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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-08-18 Regular Meetingr_ 292 Minutes of the Meeting August 11, 1958 Continued ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business being presented before the Board, Mr. Broad- hurst moved adjournment, seconded by Mr. Mayhan and unanimously adopted. - , , ? W. G. Houck, Executive Secretary Wilmington, N.C. August 18, 1958 t/A?" v ASSEMBLY The regvlar weekly meeting of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners was held this day in the Commissioner's Room of the Court House.at 9:30 A. M. PRESENT:. Chair.man J. M. Hall, Jr., Commissioners L. E. Broadhurst, Ernest R. Mayhan and Berry A. [qilliams, County Auditor T. D. Love and County Attorney John Bright Hill. Commiss- ioner James E. Holton, Jr. was not present since he had not yet returned to the city after attending the Convention of the National Association of County Officials. INVOCATION Chairman Hall called the meeting to order and asked Reverend J. Frank Davis, Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, to open the meeting with a prayer for guidance. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - Upon motion of Mr. Mayhan, seconded by Mr. Broadhurst, the minutes of the last regular meetittg, having previously been mailed to each of the Commissioners, were unanimously approved as written. SHERIFF'S AUTOr40BILE BIDS - Pursuant to instructions issued on July 21st for advertising and securing bids for 1958 cars for use in the Sheriff's Department, we received an answer from the Raney Chevrolet Company informing us that because of model chan$e overs and summer va- cations in the manufacturing plants they were shut down and, therefore, they would be unable to offer firm bids at this time. Cape Fear Motor Sa1es sabmitted bids on 1959 model cars for a net difference.of $3,000 on the three units on which there would be trade-ins and on the one unit purchased on a cash sale basis for $1899.00 excluding Federal Excise Tax, delivery to be made October 17, 1958. After considering that neither of the bids met the specifications advertized, Mr. Williams moved that the 6ids be returned to the dealers with a letter of explanation and that the Executive Secretary be instructed to immediately advertize for bids to be opened September 8; 1958 specifying 1959 models. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mayhan and unanimously adopted. . ? tNELFARE SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY - A letter was received from the New Hanover County Board of Public.Welfare •???'' explaining that as Mrs. Helen B. Sneeden had now been certified as a full Superinten- dent she was entitled.to an adjustment in her salary from $5280.00 to.$5520.00 effect- ive July 1, 1958. By common consent, the Board agreed to take care of this matter in adopting the Budget. CATTLE BARN ARENA• - Mr. Louis W. Latham, Chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the Chamber --+! of Commerce, was recognized by the,Chairman and explained that he had made a study of ?C other similar livestock bar.ns and found that experience proved that those with con- crete floors were kept so much cleaner and more sanitary so he suggested that the Board consider having the new arena cemented before the next cattle show to prevent an accumulation of pungent odors that would be abnoxious. He suggested that the engin- eering department of State College be requested to furnish specifications for the work. DRAINAGE - ? Miss Florence D. Grimes, 3511 Market St., was recognized by the Chairman and explained that for several years she had been troubled with neighbors allowing their drain off water to drain down on her property and she wanted the Board to take some action for relieving the nuisance. The Board instructed the Executive Secretary to investigate the matter and take whatever action was required within the County's responsibility. INDIGENT WELFARE CASE Mr. William P. Bass, who was sent to the County Home in January by the Depart- ---? _ ment of Public Welfare, came before the Board and explained that because of his age it was difficult for him to care for himself but that he was very much disatisfied at the ? County Home because it was, in his opinion, a prison camp instead of a home for elder- ly people and he requested that they provide him with a satisfactory room. The Chair- man explained that the County Home was the only place provided by the County for those .who needed care. He was again referred to the Department of Public Welfare and they were instructed to assist him in whatever way possible. • ATTENDANCE OFFICER - Mrs. Helen B. Sneeden, Superintendent of Public Welfare, appeared before the Board in behalf of the restitution of funds for the visiting teacher program in the ?Sr•'School Budget and stated that if there was no truant officer, the duties,,,and r,esponsi- bilities