Town of Lake Lure,
North
Carolina
Town of Lake Lure, North
Carolina
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THE LAKE LURE TRIBUTE Mayor:
Jim Proctor Commissioners:
Blaine Cox, Lea Hullender, Dick McCallum, George Pressley, Town
Manager: H.M. “Chuck” Place NOVEMBER
2003 Published
by Town of Lake Lure, P.O. Box 255, Lake Lure, NC 28746 Newsletter
Editor & Coordinator: Monica Stofer Telephone:
(828) 625-9983 Fax:
(828) 625-8371 Website:
www.ci.lake-lure.nc.us
E-mail: lakeluretown@blueridge.net
MAYOR'S COMMENTS by Jim Proctor Happy Thanksgiving! As I write this article I can look out my office and see beautiful mountains, blue sky, the lake and children playing at our playground. We are all very lucky to live not only in one of the nicest areas in the world but in the greatest nation in the world. We are a community of friendly people that look after each other. We certainly have much to be thankful for! Noise For several years now I have received complaints about noise. These complaints vary and include various types of loud noise, but the most prevalent is about the noise from vehicles that either have no muffler or a muffler that is not suitable for the vehicle. Soon after I was first elected mayor I asked our police chief, Mike Bustle, if there was a law that addressed this issue. He said there was a state statute that required all vehicles to have an original muffler or a "like kind" muffler. He went on to tell me that it was a very hard law to prosecute. As it turns out our neighbor, Chimney Rock, has had similar complaints and after working with both the district attorney and the sheriff's department created a noise ordinance that appears to be enforceable. I will discuss this at the next town meeting. If you are interested in this issue please contact me or come to the next town meeting.
TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES by Town Clerk Mary Flack, MMC, CTC REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2003, 7:00 p.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center. Under the "consent agenda," Council: * approved the minutes of September 9, 2003 (regular meeting) and September 30, 2003 (special workshop meeting); * approved a budget amendment of $5,100.00 regarding the golf course department as submitted by the finance director to cover the cost of replacing an irrigation pump; and * adopted Resolution No. 03-10-14 ( Municipal Agreement between the Town of Lake Lure and the North Carolina Department of Transportation Regarding Reinspection of Bridges on the Municipal Street System F. A. Project BRZ-NBIS 13). In other activities, Town Council: * held a public hearing to consider amendments to the Zoning Regulations (Sections 1-4: 92.005 Definitions; 92.028 Residential District; Conditional Use Permit; 92.118 Fences, Wall and Hedges; 92.133 Exceptions to Required Yards) and adopted Ordinance No. 03-10-14 as amended; * Proposed Sections 5-13 of the Zoning Regulations (92.145 Signs, Intent; 92.147 Definitions; 92.150 Free-Standing Detached Signs; 92.155 Signs Exempt from Permit Requirements; 92.156 Signs Prohibited; 92.159 Sign Maintenance and Abandoned Signs; 92.160 Non-Commercial Messages; and 92.161 Permits, Fees, Nonconforming Signs, and Enforcement) were not adopted as presented at the meeting. The Zoning and Planning Board was asked to review these sections further and bring them back to town council for consideration at the next regular town meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2003; * heard a presentation from Fire Coordinator Ron Morgan explaining the Rutherford County Hazard Mitigation planning process; * approved a request from Hugh Mosley to connect into the town sewer system contingent upon his property being annexed into Chimney Rock Village; * adopted Resolution No. 03-10-14A authorizing the advertisement of an offer of $4,000 to purchase town property located on Asa Gray Drive (a .18 acre portion of lot located on Asa Gray Drive, Lake Lure, North Carolina. This property is recorded in the Rutherford County Registry at the Rutherford County Register of Deeds Office, Deed Book AD, Page 1092 and on the Rutherford County Tax Map 516, Block 6, Lot 12) and authorized the town attorney to prepare an easement for Bob Runde granting drainage across the lower portion of town property (located on the Rutherford County Tax Map 516, Block 6, Lot 12); * held a discussion regarding bow safety within town limits and heard comments from citizens concerning this issue; * heard a presentation from Lake Advisory Chairman Bob Washburn and Russell Pitts regarding a dredging maintenance plan including a silt removal and management analysis of Lake Lure; Mr. Pitts showed a video on silt removal; * approved an expenditure of up to $30,000 out of the silt removal line item to cover costs associated with refurbishing, and upgrading the town dredge and operational training expenses; * reviewed recommendations from the Lake Advisory Committee; agreed to schedule a