1953-07-20 Regular Meeting
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Meeting of J'uly 13, 1953, continued.
A letter received from Mrs. Martha B. Keever asking that the speed limit in Devon Pzrk and Longwood, or
?aS Bryan Avenue, as it is some times called, be restricted to ten miles per hour, was referred to the 5tate
Highway Safety DiQision.
A letter was received from Ns. Henry C. Dockery, County Attorney of MecklBnburg County inquiring about
our method of investigating and collecting for services rendered border-line cases in hospitals, who are not
indigents, who are not on relief, but who proUably have no property. and who do go back to work. Was
re£erred to the Chairman to advise him what we have in mind.
A letter was received from the Housing Authority of the City of Wilmington advising that on July 2, the
Housing Authority of the City of Wilmington, recorded with the Register of Deeds, a plat, or site plan map,
`. of Maffitt Village, for the purpose of dedicating the streets and driveways in Maffitt Village to public use.
An opinion of the Attorney General was received concerning questions raised by the North Carolina Sanatorium
System of Chapel Hill, as to the disbursement of appropriation of the $187,500.00 Aid to County Sanatoria,
Chapter 1324, Session Iaws 1953, Advising that in his opinion, among the Counties eligible, the Board of
,..-005P Directors of the North Carolina Sanatorium 5ystem, under the terms of the Act, would have to pay to each County
$1,50 per day £or each medically irdigent patient coming within the terms of the Act, these payments to continue
until the•fund is exhausted, at which time the functions and responsibilities of the Doard of Directors would
cease. And are not authorized to pay out one-fourth of the total appropriation each quarter among the counties
eligible.
. ,?-A report of receipts and disbursements of the Airport for 1952-1953 was received showing $56,261.29 cash r eceipts
Qplus evaluation of services to other County Departments $9,399.04, ma1ci-ng a total of $65,660.33. ExpenditUres
$32,590.13. A1so receipts for June and July 3rd, 1953, were received mzd fi.led.
Upon motion of Mr. Love, seconded by Mr. Davis, Duncan Fdward McIver, oolored indigent citizen who draws $51.50
' l?per month 5ocial Security. One leg amputeted and the other leg deforme4 w ason,r ecoimnendation of the Superintendent
• of Public Welfare, admitted to the County Home as a peV patient at $/+0.00 per month.
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In view of e ruling by the Attorney General that the Commissioners hsve the right to inves'tigate applicants for
"' - State Permit to sell beer and to ob,jeCt to the issuance of such permit if desixed. It was, therefore, upon
motion of Mr. Trask, seconded by Mr. Davis, ordered, that all ep plications that may befiled with this Board
in'the fhture, shall first be investigated and approved by the Sheriff before presenting to the Board for its
approval.
. ?W'.The matter of selling surplus potatoes produced at the County Farm was referred to Mr. Trask for checking and
report back to the Board. ?
?The Chairman announced a budget meeting will be held this evening at 7:30 and urged all members of the Board
-?r,`''? who can to be present. '
The Chairman reported on the three flxl.l days he and County Auditor T.D.Love spent in Raleigh checking local
tax.returns against State records which will be very beneficial to us. N,r, Horton further reported $2,267,311.00
.--?? not listed motor vehicles, and our's the lowest percentage of personal propertp listing in the State.
The Commissioners agreed to meet at 10:00 o'clock Tuesday morning, July 142 at John C. Wessell Tlzberculosis
Sanator.iwn as it's Board of Directors. • ??,\j?`J Upon motion of Mr. 0'Shields, seconded by Mr. Love, County bills No, 4010 to 4239 were approved for payment.
The meeting then adjourned. ?
?J`T.ra•iC. ?S" . . 1J- Clerk.
. O Wilmington, N. C., July 20, 1953.
The regular weekly meeting of the Board was held this day at 10:00 o'clock A. M.
•' Present: R. T. Horton, Chairman and Commissioners Claud 0'Shields, Thurston C. Davis, Hal J. Love, Rai£ord Trask,
Ts D. Love County Auditor and Marsden Bellamy, County Attorney. - The meeting was opened with prayer by the Reverend George D. Carnes, Pastor oE Nt. Zion Methodist Church, colored.
Copies of the minutes of July 6, 1953, having been mailed to each member of the Board, the same were upon motion
of Mr. Love, seconded by Ns. 0'Shields, approved.
The Chairman announced receipt of $1,000,000.00 school bonds, 5eries °B" last Thursday afterno.on? same were signed ?.
<'60`'- ? and forwarded to Mr. W. E. Easterling, Secretary of the Local Goverrzaent Commission at Raleigh for signature
Saturday morning, for delivery to the purchasers.
n.airman also announced receipt of $157.98 divident check on countp schedule insurance policy:from H.G.Ietimer
The & So
A petition was received from 13 property owners in Masonboro township, requesting that Bryan's Avenue and the
?S Old Brick Yard Road which runs from the Carolina Beach Highway to the River Road, a distance of approximately
two miles on which twelve houses are located, be hardsurfaced, was upon motion of Nr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Love,
approved, and referred to the State Highwqy and Public Works Commission for consideration.
A letter was received from Mr. J. R. Benson, City Manager suggesting a flat charge of $75.00 per month to the
County for the use;:of the services of the Board o£ Identification by the Sheriffs Department,'it bdng understood,
he said, that this charge could be changed either up or down if conditions and expenses should indicate. It was
suggested by the Commissioners that payment on a per person basis would be preferable. The matter was tabled for
further study.
Mr. T. D. Love, County Auditor, made a report on the current cash position of the County as of June 30, 1953,
?e ??p?Ie stated that there was in the variousBank.accounts at that time the total of ,?675,755.19, of this amount
.o??'Q $105,359.81 represented prepaid taxes. $335,000.00 of the total was School F?znds received from bond issue,
deducting the two above named accounts from the total gives us a balance of about $235,000t@0 and this balance
compares with a ba.lance of $137,000.00 on hand as of June 30, 1952.
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Neeting o£ July 20, 1953, continued.
Mr. H. M. Roland, Secretary of the Board of Education, appeared with Messrs Laney, Craig, members of the
Board of Eciucation, and Business Nianager John 0. Marshall and Controller William'E. Brock. Mr. Roland
? submitted a proposed school budget for the year 1953-1954 in the fo].lowing amounts,which was received for
further consideration and study:
• Regular Budget, including Capital 0utlay ? 3042260:00
•Supplementary Budget 315,000.00
School Books 18.000.00
637,260.00
• Lunch Rooms 30,000.00
• Wilmington College 81,800.00
Building Flind 2.800.000.00
' Total $3,549,060.00
a? An offer submitted by Mr. Howell F. McElfresh, Advertising Manager, to rum a 1/3 Page outside book cover
advertisement for the County in the August issue of " The Retailer" Magazine, at a oost of $40.00 was upon
motion of Nir. 0'Shields, seconded,by 14r. Love, decline3 at this time. •
news letter " Soint the Ccnvention- Getting Crew", was received from the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce,
suggesting a contribution. No action was taken.
A bill for 025.00 was received from the Junior Chamber of CoirQnerce, stating "County's portion in.North Carolina
_?vJaycee State Directory°. The Board having no knowledge of this charge, took no action, other than to so advise
the Junior Chamber.
Notice o£ hearing on appeal in the matter of Old Age Assistance for Hattie Hewett Sellers, bll Queen Street,
and I,41ary Alice Bonham, 202 Greenville Avenue, in the office of the County Welfare Department, July 29, 1953,
was received from the State Board of Allotments and Appeal.
Reports of the County Electrical Inspector for Febrvary, Marchend April 1953, were received.and filed.
A report of Airport receipts for July 6,7,10th and 14th; Consolidated Board of Health; and Housing Authority
? a??h of the City &f Wilmington For June were received and £iled. A report of James Walker Hospital was received
`1.?? ?and filed.
-? A report was receive3 from the State Board of Public Welfare showing that $53,60b.20 was sent to this County
in May for Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, APTD grants and for adminiatration, and $54,482.00
for the month of June.
______?A financial report of Associated Charities for May and June were received showing $3,999.90 cash on hand
?, June 30, 1953, less orders payable,$476.65? leaving a net cash balance as of June 30, 1953 of $3,523.25.
r-Ci?„ / Also an Audit Report of Associated Charities for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1953, was received and filed.