fell upon her department and that her.personnel was strained to keep'up their present duties and it would be a real burden to them if they did not restore the funds. A letter was received from the County Council of Parents and Teachers on this same sub- ject requesting the Commissioners to reconsider their previous action as it was invit- ing truancy that is always a forerunner of delinquency which would cause absenses and affect the State allocation of teachers. As the Board had already taken this step at their regular meeting last week, no further action was required. , 2 c , 93 Minutes of the Meeting August 18, 1958 Continued COUNTY HOME LAUNDRY - Mr. Herbert C. Rivenbark submitted a proposal for the purchase of a rebuilt washer at a price of $600.00 to replace the one at the County Home which is practically worn beyond repair and at the present time has the cylinder damaged beyond repair. He explained to the Executive Secretary that to the best of his knowledge to have the laun- 0,1-1c)ri•_2_ dry done at a private laundry, it would average approximately $100.00 per month besides the inconvenience as well as the numerous times which it is necessary to launder small washings because the old people were not able to control themselves and frequently soil- ed the bedclothes. Mr. Broadhurst informed the Board that he had made some inquiry with,reference to this subject and that in his opinion the purchase should be delayed at the present time because last week there were 304 pounds sent out at a five.cent rate amounting to about $15.00 and he would like to make a little further study of the problem and, therefore, requested the Board to postpone any action on the matter today. COUNTY HOME INSPECTION A letter was received from the State Inspector of Correctional •Institution reporting on his recent visit to the New Hanover County Home. He complimented the County on having made some improvements since his last inspection but.found that the male cell block needed painting and a few other things to bring it up to standard, and.the women's cell block still lacked individual storage space and their personal belongings were scattered about because of it. The white juvenile quarters were not in good condition, C-I„ window glass is out; screens rusted out; window weights and cords broken; and the build- p? ing badly needed a coat of paint. He suggested that since the telephone was removed, some method of inter,=communication should be devised for use in the event of an emergency. The grounds in general arourid the detention buildings needed clearing of rubbish and a suggestion was made that farm implements might be stored other than around the buildings. DRAGLINE - ? k ' • I The Ezecutive°Secretary reported that the Airport-Johnsonlproject`had been • completed and the dragline moved to a point near Castle Hayne which had'?beenl?agreed D upon sometime ago'and"that the nezt project scheduled was to be at Porte'r?'"sFNeck after which it would be movrd to the State Ports Authority job, then to thedrainage canal leading into Hewlett's Creek from Winter Park which should be cleaned out.• Mr. J. R. Simpson has now agreed that the Murrayville project should receive some consideration. The Executive Secretary also reported that the bucket on the dragline was worn very badly and that it had been patched before so that it was impossible to, do another patch job on it and that a new bucket would cost in the neighborhood of $1,000.,•The Chairman suggested that a letter be written to the Post Engineer at Fort Bragg requesting them to send copies of surplus properties on hand from time to time and that he thought we might pick up a good bucket from that source for a lot less money. OFFICE APPEARANCE - • eu.?' Mr. Mayhan called the Board's attention to the fresh paint job in their office as well as the new National and State Flags which were being displayed for the first time today. He remarked that they looked mighty good. • ? GARBAGE DISPOSAL - ` Pursuant to the action taken by the Board last week in ordering the County Trash Dump closed as of Saturday night, August 16th, many calls were received with refer- ' ence to this matter which was brought to the attention of the Board. Mr. Williams stat- ed that he was disappointed in returning to the County and learning of the order to close the garbage dump and thought they should work out some means of reopening it. Mr. Broadhurst said that the County disposal dump was far superier to the City durop. Mr. Hall suggested that it might be possible to have the dragline stop by and 'cui the prop- er trenches as it moved from one location to the other. After a brief discvssion, Mr. Broadhurst moved that unless improvement was made in the sanitary conditions in this County within the next thirty days, the Health Director, Dr. C. B. Davis be asked for his resignation. It was seconded by Mr. Mayhan and when the vote was