DATE: Tuesday, September 16, 1997           TAG: 9709160296

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MANTEO                            LENGTH:   68 lines

DARE'S NEWEST COMMISSIONER QUICKLY NAMED VICE CHAIRMAN STAN WHITE HAS TAKEN BOBBY OWENS' SEAT.

New Democratic Commissioner Stan White had nothing to complain about his first day on the job. Within minutes after he was sworn in to the Dare County Board of Commissioners, he was elected vice chairman.

And as if to illustrate the board's newfound quest for unity, it was mostly Republicans who were responsible for his rapid ascent.

With no discussion - or arguing - Republican Commissioner Richard Johnson's motion nominating White was backed by votes from Republican Commissioners Cheryl Byrd and Shirley Hassell. White voted for himself.

Commissioner Joseph ``Mac'' Midgett's nomination of Commissioner Douglas Langford received yes votes from his Democratic colleagues Midgett and Langford and Chairman Geneva Perry.

``In the coming months, I intend to educate myself about the delicate and sometimes complicated business of running the county,'' White said after he was sworn in. ``I ask everyone today to put the past behind them and move ahead to the problems of today. No one should be alarmed if I am seen with the so-called dangerous people . . . of another party.''

White received the unanimous support last week of the executive committee of the county Democratic Party after a majority of the panel voted for him over contenders Sandy Brooks and David Oaksmith. He replaced former Chairman Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., who was appointed to the State Utilities Commission in late August.

The seat is the first elected office held by the 50-year-old Nags Head resident. His father, William Stanford White, served at least 20 years as chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners.

In other business at Monday morning's unusually brief meeting,the board listened to a presentation by county Planning Director Ray Sturza about the need for regulation of communication towers.

Sturza said a combination of the federal government loosening access to airwaves and the explosion of cellular telephones in the area has increased the need for towers.

``Everybody likes the personal communication systems,'' Sturza said, ``but nobody wants to have the towers.''

And a proliferation of the structures is more of a potential eyesore on the Outer Banks because of its flat terrain.

With the help of a map of the county posted on the wall, Sturza pointed out at least ``28 different apparatus for communication devices'' throughout the county.

The planning director said that federal communication law ``severely limited'' local governments' control over the towers. But he said that the communication companies can be encouraged to share an existing tower by providing easy permitting requirements. If it chooses to build its own tower, the company would have to file for a special-use permit, prolonging the process.

``We can't ban them,'' Sturza told the board. ``But we do have the ability to regulate their placement.''

The board will review a proposed tower ordinance and schedule the matter for future consideration.

Also Monday, the board:

Held a decison on whether the county water department should change from reading meters once every three months to a continuous rotating schedule, which would allow for cycle billing. County Manager Terry Wheeler said he is waiting for a cost estimate from North Carolina Power to do the meter reading. ``Possibly that's something that would be practical and feasible,'' Wheeler said.

Adopted a budget amendment and agreed to execute a contract for new computer software that would update the county's system.

``We are trying to computerize our county so that it will be up to the 21st century,'' Perry said. ``We have a hodgepodge now as I understand it.''

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu