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Statement of James C Dixon, 921 Reilly Drive, Wilmington,
N C 28401 to County Commissioners of New Hanover County
(10 am February 17, 1975) Regarding Partisan Versus Non-
Partisan Election of County Commissioners
1 Research by Political Scientists nationally reveals certain consequences of the
adoption of non-partisan election of officials
2 Non-partisanship is widely adopted at the city level tvit~l ?/3 of U S cities
using it
3 The non-partisan ballot is more likely to be adopted in homogeneous middle-class
cities where there is less social cleavage and small proportions of working-
class and ethnic group members
4 To what extent has non-partisanship succeeded in ?-emoving party politics from
local government?
This varies from place to place Often the parties continue to be important as
in Chicago which has a non-partisan council
5 One consequence of non-partisan elections is that they lead to an increased
voice in local affairs for persons who normally vote Republican in those places
where the parties tend to have the support of differing socio-economic groups
Why? 1) Low turnout is usuall among low income and minority groups who often
vote Democratic and is even more marked in non-partisan elections
2) In many urban areas Republicans are in a minority and the non-partisanship
reduces the registration advantages of Democratic candidates
6 Does non-partisanship result in "better qualified" candidates winning office?
1) What is the definition of "better qualified'?
2) Non-partisanship gives an advantage to high income, "respectable", whites,
Anglo-Saxon candidates with prestige jobs, in short) to the "country club
set."
3) A consequence of this is failure of local government to be responsive to
"ghetto" blacks, and working class people in general
4) Why are working class and minority candidates disadvantaged relative to
well-educated white~(a) Low vote turnout, (b) In non-partisan elections
recruitment of candidates tends to be left to civic associations and
ad hoc groups rather than to party organizations This tends to give
an advantage to middle-class candidates
7 Another consequence of non-partisanship is to strengthen the influence of
newspapers One publisher said, "you can't tell the players without a
scorecard and we sell the scorecards "
8 Non-partisanship contributes to the reelection of incumbents particularly
when combined with at-large elections They have a name recognition advan-
tage The argument is that the voter does not have the opportunity to hear
organized criticism of incumbents from an opposition party and that the
positions of incumbents are well nigh impossible for even interested citizens
to keep track of When the only challenge to an incumbent comes from an
unknown name on the ballot he is more likely to be reelected than if he is
challenged by a candidate backed by an opposition party
9 Non-partisanship tends to weaken the two party system at all levels by eliminating
a source of recr it ent of candidates who may later seek higher offices This
results from a tii~~~ in non-partisan communities to force persons to choose
between being active in partisan or in non-partisan politics It is often been
difficult for one person to combine these
10 The assertions of the impact of non-partisanship are often exaggerated by both
opponents and proponents
11 On balance, I recommend keeping the present system for electing county commiss-
ioners as it has worked well
Selected Bibliography
Duane Lockard, The Politics of State and Local Government (2d ed) (NY, Macmillan,
1969), pp 214-238
Thomas R Dye, Politics In States and Communities (2d ed) (Englewood Cliffs, N J
Prentice-Hall, Inc 1973) pp 266-277
Charles E Gilbert and Christopher Clague, "Electoral Participation and Electoral
Systems In Larger Cities," 24 Journal of Politics (1962) pp 323-30
Eugene C Lee, Nonpartisan Politics (Berkeley University of California Press,
1960)
Oliver P Williams and Charles R Adrian, "The Insulation of Local Politics
under the Non-Partisan Ballot," 53 erican Po>;ticai Science Review (1959),
pp 1052-63
Robert Salisbury and Gordon Black, "Class and Party in Partisan and Non-partisan
Elections," 57 Am,„~r,;~?n Science Review (Sept, 1963), pp 587-97
DISCUSSION AT MEETING OF FEBRUARY 17, 1975
RE TAX REVALUATION PROGRAM
Chm Davis Discussion of the Tax Revaluation Program under Mrs Wright
Comm Vaughan May I say that I look forward to this
Comm Wright Well, I'm glad you do Why didn't you listen last week?
The first one, I wanted to get a comparison of valuations
by townships for last year and this year Do you have that yet?
County Mgr Eller No ma'am, I don't I'll be glad to try to get it for
you
Comm Wright 0 k Appreciate it Now, Mr O'Shields, on the tv show
on the 12th, you were speaking about finding errors in the
subdivisions, and you said that Cole-Layer-Tremble--you were talking about
them--and you made the statement they have been told to look at the whole
area Now who told them?
Comm O'Shields Well, I have made mention of that and I think this Board
has in past meetings in discussions
Comm Wright Were you referring to the motion that we passed telling
them to redo the whole job?
Comm Vaughan Point of order! Point of order!
Chm Davis Mr Vaughan has a point of order
Comm Vaughan I don't think Mr O'Shields can be held accountable at
this meeting for what he hasn't said at this meeting
Chm Davis I'd have to agree with that
Comm Wright Now look, this is a question of what the public's been told
about what's going on in our tax thing Now, if he has
information that he's putting out to the public that I do not have, I
think I need the benefit of the same information, and I'm asking on what
basis did you make that statement?
Comm O'Shields I made the statement on the basis of information that I
have and comments that have been made in these meetings
that Cole-Layer-Tremble would, when they go back to a subdivision if they
make changes, that they will make them through the subdivision until they
come to a physical boundary where it would go into either a higher value
or a lower value type property
Comm Wright Well were you perhaps intending to say that they will do
this rather than they have been told?
Comm O'Shields No My feeling on it is that they will because they
have been told
Page 1 of 13
Comm Wright By whom?
Comm O'Shields In telling them to go back and check the problem areas
in the subdivisions because this is where we have agreed
on the fact that lot values in subdivisions seem to draw the biggest com-
plaint and also on low acreage
Comm Wright I don't believe you'll find that action by our Board any-
where in the minutes except by my motion
Comm O'Shields No, I don't say that it was necessarily action They
were told to go back and look at these things by this
Board
Comm Wright Not by motion You're referring to discussion by individual
members?
