Schools' Budget
Dispute To Be Settled
Through
Mediation
(Continued From Page 1-A)
school board members if they had chosen to
seek only funds for a new north-end elemen
tary school, rather than the full difference
between their budget request and actual allo
cation.
"There will be other times we need their
help and support," he said, noting he had
wanted the school board to use a less con
frontational approach in seeking additional
funds from the county commissioners, to
meet with the other board informally.
Peterson said that was the approach the
school board as a whole would have pre
ferred, and had sought during the regular
budget development period this past spring.
However, commissioners were involved in
other matters at the time and this year, for
the first time in a number of years, the
school board was not scheduled to present
its budget request to the commissioners.
Instead several board members and school
supporters spoke during the budget hearing.
"The needs we have are real," said
Peterson. "We arc viewing this as a process
by which we can continue to discuss with
the commissioners all the needs of the
Brunswick county Schools, particularly the
need for the new north end elementary
school."
"An ongoing dialogue is personally what
1 would like to see result from this."
However, Cause is convinced the oppo
site will happen, even if the school beard
succccds in getting more money this year.
He predicted Tuesday that the commission
ers' position will harden, and the school
board lose out again next year when it pre
sents its budget request.
While Peterson and the majority of the
board consider legal costs of the appeal an
"investment," Gause said he thinks it is
"money thrown away." The matter is expect
ed to cost approximately approximately
S5.000 if handled quickly, more if it drags
on.
The school board sought S14.25 million
in county tax dollars this year and is to re
ceive S9.43 million. Commissioners gave
the schools a 5 percent increase in funding,
then added another SI million for a new
technology program, for a total increase of
17 percent over last year. Midway through
the previous budget year it had granted the
schools additional money to meet energy ex
penses.
However, the sum is well short of what
the school board said it needs to carry out a
school improvement program and to meet
pressing construction needs. As a result, ear
lier this month the school board voted to be
gin a formal process of appealing its local
budget. The first step was a joint meeting
with commissioners last Friday night in
which the two parties were to make a "good
faith effort" to resolve their differences.
The session ended with sudden adjourn
ment by Don Warren, commissioners' chair
man, shortly after Peterson sought continued
discussion and Ramos advised the school
board that the county had met its legal oblig
ation.
A scries of speakers defended the school
board's request for more funding and the
county's relative ability to meet that request
without hardship.
Speakers cited plans for a new lead
teacher program to improve instruction in
areas slate testing has identified as weak and
to revamp salary schedules of additional
classified personnel. Speakers also noted the
need to begin immediate construction of a
new elementary school in northern
Brunswick County, where Lincoln Primary
and Lcland Middle are overcrowded and
substantial growth is expected, and to plan
for additional construction to relieve over
crowding. The school system's population is
expected to increase from nearly 9,000 stu
dents this year to 1 1 ,300 by the year 2000.
"If we started construction today it would
be two years before a new school opened,
and that would have nominally averted a cri
sis," said board member Bill Fairley of
Southport. "If it is not funded, we will have
a crisis."
School Finance Officer Rudi Connor not
ed that Brunswick County is ranked 1 1 th in
the state in ability to pay, based on property
valuation and other resources, between two
other coastal counties. Dare and Currituck,
but ranks 42nd out of 133 school systems in
actual per pupil expenditures.
While the county has a fund balance of
approximately $14 million for use in emer
gencies or natural disasters. Commissioner
Wayland Vcrccn questioned the schools' sct
Ung aside SI. 8 million, including S5(X),(XX)
unappropriated funds to maintain cash flow.
While recognizing that the schools have
unmet needs, Don Warren, chairman of the
commissioners, said the school system is
just one of the agencies and departments it
funds, and that there other short- and long
term needs to be addressed, such as water
system expansion, a sewer system for south
west Brunswick and industrial development
to create more local jobs.
Speaking only briefly. County Manager
Wyman Yelton told the school board it had
"a revolving fund balance that is much larg
er than it appears." He also recommended
the school board switch to a line item moni
toring of spending "and hold people to it,
otherwise people will overspend."
