THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409300487
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
Unable to agree on a private utility to provide wastewater treatment, the Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners has decided to go ahead with design work for improvements on the Ocean Acres wastewater treatment facility.
The action Wednesday night drew criticism from at least one environmental group. The Ocean Acres facility has been the subject of controversy over the discharge of wastewater into Roanoke Sound.
Mayor Terry Gray said the improvements were a ``short-term solution.''
``We put forth a lot of effort to position ourselves prior to having to do this,'' he said. ``The board worked very hard to get a private agreement.''
Commissioner E.M. ``Coy'' Harbeson said that the resolution means ``light at the end of the tunnel'' for the community. ``I'd like to tell the residents, `Thank you, for being patient with us.' ''
The town had been involved in negotiations with Asheville businessman Wayne Kinser, who had expressed interest in purchasing the facility. Those talks were abandoned earlier this summer.
The town will spend some $47,000 for preliminary engineering work for the improvements.
Brant Wise, past president of the Surfrider Foundation, said he was disappointed by the action. The foundation is a national organization dedicated to environmental concerns, including water quality.
``What they did . . . doesn't show a commitment to me,'' he said. ``This isn't only going to cost the people of Ocean Acres or Kill Devil Hills. It's going to cost the entire county. Because it impacts everyone, the people should have a right for input into this, and to be part of the decision.
``I hope the people of Kill Devil Hills will pursue action to stop this from happening. We cannot continue to dump wastewater into the sound.''
In other action, the commission appointed Neil White, former president of the Kill Devil Hills Taxpayers Association, to the town's Street Improvement Study Commission.
Along with the appointment, the commission unanimously voted to remove a provision designating one seat on the committee for a member of the taxpayers' association.
Association President Barry Jones said that the group wanted the seat filled, not on the basis of organizational affiliation, but based on willingness to serve.
``There's no disagreement,'' Jones said. ``When this seat was designated, the commissioners wanted the help of the association. We don't disagree with their action. If they need our help, we'll be willing to give it.''
Harbeson said the commission should make an effort to find out if the taxpayers' association had someone in mind to fill the seat.
Wright, however, disagreed. ``They should make an effort and come forward,'' Wright said. ``We're not their baby sitter.''
Commissioner Lurana Cowan said, ``I don't think we should appoint someone based on what organization they belong to.''
Wright said designating the seat to a member of a certain organization is wrong.
``It's not right to do this,'' he said. ``If we do that, why don't we designated a seat for the League of Women Voters? I think the only qualification we need to have is that a member be a citizen of Kill Devil Hills.''
The commission also heard a presentation from Warren Judge of the Dare County Tourism Board concerning a proposed convention center for Dare County.
The commissioners reiterated earlier concerns about funding for the project, and encouraged the board to look to the private sector for help in building the facility.
Two matters were taken under advisement.
The commissioners were presented with a list of possible changes to the Town Charter, including increasing the mayor's term in office from two to four years.
And the municipality's Storm Hazard Mitigation and Post-Disaster Construction Plan was presented for review. A workshop is scheduled for next month to discuss the plan.
The board also honored former Fire Chief Bill Gard for 30 years of distinguished service. Gard, who retired earlier this month, was honored with a resolution.
The meeting was the first for the newest member of the commission, Bill Morris. He was chosen earlier this month to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Commissioner Lacy McNeill. by CNB