Town of Lake Lure, 

North Carolina

TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT

by H.M. "Chuck" Place III, AICP

VOLUNTEERISM

I had the opportunity to speak to two of our fine civic groups, the Lake Lure Lions Club in January and the Hickory Nut Gorge Kiwanis Club this past month. My topic was Volunteerism in Lake Lure. In retrospect, that was like preaching to the choir. I suppose a lot of folks consider Lions and Kiwanis to be made up of snobby people who like to party and run around in funny hats and vests tying up traffic collecting money. Point of fact is that they are serious minded, public spirited members of our community that are concerned about the welfare of their fellow citizens and neighbors and spend countless hours soliciting donations and raising funds to help those in need. They sponsor scholarships for local youths, assist the elderly and get involved in civic activities in their community. Both of those organizations are made up of volunteers of the highest caliber! Having said that, I think it is appropriate to tell everyone else what I told them about Volunteerism.

Neighbors helping neighbors is a principle that goes back to the settling of this continent. "Volunteerism" is this principle taken to a higher order - citizens helping community. This is particularly important in small communities like ours with small budgets and limited staff. We rely heavily on volunteers here in Lake Lure.

Probably the most obvious is our reliance on the three volunteer fire departments, Fairfield, Chimney Rock and Bill's Creek, that serve the town. I understand that there are openings for volunteer firefighters, so here's a good chance to help, if you are so inclined.

Then there are the entire category of elected and appointed officials of the town, all of whom qualify as volunteers, starting with your elected mayor and commissioners. (They do not receive a salary, but they do get a small monthly stipend to offset their expenses.) The mayor and town council meet at least monthly to set town policy and regulations, establish the town budget and pursue the goals and desires of the town. Next comes the several boards which assist and advise the council or act on appeals from certain of the town's regulations. These boards consist of the zoning and planning board, zoning board of adjustment, lake structures appeals board, and parks and recreation board. There are also two standing committees, the lake advisory committee and the golf course advisory committee which assist council on the governing of the lake and town golf course. In addition, the council appoints the members of the ABC board, although that board is totally autonomous under state law.

All of these boards and committees are currently full, but vacancies occur from time to time. If you would like more information on the functions and responsibilities of any of them, give me a call. And if you would like to be considered for appointment to any of them, send a letter to the town clerk indicating the board or committee on which you would like to serve, and include a statement with your background and the reason you wish to volunteer.

Other organizations which welcome volunteers are the VWIN or Volunteer Water Information Network program (who's members collect water samples from around the lake for testing), the Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Committee (made up of a whole variety of citizens and professionals who's goal is the protection of our 94 square mile watershed), the Lake Lure Youth Center (the after school youth program at the community center and which desperately needs volunteers), the Chamber's Welcome Center (manned by volunteers), and a whole host of neighborhood organizations.

The need for volunteers is never ending in our piece of paradise and wouldn't it be great if everyone participated? Unfortunately, that's not likely. But that makes it even more imperative that you help out however you can. The members of Kiwanis and Lions do, and the members of the many volunteer boards, committees and other organizations do. How about you?

TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

by Town Clerk Mary Flack, MMC, CTC

Under the "consent agenda," Council:

* approved the minutes of January 13, 2004 (regular meeting and closed session);

* approved a budget amendment transferring $4,000.00 from the contingency fund to cover the cost of a heat pump for the Lake Lure Community Center; and

* ratified approval for budget amendments to cover merit pay increases for town employees; transferring $10,372.41 from the contingency fund to the general fund; transferring $1,643.64 from fund equity water/sewer fund; and transferring $524.55 from fund equity hydro electric fund to hydro electric department regarding.

