Aging Directory Criticized For Budget Shortfalls , Is Suspended
BY ERIC CARLSON
One week after Brunswick County Commissioners
demanded that something be done
about budget shortfalls in his depart
ment, Older Adults / Department of
Aging (DOA) Director Ronnie
Pnhincnn u/oc suspended frCITi his
position Monday.
When asked Tuesday if there had
been any recent personnel actions in
the Department of Aging, County
Personnel Officer Starie Grisseu said
the most recent action taken was
robinson Robinson's "suspension from em
ployment" Monday. She said she was not able to pro
vide any further information.
Department of Aging Secretary Violet Pearson said
Tuesday that Robinson was not in his office and would
not be back until next Monday.
Called at his home and asked about the suspension,
Robinson said, "I don't have any knowledge of it. I have
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County Manager David Clegg said Tuesday that un
der the terms of the county personnel policy, the suspen
sion was a confidential matter about which he was not
allowed to comment.
Under state law a county employee's personnel file
can be examined only by the employee himsell or his
agent, a supervisor or authorized agents of the state or
federal government.
The personnel policy describes three types of suspen
sion. Ciegg would not say which type of action applied
to Robinson.
"Immediate disciplinary suspension" removes an em
ployee from his post without notice "for causes related
to personal conduct." The employee is told by the de
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main away until further notice."
Under "disciplinary suspension," an employee is tem
porarily relieved of all duties and receives no pay.
An employee may be placed on "nondisciplinary sus
pension" during the course of an investigation on a
criminal charge or during a civil action. The employee
would receive full back pay if reinstated by the board of
commissioners.
The policy further states that "all dismissals snail be
preceded by an automatic three-day suspension without
pay pending completion of an investigation by the ap
pointing authority." If the action is deemed appropriate,
the dismissal becomes effective at the end of the three
day suspension.
Clegg would not say if Robinson's suspension was a
precursor to dismissal.
At its final budget workshop June 8, Clegg told the
Board of Commissioners that the DOA "was without
funds and will require an infusion" of $20,000 to meet
its payroll.
Clegg said Robinson had failed to make necessary ad
(See ROBINSON, Page 2-A)
12/31/99 *:*F'0
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SPRINGPORT MI 49284
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PHOTO CONTO9UTCD
A ' Reel ' Fine Day
Brunswick County's own "Reel Chase" crew, which includes Beacon columnist Jamie Mllllken, won
the 13th Annual Got- em~ost SClTtg Classic as Carolina Scsch last weekend with a 42.&-p&mrm?ci' ntucft
shattered the tournament record. The crew and their wives are pictured with the winning king. They
are, from left, Jamie and Missy Milliken, Ava Pearl and Chip Maree, and Kyle White. Captain Jamie's
first-hand account of the catch is on Page 11-C.
Holden Beach Panel j
Drafts Septic Tank Rules
BY DOUG RUTTER
A Holden Beach committee trying to control the
abuse of septic systems has come up with a set of rules
to stop overuse and false advertising.
It may soon be illegal to accommodate more people in
a house than its septic system can serve or to advertise
that a home can stop more than regulations allow.
The draft ordinance is aimed at people who have been
abusing state health regulations for years at Holden
Beach.
People with septic tank permits for three-bedroom
houses have been using rooms called dens or offices as
extra bedrooms to get more money out of their invest
ment
Meanwhile, residents and vacationers have been jam
ming more people into houses than the septic tanks are
designed to serve, which is two per bedroom.
The result has been overuse of septic tank systems,
which can lead to their failure, with health and environ
mental problems resulting.
Commissioner Sid S warts, who is chairman of the
wastewater management committee, said county and
state health officials approve of the proposal.
Copies of the draft ordinance have been given to local
real estate brokers for their comments.
"This is just a draft ordinance," Swans emphasized at
last week's town meeting. "It's not our final recommen
dation."
He said the committee hopes to have a final recom
mendation to the board of commissioners in August so
the rules can take effect in September.
The proposed ordinance would allow the town build
ing inspector to inspect homes if there is evidence or
probable cause that rules are being violated.
If the inspector finds three or more violations within a
year, he would refer the matter to the Brunswick County
Health Department for enforcement.
Half-joking, Swans said last week the rules won't
prohibit people from inviting their mother or children to
the beach or allow the inspector to make random bed
checks.
"Hopefully, this will keep people from putting 20
people in a three-bedroom house," S warts said.
In addition to the wastewater management committee,
town officials formed another committee earlier this
month to gather information on sewer systems.