Comm O'Shields Well, discussion yes, but they were told to do this
Comm Wright Then you didn't really have any big basis for making that
statement did you?
Comm O'Shields Any what?
Comm Wright Any basis for making that statement that they have been told
It would imply
Comm O'Shields I think you can go over there and find that this is
what they're doing Now whether or not we tell them
through the form of a motion, we indicate this is what we want done and
they do it, I mean as long as they get it done, what's the matter?
Comm Wright It's a big matter when you put something on the air that
the rest of the Board's not aware of
Chm Davis I was aware of it
Comm Wright Who told them that? Can you answer the question?
Chm Davis Yes, ma'am, I'll be glad to It was during all the public
hearings I mean the whole thing has evolved, Mrs Wright,
we are trying to look into it
Comm Wright Have you anywhere in the record of our meetings where the
Board took any action as a whole or where there was any
motion to that effect other than the original motion?
Chm Davis You're saying that anything that there is not a written record
Page 2 of 13
Comm Wright They are not obligated to
Chm Davis You're saying, then, that the entire discussions of this Board,
all public hearings, then are just figments of the imagination
Comm Wright No, I'm just asking whose authority by which he made the
statement that they have been told Has there been some
meeting, has there been some instruction from anybody on the Board, or
any group of members on the Board?
Chm Davis I got the feeling from our public hearings that Cole-Layer-
Trumble would look into their valuations, were going to look
into their valuations, and where they found lots wrong, they would also
get the other lots, and I don't see why you would disagree with that
Comm Wright I'm not disagreeing with that I'm asking if anybody told
them that I don't know about because he made that statement
Comm O'Shields Well, Cole-Layer-Trumble has also made the statement in
my talks with them at the meetings and other places and
checking to see what was being done and that if it were being done the way
we wanted it done, this is what they have said they are doing
Comm Wright You don't have any basis I don't think I may be wrong, but
I don't think he should have made that statement on t v
unless he had something to back it up with
Chm Davis Mrs Wright, this is not the time
Comm Wright This is the time Last week wasn't, you said so This week
is It's on the agenda
Comm O'Shields If I find that it is in error, what I have said, that
they are not doing this, I will admit it
Comm Wright It's not a question of your saying they're doing it, it's
a question of your saying they have been told to do this
I took this down in notes when you were on t v and I wondered who had
told them
Chm Davis We told them to look into these things
Comm O'Shields Which program?
Comm Wright It was the Jim Burns Show on the 12th when you appeared at
1 15
Comm O'Shields Well,
and I
program, and I told the
they could have it
Comm Wright I don't
you made
if you want to, you can go out to the t v station
had them audio tape the 15 minute portion of my
Production Manager that, if anybody wanted the tape,
need the rest of it This was the one statement
which brought up the question
Comm Vaughan I'd like to ask a question How come you people are getting
Page 3 of 13
on t v all the time? Nobody ever lets me get on there
any more Have I done anything wrong?
Comm Wright You were on there one night I saw you
Comm Vaughan Just once though That's the reason I'm quitting No-
body puts me on t v anymore
Chm Davis Would you go to the next question?
Comm Wright The original motion that I
require them to submit new
it's still standing, and the question is,
Are you going to ignore it? Or are you g•
and get new valuations? Just what action
to that motion?
made which you passed to
revised standards and so forth,
are you going to rescind it?
ping to require them to do it
are you going to take in relation
Comm Vaughan Would you read the motion as it was passed?
Comm Wright Move that this Board direct the County Manager through the
Tax Administrator and Cole-Layer-Trumble Company to prepare
a revised set of values, standards, and rules and to present this Board with
new valuations of property which would accurately reflect market values as
of January 1, 1975 That was the motion that you passed on the 20th of
January, and you've done nothing with it since
Comm Alper Does that mean they would have to revaluate the entire County?
Comm Wright That was the meaning of it at the time, and I'm asking
whether they're going to stand by their motion or are they
just dodging it now
Chm Davis It's my impression that they are revaluing
Comm O'Shields Mrs Wright, it also says down here in the minutes,
"This motion passed with the understanding that if the
Tax Administrator and Cole-Layer-Trumble Company could come up with a
better method that this be presented to the Commissioners Monday, January 27 "
Comm Wright, They did not come up with a better method The method was to
go through their revising the values, standards and rules
Now, they did not come up with a better method They just said that they
were not going to do anything
Comm O'Shields No, they did not
Comm Wright Yes, they did Mr Rose did
Comm O'Shields Well, what came out of that meeting, to the best of my
knowledge, was that their recommendations were to go back
on an area basis, which you know that they're doing They`ve gone back
to Figure 8 Island, they've gone to Wrightsville Beach
Page 4 of 13
Comm Wright At that meeting, Buck, if you'll go back to the tape of the
meeting, you'll see that Mr Rose, who sat right there,
made the statement that their values were correct and they were standing
on their values and that was all they admitted to that day, that they were
standing on their values The rest of the meeting was devoted to discussion
from the taxpayers who were present Now, that's on the tape of the meeting
Comm O'Shields What Mr Rose--the statement he's made--as long as he's
under contract to New Hanover County, what he made and
what he said about his values, he might feel to be true, but if we, as a
Board, determine that we aren't satisfied with it, then he's going to do
exactly what we've told him to do And that's they're going to do the job
and get it right
Conran Wright Well, have they admitted privately that it was wrong? He
said publicly it was right
Comm O'Shields They have admitted mistakes in it They've said that in
public
Comm Vaughan Wait a minute May I interject one thought? It seems to
me we're talking about the fact--I've heard this said
before--that these people say what they've done is right What they're
talking about is the principle Obviously they know they`ve loused up an
awful lot of it There's no question in anybody's mind, therr's or anybody
else's This woman had a $200,000 valuation on a piece of property today
with nothing just a piece way down on the lower end of Myrtle Crove Sound
Road It wasn't even on the water
Comm Wright And they didn't do anything about it, did they?