In other activities, Town Council:

* reviewed a request from Don Henderson, Boy Scoutmaster of Troop 605, asking Town Council to waive boat permit fees for the Edneyville Boy Scouts (non-profit organization); approved waiving boat permit fees for one motorized and two non-motorized boats. Additional boat permits purchased by the Edneyville Boy Scouts will be charged at a resident rate;

* reviewed a request from Harry Thal and adopted Resolution No. 04-02-10 declaring the intention of Town Council to consider the closing of Gene Stratton Porter Street. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. or thereafter in the council meeting room of the Lake Lure Municipal Center to consider a resolution closing Gene Stratton Porter Street;

* approved a request from Peter Steenstra, head coach of the Ohio State Crew Club, to waive the boat permit fees on March 19-26, 2004, for the Ohio State Crew Club members and the UNC men's rowing team for an annual rowing scrimmage event; suspended the town's boat length restriction for this event; authorized the town manager to grant future waivers of fees and boat length restrictions for rowing team events;

* approved a budget amendment of $5,000.00 from the hydro electric fund to cover the cost of retaining an attorney for a lake use study analysis;

* agreed to hold a public hearing at the next regular town council meeting on March 9, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. or thereafter, to consider a request to change Tryon Bay Circle from a one-way street to a two-way street;

* reviewed a memorandum submitted by the Customer Services Supervisor Linda Ward regarding a clarification on the current boat slip policy; and

* held a closed session meeting to discuss personnel matters in accordance with G. S. 143-318.11 (a)(5) & (6).

GOOD- BYE

by Betty Hinson, Personnel Director

The town has been very good to me, and my fellow employees have been very supportive and will always be special to me.

On February 23^rd the town honored me with a retirement party and I was very humbled at all the thoughtfulness and hard work that went into making this such a special event.

To town council and staff, past and present, I say thank you and God Bless.

COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS

by Chief Mike Bustle

Recently you may have seen features on W.L.O.S. TV news about Project Childsafe appearing in and around the Asheville area. Project Childsafe is a nationwide program that helps ensure safe and responsible firearm ownership and storage. The Lake Lure Police Department is a registered partner in the promotion of this program.

As a firearms owner, it is your responsibility to know how to properly handle any firearm you own and also to know how to secure your firearms in a safe manner in your home. Project Childsafe has been created to help you accomplish these very important safety goals. Remember, nearly all firearms accidents in the home can be prevented simply by making sure that guns are kept unloaded and locked up, with ammunition secured in a separate location.

By serving as a Project Childsafe Partner, the Lake Lure Police Department is offering free gunlocks and safety brochures to residents of the Lake Lure area. Simply stop by the Lake Lure Police Department between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or consult your local community police officer for your free gunlock(s).

During this period of rebuilding sea walls and boat docks, please take a moment and consider the roadway frontage of your dwelling. Can emergency services personnel find your home quickly in the event of an emergency? Is the number of you home clearly displayed and easily observed by responding emergency personnel? Please take a few steps during "spring cleaning time" to enhance emergency personnel finding you quickly and safely. These seconds you save may become more important than we now realize!

UPPER BROAD RIVER WATERSHED

PROTECTION PROGRAM

by Clint Calhoun

Did you know that there are aliens living among us? They are likely living on your front lawn, in the woods behind your house, along your serene stretch of river, and many other places in our community. No, I'm not talking about aliens from other planets that Charlie Greeson keeps looking for at the golf course (which I'm sure he is going to find some day), nor am I talking about foreign nationals who have entered our country on visas. I am referring to alien plant species, better known as exotic plant species.

I would venture to guess that if you have a well groomed and manicured yard, you have a host of exotic plants growing in it. You could have ornamental shrubs such as hydrangeas, rose bushes, or forsythia. You may have many ornamental flower species such as pansies, peonies, or zinnias. Even your grass is most likely exotic as most turf grasses are (fescue, zoysia, Bermuda, centipede grass, etc.). Most of the exotic plants we have growing around us are basically harmless and add character to our landscape, but some are not so good, and even the harmless ones can at times contribute to problems.

