THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604050484
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: EDENTON LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Northeastern Economic Development Commission members decided Thursday to wait until the new fiscal year begins before paying the bills of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center on Route 17.
The welcome center is supposed to get $75,000 a year in General Assembly money from the Albemarle Commission to operate the visitor center near the Carolina-Virginia line.
Penny Leary-Smith, director of the welcome center, last month asked the commission to assume financial responsibility for the center after she said the Albemarle Commission asked her to take a cut in aid.
``If it can be arranged, we'd like the full Economic Development Commission to consider the takeover of the welcome center at an April 24 meeting in Ahoskie,'' said Chairman Jimmy Dixon, who attended the Thursday meeting of the commission's advisory committee in the Edenton Centura Bank building.
Ben Berry, the Elizabeth City bank executive who is head of the policy-setting advisory committee, then steered a vote through his group to ask the full commission to assume and restructure the management of the welcome center this month.
But Berry's group also voted to delay financial help for the welcome center until after a new fiscal year begins July 1. That's when the General Assembly releases another $75,000 to operate the visitor center through June 30, 1997.
Dixon said he had already notified the state's paymaster that the commission will be responsible for the welcome center after July 1.
But Dixon said Albemarle Commission Director Hal Walker and the Albemarle Commission must assume responsibility for the welcome center through June 30 with this year's appropriation.
However, several members of the Economic Development Commission have indicated they want to keep the welcome center operating, and if Leary-Smith needs emergency help she probably will get assistance to tide the center over until the new fiscal year begins.
After the advisory committee action, Walker, whose troubles with Leary-Smith made a public issue out of the welcome center's financial problems, startled the advisory group with a money pitch of his own.
Walker asked the advisory committee to consider a new economic loan program.
``Are you talking about a loan program for the Albemarle Commission?'' Walker was asked.
``Yes,'' said Walker.
Several months ago the Albemarle Commission discovered it was broke and Walker said faulty bookkeeping had allowed operating funds to plummet.
The commission is supposed to be financed - in part - by pro-rated contributions from the several counties in which the commission carries out do-good programs.
Two weeks ago Walker said his organization would need more than $300,000 to become solvent again.
Chairman Berry told Walker that any request for help for the Albemarle Commission would have to be submitted through regular channels to the full economic commission.
The Economic Development Commission has more than $1.8 million earmarked for Northeastern community aid and a promise of at least another year's financial support from the General Assembly. by CNB