1956-01-17 Regular MeetingFr; H
? Wilmington, N. C., January 16, 1956. i
?" This being the date for the regular weekly meeting of_the Board, no quorum appeared and a
recess zaas taken until 10:00 o'clock A.Pi., Tuesday, January 17, 1956.
Sdilmi.nbton, N. C., January 17, 1956.
Pursuant to recess taken Pionday, January 16, 1956, the Board met at 10:00 o'clock A.A1..
Present: R. T. Horton, Chairman and Commissioners Raiford Trask, Ernest R. Mayhan, L. E.
Broadhurst, Colonel John Bright Hill, County Attorney and T. D. Love, County Auditor,
The meeting was opened with prayer by the Reverend Charles E. 13ernhardt, Pastor of St.
Matthews Lutheran Church.
Copies of the minutes of the meeting of January 9, 1956, having previously Ueen mailed to
each member of the Board the same were upon motion of PIr. Mayhan, seconded by Tir. Broadhurst,
,agproved.
Upon motion of Pir. Broadhiu^st, seconded by Pir. Mayhan, permission iaas given Mr. Jim Wottuuack,
/ 1000 North Elam Avenue, Greensboro, N. C., to exhibit a display of fireworlcs in Nece Flanover
? County in coiznection with and during the Annual Azalea Festival Week 1956, under the super-
vision of experts and in accordance isith Chapter 210 of the Session Laws of North Carolina,
1947. The Coi-tunissioners reserving the right to issue a pei°mit in the name of another per-
son in the event D4r. IJoimnack canuot Pulfill the engagement or for any reason shou7.d fail to
stage tlze eahibition as indicated above.
/ A letter was received Prom Dr. Elleiz tJinston, Camnissioner, State Board of Public ?delfare ex-
P4nteiicling a cordial and urbent invitation to the members of the ]3oard to attend a State-wide
t?-9eeting on Public Cdelfare for County ???elfare 13oard members and County Commissioners on Friday,
? ? 1+'ebruary 24, 1956, at the Sir tdalter I3ote1. Inpoi^tant Legislative matters will be discussed.
? The Chairnan said he ?aill attend the rieeting with Air. Hollis. Othei^ members of the Board who
may find it conveilient to atteiid were requested to aclvise so ieservatioils could be made.
/4(?he C1lairman reported receipt of $200.00 from the Citizens of Harbor Island last week which
brings the amount received up to $1,705.00 as of January 14, 1956 for their Disaster llrainage
Repair Project. Additional pipe lines will have to be iun to catciz-Uasins, and it is hoped
to complete the project around the middle of February.
? Upon motion of Mr. Broacihurst, seconded by A1r. 'Mayhan, the following resolution was adopted
in lieu of a similar resolution adopted at meeting of October 31, 1955, accowit of chailge of
the Building and Loan Association designated to handle the loan:
? SJHI+9AEAS, the County of ATew Hanover is the holclei^ oP record of an Old Age Assist-
? ance lien against Nfaggie Caine Sheridan filed in lien i3ook 2, at Page 287-1 in the Office of
? the Clerlc of Superior Court of' said County, and.,
IdHEREAS, the property owned by the said lienor is in need of i7ecessax^y repairs and-
the Cooperative Savings and Loan Association of T4ilmington, North Carolii7a, has made a loun
to said lienor, subjeci; to the said Old Age Assistaizce lien beiilg subordiizated to the lien
of the said Savings and Loan Associatinn, a,nd
SdHEItE'AS, it is deemed to the best interest of the County that said loan be made/to
enable the lienor to make the necessary repairs to said property, ai7d that tlze County lien
for Old Age Assistance should be suhordinated and made'inPerior to the lien of the deed of
trust to K. 0. Burgwin, Trustee for said Associati¢n.
NOTd, THEFtE,FORE BE IT 1tESOLVED;
1. That it is trie Uest interest of Netallauover County that the repairs be made
to tlze property of the said lienor located in Block 54, southwest quarter of
Lot #2, house 807 South lOth Street, idilmington, N. C.
2. That the lien of New Hailover County, recorded in lien Book 2, Page 287-1
against Magoie Caine Sheridan, is hereby subordinated to, and made inf'erior
to the lien of that certain deed of trust executed by Afaggie Caine Sheridan
to K. 0. Burgcain, Trustee for the Cooperative Savings and Loan Association ,
in the amount of $900.00, and duly recorded in the Office of the Register of
lleeds of Neia Haizover County on the day of 1956, and fur-
ther tliat the Chaii^maai of th.is Boara be ana he is hereby authorized atid direct-
ed to enter the subordination of said lien on the docket in the Office of the
? Superior Court of \Tew Hanover County.