Comm Vaughan Well I know, but there's something wrong
Comm Wright And you didn't even want to hear her when she first came
in, did you? That's why all this has gotten to the point
that it's gotten to
Comm Vaughan No, I didn't want to hear her because I think there may be
2,000 people like her, and I think the Board of Equalization
and Review is set up legally for that purpose, that you don't want to hear
them twice
Chm Davis Mr Eller, what did Mr Powell say about that one piece?
County Mgr Eller He said that there was a mistake in it and that they
have corrected it, that the land value that they now
have on it is $4,830 and the building is $830 for a total of $5,660
Comm Wright Has Mr Powell changed that on her abstract now?
County Mgr Eller He said he wasn't sure whether she had been mailed a
revised abstract, but if she hasn't been,. he would see
to it that she did get one
Page 5 of 13
Mrs Cecelia Pleasants May I address the Board?
Chm Davis Let Mrs Wright finish, please
Comm Wright Do you have something on Mrs Kennedy?
Chm Davis Mrs Wright, I am the Chairman and this Board feels like that
you should finish and then you've asked Mrs Pleasants and
we'll hear Mrs Pleasants
Comm Wright Who brought up Mrs Kennedy? It wasn't I
Chm Davis Who brought up Mrs Kennedy?
Comm Wright 0 K How about speaking, Mrs Pleasants
Chm Davis Mrs Pleasants, if you'll wait your turn, please Mrs Wright,
would you please continue
Comm Wright This Board is impossible to understand You sit here
meeting after meeting and--I was talking about this awhile
ago--somebody will come in and they'll sit here for a couple of hours, and
you'll fall all over yourselves welcoming them to the meeting 'cause you're
so glad to have the public here But when somebody comes who knows something
about the subject and tries to have some input, you insult them, and I
think it's a shame It shouldn't happen on a Board like this
Chm Davis We have not insulted anybody
Comm Wright Now, if she had something to say about this particular case--
she talked to the lady, too
Chm Davis This Board has bent over backwards to be courteous to everybody
Comm Wright That wasn't the way it was this morning When she walked in
the door, ya'll started murmuring--I heard you When she
got up to talk about another thing, you laughed Now, if that isn't rude,
what is?
Comm Vaughan Well, the first day she was here, you said you didn't like
her
Comm Wright That was the first impression I learned to like her because
I know what she can do since then
Comm Vaughan Well, my first impression was good, my second impression
Comm Alper Come on! Come on! Stop kidding around Look time is getting
more this is juvenile Come on
Page 6 of 13
Comm Wright I have the same question Are you going to rescind your
motion or are you going to stand by it?
Chm Davis The motion
Comm Vaughan I think she's got a good point, Peter This Board has
made a motion and passed a motion can you read that
thing? Has somebody got it here?
Chm Davis It is my understanding, Mike, that they are changing values
and they are changing values
Comm Wright They did not prepare a revised set which referred to a
manual That was what the motion was, and they have not
done that
Comm Vaughan I'm going to turn the next page I hope I voted against
it
Comm Wright You did, the others voted for it
Comm Vaughan Because I knew it was impossible
Comm Alper There is no earthly way for them to revaluate the entire
County
Comm O'Shields But why--let me ask you this, Vivian--why is the thing
in the paragraph under there, under that vote, that this
motion passed with the understanding that if the Tax Administrator and
Cole-Layer-Trumble could come up with a better method that this be presented
to the Conunissioners Monday, January 27, and at that time was where they
said that as far as throwing the whole thing out, I reckon, that they were
opposed to that, which I am opposed to it, and that they would go back
through the sections where there are troubles and make changes
Comm Wright That wasn't at the meeting, Buck Mr Rose, in response to
our motion
Comm O'Shields I don't care what Mr Rose said I'm talking about what
he's going to do with being under contract to the County
Comm Wright Well, what he said is right important It's in the record
of the meeting Now he said he was standing by his values
In effect, he was refusing to do what this Board had directed be done at
the meeting before The motion is still standing So I'm asking, are you
going to stand behind that motion or are you changing it now?
Comm Vaughan Well, I make the motion that it be rescinded in its existing
form I don't think it is possible
Comm Alper I second that motion
Page 7 of 13
Chm Davis Any further discussion? All in favor?
Comm Alper, O'Shields, Vaughan and Chm Davis Aye
Comm Wright Noe I do think it is possible 0 k What procedures are
being followed in the changes? They have said publicly that
they were right Mr Eller has been quoted in the paper saying things were
being changed How are they doing it, Mr Eller?
County Mgr Eller They have brought back in a number of appraisers, I
don't know how many, and are going into these areas
where we have pointed out problems as we know them--some that this committee
of realtors have brought up--and are looking over the entire area such as
Porters Neck, Figure 8, Wrightsville Beach
Comm Wright Who's looking over it, Cole-Layer-Trumble or the realtors
committee?
County Mgr Eller Cole-Layer-Trumble is Now, when we broke up with the
realtors, I had suggested and they had indicated that,
when they got time, they would--the gentlemen that were there--come up to
the office and go through the cards, take a look at them, and see if they
found areas that they felt the values were out of line
Comm Vaughan What do you mean you broke up with the realtors? Did you
have a fuss with them or something?
Comm O'Shields No, when the meeting adjourned
Comm Vaughan When was that? At this meeting here?
Comm O'Shields No, it was at 1~Ir Powell's office
County Mgr Eller Now, whether any of them have gone up there and done
that or not, I don't know
Comm Wright Who's got custody of the abstracts? You said that they were
changing some of them in actuality Are the abstracts
being tossed around from office to office up there or what are they doing
with them?
