THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 1997 TAG: 9701080351
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 77 lines
The coals of contention between this city and its host county are flaming again, this time over recreation fees and a school system name change.
Elizabeth City council members say the county owes $194,826 for its share of Parks and Recreation Department services. Pasquotank County commissioners say it should only pay $155,190.
Neither wants to give in.
Pasquotank County Manager Randy Keaton and Elizabeth City Manager Steven Harrell have argued over the issue for six months.
In a letter dated Aug. 7, Harrell gave Keaton and the county an ultimatum.
``Please be advised that if the county chooses not to pay the amounts as invoiced, recreation services will be provided prorated to the $155,190 budgeted by the county,'' wrote Harrell. ``The $155,190 will afford unincorporated residents recreation services for 10 months. I realize this is an unusual step, Randy, but hopefully this will provide the County Commission with the seriousness with which the City Council takes its budgeted figure of $194,826.''
Keaton responded to Harrell's August letter on Sept. 10.
``It was the opinion of the Board of Commissioners that since the current recreation contract had expired, and a new contract had not been negotiated, that subject to customary contract law, the current contract would continue under the original terms and conditions which provided for a five percent increase per year,'' Keaton wrote.
Harrell said Tuesday that he hopes the city and county can work out their differences soon. If not, county residents who do not live in the city would be denied access to city recreation activities after May 1, 10 months after the budget was passed.
Recently, the county offered to increase its amount by $10,000 and forget the rest of the city's obligation of $3,000 for the library fund. Keaton said he has not heard from the city on that offer.
Harrell said the city figures the county's share by taking 40 percent of its recreation budget, excluding all capital costs. County residents outside the city make up more than 50 percent of the total number of participants, and the 40 percent figure is more than fair, said Harrell.
``You can calculate that number a bunch of different ways,'' said Keaton. ``They've counted their expenses but haven't subtracted revenues.''
Keaton maintains that recreation expenses minus fees collected equals $380,000. He multiplied that number by 40 percent and came up with $152,000.
``You've got to work from a net budget,'' Keaton said Tuesday.
Keaton admitted that if the full Parks and Recreation budget, including capital expenditures, were counted, then the county's 40 percent share would reach $190,000.
``But that was not part of the city's proposal,'' he said.
On another issue, city councilmen and Mayor Rick Gardner criticized the county commissioners' proposal to drop ``Elizabeth City'' from the name of the school system.
``I find it difficult to see where it's going to save money to do something that doesn't seem necessary,'' said Gardner during Monday's council meeting. ``Why change it simply for the sake of change?''
``There are more people that know where Elizabeth City is than know where Pasquotank County is,'' said Councilman Zack Robertson.
``It's a real sore spot with me,'' said Councilman Jimi Sutton.
Gardner proposed a resolution to be sent to the county from the city stating its position. All members voted in favor.
``It's absolutely a unanimous decision,'' Gardner said firmly to the small audience in the council chambers.
The city's opinions may have no effect on the issue. Keaton said the county plans to have state Rep. W.C. ``Bill'' Owens submit a bill to change the name from Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Public Schools to Pasquotank County Public Schools.
A state law allowed the city and county to merge its separate school systems in 1968. The school system and its name have been combined since.
``It's really just a clarification issue,'' said Keaton. ``The name is sort of cumbersome. It's not very accurate. The city doesn't contribute anything to the school system. We never said the name change would save money. It just makes it clearer.''
The council recommended that the county hold a public hearing before making any changes.