THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 36, No. 32 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, AoQust 7, 1980 20 CENTS
Discharges into river
miss state standards
It appears that water being discharged
into the Perquimans River from the
Hertford waste treatment plant isn't as
clean as it should be.
A recent assessment by the North
Carolina Department of Natural
Resources and Community Development
has determined that the town is in
ion of state effluent limitations,
wastewater treatment works.
Hertford Mayor Bill Cox informed the
town council at their regular monthly
meeting Monday of the commission's
recommendation that the town secure a
commercial laboratory in an effort to
correct the plant's problems.
The commission's findings, obtained
during a routine inspection in April,
authorizes operation of its
indicated an excess of fecal coliform and
other human waste-related bacteria in
the Perquimans River.
The analysis found the facility ex
ceeding effluent limitations for BOD (a
bacteria-related to human solid waste)
by 120 milligrams per liter; an excess of
total suspended solids by 166 milligrams
per liter; and of fecal coliform bacteria
by more than 240,000 counts per 100
milliliters.
The facility evaluation, performed by
W.E. Furr Jr. of the Department of
Natural Resources' regional office in
Washington, N.C., also deemed Hert
ford's plant unsatisfactory in its ef
fluency limitation, operation and
maintenance, and laboratory practices.
The council moved to contract with a
commercial laboratory company out of
Greenville, N.C. at a cost of |70 per
month.
In other business, the council moved to
oppose the N.C. Department's revised
schedule for operation of Hertford's 'S'
shaped bridge.
Secretary of Transportation Tom
Bradshaw informed Cox last week of the
reduced schedule, effective August IS,
which will also entail a reduction of the
present five-member staff to three
employees and thus save $18,500 a year in
operational costs.
Councilman T. Erie Haste Jr., who was
not in favor of the opposition, said it was
unrealistic to oppose the closing. "How
( Continued on page 2 )
County to seek shift
in proposed park site
The Perquimans County Board of
Commissioners approved a grant
aplication on Monday for a softball
recreational facility, but will attempt to
shift the site to school owned property.
The commissioners had previously
agreed to donate a 14 acre tract of land
for the park, but after communications
with school officials, decided that a
project located on school property might
better meet the needs of the county.
Albemarle Regional Planning and
Development Commission planner Pam
Whitley reported to the commissioners
that an application had been prepared
for a grant of some some $42,000 from
Heritage Conservation Service.
The grant would require a SO per cent
match (some $42,000) from local
government. Ms. Wfiitley satd that the
county land could not be used as a match.
She said that the application was based
-on the site the commissioners originally
'Agreed to donate, but the the application
could be amended.
She said, however, that locating the
park on school propperty would reduce
the county's chances of securing a
Heritage Conservation grant.
Ms. Whitley said there is a reluctance
to fund park projects on school property
because they must be open to the public
at all times. "If it's tied up in school
*1
activities it's not open to the public," she
said.
Ms. Whitley said she knows of only one
instance in which a grant has been made
to construct a facility on school property.
This was a grant for the construction of
tennis courts at Northeastern High
School in Elizabeth City.
The commissioners said, however, that
they would try to work out an adequate
agreement with the schools for keeping
the facility open to the public.
If the grant is approved, the county will
have the option of turning it down, but the
application indicates a willingness to
make an effort to fund the project.
Ms. Whitley said that additional state
grant monies may be available for the
facility if the federal grant is awarded.
The county may also be able to use
donations of labor and equipment as a
partial local match, she said. .
In other business, the commissioners
discussed malfunctions at the county
water plant and decided to continue to
withold a retainer of some $16,000 from
Tucker Brothers of Sunbury until a hitch
in the back wash system is straightened
out.
During the back wash cycle, rust has
on several occassions been discharged
into the county water lines, sending
orange water into the homes of
customers. "
Ray Tucker of Tucker Brothers sought
payment for his firm's work on the plant,
saying the malfunction was occurring
because the plant is being operated
beycnd capacity, and that the warranty
on equipment has already expired.
The commissioners will invite Tucker
and a representative of Rivers and
Associates, the county's engineering
firm, to their next meeting to try and get
to the bottom of the water problem.
In another water matter, William
Jeffries, Jr., general manager of Holiday
Island, asked that a representative of
Rivers and Associates be allowed to
come to a meeting of property owners in
the resort community to discuss the ins
and outs of connecting to the county
water system.
Jeffries said that Holiday Island has
had water problems in the past and is
considering drilling a new well, but that
the community would also like to check
in to the feasibility of joining the county
system.
The commissioners also heard an
annual report from Thomas Watts,
district attorney for the first judicial
district.
