1962-10-15 Regular Meeting
Wilmington, N. C. October,15, 1962
ASSEMBLY -
The regular semimonthly meeting of the New Hanover County Board of Com-
missioners was held on this date at 9:00 A. M. with the following members in attend-
ance: John Van B. Metts, Jr., Peter H. Braak, L. E. Broadhurst, and Ernest R. May-
han, Commissioners; L. Bradford Tillery, County Attorney and T. D. Love, County
Auditor, Vice Chairman Metts presided in the absence of the Chairman J. M. Hall, Jr.
who was out of town on the account of the death of an uncle. .
INVOCATION
The Acting Chairman called the meeting to order and requested Reverend
R. L. Nicks, pastor of Grace Methodist, to open the meeting with a prayer for guidance.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES -
Upon motion of Mr. Broadhurst, seconded by Mr. Mayhan, the minutes of the
meeting on October 1sL, copies of which had been mailed to each Commissioner were •
unanimously approved.
? ELECTION BUDGET -
Henry C. Bost, Chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Elections re-
ported to the Board that on account of the six amendments to be voted on in the Nov-
ember election, the cost would increase approximately $2200.00 and asked if the Com-
missioners wished to appropriate the additional money before the election or afterwards
After some discussion of the matter,,Mr. Broadhurst.offered a motion that not more
than $2200.00 be appropriated from the General Emergency Fund to the Board of Elections
It was seconded by Mr. Mayhan and unanimously carried. .. .
ICOOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK,
Mr. D. D. Baggett, County Agricultural Agent, reviewed briefly the work
that had been done in his department during the first quarter.of.the 2'dscai.;year.
He was followed by Miss Verna Belle Lowery, County Home Economics Agent and Rebecca
Hall, County Home Economics Agent,,who reported omtheir activities. Each of them
asked for any suggestions for the improvement of their particular departments.
yPROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
Mr. Preston W. Moseley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Reverend
D. L. Alexander, Pastor of the First Christian Church, explained to the Board that
they had.purchased a parcel of land composed of lots 1-9 in Mimosa Place for the pur-
pose of erecting a church building. It has required several years to accumulate
sufficient money to start the building and during that time.the County tax authorities
have levied against it. They have recently received notice that taxes.for 1959-1962
have been levied against the church property and asked that they be abated. .The
County Attorney advises that there is no flat Statute covering this particular situa-
tion but that the Supreme Court has ruled that property purchased by a church for,
religious purposes ad,jacent to the,original church property is exempt. He ruled
that in his opinion this property should be tax.exempt under the circumstances. After
a brief discussion, Mr. Broadhurst moved that the property be exempted from taxes
for the years 1959-1962 on advice of counsel. It was seconded by Mr. Braak and
unanimously adopted.
?PUBLIC WELFARE - , ,
Miss Lela Moore hall, Director of Publ.ic Welfare explained to the Board that
she was available at any time to provide information on the Welfare Program of the
County and asked the Commissioners for any suggestions or recommendations as to how
certain problems might be overcome within the framework of the law. She requested
clarification of the following questions which were not clear to her, 1- Which attor-
ney should Old Age Lien assignments be sent to? 2- Who will.handle the sale of
property acquired through a leint These questions were not resolved entirely Dut the
Executive Secretary was instructed to invite Attorney W. Allen Cobb to meet with the .
Board at their next semimonthly meeting as it was mutually agreed that he had accepted
this responsibility at the meeting on August 3, 1959• Miss Hall then raised the
'question of a Federal exception and explained that,if a check was issued for $50.00
on which a mistake was made, the County must bear the entire amount including Federal
and State funds. This is likewi5e true of a$500.00 mistake and could result in cost-
ing the taxpayers of the County. The usual cause for such errots and exceptions is
new personnel who are not entirely familiar with the Federal and State laws governing
the Welfare program.
Quarters: The question of location was discussed and Miss Hall requested
? to know if the present quarters were permanent or a Lemporary,nature so that she wovld
be able to guide her thinking and plan,the different departments and changes that
miyht prove better for efficient operation. By common consent, the Board suggested
that she present them with some pians which she would,recommend and they wouid give
them every consideration.