called, Messrs. Broadhurst and Mayhan voted for the motion and Messrs. Hall and Williams voted against the motion. Mr. Williams then moved that the Chairman, individually, or with a committee, work out a possible solution for the reopening of the County Garbage Disposal Dump on a basis that would meet the sanitary requirements of the Health Department and report back to the Board-as soon as practical. ''' RECORDER'S COURT - Mr. Williams stated that he was not present when the minutes of.the meeting of August 4th were approved and that.he would like to make a correction in the para- graph headed "Recorder's Court" and moved that the Solicitor not be recorded•as having requested air conditioning in the Court Room but only that something should,be done to abate the noise and made,a request that obscene words written on the wall be removed and that the Board not be quoted as taking no action in the matter but instructed the Execu- tive Secretary to take whatever action was necessary to correct the situation so long as it was within the Budget appropriation. Mr. Mayhan seconded this motion and it was unan- imously approved. ' ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR - r _ It was hrought to the•attention of the Board that the Electrical Inspector f?r.o?v was not furnishing the Tax Assessor a list of the new or improved properties in which he makes electrical inspection and that this should be done in order that all new improve- ments and cont.truction might be put on record and properly assessed for taxes. The Executive Secretary was instructed to contact Mr. Everett and request that these reports be made on a weekly basis to Mr. McGirt with a copy to the Board. BELLEVUE CEMETERY - • ?? Mayor J. E: L. Wade of the City of Wilmington was recognized by the Chairman C and stated that he came in to inquire about the assistance in using prison labor at Bellevue Cemetery but•since had been informed hy the Executive Secretary that the shrub- bing had been done and that he had enjoyed and learned a lot during his observance of the working of the Board this morning. -A r,? ; ?,r Minutes of the Meeting August 18, 1958 Continued SCHOOL BOOKS - Mr. Williams observed that in studying the individual items in the School Budget it led him to the conclusion, after investi$ation, that clinkers from the fur- naces and other materials could be used to keep the school driveways safely open and affered a motion which was seconded by Mr. Mayhan that $2,000 be shifted from Capital Outlay portion of the School Budget to the Book Fund, thereby making the total School Book Fund $19,500. This motion was unanimously adopted. BUDGET AND TAX RATE - • Mr. Charlton A. Pope, President of the New Hanover County Taxpayer's Assoc- --- iation, was recognized by the Chairman and observed that since this was the last day the Budget Appropriation could be challenged and for settirig the Fiscal Year 1958-59 Tax Rate., he would like to present the following facts to the Board:: 1. The Commissioners individually and collectively do not know the total assessed valuation of all property in the County as of July 1, 1958. Last year's assessed valuation was $123,377,593.00. This year's total assessed valuation has not yet heen determined according to Auditor Love but he says that it will exceed $14090009000.00. 2. Tax rate for year 1957-58 of $1.20 was based on an assessed proper.ty valuation of $110,OQO9OOO or 89°r6 of last year's assess,ed valuation of $123,377,593. This percentage of 8996 used althou$h the records of the Auditor's office show that in each of the last two years the tax coll.ector collected 93q6 of the taxes he was due to collect. ' , 3. If assessed valuation of property listed for taxes in year 1958-59 totals $140,000,000.00 a taac rate of $1.15 if fixed by the Commissioners on 90$6 of this amount would yield $1,449.000:00 in taxes. This should take care of an increase of $129,000.00 over last year's budget of $1,320,000.00, 4.. Included in last year's budget of $3,795,446.71 was the sum of $2,475,446.71to be received from State and Federal governments, leaving $1,320,000.00 to be collected in taxes by New Hanover County. 5. 1958-59 Budget now considered for adoption amounts to $5,414,717.29. Eliminating from this amount the entire amount of school bonds, viz., $1,550,000.00, no part of which will be retired in year 1958-59, we have left $3,864,717.29. If we eliminate further the amount the County received from State and Federal governments last year of $2,475,446.71, we have the sum of $1,389,270.58 an taxes to be collected by the County in year 1958-59. This amount can well be taken care of by a rate of $1.15 which will produce $1,449,000.00, leaving an excess of $59,729A2. 