Seaside Residents At Meeting
Voice Support For Incorporation
BY SUSAN USHKR
A group of Seaside area residents
will continue their move toward in
corporation after receiving an over
all positive response at a meeting of
about rO local property uwncia laii
Thursday night.
Another general meeting is set
Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. at
the Coastal Auction building on
N.C. 179, with Rep. E. David
Redwinc expected to attend and an
swer questions.
Steering committee Chairman
Gary Hendrix ana member joe
Hnher fielded questions at last
week's meeting and offered addi
tional details about plans for the pro
posed village.
While several abstained from a
show-of-hands vote, saying they
needed more information, most of
those present said they favored the
incorporation effort
Rondcr W. Barbec of Schooner's
Pointc moved to Brunswick County
March 1 from Mecklenburg County.
The retiree made an impassioned
plea for the community to support
the move to incorporate the commu
nity, one of the oldest along the
coast.
"If you people don't take what
you've got now, you're going to
lose the whole ball of wax. If you
want for the other towns to act, then
you have to do what they wan.. You
have a chance to do for yourselves
now.
If you don't, someone else is go
ing to tell you what to do. It's a
unique opportunity you have here."
Barbec said later that he had just
completed a tour of 20 states, seeing
some small communities that were
dying and others that were on the
rise. Many of the latter were capital
izing on their past, bringing history
to life. "It's a unique situation here
and we're just letting it go by," he
concluded, referring to numerous
questions about details of the pro
posed town's operation.
Lee Herring of Elizabethtown and
Marlce Acres was the only person
picsciii ?.-? lake a position agaiiui in
corporation, questioning what would
be lost by failure to incorporate and
what would be gained by doing so.
"Other than historical value, what
arc we going to lose if we arc an
nexed?" he asked. "If there is his
toric value, what would we be doing
to enhance it?"
"What it is going to be iikc, what
you do (as a town) will be up to
you," responded Hubcr.
Catherine Milazzo of Seaside
Heights, undecided on the issue,
said she isn't sure if incorporation
were the answer, but that the people
in the communi
ty need to work
together better
than they have in
the past.
Citing in
stances where
the community
didn't fight deci
sions affecting it,
such as new M1LAZZO
postal addresses and water assess
ment, she said, "We've got to really
stand fiim and tell people we're not
a stepsister to Ocean Isle Beach or
Ciin?A> D i*nnU "
wtUOOV'L UU1CII.
The stated reason for the pro
posed incorporation of Seaside com
munity is to preserve the communi
ty's name and heritage as a former
fishing and trading center.
"There is historical value," said
Huber. "We are not a bcach commu
nity, we are nol a golf community.
Our needs are different.
"We're trying to make it a com
munity of Seaside in reality as well
as in name. We want to preserve the
flavor we've got"
At one lime a turpentine dis
tillery, post office, cotton gin, pulp
wood dock, warehouse and other
businesses were clustered at or near
Seas'Jc Landing at the loot of the
."I AAi a - ? ??
t.MUl.MUII, tICCUIUlllg IU ill
formation provided by Horace
Floyd.
The border of the proposed town
would roughly follow those of the
area served by Seaside in its heyday,
runn.ng from the the Atlantic
Intracoastal Waterway at the foot of
the N.C. 904 extension at Seaside
intersection north to the south side
of Dale Drive, then generally east io
Kennedy Drive and south to the wa
terway.
Steering committee member
Huber, a former member of the
Matthews (Mecklenburg County)
Planning Board, said the town
would have a tax base of roughly
S20 million, with a projected tax
rate of 5 cents to 5.5 cents per SI 0()
valuation, and a rate cap of 10 cents
set by charter and changed only by
popular vote. The committee antici
pates that property tax revenues
would be the town's smallest source
of revenue, with other sources in
cluding Powell Bill road money and
sales tax revenues.
"We would maintain a very basic
community," said Huber, using a
modified mayor/town council for
mat with provision of services, and
all major expenditures and business
determined by popular vote at town
meetings. The town would contract
with Sunset Beach Volunteer Fire
Department for fircfighting services;
the entire proposed municipality lies
within that district. "We're going to
support them better than we ever
have," he said.
Hcndrix said he is exploring use
of a village constable to supplement
existing law enforcement provided
by the sheriffs department; the
STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHER
LOOKING OVER A MAP of the area proposed for the new municipality are (from left) Edward
Bryan, steering committee member Malcolm l-ong and Ren Bryan.
area's crime rate was a concern
mentioned at last week's meeting.
He said he didn't foresee sewer
service for the community in the
near future but told questioner Lee
Herring that the community might
have the option of participating in a
regional system five to 10 years
from now. Herring was the only per
son at the meeting to publicly voice
opposition to the proposed incorpo
ration.
"At this point I can't see being
able to justify it," he said. "But if we
don't incorporate wc won't have a
choice. We'll be told what to do."
Hubcr said the establishment of
extraterritorial jurisdiction does not
conflict with incorporation of the
town, but that annexations by the
town could affect the area included
in the town of Seaside.
