Wendell News Outlet

Board of Commissioners Friday Update

April 4, 2008

ITEM 1. DROUGHT UPDATE

Cary and Apex decided to lift their watering ban. Starting on April 1^st, residents were allowed to irrigate on an alternating day schedule. Click here to read the N&O article. Conservation measures are still being promoted in each town.

Holly Springs lifted its water ban, effective April 3^rd. The town is reverting to allowing irrigation on a limited schedule. Click here to read the N&O article.

Durham also lifted its watering ban on April 2^nd. Both of Durham’s reservoirs are full. Durham residents will be allowed to irrigate for limited hours two days a week. Click here to read the Herald Sun article.

According to Raleigh’s Public Utilities Director Dale Crisp, as of April 1^st, the lake level was 249.85 feet MSL, which is only 1.65 feet below the level of the lake when the water supply pool is full. The water supply pool storage in Falls Lake is approximately 76.6%. The water supply days projection using the current 30 day pumpage average indicates we have 296 days of water supply pool currently in storage at Falls Lake.

According to an Army Corps of Engineers web site, the lake level at Falls Lake as of 7:00 a.m. today is 250.59 feet, which is only 0.91 feet below the level of the lake when the water supply pool is full (251.5 ft MSL). The web site addresses that deal with Falls Lake are:

· http://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/neuse.htm (main page); and

· http://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/dssfalls.txt (tables).

The NC Drought Advisory Council has maintained Wake County in the “Exceptional Drought” to category. The Triangle still is running a rainfall deficit of 8 to 10 inches dating to the beginning of 2007. That deficit has kept moisture from seeping deep into the soil, which is why area streams have quickly gone down after recent rainfalls, and which is why the “Exceptional Drought” category persists (even in light of the recent rains). The Triangle will need normal amounts of rain over the next few months to saturate the deeper soil. Click here to read the N&O article. Click here to view the NC Drought Advisory map.

I am sure elected officials are receiving numerous questions about when restrictions may be eased in our community. Please keep in mind that Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and Durham are in different basins that Raleigh and the merger communities. Jordan Lake and Durham’s two lakes have fully recovered, whereas Falls Lake is not up to full capacity. Raleigh plans to reduce water restrictions when Falls Lake returns to 90% capacity. Maybe we will be at 90% capacity in the near future, but we are still in a drought situation because of deficit of rain from 2007.

ITEM 2. AGREEMENT WITH TRIANGLE J COG CONCERNING PARTICIPATION WITH ACTION AUDITS CONTRACT FOR LOBBYING ON CABLE ISSUES

In the past couple of years, Wendell has participated with a group of municipalities in the Triangle J Council of Governments in a Cable Consortium. The consortium contracts with Action Audits to help with legislative issues involving cable fees. The contract costs the town about $5,000 per year.

With the drastic legislation that took effect last year that makes cable service more of a state franchise (with some fees still going to local governments), staff feels that there is little benefit the town could realize for continuing participation in the consortium. The NC League of Municipalities also deals with cable issues as a part of its legislative responsibilities, and staff feels that the League leadership on this front is sufficient to meet the needs of the town. Knightdale stopped participating in the consortium a while back, and it is the understanding of Wendell staff that Zebulon’s staff plans to halt its participation in the consortium, as well.

Unless otherwise directed by the board, staff plans to not renew the agreement with the consortium. This would not affect the separate agreement that Wendell has with Action Audits concerning the town’s audit of Time-Warner’s records to ensure that Wendell is receiving all of the cable revenue that it should. Staff is hopeful that the cable audit will be completed in the near future.

ITEM 3. TEMPORARY WORKER

Lynn Murray has assisted the Administration Department on a temporary part-time basis during the past year or so (to help cover during vacations, employee meetings, and special events). Lynn started a full-time job recently and is unable to fill-in for the town. Robbie Tyree, a part-time employee in the Recreation Department starting covering this fill-in need for the town. Robbie has worked this week covering for Town Clerk Jonnie Driver during her vacation, and will be assisting the Planning Department until a replacement for Shamaury Myrick is named. So, don’t be surprised if you call the town and hear an unfamiliar voice.

ITEM 4. OTHER:

A. The section of Martin Pond Road around Richardson Road will be closed beginning the week of April 14^th and will be closed for about 120 days, due to construction for Wendell Falls.

B. Officer Jermaine Thomas is scheduled to read the news on East Wake TV this afternoon.

ITEM 5. UPCOMING EVENTS:

DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION

04/07 6:00 p.m. UDO Meeting Town Hall

04/14 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

04/21 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting Town Hall

04/22 10:00 a.m. Board of Commissioners Budget Town Hall

Work Session

04/28 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Committee Town Hall

Meeting

05/05 6:00 p.m. UDO Meeting Town Hall

05/12 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

(including presentation of the

Manager’s FY 2008-09 Proposed Budget)

05/14 1:00 p.m. Wendell Chamber Golf Tournament Wendell Country

Club

05/19 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting Town Hall

05/26 Memorial Day – Town offices closed

05/27 7:00 p.m. (RE-SCHEDULED DUE TO HOLIDAY)

Board of Commissioners Committee Town Hall

Meeting (including the public hearing

on the budget)

05/31 East Wake Public Health Forum Community Ctr.

06/02 6:00 p.m. UDO Meeting Town Hall

06/04 NCLM Town Hall Day NC Legislature

06/09 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

(including, potentially, adoption of the

FY 2008-09 Budget)

posted by Administrator  # 9:30 AM