I
I
Learning Resource Center I
Pamlico Technical College
P. 0. Box 185
Highway 306 South
Grantsboro, N. C. 28529 pxj library
' - P. 0. Box 1B5
i Grarvt3bora, M. C. 28529
The Pamlico News
Vol. 1 3, No. 8
Serving Pamlico County And Richlands Township
Thursday, February 21,1980
“Capt’n Bob ’« Work Called Inadequate
Fishermen To Work With Committee
To Appraise Boats
A
Pamlico County boat owners and commercial fishermen
did not swallow it hook, line, and sinker-Capt’n Bob’s boat
appraisals, that is. E. W. Phillips, or Capt’n Bob, was hired
by the county to do the appraisal of boats over 32 feet in
length. But, according to boat owners, Capt'n Bob did a less
than adequate job.
A group of commercial fishermen and boat owners met
with Pamlico Commissioners Monday night to point out
inadequacies in the appraisal and offer alternatives.
The fishermen contended that the boat appraisal was not
fair and equitable and that they should have an opportunity
to do a better job by appraising their own boats through a
committee made up of three people in the county’s fishing
industry, a local businessman, and a county commissioner.
Pamlico commissioners agreed with the fishermen and
reiterated that their goal was to have fair and equitable
boat appraisals.
CONTROVERSY
There has been much controversy surrounding the recent
boat appraisals and Capt’n Bob’s method of appraisal.
At the last county commissioner meeting, Capt’n Bob
explained the method of appraisal. He told commissioners
that he had worked, in part, with a committee. Phillips
refused to name the committee members, saying that they
wished to remain “unknown”. He also explained other
various data collecting techniques which he employed, such
as visiting customhouses in Norfolk and Miami to collect
boat information.
DON’T AGREE
Ross Boyer, Executive Director for the N. C. Fisheries
Association, read a prepared statement at Monday night’s
meeting, clearly stating the position of local fishermen and
boat owners. Said Boyer, “As you (commissioners) are
aware, boat owners are not in agreement with the methods
utilized in determining the revised market values (of the
boats).” Boyer continued that the county may be faced with
“a situation that may result in substantial decreases in the
County’s economic viability”. Many county boat owners
have threatened to move their vessels elsewhere unless the
boat values are made more in line with current market
value.
Boyer said that there were “numerous blatant
discrepancies” on the revised boat values. He presented
examples of rotten boats needing major overhaul which
were valued very high, boats currently up for sale for
considerably less than the appraised value, boats which
were appraised with one engine type and in fact have
another type of engine, a boat which sank, and a boat which
burned over a year ago and was a total loss.
“Another concern we (boat owners) wish to express,”
Boyer continued, “is the manner in which the tax office has
handled this situation. No public notice, that we can
determine, was ever given indicating that an appraiser
would be traveling around the county for purposes of re
valuing commercial vessels. Additionally, it is quite
evident that only a few, if any, vessels were actually
boarded to assess the conditions of these vessels.”
Boat owners contended that the county should have
received from Capt’n Bob a worksheet on each boat with
explanation as to how a value was arrived at. The county
received no worksheets.
Boyer stated, “As you can clearly see from the list of
discrepancies, somebody has ‘pencilwhipped’ these
values.” He noted that county boat values jumped from
$1,301,653 in 1079 to $4,013,650 for a 308% increase. It was
estimated that the county realized $16,270 in 1979 from
commercial fishing boats with a tax rate of $1.25 per $100.
Should the tax rate be cut in half with the countywide re
evaluation, the county revenue from fishing boats (with the
new appraisal) would be approximately $25,085 or a 54%
increase.
Said Boyer, “The seafood industry has been hit extremely
hard as has agriculture with the present fuel prices. We
can’t stand a fifty percent increase in taxes too! ”
“We hired this guy (Phillips) in good faith,” said
chairman Robert Paul.“None of us (commissioners) here
know how to value boats,” he said, “I don’t.”
Commissioner Don Lee concurred, “We hired somebody
we thought knew how to value boats. We need some kind of
system (for listing boats) and that’s what we were trying to
initiate.”
“From what Capt’n Bob showed us (the commissioners,”
said Commissioner Charles Alexander, “I don’t think he
made a thorough check on these boats.” “I think he did a
bad job for the money,” Alexander added. The contract
price for the appraisal was 98,000. He said that the county
was trying to get commercial boats within reason. Said
Alexander, “Farmland is not on the books at true market
value but it’s within reason.”
IN THE DARK
The boat owners contended that not only were a large
part of the boat values unreasonable but they knew nothing
of the appraisal and that methods used far appraisals were
not good.
