THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 24, 1996 TAG: 9604240537
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: AHOSKIE LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Tightened purse strings are expected to disappoint sponsors of at least two projects that may get no more than ``support in principle'' today at a lengthy meeting of the Northeast Economic Development Commission.
A commissioner who will attend the daylong session in Ahoskie's Ramada Inn predicted that:
The historic Whalehead Club at Corolla in Currituck County will get good wishes but not much cash from the pump-primers. Currituck County, which owns the 1920s hunting lodge, is seeking money to develop the Whalehead site as a major tourist attraction.
A multi-million dollar private recreational project at Lake Gaston also is likely to be turned down. At least one favorable action is anticipated:
The commission is expected to approve a request by Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center officials that the commission take charge of the boat and auto tourist rest stop on U.S. 17 near the Virginia line.
Some members of the commission are concerned about the durability of their organization after the new ``short session'' of the General Assembly convenes in May.
The Northeast Commission was one of six created statewide during the 1992 General Assembly session. All of the agencies were initially promised $1.2 million a year to develop industry and tourism in the areas controlled by the commissions.
So far, members of the commission have been privately assured that their funding will continue.
Finally, the commission will go into closed session to hear from attorneys about the progress of a lawsuit brought against the Northeast agency by Estell ``Bunny'' Sanders, a former director of tourism for the group.
Sanders and another executive director were fired last year by the commission. Sanders sued over her termination, accusing the commission of wrongful discharge and violation of the state's open meetings law. by CNB