County Mgr Eller As I understand it, the procedure in there, they will
prepare the revised abstract, they're all going by
Larry Powell, and he's taking a look at them and then mailing out revised
abstracts
Comm Wright But they are doing the abstracts
County Mgr Eller Yes, ma'am, that's my understanding
Comm Wright Is he turning over the ones that the people have turned in
and signed? Is he turning them over to Cole-Layer-Trumble
or are they just sending out new forms?
Page 8 of 13
County Mgr Eller I'm not sure I would want to answer that without
finding out exactly what the procedure is
Comm Wright I'd Iike to know very much
County Mgr Eller I think they turned them over to him
Comm Wright In the revaluation years, there're three categories of the
land that are supposed to be valued with two values--the
true and the present use The forest and the horticultural and the
agricultural Have they put the two values, the sets of them, on those
types of land?
County Mgr Eller As I understand that particular thing, that's done on
an application basis If you want the use method used,
you have to fill out an application
Comm Wright How are they sending out special forms for that? I've had
several complaints from people with that type land that they
did not know about this and that there was no form sent to them and, if
they didn'get the request in by a form during the listing period, that
they would e eligible for it And that's what brought up this particular
question
Chm Davis Mr Powell told me that each person who wanted their land
under this classification would have to make personal appli-
cation to his office This has to be, as I understand it, handled by the
Administrator and they have to apply to Mr Powell
Comm Wright Yes, I understand they have to apply, but what I'm getting
at--apparently they haven't sent out forms or notice or
anything on this
Chm Davis They have to contact Mr Powell and ask for these forms,
and then they get them
Comm Wright Now, when we approved these schedules--I think it was
December of 1973--for this type land, Mr Powell made the
statement that anybody with over ten acres of land, he would send out forms
to them at that time
Chm Davis I don't recall that
Comm Wright It's in the record I've got it at home in some of my
letters, but he made that statement at that time
Chm Davis We could request him to do that
Comm Wright Well, it's in the record that he was going to last year
Now, whether he did, I don't know, but I'm wondering whether
he's done it this year or not
Page 9 of 13
Chm Davis I would think if that was in the record and this Board said to
do it, that it mould be done
Comm Wright It wasn't that this Board said to do it, it was that Mr Powell
said he was going to when we approved those schedules
Comm Vaughan Mrs Wright, let me see if I understand what you're talking
about there You're talking about the situation where--say
my own home is on four acres of land and I'm only using one of it for the
home, the other three acres
Conan Wright You don't qualify You don't have enough acreage
Comm Vaughan How much do I have to have?
Comm Wright Ten I think, and it's twenty on one section I think it's
twenty for two of the sections require ten acres, the other
requires twenty, and right now I forget which is which
County Atty Fox I believe it has to be also commercial as I recall
Comm Wright Yes, with some income of about $1,000 if I'm not mistaken
County Atty Fox Something like that
Comm Wright But, the law does say that they will appraise two sets of
values on that type of land, and that was my question, to
get them to do it
Comm Vaughan Is this the one where, if they appraise you at a lower
figure than the other figure and you later converted to the
higher figure, then you have to go back and tax all the way back?
Comm Wright Right For five years back, but they're supposed to
appraise it at both sets of values They're supposed to
keep two sets of tax records and, if you change the use during the five
year period, then they go back and take the higher set and bill you for it
according to the law And I don't believe they've put the two sets of
values on it from what I've heard from people
Chm Davis I think there's a set value on that
Comm Wright They're two sets according to the law
Chm Davis Right, but I mean first they appraise the land at the market
value, then the other for a set value that they will drop
it to and that's what you make application to Mr Powell for, then that's
when you get that other value, but I mean they don't automatically put it
on the abstract
Page 10 of 13
Comm Wright But they're supposed to, as I understood it from Powell,
they were going to send forms to people who qualified for
this type of thing last year since it was fairly new Now I don't know
what he's done this year, but I have had complaints that the people didn't
know about it and that's why I asked about it Now who, please, recommended
that the listing period start on the 15th? Was that Mr Powell? I know
at the meeting you (Mr Eller) made the report, but I assume that it was
his suggestion, was that right?
County Mgr Eller Yes, ma'am, that was a result of our meetings with
Cole-Layer-Trumble when we saw that they weren't going
to have the things ready to mail out at the time they were supposed to
Comm Wright 0 k Now, Mr Fox, the abstract, when they sign it and
they check "no" for that personal property thing and they
want to do an inventory, there's no place on the abstract for the inventory
If the inventory is mailed to them and they send that in later, then they
actually haven't listed it during the listing period, have they?
County Atty Fox I'm not quite sure I follow you, Mrs Wright You're
speaking of
Comm Wright The personal property part where you take the 10 percent or
have an inventory
County Atty Fox No I think that they have offhand reaction would be
that they have indicated their ownership of the personal
property but have disagreed with the valuation that has otherwise been
placed upon it and have agreed that the valuation be completed at a later
time
Comm Wright Well, would they actually have been able to sign the
statement that says they affirm the truth and completeness
of listing including any accompanying statements, inventory schedules,
and other information--could they actually certify the truth of something
accompanying it if it was not accompanying it at the time?
County Atty Fox My recollection to that language, Mrs Wright, and I
discussed the question of whether the affirmation that
you sign in any way binds the taxpayer as to the values indicated of the
property I discussed that with the Institute of Government and the
Attorney General's Office, and they both indicated that it did not bind the
taxpayer I think, as far as the personal property is concerned where the
taxpayer says he will not accept the 10 percent figure, that that again
leaves the valuation open and would constitute still a proper listing of
personal property as such
Comm Wright You think they would not be subject to a penalty then for
not listing it within the period?
Page 11 of 13
County Atty Fox I do not think that they would where they refused to
accept the 10 percent figure I don't think they`d
be subject to a penalty
Comm Vaughan Mrs Wright, may I give you a little information on that?