6. There is considerable doubt as to whether or not 1Vew Hanover County has the legal right to maintain and operate Community Hospital for Pay, Part-Pay and Indi- gent Patients. Under 1937 Public Law, New Hanover County was authorized to pay for the treatment of its' indigent citizens at Community Hospital. Article 2A Paragraph 131-28.5 of the Consolidated Statutes states that a tax to maintain a hospital operated by a County requires a vote of the people. This matter has heen called to the atten- tion of the Attorney General for the State of North Carolina. /S/ Charlton A. Pope President, New Hanover County Tax- payers Association .Mr.,Fred Willetts, Sr. was recognized by the Chairman and statedithat he was interested in the Tax Rate and felt like the Commissioners had worked hard and given much thaught and consideration to this year's Budget Appropriations and he was very much interested in the remarks made by D1r. Pope and wauld like to lend his approv- al. Mr. N. L. Foy appeared before the Board and urged that they keep the Tax Rate down in view of the fact that the Equalization and Revaluation had caused an auto- matic 25% increase in taxes. The Chairman observed that the Equalization and Revalua- tion program was not intended to raise the additional revenue but.to shift the tax bur- den to a more equitable basis.`-' He then reminded_the Board members that they had heard the recommendations of County Auditor Love and those proposed by+Mr. Pope and now would like to hear the will of the Board. After a free discussion by the memmers of the Board, Mr. Broadhurst moved that the Tax Rate for the 1958-59 Budget he set at $1.15 and adjust the Budget accordingly. It was seconded by Mr. Mayhan. Before the vote was called, Mr. Williams offered a su6stitute motion that the Budget be adopted as amend- ed this morning and tYcat the proper Resolution be drawn by the County Attorney and the County Auditor. APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION - Upon motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Mayhan, the following Resolu- tion was unanimously adopted: . BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners in regular meeting assembled adopt and aEprove a Budget for the Year 1958-59 as follows: General Fund 559,496.78 Agriculture & Ecogomics 19,668.00 Aid to Blind 13;934.38 Aid to Dependent Children 504,000.00 Aid to Permanently & Totally Disabled 282,150.00 01'd Age Assistance 434,698.00 County Home , 92,151.00 -Hospitalization 384,435.00 1Velfare 120,182.50 Health 123,438.93 ? L, Minutes of the Meeting August 18, 1958 Continued APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION - (Continued) School Bonds 2189465.00 " Books 199500.00 " Building 199840.00 " Bond Building 195509000.00 " Capital Outlay 379250.00 " Lunchroom Program 509000.00 " Pension 369944.84 " Regular 4311080.00 • " Supplement 411,967.19 " Veterans Program 11,243.55 " Driver Education 205000.00 " Wilmington College 711348.27 Workmen's Compensation 29923.46 ,. Total a r 514149717.29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED. that no changes be made in the detailed Budget without prior consultation and approval before incurring any obligation,against the Budget and that the School Budget be adopted with the proviso that no salary increases are allowed ex- cept those hrought about by their regular adopted procedures covered by the changes in certificates, changes in position and length of service, except Janitor Salary adjust- ments allowed within the Budget. TAX RATE - , • Mr. Broadhurst then moved that the tax be set at $1.15 and that Anticipated T6? Revenue on the Airport be increaed by $3,000 and that the Anticipated Tax Collection percentage for the Fiscal Year 1958-59 be 93% based on a total valuation of $140,000,000. This motion was seconded by Mr. Mayhan and it was unanimously adopted. BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners in regular meeting assembled adopt a Tax Rate of $1.15 per 100 valuation to be levied on all taxable pro- perty in the County for the Year 1958-59 which shall be levied as follows for each.Fund. General Fund a1885 Agriculture & Economics .0115 Aid to the Blind .0073 Aid to Dependent Children .0397 Aid to Permanently & Totally Disabled .0231 Old Age Assistance .0397 County Home .0389 . Hospitalization ,0469,, Welfare .0394 Health . , .0810 Bchool Bonds. .1385 ", Books .0104 " Building " Bond Builcling " Capital Outlay .0271 " Lunchroom Program " Pension .0156 " Regular ` .2039 " Supplement .1891 " Veterans Program - " Driver Education - " SVilmington College .0474 Workmen's Compensation Total 1.15 This Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Mayhan and unanimously adopted with the re- marks by Mr. Williams that he feels that the recommendation of the auditor is more near- ly correct and that the anticipated revenues were being over estimated. ,. _ ADJOURNMENT - There being no further bvsiness to be presented before the Board, Mr. Broad- hurst moved adjournment, seconded by Mr. Mayhan and unanimously adopted. r.. . ? , t i --? • ? ? . uck, Executive Secretary 'A