Arts Center Open House The Pender County Arts Council will hold an open house Dec. 6 at the new arts center in Burgaw. Read more about it on page 3A.
POST Voice
The Pender-Topsail
&
Winter sports Winter is not officially here, but the high school winter sports season has begun. Basketball and wrestling are underway. Read about it in on page 1B.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Volume 44, No.10
50 Cents
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Randell Woodruff comes to Pender from Beaufort County
Pender board hires new county manager By Andy Pettigrew and Tammy Proctor Post & Voice Staff Writers After weeks of searching for a new county manager, the Pender County commissioners hired Randell Woodruff, the current Beaufort County manager. “I’m familiar with the region and I used to go to the beaches there a lot. I’m looking forward to working with the commissioners and the community,” Woodruff said. “It’s a great place. There is a lot going on in Pender County. The future is going to be a busy one.” Woodruff says county finances are a priority “There is nothing more important that county government does than oversee finances. You have
No Christmas lights in the Courthouse magnolias
to be on top of that and you have to have good, strong finance people to oversee that and work with the manager,” Woodruff said. Commissioner Jimmy Tate noted Woodruff is a graduate of Barton College and has an MPA from Old Dominion. “He is highly qualified. I asked about his working relationship with education entities in the county, especially higher education, because that is important for economic development. He is very involved with a number of local civic organizations.” Commission Chairman David Williams said the board was looking for a new manager with a strong financial management background. “He has good experience dealing with finances. He has the experience to remain calm and objective
dealing with controversial issues. I think he will make sure all board members are treated equally,” Williams said. “I think he will be a good conduit between employees, the department heads, and the board. He will represent the county and the board well.” Williams says all five commissioners were in favor of hiring Woodruff. “That is a good feeling. You always like to see it when all commissioners agree. I hope that sends a good message,” Williams said. “One of the first things he will be doing is getting a new finance director and start working on the budget.” Woodruff will be paid $145,000 per year. He will receive health, disability and life insurance, as well as vacation and paid sick leave. There
is no travel expense included in the financial package. Woodruff will be paid more than his predecessors. Rick Benton was paid $125,000, and Dr. Mickey Duvall was paid 116,260. The figures for both Benton and Duvall included $10,000 auto expense. By comparison, New Hanover’s county manager’s salary is $175,000, Onslow County’s manager makes $156,000, and the Burnswick County manager is paid $175,862. In the contract presented Monday night by the commissioners, Woodruff will receive up to $6,000 in moving expenses. Woodruff can have temporary housing until his home sells in Beaufort County. Residency in Pender County will be
Continued on page 2A
Christmas celebration in Burgaw
Pender will display ‘In God We Trust’ motto By Tammy Proctor Post & Voice Staff Writer
Lights need to be replaced, no money for it this season By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher The colorful Christmas lights which usually light up the magnolia trees around the Pender County Courthouse won’t be twinkling this Christmas, according to Burgaw Town Manager Chad McEwen. The lights are in bad repair and won’t burn, and there is no money in the town budget to replace them. “Those lights are in really bad shape. There are two sets in the trees that don’t work,” McEwen said. “A lot of them had to be restrung last year and the town spent a lot of time last year working on them. We estimate in man-hours alone a cost of 40-60 hours to restring all four of the magnolia trees, plus several thousand dollars in new lights. The old lights need to come off and we need to start over.” McEwen said the town, after talking with county officials, decided to not light the magnolia trees this year. “We are considering lighting a few of the oak trees that are located near existing electrical outlets. The smaller oaks, not the 70-foot trees. The ones that we have planted in the past few years,” said McEwen. The lights in the magnolias are left in the trees year-round, which causes quicker deterioration of the lights. “Wind and other conditions are not gentle on those lights during the year. Over time, those lights sitting out in the weather take a beating,” said McEwen. “We spend a lot of money on Christmas decorations and that was not something we budgeted for this year.
Randell Woodruff
Staff photos by Andy Pettigrew
Morgan and Lillie Hansen decorate Christmas cookies at the Burgaw Bakery Nov. 28 while bakery owner Monique Kirby brings more cookies. It was part of the activities at the Burgaw Christmas tree lighting. T.J. and Savannah Wentz and Coble Pollock (right) enjoyed cookies outside the bakery. See more photos of the event on Facebook.
Tate to revive Council on Community Affairs Group seeks unity across the county
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher A group that has been largely inactive for some time is going to see new life, according to Pender County commissioner Jimmy Tate. The Council on Community Affairs, which began several years ago during Tate’s tenure as chairman of the county commissioners, replaced the old Human Relations Committee. “We are trying to unite Pender County to be one as much as possible. I constantly
hear about the differences between the east and the west in Pender County. This group is designed to bridge the gap between the east and west,” Tate said. “We have people across the county that have unique talents and experiences and we want to bring this together to make things better for our schools, for business recruitment, and the quality of life in Pender County.” Tate says the county has several auditoriums on both sides of the county he would like to see used. “With the new Hampstead
Government annex auditorium, and the Penderlea School Auditorium, let’s open those up to community cultural events. We could create a scholarship fund from ticket sales to go to support arts programs as well as students that want to excel in the arts. “We have to make sure those with talent in our county are given an opportunity to express it without all the political, geographical, and racial divisions in the county. With this council, we are leaving all that out and seeking to make the county more prosperous.”
Jimmy Tate
Pender County commissioners joined 419 other municipalities across the nation who has opted to display the motto “In God We Trust.” Commissioner George Brown brought the matter before the board during the Dec. 1 meeting. He cited multiple references to God in the U.S. Constitution, the North Carolina Preamble, and the Declaration of Independence. “I think we need to get back to basics,” Brown said. “I think it is important.” “It’s a fundamental concept of what our country was founded,” said David Piepmeyer, the newest member of the board of commissioners. Brown asked Trey Thurman, the county’s attorney, his opinion. Thurman said the posting of “In God We Trust” in the public meeting area was not a violation of established policy. He said it was a free exercise of the First Amendment. “We’re not imposing our religious beliefs, but showing respect for our own views,” said Jimmy Tate. Fred McCoy was in support of posting the motto. “It’s time to stand up,” he said. “I’m strongly for it.” “It’s pretty straightforward,” said Brown. “The precedent has been set.” Thurman said objections to In God We Trust on U.S. currency have failed. The board agreed unanimously to proceed with the posting of “In God We Trust” in the meeting room. “I’d like to start our year off with those words,” said Brown, adding that he wanted nothing elaborate, just “simple and inexpensive.” Interim county manager
Continued on page 2A
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