1959-01-12 Regular Meetingz
Minutes of the Meeting January s, 1959 Continued
SIGNATIIRE AUTHORIZATION -
Pursuant to the action taken by the Board•at a Joint Session with the Wilming- ?
ton'?_ City Council on December 19th awarding'a contract for the construction of a 12" '
water main to the City limits to the new Lace Plant, County Attorney John Bright'Hill ?
presented the contract £or confirmation and signature. Upon motion of Mr. Braak, Chair-
man J. E. Holton, Jr. was unanimously authorized to execute the contract for the County.
SCHOOL APPROPRIATION -
A request was received from the Board of Education for the appropriation of
$3,290.60 representing an additional claim balance £or demage to school buildings by
Hurricane Helene. The County Auditor, Nir. T. D. Love, confirmed the fact that he had
received such a voucher for that amount. Mr. Braak, thereupon, offered a motion that
$3,290.60 be appropriated from IInant3cipated Funds to the Regular School Budget - Main-
tenance of Plant (Buildings and Grounds - Materials). The motion was seconded by Mr.
Williams and unanimously approved.
FARM AND HOME ORGANIZATION
Mr. Williams reminded the Board that on December 29th a tentative plan was
suggested for fixing the responsibility for the efficient operation of the County Farm !
and Home activities and offered a motion to confirm that agreement naming H. C. Riven- ,cv-,-?^ -?
bark, Home and Livestock Superintendent; Luther D. Mintz, Farm and Production Supe'r- visor; Dave W. Rivenbark, Drainage Supervisor; and Mr. Rhoda Farrow, Cemetery, 'Parks,
and General Repair Supervisor, and direct a letter to all departments of the County in-
forming them that W. G. Houck is now the Executive Secrotary for the Board of Commiss-
ioners and responsible for the general supervision and coordination of the several de-
partments of the County. This motion was seconded by Mr. Braak, and unanimously adopt-
ed.
PARKING REGULATIONS -
As instructed at a previous
the Board that he was ready to present
the control of parking around the Cour
was put off until next Monday when all
Secretary was instructed to include it
REPORTS -
meeting, the Executive Secretary again informed
a suggested list of Rules and Regulations for
t House property. By common consent, the decision
Board members will be present. The Executive
on the Agenda for Monday, January 12th.
The following reports were reviewed and ordered filed for future reference. '
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1- Monthly and semi-annual report of the Wilmington Colored Library
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2- Veteranst Service Office report,
ADJOURNMENT - • Upon motion of Mr. Braak, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board unanimously
adJourned.
eo• /
/W ck; Executive Secretary
Wilmington, N. C. January 12,1959
ASSEMBLY - '
The regular weekly meeting of the New Hanover County Board of Coirmiissioners
was held this day in the Commissionerst Room of the Court House at 9:30 A. M. PRESENT:
Vice Chairman Peter H. Braak, Commissioners L. E. Broadhurst, J. M. Ha11, Jr., and
Berry A. Williams; County Auditor T. D. Love and County Attorney John Bright Hill.
Chairman J. E. Holton, Jr. was unable to attend the meeting.
INVOCATION - '
The Vice Chairman, Peter H. Braak, called the meeting to order and asked Reverend
M. C. Dunn, Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church, to open the meeting with prayer.
APPROVAL OF THE MlivuxnS -
' The Executive Secretary explained that he had misunderstood Mr. 4Jilliems'
statement recordQd in the Paragraph headed "Old Age AssistanoeLien" last week in that
the Masonboro Baptist Church did not actually have a signed option for $3,000 and in-
sert immediately after the words "for the reason that the" owners had implied a will-
ingnass to sell it to the Masonboro Baptist Church for, and Mr. Broadhurst requested'
a change in the Farm and Home Organization Paragraph from "Executive Officer" to ".Execu-
tive Secretary". After these corrections, Mr. Williams offered•a motion that the min=
?-, utes be approoed as corrected, seconded by Mr. Hall, and when the vote was taken, Mr.
Broadhurst voted "NO" explaining that he did not agree with the'action taken in last
t weekts meeting. The Chairman ruled the minutes £ormally approved.
/ PROPERTY REVALUATION COMPLAINT -
Mr. A. C. fierring, a property owner at 1516 South 5th Street complained to
the Board that the assessed valuation of his property had jumped £rom $2250.00 to
-$3800,00 and that he requested some ad3ustment as his house was a part of a unit he
' had purchased from the Maffitt Village properties and moved to the present location,
one-half of which had been remodeled. He said that he had checked ad3acent properties
and found that his properties were valued above like properties in the neighborhood
and that he was paying more tax than similar holdings. The Tax Supervisor in£ormed
the Board that he had requested the Tax Aasessor to•make an inspection of the proper-
ty and he, too, felt that it was over-rated. 7.'he County Attorney explained that under
the present law no change could be made in the assessment until the Board again sat
as a Board of Equalization and Review which will be on March 16, 1959. Mr. Herring
explained that he would have appeared before them last spring but that he was in the
hospital at the time. He was advised to file his request for re-assessment, so the
matter could be handled at the next sitting of the Board for that purpose, beginning
March 16, 1959•
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Minutes of the Meeting January 12, 1959 Continued
DRAINAGE COMMITTEE REPORT -
? As scheduled at last week's meeting, the Drainage Committee's report was pre-
?,?,v-?-? ?- sented for approval and discussion. Mr. Broadhurst offered a motion that the report
be approved with the following amendments; Under Item 3 of the General Discussion, to
authorize the County Attorney to draw suitable legislation declaring it a misdemeanor
for a person to block a public ditch without providing a suitable alternate and to de-
termine the fine therefor; The County to determine whether the alternate is suitable.