Back in say 1965, '66, '67, back over the years, there was
considerable discussion that you'll find in the records on this At that
time, we didn't have this listing by maid and mail listing was initiated
then to be of help to the people, but there was no compulsion whatsoever
However, some of the ideas you're asking about may be in the minutes you
may find some of those ideas back there
Comm Wright Well, I may go back and check them then I was wanting also,
could we get a list of the Cole-Layer-Trumble employees and
their qualifications? Mr Powell would have that, wouldn't he? 0 K Now,
when will the property cards be turned over to the County actually? Have
they given you a date for that?
Comm O'Shields I would assume it would be after the informal hearings
County Mgr Eller I think they turn those over at the time we begin the
hearings of the Board of Equalization and Review
Comm Wright Is that what the contract says the~ll do or does it refer
to that?
County Mgr Eller I believe the contract calls for them to turn those
over by April 1 I'd have to check to be sure, but
they have to have those to go through the informal hearings so they would
have to have them throughout the
Comm Wright 0 K Now, the tv show that you and Mr Powell and some others
were on, Mr Eller, on the 31st, Mr Powell made the state-
ment that he hoped to have the tax base or he thought he would have it by
April 30 Do you have any idea what it based that on?
County Mgr Eller I would assume he was basing that on the idea that
the informal hearings and most of the Board of Equali-
zation and Review hearings would have been completed by that time
Comm Wright I hope he's right, but I don't think he is One other thing
I wanted to request, a list of all the industrial properties
for last year and this year
County Mgr Eller All industrial properties?
Comm Wright Separated by land and buildings for the two years, please
There's not an awful lot of them--there's 35 or 50
Page 12 of 13
Comm Vaughan Mrs Wright, he's made a compilation for me I wonder if
you would take a look at that It was the ten largest in
the County
Comm Wright I think I'd like to see them all
Comm Vaughan If you go to all of them you're putting
Comm Wright There's not that many of them, Mr Vaughan
Comm Vaughan There must be 2-3-4-500
Comm Wright No, there's not that many
Comm Alper There had better be
Comm Vaughan I think that`s asking too much
Comm Wright No Well, that's all that I had, and Mrs Pleasants had
requested to be heard at this time
Comm Vaughan You can ask so much detail on this thing that you hurt
them in their present job
Comm Wright If I didn't have a reason, I wouldn't ask, Mr Vaughan
End of Discussion
Page 13 of 13
'~ ~ a. .
Federal Point
Volunteer Fire Department
P. 0. Box 22
Kure Beach, N.C.
FEDERAL POINT V. F. D. FIRE DISTRICT
The fire station is located on St. Joseph Street at the Automotive
Service Centers Carolina Beach, N.C.
The fire district extends Prom Northern town limits of Carolina Beach,
north along the west bank of the yacht Basin across the Inland Water Way
to a point .!~ miles North of State Road 1527, hence west from Masonboro
Sound to Route lt21 (.!t miles north of State Road 1527). Southwest to the
3unction of the Tnland Water Way and the Cape Fear River. Hence South
along the East bank of the Cape Fear River a2 miles to the Military Ocean
Terminal, Suru~y Point, property, known as buffer zone. Hence in a
Southeastern direction along the East Boundary of the Buffer Zone to the
West Tawn Limits of Carolina Beach. Hence South from the Southern town
limits of Carolina Beach and East of the Buffer Zone to the Northern town
limits of Kure Beach Hence East to the Atlantic Ocean. Hence North
along Atlantic Ocean Coast Line to the Southern town limits. of
Carolina Beach.
This fire district does not include any property inside the Buffer Zone,
nor the town limits of Carolina Beach or Kure Beach.
i
February 13, 1975
MEMORANDUM
TO Mr Dan W Eller, County Manager
New Hanover County Board of County Commissioners
FROM Larry J Powell _~ ~-~
Tax Administrator
SUBJ Abatements and Refunds
Mrs Mamie D Grant requested she be allowed the
Senior Citizens' Exemption Mrs Grant qualifies for this
exemption, however, she failed to file for the release in
January 1974
Request the following taxes be released as the
taxpayers reported incorrect information
1 Rev Ernest L Newton $ 11 Ol
2 R H Long, Trustee 25 45
3 S Bryan Broadfoot 16 51
4 J 0 Barfield 62 37 (Refund)
5 David L Merrick 60 02
6 Robert Summerlin 47 33
7 W P Matthews 58 45
8 Pleasant Care Inc 34 69
9 Turnell 8 Morgan 33 85
10 Edward L Radford 56 it
11 Arthur D Stein 87 72 (Refund)
12 Max Van Beaver 24 77
13 A R Sharp 7 64 (Refund)
14 Scott Enterprises 41 87
15 Kona Kai Campground 120 30
The following taxpayers request the 100 listing
penalty be released as they certify the listing forms were
mailed during January 1974
1 F J Weiss, Sr
2 John M Weber
19 59
13 89
Request the following taxes be released as these are
clerical errors
1 Thurston L Sullivan 61 20
2 George A Harvey 462 57 (1969-1974)
3 Ross Register 34 23
Abatements and Refunds
Page 2
February 13, 1975
4 William H Batten 4 95
5 Alfred H McGuire 3 49 (Refund)
6 Franklin A Brown 15 50
7 Dwight M Peay 56 05
8 Market St Corp 113 23 (Refund)
Request the following taxes be abated as they have
been double listed
1 Lee V Way 13 47
2 Oliver G Worthington 12 90
3 Graham M Proctor 19 25
4 Linda D Brown 19 18
5 Mackcell Rogers 15 71
6 Suzanna L Roberts 33 89
7 Phillips Petroleum Co 11 85
8 James L Bradham 3 82
9 J M Myers, Jr 159 04
10 Annie J Hatcher 6 74
11 John S Garr 25 25
12 Shirley R Dobbins 15 80
13 National Car Rental 47 95
14 Janet C Blackman 22 36
15 C T Daniel 35 81
16 Luther D Dunn 20 67
17 Larry W Best 15 71
18 John K Peffiffer 32 67
19 Dora McLean 4 11
20 George Hunnicutt 15 45
21 Alex K MacDonald 33 82
22 Dennis W Bronson 44
(1969)
(1973)
Request the following taxes be released as these
individuals do not reside within the city or town limits, or
the personal property is located within the county