(Continued on page 2 )
Corn disaster
Scrawny corn with few ears is the rule
rather than the exception in Perquimans
County this year as dry weather has
spelled disaster for farmers.
Hertford
plant is
closed ,
jobs lost
As many as 55 jobs were lost in Hert
ford on Friday when Hertford Apparel on
Grubb Street announced that it would be
closing its doors.
The firm has been making mens' and
boys' pullover shirts in Hertford for some
three years.
Manager Edward Byrum confirmed
that the plant is closing at the end of next
week, but said he could not comment
further on the matter until more of the
details are worked out.
While expressing concern about the
lost jobs, Hertford Mayor Bill Cox said
the plant closing would not have a drastic
impact on the town.
"(The firm) is employing about 50
people ? of course it will hurt us. We'll
miss every job we have, but there will be
no severe impact," Cox said.
He said there is a possibility that
another firm will move in to the building
but that the town has no prospects at
present.
Corn suffers extreme damage
Recent rainfall has helped to save
some of the Perquimans County corn
crop, but the moisture is apparently not
enough to repair much of the drought
damage felt earlier in the season, ac
cording to Bill Jester, Perquimans
County Extension Chairman.
"The damage to corn in certain areas
of the county is irreparable," said Jester,
"Corn needed much more rain during the
month of June than the 1.2 inches we
received."
Jester surmised that many fields
would not be worth harvest cost. "A few
fields have already been disked up and
replanted," he said.
Perquimans County depends heavily
on corn and soybeans to generate cash
income. Corn accounted for about 25,000
acres of the 68,000 acres of crop planted
in 1980.
According to Jester, the reduction in
the county corn yield will exceed 35
percent of the county average, which is
about 110 bushels per acre. "This will
have a serious economical impact on
many grain farmers in the county, as
well as those raising swine on the farm,"
said Jester.
Hope for soybeans and peanuts
Although soybeans have also been
injured by the drought, good moisture
conditions during the month of August
and September could possibly bring the
county a better-than-average crop, ac
cording to Jester, who also noted
promise for peanuts.
"Thus far, the potential' for a good
peanut crop remains good as the growing
season is almost 60 percent completed,"
said Jester, pointing out that good
moisture conditions from here on out,
plus disease and insect control could
offer better than average yields this
year. Some 100 farmers raise 3,200 acres
of peanuts in Perquimans County.
This season has brought no relief to
farmers trying to recover from financial
losses brought on by a combination of low
yields and small margins experienced in
the last two years.
"It is ironical that in a year when corn
prices may be the best in five years,
farmers in the county may have less corn
to sell," observed Jester.
"Hopefully, a good soybean and peanut
crop may help us recover some of the
losses suffered from the corn crop.
Winfall residents share concerns with council
By MARJORIE FIELDS
"We want Winfall to grow, and en
courage businesses, but we do not want
hazardous businesses that will degrade
f^ur town. If we continue like it is now,
^with no laws, this will happen," said Mrs.
Francis Merritt in presenting a list of
four complaints to the Winfall Town
Council at a meeting Monday night.
"We are not out to get Edgar Roberson
of Albemarle Chemical ? we are talking
about them all," added Mrs. Shelton
Morgan, another member of the group.
The residents presented a list of
^grievances to the council, with concerns
"ranging from air pollution and noise to
sanitation and zoning.
Under air pollution, the citizens cited
concentrations of ammonia and debris
from drying corn and beans coming from
Albemarle Chemical Company.
"These fumes are enough to take your
breath and all outside activities must be
terminated. These ammonia fumes last
any where from 30 minutes to five hours.
It is a matter of record that part of
Winfall was evacuated because of the
same problem three years ago.
"In the fall when the dryers are going
it is impossible to sit outside and enjoy
the yard. Dust particles and debris from
drying corn, soybeans and peanuts filter
over the entire neighbortpod causing
invalids on fixed incomes to close win
dows and doors and turn on air con
ditioners.
"We strongly feel that you should
exercise your powers as councilmen and
pass an ordinance protecting us from
these health hazards. There are many
' 118
Patient fisherman
' 3
small children in tfie immediate vicinity
of several hazardous- businesses,
especially during the school year as
Central Elementary is strategically
located in the heart of all these
operations.
"There are also many elderly ? some
of whom are invalid ? who need your
protection.
The group also complained of noise at/
the business.
"We have had a problem with Albemarle
Chemical's intercom being excessively
loud especially at night and on weekends
when no one la at the location.
"If the wind is right it could be heard
as far as a half a mile away. We spoke to
Mr. Roberson about this and to date the
problem has been eased to a certain
extent.
