Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / April 30, 1981, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY alum* 37/ No. 17 USPS 42HM0 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, April 30, 1961 20 CENTS Cable won't reach north side of county Br mike Mclaughlin If Perquimans County adopts an or dinance granting Compass Corporation cabievision franchise rights, it will ap parently benefit few persons residing | mtside the town limits of Hertford. County commissioner Charles Ward and attorney John Matthews conferred with the sole stockholder of the cor poration and came back to last Tuesday night's county commissioners meeting with rather sobering news for county residents who want to zoom in on a wide selection of television channels. The utility would serve only those . oersons who live along U.S. 17 between * eki en ton and Hertford, both men said. Matthews said they were told that the company would not cross the Perquimans River to serve Winfall because the cost would be prohibitive. "I said he'd probably only pick up about 10 customers," Ward said, but the company estimated that perhaps 30 persons would be served. The franchise agreement would give % he county three percent of the com pany's revenues from subscribers, but with so few customers, that would amount to a pittance. But the two men said the company had agreed to a $100 per year minimum payment to the county, and to pay for attorney's fees involved in preparing and adopting the required ordinance. "That's the only thing that makes it worth looking at very much," said Matthews. The ordinance will include a clause that requires that the cable system become operational within one year after its adoption. Both men said they had been told that the company would get the cable TV system operating, then sell it, probably after about two years. In another matter, a preliminary figure of M percent was established as a tax collections estimate for the coming fiscal year's budget. The board used 92 percent as the collection estimate for the present year's budget, but tax money came in better than had been expected. For the past several years, the county has used a 95 percent collection estimate, but economic uncertainties for the current year led to the lower figure. The higher the collection percentage estimate, the lower the tax rate can be while generating the same amount of county revenue. County finance officer D.F. Reed, Jr. said the budget-making process remains cloudy because of uncertainties over federal contributions to local programs. The board also established a date for a hearing on the expenditure of federal revenue sharing funds totalling $193,600 in the coming fiscal year. The hearing, set Monday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Perquimans County Courthouse, is intended to gain public input into how the funds should be spent. Following that hearing the county board of education will meet with the commissioners to discuss county funding for the schools in the coming fiscal year. In an unrelated matter, the board beard from New Hope Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ray Cullipher, who addressed the commissioners on the needs of the county's newest addition to the fire fighting ranks. The department now has an operational truck, and expects to be in a new building before the summer is out, according to treasurer Johnny Caddy. He said the department now has $7,500 in its treasury. "The main thing we need to have the truck ready is radios (both a base and a mobile unit) and an alarm siren," said Cullipher. The board promised to give the new department the same financial assistance it has rendered its other five VFDs. "I'm glad to see a department down in that end of the county," said board chairman Joe Nowell. "They should be congratulated," added commissioner Marshall Caddy. The department now has 24 members on its rolls, Cullipher said, and they've been so enthused about fighting fires that eight of them have bought monitors "out of their own pockets." In a final matter, the board changed its meeting time on the third Monday of each month from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in keeping with daylight savings time. Workmen tackle the bridge Hertford 's bridge gets new paint For the first time in about 10 years. Hertford's famed "S-shaped" draw bridge is getting a new coat of silvery metallic paint. "We're cleaning and painting the over-head section of the draw-span," said B.G. Owens, North Carolina Department of Transportation district bridge maintenance super visor. For the past several working days, only one lane of the bridge has been open, and traffic has been directed by flagmen. The task is not as easy as it might appear. Painting the bridge will require a lot of brush strokes. "We're hoping we can do it in three weeks, if the weather permits," said Owens. "It's been about 10 years since if s been done, "he said. Town survey underscores need for more jobs Hertford residents consider the lack of both jobs and industry to be the most critical problems facing the town, ac cording to recently tabulated results of a ^and use questionnaire. The survey was circulated to Hertford residents as part of a requirement of the town's land use plan. Although previously included in the county's land use plan, Hertford officials elected to initiate a separate plan for the town this year for the first time. Howard Capps, an Elizabeth City (landscape architect and planning con sultant who was contracted by the town and the N.C. Department of Natural Resources and Community Development to direct Hertford's plan, said some 25 percent of the surveys were completed and returned. Approximately 400 questionnaires were delivered and ISO were returned, he said. Only 97 of the surveys returned were tabulated because Capps said the remaining S3 were not completed by residents living within the town limits. Most who completed the survey were high school graduates and 35 years of age or older, although Capps said that all ages were represented. Industrial development Residents who indicated that no jobs and no industry were the main problems facing the Town of Hertford thought the the town should actively work to attract business to help solve the problem. Of those answering the survey, 93.8 percent indicated that they felt the town should pursue technical industry, such as manufacturing and assembly plants. 95.8 percent were also in favor of agriculturally-related industries that could process products produced in the area. Those answering the survey were divided when asked where to locate in . dustry. J?.4 percent sakMhey dustry should be permitted to locate along the Perquimans River, with 44.2 percent opposed and 16.4 not sure. While 88.3 percent said they felt con sideration should be given to to the en vironmental impact a potential industry might have on the community, 36.3 percent turned around and said they felt economic and industrial development were more important than en vironmental protection. Water But most who responded to the survey indicated they felt water played an important role in the area's recreational opportunities. 86.3 percent responded that recreational fishing is important to local economy, with 6.3 percent in disagreement and 7.4 percent uncertain. 