Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Aug. 26, 2023, edition 1 / Page 1
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K "News from Next Door SATURDAY, AUGUST 26,2023 $1.50 B SCAN ME PAGE 2 Tolson, Honey blue give back with scholarship endowment PAGE 6 Researcher updates Chowan group on air quality study PAGE 8 Pirates looking to expand on 2022 NCHSAA playoff run Perquimans to buy Winfall site for new school County to pay $900K for site near Central REGGIE PONDER Staff Writer HERTFORD — Perquim ans County officials voted Mon day to buy 80 acres in Winfall for construction of a new intermedi ate school. The tract is locatedjust south ofPerquimans Central School on Winfall Boulevard and is owned by SidneyJessup.The Perquimans County Board of Commissioners agreed Monday to pay $900,000 for the property. The board held a closed session with County Attorney Hackney High at a special meeting Mon day night. After the board returned to open session, board Chair man Wallace Nelson reported that commissioners are negotiating the purchase of a site for construction of a new school. “That’s what the closed session was about,”Nelson said. The commissioners have met at least once in closed session before to discuss acquisition of property for the new school. Also, the Perquimans Board of Education met in closed session at its July 21 meeting. Before enter ing the closed session, board mem bers indicated their interest in dis cussing a potential site for building the new school. In September of last year the Perquimans County Schools was awarded a state needs-based school facilities grant of nearly $37 million for a new school to serve grades 3-8. The plan is for the new school to replace Hertford Grammar School and Perquimans Middle School. 'Be One School Together' THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY In this August 2018 file photo, the Hertford Grammar School Panthers mascot welcomes students back to class for the new school year.The Perquimans County Schools reopen for the 2023-24 school year on Monday. A total of nearly 1,700 students are expected at the district's four schools. Classes at county schools begin Monday Nearly 1,700 students expected on first day REGGIE PONDER Staff Writer Perquimans County Schools Super intendent Tanya Turner is express ing her appreciation for the communi ty’s support ahead ofthe start of a new school year on Monday. “Our community support is unmatched and our students are the recipient of that blessing,’’Turner said. Turner also expressed appreciation for the district’s teachers and administrators. “We are thankful for the high qual ity staff we have in place to educate and care for our students as they make this INSIDE Back to School event draws 200 to Missing Mill Park. Page A2. journey,’’Turner said. “Our students and staffhave continued to experience a great deal of success and we expect no less this year. We are continuing to improve what we have to offer stu dents academically and in the area of extra-curricular activities.” Schools across the region open for a new school year on Monday. Perquim ans County Schools is expecting about 1,693 students districtwide, which is 40 more students than last year’s enrollment of 1,653. “We are excitecTfor the 2023-24 school year,’’Turner said. “Our focus this year is to ‘Be One School Together.’Since we are a small school system, all of our students journey through the same schools from pre-K to 12th grade. We want that experience to be a united one with smooth transi tions from school to school.” According to Turner, the district is fully staffed in grades K-8, but as of Monday had five teacher vacancies at Perquimans County High School.Those open spots are being covered temporarily by retired teachers or current teachers. “All of the positions are covered by highly qualified retired personnel or teachers in that content teaching through their planning periods,’Turner said. More SCHOOL | A7 Commission to revisit animal welfare rules REGGIE PONDER StaffWriter Perquimans County officials will revisit an ani mal welfare ordinance in response to concerns raised by CommissionerTim Corprew about dogs not having shade on hot sum mer days. The Perquimans County Board of Commissioners discussed animal welfare at its work session Monday night, agreeing to review proposed animal welfare regulations that were first con sidered in 2017. Some _ com- Corprew mission- ers who were on the board during that earlier discus sion of animal welfare reg ulations noted that there had been concerns at the time about the enforceabil ity of some provisions. More RULES | A7 Hertford Council OKs kayak rentals Rental fee to be $25 for two hours REGGIE PONDER StaffWriter HERTFORD — The town of Hertford is launching a first-of-its- kind project to rent kayaks on town property in part nership with a vendor that operates the program dig itally. Hertford Town Council voted unanimously Mon day night to have the town contract with Rent.fun, a company that will provide eight kayaks, paddles and life vests that users can rent using their smartphones. The cost to the town will be $26,000. At the recommenda tion ofTown Manager Jan ice Cole, the funding will come from the town’s fund balance. Under the agree ment with Rent.fun, the town and the company will each receive half the rental fee. A representative of the company who attended the meeting virtually told town officials he expects Hertford would recoup the upfront cost through the revenue-sharing agree ment. The agreement also can be renewed at no addi tional cost. More KAYAK | A7 How to get off LGC watch list? Winfall hopefuls weigh in Winfall finances face more state scrutiny REGGIE PONDER Staff Writer Candidates for mayor and town council running for election in Winfall’s Nov. 7 election have a vari ety of views on how to address fiscal concerns that have landed the small town on the N.C. Local Govern ment Commission’s watch list. 6 ■ 89076 47144 2 Vol. 88, No. 34 WWW.PerquimansWeekly.com @2021 Perquimans Weekly All Rights Reserved INSIDE 3 candidates back River- front, Community Devel opment Plan. Page A7 Cunningham Richardson Ritter Ormond White Towns and cities on the watch list receive more scrutiny from the LGC, the agency considered the state’s watchdog over local gov ernment finances. Typically, coun ties and cities get on the watch list because they’ve shown a consistent pattern offiscal management that raises concern for LGC officials. The town ofWinfall, for exam ple, got on the LGC’s watch list because in the LGC’s estimation, the town did not have adequate rev enues in its sewer fund to cover operations and expected mainte nance on the system. Local governments on the LGC’s watch list typically particularly face more scrutiny when attempting to borrow money for projects. The Perquimans Weekly recently asked the town’s two mayoral can didates —Jimmie Ritter and Pres ton White — and three hope fuls for the town’s two open coun cil seats — Christopher Richard son, Cynthia Gale White Cunning ham, and Arnetta Ormond—what steps the town can take to get offthe LGC’s watch list.Their answers follow: Mayors race Ritter: “Wasteful spending has been an issue for years. When you attempt a project and cut corners ' your results become larger issues. Instead of requesting bids and then using the good old boy network, place bids with defined goals and measurable milestones. Hold the contractor accountable. “Winfall residents are on hook for the haphazard ways of the past. The only way to remove ourselves from under the state’s watchful eye is to take a hard-nosed approach to spending. If something is neces sary it’s necessary. The town needs to be run like we run our house holds. “As spending is reined in, we need to negotiate assistance from Per quimans County. We host most of the county’s services and then field complaints from the town of Hert ford.‘You’re using too much sew- age!’(we’re told. But) we’re not using it. Our guests —- the middle school, elementary school, 911 Center, ect. — are using more than the entire town.Then and only then will we be free of the state and we can move ahead to greater prosperity.” More ELECTION | A7
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Aug. 26, 2023, edition 1
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