Call
to Order/Invocation
The Town Council of the Town of Belhaven met in a Special
Call Session on Monday, February 23, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. in
the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Dr. Charles O. Boyette,
Mayor called the meeting to order with the following Council
members present: Albert Baker, Cynthia M. Heath, James B.
Hodges and Linda E. Wilkerson. Councilman/Mayor Pro-Tem
George R. Ebron, Jr., was not present. Town Manager Tim
M. Johnson and Town Clerk Marie J. Adams were also present.
Mayor Boyette gave the invocation.
Post Office
Site Discussion
Mayor Boyette stated that since the last Council Meeting
on February 16, 2004 Lucy B. Robbins (representing the
Bishop Family) was given a deadline of Thursday, February
19, 2004 to decide whether or not the (preferred property)
for the location of the post office was available for
sale and development. The decision to sell or not by the
Bishop family on Thursday, February 19, 2004 resulted
in the following conditions: the property would be sold
for $125,000 (which was the original asking price with
no tax credits, etc.) and that a stipulation in the deed
be made stating that the property would not be used for
any other development other than a post office for twenty
years. Mayor Boyette stated that the community had worked
together through the Beaufort County Committee of 100
with private donations of $11,000 and many in-kind donations
to have the building demolished and removed, trees cut
and stumps ground; along with the donation of .61 acres
of the town owned Civic Center property for use as a parking
lot and up to $20,000 donation, from the town, to help
offset the costs of the post office locating on the preferred
Main and Railroad Street location versus the Old County
Road location. Mayor Boyette stated that the town did
not want to jeopardize losing a new post office because
of the possibility of not being able to locate the post
office on the preferred site due to development stipulations
proposed by the Bishop family. Mayor Boyette stated that
the town council supported the idea of having the post
office on Old County Road, if the preferred site of Main
and Railroad Street could not be sold without stipulations.
Citizens Comments
Mayor Boyette recognized the following:
Mr. Julius Purvis
who questioned why have deed restraints when the lease
for the post office is a twenty year lease. Mayor Boyette
stated that he did not understand the Bishop family’s
request for deed restraints. Mr. Purvis also stated that
he would rather not have a new post office as to have
the new one located on Old County Road. Mr. Purvis also
questioned when the Mayor had last talked with Mrs. Robbins
and suggested that someone talk with her concerning the
deed restraints, Mayor Boyette stated that he had talked
with Mrs. Robbins on several occasions. Mr. Purvis offered
to speak with Mrs. Robbins concerning the deed restraint.
Mr.
Bob Holz stated that ideally the post office should be
located downtown but that if the preferred property on
the corner of Main and Railroad is not available without
stipulations, then he would not want to jeopardize the
loss of a new post office and support the postal services
recommendation of the Old County Road site. Mr. Holz also
stated that it was imperative that a signed contract to
sell be obtained, before any future support for the preferred
location of Main and Railroad Street is supported or solicited.
Mr.
Russell Johnston, former Belhaven Postmaster, inquired
if the town could get a waiver from FEMA and build the
post office on the present site, on the former John A.
Wilkinson High School gymnasium site. Mayor Boyette explained
that previously the town had contacted local congressmen
and FEMA and asked for a waiver, this could not be done.
Mr. Johnston stated that speaking with some postal officials
he learned that in the future the rural post offices will
be closed with post offices combined in municipalities.
Mrs.
Shannon Bullock, Postmaster, stated that the information
she received states that t more rural post offices will
be closed in coming years and fears the loss of a new
post office here if the process is prolonged.
Mr.
Marion Dilday asked if any other parcel of property downtown
would be suitable. Mayor Boyette explained that the town
owned property adjacent the Chamber office and would gladly
offer it for a postal site but due to time restraints
it would not be feasible for the postal officials to consider
it due to the fact that the property was not included
in the original bid specifications.
Mayor
Boyette recognized Mr. Keith Walsh, (representing The
Walsh Group, Inc.) proposed developer of the Post Office.
Mr. Walsh stated that the Town of Belhaven citizenry had
made a remarkable effort to try and get the postal service
to meet the community’s desires, by persuading postal
officials to postpone the contract while the community
searched for way to get the post office located at the
preferred site. Mr. Walsh stated that he had developed
sixteen post office sites for lease by the postal service.
Mr. Walsh stated that when he originally bid on the proposed
site on Old County Road, he had a vision for the area
with the widening of Old County Road at the site entrance
and a roadway to the shopping center and room for possible
expansion of the proposed building if needed. Mr. Walsh
stated that the preferred site on Main and Railroad Street
would be a nice site but that he as a developer could
not develop property with a 20 year stipulation of post
office site only. Mr. Walsh stated that the lease with
the postal service would be for twenty years but after
the first five years the lease could be terminated for
any reason. Mr. Walsh stated that postal building restrictions
were stringent. Mr. Walsh also stated that the postal
service operates 38,000 post offices and warned the town
of surpassing the March 2 deadline.
Mr.
Gene Purvis questioned could the town purchase the preferred
property on the corner of Main and Pamlico Streets. Mayor
Boyette stated that the Town of Belhaven did not want
to develop or own a post office as private developers
who have expertise in this type of business should pursue
the project. Also should the town become the developer
all taxes for twenty years would be exempt, or lost revenue.
Conclusion
Following additional discussion, Mayor Boyette suggested
that Mr. Julius Purvis meet with Mrs. Lucy Robbins to
encourage the dropping of the 20 year stipulation of the
site at Main and Railroad Street being used as a post
office only.
Councilman
Hodges made the motion for Mr. Julius Purvis to contact
the representative of the Bishop property, Mrs. Lucy B.
Robbins to persuade her to drop the 20 year restriction
of the preferred site of the post office at the corner
of Main and Railroad Streets by 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday,
February 24 and that the town fund an additional $20,000
for the increased cost of the property so that the developer
could proceed with the preferred site; if no agreement
is reached then the post office would be located on Old
County Road. Councilwoman Heath seconded the motion.
Further
Discussion and Vote Count
Mr. Walsh stated that he hoped the post office would be
located downtown. Mr. Bob Holz stated that no more time
extensions should be given. Mayor Boyette stated that
Postal Service officials would be notified. The motion
carried unanimously.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Councilman Hodges made
the motion to adjourn. Councilwoman Heath seconded the
motion which carried unanimously, 4 to 0. The meeting
adjourned at 8:23 P.M.
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