workshop meeting with the Lake Advisory Committee February, 2004 to discuss lake patrol issues; * appointed Stephen M. Webber to serve as regular member on the Board of Adjustment/Lake Structures Appeals Board; Harvey W. Jacques was appointed to serve as alternate member on this board; * approved a budget amendment of $38.29 per month ($459.48 per year) from the contingency fund to the public works line item for street lights to cover the cost of reactivating five street lights on Buffalo Creek road; and * held a closed session meeting in accordance with G.S.143-318.11(a)(3) to discuss legal matters and attorney client privilege regarding pending litigation between Patricia Hyatt and the Town of Lake Lure and to discuss the location of a business in accordance with G.S.143-318.11(a)(4). SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING WITH THE LAKE LURE MARINE COMMISSION: A special town council workshop meeting was held with the Lake Lure Marine Commission on Tuesday, September 30, 2003, 9:00 a.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center. Town Council: * briefly discussed objectives, procedures, and the budget process pertaining to the Lake Lure Marine Commission; * tabled discussion regarding financing merit pay for town employees for further study; * scheduled a special workshop meeting to discuss financing merit pay for town employees; * approved the settlement agreement between Fairfield Mountains POA and Rutherford County and the Town of Lake Lure as presented; and * approved a request from the Lake Lure La La Queens asking the town to: (1) suspend the town's peddling ordinance on Saturday, October 11, 2003 for the purpose of a yard sale being held on town property in front of the Lake Lure Youth Center from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. to help fund the Lake Lure Youth Center; (2) authorize the use of two signs for this event; and (3) waive the permit fees for these two signs. SPECIAL MEETING: A special town council meeting was held on Wednesday, October 22, 2003, 9:00 a.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center. Town Council: * held a discussion regarding financing merit pay for town employees; and * approved a budget amendment encumbering $10,000 from the contingency fund to cover the cost of merit pay for town employees during the remainder of the current fiscal year. REGULAR MEETING OF THE LAKE LURE MARINE COMMISSION: A regular meeting of the Lake Lure Marine Commission was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2003, after 7:00 p.m. following the regular town council meeting, at the Lake Lure Municipal Center. Lake Lure Marine Commission: * tabled discussion and review of lake regulations and ordinances pertaining to the lake; and * recessed the meeting until Wednesday, October 22, 2003, after 9:00 a.m. following the special town council meeting, at the Lake Lure Municipal Center. RECESSED REGULAR MEETING OF THE LAKE LURE MARINE COMMISSION: A recessed regular meeting of the Lake Lure Marine Commission was held on Wednesday, October 22, 2003, after 9:00 a.m. following the special town council meeting, at the Lake Lure Municipal Center. Lake Lure Marine Commission: * agreed to use the same parliamentary rules and procedures adopted by town council for town meetings; * adopted the following intent for the Lake Lure Marine Commission (the "Commission) to enact regulations applicable to Lake Lure that:
* reviewed lake regulations (Chapter 85 of the Code of Ordinances) and requested that the town manager make suggested revisions to be presented for approval at the next regular town council meeting held on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 for approval; * scheduled a special meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2003, after 7:00 p.m. following the regular town council meeting, at the Lake Lure Municipal Center, at the Lake Lure Municipal Center, to hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of lake regulations (Chapter 85 of the Code of Ordinances); and * scheduled a special meeting with the Lake Advisory Committee on Monday, December 1, 2003, 6:30 p.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center, to discuss lake issues;
KNOW YOUR EMPLOYEE by Betty Hinson, Personnel Officer Town Finance Officer, SAM KARR, is responsible for directing the town's financial management. He oversees the financial record keeping for the town as well as reconciling all financial statements. Sam monitors all the town expenditures and revenues which also means that he tell us when we spend too much. Sam oversees the maintenance of a central accounting system for the town that is consistent with municipal accounting principles and which meet statutory requirements. In addition to these responsibilities, Sam works on state and federal grant applications and assists our CPA in conducting an annual audit. This is a very brief synopsis of Sam's responsibilities, but be assured, his salary is a necessary expenditure.
COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS by Chief Mike Bustle Recently, residents in and around Lake Lure have reported increasing incidents of theft. This trend is reportedly county-wide. In several cases, officers in partnership with victims, have been successful in recovering some of the stolen property and have incarcerated the perpetrator of the crimes. Please be aware that you can do much to decrease the potential for becoming a victim of crime. As people grow older, their chances of being a victim of a crime increase dramatically. But a lifetime of experience coupled with the physical problems associated with aging often make older Americans fearful. Although they're on the lookout constantly for physical attack and burglary, they are not as alert to frauds and con games - in reality, the greatest crime threat to seniors' well-being and trust. Want to conquer fear and prevent crime? Take these common-sense precautions: Be alert when out and about * Go with family or friends, not alone. * Carry your purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat pocket or front pants pocket. * Don't carry credit cards you don't need or large amounts of cash. * Use Direct Deposit for Social Security and other regular checks. * Whether you're a passenger or driver, keep car doors locked. Be particularly alert in parking lots and garages. Park near an entrance. * Sit close to the driver or near the exit while riding the bus, train, or subway. * If someone or something makes you uneasy, trust your instincts and leave. Make your home safe and secure * Install good locks on doors and windows. Use them! Don't hide keys in mailboxes and planters or under doormats. Instead, leave an extra set of keys with a neighbor or friend. * Ask for photo identification from service or delivery people before letting them in. If you are the least bit worried, call the company to verify. * Be sure your street address number is large, clear of obstruction, and well lighted so police and emergency personnel can find your home quickly. * Consider a home alarm system that provides emergency monitoring for burglary, fire, and medical emergencies. Watch out for con artists * Don't fall for anything that sounds too good to be true - a free vacation; sweepstakes prizes; cures for cancer and arthritis; a low-risk, high-yield investment scheme. * Never give your credit card, phone card, Social Security, or bank account number to anyone over the phone. It's illegal for telemarketer to ask for these numbers to verify a prize or gift. * Don't let anyone rush you into signing anything - an insurance policy, a sales agreement, a contract. Read it carefully and have someone you trust check it over. * Beware of individuals claiming to represent companies, consumer organizations, or government agencies that offer to recover lost money from telemarketer for a fee. * If you're suspicious, check it out with the police, the Better Business Bureau, or your local consumer protection office. You can also call the National Consumers League Fraud Information Center at 800-876-7060. Get involved in the community * Report any crime or suspicious activities to law enforcement. * Join a Neighborhood Watch and help look out for each other. * Work to change conditions that hurt your neighborhood. Volunteer as a citizen patroller, tutor for children, aid in the police department or fire department, mentor for teens, or escort for individuals with disabilities. By practicing these common sense precautions, you will effectively work to prevent crime and eliminate the fear associated with crime!
by Ron Morgan, Fire Coordinator On October 26th daylight savings time ended and everyone turned their clocks back one hour. Hopefully everyone has heard of the Fire Prevention Campaign "Change your Clock, Change your Battery" this is referring to your smoke detector battery. Battery operated smoke detectors need new batteries twice a year and this is an easy way to remember to change the batteries in them. If you haven't, this is your reminder to change the battery. Every home should have at least one smoke detector on each level to wake occupants in case of fire while you are sleeping. If you have electric smoke detectors you still need a battery operated smoke detector to protect you when the power is out. Smoke detectors should also be tested once a month to insure that they work. Many of you rent out your homes in Lake Lure. You may not realize that several years ago North Carolina enacted a law requiring landlords to provide working smoke detectors in rental property. Notice I said "working", this means you are responsible to insure your smoke detector is working before renting a property and maintaining it in working order. I suggest you keep records of this for your protection. Anyone having questions about smoke detectors or other issues for the fire department please feel free to contact me at 828-625-9333.
GOLF COURSE NEWS by Charlie Greeson, Pro Shop Clerk I'd like to start this month's report mentioning the winners of the recent tournaments in October. The Member's Championship had our usual winner- Delmer Parker. Delmer seems to have a permanent place at the #1 position. Bruce McClain was only 1 stroke behind and vows to keep on his heels. Bruce wants that #1 sport real bad. The winner of the Men's Club Championship was, again as usual, Delmer Parker and his partner Harold Wilson. Delmer and whomever he plays with seem to have a permanent place at the #1 position. Bruce McClain and his partner, Robert Wilson, were only 1 stroke behind and they vow to keep on their heels. Bruce wants that #1 spot reallllllll bad! Just to keep from sounding like a broken record, the winner of the 2nd Annual Diamonds Classic was Gary Plott and his team. This is where the plot begins to thicken. UFO update - no activity noted; except for... We had an alien present at the Diamonds Classic. It wasn't an alien but rather something that was alien to us. Miss North Carolina International graced us with her presence. I'm not sure what we did to deserve this visit, but whatever it was we're going to try to do it again. Ok, back to the golf course, some of you may have noticed we got the creek banks cut to where you can see the creek again. We normally get the folks from North Carolina Department of Corrections to do the job, but this time it was Josh, our newest lean, mean, weed eatin' machine. He's also quite handy when it comes to taking care of dead and downed trees. We have had one significant saw log size pine to come down in the big wind the 14th of October and it made for a sizeable pile of brush. There were a lot of limbs that scattered themselves around the course, and the guys have been working steadily at keeping those cleared off as well as a plethora of leaves. We are pleased to report that the paving has been completed and the parking lot has been sealed. Things look a lot better and they will look even better still when we get the striping done. We've had favorable response to our various size range buckets. The new prices now are : $3.00 for a small bucket with approximately 30 balls, $6.00 for the large bucket with approximately 90 balls and $10.00 for the tub-o-balls with approximately 150 in it. Fall is here in all its multicolored splendor so come on out and play a round and bring your camera too. The view from the top of #4 tee is spectacular. The course is in great shape and the weather is right. See y'all when you get here.
PROTECTION PROGRAM by Clint Calhoun, Erosion Control Specialist Picture in your mind the most beautiful stream you have ever seen in Western North Carolina (if you say the Rocky Broad River I'm going to tell you that you need to get out more). What did it look like? Was the water crystal clear? What did the stream banks look like? Were they nicely manicured and mowed? Were there lots of trees and shrubs growing? Was there shade over the water or was it in open sunlight? Were there lots of rocks in the streambed? You might be asking, "Where is he going with this?" I ask these questions because people have different perceptions of what a stream should look like. This is evident if you drive through the watershed and notice the areas where the river or a small tributary flows through someone's yard, pasture, or field. The differences will amaze you. Appearance is important in determining the health of a particular stream. Clear water means that there are very few suspended particles in the water. Clear water usually means that there is a substantial riparian buffer throughout the watershed. A riparian buffer is the area along a stream where the vegetation is strongly influenced by the presence of water. This vegetation acts as a filtering system by capturing storm water as it runs off, trapping the sediment that it is carrying, and allowing the water to flow into the stream clean and pure. This mixture of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants provides shade to the stream which keeps water temperatures and algae levels low. This is good for fish, salamanders, and aquatic invertebrates. The presence of abundant rock and clean pebbles is essential for aquatic life. Small particle substrates such as sand and silt that are often present in storm water can cover up the larger stones, reducing the amount of habitat. Streams should also have both fast-moving stretches and slow pools. The fast moving water increases oxygen levels, while slower moving pools provide fish spawning grounds and feeding areas for both vertebrates and invertebrates. Finally, there should be plenty of natural debris (leaf litter, branches, etc.) which provides food for many of the aquatic organisms. This is the ideal appearance of a stream. If our streams in the Upper Broad River Watershed looked like this I would be the happiest man in the watershed, but this is not the case. Our streams are suffering. In fact, because of the amount of sediment going into the Broad River, its future as trout waters is uncertain. In order for us to help our ailing streams, it's going to take a lot of effort and teamwork from the communities in our watershed. I encourage you to get involved. The UBRWP has a brand new Watershed Protector's Handbook that is available and describes what individuals can do to help protect water quality. These handbooks will be popping up all around the watershed. If you would like a copy please let me know. Next month, we'll talk about what an ailing stream looks like. The Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program was put together with the sole purpose of protecting soil and water resources in our watershed. The program is designed to provide landowners with technical assistance and advice that is free and non-regulatory. We also offer financial incentives for landowners interested in fixing existing erosion problems. We are also interested in preserving riparian areas in order to protect water quality. If you would like to know what you can do to help improve water quality in the Upper Broad River Watershed, please contact me at (828)625-9983, ext. 123.