Sn order to meet pay rolls and other necessary eacpenditures for July, a request of the BoaP.d of Eiucation thet
_64Pi• $4,000.00 be made available for the regular budget, $6,000.00 for the Supplementary Budget $2,500.00 for the
Book ESznd, and $100,000.00 for the Building F1xnd, pending adoption of the 1953-1954 School Budget, was granted.
ilpon motion of Mr. Trask, seconded by Mrl Davis, Miss Aiemie Silverman was granted a refund of 1952 taaes paid
on an assessment of °`1,000.00 on house on lot 34 Country Club Terrace, Masonboro township, account of clericel
error. It appeared that $1,000.00 assessment or partially constructed house in 1951 was included in addition to
the final assessment in 1952 and corrected by the Tax Assessors for 1953 by re3ucing the $6,000.00 on building
to $5,000.00 thereby making it retroactive in effect for the year 1952.
The Chairman iarought up the matter of converting the coal burning heating system in the Covrt Ifouse and County
-- C? Home to oil at an approxiinate wst of $15,000.00. One boiler in the Court House would take the place of two now
in use which wou].d:,increase e£ficiency and be a saving to the County in fuel, operation and maintenance, and re-
lease space needed for office purposes. The matter was received for flzrther consideration and to look into..the
comparative saving.
/.? Mr. Horton announced that $44,540.00 in taX values have been pi¢ked up on checking the tax li5ts A..through part
- ?Q of the B's against the State Motor Vehicle Registration.
On suggestion of the Chairman instructions were given to write our Third Divlsion State Highway GonnnS:sed:oner,
Mr. C. Heide Trask, and group, a letter of thanks and appreciation for trie very £ine work being 3one in this
community lately, an3 £or having started the installation of lights on the Cape Fear River bridges.
1 The question.,;of having the County Iiome laundry done at the T:B.Aospital was discussed and continued for
?O,4V6""'`investigation with the Board of Health as to sanitary requirements.
Upon motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Love, Mr. C. R. 14orse, Tax Collector,was authorized and directed to
advertise the sale of land for taxes once a week for four weeks as required by law, on which said land the 1952
taxes have not bsen paid, said sale to take place on the First Monday in September 1953•
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Advertising the sale of colored owne3 property in the colored newspaper was discussed. It was decided to secure
quotations on a per letter, line or space basis when needed, and also on contract.
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From a standpoirit of safety and emergency due to slate falling from the Court House tower which endangers pe8es-
trians, some narrowly escaping being hit, the Board upon motion of Mr. Trask, seconded by Mr. Love, approved
the action of Che Chairman in arranging to have the sarr,e repaired. Scaffolding therefore hav3ng been erected
- to do the work$ overall repairs to the roof and gutters were also directed and authorized toibe done at the
same'time at a cost of $2,000.00 on bid received. Only one out of three firms contacted would make a bid
committal. ' .
pit, This being the last week preceding the date the Na,yy's option on the Airport expires, July 27, 1953, the Chair-
man asked if any one cared to make a suggestion. No suggestions were offered.
The Chairman presented a request from the Welfare Department to appoint someone to periodically check tubercu-
?'lar patients patients released from the Sanatorium to determine if and when they can resume their forme.r oc-
? cupations, or go back to work, that they may'be dropped from the Welfare Rolls. Was upon motion of Mr. Shields
seconded by Mr. Trask, referred to the Chairman to take the matter up with the Board of Health.
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Meeting of July 20, 1953, Continued. _
The County Attorney'was instructed to include in the deed conveying an Armory site at Legion Stadium, that
the area north of the building site be open to public parking and to give access to the Stadium Building.
And further that the proposed Armory Building shall be constructed within two years from date of transfer,
and after construction the same shall b e used fcr military purposes, and if and when the same ceases to be
used for that purpose to revert to the County.
It was the consensus of the Board of Directors of John C.. Wessell Tuberculosis Sanatorium at meeting held '
1ltesday? Ju7y lk? 1953, that all purchases for the Sanatorium be msde thru the County Purchasing Agent on pro-
per approved requisitions.
The meeting then adjourned.
/?f??+ i?J¢ Clerk.
Wilmington, N. C. Jul,y 27, 1953.
The regular meeting of the Board was held this day at 10:00 o'clock A.M.
Present: R. T. Horton, Chairman and Commissioners Claud 0'Shields, Thurston C. Davis, Hal J. Love, Raiford
Trask, County Auditor T. D. Love and County Attorney Marsden Bellamy.
The meeting was opened with prayer by the Reverend Guy C. Moore, Pastor of the Southside Baptist Church.
Copies of the minutes of ineetings of July 13, and 20, having previously been mailed to each member of the
Board, the same were upor motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Love approved.
