THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY ty ?. ? ? Voluiw 3?, No. 33 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, August 18, 1983 20 CEN" fUounty commissioners approve new sales tax I >; By JACK GROVE ?? No opposition *u voiced against ? 5?ew Perquimans sales tax at the ' public hearing Monday night, but disagreement surfaced as to how the money should be spent. The Perquimans County Com missioners held the hearing in .response to a new state law allowing counties to levy an additional one half cent per dollar sales tax. The state now has a three cent sales tax with an additional cent levied with the county's option. County finance officer Durwood Reed told the group, "This county would be one of the counties that would get tremendous benefit from this tax." He explained that larger counties with much more sales volume would benefit less and generate much more in taxes since these funds would be distributed by the state to counties on a per capita baair Reed said the present one cent county-levied sales tax is returned to the county and amounts to about $100,000 to $105,000 annually. The new tax, according to Reed, would bring in an estimated annual total of $167,700 in additional funds if all counties participate. John Matthews, county attorney, told the group that the new law provides that counties must allocate 40 percent of the new funds for "public school capital outlay needs" for the first five years. Thirty per cent must be allocated for the same purpose for the next five years. He said after this ten year period, these tax funds may be used for any legal county needs. Hertford and Winfall will also get a share of these new tax funds on a per capita basis, as they do now, ac cording to Matthews. The law provides that municipalities must apply Uie same percentages of the proceeds to sewer and water systems for the same period of time. Counties were required to either hold a public hearing or a public referendum before the new tax could be passed. Although no opposition to the new sales tax was voiced at the hearing, disagreement did surface on the allocation of the proceeds. On August 1, the county Board of Education passed a lesolution supporting the new sales tax and requesting that the county commissioners allocate all tax proceeds to a capital reserve fund for future school construction. Danny Gregory of the Intercounty Fire Department objected to the Board of Education's proposal. Gregory, speaking on behalf of the county's 200 volunteer firemen, told the commissioners, "We would appreciate it if you would consider $30,000 to be divided among the county's fire departments." Gregory said that surrounding counties supported their fire departments with public funds. He said that in Chowan County $15,931 is provided for the county fire depart ments and that in addition, all their equipment is county funded. He stated the Edenton Fire Department receives $39,000 while Pasquotank departments receive $35,000 and the Elizabeth City Fire Department receives $110,000. In Gates County with five departments, each receives $6,000, Gregory said. In contrast, Perquimans County firemen have to use aging equipment and solicit door to door for operating funds, according to Gregory. "We just don't feel like it would be fair to give it all to the schools. Where would any of you individuals' property be if we couldn't respond to a fire?" he said. School board chairman Clifford Winslow rose to present his board's position. While he said he had no argument with the fireman's presentation, he said the county had a severe problem with the old high school building erected in 1924. He said, "There is no way we can patch it up" and bring it up to safety standards. "Buildings are a vital part of that whole concept of educational op portunity. We'd just like you to know our needs are there as well," Win slow concluded. During its regular session following the hearing, the county commissioners formally adopted a resolution imposing the new half-cent sales tax. According to Reed, the tax becomes effected next October 1. Retailers will collect it on the following sales formula : less than ten cents, no tax; 10-25 cents, one cent tax; 26-53 cents, 2 cents; 54-75 cents, 3 cents; 76 to 95 cents, 4 cents; 96 cents to $1.22, 5 cents. All sales over $1.22 will have a straight 4V4 percent sales tax with the major fractions governing, said Reed. In other business, the Board : ?approved a resolution to the state Department of Transportation requesting speed limits of 45 miles per hour on the main road at Snug Harbor and 35 mph on the secondary roads. ?took no action on the leash law request made by John Jennings, president of the Snug Harbor Property Owners Association. heard Department of Social Ser vices Director Paul Gregory report that $1,500 budgeted to his depart ment will be returned to the county due to an unexpected receipt of ad ditional federal funding. ?heard a proposal from Jerry Moulton of Virginia Beach to develop an 89 acre tract