North Carolina Newspapers

standard pn I :i f ir.z : C 0 " x u ' LOUISVILLE, KSiirUGXY . THE PER WEEKLY QUIMANS Volume 33, No. 16 Legislative Picture Is Considered By KATHY M . NEWBERN Two regional groups met Thursday night with the North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) to hear of their available ser vices, positions on proposed legislation, and the pro posed construction of a per manent home for the group in Raleigh. Prior to the joint meeting, the two groups, the Albemarle Regional Plan ning and Development Com mission (ARPDC) and the Albemarle Area Develop ment Association (AADA) held brief meetings to han dle business. ARPDC Chair man R.S. Monds and AADA Chariman R.L. Stevenson, both of Perquimans County, were present and presided. In action taken, AADA went on record supporting the Shallowbag Bay Project in Manteo and the Oregon . Inlet Deep Water Project. Both AADA and ARPDC supported a resolution in itiated by Commissioner Macon Johnson of Camden opposing the reclassifica tion of the Pasquotank River if that action would no longer allow area farmers to drain .their fields in the river. - -. . In introducing the guest group,' NCLM, Bill Gardner of Edenton described them as "a great benefit to all , m0rWtf sM. without . whose efforts; some' town and cities in this area would be lost." - Leigh Wilson, director of the NCLM, first discussed proposed legislation in the : General Assembly and the ' organization's views on them. He prefaced his com-.' ments by saying. -"In the General Assembly lies all the authority and power we , in the local communities ' have." The list of proposed bills given to those present . included items in the categories of alcoholic beverage control, employer-employe rela tions, finance and taxation, . general government, law Alliance To Receive Grant POWELLSVILLE Governor James B. Hunt has announced a $30,000, Coastal Plains Regional Commission grant to Alliance for Progress, Inc., for a feasibility study of the outdoor education en vironmental center site on 3,800 acres of land in Gates County. Alliance Chairman Riley . Monds Jr. of Hertford states that "we are real pleased to receive this grant as we feel . . it will ultimately provide air educational and. economic impact . on northeastern North Carolina." ; Gates 'County Commis sioner, Frank Rice, who is 1 also Vice Chairman of . Alliance for Progress, says. ."There is every reason to, believe this grant will ; enable us to start the long range planning process for . this giant cuti;r classroom and l-t ;::y center that should p't r r area on the map by t all the educational r ?t.s of northeastern f C-r;"na eni scire of err ' jrirj r';-s -H Cm t . f sLiv '-t :c t : i ; i i --i t :,t.-." 1 t'- 'J 1 ty :. -n't: i? - enforcement and planning and zoning. Wilson specifically refer red to HB 349, opposed by NCLM, which would authorise collective bargaining contracts for all public employes. In connec tion with that, he mentioned HB 872, also opposed, which would call for a minimum wage for all public employes of $2.30 per hour. Wilson said, "When the state man dates what you pay and what your tax rate will be, this is where we have to stand up and be counted." He also described this pro posal as "unwarranted in tervention in local affairs." Another newly introduced bill, HB 909 would require that prior to the time a North Carolinian could get his automobile license, he would have to first present ' evidence that property taxes on motor vehicles had been paid. NCLM supports this legislation and Wilson said it would result in a local revenue increase of about $25 million. Also discussed ; was a proposed bill to ex pand the open meetings law in North Carolina, HB 522. The NCLM is continuing study of this proposal Wilson encouraged the ' government officials to con sider these legislative pro posals and to voice their opi nions to their represen tatives in Raleigh. He said, "Membersrol the General. Assembly are people - and they're good people and they listen to you." This discussion was followed by a film on the ser vices available from the NCLM and on the proposed Albert Coates Local Govern ment Center to be built in Raleigh as a permanent home for the NCLM at a cost of fl.5 million. Municipalities would con tribute financially to this construction based on their population. The contribution for Hertford would be in the sum of $1,270 and could be paid by one of three plans which - are open to all municipalities in the state. Sullivan of the N.C. State University School of Design, , and Dr. Eric Ellwood, Dean '', of the N.C.S.U. School of, Forest Resources. The land : is currently held by the N.C. Forestry Foundation- until such time as the study ' reveals appropriate disposi- . tion and. maximum use. Plans for the. site include a research ; component for university student and' faculty, environmental; study areas for secondary -and elementary students, a natural area for land con servation studies, research into the natural process for sustaining the swamp and forest areas v a living laboratory, forest manage-, ment areas, low density recreation, as well as an inn 1 formation center complex to provide for interpretive ser vices, classrooms, meetings and lectures, and similar ac tivities. The property was donated by Union Camp Corporation as part of their "Land Legacy Program," and has historical as well as ecological significance, be Its a part of the Chowanoak Liuiansite. .' , Howard Lee, Secretary of t.' e r-rartment of Natural irl L;:-rr.ic Resources, I -:tiv' ttvesjiela jL-e -i ' . '.' s plans with i .' r I.. ,.c-s board ntf-ttir.e. K - VANDALISM Pictured is some of the damage caused by vandalism over, the weekend at the Wildlife Boating Access' Area in New Hope. Access Area Is Damaged Damage estimated bet ween $600 and $700 has been reported- at the Wildlife Boating Access Area near New Hope. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission reported that the activity, attributed to vandalism, occurred bet ween Friday and Sunday nights and resulted in one '.dock briojtbMed.,-a4 another damaged heavily. Also found at the site was several i demolished and burned signs, litter and evidence of numerous fires. A spokesman for the com Orientation Is Scheduled Coastal area management and specifically Areas of Environmental Concern will be discussed at an orienta tion session for citizens to be held April 28 at 8 p.m. at the Perquimans County Court house. The session is being spon sored by the Hertford Town Council, the Perquimans County Commissioners, and the Coastal Resources Com mission in order to answer questions and hear com ments concerning the pro posal prior to a public hear ing scheduled for May 4. Erie Haste Jr. of Hert ford, CRC member, will be heading the discussion and answering questions. Also featured will be a film en titled, "An Act to Protect." The film, produced by the WALKING CANDIDATE ARRIVES -With one blisi:r to his credit, Dave -McKn'dht, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Svte in IS. 3, arrived in Hertford llosiay c"jht on foot. KcSnight has p'-'-rted an Arril to October walk which : 1 tke hl.n from I'antso to Murphy ti::.:rg with North Carciiaiass all along . Hertford, Perquimans County, f'f J 3 mission said that a general clean-up will be conducted at present but no replace ment of damaged items is planned until that group can determine if the vandalism will cease. If it continues, plans are to totally discon tinue the area. The incident has been reported to the local sherrif and Wildlife VCommissnforcement : officers. -V-' '-'-4 ' " The Wildlife Commission is asking for the communi ty's support in an effort to allow the access area to con tinue in operation. UNC-Sea Grant, will explain the many complex issues that have led to the develop ment of the Commission's fragile areas program. Commission members and local officials are en couraging community input and comments before the proposal is finalized. The Coastal Resources Commission is presently proposing 13 categories of environmental concern in cluding estuarine waters, coastal wetlands, public trust areas, estuarine shorelines, ocean beaches, frontal dunes, ocean erodi ble areas, inlet lants, public water supply well fields, surface water supplies, and three categories of fragile natural resource areas. 51 1 !- N.C, Thursday, Apr. 21, 1977 One Killed One person was killed as the result of a one car acci dent occurring Monday at 7:50 p.m. about five and one-half miles ' east of Durants Neck on rural un paved road 1321. Elisha Thomas White, 39, Recreation Is Discussed By KATHY M. NEWBERN A group of 20 concerned citizens attended the Mon day night meeting of the Perquimans County Board of Commissioners to discuss the recreation needs in the county. Represented were the Town Council, The Per quimans County Planning Board, and the Perquimans County Recreation Commis sion. Discussion first turned to the need for public tennis courts in the county but soon turned to other needs as well. Mayor Bill Cox sug gested the group look into "a complete recreation pro gram for the town and coun ty jointly." He added that a recent questionnaire answered by town residents showed 149 out of the 249 participating saw tennis as a prime concern for improv ing recreation and 167 of those 249 saw the need for a public swimming area. He later added that 222 answer ing the questionnaire thought the current offering Of recreation for the coun ty's young people was inadequate. Members of the existing Perquimans County Recrea tion Commission expressed the limitations of the volunteer body. It was pointed out that a total recreation program would need a full-time director who could also compile grant, applications. County County WASHINGTON, D.C. Perquimans County has been honored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its participating in Alliance for Progress, Inc. Perquimans County was named a 1977 achievement award winner by NACo President Dan Lynch. Achievement awards are presented to counties who have developed new programs which enhance or expand county services to citizens. . In making the announcement, Lynch congratulated the 1977 achievement award counties for their "special sen sitivity to citizen needs and their efforts to strengthen coun ty government." r, Lynch explained that achievement award case studies "are distributed by NACo to other counties to serve as ex amples of innovative programs." ' The National Association of Counties is the spokesman for county government in the Unived States. The nation's coun ties represent approximate 98 per cent of the United States population. Possible School Reorganization: Community Meetings Planned Two community meetings will be held next week to discuss the possible reorganization of Perquimans County Schools. The meetings are set for April 25 at 8 p.m. at Per quimans Union School and April 26 at 8 p.m. at Hertford Grammar School. Members of the Board of Education, the Superintendent, and local principals will be present at both meetings to ft. , ' ' the way. The candidate was welcomed to Hertford by Mayor Bin Cox and later sat in on part of the County Commissioners' meeting. His Tuesday morning schedule included visits to several businesses and then walking tours through Winfall and Belvidere. From Perquimans, McKnight beaded to Edenton. of Rt. 3, Hertford was pro nounced dead on arrival at Albemarle Hospital after the late model car he was driving. overturned, on the dirt road. White was travel ing north between 50 and 60 mph trying out the car when the applied the brake too T Commissioner