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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06071937472 June 7, 1937 The Board of Commissioners of Harnett County met in regular session Monday, June 7, 1937 at 9:00 A.M. with J.B.Ennis, Chairman; J.S.Barker; Lonnie h.Byrd; A.A.Cameron; -and Geo.T.Noel present. Also B.C.Strickland,`County Attorney. It is ordered that the bid of Modern Steam Laundry of Dunn be accepted for the laundry at County Home and Jail for period ending first Monday in December,1937, in the amount of ;3.50 per hundred pound. It is ordered that R.M.Dowd bf Averasboro Township, be relieved of poll tax for the year 1937 on account of being a disabled World War veteran. It is ordered that Bessie Brower, convicted at the last March .1937.term of County Recorder's Court, and hired to the County Home, be released from the said Home and re- hired for the remainder of the actual time not served to Lonnie Jackson at the rate of $10.00 per month to be by him paid to Harnett County, said period of hiring to run from June 7, 1937. The County Accountant of Harnett County be authorized to execute the certificate for appropriation for fire control with Department of Conservation, whereby $ 850.00 is appropriated for fiscal. year 1937 -38, and the said sum is hereby allocated for said purpose. It is ordered that C,H.Reardon of Neills Creek Township be relieved of poll tax for the year 1937. on account of.. being.. a non - resident of the County. It is ordered that J.S.McLean, Purchasing Agent, purchase an electric iron for use in, County Home. The Chairman of the Board appointed.J.S.MeLean and Geo.T.Noel as Committee to investigate the property -of Eli.'W.Jackson Estate in Averasboro Township, for the years 1934,_1935 and 1936. . It is ordered that J.T.Whittenton of Dunn, N.C.R -3, Averasboro Township, be granted free peddlers license for year 1937 on account of.physical disability. . The Board ordered the County Attorney to file answer to the cowpint of Neill McIt.Salmon and J,Robert Young, against the Commissioners of arnett County, and approved the answer as drafted and authorized and directed the Chairman to execute the verification of the answer. The report of Register of Deeds for the month of May was accepted and check in the amount of $555.10 was turned over to the Auditor. It is ordered that report of.W.D.Barrington, Tax Collector, for Schedule "B" and Beer License tax, be accepted and approved. Cheek for X1085.38 was turned over to the Auditor. It is ordered by unanimous vote of the Commissioners that - Sheriff W.E.Salmon be allowed and paid_10 %_inerease of salary in compliance with and as authorized under Public.Local.laws of.1935,.to date from April _1, 1937. The report of the nomination :of D.C.Wilson, Dunn, N.C,, as Judge of. Recorder's Court, of Dunn, and.Carl Barrington,_ ,as Vice- Recorder., together: with request that the nomination be confirmed by:Harnet.t County Commissioners.. WHEREAS, by unanimous vote of all Commissioners the said nominations were confirmed. The matter of an appropriation for shop equipment and 7/16 cost of salary and travel in connection with an Agriculture Department at Dunn Public School was presented to the Board, upon request of the Board.of Education and the. Dunn School Committee. .Whereupon the Board signified its intention to allow an appropriation for said purpose in the Budget for 1937 -38, not neeeding the sum of 31350.00. The matter of rebinding county record books and reeonditioning them by oiling and preserving same, was submitted by Mr. Smith and referred to the County Purchasing Agent with authority to act in the premises. The County Attorney is ordered to proceed to institute suit* for .the fore- closure.,, of tax certificates held by the County in instances where proper tax suits have not been filed with-the Clerk of the Court, or are not now pendingNin the Superior Court. The fee to be paid for such legal services shall be $10;00 per suit, and an allowance not exceeding $2.50 per case for Clerk hire; and in no case shall a larger alliance be made unless approved by the Board upon consideration of individual cases. The County will advance the cost of service of processes as is` charged in other 'civil actions, if brought as strict foreclosure. It is ordered by the Board of Commissioners that. H.C.Strickland, Attorney, be ,authorized and directed to communicate .with investment_ bankers of _security markets,. and ascertain :Me probable. cost of procuring the services of an experienced representative to come to Harnett County and examine into and ascertain the..floating