THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610170186
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 102 lines
Do you, the taxpayers ever wonder what is going on with the Dare County Airport? Since I was removed from the airport authority by the County Commissioners, at the insistence of Clarence Skinner, there has been only promotional propaganda generated by the Airport Authority.
The number of employees, taxes and financial benefits derived by Dare County from the airport (as reported in the newspaper recently) and made by Mr. Skinner, have not been substantiated in any way. Mr Skinner, once the airport manager, is now a county commissioner and an appointed member of the airport authority. Cozy little arrangement isn't it?
I have a suggestion to you, the residents and taxpayers of Dare County: Remove Clarence Skinner from the Airport Authority by defeating him in the upcoming election. He is running for re-election as county commissioner.
With some new dedicated county commissioners it would be possible to eliminate the airport authority completely and make the airport manager report directly to the county commissioners. This would shed some light into a black hole.
Charles Elms
Manteo SPCA needs to ease up
In response to Gail Kowalski's comment at the Dare County commissioners meeting of Oct. 7 that no one had ever voiced their concerns regarding what's happening at the animal shelter: In December 1994, when my wife and I adopted Buddy, we ended up having to go to the head of the SPCA, at that time Renee Welch and Edith Camp, just to be able to adopt the dog. After a thorough examination of the yard and sleeping quarters for our dogs, Welch and Camp told us we had an excellent place for a dog and they over-rode Lori Betts decision and gave us the dog. But we couldn't have adopted him without their help. This incident should have been recorded in the SPCA files.
Another reason that Ms. Kowalski hasn't heard from anyone on these matters, is because the SPCA holds its meetings like some kind of secret society. Their meetings are never advertised on the radio, or in the newspapers. So anyone who had or has a problem with the animal shelter doesn't have a clue when or where to go. Don't you think if public input was wanted, they would try to make every effort to let the public know about these meetings? Instead, we only hear from the SPCA when they need more money. With the current requirements of the Dare County SPCA, in order to adopt an animal from there you either have to be part of the social register or rich. One last thing, I would have considered sending this letter to the SPCA, except wouldn't you know it, I don't know their address.
Kevin Michael Tillett
Manteo Ode to voting
There is a fair county called Dare
Where rule by great fear is the fare.
They tax and they spend;
Is there never an end?
`Cause the people just don't seem to care.
They form new commissions with endless positions
And that's how the voters are bought.
They're kings for awhile, as they strut and revile,
Knowing voters have little free thought.
Their blackmail persists, as few can resist
Because the fear of a job loss is great.
They're pompous with power going to their heads
And just like a cancer it spreads.
So long as we have a good job and a meal,
We're all too willing to partake of the deal.
They'll give wage increases, pay top-dollar leases
To anyone offering their vote.
Democracy's great if we all do our part,
By using our brains instead of our heart.
Please vote in November.
Marie-Louise Reifschneider
Kitty Hawk Support needed bonds
The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, at its meeting on Sept. 25, passed a resolution in support of the Joint Highway/School Bond Referendum, which will be on the ballot on Nov. 5.
This referendum includes $1.8 billion for school construction and $950 million for road improvements. The bond package for Currituck County includes $466,309 in secondary road money and $3,002,491 in school construction money. The bond package for Dare County includes $122,171 in secondary road money and $5,883,825 in school construction money. In addition, a road project in the area will be eligible for a portion of the $300 million in accelerated funding for intrastate roads.
Quality education and an excellent highway system are key elements in our economic progress. Highway bonds would make possible the accelerated construction strategic highway projects, which would reduce land and construction costs caused by inflation, as well as expediting linkage of rural and urban areas and improve safety. School bonds would alleviate overcrowding by nearly doubling the rate of badly needed school construction, provide more equity between urban and rural school districts and decrease reliance on local property taxes to fund school construction.
Use of the highway and school bonds will not require tax increases and we encourage our residents to vote in favor of passage of state highway and school construction bonds on Nov. 5.
Rick Mizelle
Chairman of the Board
Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce by CNB