The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-05-08
KILL DEVIL HILLS TOWN
COMMISSIONERS CONDUCT
- FIRST OFFICIAL SESSION
Mayor Points to Zoning, Water Supply as
Most Pressing Goals For Newly IncorpOr-
ated Community; Financial Possibilities
Are Given Consideration.

Zoning, public access to the
ocean and water supply were
among goals mentioned when
the mayor and commissioners
of the newly organized town OF
Kill Devil Hills had their first
official meeting Thursday night
of last week at the Edgewater
hotel.
Finances also came in for an
airing. The North Carolina Lea
que of Municipalities had ad-
vised Mayor ]. L Murphy of
several sources of revenue for
which the new town is eligible.
One of these sources is State
Highway and Public Works COM
mission funds, use of which is
restricted to improvement of
streets. This may amount to as
much as $4,000 to $4,000. To be
eligible for this money this year,
certain information must be sup
piled before June 80. This in
cludes a population estimate,
approved by the county COM
missioners. Mayor Murphy said
he hoped this estimate could
be on an average basis, since
the population varies from
about 500 in winter to 5000 to
1000 in summer. Street milage
also is involved and in this con-
nection the mayor said that
Kill Devil Hills probably had
as much as any incorporated
town in the county.
To be eligible for this fund,
a map of the town must be pro-
vided. Since the town has no
money at present, Capt. L. H.
Lewark offered to lend 5000 to
have this map made. Since the
town cannot legally obligate it..
self at this time, the loan was
made on a gentleman's agree
t basis. At the suggestion of
~ missioner Herbert Morrison,
~ BOARD authorized the mayor
nave Lindberg Engineers of
Burlington prepare the needed
map. This firm has previously
made a map of the larger SAM
tary district, so that much of
the work is already done.
B. M. Hedrick, a Kill Devil
Hills resident who attended the
meeting, suggested that copies
of the map would find ready
buyers and such sales would
help pay the engineers.
The mayor said he also had
been advised that the new town
was entitled to its proportion of
intangible taxes paid to the
county, and to a share in the
beer and wine tax refund and a
part of the franchise tax paid
by public utilities doing business
in the community. The mayor
was authorized to apply for all
funds due the town.
Before June 80 the commits
sioners must adopt a budget,
the mayor told them. On that
basis it may be necessary, he
said, to levy some small tax,
to pay for such minor expenses
as the salary of the city clerk,
Mrs. Mile Osmon, who, the
commissioners voted, is to be
paid $l.25 an hour.
In connection with coming, one
of the principal reasons for in
corporation, Mayor Murphy said
that two high sources had given
him contradictory opinions on
the law, as to whether coming
board of three would have to be
made up exclusively of year
around residents of Kill Devil
Hills or could include nom res
ident freeholders. He was auth
orized to look further into the
situation.
On the question of a water
supply for the community, the
mayor said he had checked on
the status of a sanitary district
created four years ago. He found
that an application for an $3.50,
900 federal loan had been ap-
wed by the Atlanta office,
\, was now in Washington, but
- 5 not likely to receive favor
..ole consideration unless some
pressure from beach residents
was brought.
Such a loan would involve a
bond issue for which taxpayers
would have to carry the sinking
fund for the first years. Because
there is some doubt that bond
issue for the sanitary district
would be approved, the mayor
suggested the possibility of the
part of the sanitary district with