 units, in cluding all areas within the town limits, plus several areas outside town. A wall map showed lines extend ing through the island of Sunset Beach, the Maples, Sugar Sands and immediate Jones/Byrd Clubhouse areas of Sea Trail and extending out to Seaside Center and Seaside North developments, then on to Old Georgetown Road and Sea Village development and beyond. As proposed, wastewater from Sunset Beach-and possibly from Calabash and surrounding areas-would be piped to a 1 million gallon-pcr-day treatment facility northwest of Sea Trails Plantation. The plant would be expected to ini tially treat an annual wastewater flow of 194,910,(XX) gallons, with a summertime peak of 855,700 gal lons per day. Sunset Beach docs not know yet, for example, if it will be building a treauncnt facility by itself or in con junction with Calabash and possibly other municipalities. That will affect the size, type and cost of system built, Tombro indi cated, as will the funds available for construction. Pursuing Farmers Home Dollars Al present, ihc town is vigorously pursuing a Farmers Home Administration grant and should know within approximately 30 days if it is eligible to apply. Then it must undertake a comprehensive environ mental impact study and other appli cation steps. Tombo said the study should take only 90 to 120 days, be cause the firm has already gathered substantial data to support the town's application. Witli large retirement populations on fixed incomes, said the engi neers, both Sunset Beach and Calabash meet income eligibility levels, based on average household incomes reported on the last census. The grant would be used to bring the monthly service cost down to an "af fordable" level, typically S16 to S18 per month. With no grant funding and a Farmers Home Administration loan at 6 percent for 40 years, the town's annual debt retirement for construc tion would be approximately 5697,830, according to the sewer study. Maintenance and operation is expected to cost another 5250,000 a year. If the town didn't charge an impact fee, up-front, that would put the cost at S29.22 a month for a household using about 2(H) gallons of town water per day. The figure could drop lower if an impact fee were charged and/or Farmers Home grant or other grant money obtained. One point to be resolved: How fully developed the island of Sunset Beach actually is. While only 60 percent to 70 percent built out, the entire island is platted for develop ment. Federal funds can be used to pro vide sewer service to existing devel opment, but not to new development under the terms of the Barrier Islands Act. The act is part of feder al policy that discourages develop ment of barrier islands and other ar eas in the 100-year fioodplain by not providing funds for that purpose. Fdi i'uai same reason, said Tombro, Farmers Home "isn't going to let you develop increased density in the flood zone." The engineers contend that plat ting of the island is the equivalent of development. "With no kind left on the island to subdivide, the provision of sewer service should not serve to support any new development of undevel oped land," ther report suggested. Engineers arc also exploring other sources of funding, such as state and federal grants for a demonstration project, given the uniqueness of the combination sewer study/storm wa ter management plan approach, ap parently the first of its kind in the state if pursued. The storm water plan is expected to add another 5 percent to the loud cost of the effort. Before town residents vote on whether to fund a sewer system with a bond referendum, a detailed finan cial plan mast be prepared. Golf Course Irrigation Based on the expectation that new state regulations allowing land ap plication of effluent on golf courses arc approved next month, treated ef fluent would be pumped to sur rounding golf courses for use in irri gation. (Tombros said contracts with golf courses would be developed through negotiation, since the arrangement would be mutually beneficial. The town has very limited options for wastewater disposal, he said, and the golf courses need the water, but must make exj)ensive changcs to ac commodate use of effluent. These include building of holding ponds for storage of effluent when rainfall is adequate for irrigation. Davis Jewelry and Gifts ^(^SPECIAL JUST FOR SPRING 1/2 PRICE or Less i4K Goia jewelry and Pink ice 117_Causeway Dr., Ocean Isle Beach-579-8800 . ^j^HiThurs., Fri., Sat. 11-5 1 LEADERSHIP. . . FOR. ...A CHANGE << FISCAL \ RESPONSIBILITY IS A MUST IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT LECT >> EDWARD F. "PORKY" MINTZ REGISTER OF DEEDS FOR BRUNSWICK COUNTY
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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April 23, 1992, edition 1
6
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