The newly formed Parks and Recreation Board met Friday, February 18, for an organizational session. Hal Hermann was elected chairman, Mary Karr the vice-chairman and Pat Bowen the secretary. I was impressed with the range of experience and interests of these members and believe this group will serve the town very well.

The new board discussed topics of general interest, such as hiking trails, picnic areas, youth programs at the golf course, beautification projects and the like. They concurred that priority projects would include the golf course, Memorial Point and a trail system on town property overlooking the lagoon near the ABC store.

The Parks and Recreation Board will meet at 1:00 p.m. on the third Friday of each month.

Just like the IRS, budget time comes around every year about now. It is a time to reflect on the cost of administering the town’s business over the past year and attempt to project our needs for the following year. Just like your personal budget, this is a delicate balancing of needs with available income. The town’s policy is to try to provide the best service possible utilizing all available sources of funds without increasing ad valorem taxes unless absolutely necessary.

Over the next few months, we will be developing the 2000/2001 fiscal budget. Starting in April, we will hold budget workshops that will be open to the public. The process will culminate with a public hearing to receive your input. I encourage you to attend these sessions so that you can be better informed about the decisions which go into adoption of an annual budget and to make your opinions known to Town Council.

This year, for the first time, we will prepare and adopt a six-year capital improvements program, or "CIP." The CIP will consist of a capital budget for the upcoming year and a capital plan for the five year period thereafter. Each year, we will adopt a revised CIP, dropping the past year and adding a new sixth year. Capital projects are those major purchases and projects costing over $10,000. This important budgeting tool will allow us to plan for large expenditures well ahead of the time the funds are needed.

Finance Officer Sam Karr and I will always be available to answer questions about the process or the budget, itself.

Count on it!

The census is coming to town. April 1 is Census Day across the nation and throughout the month of March, questionnaires will be both mailed and delivered to all households in the country. It is very important for our local community that all people are accurately counted because so many state and federal programs and revenue sharing are based on population. A lot of people feel the census is an invasion of their privacy, but it is important to know that the information collected by the Bureau of the Census is totally confidential and can only be used in compiling general statistics. It cannot, by federal law, be used by any other agency, public or private, including the IRS and the FBI.

Lake Lure has been identified as an area of special concern because of the number of part-time residents and time-share owners. Therefore, it is more likely that a census enumerator may visit you in person. Please assist us in making sure that this census is as accurate as possible. We will all benefit.

Employee of the month, Charles Shane Ramsey has been employed with the Town of Lake Lure since August 20, 1999. Before Shane's employment with the town, he was employed with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department for four years. He graduated from Clyde A. Erwin High School and earned an associate degree from AB Tech in Asheville, North Carolina. Shane and his wife Cindy reside in Lake Lure. Thank you Shane, for all that you do.

REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 8, 2000.

Under the "consent agenda," Council approved the minutes of January 11, 2000 (regular meeting).

In other activities, Town Council:

* approved recommendations from the Lake Advisory Committee to adopt a "catch and size limit" regulation for certain fish in Lake Lure. Because numbers and sizes of fish have decreased in the lake, the Lake Advisory Committee advised action was needed to improve the quality of fishing. This new regulation reads as follows:

Trout: Limit 5 per day, per person, and all must be no less than 15 inches long.

Bass: Limit 5 per day, per person (total bass):

Largemouth Bass must be no less than 16 inches long.

Smallmouth Bass must be no less than 14 inches long.

Crappie: Limit 20 per day, per boat, and all must be no less than 10 inches long.

In addition, the Lake Advisory Committee suggested that the new "catch and size limit" regulations be published in the Lake Lure lake regulations pamphlet. Also, submit these new regulations to the Wildlife Resource Commission to be written into the laws which are unique to Lake Lure.

* appointed Commissioner Dick McCallum to serve as liaison on the Parks and Recreation Board;

* appointed Commissioner Blaine Cox to serve as liaison on the Board of Adjustment and the Lake Structures Appeals Board;

* approved request from Pediatric Brain Tumor Association to hold a "Ride for Kids" on June 24, 2000;

* approved request from Tim and Debbie Turner regarding a sewer connection in Chimney Rock for the Cajun Pig restaurant;

* approved requests from the Hickory Nut Gorge Chamber of Commerce regarding (1) fireworks display on July 4, 2000, (2) Halloween festival on October 28-29, 2000, and (3) boat parade on December 2, 2000;

* held a discussion regarding the Lake Lure golf course business report;

* scheduled a joint workshop meeting with the Lake Lure Golf Course Advisory Committee to be held Tuesday, March 7, 2000, at 9:30 a.m. in the Lake Lure Municipal Building;

* recognized Town Clerk Mary A. Flack for becoming the first municipal clerk in the State of North Carolina and the fifth IIMC (International Institute of Municipal Clerks) member to achieve the Master Municipal Clerk designation;

* held a closed session for attorney client privilege and legal matters [G.S. 143-318.11(a)3] regarding Casteel vs. the Town of Lake Lure;

* held a closed session for attorney client privilege and legal matters [G.S. 143-318.11(a)3] regarding Fairfield Mountains POA vs. Rutherford County and the Town of Lake Lure;

* held a closed session for attorney client privilege and legal matters [G.S. 143-318.11(a)3] regarding the status of the Pollino zoning violation; and

* held a closed session for personnel matters [G.S. 143-318.11(a)6].

Mark your calendar! On March 25-26, 2000, the Lake Lure Police Department and the North Carolina Wildlife will sponsor a state certified boating safety course at 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the Lake Lure Community Hall. Upon completion of this two-days (six-hour) course, the recipient will receive a North Carolina certificate which satisfies several recent legislative requirements and amendments to the North Carolina boating law concerning the operation of personal watercraft (jet skis). There will be a second offering of this course being held during June. Questions regarding this course may be directed to any Lake Lure police officer, or by calling 828-625-4685.

March is upon us and the weather is unpredictable. So though we may still get another good snow, I’ll talk about forest fires during the spring season. March and April are normally the worst months for forest fires in Western North Carolina. Because of the shortage of rain and snow this winter, I expect another busy fire season like last year. We need your help to prevent fires. First, take proper precautions if you must burn brush and/or leaves. Make sure that you obtain a burning permit (free-of-charge) from either Dr. Burch’s office or Dalton’s Store which are both in Lake Lure. It is required by law that you get a burning permit. Things to remember: don’t burn on windy days, clear all the combustible materials away from the area you plan to burn, be at least 50 feet away from any structure or property line, and have a garden hose connected ready in case you have problems. Most importantly, call 911 immediately should the fire get out of control. Lastly, it is against the state clean air laws to burn anything other than leaves, brush, or dead vegetation. This means don't burn trash or construction material. The state fine for this violation can be up to $10,000.

As you may have noticed, the new street signs are up and the project was completed last week. This is a major improvement and a vital asset to our town and especially for emergency services. We need your help to make sure these signs stay up. If you see a sign missing or torn down, please report it to the Town Hall at 828-625-9983 extension 100 or contact me at 828-625-9333 at Lake Lure Fire Station 2 for questions concerning signs or other items.

By Erosion Control Specialist Pamela Pyles

Landowners in the Upper Broad River watershed it is time to seed eroding bare land. Why do we want to put a ground cover on eroding areas? Keep your topsoil intact. Increase property value. Improve water quality. Keep aquatic life healthy in streams and lakes and reduce cost of dredging our lakes. This is made possible through a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Our erosion control plans are the same practices used by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

We have put together a conservation plan for a property owner that has a paved road on a steep slope. Due to the steepness of the area, we must install culverts and rip rap pad outlets which divert and trap surface run-off. Also, we must install a jute-netting channel along side of the road to channel run-off into the culverts. There are critical eroding areas on this property, so we will hydroseed those areas. The seed mixture for this site is Ky-31 fescue and rye grain. Lime, fertilizer, and straw mulch is added anytime you seed.

Another property owner who owns forest property will have their road seeded, water bars, and turnouts installed to divert the surface run-off of the roadbed to reduce erosion. The seeding mix (orchard grass, fescue, ladino clover, and small grain rye) which will be used is beneficial for wildlife.

The property owner is responsible for contracting grading and hydroseeding experts, but we will offer any assistance needed if the property owner is unsure.

If you have an erosion problem, the Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program can help you implement erosion control measures. There are informative brochures on our programs being offered. We provide technical advice and assistance which are free and non-regulatory. Also, financial incentives are offered for erosion control measures. Participants in the Upper Broad River cost share program will receive up to 75% average cost reimbursement after erosion control measures have been installed. I will be happy to speak with you on the phone at 828-625-9983, extension 123 or in person.