1 Michael Walkup 23 51 (Refund)
2 Ernest H Keith 48 40
3 Sasser' s Auto Sales 160 03
4 Michael J Coleman 30 25
5 George B Thormal 83 18 (1967 6 1968)
6 Walter R Lewis 38 16
7 Harry L Jones 7 64
8 Wilbur P Carter 75 31
9 George 0 Schneider 18 57
10 James F Sullivan 34 72
11 John R Robinson 46 42
Abaterlents and Refunds
Page 3
February 13, 1975
12 Tony P Roberts 18 03
13 Eustace W Phillips 57 81
14 Roger D Carter 25.31
15 Linda K Young 11 56
16 Todd W Atkinson 35 53
17 Robert T Kelly 27 19
18 Endur P ark and Cycle Center 127 69
19 John K Monds 27 40
20 Richard Blanton 10 78
21 William L Wells 34 25
22 Charles W Plowden 61 26
Request this item be placed on the agenda of the
County Commissioners' meeting of February 17, 1975
cc Mrs King
LJP/pjr
~a`~
LARRY J POWELL
Tax Administrator
RAYMOND E BLAKE, JR
Appraisal Supervisor
119 No Fifth St
a
~>Anober
~tirn~ngto~t, ~ ~
~O~
~~
28401
NEW HANOVER COUNTY TAX COLLECTIONS
COLLECTIONS THRU JANUARY 31, 1975
1974
Regular Scroll Charges $6,510,471 59
Discoveries Added 1,491,607 14
8,002,078 73
Less Abatements - 22,529 67
Total Taxes Due New Hanover Co 7,979,549 06
Total Collected -7,468,763 20
Outstanding Balance 510,785 86
Percentage Collected 93 60
Back Taxes
Real Estate Taxes $ 305,089 15
Less Abatements - 16,676 25
Total Collections To Date -102,136 72
Outstanding Balance 186,276 18
Percentage Collected 35 4%
Personal Property Taxes $ 343,627 23
Less Abatements - 33,876 33
Total Collections To Date - 26,186 65
Outstanding Balance 283,564 25
Percentage Collected 8 4%
MAE B. STUART
Listing Supervisor
JANIE B STRAUGHN
Collector of Revenue
762-0391
1973
5,636,844 85
1,333,891 26
6,970,736 11
- 12,723 89
6,958,012 22
-6,395,974 66
562,037 56
91 9 a
361,200 30
- 6,033 50
- 99,225 55
255,941 25
27 9 0
319,437 58
- 207 98
- 30,058 44
289,171 16
9 40
Total money processed through collections office for New Hanover County,
City of Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach
to date $11,929,962 79
This report is for fiscal year beginning July 1, 1974
Respectfully submitted,
~,Z1LSiC~d
nie B Straughn
ollector of Revenue
JBS/pjr
~-~Yh kc F ~? ~
~~ RESOLUTION (GRANT AGREEMENT)
EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF A ~G~'`~
MEETING OF THE NEW HANOVER BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
HELD ON FEBRUARY 17 19 75
The following Resolution was introduced by Comm Claud O'Shields, Jr
seconded by Chm Peter R Davis
adopted
read in full, considered and
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING, ADOPTING, APPROVING, ACCEPTING AND RATIFYING
THE EXECUTION OF GRANT AGREEMENT FOR PROJECT N0. 8-37-0084-02 BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND New Hanover County Commissioners
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Commissioners of New Hanover County
SECTION 1 That said Commissioners hereby authorizes,
adopts, approves, accepts and ratifies the execution of Grant Agreement
between the Federal Aviation Administration on behalf of the United States
of America and the fnmmi~sinner.c of New Hanover (:ounty
SECTION 2 That the execution of said Grant Agreement in quadruplicate
on behalf of said
by Peter R Davis
~ Chairman
and the impression of the official seal of the New HanoVPr (:rn~nt3~ Commissioners
and the attestation of said execution by Lise K King ,
Clerk to the Board is hereby authorized, adopted, approved,
accepted and ratified.
SECTION 3. That the Airport Manager is hereby authorized
(Title of Position, Airport
Manager, City Manager, etc.)
to execute payment requests under this Grant Agreement on behalf of said
!dpi cgj,~,psg of T~Tac.~ Hannvar ('nimfi3~
SECTION 4 That the Grant Agreement referred to hereinabove shall
be attached hereto and made a part of this Resolution as though it were
('nmmiecinnPrc
fully copied herein.
SO FORM 5100-18 (4-70)
Pzge 1 0~' 4 pages
'~ DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
GRANT AGREEII~IENT
Part 1-Offer
Date of Offer FEB 14 X75
New Hanover County Airport
Wilmington, North Carolina
Project No 8-37-0084-02
Contract No DOT-FA-75-SO-9259
TO New Hanover County North Carolina
(herein referred to as {he Sponsor )
FROM The United States of America (acting through the Federal Aviation Administration, herein
referred to as the "FAA")
WHEREAS, the Sponsor has submitted to the FAA a Project Application dated January 14, 1975
for a grant of Federal funds for a project for develop-
ment of the New Hanover county Airport (herein called
the "Airport"), together with plans and specifications for such project, which Project Application,
as approved by the FAA is hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof, and
WHEREAS, the FAA has approved a project for development of the Airport (herein called the
"Project") consisting of the following-described airport development
CFR truck, 1500 gallons of water/foam; CFR auxiliary equipment including
lfl proximity suits;
all as more particularly described in the property map and plans and specifications incorporated in
the said Project Application,
FAA FORM 8100-13 PG. t (10-71) SUPERSEDES FAA FORM 1632 PG. t PAGE 1
'Page 2 of 4 pages
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to and for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Airport
and Airway Development Act of 1970, as amended (49 U.S C 1701), and in consideration of (a)
the Sponsor's adoption and ratification of the representations and assurances contained in said
Project Application, and its acceptance of this Offer as hereinafter provided, and (b) the benefits
to accrue to the United States and the public from the accomplishment of the Project and the
operation and maintenance of the Airport as herein provided, THE FEDERAL AVIATION AD-
MINISTRATION, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES, HEREBY OFFERS AND
AGREES to pay, as the United States share of the allowable costs incurred in accomplishing the
Project, eighty-two percent (82%) from funds appropriated under the Airport and
Airway Development Act as amended, for the CFR equipment and its related auxiliary
equipment.