71.6 percent deemed commercial fishing important to the area's economy, with 18.9 percent in opposition and 9.5 percent not sure. When asked how they would like to see the waterfront developed, 49.5 percent preferred development for recreational purposes, 23.8 percent were in favor of residential development, 15.2 percent checked commercial development, and 11.4 percent said they felt the waterfront should be left as is. Recreation The majority of those answering the survey said they did not think there are adequate recreational opportunites in Hertford. 67.4 percent indicated that there is not enough offered in the area of recreation, 26.3 percent were in disagreement, and 6.3 percent were not sure. Some 84.2 percent said they thought the town needs more commercial recreational opportunities, such as bowling, movies, etc., but only 41.9 percent said they thought the town was large enough to support such business. Historical significance A majority of the survey's respondents consider Hertford historically significant, and favor development in that area. 79.42 percent said they would like to see the town council work toward placing historic and architecturally significant structures on the National Register of Historic Places, and 75.3 percent favor establishing an historic district in the downtown and surrounding residential areas. About 65.6 percent said they were in favor of establishing an historic district ordinance that would provide guidelines for appropriate exterior renovation of designated historic structures. Results predictable Hertford Mayor and Town Manager Bill Cox said the results tabulated from the survey did not surprise him. "The numbes Nne comment was 'we need jobs and industry,' and we all know this," said Cox. Separating the town fOom the county plan would ultimately help in industrial recruitment, according to Cox. "It is helpful when talking to industrial clients to show them that the town has developed a plan and knows the direction it wants to progress in," he said, adding that a separate plan would also be beneficial in seeking federal and state funding. Total cost of the town's land use plan is $7,290, of which the town has contributed |405 in cash and $405 worth of in-kind administrative time. The planning board is expected to utilize the survey results in making policy statements for the town, which will eventually be passed on to the town council. Worm spring day John Mad? attracted a whole flock af ted gulla with Us deep piowiag la a field by state road 1300 last week. Bandy said the (tills are drawn to the fields to get at the warms that are turned up In the freshly plowed earth. ARPDC T entati ve budget set The Albemarle Regional Planning and Development Commission tentatively accepted a some $761,282 budget for ?fiscal year 1981-82 at their regular monthly meeting Thursday. A public hearing, set for Friday, May IS, at 9 a.m. at the ARPDC building in Hertford, is required before the budget can be formally approved for the up coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. Largest appropriations will go to the aging program, including (55,150 to planning and administration, $216,478 to the social services fund, $315,819 to the nutrition congregate, and $33,709 to the home delivered nutrition fund. Other appropriations include $33,656 to the emergency medical service program, $42,923 to Manpower planning, and $13,547 to planning and development. Personnel expenses, which total some $1(4,967, include the salaries of the executive director, which is $27,806, the grants writer's at $21,853, fiscal manager's at $16,332, a Manpower planner at $16,332, the aging program administrator's of $15,569, nutrition project director's of $14,140, EMS coordinator's of $11,143, an office manager at $10,608, and a secretary at $9,667. A 15 percent fringe of $21,517 is included in personnel expenditures. Revenues from member governments are calculated at the per capita rate of 50 cents for counties and 25 cents for municipalities. Total monies received by the commission will increase by some $6,000 because of population increases in several counties and the addition Jf Kitty Hawk to the membership. f Included in the some $65,920 in local government contributions are $57,180 from counties and $8,740 from municipalities. Perquimans County will contribute $4,740 to ARPDC in 1982, as compared to $4,200 in 1981. The 1980 census counted the county population at 9,486. The Town of Hertford, with a population count of 1,941, will contribute $490 to ARPDC in 1982. Winfall, with 634 persons counted in the census, will pay $200. According to executive director Don Flowers, no rate increase will fall upon membership governments in the coming fiscal year. "Due to the uncertainty of the federal government's budget and what the state will do, it would be unfair to consider a rate increase," said Flowers. f This week ^ ?The Jaycees and Jaycettes feasted oo an unusually taatjr new dish at their annual installation banquet last Thursday night? seepage! \ ?Here's a group of girls who bring the right attitude to the softbaD field ? see page 7. ?No-till (arming practices are on the increase in the area? seepagel. Weather word Chances* showers and thunderstorms Thursday, then fair Friday and Saturday. Highs in the 70s, kms Is the Industrial development approves budget The Perquimans County Industrial Development Commiision adopted If today night a $3,090 budget far the coming year. That budget includes $100 for travel, $710 for phoee, postage and office sup plies, sad $1,500 for entertainment. <M"0( course we may not spend it all," Taid treasurer Wayne Ashley, adding that the eounty board of commissioners * a figure for budget-making On the other hand, Charles H. Ward, a county commissioner who also sits oo the the industrial development board, said that if more fads are needed for to dustrial recruitment, they will be available from the county.^ "If we come up with something legitimate I don't think moony will he a proWem." Ward said. The county has $T,M0 hi a special fund earmarked tor fa^ostrial development, the result of a tax levied in past years for that purpose. Ia another natter, commission members discussed the need for cooperation with the Perquimans County Chamber of Commerce. Board members felt that both groups shook! be wofktag together to attract busineaaaad industry to the county. College ?f the Albemarle Is drawing up a brochure on the county and wiH Marge only the cost of printing. "Why not share cost sad use with the chamber?" asked Ashley. "They need a brochure," he said. "We need to get this group and the chamber working together some kind of way," added Hertford mayor BUI Cox. The board also decided to try and in tervene against the removal of a Ma?tey Ferguson distributorship from Hertford Motor OMB?aay* , , / , . "I think it'* an injustice to county farmers," said Ed Nixon. "They're just making us travel further to get parts." Ashley said concern should be voiced by, "this group, the chamber, and anybody else who can show community support." The Industrial development com mission will meet again on Tuesday, May *H7 :30 p.m. in the county courthouse.
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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April 30, 1981, edition 1
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