Mayor Wally Ausley has appointed Jim Griffin, Jack
Potter, Helen White, Jim Lowell and Harold Steorts to
the committee.
Each member, he said, brings something special to
the group. White, for example, is a strong environmen
talist, while Potter has a technical background working
with sewer plants.
Ausley said the committee will be asked to get facts
together on various types of sewer systems, determine
the cost to homeowners, investigate loan and grant op
portunities and study possible locations for a plant
"We're going to have septic tanks for a log time,"
Ausley said. "If we decide tomorrow we need a sewer
system, it would still be a long time."
Dems Elect New Officers,
Hear Angry V-P Resign,
Urging Grassroots Return
BY SUSAN USHER
When Brunswick County Democratic Party leaders
met last week, they elected not only a new chairman, but
a new first vice-chairman as well.
Chairman Crawford M. Hart quit his post last month.
Thursday night, for unrelated reasons, First Vice
Chairman Grace Peoples resigned, but not before chal
lenging the local party to return to its grassroots mem
bership.
Executive committee members elccted W.A. (Bill)
Stanley of Brick Landing as chairman and Ouida Hewett'
as vice chairman, both by acclamation. Both will serve
until officers are elected at the next convention, in April
1993.
A former Brunswick County commissioner, school
board member and Brunswick Community College
trustee, Stanley served as party chairman once before, in
1987-88, when Republicans George Bush was elected
president and Jim Martin was elected governor.
"I hope we can do beuer this time," he said, looking
to the November election. "We've got to get this party
moving."
Stanley said he plans to work full time to that end.
Gearing up for the general elections and completing
the h^trfmjaners building are among his immediate
foals. He plans to meet with candidates and begin plan
ning the fall campaign, "mostly to get them singing out
of the same songbook," he said.
Under the party's rules of procedure. Peoples could
have stepped automatically into the chairmanship, but
she chose not to do that. Instead, in a move she said
wasn't decided until she stood before the group of 28
party leaders. Peoples announced, "I am stepping down
for reasons I'd rather not discuss."
"I feel I can do better service by working in my own
area, starting with my own precinct," she continued, an
nouncing plans to seek chairmanship of Secession II
precinct in the spring.
She challenged precinct chairman to organize their lo
cal communities, to get more people involved in party
decision-making.
"That's why we are not getting any farther than we
are. We need to get back to our grassroots," she contin
ued. "I'm tired of backroom politics. I think these things
should be done in the open. We need to represent all of
the people, not just a few.
"If I smmti unset, yes. I am. I don't ihink we. are doing
our people justice."
Other speakers urged the party and its leaders to get
back on track as well.
Tom Simmons, of Boiling Spring Lakes precinct,
"I'm tired of backroom
politics .... We need to
represent all of the
people , not just a few"
? Grace Peoples
urged party leaders to serve as role models, supporting
the party'? entire slate of candidates publicly, regardless
of how their own votes might be cast
"You shouldn't be serving on the executive commit
tee if you can't do that," he said.
Eight of 21 precir.cts ? Ash, Bolivia, Shingletree,
Town Creek, Hood's Creek, South port II, Woodbum
and Belvillc ? were not represented at Thursday's meet
ing.
"We've got a job to do," said William Thorsen of
South port, who was a candidate in the primary for the
District 3 commissioner's seat nomination.
He cited lack of participation in Thursday's meeting
and a lack of participation in the primaries.
"We can't win an election if we leave them sitting
home," he cautioned, going on to encourage the party to
bring Ross Perot supporters into the Democratic camp.
"George Bush has no program, no platform. We do.
Even our little Brunswick County platform is better. We
have to give them a reason to vote."
In other action Thursday, the party adopted its first
campaign platform, took up money to buy Hart a plaque
in appreciation for his hard work on behalf of the party,
particularly on the Democratic headquarters building,
and announced plans for a Sept. 18 "roast" of Rep.
David Redwine, D-Bmnswick, as a benefit for the build
ing fund. Susan Rabon reported briefly on the
Democratic National Convention, telling the group,
"We've got a winner this time from the top to the bot
tom."
Among other general measures, the platform supports
reforms in wetlands legislation to protect die interests of
farmers and others, on the one hand, and protection of
the environment on the other.
Reflecting concerns expressed when county employ
ees were let go in the transfer of the trash collection to
private enterprise, the platform backs taking into consid
eration longevity when county employees must be let
go.
ERICKSEN WiTHDRAWIKir;
GOP To Name New Candidate
BY SUSAN USHER
Brunswick County Republicans
will be choose a new candidate
within the next week for the District
1 seat on the Brunswick County
Board of Commissioners.