Equipment - Miss Hall reported a drastic need for additional equipment
and suggested that it would prove to be an advantage if the Commissioners allowed
a annual capital outlay in order to replace old equipmenL as it wore out. She illus-
trated her point by saying that she had .10 Lypewriters which were practically worn out
and if allowed to purchase one new typewrlter per year it would save a large expenditure
time because the life of a typewriter is about 10 years. The most pressing need at
the present time is for 2 dictaphones and transcribers. The question then arose as to
whether or not the State would share in the cost of this equipment. After a brief dis-
cussion of this point, Mr. Broadhurst offered a motion that Miss Hall be authorized to
confer with Mr. Brown and bring back a report with reference to this question. There
was no second to his motion and the Chairman ruled it dead. Mr. Braak then moved that
approval be given for the purchase of one dictaphone out of Capital Outlay if sufficient
continued -
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at one
Minut¢s of the Meeting October 15, 2962 Continued
PUBLIC WELFARE - continued / I
funds were available in that item and if there was not sufficient funds, that the
additional funds necessary to cover this,expenditure be appropriated and transferred
from unspent salaries. The motion was seconded by Mr. Metts and when the ballot was
taken, Mr. Broadhurst voted "No" but since all the other members of the Board includ-
I ing the Vice Chairman voted "Yes", it was ruled carried my a majority vote.
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Miss Hali thanked the Commissioners for their cooperation and stated that
one other item of equipment needs to have consideration and that is the old slide type
files used back in the W. P. A. days without bearings and over loaded making it very
difficult and exhausting to use them day..after day,
WELFARE PETITION FOR RELIEF. - ?
An application for County Home care was presented by the Director of Public
4lelfar.e in behalf of Simon Hardison. Upon motion of Nh^. Broadhurst, seconded by Nir..
Braak, the Board unanimously approved his acceptance at the County Home.
NEW HANOVER MEMORIlAL HOSPITAL - /
Mr. Seymour L. Alper, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the proposed New
Hanover Memorial Hospital made the following report:
The Board of Trustees of the New Hanover Memorial Hospital submits herewith
the construction budget for the pnoposed hospital for New Hanover County. The
figures on the attached sheet are for.the construction of the hospital only and do
not include site acquisition, nursing school, or the out-patient department,
or internes quarters.. .
In planning the hospital, the Board, through the architects, consulted with the
medical staffs of all hospitals now operating in the county and with the non-medical
department heads of the James Walker Memorial Hospital and the Community Hospital.
On the basis of these consuitations, the original schematic plans'were drawn in-
cluding in the planning those features that were suggested during the consultations
' as being desirable. 'These plans also included considerable chassis area to accomo-
.date the ultimate 600 bed capacity of the hospital. The result was an excellent
piant, which both the Board of Trustees and the Architects knew was far in excess of
what the County could afford. This, however, provided a starting point from which
'we couid work to produce a hospital that we could afford. The Board of Trustees
submitted these plans to the Medical Care Commission in order that it might learn
to what extent the Commission might commit itself in financing the construction both
from normal Hill-Burton Funds and,from special funds. An informal indication of
? approximately $4,000,000.00 was given it. This figure was recently made official.
The architects were instructed to cut the area of the hospital. In five sets
of schematic drawings, revised within as many months, space was cut. This was
accomplished by the elimination of less essential areas and by the elimination of
excess chassis. The chassis as it is now planned is easily expandable for the fut-
ure and the Board feels that it is adequately designed for the initial 400 bed
? capacity. The budgets that reflect the chan5es made were as follows:
May 7, 1962 $10,878,700.00 ,
Nay 25, 1962 9,670,400.00
' May 28, 1962 8,965,200.00
I June 28,1962 8,500,000.00
The changes that were made were arrived at by much study and analysis of our pro-
blems, and of numberous other hospitals that were visited. The Board of Trustees
was also guided in making its changes by consultations with The North Carolina
Medical Care Commission and The Duke Endowment. The Board believes that the plan
that has been developed is essential if the hospital is to render efficient service.
