by Jim Proctor

BEST WISHES FOR A GREAT NEW YEAR IN 2003

FROM THE ENTIRE TOWN COUNCIL AND ME.     

  

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

by H.M. “Chuck” Place III, AICP

         FOR THE NEW YEAR - 2003

          It’s hard for me to realize it was five years ago this month that I took that leap of faith and retired from my longtime position in Florida to move to this area.  It’s a move that Lynn and I will never regret, even though I seem to spend a lot of time in Town Hall for a retiree!  We found a lovely place to live, have jobs we truly enjoy and have made many, many good friends in one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Lynn and I wish to all of you the blessings and happiness that have come to us.  May your new year be healthy, happy and prosperous.

 2002 - IN RETROSPECT

          This has been a lot less tumultuous year than 2001 turned out to be. The biggest news was the year-long celebration of Lake Lure’s 75^th anniversary, the Diamond  Jubilee. We suffered with the continuation of a years-long drought.  Rains in the late spring and early summer helped somewhat, but we are still well below our norm.

         Here are a few highlights of the year’s happenings with the good folks that work for you:

1. Shane Ramsey, A. J. Fox and Rosa Armstrong resigned from the police department and Robert Owens, Tabatha Ruppe and Vickie Coggins came aboard to replace them (Tabby left last year to work for Forest City and then the Rutherford County Sheriff’ Office, but thought  better of it and came back to us);

2. Butch Kelly, Donna Kelly and Kay Robinson left the Youth Center and Sharon Theis  took over with JoAnn  Foster as her assistant;

3. Police Officers Tim Spittle and Tabby Ruppe were promoted to Corporal;

4. William Grimes celebrated his 20^th anniversary as an employee of the town - he’s been here longer than any other full time employee, exceeded only by part-timer Devault Edgerton;

5. Customer Services Supervisor/Deputy Clerk  Anita Taylor was re-elected to the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Municipal Clerk’s Association and was awarded the coveted title of Master Municipal Clerk by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks;

6. Corporal Tim Spittle won the “Jack Powell Top Gun” award for high score during police firearms qualifications for the second year in a row;

7. Golf Course Manager Chris Shute and his crew, Steve Greenlee, Sheila Spicer and Charlie Greeson, have again set records for revenue generated at the golf course all year long and the course showed a profit for the first time in memory;

8. And last, but by no means least, our youngest Lake Lure family member, Jenna, was born to Police Sergeant Rick Tullis  and his wife Joy last January.

 TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

by Town Clerk Mary Flack, MMC, CTC

       REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, December 10, 2002, 7:00 p.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

   Under the “consent agenda,” Council:

 * approved the minutes of November 12, 2002 (regular meeting) & December 3, 2002 (special workshop meeting);

 * approved Town Council meeting schedule for year 2003;

 * adopted Ordinance No. 02-12-10 providing for the delayed harvest of fish to be caught in Lake Lure; and

 * adopted Resolution No. 02-12-10 regarding a lease agreement between the Town of Lake Lure and J. & M. properties to lease town property in front of the Lake Lure arcade building to use as a location for a sign.

   In other activities, Town Council:

 * held a public hearing on a request from Ed Younger for annexation;

 * held a public hearing amending the Town of Lake Lure zoning ordinance and map for initial zoning of Ed Younger’s property to be zoned R-3 (Resort Residential District);

 *witnessed Chuck Watkins present a check from the Lakefront Owner’s Association to Fire Coordinator Ron Morgan to be used toward a new fire boat;

 * approved fee rates for boat permits to be issued January 2003;

 * received the auditor’s report for FY 2001/2002;

 * approved a request from Larry Brown and David Smart to connect the Evening Shade River Lodging into the town sewer system;

 * reappointed Richard P. Conrad, Robert F. Turner, Robert (Bob) Washburn to serve on the Lake Advisory Committee;

 * reappointed Fred Noble and Michael C. Williams to serve on the Board of Adjustment/Lake Structures Appeals Board.  Appointed Werner Maringer to serve as a regular board member and appointed Scott Salik to serve as an alternate member on this board;

* reappointed Dick Washburn to serve on the Zoning/Planning Board;