near Don Juan Manufacturing in Hertford into a recreational development and campground. Moulton also proposed to move his trucking business to the county. ?rejected a request from the Pettigrew Regional Library for an additional $12,299 as the county's share of a regional requirement of $39,479 to meet a state grant. Apple pickin ' time It's apple time again and Anthony Jones selects Juicy apples from the orchard of Paige and Gil Underwood on Highway 17 outside of Hert ford. The orchard is boasting a plentiful crop which is on sale at The Orchard Shop. (Photo by Val Short) Extension offers women's magazine | By VAL SHORT ? Jf you are ? "Woman in the World of Work" between the agea of ? and 40, the Perquimans County Ex tenaion Service has developed a ttriea of publications Just for you. * . The series of 13 publications in a msg nine- type format, prepared by fcQine economics specialists at North Carolina State University, will be available to all counties, beginning in September. The magazine was piloted in 27 counties last year, with great suc cess, according to Dr. Martha R. Johnson, assistant director in charge of home economics at NCSU. "Although formal evaluations are not In at this time, results have been positive. There have been numerous requests from women in the state as well as out-of-state for this publication," commented Dr. Johnson. The magazine, "Women in the World of Work," will be available to 100 Perquimans working homemakers upon request, ac cording to Perquimans Home Economics Agent Paige Underwood. Mrs. Underwood said the newsletter waa developed to reach a group that has not been reached in the past by the Extension Service. "Through the magaxine, we will try to help them with things they are missing," said Mrs. Underwood. Home Economist Juanita Bailey said the maathly publication "gives us another avenue of working with women we are not able to reach and it gives them an avenue of com munication with us too." According to Mrs. Bailey, the magazine covers ? variety of topic areas ? areas of concern to women who are working and have families at home. Growing older, child rearing, food preparation, housekeeping hints, energy conservation and all home economics areas are covered (Continued on page 3) Local business files suit By VAL SHORT Super Dollar Stores, lac. has tiled suit In Perquimans County against a Hertford businessman and town councilman for allegedly violating a lease agreement Jessie Loo Furls, owner of Harris Shopping Colter to Hertford, is Jgphod the defendant in the suit in Which (he plaintiff sileges that Harris leased a building at the shopping center to another variety Store , two doors down from Super Dollar, which violates the lease agreement between Harris and Sufrer Dollar. The attorneys for Variety Wholesaler, the owners of the Sort Discount at Harris Shopping Center, during the August 22 session of Superior Court in Pasquotank County. According to papers filed in the Perquimans Clerk of Court's office, the injunction would prohibit the "defendant from continuing any lease arrangement or other contract or understanding through or by means of which Giant Variety Store, now located in the Harris Shopping Canter In Hertford, Is permitted to occupy its present location ." Super Dollar will also request damages which resulted from the alleged breach of lease and that all court costs be paid by the defendant. No set amount of damages was (Ooadamdoaptgei) School calendar amended By VAL SHORT The Perquimans County Board of Edication has approved an amended calendar for the coming year, which designates specific days that teachers may take annual leave. The change became necessary after the General Assembly ap proved a bill which grants annual leave to teachers on a basis of years of service. According to Superin tendent of Schools Pat Harrell, in the past all teachers received 1.25 days of annual leave per month. With the new law^ teachers can receive from one to 2.15 days per month, depending upon their length of service. According to Harrell, problems could arise if teachers chose not to work on particular work days, such as the first scheduled work day of the school year. Harrell said the new rate of annual leave for teachers is based upon what other state employees already earn. With the new calendar and annual leave policy adopted by the Board Monday night, ten month employees may choose to take annual leave on designated days and they can ac cumulate and carry over up to 30 days each year. In other business, the Board awarded both the milk and bread contracts for the coming school year. Sealtest was the lowest of the four bids submitted for the milk contract. Sealtest submitted the folowing fixed bid: .1265 for half pints of whole, low fat and chocolate milk; .1150 for half pints of orange juice; Vi gallon of orange juice, $1.10; and fruit punch, 16 ounce size, 20 cents. Other companies bidding included, Pet, Maola and Coble., According to LaClaire Rogerson, who supervises the school foods