"There's nothing we can do about
that," he said. "We're limited by
time."
However, he said it is important
for Seaside to establish a "good
working relationship" with the
neighboring towns of Ocean Isle
Bcach and Sunsci Bcach.
The soonest Seaside could be in
corporated is sometime after the
General Assembly convenes for the
i993 session. Incorporation would
require not only approval of the
General Assembly but of the regis
tered voters of the proposed town as
well.
Promoters of the incorporation ef
forts also plan to poll non-resident
property owners, who would be eli
gible to submit proposals to the pro
posed town government, but would
not be eligible to vote.
Library Board Pians To Move Quickiy
HY ERIC CARLSON
The fledgling Brunswick County
Library Board of Trustees held its
first meeting Thursday armed with
Sl.S million in tax money and a
shopping list of new buildings, reno
vations, personnel, computer sys
tems aiiu books.
Unity was the watchword as
members pledged to set aside re
gional rivalries, to forget past con
flicts and to create a library system
with four equal but unique branches.
The library officially became a
county department July 1 with a
51.5 million budget to fund new
branches at Leland and Oak Island
and to renovate the Shallotte and
Southport branches.
"We have four children and we
want to clothe them all correctly and
feed them all alike," said trustee
Gene Pinkcrton, the county commis
sioner who last month recommend
ed that the county dip into its re
serve funds to upgrade the library
system.
Moving quickly on a number of
fronts, the trustees:
?Named Pinkcrton, an at-large
member from Southport. chairman
of the library board. District 2 repre
sentative Marie Harrison of
Shallotte was appointed vice-chair
man. Library Director Maurice
(Reecie) Taylor, who is not a mem
ber, will serve as secretary to the
board.
?Set their regular meetings on the
second and fourth Mondays of each
month in the Emergency Services
Center at the county complex in
Bolivia. The first meeting of the
month will begin at 3:30 p.m. The
second will be at 7 p.m. The board's
next meeting will be July 27.
?Asked Tate to recommend a
new schedule for the library to in
clude evening and Sunday hours.
The board discussed using part-time
temporary employees to extend the
schedule as soon as possible.
?Agreed to move quickly to be
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STAfF PHOTO BY EMC CARLSON
CHARTER MEMBERS of the newly formed Brunswick County Library Board of Trustees meet for
the first time at the county complex in Bolivia. Attending were (clockwise from left) members Don
Eggert and Ralph Frazier, library Director Maurice Tate, members Marie Harrison, Edith Tillman,
Pearl Stanley, Gene Pinkerton and Margaret Harper. Members not attending were Anne Hines and
John Jacobs.
gin the building and renovation pro
gram, with the selection of an archi
tect as a first step. The board will
seek proposals from firms experi
enced in library design.
There was a proposal from Har
rison that the board hold its meet
ings at one of the library branches,
but several members strongly dis
agreed. Pinkerton said a central
meeting site would be an important
symbol that the library is now a
county operation.
"Everyone has to realize that
someone else has bought the compa
ny," he said.
District 1 member Don Eggert
agreed, saying the board needs to
"seize the moment" and demonstrate
to county residents that "a new day
has dawned" for the library system.
"We don't want to throw the baby
out with the bath water, but we also
want to make sure we're not grind
ing with the same old stone," Eggert
said.
The trustees chose to set both day
and night meetings to allow greater
public access to the library board.
Both Eggert and District 5 repre
sentative Edith Tillman spoke
strongly in favor of quickly extend
ing the library 's opening hours. Till
man said the libraries were underuti
lized because of the schedule. She
said the lack of evening hours pre
vented children from using the li
brary.
Pinkcrton agreed, saying an ex
tended schedule was one of the first
priorities set by the board of com
missioners for the new library sys
tem.
At- large member Margaret Har
per of Southport was the first to be
nominated as vice-chairman, but she
asked to be removed from consider
ation.
"1 would rathe, see someone from
out in the county nominated,"
Harper said. "In the past there has
been a misperception that Southport
was trying 10 run the system, and i
want that behind us."
During a discussion of the build
ing program, Pinkcrton stressed that
the selection of an architect would
be one of the most important deci
sions the board would make. He said
firms from across the state had ex
pressed interest in the project.
As an example, Pinkcrton pre
sented materials from architect John
Sawyer of Wilmington, who has de
signed numerous libraries in the
area, including the Myrtle Grove
branch of the New Hanover Library
System and Pender County branches
in Burgaw and Hampstead.
Pinkerton said his discussions
with architects indicated that the
county could build a "first class"
system for the amount of money al
located for building and renovation.
The budgel earmarks S400,000 for
each of the new branches and
SI 25,000 to upgrade the Shallottc
and Southport branches.
Tillman said preliminary architec
tural work for the Leland branch al
ready had been done and was con
cerned that the effort would be wast
ed. She doubted, however, that the
architect would want to take on ihe
complete four-branch building and
renovation project.