I? The folloiaing resolution regarding the Seagate Volunteer 13.re Depaitiuent of New Hanover Coun-
V ty, N. C., as presented by Mr. Ed B. Idright, a memUer of the nTew Iianover Pire Inspection Com-
? mittee and approved by the said Committee, was upon motion of ALr. Braadhurst, secoildecl by Mr.
Piayhan, adopted:
"Be it hereby resolved that the New Hanover County I3oai°d of Commissioners desig-
nate the foilowing defined District, in order that this clistrict may comply with
the Uulletin issued by the North Cai°olina Insurance Ratiiig Bureau on "Community
T?'i.re Defenses For Conununities not having a Standard Cdater Tdorks System", (FeUruary
1952), to receive credit approved by the North Carolina P'i.re Insurance Hating Bur-
eau under Lhe Provisions of the above bulletin.
Be it understood and.agreed that this resolution in no way or manner voids, alters
or supersedes any of the conditiojis that now exist by written contract between New
Hanover County and the respective Fire Departments.
Description of FYre llistrict:
SEAGATE FZi-tE llEP1g{TA1ENT
Beginnirig at the mouth of Hewlett's Creelt thence to a point where Greenville Loop
Road crosses branch of Hecalett's Creek, thence northerly to intersection of FIata-
thorne Drive and Uleailder Drive continuing in a northerly direction along Aaw-
thorne Drive and beyond to a point on U.S. 74- 9/10 of a nu7.e west of intereection
of U.S. 74 and SJrightsville Beach cut-off road thence eastwurdly to (drigh7;sville
Beach cut-oFf road, thence north-eastward to a point at Tnland Waterway one (1)
mile north of Tdrightsville draw-Uridge, Lhence in a southerly direction along In-._
land C,iatercaay to point of beginning.
, 1 ?
Akeeting of Januat°.y 17, 1956 - Continued
Resolution - Seagate Volunteer Fire Uepari;ment - Continued
"Be it hereUy resolved in order to prevent the aUove dePined Fire District to
be denied of Fire Protection by having all of i.ts units servicing.a fire beyond
its designated area, we hereUy submit this plan of cooidination bettaeen the var-
ious Volunteer N'ii^e Departments of the County.
If the Seagate Volunteer Fire llepartment is called beyond its designated area
with all oP its units the Winter Park and Ogden Volunteer Pire Departments be
alerted to serve in event of a fii^e in the Seagate area.
Reso].ved also that the Seagate Volunteer b'zre Depa.rtment have more than one unit,
shoulcl make a valid effort to keep one of theii^ units at all'times for px^oteetion
of their respective area inasmuch as it is practical.
Resolved fiirther that nothiiig in the foregoing resolutions shall in any wise re-
striet the servicing of any portion of New Hanover CounLy Uy the Seagate Units
wheiz the occasion creates such a demai7d."
'lhe Chairroan reported information reeeived that demolition of the Ethyl-Doia Plant will begin
within the.next week or two and wil.l take approximately nine (9) months to compl.ete the worli
preparatory to turnin; the property over to the Government to Ue included in the Safety Zotie
in connection witn the Sunny Point Ammunition Terminal. The Cowity could secure the con-
crete and other denolished materials cahich could be used to good advantab in Beach erosion
work. /???
The Chairman also reported application forms on hand Por small business firms aild farmers in
the hurricane disaster areas for malting application for Govermnent Surplus Eaui.pment, who were
unable to get their applicatioils in when the Civil Defense Represeiltative was here jdednesday,
January 11, but further advised that u representative of the State Civil Defense will Ue here
again.at a later date.to help fi.u°ther iaith applicatiotis.
?
