THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 8, 1995 TAG: 9508080357
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
The Dare County Board of Commissioners on Monday authorized preliminary work that could pave the way for water sales to Currituck County.
Commissioners voted 4-1 to ask county personnel to determine whether the county has adequate water capacity to sell some to its northern neighbor.
The two counties have been discussing the sale of water to three Currituck subdivisions on the Outer Banks - Spindrift, the Currituck Club, and Pine Island.
Last Thursday, officials discussed the sale of 160,000 gallons per day to Currituck over the next three years.
Under Monday's action, no gallon level was set. If the study shows that Dare has water to sell, the transaction would still have to be approved by both boards of commissioners.
Dare Chairman Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens said that the cost of the engineering study would be assumed by Currituck County if an agreement is reached.
Owens said that if the study shows there is not an adequate supply for Currituck, he would oppose the sale.
``If this is a bad investment for Dare County, and it leaves our residents short of water, I would say let's don't do it,'' Owens said.
However, Owens said he feels the sale would be a ``win-win'' situation for Dare County.
``I feel like this is a good, sound business decision,'' Owens said. ``We will sell the water at a lucrative price. But we have to find out if we have enough water.''
But Commissioner Shirley Hassell, as well as some Dare County residents, took the board to task over the issue. Hassell, who cast the lone vote against the water study, accused the board of violating the North Carolina Open Meetings Law in its meetings with Currituck officials Thursday. However, County Attorney Al Cole said the meeting was legal under the statute, because no quorum from either board was present. Dare Commissioners Owens, Doug Langford and Clarence Skinner were at the meeting with Currituck County Commission Chairman Ernie Bowden.
Hassell also said a majority of Dare County residents are opposed to any sale of water.
Luther Daniels Jr. of Wanchese said people in the small fishing village are having increasing problems with well water, and want quality drinking water.
``If we're going to sell water, we need to think about taking care of our own people first,'' said Daniels.
Manteo resident Wendy Mitchell said that if Dare charges impact fees and tap fees to Currituck property owners, it would create a binding obligation.
``The Dare County commissioners are not in the water business,'' she said. ``They are supposed to be representatives of Dare County citizens in preserving our resources, one of them being water, which we all can see is one of the most precious resources we have.''
The study is to be completed within 30 days.
In other business, the commission unanimously agreed to draft a resolution in support of North Carolina's commercial fishing industry. The action came after commercial fisherman Brownie Douglas asked for the county's help in fighting interests he said were out to destroy commercial fishing in America. He said Dare County's commercial fishing industry was on the verge of becoming a ``seafood fatality.''
``Fishing must be managed through science and common sense,'' Douglas said. ``Without commercial fishing, our coast would be economically crippled.''
``The issue is not conservation, it's allocation,'' he said. ``I'm asking you to do what's what's morally and ethically right.''
Douglas said a balanced approach is needed to protect the interests of commercial and sport fishermen.
Owens agreed, saying, ``Commercial fishing is of vital importance to Dare County, and we will work with you to make sure that Dare County does not become a `seafood fatality.' '' by CNB