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1960-03-21 Regular Meeting?. MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION & REVIEW Commissioners Room, iSew.Haii.over,CounLy Conr.t Hogsg Wilmington,,N'.C. '--? The Board of Equalization and Review met on March 21, 1960 at 1130 A. M. in the office of the County Commissioners. PRESENT were Chairman J. M. Hail, Jr., Peter H. Braak, Berry A. M7311iams and J. E. Holton, Jr. Mr. T. D. Love, Tax Supervisor,served as Secretary to the Board. Also present were Mr. H. S. McGirt and Mr. Raymond E. Blake, Tax Assessors of the County. Pro- testants were notified to appear, if they cared to, at this meeting. Only one protestant was presen't, this was Mr. W. M. King. Mr. ICing protested in regard to pro- perty owned by him in Block 472, Mr. Love informed the Board that this property had been re- viewed by him ar.d the two Assessors of the County and it was their opinion that',the property' had been`assessed:but.of. 13na withrotrier,property;in'the.- 5urrounding property at *the time of the appraisal of property in 1957 and they recommended that a functional depreciation of 15% be granted to Mr. King on this property. Recommendation was agreed to by the Board and a reduction in valuation was ordered. The Board then proceeded to handle the complaints that had been placed before them: The first complaint by Meta H. Mahler in Block 220. This property had been investigated by the Tax Supervisor and the Tax Assessors and they found the ?iroertv to. be,over-assessed as com- pared with other property in the same biock. This over-ass ss ent tia'virig been made during the revaluation in 1957• Upon investigation, the Board agreed that the plus factor of 20% on multiple-family dwe113ng in question be removed from the assessment. This plus factor was $3,480. A complaint by the Heirs of Mary G. Taylor relative to property on Wrightsville Beach designa- ted as Block I and J, Lots 5 Seaforth whriCh was under water and assessed at $50.00 a lot was ordered reduced to $25.00 a lot. The followtng complaints were reviewed and decisions were made as noted: Wilmington Printing Company, Block 191 - No change was made on this protest as the property was in line with surrounding properties. Heirs of George Cutlar - No change was made as property was assessed in line with other proper- ties in the County. Martin L. Sessomm Block 497 - No change was made as property was found to be in line with other properties in the County. Gilbert H. Burnett, Block A- Lot $A Forest Hills. No change was made in assessment as pro- perty was found to be assessed in line with other properdies, and the original assessment which was placed on same in,1957 will stand. : Nell Durham Lane - No change was made as property rras found to be assessed in line with other properties in the County. IV Mr. Love informed the Board of the problem he was having in connection with the listing of personal property of Dentists in the County. He expiained that he was placing a minimum of, `$1,000.00 on these Dentists, and it was agreed that the procedure he was following was in r?Y order. Upon motion made by Mr. Holton, seconded by Mr. Williams, the Board adjourned until its next meeting, April 4, 1960 at 1130 A. M. /S/ T. D. Love Secretary,-Board of Equalization and Review Wilmington N. C. March 21, 1960 A55EMBLY - The regular semimonthly meeting of the Board of New Hanover County Commissioners was held on this date in the Commissioners Room of the Caurt House at 9:00 A. M. with the fol- lowing in attendance: Chairman J. M. Hall, Jr., Commissioners Peter H. Braak, Leon E. Broad- hurst, J. E. Holton, Jr. and Berry A. Williams; County Attorney John Bright Hill and County Auditor T. D. Love. INVOCATION - Chairman Hall called the meeting to order and in the absence of Reverend R. K. John- son who was unable was unable to be present, asked the Executive Secretary, W. G. Houck, to give a prayer of invocation. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - Upon motion of Mr. Braak, seconded by Mr. Williams, the minutes of the regular meet- ing of March 7th and the called meeting of March 14th were approved unanimously as written. INSOLVENT TAX CON'Pi LAItdT - 7% Mrs. R. M. Piver appeared before the Beard and stated that the information had been blasted over the radio that she was insolvent and requested to see the signed statement made by the Tax Coilector certifyino to that effect. She remarked that she had visited the Commiss- ionersloffice last Friday and requested this information from the Executive Secretary who was unable to produce it, however, she did look over the list shown her by him on which the name of E. S. Piver and Sons appeared. She stated that she had not been riotified of any delinqvent corpoationaandadid not understandr ande5onsa tfurthermore,tthat she nwas dnot o an collect r continued - r, 556 Minutes of the Neeting March 21, 1960 Continued INSOLVENT TAX CONPLAINT - (continued) why her name was singled out to be broadcast. The Chairman explained that consider- ation had been given to the insolvent taxes last week but that no names were called at any time during the discussion. He stated that the oath now required by the Tax Collector was one of the things Mr. Williams had recommended be changed or that no delinquent taxes be in- cluded on that list until after all legal remedies had been exhausted. At the present time, however, it•is the regular otth required by the General Statutes. Mr. Williams observed that he was sure Mrs. Piver wovld not misrepresent anything to this Board, tiowever, she had evidently received