The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-03-15

Roanoke Island are going to have
to wait awhile before they begin
receiving savings, if then, on a
new rate offered by VEPCO which
would save them a large sum each
year, estimated at $4,000 to $24,-
900 annually. They will have to
wait for the decision until the
Manteo Town Board can satisfy
itself whether it is profitable for
the town to take over the electric
light business to serve some 225
customers who live within the
town limits.
The town board Monday after
noon, after long session, decided
to defer action on a request from
Virginia Electric and Power Co.
for a 3O-year franchise, under
which it would take over the Ro-
anoke Utilities Company's system,
and at once put in the rates now
in effect at Mays Head, and else
where on the company's system.
The only member of the Board
in favor of passing favorably on
the VEPCO request on the first
reading was G. T. Westcott Jr.
The other two members, NJ. l..
Daniels Jr. and Sam Midget Jr.
expressed a desire not to grant
the request at this time. In this.
they were backed by several re-
sponSible business men of the town
who sent letters urging that the
request of the power. company not
be granted. Letters We're read from
Carson w. Davis, Ralph Davis,
M. L. Daniels Sr. and Archie Bur-
rus. In addition, Vernon Davis at.
tended and expressed vigorous OBJ
lection to let VEPCO come in now.
and objection was expressed by
Frank White, local post office en-
ploye, Wilton Jolliff, former man.
ager OF the town water and sewer
system, Burwell Evans, hardware
merchant, and Herbert Greet, thea
tire operator, all not being present.
Ray Goodmon of Williamson. 8
Vepco vice-president was present
and told the Board it would be
an advantage to pass the motion
on the first reading in the in
terest of time, although this did
not obligate the Board to pass it
on the second reading. which must
be at least 80 days later. He said
in order to take over the svs-
tenn, he must also have the ap-
prevail of the State Utilities Com
missions of North Carolina. Vir-
ginia and West Virginia, in which
the company operates. He said
when the Company took over, the
present company rates would go
into effect. Some of the local bust
ness men made comparisons, find
ing they would save from 25 to 80
per cent monthly. Residential rates
were found to be about the same,
except for the smallest consumers
who'd saved more. Some estimates
are that savings to Roanoke Is
land and Manteo consumers would
average $4,000 a month.
Mr.. Goodmon told the Board, if
his company takes over the Ro-
anoke Utilities, it was the purpose
to make Manteo the depot to serve
its customers and service its lines
between Corolla and Oregon Inlet,
in lower Currituck, Kitty Hawk
and Colington. He said, beside
taking over three people now en-
ployed by the local utilities, seven
] others would be employed locally,
making ten in all, some of whom
would be expert technicians, etc.,
who would be sent here to make
their home. He also said his COM
pany's payroll to these employees
engaged here in looking after the
Dare-Currituck section of YEP
COS system would total an an
nual payroll of 100000, which
might prove an important item
in the economy of the community
from the standpoint of owning or
renting homes, trading with local
stores, paying taxes and partici-
pating in various community, civic,
and church activities.
He also said, IN order to assure
full voltage to all consumers, his
company proposed to Immediately
correct any deficiencies in the
present system by adequate tenn
porary installations while more
complete system is being rebuilt to
take care of the possibility of the
growth of Roanoke Island. 1t APP
peared from estimates, the total
cost of improving the system up
to VEPCO standards during the
next two years, would cost up
wards of 100000, which was con-
sidered an important item, taking
into account the amount of labor
to be employed in this undertaking,
and what they might do toward
boosting business in local stores.