The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-01-16
COUNTY
REPORT
BY
DAVID STICK
Dure County Commissioner.
Atlantic Township

Last month a new board of
county commissioners, of which /
am a member, assumed the re-
sponsibility of managing the af-
fairs of Dare County for the next
two years.
We took office at time when
the financial condition of the coun-
ty was in a deplorable condition,
with an accompanying widespread
lack of confidence in our county
government. l am convinced that
all of the members of this new
Board feel a deep sense of re-
sponsibility to instill new conf
dence, not only by making changes
which will result in management
on an impartial and businesslike
basis, but by keeping all of the
people fully informed regarding
the problems we face and the ac-
tons we take.
In the four meetings we have
had to date l feel that we have
made an impressive start on the
first score, but obviously it is i'm
possible for five men to report in
detail to every interested person
on what we are finding and what
we are doing. Thus the reason for
this column. The members of the
Dare County Board of Commits
sioners, particularly the four
members who have had no prior
experience in county government,
are learning many things which
concern all of the people of the
county. We have a unique oppor-
tunity. as we learn to pass on
this information to our neighbors,
and this column is designed for
that purpose. l hope, through the
months, it will enable every inter-
ested resident or property owner
to become familiar with all phases
of Dare County government.
Already the Board has taken a
number of important steps.
We have appointed a new ABC
Board, with representation in diff
ferent parts of the county, and
have made it clear to that group
that they need not tolerate any
attempt at dictation, either by
county officials or outsiders.
We have appointed new
County Attorney, who can devote
as much time as is necessary to
county affairs.
We have adopted a program for
the collection of all delinquent
taxes owed the county, with pro-
visions for foreclosure on those
property owners who refuse to
pay their taxes. And in this con-
nection, if all delinquent taxes
were paid up the county would be
on a firm financial footing, but
the fact that there have been no
foreclosure proceedings for IL
years has made a lot of people
believe that they could beat the
county out of these back taxes.
They can't, and they'll have to pay
not only their back taxes, but in
terest and penalties as we'll, OF
lose their property.
We have established new tax
listing districts for the incorpor-
ated towns in the county in order,
to eliminate both confusion and
expense in the preparation of tax
lists.
We have set up committee,
within our Board, whose prime Ie-
sponsibility is to, explore all ave-
nues in attempting to secure the
bridging of Oregon Inlet.
We have adopted new proce-
dures in taking minutes of Board
meetings. The name of each Com
missioner is now recorded as vot-
ing for or against every motion
or resolution put before the Board,
so that none of us can come back
later and say, with regard to some
unpopular action, that he did not
vote on the matter. We review the
minutes at the close of each meet
ing to see that they are in order,
and each member receives a copy
of the minutes as soon as they
can be copied, so he can review
them at home while his memory is
still fresh.
We have organized our meetings
on a businesslike basis, and pre-
pare and approve detailed agen-
da before each meeting starts.
Further, though any interested
person is welcome to sit in and
listen at any time, we found at
our first meeting that just when
we were in the middle of some
important discussion, someone
would walk into the room and ask
to be heard, and frequently on a
matter of a routine nature with
which the Board was not familiar.
To correct this situation we have
delegated some of the routine
matters to the appropriate coun-
ty officials, and have set aside
the moyning sessions for regular
monthly business, limiting the APP
pearance of individuals or groups.