Wendell News Outlet

Board of Commissioners Friday Update

May 16, 2008

ITEM 1. ADVISORY BOARD APPLICATIONS

A couple of more advisory board applications have trickled-in, but we still need more applications, particularly for the ETJ representatives on the Planning Board and for members of the Tree Board and Board of Adjustments. Please actively recruit individuals to apply for these boards.

ITEM 2. FIRE DISTRICT NEWS

A May 13^th News & Observer article reports that Wake's 19 rural fire districts are pushing for steep increases to the county's fire tax to support hiring more full-time firefighters. The Wake County Fire Commission, which is responsible for providing fire service to unincorporated areas of the county and some small municipalities, voted unanimously last week to ask commissioner to boost the fire tax 31 percent next year and 73 percent by 2015.

The article further reports that County Manager David Cooke he agrees Wake needs more full-time firefighters, but he said taxpayers don't need to bear the full burden. “Cooke said millions in costs could be saved by closing fire stations now ‘embedded’ in growing cities and consolidating rural fire districts, thereby saving money on administrative costs.”

Click here to read the article.

ITEM 3. RECYCLING CART DELIVERY / BIN PICK-UP

The staff of Wendell and Zebulon have been working together to prepare for the change in recycling service – from bins to carts. A flier about the switch will be placed in Raleigh water bills, and an ad will be placed in the Eastern Wake News.

The new 48-gallon carts are expected to be delivered by June 27^th. The carts will look very similar to the current solid waste carts, only smaller. The new cart will allow you to recycle a greater quantity of materials. The lid will prevent materials from littering the streets on windy days. Customers are asked to place their bins by the curb on the last scheduled pickup day in June.

Waste Industries is expected to use an area at Wendell Park as a staging area for the bin pick-up and cart delivery.

ITEM 4. GROWTH TASK FORCE APPOINTMENTS

The board is reminded that it needs to appoint two of its own to the Wake County Growth Task Force. A third member should be appointed as an alternate. The initial meeting of the task force is scheduled for May 22^nd, and it is hoped that the task force will complete its work by December 2008.

ITEM 5. OTHER:

A. The June 19^th Planning Board agenda is at the end of the Friday Memo.

B. McDonald’s is scheduled to close on the 19^th of May. Demolition is scheduled to begin on the Tuesday after Memorial Day.

C. It is the understanding of Planning Department staff that El Fagon no longer has plans to open a restaurant in Wendell.

D. El Cerro Grande is still proceeding slowly with plans to open a restaurant at the former “Meeting Place”. Some issues were recently worked-out with the Fire Marshal.

E. Dr. Tim Poirier of Knightdale will be opening a satellite optometrist office in the Knott Square development in a few months.

F. During the last revaluation in 2000, the Town of Wendell increased the tax rate 5-cents from the revenue-neutral rate to help pay for the community center.

G. Rep. Linda Coleman and the Eastern Regional Center (along with multiple partners, including the Town of Wendell) will hold a public health forum / health fair on Saturday, May 31^st from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Wendell Community Center and Park. A copy of a flyer for this event is attached.

H. Mayor Broadwell, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Connolly, Manager David Bone and Planning Director Teresa Piner plan to represent the town at the NCLM Town Hall Day on June 4^th.

I. The next community forum about the plans for Lake Myra Park (concerning programming and visioning) will be held on Thursday, June 12^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Wendell Community Center.

J. The portion of Martin Pond Road that closed on April 14^th for the Wendell Falls construction is scheduled to re-open around the middle of August.

ITEM 6. UPCOMING EVENTS:

posted by Administrator  # 5:54 AM