In its planning, the Board has included- insofar as it deems practical- a degree
of automation that should help to cut the operating costs and also shouid be help-
ful in counteracting the current shortage of trained hospital personnel. The plan
calls for 100 private beds and 300 semi-private beds. Of the private rooms, thirty
will be so arranged that they will be convertible to semi-privAte facilities shonld
a sudden need develop. These thirty rooms will help delay the need for expanding
the hospital. The hospital is planned for maximum flexibility so that the beds can
be most efficiently utilized.
The Board of.Trustees feels that there is no lohger any excess space in the
hospital plan and that further cuSs are inadvisabie even though the budget is higher
than was originally anticipated. Basing its figures on the recent.cost experience
of other hospitals plus an allowance of approximately 2% for rising construction
costs, the attached budgeL was arrived at.
BUDGET --NEW HANOVER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
I 1. Construction 7,000,000
M 2. Fees 420,000
3. Contingency Fund 75,000
l}. Group 2 and 3 Equipment (}00 beds @ 1600 500,000
. 640,00
5• Allowance for special on site imp rovement 250,000
and cost'increases
$8,245
000
? The question was raise d about the promise to the people a t the time ,
they
? voLed on this project that probably only $3,500,000 would he used ou t of Lhe
total bond issue of $5 ,500,000. The Trustees explained that they w ere doing
everything possible to keep down the cost and still erect a hospital that would
meet the needs of the people of this County.
SCHOOL BOND RESOLUTION - I
The County Attorney read the following Resolution designating the details
of the bonds to be issued as authorized at the October lst, 1962 meeting for the pur-
pose of repairing and building schools. After the reading of the Resolution, Commissioner
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Minutes of the Meeting October 15, 1962 (Continued)
tSCHOOL BOND RESOLUTION - (continued)
t
Broadhurst moved that the fol3owing resolution be adopted: WHEREAS, the Local Government Commission of North Carolina has informed'the i
Board of Commissioners that it has sold in the manner prescribed by law the $2,425,000
School Building Bonds, Series A, of the County of New Hanover, dated November 1, 1962, ,
authorized to be issued by a resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners on October
1, 1962, and that the contract of sale contemplates that said bonds shall be of the
denomination and bear interest as hereinafter provided: NOYl, THEREFORD, ,
BE IT RESOLVED that said bonds shall be of the denomination of $5,000 each and
said bonds shall be numbered from 1 to 2$5, inclusive, in the order of their maturity. I
8E IT FURTHFR RESOLUED that said bonds shall bear interest as follows:
(1) the bonds numbered from 1 to 118, inclusive, 6% per annum, (2) the bonds
numbered from 119 to 126, inclusive, 5 5/8% per annum, (3) the bonds numbe'red from
127 to 150, inclusive, 3% per annum, (4) the bonds numbered from 151 to 243, in- ?
clusive, 3 1/4% per annum, and (5) the bonds numbered from 244 to 285, inclusive,
1/10 of 1% per annum.
Commissioner Ernest R. Mayhan seconded the motion, and the motion was adopted by the
following vote: Ayes: L. E. Broadhurst, Peter H. Braak, Ernest R. Mayhan.
/RESCUE SQUAD
Mr. W. D. "Billy Gorman, representing the New Hanover County Volunteer I
Rescue Squad, reported that they had alreadt been called on twice for rescue work in I?
addition to their stand-by service at several public functions. Since the last report
they have acquired an ambulance, a trailor and a 3/4 ton pickup truck for use in res- j
cue operations. Their problem is in having them properly insured. He presented a I
quotation of $305.00 for the minimum insurance necessary for the proper protection of '
the vehicles and asked the Commissioners to underwrite the insurance premium. AfLer a
brief discussion, it was pointed out that all of this equipment was secured at no cost 'I
to the County, Mr. Broadhurst offered a motion that the Board approve one-haif of the ,
$305.00 or $152.50 with the understanding that no furLher funds would be asked for in
the present fiscal year. It was secbnded by Mr. Braak and unanimously approved. The
County Auditor reported that he felt sure there was sufficient funds budgeted from which
this premium could be paid without making a transfer. '
? COURT AMENDMENT - I
Mr. E. C. Snead, Chairman ofthe State Committee for Court improvement repottedl
that he had been asked to explain the proposed amendment for impr.oving our Court system.