and, bonded debt of the County and.fs...financial_status with respect to its securities and.their value, and -te thereupon recommend on the basis of such information a plan whereby the unuausflt heavy- maturities --of 473 indebtedness within the next six years and thereafter may be spread over a. period of years at a saving in interest rates to the County. RESOLUTION: WHEREAS, Overhills Land Company is owner of that tract of J.L.Marks land in Johnsonville Township, Harnett County, as described in deed by J.Bayard Clark, Trustee to Overhills Land Company recorded in Book 259, page 487, which was purchased at foreclosure sale for $1000.00 on 29 day of January, 1937; And whereas, it appears uncertain whether said land has been listed for the past several years as a part of other lands of said J.L.Marks; and whereas, said land probably laps over on lands of the Company and probably contains about 300 acres; and whereas, the said Overhills Land Company desires to pay and discharge all past due and outstanding taxes against said land: NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that said land be after listed for the years 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936 at the valuation of $1500.00 at the rate of said years, and that the said tax calculated on said valuation for said years at said rate be accepted in full settlement and discharge of all Harnett Moulity taxes against said lands for the year 1936 and all prior years._ The Auditor is authorized and directed to make the lasting and calculate the tax and upon payment issue proper receipt in full for said tax. Done and ordered this June U, 1937. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Approved: J.S.McLean, Auditor. by: J.B."nnis, Chairman. _ - _ TO T8E°'STATE'HIGHWAY AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION: The Board of Commissioners of Harnett County respectfully urge that you include in your road program for the early future an East and West road across the County of Harnett. The County is fairly well supplied with North and South highways and in our opinion the present most urgent need for the County is the development of an improved highway leading from Benson by way of Coats to Lillington and thence by the County road locally known as the Johnsonville Road by way of Pineview to connect with U.S.No. 1 in the vicinity of Cameron. The extreme East and west portjona of the County are now without any direct improved highway connection to the ounty seat and this connection would also be of important service for providing a shorter State route than now exists between the East and seat. We recognize that the entire rood cannot_. be_oonatructed at one UUmO but we urge that the survey be completed and that...the.Cmmmission.proceed as smdpidly as possible in construction of this cross county.hig1aray _ and,we are wilting to leave to the judgment of the Commission. the_ order.in_which.the different sections are improved. By order of the Board in regular session June 7, 1937. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Attests Ines Harrington, Clerk. by: J.B.Ennia, Chairman. Or ens es NORTH CAROLINA: IN THE SUPERIOR COURT HARNETT.COUNTY: SECOND MAY TERM 1937. TO HIS HONOR, JUDGE- W.C.HARRIS, JUDGE PRESIDING: We, the Grand Jury at this Term of Harnett Superior Court, do respectfully submit the following Report of our findings, and recommendations: We have carefully considered and passed upon all Bills of Indictment sent,us bx the Soliaultor and returned same into Court. 1.' We inspected the County Garage and all school busses, and find that the mechanics are busy repairing the busses which were Used during the pest sohrol 50018403. ft round some of the busses. had been driven by careless and negligent drivers, and recommend to the school authorities that they be very- careful in the selection of afters for all busses. We further recommend that adequate storage space be secured for all the busses during the summer months. S. We inspected the uounty Home and found it in good shape. We recommend that wire screens be purchased and the inside walla painted at onoe. 3. We found the several offices in the Courthouse in fair eondition and recommend that the janitor or janitors do a better job towards keeping the entire Courthouse and Agricultural Building clean. 4. We inspected the State ighway and Public Works Commission's Camp near Lillington, and found it in exoellent condition. The Superintendent Mr.Zyle watthewat is to be commended for his services. 5. we visited the Agricultural Building and found same in fair condition. 