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IIA The Chairman, in the performance of his duties as County Tax Supervisor, having recently spent sone time in
? Raleigh checking local tax returns in comparison with the returns reported to the State, and having found
considerable differences in some of the lists, therefore prepared a general letter which was mailed to such
• tax-payers calling their attention to the discrepancies appearing in their lists, and invited them to come
forward and check the differences with the view of reaching a mutual understanding to the end their lists
may be mutually and properly corrected to represent a more fair and equitable listing of their property locally;
otherwise it will be the duty of the Tax Supervisor to enter such differences upon the tax returns of the tax-
payer in accordance with his report made to the Stat e,
In response to the said letter, a number of tax-payers appeared, some to b e informed, and to cooperate, and
some to object to the method of procedure. Mr. W. G. Broadfoot, Jr., a member of the delegation present,
said the County's efforts to secure proper listings are to be commended, but termed the letter (which svid '1/.
letter was approved by the County Attorney before mailing) an example of high-handed stupidity, a bad ap-
proach. "Ar?y approach of this nature; said Mr. Horton,"is bad," "We are merely trying to carry out the ob-
?ligation placed upon us by the law, and there being such a wide di£ference in the returns, had no other al-
ternative but to proceed to secure a more equitable and truer listing of property from a standpoint of law,
fair-play and justice to all. "As all property, the County Attorney advised, should be listed at its true
xalue in money as required by law. That complied with would reflect in a lower taac rate."
After further comments made by Mr. Jack W. Smith-of the Pearsall Fertilizer Works, Julius Berger and others,
it appeared that all were in agreement that the effort to secure an honest andaccurate listing of property,
was justified, but some did however, show that human weakness of resentment for being called upon to per-
form a duty no!a they once had a chance to perform'but failed.
FSarther discussion followed after which Mr. Trask moved and it was seconded by Mr. Love and carried that the
values shown on the returns in question be set up on a basis of 50% o£ the true value and the tax-payer be
? given the privilege to come in and adjust any discrepanciea with the Tax Supervisor on that basis.
Mr. Richard A. Shew, Agent for G. W. Fleming, C. S. Royal and Ella K. Royal, Mildred Fleming Powell, and
H. E. Powell et al., principal owners of Flemington sub=division, submitted a petition requesting the Board
? to authorize the closing of certain streets in Flemington sub-division that have never been opened or used
? in anyway as streets, roads or other puhlic ways to enable the use of the area containin pproximately 75
-? •' acres of land for a factory site for the construction and operation o£ a proposed faetor? Was upon motion
of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Trask, approved and referred to the County Attorney to t ake such proper steps
_ necessary to close the said streets as requested. The petition follows:
° REQUEST FOR CLOSING STREETS
IN FLIIJiINGTOid SUBDNISION
T0: THE BOARD OF COD'G,ISSIONERS
County of New Hanover
State of North Carolina.
Come NoH G. W. Flemi.ngton, C. S. Rnyal and Ella K. Royal, his wife, Mildred Fleming Powell and H. E.
Powell, her husband, thru their duly authorized agent, Richard A. Shew, and respectfully request your Honor-
able Board to order the closing of certain streets hereinafter described in the sub-division of Flemington
pursuant to the provisions of subsection 153-9 (17), of the General Statutes of North Carolina, and in sup-
port of such request represent to your Honorable Board that:
1. They are owners of all the land, with the exception o£ about 40 lots heretofore sold off, embrace
within the sub-division now called Flemington, formerly called Pocomoke, in the County of New Hanover, State
of North Carolina, shown by a plat. thereof recorded in Map Book 4, on page m64, in the Registry of said County.
2. As indicated by said plat, several streets were proposed within said sub-division including Flem-
ing Street, 9econd Avenue and two other unnamed streets north of said Second Avenue. The mentioned Flem-
ing Street, Second Avenue and, the unnamed s treets have never been opaned or used in any way or manner as
streets, roads or other public ways. They have not been accepted for public use or maintenance by New Han-
over County or the.,State Highway and Public Works Commission of Norbh Carolina.
3. Your petitioners desire to "close" said streets to the end that the land which would be embraced
within the boundaries thereof and certain other land surrounding them, containing in the aggregate approx-
imately 75 acres, may be utilize3 for and in connection with tho construction and operation of a factory
' wl;ich will, thru employment of labor and otherwise, contribute to the industrial progress and growth of the
County and promote the general welfare thereof.
4. No lots fronting on any portion of said streets have'been sold off.
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