Currituck decision reached

Currituck beacon decision reached: OBC, county given last chance to collaborate

Let's start bets on who gets it...

Maybe we should fundraise, upon the chance that it goes up for sale, to make a donation to OBC aiding them in a purchase of the lighthouse.

Or, we could make things a little more fair, and advise OBC to appeal! If the county could, why can't we???

The way Manson said that OBC and the county have one last chance to agree on this, however, makes me think they might be leaning toward sale.

Because the OBC, Inc. refused Manson's :rolleyes: most kind invitation to his little tea party this coming Weds. :rolleyes: (Good for You, OBC,Inc)....

I'm thinking I'm hearing the "ching ching" of lawyers who've already formulated a battle plan.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see the OBC solidly prepared to take legal action, and I also wouldn't be surprised if we see a whole lot of strong support standing with them. This is of course if the decision is anything other than the RIGHT decision!

If the OBC,Inc. and the lighthousing community as a whole loses this battle with Manson...then the WAR may have just begun!

Judy

It's hard to believe this sub-moronic flaming jack*** could even consider rewriting the law as it fits his desire. It is quite apparent that he is not capable of properly carrying out the duties of his office, and should be removed at once, as should the less than stellar performing Secretary of the Interior. I find it very hard to believe that the law would allow this option when one of the applicants has been found to be as highly qualified as OBC is. Can you say "Contempt of Congress"???

I hope OBC finds a way to stick it to that jerk county and the incompetent fools in Washington. The real concern is that if OBC is successful in gaining ownership of the light how much will the county mess with them to make things as miserable as possible??

I may be wrong, but I think this "Manson" is a former judge. Not sure at what level. But when I called the offices there a while back, I was referred to another person who was taking calls for "The Judge" when I asked for Manson.

That probably explains why he thinks it's his job to make law and get the parties to negotiate instead of reviewing the relative merits of each groups submission and saying "Yes, the OBC has the best qualifications and they win.".

I'd say this man is creating a very big liability for the Department of the Interior because he is circumventing the letter and intent of the law in GIVING AWAY the lighthouse to the most qualified request.

Now he thinks he has the power to have the lighthouse SOLD. We don't know what the rules will be or who is qualified to be a potential buyer or what the outcome of the sale will be -- could someone with deep pockets (or a corporation) buy it and make it into a private home or a corporate retreat?

Mr. Manson (sorry, you're no longer a judge) needs to hear from someone in charge that HE isn't in charge of America's 'surplus' lighthouses.

In reference to Mr. Manson and other key Government Officials including the Secretary of the Interior herself, we are suprised in the amount of Brain damage that has occured. The Human Brain can only last approxamately four minutes without oxygen before irreversible permanent brain damage occurs. These people have been depriving themselves of the oxygen their brains need for months if not longer by keeping their heads up their butts.

The meeting that was scheduled for yesterday was cancelled. It is really anybody's guess when the final decision will be published

Beacon meeting canceled

We have just received this message from OBC, Inc. this morning...

(Melody is an official spokesperson at OBC, Inc.)

Judy

How is this for news?

Whoopi !! Open the champagne.
The long fought battle on who should get ownership of North Carolina's Currituck Beach Lighthouse has been won!!
The Outer Banks Conservationists (OBC) have officially been awarded ownership of the Curritick Beach Lighthouse! They are to be congratulated for not only winning ownership of the lighthouse but also, for never giving up the battle!
In his statement Craig Manson stated, "Today, I have determined that the Outer Banks Conservationists, Inc. of Manteo, NC, should have ownership of the historic Currituck Beach Lighthouse".
We are proud of the role that the American Lighthouse Foundation and it's members played with telegrams, phone calls and emails to keep the pressure on. But, most of all, we are happy for OBC and their members and volunteers who worked so long and so hard to keep the Currituck Lighthouse, "the Peoples Lighthouse." We wish them continued future success.

Tim Harrison
President
American Lighthouse Foundation

Manson sent out emails this morning to those folks who contacted him and indicated that OBC should get ownership. His email follows:


Date: 7/30/2003 10:48:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Craig_Manson@ios.doi.gov

Today I have determined that the Outer Banks Conservationists, Inc., of Manteo, North Carolina, should have ownership of the historic Currituck Beach Lighthouse. My decision was made in accordance with the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 (NHLPA).

Under the NHLPA, the preservation of the lighthouse comes first. The standard to be applied is the "best stewardship" standard; that is, on the record, which applicant appears best able to provide for the preservation of the lighthouse. No other consideration is relevant. That was the sole basis for today's decision.

The NHLPA is alive and well. The National Park Service soon will be announcing successful applicants for a number of other historic
lightstations.

As with all processes, we strive to learn and improve constantly in the lighthouse program. I have directed the National Park Service to
immediately commence a public process to develop improved policies for review of lighthouse applications, especially in cases where more than one entity has applied. All points of view will be considered in the NPS policy process and all who are interested in lighthouses or historic
preservation are encouraged to participate. Information will be made available soon about this process.


