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By Andy Pettigrew
Post editor
Burgaw mayor Pete Cowan appeared before the Pender County Board of Commissioners Monday to report on the progress on construction of the new Wallace sewer treatment plant.
Burgaw and Pender County have an agreement to use the Wallace wastewater plant. Cowan said the engineering part of the plan as it relates to Burgaw is complete and the preliminary engineering report has been submitted to the USDA. The environmental assessment as also been submitted. “We are complete as to tying up the loose ends as far as the Burgaw portion is concerned,” Cowan said. One lift station site remains to be acquired, and the town is in negotiations to obtain the property.
Cowan also reported a redesign of the facility by engineers for the town of Wallace is complete and town officials anticipate bids to be received beginning in the fourth quarter of this year. According to Wallace officials, the redesign identified about $7 million in cost savings. “Until construction starts in Wallace, Burgaw will not do any construction,” Cowan added.
Following his report, Cowan quoted a statement made by BOC chairman David Williams in the Feb.20 edition of The Pender Post in which Williams was critical of the wastewater agreement with Wallace. “Nothing personal, but it is a bad deal. It is not an equitable deal for the citizens of Pender County,” Williams told The Post in the Feb. 20 edition.
Cowan asked Williams if he had possibly misspoken or was this statement reflective of his true opinion of the agreement.
“If you want to come up here and keep hashing this out. It’s a bad deal, I’ve said it before,” Williams said.
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By Mary Diefenbach
Staff writer
F.D. Rivenbark edged out competitor Tom Roper by less than 600 votes in Tuesday’s primary election.
“Thanks to so many people who had a hand in helping me win,” Rivenbark said.
Rivenbark, a democrat, has served on the Pender County Board of Commissioners for 12 years. The Pender County native is a retired educator, last serving as principal of Burgaw Middle School at the time of his retirement.
“I said during the campaign that I want to see projects completed that we have underway,” Rivenbark said, “And now I get to see those completed.” Though he has been campaigning for nearly four months, Rivenbark said his campaign geared up prior to the election. “We have been doing a lot of campaigning for the past week,” Rivenbark said, “It was a pretty arduous campaign.”
Although the commissioners have many upcoming projects, one priority is the hiring of a manager, Rivenbark said. “We are in the process of hiring a new manager,” Rivenbark said, “We will be interviewing (candidates) Friday.”
Overall, Rivenbark believes his 35 years spent as an educator, as well as his role as a farmer and Army reservist has allowed him to touch many lives over the years, resulting in a win for re-election.
“I have touched a lot of people and I thank goodness for all of them tonight,” Rivenbark said.
According to the Pender County Board of Elections unofficial results, over 10,944 ballots were cast in Pender, more than double the 2004 primary election.
The average turnout for a primary election is typically around 16%, said Dennis Boyles, director of the board of elections in Pender County. Tuesday’s election boasted 34.81% voter turnout, up 18.31% from 2004. High voter turn out is due in part to the significant role North Carolinians play in the Democratic presidential primary race. North Carolina is one of few states with over 100 Democratic delegates remaining. The delegates will have a substantial impact on the race between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton.
In Pender County, Obama narrowly edged out Clinton by 368 votes, receiving a total of 4,053 votes. Among others elected, Sandra Spaulding Hughes beat out Hollis Briggs Jr. with more than 66% of the vote, replacing former representative Thomas Wright for NC House District 18. Wright was convicted last month of fraud and sentenced to 6-8 years in prison, however, Wright’s name was still on the ballot and he received 472 votes from Pender residents.
F.D Rivenbark also edged out competitor Tom Roper by less than 600 votes for re-election to the county commissioner’s seat, bringing his total to 53% of the votes.
Additionally, Karen Rouse and Karen Gonzales both won seats on the Pender County Board of Education. For more details on Pender County election results, please visit www.Pender-County.com.
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By Mary Diefenbach
Staff writer
Karen Rouse beat out competitor Thurman Casey by more than 1000 votes.