Warren questioned the relationship of
money spent to student performance in
Brunswick County, and asked," Can they re
allocate the resources they have and spend
them more wisely?"
Auditorium Rotes Are
Set
Though
Decision
Is ' Tough '
(Continued From Page 1-A)
from the college's operating budget.
"This first year it is really tough
to decide what is fair, but I don't
think in the long run we can afford
to cut the rates a lot.
"But at the (auditorium) board of
directors' meeting the other day, 1
can assure you nobody believed this
was for forever."
During a typical booking of a
four- to six-hour block. Auditorium
Manager Michael Sapp said that the
building would be "running hard"
during three to four of those hours,
at an estimated cost of SI 00 an hour
for electricity alone.
"But it's hard to tell until we have
it up and running," he added. "We
don't really know what it will cost to
open the facility."
"I would love for every group to
come into the auditorium whether
they can afford it or not," said Sapp.
"But we have to be able to pay the
electricity."
"Wc can't ask the county com
missioners ? or maybe wc can ? but
so far wc arc not getting that kind of
money."
Trustee Jamie Millikcn pointed
out another practical concern, say
ing, "You can't crank up a combine
to shuck one row of corn."
Nodding agreement, Sapp said
that while there may be occasional
events that will draw smaller audi
ences than anticipated, "you can't
crank up the auditorium to have 200
people show up if the sponsors
know that's how many they can ex
pect."
The fee schedule is expected to
remain in place for at least a year.
That will give Sapp and the auditori
um's board of directors a good idea
of how much it costs to operate the
new facility year-round, and facili
tate booking events at least one year
in advance.
The college is attempting to
"break even from the sum" on audi
State Rests Its Case
In King Murder Trial
(Continued From Page 1-A)
the jury box pointing to King.
"That defendant murdered Ronald
Evans," Gore said. "Not alone, but
with a friend. Together they kid
napped, robbed and killed Ronald
Evans. That man, the defendant,
should not get away with murder."
Gore said the state would prove
its case with circumstantial evidence
indicating that King was "involved
to the max," and with the defen
dant's own statements as he "brag
ged and boasted" about the killing.
Yount, in his opening remarks,
asked the jury to consider the believ
ability of witnesses "who have lived
on both sides of the fence" and
"whose lifestyle is not what you arc
accustomed to." He suggested that
some of the state's witnesses were
friends or relatives of King's co-de
fendant William Earl Hill who might
want to help him by implicating
King.
In closing, Yount stressed to the
jury that "the mere presence" of
King at the scene of the murder
would not be enough to convict him.
He said the 12 would have to agree
that they were "acting together with
a common purpose."
Assistant District Attorney Lee
Bollinger, who has handled most of
the questioning, said Tuesday that
he was satisfied that the state's evi
dence had proven its case.
The trial was scheduled to contin
ue at 9:30 Wednesday morning, with
no indication as to whether the de
fense would offer evidence or rely
on perceived weaknesses in the
state's case.
It's everywhere
your advertising
ought to l^e...
Don't
forget the
advertising deadline
is Thursday, August 12,
for the Labor Day
issue, coming Sept 2.
THE BRUNSWICK$BEACON
CALL AN ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE RICHT NOW, 754-6890
torium operations, which could be
"a tough thing to do," Kelly admit
ted.
Except for interest earned on an
endowment being established over a
five-year period by Odell William
son to help cover management costs,
he said funding for the auditorium
comes strictly from the college's al
location from the Brunswick County
Commissioners.
In other areas community groups
tum to grants or corporate sponsor
ship of events to make use of an au
ditorium more affordable. Sapp
plans to pursue that route and sug
gested other groups could too.
The base fee is just that ? the
starting point. It doesn't include the
cost of cleaning up the auditorium
after an event, or hiring a sound or
light technician, a flypcrson to oper
ate the curtains or security person
nel. Those costs will be added on to
the base fee as required, said Sapp.
College officiais are anticipating
the auditorium will be ready by
Aug. 18, in time for BCC's com
mencement Aug. 20, but has contin
gency plans ready in case it is not.