The Chairman said this wi.ll be a most strenuous weelz c.*ith the Presbyterian College Site Locat-
ing Coimnittee meeting here, and so forth. /
With reference to the Atlantic Coast Line ailnouncement of Decemher 15, 19550 that they woul.d
move their General offices from this Commtuiity, the Ch2irmtin presented a copy of a letter he
and Mayor Dan D. Carieron Garote r7r. Siizclair WeeLs, Secretary oP the Unitecl States llepartment
of Co;nmerce, Sdashington, D. C., concerning that Industi^y, if removed,saould be Lhe loss of the
largest single payroll of our Corvnuni.ty, and it being the unclerstanding Lhat substantial Com-
mLUiity Assistance is avail.able thru the United States Department of Cornnerce under certain con-
ditions which invo•lve, among other ttzi.ngs, a surplus of labor and econonic disturbances, such
as that anticipated from the loss of our largest payroll. Requested that a representative of
the Area Developmeiit and Technical Services Offices make a survey and appraise our situati az,
with a view of advising us just tahat action can best be taleen and what Pederal programs are
available to ussist us. _
The Chairhfan also renorted receipt of final check in the amount of $4,620.09 for sand dune
caork in the unincorporated disaster Beach areas north of Carolina Beach and South of Fort
nsher. ,
A copy of a resolution adopted by the City Council of Carpliiza 73each iaas received and read
hy the Cnairman together with a letter fY•om Pir. J. Boyd Jones, City Manager, concerning ser-
ious Beach erosion caused Uy liurricanes to suclz arie xtent that noca the entire Beach front area
is in danger of being destroyed anii asked our assistance in calling upon the Congress of the
United States to appropriate funds witYi tahich to erect and maii2tain sea,walls and jetties for
the protection of the Beach abainst further disaster.. Stating flzrthei that the Town itself
iaould wldertake a boiid issue to pay for this pi^oposed project, but at the'present the Town
has reached its legal limit of bonded indebtedness.
Addison I3ewlett, Jr., Attorney Por the Town of Caroliila Beach speaking for the delegation of
Town OfPicials;Mayor J. FYanlz Collier, J. Boyd Jones, Cit.y Maalager and others who were pres-
ent,_made an urgent request for aid from the County tocaard the construction of approximately
thirty (30) jetties iahich iaould cost about $160,000,00. Their Pederal Disaster money has
run out, wiclerstood moi°e has been allotted, but nothing has been done toward pei^manent work
so badly needed, and asked for help for things of pressing need now. Due to i:he serious con-
ditioti of the Beach front, protection is urgentl.y neeaed and can't wait to see tahat the C'on-
gress will do. "The situation is critical," he said.
Tlayor Collier said they would have a meeting of citizens Sdednesday night anct wanted to tell
them what we would do. DSr. Trask suggested that we appropriate $10,000.00 to help them fi-
nance their jett"y, work if we can find the moneg available, and to come back in two (2) weeks
or more to see what cae can do, iahich was agreeable to Lhe Board.
In answer to a question and suggestion by the Chairman that if we can't find the money, ean
use s vaged mater•ials to checlc the erosion. Mr, flewlett said that was anticipated.
Mr.Io?rton told the Board tlzat as a res+,tilt of the ePfort put forth by the Presbyterian Colloge
Committee, finest information was gleaned about New Hanover County, caill be a most valuable,as-
set for our future use. rieeting heid yesterday was the most important group meeting ever held
in our County. LJas much impressed with the attitude the visiting Cor.nnittee receive our pres-
entation of the bid for the College, and no one can surpass the sites we hacl to off.er:
Pir. Horton then distributed subscrintion carcls for contributioiis contingent upon the Presby-
i;erian College locating here, and asked permission to distribute them to all the County employ-
es, which caas agreeable to the3oard.
?.
The Chairman announce? rece.)t of $42.68 from F. E. Livingston & Com?aai?y, Agents, account of
wind storm dauiage'to Airport, Community Hospital and Cape Fear Armory progerty of September
? 191 1955, and also announced that Governor Luther H. Hociges will be the guest speaker at the
SENCBA 9th Annual Banquet at Cape F'ear Iiotel 6:30 P.P1., January 28th.
Five (5) cop f-e??of the Airport Lease Agreement between tihe County and ATational Airlines for a
. term beginning on the first day of October, 1955, and Lerminating on the 30 day of September,
1960, the same having been executed by the Na.tional Airlitles in the ori ginal form suUmitted,
was approved, and the Chairman was authorized and directed to sign the sarne in the name of the
County.
Upon motion of fr. Trask, seconded by h4r. D4ayhan, Lhe Chairman was authorized to use $400.00 to
be appropriated out of the Cowity Honie Store profit receipts for the purchase of $200.00 cloth-
ing each, needed for the County Rou:e and Prison Department.
35 ,
'A
, 3
V Meeting of January 17, 1956 - Continued / '
19 ,
?
rlonthly reports for llecember caere received fY?om: Tdilmingison Colo red Library; Couilt v
rm
Demonst ration Agent; Housing Authority of the Ci ty of Wilmington; James Wallcer Hospital;
? SENCI3A; County b'arm Prison W orli; and State Board of Publ?,c Welfare
0G Census Report for Novem-
ber and llecember: ?