Spring will soon be here, the days are longer and warmer, and yes it's time to dust off the irons and woods and hit the golf courses. As you plan to play all the area courses, don't forget our municipal course. If for no other reason than to see the new improvements planned for this and the next few years. In fact, if you're interested in hearing more about the Lake Lure Municipal Golf Course and our plans for the future, please come to the special joint meeting of the Lake Lure Town Council and the Golf Course Advisory Committee on March 7th at 9:30 a.m. in the Municipal Building. The Golf Course Advisory Committee has worked very hard to research ideas and have presented these ideas in its January 12, 2000 report to Town Council. The March 7th meeting will be your chance to let the Town Council and the Golf Course Advisory Committee know your feelings about the golf course and how you think it fits into our community. Hey, with all this talk about golf, who knows, I may even try to learn how to play!

The town is currently selling boat permits for year 2000. The boat permit fees for this year were increased by 10%. You may obtain boat permits at the Lake Lure Municipal Center Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or at the Lake Lure town marina. Please contact the Lake Lure town marina at 828-625-4651 for their operating hours. To obtain a boat permit, you must present a current state registration card and your boat must not exceed the length limitations. The town allows pleasure boats which do not exceed the maximum length of 20 feet/11 inches and a pontoon boat which does not exceed the maximum length of 28 feet. Lake Lure property owners please note that to obtain a boat permit at the property owner/resident rate, you must be the owner of the boat as indicated on the state registration card. A resident/ property owner borrowing a boat from a friend or relative does not qualify. Also, if you are renting property, in order to qualify for the resident boat permit, you must reside within the corporate limits of the Town for more than 50% of the calendar year and must show proof of a rental agreement along with at least six months of electric or phone bills. If you have any further questions regarding boating fees and/or regulations, you may contact Anita Taylor at 828-625-9983, extension 129.

* Annual motorized boat permit $55.00

(Lake Lure property owners/residents)

* Annual motorized boat permit $440.00

(non-property owners of Lake Lure & non-residents of

Lake Lure)

* Annual non-motorized boat permit $22.00

(same price for both property owners & non-property

owners of Lake Lure)

* Daily motorized boat permit $55.00

(peak season -- Memorial day through Labor Day)

* Daily motorized boat permit $27.50

(non-peak season)

* Weekly motorized boat permit $165.00

(peak season -- Memorial Day through Labor Day)

* Weekly motorized boat permit $82.50

(non-peak season)

* Weekly non-motorized boat permit $5.50

(non-peak season only)

* Weekly time-share boat permit $55.00

(Fairfield Mountains -- only covers total of weeks

owned & must be used during the weeks of ownership

as indicated on permit)

* Boat permit replacement fee $10.00

(includes permits which have been lost, stolen, or

need to be replaced)

Requires completing an application and affidavit before another permit will be issued for replacement.

* Covered boat slip fee $600.00

(Lake Lure property owners/residents)

* Covered boat slip fee $1,200.00

(non-property owners of Lake Lure & non-residents

of Lake Lure)

* Uncovered boat slip fee $400.00

(Lake Lure property owners/residents)

* Uncovered boat slip fee $800.00

(non-property owners of Lake Lure & non-residents

of Lake Lure)

Water and sewer charges are not included in the town's ad valorem taxes. Several residents have indicated they believed their services were paid through their property taxes. Everyone on the town's water and sewer systems should receive a bill every other month. There are still some properties hooked up for years which are not shown on town records. There is a penalty for failure to pay for these services, though the owner might not be aware that the payment is due. If you suspect that you are on the town's water or sewer system and are not receiving a bill, please contact the Town Hall at 828-625-9983, extension 129 or 0 before a possible penalty increase takes place. Water and/or sewer bills are mailed bi-monthly and are always due on the 10th day of the following month (except on weekends and town observed holidays in which the due date will be the following business day and will be noted on the bill).

Two well-known groups are coming to Rutherford County to do a Hospice Gospel Singing. Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver and The Primitive Quartet will perform at the Isothermal Community College performing Arts Center on March 30, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. The singing is sponsored by WWOL 780 AM Radio to benefit Hospice of Rutherford County. Woodmen of the World Life Insurance is helping to underwrite the event. Advance tickets are $10 and $12 at the door. Tickets are available at the Hospice Center of Living, 374 Hudlow Road, Forest City or WWOL Radio, 1263 West Main Street, Forest City. For more information, call Heidi Owen at Hospice (828-245-0095).

The Hickory Nut Gorge Kiwanis will hold their annual guest and member dinner Thursday, March 2, 2000. For further information, call Membership Chairman Marcia Hardy at 828-625-9510.

Lake Lure Newcomers invites those who are new residents in Lake Lure (24 months or less) to join them in various activities which include: potluck, gourmet, out'n about, theater, bridge/poker, book club, and hiking. Anyone interested in becoming a member, call Fred Noble or Jeanine Noble at 828-625-8706.