erroneous information as no names were ever called during the considera- tion of the Insolvent Tax List at tihe Board meeting. Since the records in this office are public information, the news reporters were present and looked over the list and could have seen any or all of the names listed thereon. APPROPRIATION - WILMINGTON COLLEGE Dr. .lohn T. Hoggard, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of 4Jilmington College, appeared before the Board and presented, through the members of his Board, the following problem faced by the Building and Grounds Eommittee. Bids were recently opened for the ? construction of the first phase of the building program of the new college. The total amovnt required to complete the job amounts to $1,170,528 but through deletions and deductions of AN items which can be temporarily eliminated, the amount reduced the total cost to $1,149,208. At present, after scraping the barrel,. they have availabie cash of $1,112,000 therefore a deficit of $37,208 must be raised in orde,r to let the bids. The State is willing to match funds contributed by the County and therefore they request the County to appropriate $20,000 to assist in raising the shortage. Dr. William M. Randall stressed the fact that these figures did not allow for any contingencies which are expected in any building program and that any further reduction in the provision for services would lessen the instructional effectiveness of the college which is now held in high regard by four year colleges which receives the graduates for additional education. After a brief discussion, the Chairman requested the County Auditor to examine the present status of the County finances and see if he could suggest means of assisting in this program. He reported that at present there was $11,812.50 earned interest on college funds which had been previously committed and taken into consideration by the College Trustees Finance Committee but has not as yet been appropriated for their use. Mr. Williams offered a motion that the following funds be appropriated to the Wilmington College Building Fund: Interest on Bond Monies $11,812.50 to Wilmington College Building Fund Indust. Develop. - General Fund 5,000.00 " " " " " Unanticip. Funds - Trees,Airport 6,000.00 " " " " " 't " - Int. on Invest. 6,400.00 " it ti " it " - Trees MacRae Pk. 200.00 ° ft of it - Sale Land 2,400.00 Total 31,812.50 The motion was seconded by Mr. Holton and as there were no dissenting votes, the Chairman declared the motion carried. HOSPITAL PROPOSAL - Mr. C. B. NcCandless, a citizen of New Hanover County requested an audience with the Commissioners and stated thaC he was speaking for himself alone and having just lost a brother who had spent lots of time as a patient in James Walker Memorial Hospital, he Al.tp?1 felt that he was qua2ified to express an opinion. He conceded that adequate buildings played a part in the service any hospital could render its patients but he was convinced that the management and staff constituted the major factors. In his opinion, from this standpoint, James Walker Memorial Hospital would be hard to beat. The peopie in his neigh- borhood are more concertted in keeping their tax bracket low in order to maintain their home than they are in having a beavtiful hospital building. Mr. O. H. Pridgen requested to be heard in that connection as he felt some res- ponsibility for the defeat in the bond issue the last time it was submitted to the people two years ago and he did not want to see this question brought up again within the next 5 years. Mr. Charlton A. Pope, in ansufer to a question by the Commissioners about the Taxpayers Association of New Hanover County, said that althouoh they had been referred to as a phantom organization, he would be glad to have the Commissioners see the roster of the members but that they did not have sufficient funds to employ a secretary to make up the list. TRASH DUMP - The Executive Secretary informed the Board that he had discussed the situation at the County Trash Dump with Mr. M.W. Merritt and invited him to be present this morning to answer questions and present some of the problems with which he is faced in maintaining it. He reported that immediately after Hurricane Helene many trees, stumps and heavy debris had been dumped on the premises. There are only two solutions open to disposing of it, one is burning it which require heavy machinery to push it into piles and then it wovld take many months of constant watching and re=piling before it wouid finally be burn- ed to ashes. The other solution was to push it off down into the ravine nearer the swamp below the area used for regular household disposal but this acain would require heavy machinery which he did not have. He likewise reported that he had reached the end of the pipe and needed an extension before he could continue to dispose of regular household trash. He suggested that some regulations should be adopted for the control of the type of refuse to be accepted at the trash dump. After consideration of the problem attend- ant to this operation, the consensus of opinion seemed to indicate that a committee should be appointed to draw up such regulations and rules and present them to the Board for approv- al and then have it published in the paper and a sign erected at the entrance informing people of the type garbage prohibited from being dumped. It seemed that everyone agreed C ? that logs and stumps were not the type things to be placed at a trash dump but only house- hold garbage should be accepted. The Chairman appointed a committee composed of Mr. Hol- ? ton as Chairman, Nr. Braak, Mr. Merritt and the Executive Secretary to ti•rork out some sort of rules and regulations for controling the County Trash Dump. , PD??d SEAGATE CONNVIJNITY DEVELOPMENT P.SSOCIATION - (?a'-4 The Executive Secretary informed the Board that Mrs. Elizabeth Edens, who is Gy?