11, recommend that the screens and windows in the office of the Board of Education be repaired immediately. a. All Justices of the Peace appear to be making regular reports to each criminal terns of this Court, and command them for thing"' We found some Administrators and Guardians are not making reports as required by law, and we will look into this at our next meeting. 7. Our entire body visited the common jail of the County, and found it unfit'to keep ptisonera in. The Jailor is keeping it as clean and aanitary as the dilapidated condition will admit and we find no critidism of him in our discussion of the unfitness of the jail. The jail was built to accommodate 16 men, and of late years the jailor has been forced to confine as many *4 30 people in it at a time. This is the limit in the crowding of human beings and we think of the Blank Hole of Calcutta as the only parallel to it. There 474 is no place in the jail for white women, insane persons_, or. juveniles.. We understand the County Commissioners are making an effort t.o:either repair the jail or build's new one,' and we cannot too strongly urge them to'perform..this humanitarian task at once. Unless something is not done we shall at our nett meeting thank n}mend that the present jail be condemned and closed tip. g Judge Harris for his very able Charge delivered to us when we began our labors, and the County Officials and Solicitor for their co- operation given' us at this Term. Respectfully submitted, this -May 20, 1937: Sidney G.Thomas, Foreman Attest: T.A.Core, Clerk Grand Jury. Grand Jury. INSPECTION PUBLIC BUILDINGS REPORT Agricultural Building 1. Floors are never cleaned except by dry sweeping twice a week. This transfers the dirt as dust over everything in the building, including peoples lungs. 2. The windows have never been washed since the building was constructed except a few individuals have washed the windows in their own offices. 3. Water is standing on the basement floor and it has been a week since a rain. 4. Much rubbish is scattered around the basement. 5. The toilets are not kept clean. 6. Fly screens do not fit and leave room for flies. Recommendations 1. Floors should be thoroughly cleaned occasionally and swept daily with a sweeping compound to prevent dust. 2. The windows and doors should be cleaned. 3. Water should be kept out of the basement. 4. .Rubbish in basement should be disposed of both from a standpoint. of' sanitation and fire hazard. 5. Toilets shoi}14 be cleaned daily. 6. Repair fly screens. All the above li fects are a result of inadequate janitor service. The present janitor appears to 'willing worker but has too much work for one man to do properly. Possibly a maid would be suitable for this building.'. 7, Spittons should be provided to prevent spitting on the walls and behind the raditors. County Jail 1. Sleeping, space is grossly inadequate for the number of inmates. 2. Light and ventilation are inadequate. 3. Space for separation of sexes and separation of children from adults and insane does not exist. 4, Space for separation of communicable diseases from healty peoples does not exist. 5. Gonorrhea, syphilis, tonsillitis, tuberculosis and vermin are frequently brought inby new presoners and it is impossible to isolate them so as to prevent the spread of these diseases. 6. The plumbing is in bad repair. Water is leaking from toilet on top floor into toilet room below. 7. Flies are numerous and impossible to keep out due to lack of screens. Recommendations. 1. New Jail. -- 2. Repair eumbing in present jail. 3. Screen present 4. Paint present white on inside. Courthouse 1. Grounds are poorly kept, trash and rubbish all around'on the grounds. 2. Not properly screened against flies. 3. White and colored people use the same and only drinking fountain* 4. Toilets in filthy condition. Plumbing in bad repair. Urine on floor, no floor drain for flushing. Commodes don't flush properly, urinal stand cracked. 5. Floor dirty around spittons. 6. Windows dirty. 7. Walls need. painting. 8. Outside toilet for colored in filthy eondition and plumbing in bad repair. Recommendations. 1. Clean up grounds. 2. Screen-all-doors and windows. 3. -Provide two't &Bonn) drinking fountains. 4. Repair plumbing, toilet floors and keep them clean thereafter. 5. Clean-floors, and windows and pa httwalls 6. Repair plumbing and clean up outside toilet and paint inside white. . Welfare Dept. & Club House 1. Sewage from these two }aiildings is pouring out on the ground a few yards from the club house., This is " erious violation of sanitary laws that itss2 dTh be fixed at once. County Home 1. This place-,is swamped with classes Of inmates that belong in other institutions. In. addition to the usual class of county home people, there are now the following: sever diabetes, tuberculosis, insanity, narcotic- addition, broken legs and syphilis, 2. Fly screens are inadequate. 