THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503180235
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Commissioner Clarence Skinner said Friday that a committee formed to study the feasibility of a Dare County office complex will recommend a county-wide vote on a bond referendum to fund the proposed facility.
If the electorate turns down the bond issue, the complex will not be built, he said.
Skinner said a vote by the full Board of Commissioners on the recommendation could be taken Monday.
Skinner said there was a need to ``settle the waters'' on the issue.
``There appears to be a climate of mistrust, and people believe that this is a done deal,'' Skinner said. ``Nothing could be further from the truth. In order to set that aside, we're going to recommend that general obligation bond referendum.''
A special election could be held within 90 days if the commission approves the recommendation.
Skinner urged fellow members of the county's Capital Improvements Committee to rethink its position on possible sites for the complex.
Bebe Woody of the Manteo Preservation Trust made a presentation to the committee Friday offering a fifth possible site for the complex. Woody's proposal centers on a tract on Highway 64 in Manteo behind Ace Hardware and Wachovia Bank, now the home for a North Carolina Department of Transportation Maintenance Yard.
Woody said many Manteo residents are concerned about the impact a government complex at another site would have on the town economically, environmentally and from an historic perspective.
Woody also urged that other needs of the county be considered, such as a hospital, nursing home facilities and expanded higher education opportunities.
``This doesn't have to all be built at one time,'' she said. ``But these are needs that affect all of the citizens of Dare County.''
Former Manteo Mayor John Wilson IV said the committee should use the discussions on the new complex as a way to establish broad-based county planning to meet the needs of the community as a whole.
``We need a complex, ``Wilson said, ``but we need other things more.''
Skinner said the committee, as well as the architect, Spillis, Candela/Warnecke, will review the site outlined in Woody's proposal, and others.
``We have not selected a site,'' Skinner said. ``I don't know where the rumor came from, but we have not signed a contract or made an agreement with anyone.''
The panel also outlined a number of civic and professional groups that may be interested in placing a member on a blue-ribbon committee to be selected to provide input on the issue. Selection is expected to be completed by early April.
Skinner also addressed a question concerning scheduling the meetings so that more people could attend. Friday's meeting was open to the public but scheduled for 2:30 p.m., a time when most are at work. The commissioner said an effort would be made to set a regular schedule and time for the meetings. by CNB