He stated that the matter had been under study for the past 5 years and explored by the
lasi two Gener.al'Assembl'ies:. Tfiere,are.:a,pproxirriately 11}00 infer.i6r.court5; in operation '
over our State with little or no supervision. The present proposed amendment provides '
for a modern court system flexible enough for many years and in it a framework for addi- 1
tional implementation until 1971 in order to perfect it and save money for the taxpayers.:
The purpose is not one of centrali2ation of power but it wouid require an administrative ;
office to assure the people that all of the courts would have a uniformity of records.
Members of the local Bar Association were present to answer some of the details and
questions but stated that most of the details would have to be left in the hands of the
General Assembly at present. i
RECORDERS COURT REPORT -
Cou.nty Auditor T.+D.; 'Love re,ported ,on the Reco,rders,Court Office for
the months of August and September. The revenue collected and turned 3n for the'month
of August and September. The revenue collected and turned in for the month of August was
$16,592•29 and for the month of September $10,991.65. The Board ordered the report filed
for informatton: _ .. . '
?SHARING ADUERTISINCr COSTS -
A letter was received from the City Manager reporting that the City Council
had authorized the advertising of ,joinLly owned tax foreclosed property and requested
the County share in the cost of such advertising as they felt that the immediate sales
resulting from it would more than reimburse us for that expense. This act3on was
subject to concurring approval of the Board of County Commissioners. After a very
discussion, it was decided to defer action on this matter until the entire Board could
be present. The Executive Secretary was directed to put this on the Agenda for the
next meeting.
1ALCOHOLICS REHABILITATION -
The Chairman presented the following Budget which has been approved by the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board for the New Hanover County Council on Alcoholism:
Salary, executive
Travei expenses, l} meetings per year,
Rent at $50.00 per month
Phone $10.75 plus long-distance cails
Activities of the Information Center:
Office supplies, furniture
Books, publications and films
Speakers, travel
Petty cash fund, stamps
Public stenographer or other help
Printing of literature
$1,500 =$2,000 per month at .04 or .05 each, $70.00
$3,000.00
or $25.00 per month 300.00
600.00
200.00
250.00
300.00
100.00
150.00
250.00
840 . 00
$6,t590.00
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M..i;nu1gs-o?-MeRt3-nr) October_15,-1962 (continued)
ALCOHOLICS REI-IABILiTATION - (continued)
. They report that this Budget represents
? the use to a one man operation but suggests that as
apparent to the Public, the demand for its services
budget necessary in the future.
APPRECIATION RESOLUTION
the barest minimum and restricts
the results of the program become
will make a larger staff and
It was reported to the Board that the Winter Park Elementary Baptist Church.
has agreed to allow the use of some of the rooms in its buildings for an overflow of
the children in the Winter Park Elementary School. By unanimous agreement, the Board
thought this was a fine gesture on the offi,cers and pastor of the criurch and instructed
the Executive Secretary to write them a letter expressing their appreciation for this service
to the community. -)
MENTAL HEALTH FEES -
The Chairinan reported that the Board of Health,at its regular meeting on ?
October 3, 1962 moved that a fee scale be accepted for Mental Health Center services.
The fees will be charged only for clin.icai services. The fees charged are nominal and
based on a sliding scale of ability to pay.
It is requested of the County Commissioners that permission be granted for
these limited funds to be utilized to deFray the expense of inedication for the indigent
and medically indigent patients in the After-Care Clinic. The patients seen in Lhe After-
Care Clinic are those who have been in one of the N. C. State Hospitals and are now back
in our community. All funds collected for this year in excess of that needed to de-
fray this cost wiil be turned over to the genera2 fund at the end of the present fis-
cal year.