Raymond Ericksen, 60, of Ocean
Isle Beach will withdraw, the second
Republican candidate to make that
decision in recent weeks. District 1
Commissioner Kelly Holden recent
ly announced his plans to pull out of
the race for the 14th District House
seat.
The reason for Ericksen' s deci
sion isn't known. He did not return a
reporter's call last week, and his let
ter of resignation was not available.
Shirley Babson, secretary of the
Brunswick County Republican
Party, said Ericksen submitted his
letter of resignation to Chairman
James Payne, who was out of town
Friday on U.S. Marine Corps
Reserves duty, but had not yet noti
fied the Brunswick County Board of
Elections.
She said the party has until early
August to name a substitute to go on
the Nov. 5 ballot
"We'll be meeting sometime be
tween now and the deadline to make
that decision," she said.
Joseph Brust, also of Ocean Isle
Beach, confirmed that he is interest
(See REPUBLICANS, Page 2-A)
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w vi i viii ivi wi iv/i vo t r wi wi r r wwo*
BY LYNN CARLSON
Wh i Ted and Laura Paliwoda started
looking seriously at retiring from New
Jersey to Carolina Shores, the first thing
they did, with encouragement from their real
estate broker, was to taste the local water.
"We thought it was great," they agreed.
They were familiar with the old Myrtle
Beach water system, which at that time pro
duced water so salty and unpleasant-tasting
that the Paliwodas crossed the South
Carolina resort off their list of prospective
retirement havens.
Four years later, they find themselves
among some 600 Carolina Shores house
holds with water they say isn't fit to drink ?
and might be harmful to their health ? dur
ing uie driest ana hottest weauier.
It not only tastes salty, it leaves salt caked
on plant- watering cans, ruins the looks of
expensive cookware and leaves freshly
washed hair feeling "slimy," says Laura
Paliwoda, who buys t.jht or nine gallons of
houled water from the supermarket each
week for the two to drink and cook with.
She's embanassed when she has to warn
ho use guests not to drink from the tap.
"When you take a shower, the water feels
slick," lici husband says. And when iney run
their washer, a sulfur-like stench fills the
house. "If you knew what kind of house
keeper my wife is, you'd know that under
any ordinary circumstances, our house
would never smell bad," he added.
Jack Brady, president of the Carolina
Shores Property Owners' Association, says
it's a perennial problem that escalates with
each dry spell and with the community's
growth each summer season. He says he's
a^sciii no much iimc rescaiviiiiig liic piubicm
that he's become something of a lay expert
on water quality.
"In the winter, or in any season where
there's no long-term heat, there's no prob
A Perennial Problem irnc
f % I VI If If Vfll > ? WN/I Wl ? ? ? ? w? ? aw
"In the winter ...
there's no problem.
But when there's hot
weather and heavy
usage , the water gets
salty "
? Jack Brady, president
Carolina Shores Property
Owners Association
lem," Brady explained. "But when there's
hot weather and heavy usage, the water gets
salty/*
Carolina Shores' water is supplied by pri
vate Carolina Blythe Utility Co. of Florence,
S.C. In a recent letter to the property own
ers' association, Blythe president Billy F.
Burnett explains the situation this way:
"Water we supply to our Calabash area
customers is pumped from two underground
aquifers. The upper aquifer is approximately
100 feet below the ground surface, and the
lower aquifer is approximately 300 feet be
low the ground surface. The water from the
upper aquifer is of a better quality than the
lower aquifer but yields a smaller and limit
ed quantity. The lower aquifer has a much
higher yield but is much higher in sodium.
"Water is pumped from the lower aquifer
only on the days that the upper aquifer can
not keep uic cicvaicu tank full. On inCSt
days the shallow aquifer is adequate to keep
the tank full. However, during dry periods
when large numbers of customers are irri
gating their lawns, it is necessary to pump
I
from the lower aquifer."
Is there enough sodium in the water to
pose a health risk to Carolina Shores resi
dents, most of whom are retirement age?
Maybe, but there's not much hope of attack
ing the problem from a public health posi
lion, according to Brsdy,
He is surprised and perplexed that his re
search has uncovered no state or federal reg
ulations about sodium levels in the water.
"There are standards for lead, barium, any
thing you can think of, but not salt," Brady
said. "Experts say only that high-sodium
water can be harmful to people with high
blood pressure, and that they should check
with their doctors," he adds. Ted Paliwoda
says he knows older people on salt-restricted
diets who are afraid to drink the water at all,
even in the off-season when it doesn't taste
salty.
(See WATER, Page 2-A)