This Offer is made on and subject to the following terms and conditions
1 The maximum obligation of the United States payable under this Offer shall be
$132,020
2 The Sponsor shall
(a) begin accomplishment of the Project within ninety (90) days
after acceptance of this Offer or such longer time as may be prescribed by the FAA,
with failure to do so constituting just cause for termination of the obligations of the
United States hereunder by the FAA,
(b) carry out and complete the Project without undue delay and in accordance with the
terms hereof, the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970, and Sections 152 51-
152 63 of the Regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (14 CFR 152) in
effect as of the date of acceptance of this Offer, which Regulations are hereinafter
referred to as the "Regulations",
(c) carry out and complete the Project in accordance with the plans and specifications
and property map, incorporated herein, as they may be revised or modified with the
approval of the FAA.
3 The allowable costs of the project shall not include any costs determined by the FAA to
be ineligible for consideration as to allowability under Section 152.47 (b) of the Regula-
tions.
4 Payment of the United States share of the allowable project costs will be made pursuant
to and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 152.65 - 152.71 of the Regulations.
Final determination as to the allowability of the costs of the project will be made at the
time of the final grant payment pursuant to Section 152.71 of the Regulations Provided,
that, in the event asemi-final grant payment is made pursuant to Section 152.71 of the
Regulations, final determination as to the allowability of those costs to which such semi-
final payment relates will be made at the time of such semi-final payment
FAA FORM 5100-13 PG 2 (7-72) ~ SUPERSEDES PREVIOUS EDITION PAGE 2
Page 3 of 4 pages
5 The sponsor shall operate and maintain the Airport as Provided in the Project
Application incorporated herein and specifically covenants and agrees, in
accordance with its Assurance 20 in Part V of said Application For Federal
Assistance (For Construction Programs), that in its operation and the opera-
tion of all facilities thereof, neither it nor any person or organization
occupying space or facilities thereon will discriminate against any person
or class of persons by reason of race, color, creed or national origin in
the use of any of the facilities provided for the public on the airport
6 The FAA reserves the right to amend or withdraw this Offer at any time prior
to its acceptance by the Sponsor
7 This Offer shall expire and the United States shall not be ob~.igated to pay
any part of the costs of the Project unless this Offer has been accepted by
the Sponsor on or before March 31, 1975 or such subsequent date
as may be prescribed in writing by the FAA
8 The Sponsor hereby agrees that it will incorporate or cause to be incorporated
into any contract for construction work, or modification thereof, as defined
in the regulations of the Secretary of Labor at 41 CFR Chapter 60, which is
paid for in whole or in part with funds obtained from the Federal Government
or borrowed on the credit of the Federal Government pursuant to a grant, con-
tract, loan, insurance, or guarantee, or undertaken pursuant to any federal
program involving such grant, contract, loan, insurance, or guarantee, the
following Equal Opportunity clause
During the performance of this contract, the contractor agrees as follows
(1) The Contractor will not discriminate against any employee or
applicant for employment because of race, color, religion,
sex or national origin The contractor will take affirmative
action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees
are treated during employment without regard to their race, color,
sex or national origin Such action shall include, but not be
limited to the following Employment, upgrading, demotion, or
transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or
termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and
selection for training, including apprenticeship The contractor
agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and
applicants for employment, notices to be provided setting forth
the provisions of this non-discrimination clause
(2) The contractor will, in all solicitations or advertisements for
employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, state that
all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment
without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin
(3) The contractor will send to each labor union or representative
of workers with which he has a collective bargaining agreement
or other contract or understanding, a notice to be provided
advising the said labor union or workers' representatives of the
contractor's commitments under this section, and shall post
copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees
and applicants for employment
FAA Form 51~~-1~ l~/751
Page 3a of 4 pages
(4) The contractor will comply with all provisions of Executive Order
11246 of 24 September 1965 and the rules, regulations, and relevant
orders of the Secretary of Labor
(5) The contractor will furnish all information and reports required
by Executive Order 11246 of 24 September 1965, and by rules,
regulations, and orders of the Secretary of Labor, or pursuant
thereto, and will permit access to his books, records, and accounts
by the administering agency and the Secretary of Labor for purposes
of investigation to ascertain compliance with such rules, regulations,
and orders
(6) In the event of the contractor's noncompliance with the non-
discrimination clauses of this contract or with any of the
said rules, regulations or orders, this contract may be
cancelled, terminated or suspended in whole or in part and
the contractor may be declared ineligible for further government
contracts or federally assisted construction contracts in
•~ accordance with procedures authorized in Executive Order 11246
of 24 September 1965, and such other sanctions may be imposed
and remedies invoked as provided in Executive Order 11246 of
24 September 1965, or by rule, regulation or order of the
Secretary of Labor, or as otherwise provided by law
(7) The contractor will include the portion of the sentence immediately
preceding paragraph (1) and the provisions of paragraphs (1)
through (7) in every subcontract or purchase order unless exempted
by rules, regulations or orders of the Secretary of Labor issued
pursuant to Section 204 of Executive Order 11246 of 24 September
1965, so that such provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor
or vendor The contractor will take such action with respect to any
subcontract or purchase order as the administering agency may direct
as a means of enforcing such provisions, including sanctions for
noncompliance Provided, however, that in the event a contractor