The Auditor advised the Board that it would be necessary to appropriate funds
if any money was to be paid out of this program. Mr. Braak then offered a motion that
the request of the Mental Health Center for charging fees and applying them against the
expense of inedication for indigent patients be approved and that $3,000 be appropriated
as a working fund until some sort of trend could be established to determine just how
much would be needed. It was seconded by Mr. Broadhurst and unanimously passed.
RQAD PETITION -
A petition was recefved from Mr. Hugh M. Morton for the addition of Blue- /
bird Land, Mocking Bird Lane Extension and Cascade Road to the State Maintained Second-
ary Road System. Upon motion of Mr. Broadhurst, seconded by Mr. Mayhan, the petition
was approved and ordered sent to the State Highway Commission for their consideration
BEER PERMIT - /
The following appl3cation for a Beer Permit was reviewed by the Board and
upon motion of Mr. Broadhurst, seconded by hir. Braak, unanimously approved and referred
to the Sheriff for his investigation and consideration:
Woodr.ow M0ek5- T/A Oleander Produce Co. 5124 Oleander Dr.
INSURANCE - /
A letter was received from the Wilmgton Association of Independent- Insurance
Agents Incorporated calling attention to a special extended coverage endorsement for public
and institutional property. It extends coverage to include "All Risks of Loss" with
certain stipulated exclusions. Thecost for this coverage is 151 per thousand on Fire Re-
sistive Properties and 251 per thousand on all others. After a brief discussion, the
Board, by unanimous consent, agreed to review insurance coverage only once per year and
instructed the Executive Secretary to advise them and it would be taken up at the next
Budget setting.
DAMAGE C11aIM -
James K. Bryant of Castle Hayne, North Carolina reported that on last Friday ?
night, October 12, while he was proceeding to work on a public road, a hog belonging to
the County caused him to wreck his car. He presented estimates from differnt garages stating that the car was a total loss. He claims it was worth $120.00 and asked the
County to pay for these damages. The County Attorney advised the Commissioners to refuse
payment of this claim which'they did by common consent of the entire Board present.
BROP.ERTY REFUND APPROPRIATION - ?
Pursuant to the action of the Board at their meeting on 10/1/62 agreeing to
refund the purchase price of the jointly owned tax foreclosed property in Part of Lot 4
in Block 27 to Lillian S. McKoy, the County Auditor advised that it rrould be necessary
to make an appropriStion before he could make a refund. The amount received by the
County was $219.30 which represents 43% of the sale price of $510.00. Mr. Braak then
offered a motion that $219•30 be appropriated from the General Fund - Sale Foreclosed
Property to pay this obiigation. It was seconded by Mr. Mayhan and when the baliot was
taken, Messrs. Braak, Mayhan and Metts voted for the motion and Mr. Broadhurst voted
against the motion, however, the Chairman declared it carried.
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CITY AND COUNTY AGREEMENT
Acting Chairman Metts inquired of the County Attorney if he had been able to ?
complete the agreement which was proposed by the City for the transfer of 441 acres of
County land for the development of a sewerage treatment p2ant. The County Attorney re-
ported that according to his understanding the City Attorney had not presented him with
a firm proposal in writing and therefore no action on the matter has been taken. Mr.
Metts considred this of such importance that he proposed a letter to be written to the
Mayor suggesting that the conditions of the proposed transfer be put in writing and a
legal agreement drawn as soon as possible. The Board, by common consent, concurred in
this action and authorized the letter.
-A
Minn.to? ?f +.h?e?#,?? t?c-.t-o?be•r-1=:?
U.S. # 17 IMPROVEMENT -
? A letter was received from the U.S. #17 Improvement and Development Assoc-
iation advising that a meeting has been arranged by the Association with the North
Carolina Highway Commission for a discussion of this important eastern north-south route.
It will be held at 2:30 P. M. on October 31st in Jacksonville. They urged a minimum
delegation of 25 people from New Hanover County.
iWILMINGTON COLLEGE DITCHING -
The Executive Secretary reported to the Board that William J. Brooks, Athleticl
Director for Wilmington College reported that a portion of the ditch which was cut for
the College by the County had caved in and was blocking water. He requests that the
dragline be sent down to clean out about 3,000 feet which it would take to relieve the
situation. By common consent, the Board referred this request to the Board of Trustees
for the College through the County Attorney, L. Bradford Tillery, who.is likewise a
member of the Board of Trustees.