 * reappointed Dennis M. Demcho, Jack Donovan, and Tracy Shepard to serve on the Golf Course Advisory Committee;

 * reappointed Evan B. Schmitt to serve on the Lake Lure ABC Board;

 * reappointed Thomas M. King to serve on the Parks and Recreation Board.  Appointed Frederick D. Watson to serve on this board; 

* directed the town manager to draft an amendment to the Zoning Regulations regarding fences and forward it to the Zoning and Planning Board for their review; and

 * held closed session meeting: (1) discussion on legal matters involving attorney client privilege under G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3) regarding ongoing litigation between Patricia Hyatt and the Town of Lake Lure; and (2) discussion on a personnel matter under G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6).

       SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: Town Council held a special workshop meeting with the Chimney Rock Village Council on Tuesday, December 3, 2002, 2:00 p.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center.  Consultants John Orsillo and Dennie Martin, McGill Associates, gave a presentation regarding water and sewer regionalization assessment for the Town of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village.  Also, Consultants Orsillo and Martin talked about the existing facilities in Town of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village.  They explained the advantages of combining these systems and reviewed recommended capital improvements necessary to merge the systems plus long-term improvements, management strategies and organizational structure, and financial analysis.

      Lake Lure Town Council members and Chimney Rock Village Council members agreed to schedule a joint workshop meeting to be held Tuesday, February 4, 2003, 2:00 p.m., at the Town Council meeting room in the Lake Lure Municipal Center.  The purpose of this meeting will be to continue discussion regarding joint water and sewer systems.

 

COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS

by Chief Mike Bustle 

Identity Theft

      Recently we have had several instances of identity theft within the Town of Lake Lure.  Many consider identity theft to be the fastest growing crime in America, affecting almost half a million people each year.  Enterprising criminals can gather enough information about you through the debris of everyday electronic transactions to pretend they are you.  Once this happens, they can gain access to all your financial information.  The most common way thieves get information from you is by stealing your wallet.  However, other ways include looking over your shoulder at ATM’s and phone booths to capture your PIN number, stealing  mail from  your mailbox, digging through your discarded trash, and fraudulently ordering a copy of your credit record.

     Police Departments, government agencies, and public interest groups recommend the following if you have been a victim of identity theft:

      1. Contact the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, 800-685-1111; Experian, 888- 397-3742; TransUnion, 800-680-7293) as soon as you are aware there is a problem.  In fact, it is a good idea to check your credit record once a year and make sure all the information is correct.

      2.  Contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

      3.   File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft  took place.  Be sure to get a copy of the police report.

      To report identity theft and get help on how to restore your credit, contact: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania  Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.  20580, or call tool-free 877-382-4357, or visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft. For law enforcement help, contact the U. S. Postal  Inspection Service, U. S. Secret Service, or the local police.  For consumer oriented information, contact Privacy Rights Clearinghouse,  1717  Kettner  Avenue, Suite  105, San Diego, California 92101; or visit www.privacyrights.org.

      Additional  resources include: “ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name,” available free of charge from the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); or for more information on identity theft prevention, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

      Your  local community police officer will be glad to assist  you  if you experience this increasing criminal activity.

  

 GOLF COURSE NEWS

by Charlie Greeson, Pro Shop Clerk

       At the Town Council meeting on December 10, we got the official final numbers.  For the first time in living memory, (for anyone there at least) the golf course made money.  Finance Director Sam Karr quoted a figure of $8,354.90 as the difference between revenue and expenditures.  While this doesn’t sound like a tremendous amount, it is impressive when compared to the deficits rendered in previous years.

      It was no single factor but a variety of factors that led to this positive statement.  Improved course conditions certainly stands out; however, we also did things like provide a greater variety and number of goods available for sale in the pro shop.  There were periods of time when we put those items on sale offering a lucrative discount.  We had special rates for certain times of the year.  We offered discounts for packages and discount coupons in various local and trade publications.  Another significant factor was increased membership.  We were extremely happy to have a course that local players could join at a reasonable price and be proud to be a member.  The weekly Captain’s Choice tournaments that welcomed all players regardless of whether or not they were a member was an even greater success than in years past.  There were 7 other tournaments held during the year as well.