Congrats to OBC! See, sometimes the good guys actually DO WIN!

The good guys one. Politicians (including Judge Manson) zero.

How could he have decided otherwise?

Do I see the waves of 'backpedaling' there in his statement?

Congratulations to OBC they are the only ones who should have been considered here. I hope the politicians in NC will now decide to help OBC and stop trying to end their great effort to preserve a great treasure.

Hank

A definite Congratulations to OBC and to their efforts. I think this decision caught many of us by surprise given the discussions that had taken place and Manson's previous statements. I really wonder if the public outcry that came down pretty squarely on Manson's shoulders did play a large part in this decision.

I am a little concerned about his directive to the NPS to come up with an improved system to review applications and decide who wins. It would seem to me that the system did work until such time as he became involved and started shooting from the hip and ignoring the law as written. The NPS professional staff did its job of reviewing the applications and deciding who would be the better steward of this precious resource. It is only when the political hacks got involved that the process fell apart.

We can only hope that the NPS ignores any recommendations this jack*** makes and sticks to the system they have, the system that picked the rightful owner fair and square the first time. I guess this just proves that the public can actually weild some power with those making the decisions, if the voices speak load enough and there's enough of them. It's just a shame it had to come down to this in the first place.

It gives you pause to think how many other things have been ramrodded down unsuspecting folks throats when they didn't know about it. If it had not been for what appears to be a pretty powerful lighthouse lobby, this may have never been stopped.

I'm proud to be part of that lobby!

Mike

Congratulations to OBC.

Gee, whatever happened to the involvement of the White House in this decision? Didn't his dishonor Manson say it was now up to the EPA or some other WH agency?

I think I must agree that someone put him straight (or perhaps many of us put him straight) on what his duty was.

Interesting there at the end when he said, in effect, "I've already reached a decision but I want the two parties to negotiate and work together."

CONGRATULATIONS OUTER BANKS CONSERVATIONISTS

You have fought a long hard battle and you have won! The ownership of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse is no longer up in the air! The Outer Banks Conservationists are now the owners of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and rightfully so!

All Americans who care about preserving our historic lighthouses for future generations to enjoy are now standing up and cheering for the decision which was handed down by Assistant Secretary Craig Manson.

The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 is alive and well and working just as it was intended to do to preserve our historic lighthouses!

I offer my personal congratulations and best wishes to all members of the Outer Banks Conservationists and to all members of the Lighthouse Community who helped make this possible.

All my best,
Paul Conlin
Acting Secretary,
American Lighthouse Foundation

Congratulations to the good folks over at OBC,Inc.! Happy Days Are Here Again!

Our beloved Currituck Beach Lighthouse is now in the hands of the group that has nourished it faithfully all these years.

OBC,Inc, never gave up...never gave in...and held their heads high throughout a long ordeal that we hope never happens again.

Let's all raise a glass tonight to the Outer Banks Conservationists...and let them know that we will continue to support their efforts.

Judy

GREAT DECISION!
wow!

Congratulations to the OBC. Perseverance and Prayer do work! YES!

Bert

AWESOME!!!

This is truly great news. Congrats to the OBC!

For those of you who are interested, here is a link to Judge Manson's justification for his decision:

http://data2.itc.nps.gov/release/Detail.cfm?ID=390 (below the press release)

The county and Cong. Jones are already complaining about the decision:

Feds award Currituck light to nonprofit

The only way this could have happened would have been to have a committee of either Currituck County politicians, a group that took bribes, or had a combined IQ in the single digit range.

From the sound of Jones' tirade, it could be a rough road for OBC. Interesting that there is suddenly a CG investigation of the group?? Another one of Jones' mis-directions of Federal tax money to try and suit his own wants???

Dave,
He didn't say another panel would have awarded Currituck the lighthouse, just that they may have scored them higher. :rolleyes: Maybe 135, or so.

Actually, his full decision is an interesting read. I think this is the key statement:

"Furthermore, while OBC is focused on historic preservation, the County seems to be concerned primarily with “public” ownership of the lighthouse."

I also like the 227-page vs. 2-page Preservation and Maintenance Plans. "We were told we needed to be concise." Wah.

More Crap from the politicians in Currituck County:

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=57735&ran=200317

Can you say 'sour grapes'?

This message comes from Melody, the financial officer at the office of the Outer Banks Conservationists...

Judy

The following article appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch yesterday...one of the most informed articles I've read...

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/more/MGB633B4SID.html

These county officials sound like little children...I hope all their stupid juvenile threats come back to bite them where it hurts the most...at the election polls!

Polititians...here today...gone tomorrow!

Judy

A phrase from my youth pops into mind (Probably dating myself here) CRY BABY CRY BABY

A Great Victory.....and a Greater Precedent