Noting that the county budget
provided for a bigger branch at
Leland, it was suggested that the old
plans be incorporated into whatever
design was selected for the branch.
Pinkerton said he assumed that the
four branches would not be alike,
with each designed to suit the needs
of their community.
Tate said that a previously ap
proved S50.000 state grant for con
struction of the Leland branch still
would be available despite any
changes in the submitted plans.
in a discussion of computerizing
the library's book files, Tate cau
uoncd that the process would take at
least a year to complete. She said the
board needed to be sure to purchase
computers and software compatible
with the slate library system.
Saying he would like to "see them
start building the foundations tomor
row," Pinkcrton urged the board to
come to the next meeting with ideas
for the new library buildings and to
be prepared to consider selecting an
architect for the project as soon as
possible.
=M
Adrianna Edge Sidelinger
Certified Public Accountant
is pleased to announce
the opening of her
office at
Brunswick Square Village
521 1 South Main Street, Unit 507
Shallotte, NC
(919)754-5488
fe J
Weather's Normal Again: Hot
Local weather conditions are back to normal and it looks like thev
may stay that way for a while.
Local meteorologist Jackson Canady said the outlook lor the up
coming week is for temperatures to range from around 70 degrees at
night to near 90 degrees during the daytime, with about three-quarters
inch of rainfall.
"At least for present time we've gotten into a more normal weather
pattern," he said, "and it looks like it will continue for the immediate fu
ture, anyway."
For the period June 30 through July 6, he recorded a maximum high
of 92 degrees on June 5. He recorded the minimum nightly low of 70 dc
grces-od.June 30. I -.tiT..-.- ?.u. JSf
A daily avferage high of 90 degrees combined with a nightly average
low of 73 degrees for a dally average temperature of 8i degrees, about
two degrees above average. I
He measured only one-third inch of rahi at his Shallottc Point resi
ik ice.
Police Rule Three Deaths
Suicides, One Attempted
(Continued From Page I-A))
Sunday afternoon at 4:31,
deputies responding to a 911 call
found Daniels' body outside a resi
dence on Marlowtown Road. They
found a 1R-raliher revolver nearby.
Perry said.
An autopsy determined that the
wound was self-inflicted, however
an investigation is continuing. Perry
said police are interviewing a wit
ness to the shooting.
Tne sheriffs department
Monday completed its investigation
into the death of George Franklin
Blizzard, 50, of Leland who appar
ently jumped off the Cape Fear
River Bridge Wednesday afternoon,
July 1.
According to, . the autopsy,
Blizzard died of drowning. His
blood alcohol content was .17, po
lice said.
At about 3 p.m. Wednesday,
workers on a barge off Eagle's
Island spotted Blizzard's body float
ing about 100 yards from the bridge
near the Battleship North Carolina.
The body was retrieved, but no iden
tification was found.
The body was taken to The
Brunswick Hospital, where Deputy
Charles Miller removed a Leland
High School ring from the class of
I960, bearing the initials G.F.B.
This and other evidence helped po
lice identify the body.
Blizzard was a retired engineer
who was living with his mother in
Leland, Miller said. The mother said
her son had been despondent for
some time and had left home
Wednesday morning to go to
Wilmington.
A vehicle later identified as
Blizzard's was found beside U.S.
74-76 at the base of the bridge.
Miller reported.
"A subject was interviewed who
spoke to a man walking on the
bridge who we feel was the victim,"
Perry said. 'The driver asked if he
could be of assistance and the man
said no."
Maps list the clearance of the
Cape Fear River Bridge as 65 feet.
Land Plan Author Explains
Wording, Offers To Revise
(Continued From Page 1-A))
ways of making the tourist industry
work for the people we already
have," Harbeck said.
After the commissioners ad
journed, Patty Young, a candidate
for county commissioner and a mo
bile home owner from Winnabow
who criticized the land use plan at
t hp planning board meeting, said she
was less than satisfied with
Harbeck's explanation.
"I don't think he changed his
mind," Young said. "He was more
sorry about it being published than
about saying it."
In other business the board:
?Met with the planning board to
hear a formal presentation of the
draft county zoning ordinance from
County Planner John Harvey. The
plan proposes eight zoning districts
outlining how land can be used in
the unincorporated areas of the
county Copies of the draft plan are
available for review at the planning
department. The proposed ordinance
is expected to be a topic of discus
sion at the planning board's next
meeting Wednesday, July 15.
?Heard a brief year-end report
from Tax Collector Nancy Moore,
who recorded a 1991 collection rate
of 94.15 percent, down .91 percent
from last year. Moore blamed the
declinc on a lower collection rate for
taxes on vehicles. The board voted
to appoint Moore to a second term.
?Reappointed Chuck Lanier of
Mill Creek to the Brunswick County
Community College Board of
Trustees.
AT BRICK LANDING
BRING HOME
THE4BEAC0N
On Sal* At
SEA MIST CAMPING RESORT