“It feels great. I don’t know what to say,” Rouse said regarding her win, “It was a lot of hard work, time and effort, on behalf of my family, friends and supporters.” Rouse, a native of Virginia, has lived in Rocky Point for 21 years and is co-owner of Pender Places, and a real estate investment company. Rouse, a former police officer, currently volunteers as a guardian ad litem, and parent volunteer. She is also a former PTA president who now coaches children’s sports teams with her husband, Bruce.
“I just believe that the hard work and sincerity paid off and I am ready to begin,” Rouse said As to how Rouse prepared in the week prior to the election, “We have been out two nights in a row putting out signs and making cards,” Rouse said, “We have been very, very busy with our planning.” Though she has not yet begun her work as a member of the board, Rouse is already planning to make herself available to residents of Pender County. “I just want to thank everyone again in the community,” Rouse said, “Its very exciting.”
Karen Gonzales defeats Tim Weaver - District 5
Karen Gonzales was elected to the Pender County School Board in District 5. Gonzales beat out competitor Timothy Weaver by more than 1200 votes. “It feels like victory. It feels wonderful because now it is time to get to work,” Gonzales said regarding her win. “I want to thank everyone in Pender County for voting for me.” Gonzales, a native of eastern North Carolina taught English for 20 years, and has been a substitute teacher in Pender County for the past four years. She is an active member of the Pender County Planning Board, and is Vice Chairmen of the Fire Commission. Gonzales is also a member of Pender Watch and the 17 Overlay Committee.
Though Gonzales has not yet been sworn in, she is excited to get to work. “The first thing I will do is look at the budget,” Gonzales said. “We are going to go over it with a fine tooth comb.” Gonzales hopes to publish the budget and make it easily accessible for all residents of Pender County. “The people deserve to know where their money goes and why it is spent the way it is,” Gonzales said. As for how she prepared over the last week for the upcoming election. “I really didn’t do that much,” Gonzales said.
“I think that when people came to the polls, they already knew who they were voting for,” Gonzales said. “They know me, and they know my word is my bond. The people voted for me to be their representative and I am going to do the best job I can.”
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By Mary Diefenbach
Staff writer
The Town of Burgaw’s budget, which will be presented May 13 to the board of commissioners for review, totals approximately three million dollars.
“We looked at expected revenues and expected expenses, then the board made some important decisions,” Martin Beach, interim town manager, said, “The most important decision was no new taxes.” The budget has been in the review process since January, at which point the budget committee established fiscal priorities.
One priority on the list is the addition of personnel. “Some departments are one person thick,” Beach said, “and if they were to die, we would be in a pickle.” In addition to personnel, other priorities included merit pay raises and fixing the depot. After the initial review, the budget was over by $500,000. The budget was then reviewed again and cut by $300,000, leaving a $200,000 deficit. In order to balance the budget this coming fiscal year, the budget committee reviewed priorities and eliminated or delayed some programs, including the new walking trail along the Osgood Canal, Beach said.
“The walking trail will have to be scaled back. It is something the board really wants to do but it is a very costly program,” Beach said, “We are going to do something, but we wont be able to do it as we would like.” Though the town increased revenues from last year by $100,000, the cost of many necessities also increased, Beach said. “This year we looked at why the budget has grown (as compared to last year),” Beach said, “Health insurance went up 16%, other insurance went up 18% and the cost of gas went up by $22,000.”
According to Beach, the budget proposal will be reviewed by the board of commissioners for two weeks following the May 13 meeting. The committee will then put together a final budget proposal for inspection by the public. The Board of Commissioners will then meet again June 10 and take public comments prior to a final budget vote.
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By Andy Pettigrew
Post editor
Vickie Morrison will serve as the interim county tourism director, according to Interim County Manager Al Greene.
Greene says the new interim county manager will head the search for a new tourism director. “That person may want to involve the Tourism Development Authority and get their input in the process,” Greene said. “It would be their call.”
Greene’s last day as Pender Interim County Manager is Friday. Morrison is currently the administrative assistant for tourism, parks and recreation, and veterans services.
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Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Severe thunderstorms dumped heavy rain and hail on Burgaw and Pender County Monday afternoon, causing some minor street flooding. This car plows through the flooded intersection of South Dudley and West Fremont streets.
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