THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 5, 1996 TAG: 9610050383
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 76 lines
As expected, the Manteo Board of Commissioners has provisionally accepted a Wilson development company's bid on a controversial 5.2-acre tract in the town. Hubquarter Partnership's bid of $201,000 beat out a Kitty Hawk developer and a group of Manteo citizens.
But competition for the controversial site behind Chesley Mall took a new turn Wednesday night, when the commission approved a change in what is known as the upset bid process.
Under the new procedure, the provisional acceptance of the bid by Hubquarter Partnership must still be advertised for 10 working days. However, once another upset bid meeting the minimum is submitted to the clerk's office, that bid is automatically accepted. The new bid would then be advertised, and a new 10-day clock started.
Previously, upset bids were collected throughout the 10-day period. At the end of the 10 days, the commission met to vote on provisional acceptance. Following preliminary approval, the upset bid was advertised and the 10-day clock started.
The change was made after Hubquarter submitted the last of three counter-offers, then altered its bid after reviewing bids by FDR Properties of Kitty Hawk and ``Save Our Town,'' a group of Manteo citizens.
The Hubquarter bid overturned a $183,000 offer for the land by Manteo newspaper owner Francis Meekins.
Town clerk Shannon Twiddy said that under state law, any upset bid submitted to the town becomes public record the moment it is received by the clerk's office.
``Because the bids are public record, if we do it the way we've been doing it, we'll have people on the doorstep at five minutes to five waiting to be the last one in,`` Commissioner Curtis Creech said. ``If we do it first come, first served, we'll insure that it will be fair. Doing it the other way, we put a lot of pressure on the clerk.''
But two commissioners, Edward Etheridge and Dellerva Collins, protested the change.
``It just doesn't seem fair to me,'' Collins said. ``Couldn't we go to sealed bids to insure that it would be fair?''
Etheridge agreed, saying, ``It disturbs me that the person who comes in last has an advantage. It looks to me more like an auction.''
Despite their protests, the change passed, 4-2.
In a related action, the board voted down a request by Commissioner Stuart Wescott to advertise the provisional acceptance in only one of the county's three general circulation newspapers. Previous bids were advertised in the tri-weekly Coastland Times and the weekly Outer Banks Sentinel.
Wescott contended that using only one paper would speed up the process and bring the bidding to a faster close.
However, Commissioners Melvin Jackson, Collins, Creech and Etheridge voted to continue advertising in both publications.
``What's the hurry?,'' Creech asked. ``We've gotten so much negative press over this, we don't need to change how we advertise it.''
The new bid will be advertised Friday.
In other business, the commission:
Granted a conditional use permit for Dial Page Inc., to construct a 260-foot communication tower.
In other zoning matters, the commission approved phases two through five of a subdivision at Village Landing on Ballast Point.
The board approved the site plan and annexation request by Allen and Vanessa Foreman. Approval is still subject to a public hearing.
Heard a request from Vanessa Foreman that the commission consider some type of action concerning the use of bicycle safety helmets, referring to a newspaper column about how the use of a helmet saved a Roanoke Island youngster's life.
Announced plans to meet with school officials and representatives of the state Department of Transportation to explore the possibility of additional crosswalks near the new Manteo Post Office. Increased traffic in the area has raised concerns over pedestrian safety.
Authorized Town Manager Kermit Skinner to check possible grant funding for a re-creation of the Battle of Roanoke Island by Civil War re-enactment units, to be held during the shoulder season. Local re-enactors have expressed interest in holding the event, similar to those in Plymouth and Williamston. by CNB