Wendell News Outlet

Board of Commissioners Friday Update

October 10, 2008

ITEM 1. NCLM CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND
The NC League of Municipalities’ Annual Conference will start on Sunday, October 12th. Mayor Broadwell, Commissioner Connolly and Town Clerk Jonnie Driver will be attending.

ITEM 2. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RETREAT – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND
The October 22nd date for the board of commissioners’ retreat has been confirmed. The retreat will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Zebulon Board of Commissioners Chamber. The building is located at 109 East Horton Street and is directly behind the Zebulon Police Department (which is on East Vance Street).
As previously mentioned, this retreat is designed to be a little less rigid in its schedule so that the board can talk about a subject as long as it wants. Mayor Broadwell will be the facilitator. Topics scheduled for discussion at the retreat include the following:
• Consideration of possible revenue shortfalls (spending priorities / economic issues)
• Little Creek WWTP permitting / follow-up to Resolution # R-08-02 (April 14, 2008) – a Resolution of Support and Commitment to Mitigative Measures to Address Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Associated with Water and Sewer Utility Projects
NOTE: This involves board agreement to work on stormwater and flood plain issues in order to permit an expansion of the Little Creek WWTP in Zebulon, which will serve part of Wendell down the road.
• Growth and planning issues
• Staffing / facility needs
• Commercial and retail development
• Board priorities and goals

ITEM 3. UPDATE ON LITTLE RIVER RESEVOIR WATERSHED PROTECTION INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the Little River Reservoir Protection Interlocal Agreement at its meeting on Monday, October 6th. The Wendell Board of Commissioners adopted the agreement at the December 10, 2007 meeting. The revised agreement is scheduled to be on the agenda at the October 27th Wendell Board of Commissioners meeting.


ITEM 4. STATE HIGHWAY TAX INITIATIVE – MILEAGE TAX STUDY
NC is conducting a study to review the potential of replacing the gas tax with a mileage tax. First of all, the problem is that insufficient revenues are being generated by the gas tax to maintain state roads. The idea with the mileage tax is to one day collect highway taxes on every mile we drive -- replacing the gas tax on every gallon we buy.
One argument for the mileage tax is that people who use the roads more should pay more for road maintenance and improvements. An argument against the tax is that some consider it to be a regressive tax. Some say that residents with less income are generally those who buy cheaper houses further away from their jobs and who have to drive more.
A good article about the mileage tax study was in the News & Observer on October 7th. Click here to view that article.
The mileage tax option is also the cover story of the October issues of the NC League of Municipalities’ “League Letter”.

ITEM 5. HANOR LANE SEWER PROJECT UPDATE
Vaughn Utilities has completed the sewer line across the Williams’ property (beside Dollar General) and should complete the sewer line behind Dollar General and up to Hanor Lane today. They have successfully completed the bore beneath Hanor Lane and have installed the first leg of sewer toward the backside of Maple Court Apartments. Next week, they plan to finish installing the second leg of sewer behind Maple Court, set the next upstream manhole and begin rerouting the water line.
A time extension of 30 days for the completion of the project was granted by the town to the contractor (due to issues involved in the bore under Wendell Boulevard, as well as some issues involved in the installation of some water /sewer taps and valves).

ITEM 6. CODE OF ORDINANCES UPDATE
The proofs for the new Code of Ordinances have been sent to the printer. Staff hopes to receive the new notebooks in November. Before becoming effective, the board will have to adopt the Code in its entirety through an adopting resolution. Once this is adopted, the new code will be available online soon thereafter.

ITEM 7. ENGINEERING RFQ PRE-SUBMISSION MEETING
A pre-submission meeting for the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Engineering Services was held on Wednesday, October 8th. A copy of the RFQ was sent to approximately 30 firms. Nine firms were represented at the meeting; however, attendance was not mandatory, so the town may receive more than 9 submissions.
RFQ submissions are due on October 28th. Staff will select up to 5 finalists to make presentations to the board on November 10th. The board will then direct staff concerning the firm(s) with which to negotiate a contract.
The current engineering services contract with McKim & Creed (excluding the long-term contract between the town and McKim & Creed for the inspection of Wendell Falls) expires on December 31, 2008.

