Calabash commissioners OK new town vanity plates

CALABASH—After 13 years, the town has finally sold out of vanity plates and is looking to buy more.

New town vanity plates in the Seafood Capital will feature the Calabash logo.

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At their March 12 meeting, town board members approved ordering 100 new town of Calabash vanity plates. The updated plates will feature the town logo, town clerk Kelley Southward said.

The town can purchase plates for $3.71 apiece to sell for $5 each to the general public.

The last time the town ordered plates was in 1999, when about 100 were purchased. The last of those plates sold out last October, Southward said.

Sale of the plates previously was a small funding source for the town’s community-service committee. Sale proceeds this time will go into the town’s general fund, with nothing special delineated for it.

Park bricks

Board members discussed Bricks R Us regarding future brick engravings after all available spots at the flagpole in Calabash Town Park are filled.

Bricks R Us is an organization that can set up brick orders online.

Bricks have already been installed in the park, Southward said, with several hundred sold so far.

Twenty bricks are ordered at a time before they are taken for engraving.

After all spots are gone, commissioners discussed using bricks to outline around sidewalks.

Fire fees

Town commissioner Buddy Walton has been drafting a letter to the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners regarding changes to fire fees, including questions about what the county is doing.

Board members suggested rather than coming just from Walton, the letter come from the entire board.

Insurance increase

Board members discussed a recent settlement agreement between the North Carolina Department of Insurance and homeowners insurance companies that will impact coastal counties with the highest rate hikes, including nearly 20 percent for beach areas and 9 percent for inland areas of Brunswick County.

Town commissioner Emily DiStasio said the town should send a letter, because a public hearing about the issue had previously been scheduled for June. The board may consider putting the matter on the agenda for its next monthly meeting April 9, Southward said.

Town commissioner Sandy Melahn said the increase is unfair because there are more insurance payouts in Raleigh and Charlotte than there are on the coast.

CIS

Bob Benedict, finance director of Communities in Schools of Brunswick County, thanked the town for previous donations. He asked the board for its continued support, pointing out the burden and cost to taxpayers when children drop out of school. That number has been reduced over the last several years, he said.

Mayor Mary Knight said she recently attended a local Lions Club meeting, where she learned about the club’s eyeglass drop-off program and how children get the glasses they need.

New business

A rezoning request submitted by Ahmed Abushakra at 1389 Thomasboro Road was withdrawn. The board voted to refund an advertising fee.

Walton’s motion to consider buying a new microphone/sound system for $845 for Sanborn Hall did not receive a second.

The board approved purchase of a new Toro lawn mower for $6,868.96.

It also approved purchase of a VIPER radio for $3,000-plus.

The board approved re-appointing Charlie Daniels, Marty Keefe and Ken Drennan to the town board of adjustment for three-year terms each ending April 9, 2016. Approval of Drennan, who is an ETJ representative, will be recommended to the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners.

The board approved donating leftover condiments that are nearing expiration to the March 23 Easter egg hunt hosted by River of Life Baptist Church.

Closed session

The board went into closed session to discuss personnel and legal matters.

It has approved taking the town’s new office assistant Sherri Robinson off 90-day probation and giving her a pay increase.

The legal matter has to do with Devaun Park.

The town is not going to withhold building permits in Devaun Park, but when there is non-compliance with stormwater statutes, it may not be able to issue a certificate of occupancy.

“People need to sign a waiver of understanding they might not get a C.O. if they don’t have stormwater compliance with the state,” Southward explained.

Laura Lewis is a staff writer at the Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or email llewis@brunswickbeacon.com.