IInder Item !}, the original motion establishing the Drainage Coimnittee authorized the
cleaning out of main ditches and canals on a systemat3c basis and Mr. Dave Rivenbark
has been following this policy. IInder Item 5, the Health Department has agreed to .
m a ke'_ the bulldozer owned by them available for clearing the rights-of-way when re-
quired. Mr. Williams seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved,
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SENCBA -
^ Mrs. Alice Strickland, Executive Secretary of SENCBA, presented each member
of the Board with a 1959 Tide Tables and Calendar. She informed the Board that the
Fort Fisher development was getting under way and reminded them that last year Fort
Macon drew more tourists than any other point in the State and she saw no reason why
Fort Fisher would not develop into as great attraction for our area. She,was very com-
plimentary o£ the assistance rendered by Board member Williams as one of their Direct-
ors and he informed the Board that the Annual Meeting o£ SENCBA would be held at South-
port on January 31st at which a dinner would be served on a Dutch basis. .
CSC AIIDIT -
? The reviewing and approval of the Audit Report as scheduled from last week
was discuesed and the Executive Secretary instructed to contact the Clerk of Superior
_.f Court to ascertain a detailed description of the coimnissions paid to the Sheriff in
cash and receipted for on the Judgement Docket as mentioned in the Audit on Page 21
Item 2, also to determine if the recomunendation of the Auditor for depositing all cash
received in a banking account opened for that purpose and dispersed by check would be
objectionable to his office operation. He also was asked to arrange for the Clerk of
Superior Court to appear before the Board next Monday, January 19th for any comment he
cared to make. -
COUNTY FISCAL YEAR AIIDIT
Pursuant to the tabled motion made by Mr. Williams on December 22nd for
naming that portion of NC 132 between IIS 117 at Castle Hayne to the intersection of
IIS 421 at Myrtle Grove Junction "College Road", the Board, hy common consent unani-
mously approved the action provided there was no duplication of names.
STREET NAMING COPO'IITTEE -
Sy common consent, the Board instructed the Executive Secretary to direct
_.r. a letter to the Chairman of the Street Naming Cormnittee, Mr, Charles T. Burke, and re-
quest an u
to date re
ort on the actinities of that Committee
p
p
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OGDEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL - '
Mr. Williams informed the Board that the citizens of Ogden Coirununity had
approached him with the requeat that a traf£ic light be installed at the intersection.
This is particularly important for the safety of school traffic which will considerably
increase when the proposed Junior High School is complete. By common consent, the
Executive Secretary was Snstructed to contact the State Highway Patrol and requeat a
traffic surveq to determine if such a light met the minimum traffic count and would
serve to reduce traffic hazard and promote the safety control.
TRASH DUMP - '
A letter was received from Airport Manager John A. Westbrook attaching a
letter from the Chief, Combined Station Totaer, a Faderal Aviation Agency complaining
? that the smoke by burning refuse at the Trash Dump was an aviation hazard in that
smoke combined with the fog at times lowered the ceiling which rendered visibility
below safe operating minimums and that the garbage attracted seagizlls which also could
cause serious injury to pilot and passengers. ' They recommended the removal of the
present trash dump and that it be relocated at a point that would not interfere with
._l the maximum use of the Airport. After a discussion by Board members, Mr. Williams
offered a motion that an area be designated for burning the trees and trash which were
not feaeible to bury and that the F..xecutive Secretarg was instructed to see that a
trenching method be used, which would build the land up, and be charged with keeping
a check on the operation to see that it meets the minimum requirements of the Board of
Health. This motion wae seconded by Mr. Hall and when the vote wae taken, Mr. Broad-
hurst voted "NO" but the Chairman ruled the motion adopted.
DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES -
Mr. Foster Edwards, Clexkof Superior Court, requested the Board to designate depositories
?• ? for funds in his keeping and requested that only those institutions being in•ured by
the FDIC be named. Mr. Williams offered the motion that all of the Banks and Saving
and Loan Companies covered by FDIC be named and designated as depositories. This mo-
tion was seconded by Mr. Hall and unanimously adopted.