ITEM 8. UPDATE ON PREPARATIONS FOR VIDEOTAPING BOARD MEETINGS
Town of Knightdale staff came over to Wendell this week and helped-out with installation of electrical conduit in the courtroom for the video cameras to tape the board of commissioners meetings. The delivery of the cameras is taking longer than anticipated because they are on back order. After the cameras are received, the rest of the video equipment will be installed by a contractor.

ITEM 9. EWTV FUNDING
As you are aware, the NC Legislature changed the funding formula for PEG (or "Public, Educational and Governmental") channels like East Wake TV Channel 22 through adoption of Senate Bill S1716 this past summer. PEG channels are not mandated by federal law; rather, they are a right given to the franchising authority, which it may choose to exercise.
PEG channel revenue is collected from cable franchisees by the NC Department of Revenue and is distributed to the towns by the state. PEG channel funding is distributed based on the number of PEG channels each town claims. Knightdale, Zebulon, and Wendell not only claimed Channel 22 as a PEG channel, but also claimed the Raleigh PEG channels that are re-broadcast on Time Warner Cable in these service areas. Senate Bill S1716 disallowed the ability to claim the rebroadcasted PEG channels from other jurisdictions.
Senate Bill S1716 was originally expected to cut the funding for East Wake TV in half (from about to about $35,000). Initial information received suggests that EWTV may not lose the funding originally expected. The funding level for PEG channel distribution will not be confirmed until the distribution is made. Staff will keep the board abreast of this issue as PEG channel revenue is received.

ITEM 10. SIDEWALK AREAS OF CONCERN
Staff would like your input about specific areas of concern that you have for the sidewalk maintenance around town, as well as high priority areas for new sidewalks. Your input is desired as staff works to prepare a draft scope of work for the USDA Rural Development Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) that was discussed with the board at the July 14th meeting. A “Safe Route to Schools” grant program through the NC Department of Transportation may be another funding source to explore.

ITEM 11. OTHER:
A. Dr. Clayton’s office (the Acts Medical Clinic) opened on Tuesday, October 7th. Click here to view Dr. Clayton’s web site.
B. McDonald’s is scheduled to open sometime this weekend.
C. Staff has arranged for Mr. Jeff Walker, from the brick industry, to make a presentation on November 17th to the Wendell Planning Board. Staff would like to invite all interested parties to attend. A representative of the vinyl industry has also been contacted, but a date for the vinyl representative to address the planning board has not yet been scheduled.
D. The annual Wendell Chamber of Commerce banquet will be on Tuesday, November 11th (Veterans’ Day). The event will start at 6:00 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m.
E. FYI – Upgrades to the Wendell Library are in the current Wake County bond program. The budget is $349,000, which includes roof replacement and miscellaneous interior upgrades. The work is scheduled for FY12. The last improvements at the library consisted of interior finish improvements, which were made about 5 -6 years ago.
F. A copy of the 2008 audit for the Wendell Fire Department has been received by the manager. Please stop by his office if you would like to review it.
G. A number of new homes have been constructed at Edgemont Landing. If you have not driven through the subdivision in a while, you may want to see how the subdivision is developing.

ITEM 12. UPCOMING EVENTS:

DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION

10/12 – 10/14 NC League of Municipalities Conference @ Charlotte

10/20 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

10/21 7:00 p.m. Meeting about Lake Myra Park Master Draft Plan @ Wendell Community Center

10/22 Possible Board of Commissioners Retreat

10/23 7:00 p.m. Board of Adjustment Training @ Town Hall

10/27 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

11/03 6:00 p.m. UDO Meeting @ Town Hall

11/10 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

11/11 (Tues.) Veterans Day (town offices closed)

11/11 6:00 p.m. Chamber Banquet @ Wendell Community Center

11/17 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

11/20 9:00 a.m. Stakeholders Meeting – Hazard Mitigation Plan update @ Town Hall

11/24 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

11/27 – 11/28 Thanksgiving holiday (town offices closed)