THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130413
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SOUTHERN SHORES LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Candidates for three vacancies on the Southern Shores Town Council embraced a common theme at a Monday night forum:
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Incumbents Kern Pitts, Gerald Beshens and Dick Wood and challengers Scott Fletcher and Bob Kenan appeared at the first of a series of ``Meet the Candidates'' nights sponsored by the Dare County League of Women Voters. Dare voters go to the polls in municipal elections Nov. 7.
About 100 people attended the event, in which candidates covered a variety of issues ranging from municipal consolidation to a beach high school to term limits.
Generally, the candidates said their major aim is to maintain the current lifestyle and environment in the north beach community. The 1,635 residents currently pay the lowest municipal taxes in Dare County - a rate of 18 cents per $100 in property value.
Candidates also rejected the idea of consolidatiing some municipal services with other beach towns.
``I've been opposed to all attempts at beach consolidation,'' said Beshens, who was appointed last year to fill the unexpired term of the late Wayne Gerson. ``People who favor it say that it will be a means to save money. That's not necessarily true. The minute that I see that it's a benefit to the town of Southern Shores, I'll support it. But we're going to stay just as we are as long as I have a say.''
Pitts, a 16-year incumbent, agreed.
``We have consolidated already in some areas,'' he said. ``We have a county-wide 911 service. Our fire and police departments cooperate with Nags Head and the other towns whenever there's an emergency. But we have the best volunteer fire department on the beach, and maybe in the state of North Carolina. I don't see the need to change.''
However, the three incumbents didn't flinch when voters asked about the possibility of higherproperty taxes. All three said an increase may be necessary in the coming years.
``I suspect that we may have to go up two or three cents,'' Pitts said. ``Our balance of unappropriated funds is at about $ 1 million. We'd like to keep it that way. But building in Southern Shores isn't growing as quickly as it has in the past. That, and the cost of retrofitting the police station, will probably mean that taxes will go up.''
Wood added, ``Our local tax rate will have to go up modestly. But we will continue to be adamant about keeping costs close to the bone.''
Candidates also spoke strongly against the construction of high-rise facilities in the community. A recent survey predicted that the town would reach building capacity within the next 10 to 15 years. Managing growth was a key concern for the panel.
``Over the next several years, there will be increasing pressures on Southern Shores to grow,'' Wood said. ``Growth is inevitable. But we have to manage that growth in a way that we don't sacrifice the basic strengths that makes our town what it is.''
When it comes to high-rise structures, Kenan was adamant.
``They'll build high-rises here over my dead body,'' he said.
Fletcher, a business owner, said that while growth should be managed, the community should hire an economic development coordinator to encourage small business growth.
``I think economic development will be a very, very important issue,'' he said. ``We have the resources and the zoning for it. We can bring small business in without changing the zoning laws. That would bring in jobs, and broaden the tax base.''
Candidates addressed a variety of other issues, including:
A beach high school: Candidates said they would favor a beach high school when it is needed. However, Kenan and Beshens argued that the timetable for construction should be accelerated.
``I believe we're at the point now where we need a beach high school,'' said Kenan. ``We need to begin planning now.''
Term Limits: Candidates said that the power to limit terms rests with the voters.
Public Comment: They also said that since Southern Shores residents are able to speak at any time during council meetings, there was no need for a set public comment period.
Jet skis: Candidates said that while the personal watercraft should be regulated it should not be singled out. Also, any ordinance should be written to allow reasonable enforcement.
Dare County communities are expected to meet in the coming weeks to further discuss this issue.
The two-hour session had its light moments. When asked about term limits, Pitts responded, ``I don't want to be the Strom Thurmond of Southern Shores.''
Three more candidate forums are set for Dare County towns.
Manteo candidates will be featured at the next League of Women Voters event on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Outer Banks History Center on Ice Plant Island.
Nags Head voters will meet their candidates on Oct. 9 at the parish hall at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
The final meeting, featuring Kill Devil Hills candidates, will be held at 7 p.m., Oct. 23 at the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall. by CNB