• Minutes of the Meeting Narch 21, 1960 Continued secretary to the Seagate Community Development Association, had requested prison labor to clean about 5 acres of land in order_to make a playground fer the Seagate Community Devel- opment Association and 2lready has a community recreational building. Mr. S. A. Gideon, president of the association,i.nformed the Board all other avenues of recreation for the use of that community had been closed to them and they were trying to help themselves as a com= munity project. After considering the matter, the Chairman requested Mr. Broadhurst and the Executive Secretary to meet with them 4Jednesday afternnon at 4:00 o'clock to review the problem and see just what assistance the County mioht render in connection with this pro- ject. . POLLING PRECINCTS Mr. Henry C. Bost, Chairman of the Neio Hanover County Board of Elections report- ed that he was moving the polling precinct from the Blount School to Becker Builders Supply?? Company at 401?0 Narket Street in the County and that in the City he was moving the 4th _Precinct in the 5th YJard to Chestnut Sales and Service at 1401 D2wson Street and censolidat- ing the lst Ward and ist Frecinct with the lst Ward and 2nd Precinct, -ah9.ch poiling place will be at the Dudley School. As there were no objections by the Commissioners to this ch2nge, Mr. Bost presented invoices amounting to $30.00 each covering the meetings held y by the three member Board and requested payement to the individuals. Upon motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Braak, the Board unanimously authori2ed the payment and request- ed the Executive Secretary to secure tiao large County maps and two small Covnty maps on which Mr. Bost promised to outiine the boundaries of the now existing precincts after the changes are completed. SEASHORE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY - Following the assignment of the request of the Seashore Transportation Company to County Attorney John Bright Hill at the meeting on March 7th, the following mutual agree- ment was recommended: The Board of Commissioners of New Hanover County will not enter any protest to the granting of the application?.now pending and Seashore Transportation Company agrees that it will not operate locai passenger service originating at Wilmington and destined for New Hanover County Airport or local passenger service originat- ing at New Hanover County Airport and destined for Wilmington, IVorth Carolina, and the said company shall take such action as may be necessary in connection with its application now pending before the North Car.olina Utilities Commission for the extension of the companyls certificate of public convenience and necessity to include said airport, to cause an exemption of or restriction aaainst such local passenger service between the City and airport to be written into the certi- ficate extension or ottierwise 'officially recOgnized and"approved by the said CommiSSion. ' vert (bottom) began at the existing grade (natural ground level) and waters flowing in Lhis area are from the same natural areas (natural watershed) as always in the past but that the water is ponded on his property because of an old log road crossing some 200 feet downstream. In his opinion, the removal of the old log crossing and deepening or ciean- ing of the ditch to the east of the college property wili completely alleviate the sit- uation. They request the County to open this blocked drainage ditch. The Executive Secretary reported that this matter had been discussed with the interested parties, some of whom were willing for the County to clean this ditch''along their property but some others forbid any trespassing on their land. A consideration of zll factors involved led Mr. Hol- ton to move that the County proceed with work to open the ditch provided the college Trust- ees would get the right of way from the property owners. It was seconded by Mr. Williams and unanimously approved. Letters were received from Mr. Fred B. Graham, Chairman.of the Buildino and Grounds Committee of Wilmington Coliege, thar.king the Commissioners for their assistance ( in draining the college property and stating that their engineer had investioated the com- ? plaint of Mr. Richard A. Shew made on December 21, 1959 and found the ditch grading in- 6;'7'At'nF?- 0, oa?c" Mr. Hoiton then offered a motion that the above recommendation of the County Attorney be adopted. It was seconded by Mr. Braak, and unanimously approved. WILMINGTON COLLEGE DRAINAGE BEER LICENSES - - The following requests for beer permits were reviewed and ordered turned over to Ck)"_ the Sheriff for investigation. Ernest Rufus George T/A Little Bud's Masonboro Sound 4Ji1mington, N. C. Harold Vincent Spurbeck T/A Spurbeckis Service Station Carolina Beach, N.C. Blanche Gray T/A 421 Drive In RFD 2, Box 263 Wilmington, N. C. CENETERY ASSOCIATION - f? A letter was received from Mr. M. L. Meyland addressed to John A. 5haw's Sons in -r ? forming them that a deed to land used by the Cemetery Association 4ias no good and forbid them making further entry upon those lands. He requested the Commissioners to declare the Cem- etery closed for further use. It is located on Two Mile Branch in Harnett Township. After considering the request and discussing it witri