Sapp and Ken Phelps, project ar
chitect, said the major work is done
and that most of the work remaining
is primarily "cosmetic," such as re
pairing imperfections in the interior
sheetrock, repairing ceiling tiles,
putting on a final coat of paint, re
placing steps of the wrong brick,
grading the site and seeding for ero
sion control. Lighting and sound
systems are completed and plumb
ing "essentially" complete, with
some mechanical work to be fin
ished.
Once those punch list items are
complete, then the state office of
construction will conduct its own in
spection and come up with a punch
list of its own.
On the advice of board attorney
Jim Prevatte, BCC has rejected a
proposal from the builder to take
"beneficial occupancy" based on
substantial completion of the interi
or. "He recommended we not take
occupancy or accept anything until
the auditorium is finished entirely,"
said Kelly.
. At the suggestion of Trustee A1
Wootcn, the Building and Grounds
Committee is looking into the possi
bility of erecting an entrance with
sign for BCC on U.S. 17 similar to
the existing entryway on U.S. 17
Business.
New Candidates File In Beach Towns
Two more candidates had filed for office at both
Holden Beach and Sunset Beach as of Tuesday after
noon.
At Sunset Beach, Herb Klinkcr and Thcresc Regan
arc seeking scats on the town council, as arc all three
incumbents.
Holden Beach Commissioner Sid Swarts is the first
commissioner there to file for re-election. Larry Vogt
has filed also for a scat on the board.
Alvin L. Lcisey of Carolina Shores became the sec
ond candidate to file for a District 2 scat on the town
board.
Filing for municipal scats remains open until noon
Aug. 5.
Meanwhile candidates continue to come forward
across Brunswick County: Fred P. Seltzer III, council
man, Leland; Franklin D. Squires, councilman, Sandy
Creek (the council elects the mayor from its member
ship); Robert Charles Spake, commissioner, Caswell
Beach; Timothy L. Jones, commissioner. Long Beach;
and Leonard H. Moore, alderman. Ward II. Southport.
Previously filing arc these candidates:
Calabash: George Anderson, mayor; Theodora
"Teddy" Altructcr, District 2 commissioner. She lives
in Carolina Shores now, not Carolina Shores North.
Sunset Beach: incumbent Mason Barber, mayor;
incumbents Edward M. Gore Sr., D.G. "Bud"
Scrantom and Julia Thomas, council.
Ocean Isle Beach: incumbent Betty Williamson,
mayor; incumbcnts Bill Benton and Terry Barbec,
commissioner.
Holden Beach: incumbent Wally Auslcy, mayor;
and Nash Greene, commissioner.
Varnamtown: incumbent Judy Galloway, mayor;
Chris Lancaster, Charles McDonald and incumbcnts
George Ennis Swain and Ada McDonald, alderman.
Boiling Spring Lakes: incumbent Mark Stewart,
mayor; Raymond Hicks, commissioner.
Southport: incumbent Norman Holden, mayor;
Phil Joyner, Ward II; and incumbent William Crowe,
Ward I.
Long Beach: Rupert Riley, Johnny Vcrecn and in
cumbent Joan Altman, mayor; Franccs Allen, Dave
Drummond and incumbents Danny Leonard and
Jeffrie Ensminger, commissioner.
Yaupon Beach: Jackie Slockett, commissioner.
Caswell Beach: incumbcnts William A. Boyd Jr.
and Robert (Bob) Terry, council.
South Brunswick Sanitary District: incumbcnt
Ginger Canady.
Dosher Board of Trustees: incumbcnts Bill Kirby
and C. William Ncwnam.
Sandy Creek: Danny Canady, council.
Belville: incumbcnt Kenneth D. MesscrSr., mayor.
Leland: incumbcnt S.L. Doty and Franky Thomas,
mayor; Jimmy Cooke, Donald T. Sellers and incum
bcnts Sadie Richburg and Lucille Blake, council.
Leland Sanitary District: Joe Gaincy and incum
bents Edison Moore and Julius Adams.
Navassa: incumbcnt Louis "Bobby" Brown, mayor.