November ? December
County Home Inmates present lst day of moiith 58 63
" " " " end of month 63 67
Prisoners serving on lst day of month 72 73
" remaining on last day of month 73 67
Juveniles present on lst day of month 2 3
" remaining on last day of month 3 6
. /
Airport report for December showing: Receipts $19,321.70 and DisUursements $18,429.67; Air-
port Cash lteceipts for January 5, $1,093.17; January 11, 11 f914.95 and January 16, $1,404.05.
John C. Sdessell Tuberculosis Sanatorium Census Report for week ending January 13th:
White patients 8 Nonresidents 0
Negro " 14 Vacant beds 10 =llhite male 5; Fbmale 3; Colored male 1; I'emale 1.
? Discharged 0
Admitted 0
Notice of intei7t to apply to the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control ]3oard for a permit
to sell beer at location 19 South 2nd Street, iaas received Prom A. A. Willetts and referred to
the SheriPf.
The Chairman raised the question of apparent duplication in the County Auditor's bonds which
was discussed at length, and it was agreed, upon motion of Mr. 1rask, seconded by.Mr. Broadhurst,
to cancel two (2) $5,000.00 Bonds and continue the $50,000,00 Cowity Auditor's Bond, or rearrange
the same to cover all tt7e requirements of the Lata.
TJpon motion of Mr. Maqhan, seconded by Mr. Broadtiurst, County bills ATO. 771 to 894 were approved
for payment.
The meeting then adjourned.
? Clerk.
? [dilmington, N. C., January 23, 1956.
The regular weekly meeting of the Board was held this day at 10:00 o'clock A.M.
Present: Raiford Trask, Vice Chairman presiding: and Commissioners J. M. Hall, Sr., Ernest
R. Niayhan, L. E. Broadhurst, Colonel John Briglzt Hill, County Attorney and T. D. Love, County
Auditor. •
The meeting iaas opened iaith prayer by the Clerlc.
Copies of the minutes of ineetiilg of January 17, 1956, having previously been mailed to each'
member of the Board, tlie same were upun motion of Mr. Playhan, approved.
A delegation of forty (40) or more persons appeared to oppose the action taken by the County
? Commissioners to close the John C. Wessell Tubereulosis Sanatoriwn, which they said wou].d mean
the transferring of the patients and the sending of flxture patients to the State Sanatorium,
away and Prom among their relatives ana friends.
Reverend J. P. C. Johnson, Pastor of 4th Street CYu°istian Advent Chm°ch, the first to speak op-
posing the closing of the Hosnital, said,"the patients there thought the issue had been settled
for this fiscal year and the question would then be submitted to a vote of the people. The
patieizts were upset over the action to close the Fiospital now.° He felt it would have been
better if the action had been delayed foi° three(3) months, that it was a moral obligatinn of
the Commissioners to continue it to the end of the fiscal year.
Rabbi FftecLnan urged continuation of the 13ospital where the patients are surrounded by love and
care - best cure for tuUerculosis, love, care and affection, and. urged that we have compassion
upon them.
Mr. W. C. Smith opposed the doing away with an organization for suffering humanity. There is
plenty of money here to suppoit it, aild should be kept open as a memorial to Dr. John C. «essell.
Mr. J. F. Hart was coilcernecl a bout the future disposition and care of the patients, but said he
was saLisfied when he caas assured by Mr. Iiall that the Cowity has been assui°ed the State 5ana-
torium will accept and care for all our patients almost instantaneously.
In answer to a question as to cahat would b ecome of the 5¢ tax levy for the maintenance of the
13ospital, Mr. Hall advised that caoul.d be ref'lected in the tax rate.
Pir. Mayhan conunentiiig on the August 4 action of the Board's appropriation of $30,000.00 for the
operation of the Hospital, which amount will soon be exhausted, said," If the Commissioners
want to keep it open we could get tYie money as we have done in other cases."
Based on pi°evious legal opinions, Mr. Broadhurst did not Peel that we have the legal authority
to submit the issue to the vote oP the people without further Legislative authority.
It was the consensus of the majority of the Board, that after months of carePul study and in=
vestigation of State Sanatorium facilities, and assured that ample accomrnoclations and facil-
ities are available to give best treatmeiZt foi^ tuberculosis patzents at the State Sanatorium,
which was not the case when our T. B. Hospital was first put in opei°ation, and feeling that
our local I-Iospital has served its purpose, and in view of eaiiausted funds and a steady decline
in the nwnber of patients in our 5anatoriiun, it caould be to the best interest 6f al.l concern-
ed to accept the offer of the State Sanatoriwn, and close our liospital as a moral and humane oUligatioji, as well as to eliminate a duplicate cost for care and treatment.
The hearing was then concluded ancl no for,mal action was taken by the Board.
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