"We realize that traffic and noisy
dryers are necessary evils but we would
like protection from what we consider
unnecessary noise. We therefore ask that
you consider passing an ordinance
protecting the citizens of Winfall from
such unnecessary noise.
Sanitation at the business site was
another conern.
^ " We've had a serious problem with
odors and flies coming from dropped
grain rotting after rains. A simple clean
up procedure could eliminate this
problem. Good business practice calls
for this procedure but we find it
necessary to ask you to pass an or
dinance making this a law. Long range
effects from this debris causes breeding
grounds for rats, mice, etc...
Concering zoning, the list read: "We
realize all present businesses which we
consider possible health hazards are
grandfathered in but we request that you
pass ordinances limiting the major
concentration of hazards to human
health to these existing businesses."
Town councilmember Richard Bryant
stated, "I myself, do not see how the
town could make any ordinance con
cerning air pollution. To me, it would be
a problem the Environmental Protection
Agency would have to look into. A
Federal Agency controls this type of
thing."
"We relaize EPA could get into it, but
we would rather keep it a community
project," stated Mrs. Merrit. "We have
to have zoning laws to protect us."
Jim Singletary, attorney for the town
of Winfall, led the discussion on zoning
and what it entails. "This is no easy
matter and something it will take some
time to work out ? it is not something
that can be done tonight", he said.
Edgar Roberson, Manager of
Albemarle Chemical Company and Mr.
Alvah Wills, Regional Manager ?
Albemarle Chemical Company and
Central Fertilizer were at the meeting.
Wills stated, "I can appreciate your
coming and I can assure you we will
listen to you. We want to be neighbors. To
the best of our ability we want to do what
is best for everybody. Edgar and I know
we have a problem and I will guarantee
we will look into this. As for the amonia
spills, if we catch the wind right when we
bleed cars, it will be no problem, and if
( Continued on page 2 )
Nothing fishy about river
EDITOR'S NOTK: This is the con
clusion of s three-part series dealing with
the quality of the water in the
Perquimans River.
Lester Simpson has seen the time when
boats were lined up at Snug Harbor
Marina to get at the fish in the Yeopim
River and Albemarle Sound.
This year Simpson hasn't even opened
his marina. He says there is no need to
because there aren't any fish.
Fishermen tell the same story about
the Perquimans River and other area
waters.
"You aak anybody. The fish aren't out
there like they were." said Kldon Win
slow. A resident at Hertford concerned
about declining fishing. Wlnslow has
been to the Perqniaans County Board of
Commissioners on two different oc
casions to press tor action on the matter.
"I don't fish much anymore because
there's net much to fish tor." Winslow
said. He said that the fishing has gotten
progressively worse since the mid-fifties.
The fishing decline does not appear to
be centered in any particular species of
fish. Fisherman say that all of the fish
populations have declined to practically
nothing.
Jim Bass, an avid rock (striped bass)
fisherman, said it's hardly worth his
time to put his boat in the water
anymore.
"Three years ago it was real good,"
said Bass. "It kept getting worse and
worse, and it's not only rock fish. There
has been the time you could catch all the
perch you wanted. They're scarce now,"
he said.
"It's sort of getting very discouraging
as high as gas is now to ride and ride and
not catch anything so I definitely don't go
as much as I used to," said Ban.
Ban it apparently not the only person
who doesn't fish in the area as much as
he once did.
Simpson said that where he once could
count as many as 150 boats per day en
tering the water at his marina, that
figure had declined to some 25 boats per
day as of last year.
He said that most of the boats going
into the water now are doing it for
swimming and skiing, not for fishing.
Those who do try the fishing don't have
much luck, Simpson said. "They don't
catch any fish anymore but they still like
to go and try," said Simpson.
He said that area waters used to be
somewhat of a mecca for fishing and
people would come from all over the
?Ute to wet a line.
"I have seen it when you could go out
there and just pull in white perch until
you got tired and just came on home.
Everybody caught fish," Simpson said.
?>
"There's nothing more exciting than
for a mother and father to take their kids
out fishing and when they come back to
see the excitement in their eyes when
they're showing you ? the fish they
caught," Simpson said.
"It's gonna be a thing of the past if
something isn't done," he added.
None of the men could venture more
than an educated guess on why fishing
has declined in the river, but all of those
interviewed agreed that it has something
to do with the water quality.
Winslow and Bass speak of the grass
that once grew in the Perquimans and
sheltered every species of fry. The grass
ii gone now. They wonder why.
They mention agricultural runoff, and
the damming of waters to the west,
speculating that -Lake Gaston and other
such man-made lakes hold back the
(Continued on page 2)