DATE: Tuesday, September 23, 1997           TAG: 9709230246

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SOUTHERN SHORES                   LENGTH:   39 lines

NEW BUILDER IS CHOSEN FOR SOUTHERN SHORES POLICE STATION

A Point Harbor construction firm has been chosen to build a new police station in this northern beach town after the original low bidder failed to sign a contract within the specified time frame.

Waldt Construction's $313,512 bid was unanimously approved at a special session of the Southern Shores Town Council. Waldt's bid was the second-lowest qualified bid submitted for the job.

Earlier this month, the town had accepted a $249,000 bid from Malatos General Contractor, a Kill Devil Hills firm. However, Bill Malatos, who is the father-in-law of Southern Shores Police Chief Danny Beasley, failed to sign the contract for the work within the 10-day period required by state law.

Southern Shores Mayor Kern Pitts said he did not know why Malatos had failed to sign the contract.

Ben Cahoon, architect for the project, said he had discussed the matter with Malatos but declined to comment.

``I'm not at liberty to say,'' Cahoon said.

Malatos was not available for comment Monday.

The 2,267-square-foot facility will be built on the site of the present police building, which is now vacant. It is expected to be finished by early next summer.

Asked about using the Project Blue Sky building for the police headquarters, Pitts said that structure would not be adequate. Also, he said that, despite problems, the Blue Sky program will continue.

``That has been discussed,'' Pitts said of the Blue Sky headquarters. ``But it's just not suitable. Blue Sky is not dead, so it's not appropriate to discuss that.''

Blue Sky, a program that helps communities build storm-resistant housing, has been plagued by cost overruns in recent months. Southern Shores Town Manager Cay Cross, who also was administrator of the Blue Sky initiative, resigned earlier this month. However, officials say there was no evidence of wrongdoing or misappropriation of funds.

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