becomes involved in, or is threatened with litigation with a
subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction by the
administering agency, the contractor may request the United States
to enter into such litigation to protect the interests of the United
States
The Sponsor further agrees that it will be bound by the above equal opportunity
clause with respect to its own employment practices when it participates in
federally assisted construction work Provided, that if the applicant so
participating is a State or local government, the above equal opportunity clause
is not applicable to any agency, instrumentality or subdivision of such government
which does not participate in work on or under the contract
The Sponsor agrees that it will assist and cooperate actively with the administer-
ing agency and the Secretary of Labor in obtaining the compliance of contractors
and subcontractors with the equal opportunity clause and the rules, regulations,
and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor that it will furnish the administer-
ing agency with the Secretary of Labor such information as they may require
FAA Form 5100-13
Page 3b of 4 pages
for the supervision of such compliance, and that it will otherwise assist the
administering agency in the discharge of the agency's primary responsibility
for securing compliance
The Sponsor further agrees that it will refrain from entering into any con-
tract or contract modification subject to Executive Order 11246 of
24 September 1965 with a contractor debarred from, or who has not assisted
construction contracts pursuant to the Executive Order and will carry out
such sanctions and penalties for violation of the equal opportunity clause
as may be imposed upon contractors and subcontractors by the administering
agency or the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Part III, Subpart D of the
Executive Order In addition, the Sponsor agrees that if it fails or
refuses to comply with these undertakings, the administering agency may
take any or all of the following actions cancel, terminate or suspend in
whole or in part this grant (contract, loan, insurance, guarantee); refrain
from extending any further assistance to the Sponsor under the program with
respect to which the failure or refund occurred until satisfactory assurance
of future compliance has been received from the Sponsor, or refer the case
to the Department of Justice for appropriate legal proceedings
9 The Sponsor's financial records of the project, established, maintained, and
made available t,o personnel of the FAA in conformity to Section 152 63 of the
Regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (14 CFR 152) will also be
available to representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States
10 It is understood and agreed that the term "Project Application" wherever
it appears in this agreement or other documents constituting a part of this
agreement shall be deemed to mean "Application For Federal Assistance (For
Construction Programs) "
11 The Sponsor will send a copy of all Invitations for Bids, advertised, or nego-
tiated, for concessions or other businesses at the airport to the Government
Procurement Specialist, Atlanta Regional Office OMBE, 1371 Peachtree Street,
N E - Suite 505, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, or to the local affiliate designated
by the OMBE The Sponsor will disclose and make information about the contracts
contracting procedures and requirements available to the OMBE or its designated
affiliate and minority firms on the same basis that such information is dis-
closed and made available to other organizations or firms Responses by
minority firms to Invitations to Bids shall be treated in the same manner as
all other responses to the Invitations for Bids
Compliance with the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute com-
pliance by the Sponsor with the requirements of 49 CFR 21, Appendix C(a)(1)(x),
Regulations of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation
FAA Form 5100-13 (2/75)
Page 3c of 4 Pages
12. The Federal Government does not now plan or contemplate the construction of
any structures pursuant to paragraph 27 of Part V - Sponsor's Assurances of
the Application for Federal Assistance dated January 14, 1975, and, there-
fore, it is understood and agreed that the sponsor is under no obligation
to furnish any areas or rights without cost to the Federal Government under
this Grant Agreement However, nothing contained herein shall be construed
as altering or changing the rights of the United States and/or the obliga-
tions of the sponsor under prior Grant Agreement to furnish rent-free space
for the activities specified in such agreements.
Page 4 of 4 pages
A
The Sponsor's acceptance of this Offer and ratification and adoption of the Project Application
incorporated herein shall be evidenced by execution of this instrument by, the Sponsor, as herein-
after provided, and said Offer and Acceptance shall comprise a Grant Agreement, as provided by
the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970, constituting the obligations and rights of the
United States and the Sponsor with respect to the accomplishment of the Project and the operation
and maintenance of the Airport Such Grant Agreement shall become effective upon the Sponsor's
acceptance of this Offer and shall remain in full force and effect throughout the useful life of the
facilities developed under the Project but in any event not to exceed twenty years from the date
of said acceptance
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
By ~ ~
(TITLE)
Chief, Airports District Office
Part II Acceptance
The County of New Hanover does hereby ratify and adopt all statements,
representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained in the Project Application and
incorporated materials referred to in the foregoing Offer and does hereby accept said Offer and
by such acceptance agrees to all of the terms and conditions thereof
Executed this 17th
(SEAL)
day of February
Attes ~ , ~~-~~~r.,. -
Title Clerk to the Board
CERTIFICATE OF SPONSOR'S ATTORNEY
, 19 75
New Hanover CountX~ North Carolina
(Name of Sponsor)
By w- ~ ~~
Title Chairman
I~ .Tames C Fox ,acting as Attorney for New t~anov~x ~ou~}t:y
(herein referred to as the "Sponsor") do hereby certify
That I have examined the foregoing Grant Agreement and the proceedings taken by said
Sponsor relating thereto, and find that the Acceptance thereof by said Sponsor has been duly auth-
orized and that the execution thereof is in all respects due and proper and in accordance with the
laws of the State of North Carolina ,and further that, in my opinion, said Grant
Agreement constitutes a legal and binding obligation of the Sponsor in accordance with the terms
thereof
Dated atW~4~.A~~Ag~Qn, ~Tor~h C~~o~iAathis. 17th day of February 19 75
-~..
~tle New Hanover County Attorney
FAA FORM 5100-13 PG 410-71) SUPERSEDES FAA FORM 1632 PG a PAGE 4