3. Sewage-system and water supply need repair and fountains installed. Recommendations. 1. As long range objective a county hospital should be kept in Mind to be built if and when funds are available. 475 2. Fly screens should be repaired. 3. Repair sewer system and water supply. (e) Date: May 20, 1937. w.B.Hunter,; County Health Officer The report of the Grand Jury rendered at the Criminal Term Of Superior Court which closed May 22, 1937, was received and filed, and the recommendations and findings therein noted were discussed by the members of the Board. In this connection the following orders were made by unanimous vote of all members: That J.S.McLean, County Purchasing Agent, immediately cause to be purchased and installed at the County Home' suitable and proper wire screens; and that he purchase and under contract cause to be properly applied, paint to the interior walls of the buiLdings, And thet he purchase and cause to be repaired the screens in the office of the board of Mucation, and otherwise cause tabs made any and all needed repairs, the costa Of which may not justify competitive bids. That the Custodian of the Courthouse and Agricultural Building be diligent to see that the janitor or janitors servicing these buildings shall keep the same clean and sanitary in every respect, in default whereof they should be replaced by more efficient personnel. Upon motion of Commissioner Noel, seconded by Commissioner Byrd it was unanimously ordered that Chairman Ennis appoint two members of the board to sera with him, the three to constitute a Building Committee, whereupon the Chairman appointed J.S.Barker and Geo.T.Noel to said Committee. The BDerd *nanimously' authorized the said Committee and directed them to investigate and determine the needs of the County in respect bf a suitable jail structure and equipment therefor, taking into consideration the probable needs of the future as well as the present, and to recommend to the Board of Commissioners whether a new jail toutd and may be constructed, or the present structure be extended, renovated, repaired and new equipment be installed therein; and that said Committee shall.essertain,_as far as maybe practicable, the probable boat of new construction, repairs, renovation, extensions and equipment, and to this end the Committee be vested with authority to engage and employ the services of a competent architect and/or contract to estimate for the Committee the probable costs herein mentioned. To the end that the-rectimmendations of the Grand Jury ism be executed, it is urged that said dommittee report as soon as may be possible, whereupon the Board of Commissioners may act in the premises.. WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Harnett County has been advised that in the re- organization of the Prison Department of the State Highway and Public Works Commission there will be in each Division a Superintendent of Prisons and Farms; WHEREAS, Mr. Kyle Matthewa has been oonnected with the prison camp located in this County for more than six years and for the last three years has been Superintendent of said prison camp; AND'WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has been in *lose touch with the management of the said prison camp during all of this time both intheir private and official capacities; AND WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners is of the opinion that the management of the prison and farm located in this County, his been emesollent and the esme has been commended by all who came in contact with it. E eerpts from the of the Grand Juries of this County made under the direction of the Superior Court of this County are hereto attached and speak for themselves: • NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Harnett County that: - =The`Board does most heartily recommend to the Honorable D B.YcCrary, State Highway and Public Works Commissiogner, that he select as the kuperviser of Prisons and Farms for the Sixth Division J°r. Kyle Matthews. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that copies of this resolution duly attested, be forwarded to the Honorable D.B.McCrary, State Highway and Public Merks.COMmission, Asheboro, N.C., L.E.Whitfield, Division Engineer, Sixth Division,_ Fayetteville, N.C. and Oscar T.Pitts, Direotors of Prisons, Raleigh, N.C. Tpi.e the 7th. day of June, 1937. IBERBAB, the Board of County Commissioners of Harnett County, has baetl advised that there is reason to believe that Wt. Kyle Matthews, the present.. Superintendent of the Prison Camp, located in this County, will within the nett. few days testa e a promotion which we believe his management of the local prison comp has entitled him to; AND WHEREAS, the Board is aware of the fact that the position vacated by such a competent man is one that will be hard to fill• AND WHEREAS, the Board is informed that Mr. w.L.Cooke of this County, is available, to fill the tacancy that is to b!-: :oreated by *tthews' promotion, and the Board is of the opinion that Mr. E.L.Cooke is a competent successor by reason Of his long period of service es a member of this Board, and further, by reason of the fact that from December 1930 until the management of the prisoners was taken over by the State Highway and Public Works Commission, Mr. Cooke acted as Chairman of the Committee of the Board of County Commissioners in Charge of the county prison camp; 476 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Harnett County that: The Board does most earnestly recommend to the Honorable D.BMcCrary, State Highway and Public Works Commissioner, and to the Prison - Department .of..said Commission, that Yr. E.L.Cooke be :_selected as the Superintendent of the Prison Camp located in Harnett. County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution duly attested be forwarded to the Honorable D.B.McCrary, State Highway and Public Works Commissioner, Asheboro, N.C., L.R.Whitfleld,.Division Engineer Sixth Division, Fayettetille, N.C., and Oscar T.Pitts,..Direotors of Prisons, Raleigh, N.C. This the 7th. day of June, 1937. Excerpts from Grand Juries Reports: June 3, 1935: We have inspected the several offices in the Courthouse, the Jail, the County Home, the Convict Camp, the County garage and found all in good shape. We talked with the inmates confined at the Jail, the inmates in the County Home, and the prisoners at the Convict Camp, and all reported good treatment at the hands of those in whose care they were placed; Jant,8, 1936: We inspected the State Highway Prison Camp of this County and find the premises in fine condition. The Mess Hall was spotlessly clean and a credit to the State of North Carolina and the County of Harnett and could not be complimented too highly. The food was excellent and the barracks were in a sanitary conditon..:_We_wish to compliment Superintendent Kyle Matthews for his management of and the manner in which he runs this Camp. May 21, 1936: We inspected the State Prison Camp and found it in 'excellent condition in every respeot and wish to commend Mr.Kyle Matthews very highly for his excellent service atth and for same. Sept. 10,. 1936: The State Highway and Public Works. Commission's Camp, located in this County,is also excellently kept by Mr. Xfle Matthews, the Superin- tendent, and his helpers, and we commend him for it. Nov. 30, 1936: We inspected the State Highway Camp of this County and find it in a very good condition. Jan. 6, 1937: We find the Convict Camp in A -1 condition. May 20, 1937; We inspected the State Highway and Public Works Commissions Camp near Liilington,_ and _.found . i.t in excellent condition. The Superintendent, Mr. Kyle Matthews, is to be commended for his services. It is .ordered Mrs. Rena Rose Wallace.Green James W.Avery L.W.Williams D.G.Gomedella D.W.Riehardson John,D.Wicker B.Gilbert Porter that the following Erwin, N.C. Pineview, N. Erwin, N.C. Erwin, N.0 Erwin, 0, 11.N Dunn, .C, Angier, N.C. Dunn, N.C. applications for -beer licenses - R.C,Cates C. - JW.Hockaday Floyd W.Ooats C.B.Earp Earl Jones W.Paul Jones Nick Johnson et al George R.Joseph be granted: Erwin, N.C. Angier, N.C. Dunn, N.C. Angier, N.C. Erwin, N.C. Dunn, N.C. Dunn, N.C. Dunn, N.C. There being no further business to come before the Board, it adjourned to convene at 9:00 A.M.June 14, 1937 unless to convene sooner by the order of the Chairman:' Clerk. Chairman. June 7, 1937. The county Board of Public Welfare with Mrs. J.G.Layton, Chairman and H.C.Cameron present met jointly with the Board of County Commissioners with J.B.Ennis, Chairman, J.S.Barker, A.A.Cameron, Geo.T.Noel, and Lonnie R.Byrd, present,. Also County Attorney, H.C.Strickland, was present. Y as' Lillie Davis was unanimously elected Superintendent of Public Welfare of Harnett County. It is ordered that Miss Lillie Davis be paid $150.00 per month salary and $50,00 per month traveling expenses. There' being no further business the Board adjourned: Clerk. Chairman.