Holden Beach Holds
Tax Rate At 1 5 Cents
BY DOl'G R UTTER
Holden Beach Commissioners
spenl about 25 hours cooped up in
town hall over the past month re
viewing the community's new bud
get before taking it to public hearing
last week.
Apparently, it was time well
spent. The .board adopted the new
spending pian last Wednesday alter
one of the calmest budget
hearings in years. A couple
of residents even praised
the board's work.
"I think you all did a
great job." Jim Lowell com
mented. "Obviously, be
cause I have nothing to
say."
Lowell and other Holden
Beach homeowners face the
same tax rate as last year ?
15 cents for every S 1 (X) of
property. The owner of a
$100, (XX) home will be
hilled $150.
Town Manager Gary Parker's
original budget presented in May
featured a 16-cent tax rate, but cuts
were made to hold the rate at 15
cents.
"I think it's great when you can
do all the things this town's doing
and not have to go up on taxes."
Mayor Wally Ausley said last week.
"We appreciate your vote of confi
dence here tonight."
The $1.5 million budget includes
a $560,900 water fund. $271. (XX) for
streets. $232,125 for policc and
$ 1 8 1 .350 for administration.
The streets budget includes mon
ey to pave Sandpiper. Sandspur,
Sand Dune. I.uinberton and Marlin
streets, and resurface Fayetteville
and Clippership. Also in the budget
is $I5.(XX) for two police cars and
$6,200 to renovate the town hall.
Holdrn Beach expects to receive
$225.(XX) in occupancy tax this year
from tourists. It will be used for ex
penses such as sidewalks, police
salaries and trash pickup.
Also using occupancy tax money.
Holden Beach will add $25.<XX) to
the sewer/stormwater runoff capital
reserve fund. SIO.(XX) to the recre
ation land acquisition reserve and
$5 .(XX) to the town hall improve
ments reserve.
One of the few major adjustments
made to Parker's original budget
proposal was a hefty increase in the
amount of money set aside for side
walk construction.
Parker's buiigt! included $40,000
for sidewalks, but town officials lat
er changed the figure to $120.(XX) by
taking $80,000 from the occupancy
tax fund balance.
"With this $ 1 20.IXX) we'll just
about be able to finish up sidewalks
from one end of the beach to the
other." Ausley said. Town officials
haven't decided where the
next segments of sidewalks
will lie placed.
One speaker at the public
hearing. Jack Knight, said he
would like to see the side
walk extended past his house
all the way to the east end of
Ocean Boulevard.
Two other speakers,
Crawford Hart and Don
Pollard, said the town should
budget more money for the
police department. Hart ob
jected to cutting funds for an
all-terrain vehicle, while
Pollard said the town needs more of
ficers on duty during the summer.
To offset an increase in county
water rates. Holden Beach home
owners will pay more for water this
fiscal year if they use more than
2.(XM) gallons per month. The rate
has been increased from $1.50 to
$1 .65 per I, (XX) gallons.
Holden officials estimate the
county water rate increase will cost
the town about $10,000. By passing
the cost on to the customers, the
town should recover about $9,000.
"/ think it's great when
you can do all the
things this town 's doing
and not have to go up
on taxes. "
? Mayor Wally Ausley
May Join Gill Net Debate
BY DOUG RUTTER
Holden Beach Commissioners may join the grow
ing debate over the use of gill nets along the beach on
behalf of some residents who want to ban the fishing
gear.
Town officials briefly discussed the issue last
week and plan to take it up again at their July 6 meet
ing. By that time. Town Manager Gary Parkei is ex
pected to find out what other area beach towns are do
ing about nets.
In recent years, commercial and recreational fish
ermen have clashed over proposals to ban use of gill
nets along the beach. The nets are primarily used in
the fall when fish swim near the shore.
Sport fishermen argue that gill nets, which hang
vertically in the water and snag fish as they swim by,
kill too many fish. The nets also can interfere with
swimmers and beachcombers.
North Carolina Fisheries Director William
Hogarth was scheduled to hold a public meeting
Wednesday night at the Long Beach Recreation
Center on the gill net issue.
Hogarth ha:- received complaints about nets from
Long Beach and Caswell Beach. Effective July I. he
has the authority to regulate commercial fishing gear
such as gill nets within one half mile of the beach.
Holden Beach resident Crawford Hart, a strong
environmental advocate, asked commissioners las',
week to write a letter to the state asking for a ba."? on
gill nets within one half mile of the beach.
Hart said the nets hurt porpoises that swim along
the shore. He also said the nets interfere with baby sea
turtles that hatch in September and October and try to
swim out to sea.
Another resident. John Broadnax. also for
restrictions on gill nets. "There are limes when thei *'s
so many nets in the water it's hard for the sportfishei
men to catch fish." he said.
John Holden. the town's first mayor, said getting
nets off the beach would make it safer. He said people
can get hurt if they trip over lines anchoring gill nets
to the strand. "They can he dangerous."
Commissioner Sid Swurts. an avid sailboarder,
said the nets can pose a danger to swimmers.
"They're not catching that much, and this time of year
they're hazardous to swimmers."
Mayor Pro Tem Gil Bass, who manages Holden
Beach Fishing Pier, asked Parker to get copies of let
ters that have been sent to the state from Long Beach
and several New Hanover County beach towns.
Other Business
In other business last week, commissioners:
?Reappointed three people to the planning and zon
ing board and one to the board of adjustment. Ted
Rivenbark will serve a second, three-year term as a
regular member of the planning board. Johnny Craig
and Jim Lowell will serve one year each as alternate
members. Dave Gibson w?s reappointed to the board
of adjustment.
?Agreed to ask the Brunswick County Health
Department to sample water in the island's finger
canals. Town officials want to know if it's safe for
people to swini in the man-made canals, or if they're
too polluted.
?Decided to establish a parking area for handicapped
people next to the Tri-Beach Volunteer Fire
Department substation on Starfish Drive.
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