NEWLY RESURFACED TENNIS COURTS by Tony Hennessee, Public Works Director After a long time of need the Lake Lure public tennis courts are refurbished and ready for play. As a reminder, lets all try to keep them nice by using the proper shoes and equipment. If you see anyone misusing the courts by skating, cycling, etc., please notify the Lake Lure Police Department at 828-625-4685.
LAKE LURE YOUTH CENTER'S HAPPENINGS by The Kids At The Lake Lure Youth Center First we would like to say thank you to all the parents who have been donating food, drinks, and their time to help out. That's what this center is about, everyone pitching in. Also, a big thanks to the LA-LA Queens of Lake Lure for donating over $200 to us from their big yard sale held on Saturday, October 11th. We have some more exciting news that we would like to share with everyone. We have several A-B Honor Roll students who attend the center. They are: Michael Labrador - 6th grade, Bjorn Searle - 4th grade, Christopher Abel - 1st grade, Jonah Searle - 2nd grade, Jenna Chillington -6th grade, Nicolas Karr - 4th grade, Jacob Sherrill - 3rd grade, Justin Chillington- 9th grade, Serenity Ash - 9th grade, Kyle Kelley - 7th grade, and Ashley Freeberg - 12th grade. Good job and keep up the hard work!
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 should call Hugh or Nancy Pinney at 828-625-0867.
Garden Club will be traveling to the Crow Dog Company in Pickens, S.C. which is situated in a valley just below Table Rock State Park. The owner is Tom Goforth. He supplies ferns to places like Duke Botanical Gardens, propagates and raises 30 or so ferns native to the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Mr. Goforth has agreed to let the garden club visit and has offered to take those who are interested through the spore propagation of ferns. He will also give a guided tour on his property to a natural fern habitat. If you would like to be part of this fun, join them on November 4th. The departure time is 9:30 a.m. For more information on this trip and the cost please call Saundra Nelson at 828-625-1065 or Martha Ledford at 828-625-9496. Also, plans for the December meeting are at this time incomplete but they will meet on December 9th at the Mountains Branch Library from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. 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. The Lake Lure Friends of the Library are presenting their semi-annual meeting on November 2, 2003, at 4:00 p.m. in the library. Their guest will be Isobel Zuber, author of "Salt". Refreshments will be available. For more information, please call 828-625-1194. Curves Fitness Center is having a community health screening Friday, December 5th. There will be four preventive ultrasound health screenings: Carotid Artery Screening(stroke prevention), Aneurysm Screening(detects abdominal aortic aneurysm), Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening(Coronary Artery Disease Indicator), and Bone Density Screening(detects risk for osteoporosis). There is a cost for each screening. Appointments are limited and required. For more information or to schedule call 1-800-407-4557. These 10 minutes could save your life!
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 December issue is November 19, 2003.
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