APPROPRIATION - `
The Executive Secretary reported to the Board that the work on the Court
House steepZe had been completed and that because of that expenditure and the wDrk
authorized September 8, 1958 for the Court House Annex, the Building Maintenance and
? Repair Building Account was exhausted and that tha County Auditor suggested that it
would probabl9 take $3500 to finish out the Fiscal Year. An invoice for $86.25 was
reeeived from M. H. Lander for engineering services in connection with the.survey and
layout for the Tidewater Natural Gas Company sale on the old sanitorium sit-a. Mr.
Williams then offered a motion that $3500 be appropriated to the Building Maintenance
and Repair Building Account and $86.25 to County Aid - Surveying from the Emergency
Fund. Nir. Hall seconded the motion and it was unanimously adoptad.
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Minutes of the Meeting
January 12, 1959 Continued
..l.? RESOLUTION - pa?
A Resolution was received and read from the Consolidated Board of Health
commending Dr. John C. Wessell for his long and unselfish efforts for the.improvement
of the Countg Health Department and regret £or his resignation. Mr. Williams observed
that in hie opinion two men with long periods oP unselfish servico,to New Hanover County
had recently rosigned and that he thought a letter should be written from the Board in
recognition of their sernices and offered a motion that the Ececutive Secretary be in- ,
structed to write a letter to Dr. John T. Hoggard who recently resigned from the Board
of Education and to Dr, J. C. Wessoll who recontly resigned from the Board of Health.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Hall and unanimously adopted.
PETITION FOR RELIEF -
• Mrs. Helen B. Sneeden, Superintendent of Public.Welfare, requested that Dave
Cowan be allowed to go to the County Home because he was unable to care for himself,
however, it is falt that he ie eligible £or Social Security and the Welfare Department
will follow through on the application to the Social Security Board and wi11 make pro-
per disposition after it is determined if he is eligible. Mr. Broadhurst.offered a mo-
tion that this request be granted. It was seconded by Mr. Williams and unanimously
approved.
PARKING RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Executive Secretary reminded the Board that he had been instructed to
present a euggestad plan for regulating parking in the Court House area for discussion
at todayrs meeting. A copy of the proposed rules was pronided each member of the Board
and by coirunon consent, they decided to study it for another week before making a de-
cision and instructed the Executive•Secretary to schedule it for next week.
UNAUTHORIZED HOLIDAY - . •
Mr. Williams informed the Board that he understood the employees of 'the Con-
solidated Health Department had taken an extra Holiday on Friday, January 2nd, which
the other County employees did not get, The Executive Secretary explained that the
matter had been discussed with Mr. Edwards, who, investigation revealed, made the de-
cision as Dr. Davis was ill at the time. Mr. Edwards said that a skeleton force was
on duty during that day and that four of their "staff were out sick and some on vaca-
tion. N,r. Williams was of the opinion that the matter should be brought forcefully
to the attention of the Department head and orders given for strict obsarvance oP the
days set by the County Commissionera as Holidays in the future. Mr. Hall remarked
that in his opinion he thought it was a dubious position as authorization for regulat=
-ing hours for the Health Department :..was-:- - vested in the Board of Health. Mr.
Williams then offered a motion that the Board of Health be requested to furnish an ex-
planation for taking off an'extra day unauthorized by the County Commissionere. This
motion was aeconded by Nir. Broadhurst and when the vote rras called, Nr. Hall voted "N0;
however, the Chairman ruled the motion prevailed.
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H-a?
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE LIEN - V,SZ
The County Attorney reported to the Board that he had requested the Tax
Assessor to appraise the property in Masonboro Township on which the requeet for re-
Zeasing a Welfare Lien in the amount of $4736.25 was made Zast weelt with an of£er of
$500.00. No report as yet has been received frcan the Tax Assessor. Mr. Williams then
offered a motion that the offer of $500.00 made by Carr & Swails be rejected and the
attorneys noti£ied. This motion was seconded by I4r. Hall and unanimously adopted.
. TRANSPORTATION -
Nir. Williams observed that he thought that some transportation should be pro-
vided for the Executive Secretary if he was to check on the various activities o£ the
County from time to time and suggested that an innentory be made of the vehicles owned
by the County to see if arrangements could be made for the use of any of them without e e
hindering any other department. Mr. Broadhurst oposed this suggestion and no official
action was taken.
? REPORTS - ,
The following reports and letters were reviewed and ordered filed for informa-
tion:
'- , (1) Farm Agent's Monthly Report.
(2) Home Agent's Narrative Report.
(3) Negro Home Demonstration Agentts Plarrative Report
(4) Tax Collectorts Monthly Report showing total of $1,221,780.68` (5) Wilmington Public Library
(6) Letter from the Catholic Welfare Bureau confirm3ng the safe arrival of
Ronny Escobedo
(7) Letter from the North Carolina Sorosi4 endorsing the County Planning
Board action. .
(8)'.'Thank-you letter £rom trhe Social Service Index of the Christmae Bureau '
• Program £or use of truck during Christmas season.
(9) Change in Status of Welfare recipients reviewed,
ADJOURNMENT -
There being no:? further business
adjournment, seconded by NIr. Broadhurst and
presented before the Board, Mr. Hall moved
unan3mously approved.
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W. G. Houck, Executive Secnetary
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