program, Perquimans students consume approximately 1,600 car tons of milk per day. ITT's Continental Baking Com pany (Wonder) was awarded the bread contract, with the provision that the Board have the right to cancel if a significant price increase occurs. The Franklin Company also bid on the contract. The Board also accepted the 1983 84 school food prices, which will remain as they were last year, ac cording to Mrs. Rogerson. The following prices were approved: grades K-6, breakfast, 40 cents, lunch 80 cents; grades 7-12, breakfast, 45 cents, lunch, 90 cents; adults, break fast, 65 cents, lunch, $1.25. Reduced price meals for all grades will be 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. Mrs. Rogerson reported that an average of 550 student meals were served during the Summer Feeding Program. She also reported that the county would receive an additional five cents per plate from federal funds. In other business, ?the Board approved employment of Wayne Simmon? as elementary physical education teacher and coach, and Patricia Miller as interim teacher at Central School. ?the Board approved a policy - allowing teachers to have a 30 minute duty-free period. ?the Board approved a decision to request the Hertford Town Council to allow a removable cable be installed between school property and the cemetery to enable cars to leave the school grounds approximately five times per year. ?the Board discussed a public restroom project at the athletic field. Support program expanded By VAL SHORT New legislation recently passed by the North Carolina General Assembly will enable all families to participate in the Child Support Enforcement Program announced Dr. Sarah T. Morrow, Secretary of Human Resources. In the past the majority of those receiving this assistance from the state were recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC.) According to Morrow, the new law, which went into effect July 15, is designed to ensure that all citizens have access to the assistance provided by the Child Support En forcement Program regardless of income level. These support services are available to Perquimans County through the Albemarle Child Support Enforcement Office, which serves seven area counties. According to supervisor Glenda Blowe, the office has been assisting AFDC clients with location of absent parents, establishment of paternity and collection of support payments. Now this service will be available to all other families, but for a fee. According to Mrs. Blowe, a $20 ap plication fee will be required plus an hourly charge for staff and attorney services. Dr. Morrow said, "I'm pleased that our lawmakers have expanded this excellent service to help families." Morrow said child support en forcement is one of North Carolina's most cost-effective and productive programs. "During its eight year existence, the state has located more than 107,000 absent parents through its nationwide parent-locator system and- collected support payments totaling more than $84 million. During fiscal year 1982-83 the program has produced a return of $2.14 for every dollar spent," she continued. The program was established by Congress in 1975 to ensure that responsible parents support their children to the extent of their ability. Brinn is on NCNB board R. Timothy (Tim) Brinn has been named to the city board of directors (or NCNB Natinal Bank in. Hertford, according to City Executive 0. B. Rawls. President of Brinn Family Farms, Brinn was formerly director of the East Carolina University Regional Development Institute. Brinn has been active ia economic and industrial development for nearly 20 years, including service in the East Carolina Institute beginning in 1*70 and as executive director of Nash-Edgecombe Economic Development Inc. from XMM>. He was recently appointed to the State Board of Economic Develop ment by Gov. Jim Hunt Brinn earned an A.B. degree from Duke, muter of arts degree from East Carolina and an associate degree in agricultural science from Nash Technical Institute. Ia addition, he has studied at the McGill University Canada Arctic Institute and NATO Defense College. Brinn served in the Navy from 1941 to 1965 and retired with the rank of captain. During his service, he was resident faculty member in the Economic Capabilities and Resources Management Department at the Armed Forces Industrial College at Fort licNalr, Washington, and head of the Avionics Systems Branch for the Bureau of Aeronautics, Research and Development Division. Active in professional and com munity organisations, Brinn is a member cf the Highway 17 Executive Committee, Eastern N.C. Industrial Developers Association, Eastern N.C. Chamber of Commerce and a former president of the N.C. Managerial and Technical Assistant Association. He is married to Mary Alice Catmrn Brinn of Columbia, N. C. and they have At* children. This week Inserted inside is The Perquimans Co. Schools supplement. Don't miss it! Weather Partly cloudy with highs in the 80't and lows in the upper 00's. Easterly winds, p"