Chairman ? Lester Simpson praised the efforts of the group saying they had done an "outstand ing job" with what they've had to work with. Simpson also said, "I think ARPDC will give us a lot of help on seeking funds." John Coston was present representating the Per quimans County Planning Board and explained that recreation has also been considered by that body but at the time they were unaware of the existing Recreation Commission. It was later added that coor dination is badly needed to reduce this duplication of ef forts. Mayor Cox added that the school facilities can be better utilized in this area if this coordination can be obtained. Following the discussion, it was decided to appoint a five-member committee to consider the questions brought up at the meeting. Serving on that committee will be Ed Nixon represent ing the planning board, Joe Nowell representing the Commissioners, Billy Winslow represented the Town Council, Sid Eley representing the recreation commission, and one member of the Perquimans County Board of Education. Board of Education members could not be at the Monday night meeting since m ti l o neceive l i v ,..4-aJ; ;. 4. .'lPrr " I - GRAND OPENING - Sunday marked the grand opening of Hertford's newest business, . J-Dees Gifts & Ceramics, located on Church Street. The day's ac tivities included a ribbon cutting .ceremony (shown above) with (1. to r.) . Mayor Bill Cox and Chamber of Com merce Executive Secretary Gary Ken- nedy doing the honors. Looking on is shop owner Jo Dixon and her son, Chris. In Accident hard and began to skid. He let go of the steering wheel and the car overturned in the roadway. One of the three passengers received non incapicitated injuries: Henry R. Mallory Jr., 25, of Rt. 3, Hertford, owner of the they were also meetiri,; in regular session, but had earlier expressed an in terest in working jointly on the matter. The newly ap pointed committee planned a Wednesday night meeting. In other business, the Commissioners approved a resolution for Perquimans County Schools transferring $7,000 from the maintenance and repairs division of the budget to the operations and utilities section. A letter was discussed from the Emergency Medical Services Council re questing two appointments to that board, one repre senting the commissioners and the other being a citizen interested in emergency services but a non rescue squad member. Chairman Simpson appointed Commis sioner Waldo Winslow and Marsha Massey, with her approval, to serve in this capacity. A letter was also received from the Economic Im provement Council, Inc. re questing the board to submit a letter of support for a $123,008 request for the Region R Rental Subsidy Council. Simpson pointed out that this figure represented all areas served and no county-by-county breakdown was given. No action was taken. In budget matters, it was announced that $51,035 of a i County achievement awards will be presented at Naco's 1977 annual conference in Wayne County, Detroit, Mich., July 24-27. Each of the six counties in the Alliance for Progress, Int. will receive the award for their participation in and support of the alliance conceptAlliance for Progress, Inc. is a one-of-a-kind organization combining efforts of the elected of ficials of the Boards of County Commissioners and Boards of Education in an effort to improve the quality of educa tion, and thereby the quality of life, in northeastern North Carolina. Concerning this recognition from NACo, R.S.Monds, local Commissioner and Chairman of Alliance for Progress, Inc., said, "I think it's great that they've recognized that we are attempting to do something down here especially by enhancing education. I think they also appreciate the spirit of cooperation between these counties." answer questions and hear community comments and reac tions. The question of reorganization is being considered to determine if the local schools can be organized more effec tively to serve students' developmental needs as well as academic needs. School officials are encouraging citizens to attend one or both of these meetings to discuss the question. 15 CENTS car. Not injured were passengers Elisha Thomas White, age 9; and Rory Shawn White, age 4. Highway Patrolman C.H. Mims investigated and reported an estimated damage of $5,000 to the car. the Anti Recession Fiscal Fund has been received and put on investment. This amount represents the pay ment for the quarter begin ning April 1. The Commis sioners were informed that $323,048 is currently on hand in the Capial Outlay School Building Fund, monies that are to only be used for new school construction. A mo tion was passed to ammend the revenue sharing budget in the amount of $70,000 to give that fund an additional $100,000. It was also discussed that the Per quimans County Tax Department has turned in a figure of $87,836,506 representing the county evaluation. That added to the state assessment gives a total figure of $93,561,312. This represents an increase over last year of almost $5 million. A request was discussed from Albemarle Mental Health asking for a 15 cents per capita increase over last year's local allocation in this coming year's budget. The increase would amount to about $1200 in additional funds from Perquimans County. No action was taken. Before adjourning it was announced that the National Association of Counties (NACo) will hold its annual conference in Detroit, Mich. July 23-27. Award Following the ceremony, an open house was held including refreshments, door prizes,' and Ceramics demonstrations. Also as part of the grand opening,. several discounts were announced on store items. Mrs. Dixon later presented Mayor Cox with a ceramic gift to the ' Town of Hertford in appreciation for their help and support of the new business. (Newbern photo)