All candidates pay a 55 filing fee.
Parker Resigns At Board's Reauest
(Continued From Page 1-A)
"Since it's all in exccutivc ses
sion, I'm afraid 1 can't tell you any
thing," Swans said. "We just can't
announce ethically what goes on in
there."
Bass also declined to comment on
the board's reasons, but indicated
that it shouldn't have come as a sur
prise.
'This is not something new.
Gary's performance has been dis
cussed for some time," Bass said. "If
we were going to do anything now's
the time to do it. There's never a
right time for something like this."
Parker, 46, said Monday he
doesn't know what he will do in the
future. "It's loo sudden to have any
plans. I've got to take some time to
dccidc what I'm going to do next."
Several commissioners said they
like Parker and think he will do well
if he accepts a job in another town.
Bass said Parker has some very
good qualities as a manager. "He's
been good for Holden Beach in a lot
of ways. He's made some mistakes,
but everybody makes mistakes."
Said Atkins, "I hate to see him go.
I'm sure he'll find another job in an
other town. ..I like Gary. He's
worked hard on some of the projects
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that he's done. He's a nicc person
and we wish him well."
Before taking the manager's job
at Holden Beach, Parker was town
manager in Erwin. He also has held
municipal government positions in
Franklinton; Newington, Conn.; and
North Lauderdale, Fla.
Parker is the third town manager
at Holden Beach to resign in the past
three years. The first manager, Gus
Ulrich, resigned in August 1990 cit
ing "personal reasons."
Blake Proctor was pressured by
the previous board of commission
ers to resign in January 1991 after
less than six months as manager.
Parker was hired following a six
month search process.
Ulrich, back for his second stint
as interim manager, wili start work
ing Aug. 5 and continue until the
town board hires a new manager.
Commissioners have started
searching. They are looking for
someone with a master's degree in
public administration and at least
five years of governmental experi
ence, according to an advertisement
in today's Beacon.
Foumier said the town needs
someone with good communication
skills who understands Holden
Beach and can help town commis
sioners plan and prepare for the fu
ture.
"We're amateurs. We need a pro
fessional," Foumier said. "We need
an activist, not a reactivist."
Added Sandifer, "1 just think
whoever it is needs to be part of the
town and be responsive to the peo
THE BRUNSWICICfefEACON
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At 4709 Main Street
Shalloue, N.C. 28459
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pic. Wc arc a small town and the
town manager needs to be in touch
with the people."
Bass said he doesn't know if the
current board will choose a new
manager or wait until after the
November election. "If a very good
person comes along that can do a
good job 1 suggest wc hire him. If
not 1 suggest wc leave it to the next
board."
More Heat,
Some Rain
Said Ahead
For the next few days the South
Brunswick Islands can expect tem
peratures to continue above normal,
averaging from the mid-70s at night
and into the lower 90s during the
day.
More rainfall is also in the fore
cast, said Shalloue Point meteorolo
gist Jackson Canady, with about
three-fourths of an inch expected.
"The good news is that computer
models are suggesting a significant
shift in weather patterns by next
week," he said. The extended out
look calls for temperatures to be
closer to average or even below av
erage, with more precipitation.
That break, said Canady, "will be
good for us and good for the folks in
the Midwest who don't need any
more rain."
For the period July 20-26, Canady
recorded a high of 96 on both July
20 and 21, and a low of 73 degrees
on the mornings of July 24 and 26.
A daily average high of 94 de
grees combined with a nightly aver
age low of 76 degrees for a daily av
erage temperature of 85 degrees,
which is about 4 degrees above av
erage.
Canady recorded 1.06 inches of
rainfall at his Shalloue Point area
residence.
Correction
An ariicle about grand jury in
dictments in last week's edition
of The Brunswick Beacon incor
rectly stated the age of John
Henry Duboise Jr., who is 24.
John Henry Duboise Sr., 49,
of Shalloue was not indicted by
a Brunswick County Grand Jury.
The Beacon apologizes for the
error and regrets any misunder
standing which may have been
caused by it.