Ed Cross, Pamlico Packing Company, told the com
missioners, “The fishermen feel like it (the appraisal) was
a behind the back thing.” The boat owners, said Cross, were
not aware that a c mmercial fishing vessel appraisal was
being conducted. “I’m not looking to put my boats on the
books for nothing,” said Crass, “but 1 want it equitable.” He
estimated that the new farmland values are about 8846% of
the true market value. Cross continued, “If you’re going to
put that (farmland) on there (the books) far 00 to 08%, then
I want to put my boats on there for 00-85%.”
Forrest Williams, commercial fisherman, noting that
Pamlico County’s tax base is the second highest in the state,
stated, “The rate causes people to lie about what they own.
It’s (the appraisal) going to have to be done fair,” Williams
continued, “The fishermen, farmers, and industries are
going to have to work together. Everything should be at
100% (market value). We’re going to get together at
whatever’s fair so the county won’t lose the revenue. ”
Although Capt’n Bob was not present at the meeting to
defend his position, boat owners questioned his ability to
value commercial fishing boats.
Williams said that in his opinion, Capt’n Bob’s
qualifications to value fishing boats should have been
checked into at more depth. Williams called the appraisal
“kind of a joke”.
Grady Simpson, acting tax supervisor, stated that other
appraisers were contacted but they did not wish to do the
appraisal. Said Simpson, "Capt’n Bob’s the only one that
would touch it.” According to Simpson, the tax office is
attempting to work with everyone concerned through in
formal hearings with the appraiser. "I’ve lived in this
county all my life,” said Simpson, “and I’ve never seen
anything that couldn’t be worked out.”
Waddell Gaskill, Gaskill Seafood, suggested that it ap
peared that a large amount of the reappraisal was done
using the previous years tax record. “He never went to my
dock.” said Gaskill, “and I never saw him.”
The boat owners wanted a chance to value their own boats
interchangeably. County Attorney Bernard Hollowell said,
“why can’t they (boat owners) do a credible job? Maybe
they ought to have a chance to do this.” “The com
missioners are not obliged to accept the values from the
fisheries association,” he added.
“The fisheries association,” said Cross, “is ready to give
good figures, a fair, taxable value comparable to land.”
The commissioners liked the idea of setting up a com
mittee to re value the boats and appointed Jimmy Spencer
to serve as their representative.
The boat owners estimated that the appraisal work
should take between 3 and 4 weeks.
Hunt’s Re-election Drive
Visits Pamlico County
(L to R) Joe Grimsley, Leland Brinson, Governor Jim
Hunt and Joe McClees. Leland Brinson and Joe McClees
are co-chairmen of the Hunt Re-election Committee in
Saturday, February 16, was Jim Hunt Day in Pamlico
County. Governor Hunt arrived at Fred A. Anderson School
with several members of his administrative and campaign
staffs about 11 a.m. After greeting early arrivals, the
Governor went into the school library for a meeting with the
Board of Directors of the N. C. Fisheries Association which
is headquartered in Bayboro.
Sheriff Leland Brinson and Joe McClees, co-chairmen of
the Pamlico County Hunt Reelection Committee, in
troduced the present incumbents and candidates for
County, General Assembly, and judicial offices and the
county’s reelection committee.
Over 280 people were served a barbecue and fried chicken
lunch and Governor Hunt greeted each one going through
the buffet line. Young people, members of Fred Fisher’s
and George Peacock’s history classes, were very much in
evidence, helping the affair run smoothly.
Governor Hunt prefaced his remarks, noting that “we are
a little closer to God in Pamlico County,...that we are
blessed by geography, natural resources, good community
life, water, good land and forests, all the things that used to
be taken for granted but that we now look at with great
pride.” He noted that Pamlico County was the only County
in the State to receive the Governor’s 1979 Community of
Excellence Award.
Governor Hunt stated that he loves the Democratic Party
and looks forward to a vigorous primary, with the party
coming together after May 6 and “whipping the dickens out
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IT
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Pamlico County. Joe Grimsley is chairman of the Hunt
State-wide Re-election team.
of the Republicans and the N. C. Congressional Club.”
Speaking of the accomplishments during his three years
as Governor, he included the facts that 6 billion dollars in
new investments had come to the State, with 90,000 new
jobs, and that he is looking for new job opportunities for
Pamlico County. He pointed with pride to the primary
reading programs in the State’s schools, the smaller
classes, the placing of aids and volunteers in these classes
and said that he wants this extended into the fourth through
sixth grades. N. C. children in grades 1-3 were tested last
spring and are at or above the national level in reading and
math. He said that he will push for a double digit pay raise
for teachers and state employees during this spring’s
session of the General Assembly.
