The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-02-18
Accountant and
Register Offices
Are Combined
HI. III. Burgess Reelected Tax
Supervisor; 6-Year Audit
Will Be Made
BARKER CLAIM IS SETTLED

The board of county commission
ers at an adjourned meeting held on
Monday decided for the present to
combine the office of county account
tant with that of the Register Of
The board found by making this ar
rangment, it could save the county
some money on the purchasing of a
bond, since the Register Of Deeds is
already. under bond, and also that
by having the Register of Deeds to
perform the duties of county accoun-
tant it could make material saving
of something like half of the amount
which has heretofore been necessary
to carry on the. office of county ac-
countant. The. board was informed
that the duties II the officeSef couIfs
ty accountant could be performed by
some one who could devote about
half time to the work.
Mr.. L. P. Coward, present Regis
ter of Deeds, stated that he did not
in any sense apply for this position
and he was very reluctant to accept
it. He only agreed to accept it when
it was shown that he could render
the county service and enable the
board of county commissioners to
make substantial saving for the
taxpayers.
Several Well-known men had ap-
piled for the position of county ac-
countant, all of whom the board
would have been glad to consider for
the position but the board felt that
it could make saving to the tax
payers and have the work carried
on in an efficient manner that it was
its duty to do so. 1t is likely that a
tax collector on commission basis
will be selected to collect the back
taxes which are now in the office Of
the county accountant, there being a
considerable amount of unpaid taxes
for several years back and the board
is very anxious to make collection
of all back taxes.
An agreement was entered into
with Mr.. E.W.Smith, certified public
accountant, of Lenoir, North Caro-
lima, to make a complete audit of
county affairs from December l.,
1880 to June 80, 1887. Mr.. Smith
agreed to make this complete audit,
prepare financial statement for the
county, assist the county accountant
in setting up modern system of
bookkeeping, and to render other
services to the county for the sum of
$12O0.00.
This amount is about the same as
the county has already spent within
the past few months for partial au-
dts. The board of county commits
sioners expressed themselves as be-
ing opposed to spending large
amounts for audits but they decided
to accept the offer made by Mr..
Smith in order that the citizens and
taxpayers of the county might be
fully informed as to the financial
status of the county and it's affairs.
Mr.. H. H. Burgess who has served
in very efficient manner as county
tax supervisor for several years was
reelected to this position. The board
had some other applications, some
from very worthy men but it is felt
that since Mr.. Burgess was familiar
with the work that it was best to
let him carry on for another year.
E. Jones Barker, former county
accountant, had heretofore present
ed claim of $5,O00.00 for alleged
damages against the county for in
jury sustained in a stove explosion.
The former board of county COM
missioners had paid $4,000 on said
claim to apply on his hospital ex-
penses and it was voted to finish
paying the hospital bill of $4,000 in
full settlement of his claim and said
amount was accepted in full settle
ment by his attorneys. The board
thought that this amount was less
than it would have to spend to even
appear in court and defend the
county against the claim.