`RESIGNATION - CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTOR '
A letter was received from Colonel J. B. McCumber, Director of the Wilmington-,
New Hanover County office of Civil Defense, officially resigning as Director effective
January 1, 1963. He expressed his appreciation and pleasure for the privilege of organ-
izing and directing the agency and volunteered his services if the need arises in the
future. By common consent, the Board accepted the resignation and authorized a letter
expressing their appreciation for the fine work accomplished by Colonel McCumber dur-
1ng his tenure of office.
REPORTS -
The following reports were reviewed and ordered filed:
?
1-? Board of Health Report for September, 1962.
2- Grand Jury Report for October Criminal term.
3-1 Electrical Inspector's Report.
1E- ICommunity Accelerated Public Works Program Report.
5- JSaline Freezing Process Report from Congressman Alton Lennon.
6-1 U. S. O. Report.
7-1 Wilmington Public Library
ADJOURNMENT -
Upon motion of Mr. Broadhurst, seconded by Mr. Mayhan, the Board unanimously
voted to adjourn the meeting,
iecretary
SPECIAL VENIRE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER OCTOBER TERM, 1962
It appearing to the Court that only 22 respective ,jurors have answered on
the cail of the viniremen, and that there are eighty cases for trial at this term of
Court being of the opinion that this number of veniremen is insufficient to properly
transact the business of the Court during this week,
The Court, in the exercise of its discretion directs that the Clerk to the
Board of County of Commissions shall bring into Court the scrolls of veniremen, and
shall from Box No. 1, draw thirty-six additional scrolls, and the names of such per-
sons shall be delivered to the high sheriff, who shall have summonsed each of them to
appear in Court October 30th, at 9:30 A. M. to serve at this Term in addition to those
who have answered to their names this morning.
Jurors for Criminal term of court beqinninp
Thomas W. Alley
A. C. Anderson
C. L. Austin
Frank Bryant
Harry Brown
Luter Bell
Floyd Burdette
Arthur C. Bennett
C. C. Bledson
Lennox Cooper
Raymond E. Corbett
J. H. Duff
Mrs. Louis O. Ellis
James Carl Farmer
Benjamin Y. Fussell
.lohnnie F. Hankins
Bruce H. Hinson
L. G. Jones
18 N. 25th St.
12 Woodlawn Ave.
201 Greenfield St.
1001 Rankin St.
909 Orange St.
3111 Adams St.
110 Gordon Rd.
P.O. Box 20l?.
Carolina lieach, N.C
105 Nyrtle Ave.
1015 Co. Club Rd.
1022 s. 8th
101 Central Blvd.
2220 Metts
P.o. Box 3 7
Carolina each,N.C.
3830 Halifax Rd.
905 S. 14th St.
P.O. sox 78
Wrightsville Beach
702 Castle St.
October 30, 1962
Chesley L. Johnson
Robert P. Karp
Paurice A. Kulp
Clayton L. King
Arthur B. Kaufman
Charles T. Leonard
George D. McFayden
Lawrence C. Odom
Odell Oldham
Emanuel J. Poulas
Robert Pennington
Herbert A. Salter
Charles R. Shepard
John C. 'rli l l iamson
Herman V. W. Winkle
George H. Woodville
Ellis C. Williams
J. E. Wilson
12 S. Lake Village'I
136 4layne Dr.
307 Midland Dr. '
105 Brookwood Ave.
RFD 1, Box 285
Castle Hayne, N.C..
2008 Market 5t.
406 S. 16th St.
2512 Van Buren St.i
Box 136 i
Carolina Beach
302 S. bth St.
713 Colweil Ave.
717 Ann St. I
2855 Carolina Beaci
214 Huntington Rd.!l
1909 Ann St. I
313 N. 16th st. I
2308 Wrightsv. Avel
612 S. 16th St. ?
,