The reorganized Utilities Commission has kept rate in
creases under the inflation rate. The new Department of
Crime Control, speedy trials law, fair sentencing law, and
restitution to victims have been put on the books during his
administration.
Governor Hunt promised to go forward in the areas of
crime control, education, energy, and employment, and
closed with a quote: “A nation is never finished and can’t be
left standing like the pyramids. It must be built in every
generation by believing, caring men and women.” He in
vited the citizens of Pamlico County to join believing,
caring men and women.” He invited the citizens of Pamlico
County to join with him in continuing to build North
Carolina.
rian now i u
Pamlico Junior High Science Fair
February 27,7:30 p.m.
February 24-28
Proclaim The Word
February 24-28 (Sunday thru
Thursday)
Place—Bayboro United
Methodist Church
Time: Sunday 11:00 a.m. and
8 p.m. & Monday - Thursday 8
p.m.
Sponsored by ; pamlico
County United Methodist
Parish
Proclaim the Word is an
Evangelistic Movement of
United Methodists in the
Southeast. This includes 16-18
states from Virginia to
Mississippi.
There is evidence that God
is moving. Those who study
such things are predicting
that a spiritual break-through
appears possible during the
decade of the 1980’s. It is
suppose to start, they tell us,
in the Sun-belt and move
noi thward and westward.
The Bishops are eager for our
people to be part of what God
is doing..
The ministers will be ex
changing pulpits and the
guest minister will be Rev.
William A. Ruth from
Graham, N. C.
This is a Pamlico Parish
event with all the
Proclamation Services being
held in Bayboro.
What is “Proclaim the
Word”?
—It is not just a series of
services.
—It is not just a revival
—It is a simultaneous, high
visibility, coordinated
evangelistic thrust in all
United Methodist Churches in
the Southeastern United
States in the spring of 1980.
It features:
—An exchange of pastors
with the Conference.
—Extensive planning by local
church committees, host
ministers, and visiting
ministers.
—Coordinated publicity
throughout the Southeastern
United States, thus, high
visibility.
—Enthusiastic services as a
setting for a winning
Proclamation of the Word.
—A community survey.
—Visitation Evangelism
—Planning of a four-year
program of evangelistic
ministry by the Local Church
Council
—Follow up
Remember, it takes all
kinds to make the world. The
apostle Paul knew that. He
told members of the church
at Corinth that just as a body
needs the eyes and the hand,
so the church needs prophets,
teachers, and ad
ministrators.
Rev. William A. Ruth
Unfortunately we often feel
like second-class Christians.
Our faith doesn’t seem suf
ficient to be proclaimed from
a pulpit. Our knowledge
doesn’t seem deep enough to
be marked as a chalkboard.
The trouble is we don’t seem
to have the skills to be a
prophet, a teacher, or an
administrator.
Jesus picked persons like
us to be his followers. He did
not choose skilled orators; he
selected no scholars; he
called no administrators. He
picked persons at random. He
wanted boisterous and im
petuous Peter and his quiet
brother Andrew. He called
practical-minded Philip,
doubtful Thomas, and
militant Simon. He selected a
hated tax collector, Matthew,
and a fiery egotist, John.
Each had a “special place’ ’ in
that group we know as saints.
But personalities were not
suddenly changed the day
Jesus called them to his side.
Stammering speakers con
tinued to stammer. Quiet
persons remained quiet. The
ordinary persons simply
began to apply themselves in
new ways as they stumbled
their way to faith.
The Christian community
becomes poorer any time
someone believes he or she is
not necessary. We all have
unique personalities and
gifts.. .maybe not the per
sonality we would have
wanted or the gifts we would
have wanted or the gifts we
would have selected, but it
takes all kinds.
So, let’s all get together to
“Proclaim the Word". Let’s
be nicer and friendlier to our
neighbors, the people we
work with, etc. Invite them to
attend these special services
during February 24-28. If we
cannot be friends with our
neighbors, how can we ever
expect world peace? Reach
out and touch someone with
your heart. Let’s try anyway!
by Betty Spain
“Expo ’80” Coming
Once again the Neuse Area
Development Association and
the N. C. Agricultural Ex
tension Service is sponsoring
“Expo ‘80”, a craft fair to be
held in Morehead City on July
12 and 13. All persons wishing
to participate and enter their
craft must submit three
items to be screened in
Trenton on March 4. Susan
Herring, Asst. Home
Economics Extension Agent
asks all interested craft
persons to bring their crafts
to be submitted for screening
to her at the Agricultural
(Cont’d on Page 3)