Most everyone is familiar with kudzu. If you have lived south of the Mason-Dixon Line for any length of time, you know this plant (and if you don't you should be ashamed of yourself). Kudzu is probably the most familiar of a group of exotics known as Exotic Invasive Plants (or for our use here, just EIP). We know this plant because of its arrogant presence in fields and meadows, trees, old houses, and highway right-of-ways. Many EIPs are not so obvious but are just as detrimental to the health of our watershed. EIPs do several things. First of all, they have some quality about them that makes them invasive: high seed production and germination rates, highly adaptable, no natural predators, vigorous growth rate, etc. Because of their invasive nature, these plants will compete with and push out our native species which very often are slower growing and must deal with the stress of dealing with natural environmental pressures which the EIPs do not face. Loss of the native species can have a huge impact on aquatic ecosystems. Many riparian species are impacted by EIPs which cause habitat loss, loss of canopy which results in higher water temperatures, streambank erosion, reduced food sources, etc.

Ironically enough, many EIPs were originally planted with the intent of erosion control and these attempts have been successful. Plants such as Kudzu, Japanese Honeysuckle, Crown Vetch, English Ivy, and Periwinkle have all been used for erosion control by government agencies and land managers. Only recently has the spotlight shifted to native plants and their use for erosion control. This shift in focus is important because the resulting loss of biodiversity due to EIPs is something that we cannot afford to ignore.

Do you like those big oak trees in your yard? How about those trees along your streambank? They are all at risk to EIPs. Protection of a watershed is not just protecting the soil and water resources but also the natural ecological communities that occur in that watershed. Through sensible land management practices we can help protect our natural resources and still make our yards and homes look beautiful.

Now that you know a little about EIPs, next month I want to focus a little attention on some choice native plants that are good for erosion control. If you have any questions or concerns about EIPs and how they are affecting your watershed, please call me at 828-625-9983, ext. 123 or e-mail me at clintcalhoun@blueridge.net.

Lions Club Health Clinic on Friday, April 17^th at the Mountains Branch Library. The hours of the clinic are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The clinic is free and open to the public. Items being checked are glaucoma screening, blood pressure and blood sugars. For more information, please contact Martha Ledford at 828-625-9496.

Memorial Days Arts and Crafts Festival will once again be sponsored by the Kiwanis Club on May 29^th, 30^th and 31^st. Application forms for booth space are now being accepted. Food vendors and artists and crafters may call 828-625-2299 or 828-691-5008 for information and application forms. Booth space may be made available free of charge to non-profit organizations for the sale of fund-raising items or for other non-political, non-advocacy activities. Please note that all items offered for sale should be hand crafted. Proceeds from vendor booth fees are used to support a variety of community service efforts in the Hickory Nut Gorge.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

The public will take notice that the Lake Lure Marine Commission has called a public hearing following the regular Town Council meeting on Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. or thereafter, at the Council Meeting Room of the Lake Lure Municipal Center, for the purpose of receiving comments on adoption of proposed initial Lake Regulations. The public is invited to attend.

A copy of the proposed initial Lake Regulations are available for public inspection at the office of Administration, Lake Lure Town Hall, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Fridays, holidays excepted. Please note that this is an administrative change; the proposed regulations are the same as the current lake regulations.

Notice is further given that after said Public Hearing the proposed Lake Regulations may be adopted by the Lake Lure Marine Commission, and furthermore substantial changes from those set forth in the proposed Lake Regulations may possibly be made to said Lake Regulations where such substantial changes, if made, are of the same fundamental character as those presently contained therein, such changes resulting from objections, debates and discussions at said public hearing.

The public is advised that it has the right to appear at said public hearing and voice any objections it may have with respect to said proposed Lake Regulations. The proposed Lake Regulations are substantially the same as the existing Chapter 85 of the Town of Lake Lure Code of Ordinances.

Notice is hereby given that the Town of Lake Lure, North Carolina, Town Council will consider a request to change Tryon Bay Circle from a one-way street to a two-way street.

There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. or thereafter, in the Council Meeting Room of the Lake Lure Municipal Center. Citizens are invited to make written or oral comments. Written comments must be dated, signed, returned prior to the public hearing, and addressed to the Lake Lure Town Council, P. O. Box 255, Lake Lure, North Carolina 28746.

NOTICE

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

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