The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-08-22
PROPOSED WATER SYSTEM
FOR THE DARE BEACHES
OUTLINED BY THE BOARD
Commissioners of Sanitary District Offer Infor-
nation on Cost and Operation. Need for sys-
tenn, Benefits to Be Expected. Including Re-
duced Insurance Rates; Vote to Be Held Two
Weeks From Saturday.
Single Copy ~

AS stated in these columns sew
eral weeks ago, we wished to pre-
sent some information concerning
the water system proposed for the
Dare Beaches. In response to re-
quest of the Commissioners of the
Sanitary District, we are furnish
ed the following statement:
Report of the Dare Beaches
Sanitary District Board
With an election called for Sep
TENDER 9Th to determine whether
more than a million dollars in
bonds will be floated in the Dare
Beaches Sanitary District for
central water system and fire con-
troll system, the commissioners of
the Sanitary District have this
week released an up to date report
which clarifies many points on
which there has been confusion in
the past.
i The fact that only permanent
residents can qualify as voters on
the bond referendum, but that the
ensuing costs of construction,
maintenance and operation of the
4 system will be borne largely by
nonresident and non-voting prop
erty owners, places a tremendous
obligation ON the relatively small
number of qualified voters. The
commissioners deliberately set the
election for the end of the summer
season in order that these nom
residents who will pay a large
part of the cost, can have an op-
portunity to express their views on
the matter to their permanent
neighbors who will decide the issue
at the polls.
1 The current report by the COM
missioners of the Sanitary District
consists of two parts, the first be-
ing summary of events which
have led up to the forthcoming
election, and the second detailed
report on anticipated costs, bene-
fits, and other factors concerning
the proposed system.
;. History of the Dare
j Beaches Sanitary District
] The initial move to form SAM
tary District in the Dare Beaches
area was undertaken in 1949, when
a number of citizens became con-
cerned over the fact that despite a
. phenomenal increase in the num-
Der of new cottages and business
; establishments, the only source of
drinking water was surface wells,
and the only method for dispos-
ing of sewage and waste was sep
tic tanks and grease traps.
AS result of this concern
petition was circulated in the area,
and was signed by more than 100
residents, calling for the establish
ment of Dare Beaches Sanitary
District, empowered to provide
!. water and sewage facilities "and
! any and all other things necessary
to improve the general health" of
the district. After review by the
| Dare County Board of Commits
sioners, the N. c. Board of
Health, and the N. C. General AS
sembly, and after a public hearing
which was held at the Mays Head
Casino and at which no objections
We're voiced, the Dare Beaches
Sanitary District was formed. The
work of the district is carried on
by the commissioners who serve
without salary or other remunera-
ton except a nominal per diem for
attending Board meetings. This
a amount is set by the Legislature
and was $500 per meeting until
December 81, 1857 since which
date it has been $500. There is
no provision for expenses for out
of town trips in the interest of
the district.
The late John R. Duvall was
chairman, and the late Mrs. Daisy
H. Midget and j. E. Harris, Were
members of the original board of
commissioners. They took office
November II, 1949, and one week
later employed the Linberg Engi4
neers of Burlington to make a
survey of the Sanitary District
and prepare plans for water
system. This survey, financed by
tax levy of % cents on the hum
bred dollars of valuation in 1851,
was completed in 1852, at which
time Z. ". Nelson assumed the
craftsmanship of the commission
following the death of Duvall.
j On June 23, 1852, the commits
sioners held public meeting in
the Dare County Shrine Club at
Mays Head, to outline the proposed
water system to interested citi-
zens, and at that time it was
pointed out by Health Department
officials that numerous shallow
Z wells had been found to be poll
& luted, and that number of estab-
! lishments catering to the public
!. had been forced to drill new wells,
sometimes as many as two or
three times, before potable water
was found. The citizens attending
n = 1.