the County Attorney, it was the consensus of the Board that they had no jurisdiction in this dispute and instructed the Exeautive Secretary to notify Mr, •Meqland• to" that- effect.. DRAINAGE PROBLEM A letter was received from Mrs. Oliver problem in her neighborhood. After review by the ed by Mr. Broadhurst, it was ordered sent to the tion. 64-0''"" Carter Sr. reporting a serious drainage Board, upon motion of Mr. Holton, second- Drainage Committee for their considera- I N ?? ? i)e11`i Minutes of the Meeting March 21, 1960 ?V7'I PETITIONS FOR RELIEF f Petitions for admittance to the (i mental deficiency and James Gordon Hunter were received from the 4Jelfare Department. ton, the Board unanimously approved their Continued County Home for Sarah Wombie Clemmons because of because of physical disability and senility Upon motion of Nr. Braak, seconded by Mr. Hol- admittance to the County Home for care. 17th STREET EXTENSION - ! n A letter was received frAt? the Irdiimington City Manager reminding the Board that (??l??y they had petitioned the State Highway Commission for opening, grading, paving and maintain- ing the old Federal Point Road extending 17th Street to the Winter Park-Shipyard Boulevard in Masonboro Township implying that they would provide the right of way including the remov- al of graves in Oak Grove Cemetery through which this street would pass. A brief discuss- ion of this subject indicated that there might be many problems involved as the County Attor- ney advised that many legal restrictions ti,rere placed around the moving of graves and he thought the State Highway Commission,with experienced personnel in this type of undertak- ing would be.at a better advantage than the County. The Chairman was of the opinion that so long as the property belonged to the County, they had a right to move the graves. After considering the many angles in this matter, the Board unanimously authorized the Chairman to confer with the Division Engineer to see if some feasible arrangements could be made to solve this problem. ASSiSTANT CORONER - , C As reported to the Clerk of Superior Court at the meeting on March 7th, Mr. L. S. MacMillan had been appointed by him to serve as Assistant Coroner and presented an invoice covering four professional service calls at $15.00 each, or a total of $60.00. Upon motion of Mr. Holton, seconded by Nr. Broadhurst, the Board unanimously appropriated the transfer of $60.00 from the Coroner - Inquest to Coroner-Salary, and approved payment of the invoice. C 8 D CONFERENCE - An invitation was received from the Commerce and Industry Committee of the State Department of Conservation and Development to a conference in Goldsboro on March 31st at 10:00 A. M. offering an opportunity to make the potential of the east for industrial develop- ment known to the C. 8 D. Department. The Board seriously considered attending this confer- CB??-;,JA ence but a review of their schedule developed a conflict with the Azalea Festival activities and none of the Commissioners felt that they should be away from the County during this important event, however, upon motion of Mr. Braak, seconded by Nr. Holton, the Board unani- mously authorized the expenditure of travel expenses if any of the Commissioners later found that they could go. ? DIRECTORS - COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ?,ffgc??? The Chairman read a letter from Dr. H. A. Eaton, Chief of Staff of the Community Hospital, advising them that a Resolution had been passed by the Medical Staff authorizing him to write the Commissioners and recommend that two physicians,to be selected by the Med- ical Staff, be appointed by the Commissioners to the Board of Directors of Community Hospit- al. The Chairman asked the Board to be thinking about th3s matter and be prepared to make a decision aL the next regular meeting. ? TAXES •- ? ' Trr Mr. Williams suggested to the Chairman that since a dfrect charge had been made at the meeting last week that no effort had been made to collect some of the taxes included on the Inso2vent List, he thoughtthe Chairman should discuss the matter with the Tax Collect- or. Mr. Holton expressed the opinion that the word "insolvent list" is a misnomer and actual- ly should be Cermed a delinquent list as he considered some of the old terms used antiquated, outdated and outmoded, but no one seems to take any action to revise the law. The Chairman agreed that he would "consult the Tax Collector and clear up the'accusation". HOLIDAY ' Mr. Broadhurst reminded the Board that April 2nd was parade day for the Azalea Festival and offered a motion that it be declared a Holiday so that the Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds Office could be closed during that event. It was seconded by Mr. Holton and unanimously carried. TRAINABLE NEGRO CHILDREN School Supgrintendent H. M. Roland informed the Board that the Board of Education respectfully requestsxseparate Budget titled Trainable Negro Children but set up for the cur- rent school year in the amount of $4,588.00. Funds for this Budget are derived from loca2 contributions and state reimbursements so no County monies are involved. Mr. Holton offered a motion that this recommendation be granted, sub,ject to the concurrence of the Chairman of the Consolidated Board of Education, E. A. Laney. It was seconded by Mr. Braak and unanimous- ly adopted. ADJOURNMENT - As there offered a motion to was no further business to be presented for consideration, Mr. Williams ad,journ. It was seconded by Mr. Broadhurst and unanimously approved. W. G. Houck, Exe \ :utive Secretary ? ?