The council was considering a request to place a new recreational vehicle park in a tight corner at U.S. 701, White Lake Drive and N.C. 41. They made the right move in refusing the request as a possible safety hazard, but Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Corbett made a strong and telling statement right before the die was cast.

"Instead of debating whether we need another RV park," Corbett said, "I think we need to talk about bringing the others into compliance."

He went on to say more.

"As long as I am on this board," Corbett said, "I will not vote for any new campgrounds until what we have are brought into compliance."

We have to say, it's about time.

While some campgrounds at the lake are models of how it should be done, others are not. What is meant to be a temporary weekend retreat in some cases has taken on the appearance of a seedy, low-rent residence in a bad neighborhood.

Quite a few of the weekend getaways are well-kept, and some non-compliant structures are neat but whimsical-yet others have little or nothing in their favor.

Code compliance is a tough job, and an unpopular one for any town. It can cause hard feelings and in many cases, costly legal action. White Lake is by no means alone in sometimes letting things get outside the parameters laid out in town regulations-and to its credit, the lake has been harder in some areas than other towns. The town has also taken aggressive steps on derelict buildings that were eyesores to visitors and dangerous to the public.

But White Lake thrives on its image; without a positive image, no one will come there to enjoy its cool waters and family atmosphere.

We are by no means encouraging a wholesale attack on the working class resort image of the town; nor do we think that anyone would like to see another over-regulated Wrightsville Beach, a town now called the Oceanfront Cary, in our midst. White Lake has always been about relaxation and enjoyment for everyone, not government over-regulation for a wealthy few.

But to be fair to everyone, there must be rules, and those rules have to be enforced.

It will take a joint effort by the town, its visitors and its permanent residents to keep White Lake's image from becoming worse than the one some folks already hold. Both the town and its namesake are some of our county's finest resources, and a prime example of how a small resort town can adapt, thrive, and be available for all people.

The council faces a major challenge, but we think that they and everyone who loves White Lake is up to the task.

It will take diplomacy and the ability to think outside of the typical bureaucratic box, but White Lake has shown before they have both those skills.