      We want to thank all the local and visiting players who supported us with their patronage and everyone who sent up those prayers for rain that I asked for during the period of drought.  Hopefully, we have established this last fiscal year as a base for a continuing positive trend.  Certainly, we will strive to “ keep on keeping on” with all those things that have brought us success.

      New Stuff: We’re currently in the beginning stages of some pro shop renovations so that we can add another feature to the golf course - club repair, swing analysis, and instruction.  Alvin Coggins will soon have a section of the pro shop opening for these services.  Look to this publication for further developments.

      Last, but  not  least, the staff here at the golf course hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas and will have a happy and prosperous New Year.  We also hope your score improves with additional practice at our course, especially since we have those cheap winter rates in effect from now through February.

 

 

THE UPPER BROAD RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM

by Pamela Pyles

       A new year is beginning and as always we review the occurrences of the year before.  The Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program (UBRWP) has had many good things occur in 2002.  It began with the UBRWP receiving a $150,000.00 dollar grant from the North Carolina Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source grant program to continue working with property owners stabilizing eroding areas beginning in 2003.  As many people know this program provides technical and financial assistance to land owners experiencing sediment erosion problems within the Upper Broad River Watershed, which covers parts of three counties and totals 94 square miles.

      In September we closed on our program’s first Riparian Conservation Easement.  This easement is permanently protecting a total of 37.59 acres located within the Town of Lake Lure city limits.  The property owner is protecting waters in the Wolf Creek drainage area.  She is protecting approximately 2,000 foot long and between 150 feet and 300 feet wide section of Wolf Creek.  She is also protecting 600 linear feet of Pool Creek and approximately 2,220 linear feet of tributaries and springheads in the Pool Creek area.  This property owner has a deep desire to protect water quality, aquatic and wildlife habitat.  She has relinquished her development rights in the easement area.  These easements are a North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) project, which is funding our projects.  In December we closed on another Riparian Conservation Easement protecting another 11.58 acres, also within the Town of Lake Lure city limits.  The property owner is protecting 1,700 linear feet of Pool Creek and two small tributaries because of his deep desire to protect water quality and habitat.  These property owners are protecting water quality because no land disturbing activities will be conducted in these areas, hence sedimentation will not be a problem.  These property owners are thinking of the future and as property around them becomes developed the riparian areas will always be precious natural resources belonging to the property owners.

      Also, at the end of December we were told by CWMTF that we have been awarded $300,000.00 dollars grant for the UBRWP Program to continue our conservation work.  This allows us to continue working with property owners to protect water quality through easements and erosion control.

      We welcome you at our next UBRWP meeting to be held on Wednesday, January 15^th at 9:00 a.m. at the Town of Lake Lure Municipal Center.  We will celebrate last year’s accomplishments in Conservation and plan for our new year.  For information on our program, please call Pamela Pyles at the Town of Lake Lure at (828) 625-9983, ext., 123. 

                                                      

NEWS AROUND LAKE LURE

       Lake Lure Newcomers invite 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 Hugh or Nancy Pinney at 828-625-0867.

       Lake Lure Beach and Water Works is closed for the season and will reopen the second weekend in May.

       Lake Lure Lakefront Owners Association (LLLOA). If you are interested in Lake issues and concerns and own  lakefront  property on the shores of beautiful Lake Lure, the LLLOA invites you to become a regular member.  Associate  memberships are also encouraged for those who are interested in our Lake.  Each year members receive a directory of members, informative Muse Letters, and a first class mailed subscription to the Town of Lake Lure monthly newsletter, The Lake Lure Tribute.  Members  meet at the Town Community Center socially at least annually to meet neighbors and discuss issues.   Annual dues are currently a modest $17.00.  You may pick up an application  for  membership at the Municipal Center or call Chuck Watkins, Pres. at 828-625-2122 or Hugh Pinney, Treas. at 828-625-0867 for an application or any questions you may have.

 

NOTICE

 For comments about the operations of the Lake Lure Tours, call 828-625-0077.

                                                      

The deadline for newsletter articles to be received at Town Hall for the February issue is January 15, 2003.