Wendell News Outlet

Board of Commissioners Friday Update

May 30, 2008

ITEM 1. EASTERN REGIONAL CENTER HEALTH FORUM THIS SATURDAY – MAY 31^ST FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 2:00 P.M.

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. The forum is for residents of Wendell, Knightdale and Zebulon.

In addition to the logistical support of the Town of Wendell Recreation Department, the Wendell Police Department will also participate in this effort by administering child safety seat checks and providing a demonstration that will show the effects of alcohol on driving. (The department has borrowed a golf cart from the Garner Police Department that drivers can use with goggles that simulate the effects of alcohol on one’s vision.)

Everyone is encouraged to attend. If you do not have any other plans, please try to support this effort.

ITEM 2. TOWN HALL DAY – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4^TH

The NC League of Municipalities Town Hall Day is next week – on Wednesday, June 4^th. Mayor Broadwell, Commissioner Connolly, Commissioner Hinnant, Manager Bone and Planning Director Piner will be attending. There will be a legislative briefing by the NCLM, and then we will try to talk with our legislators about municipal issues in the Legislature.

ITEM 3. ETJ EXPANSION AUTHORITY REQUEST HITS A ROAD BLOCK

The manager spoke with Rep. Linda Coleman today concerning the town’s request for legislative authority to recognize more than one mile of extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). As you are aware, this request is a local bill request (i.e., for the Town of Wendell only). In a short session (as it is this year), only non-controversial local bills are allowed. To be considered non-controversial, all nine representatives and four senators from Wake County would have to support the request; unfortunately, there is opposition to the request from Republican legislators from Wake County, particularly Rep. Nelson Dollar of Cary.

It appears that the town may not be successful in its legislative request this year; however, local bills do not have to be non-controversial in long session years (as with next year). The board may wish to begin thinking about how it would like to proceed in regards to this issue. Will the board want to wait until next year to try again in the long session? Or, will the board want to proceed with expansion of the town’s ETJ and recognize a full mile of ETJ (as measured with current boundary limits, after taking into consideration boundary extensions from recent annexations)?

ITEM 4. PROPOSED BUDGET ONLINE

The 2008-09 Proposed Budget is online. Click here to check it out.

ITEM 5. NEW PLANNING STAFF

Planning Director Teresa Piner has hired Mary Kate Wise as the town’s new Planning Technician. Mary Kate, who started her position this week, is a recent graduate of Appalachian State University. She is from Knightdale and attended East Wake High School. She previously had an internship with the Town of Cary Planning Department.

ITEM 6. DONATION OF GRADING WORK FOR NEW T-BALL FIELDS

Johnny Ammons has donated his time, equipment and staff time this week for grading work on the town’s new t-ball fields. Some pictures of the work are attached. I am sure you will want to thank him for his generosity when you see him.

ITEM 7. SOLID WASTE NEWS

During this week of May 26^th, three significant events occurred for the collective benefit of all Wake County citizens:

· the new East Wake Transfer Station opened;

· all residential waste in Wake County was directed to the South Wake Landfill; and

· North Wake Landfill received its last load of waste, and the closure process will now begin to convert that to a legacy facility.

ITEM 8. WRAListens TOUR HEADED OUR WAY

The WRAListens tour is heading to Northeastern Wake County. WRAListens is a 30-minute public affairs program that allows viewers to hear about issues facing local communities. Former WRAL anchor Charlie Gaddy hosts the show and moderates the discussion. WRAL plans to tape the show on Wednesday, June 18th from noon until 2:00pm. A production site for the taping has not yet been identified.

ITEM 9. OTHER:

A. Triangle J COG Director Dee Freeman announced this week that he plans to retire on January 1, 2009 after 36 years of public service as a city manager and regional council director. Freeman will have completed 8½ years as Triangle J’s executive director at the time of his retirement.

B. The $38,400 check from the Wake County Clerk of Courts (to make amends for court fees owed through June 2007) was received this week.

C. 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.

D. The town auditors will be in the office on June 19^th to do some preliminary work on the 2007-08 Audit.

E. In case you get questions from residents about utility work in the area, Bellsouth is planning to begin the installation of telephone cable lines to the Brighton Subdivision from Marshburn Road.

F. 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 10. UPCOMING EVENTS:

DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION

05/31 10am - 2pm East Wake Public Health Forum @ Wendell Community Center

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)

06/12 7:00 p.m. Community Forum about Lake Myra County Park @ Wendell Community Center

06/16 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

06/23 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

07/04 (Wed.) July 4th holiday – Town offices closed

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

07/13 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall