THE LAKE LURE TRIBUTE

1927-2002

75 YEARS OF PROGRESS

 Mayor: Jim Proctor

Commissioners: Blaine Cox, Lea Hullender, Dick McCallum, Chuck Watkins,

Town Manager: H.M. “Chuck” Place, III

February 2005

 Published by Town of Lake Lure, P.O. Box 255 , Lake Lure , NC 28746

Newsletter Editor & Coordinator: Linda Ward

 

 

MAYOR'S COMMENTS

 Lake Lure Marine Commission

The Lake Lure Marine Commission met on January 11^th and after a public hearing approved several amendments to the Lake Regulations.  These included Lake Commercial Criterion, a Lake Commercial Application and Launch Site Application.  All commercial boat operators are encouraged to come by the town office and look at the new regulations. All applications for commercial license must be submitted by March 1, 2005.

 Lake Lure Town Council

After public hearing the Lake Lure Town Council took no action in regard to a temporary moratorium on residential planned unit developments that are over ten acres.  At their December meeting the Lake Lure Zoning and Planning had unanimously recommended a moratorium.  This item will be discussed at town meetings on the 15th. of February.  The first meeting is a joint meeting of the town council and the zoning and planning board at 9:30 AM and the next meeting will be at 1:00 PM to specifically discuss the moratorium.

                          

TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT

by H.M. Chuck Place III, AICP

 

THE YEAR THAT WILL BE

Last month, I wrote a laundry list of events that were noteworthy in 2004.  This month, I'll mention some things to come in 2005.

The largest public works project in many years is the water system expansion.  It is scheduled to be in service and supplying water to new customers by October 31.  Included in this project are the drilling of three new wells, and construction of 2.1 miles of new water mains plus a 250,000 gallon elevated storage tank.  This project will not only provide high quality potable water to a lot of current and future residents, it will supply much needed fire hydrants all along Memorial Highway, NC 9 and Tryon Bay Circle. 

We are soon to receive a report from our consulting engineering firm on the state of the waste water system.  We are getting close to the maximum permitted capacity of the current system and need to plan for the increase in capacity before we have to stop issuing building permits in town.  The plan will also identify means to reduce the flows to the plant as an additional method of increasing capacity.  We are also about to submit plans to the state for major improvements to the plant which will improve the quality of waste treatment.

State transportation officials are reviewing our plans for the pedestrian walkway which will run from Boys Camp Road to the ABC store.  This walkway will incorporate the boardwalk along the harbor area and will include a new paved surface, landscaping, benches and drinking fountains.  The walkway is scheduled to begin construction this spring and be complete this summer.

Our new Community Development Administrator hit the ground running and has started the process to update and expand the scope of the town's comprehensive plan. As part of that effort, we will be working towards the creation of a geographic information system (GIS) which will consist of a data base and series of maps that will show all manner of things such as the location, size and construction of utility lines, water meters, manholes, streets and roads, public buildings, population distribution, housing, existing use of land, land contours, zoning boundaries and on and on.  This data will be of great importance to us in developing a plan for the future of the town as well as realtors, and property owners.  This work will begin this year.

New trees will be planted this spring around the beach and picnic area to replace those removed due to disease and infirmities cause by improper pruning over the years.  The goal is to use species that will, on the one hand, be spectacular (like the red maples they replace) while better suited to their location (shorter species under the power lines, larger shade trees in the open picnic area).

On the private side, the big changes during this new year will include the coming of Ingles, an event that will have a huge impact on this otherwise fairly remote community.  No longer will residents of Lake Lure have to drive 15 miles or more to shop at a true full service supermarket, complete with pharmacy, florist, deli and gasoline pumps.

In addition, the new owners of the Lake Lure Inn and the Arcade Building have embarked on a major renovation of both structures. The inn will be extensively renovated and will have a new covered dining area on the terrace by the pool, a brand new spa on the lower lever and remodeled rooms on the upper level.  There will also be an elevator for the first time in the 77 year history of the building.  The arcade building will get 22 new apartments on the second and third floors and the ground floor will be revamped.

Also pending as I write this, a $70 million dollar resort/spa is being proposed on the old boys camp/dirty dancing site.  That development is undergoing review.  More later, if it is approved.

Finally, underway across Memorial Highway from the beach picnic area is La Strada, a Charlotte based Italian restaurant. My last conversation with the owners leads me to believe that they will be open about the end of April. As winter progresses and restaurants have closed down or limited their hours of operation B particularly on Tuesdays, all I can say is Hooray!  I told council that we'll either have to get more restaurants or start meeting on some other day!           

 

TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

by Town Clerk Mary Flack, MMC, CTC

 REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, January 11, 2004, 7:00 p.m., in the meeting room of the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

   Under the Aconsent agenda,@ Council:

*approved the minutes of December 14, 2004 (regular meeting); and

*approved a request from Mary Lou Kaloupek on behalf of the Hickory Nut Gorge Community Church Outreach, Inc., dba  Sheppard's Care, to waive the rental fee for use of the community hall in the Lake Lure Municipal Center for the purpose of holding a chili supper as a fund-raiser on Friday, February 25, 2005.   

In other activities, Town Council:

* held a public hearing to consider imposing a moratorium on sections of the Town of Lake Lure zoning regulations that regulate planned unit developments;

* tabled the adoption of Ordinance No. 05-01-11 imposing a moratorium on sections of the Town of Lake Lure zoning regulations that regulate planned unit developments;

* approved a request from Douglas Long on behalf of the planning committee for the Lake Lure Olympiad 2005 sports festival to: (1) hold a sports festival August 12-13, 2005 on town property and use of the town's facilities contingent upon coordinating a schedule with the town manager for this event; (2) endorse the Olympiad as its sponsor; and (3) authorize donations for the Olympiad 2005 sports festival to be received at town hall and deposit these proceeds in the town's account; 

* approved a request from Traci M. Dusenbury on behalf of Douglas Company to accept a performance bond in the amount of $50,000 issued by Hartford Fire Insurance Company out of Charlotte, North Carolina to the general contractor, Harold K. Jordan and Company for public improvements including but not limited to roads, parking areas, and rights-of-way, water and sewer facilities, drainage, erosion and sedimentation control facilities, lighting and landscaping; and

* held a closed session meeting to discuss legal matters and attorney client privilege.

 

REGULAR MEETING OF THE LAKE LURE MARINE COMMISSION: The Lake Lure Marine Commission held a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2005, at 1:00 p.m., in the council meeting room of the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

 

The Marine Commission:

* held a public hearing to consider proposed amendments to the Lake Regulations, Sections 1.57 and 1.58, relating to supporting administrative documents including: a lake commercial license criterion, a lake commercial license application, and a launch site application;

* adopted Resolution No. 05-01-11 as amended revising the Lake Regulations, Sections 1.57 and 1.58, relating to supporting administrative documents including: a lake commercial license criterion, a lake commercial license application, and a launch site application; and

* held a discussion regarding lake issues.

 

 

KNOW YOUR EMPLOYEE

by Anita Taylor, MMC, Personnel Director

 

The Town would like to welcome two new employees at the police department. Corporal Thomas Lytle was hired December 29, 2004 and Officer Joseph Montgomery was hired January 5, 2005. Officer Lytle came to us from Marion Police Department where he served as Sergeant and Officer Montgomery came to us from the US Marine Corp. where he served as a military policeman.

The Town has added a new position, assistant fire coordinator, and would like to welcome Randy Hardin, who will begin work full-time February 1, 2005. Randy come to us from Rutherfordton Fire Department where he served as full-time firefighter and EMT. Randy is also fire chief for Shingle Hollow Volunteer Fire Department and is well qualified in fire, medical and safety training. Please help us welcome Randy to Lake Lure.

As many of you know, Devault Edgerton retired from the public works department effective December 31, 2004. Devault come to work for the Town November 1, 1966 and retired from his full-time position September 30, 1993. However, Devault came back to work for the Town on a part-time basis. We are all going to miss seeing Devault driving the big red dump truck and track loader. Thank you Devault for all those years of dedicated service to the Town.

Melodie Potter came to work part-time effective January 20, 2005 for the public works department to assist with landscaping, etc. Melodie has agreed towork with us through February when she will return to her business at Spot and Kitty's Gift Shop in Chimney Rock.

                         

 

 

 

COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS

by Chief Mike Bustle

 Openings

       As many of you already know, the Lake Lure Youth Center has been temporarily closed due to the resignation of supervisory workers.  We are in the process of advertising the part-time positions and hope to have workers in place prior to spring.  Interested persons who wish to apply for either position should submit a town application and a fingerprint card at Town Hall, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday, or telephone Chief Mike Bustle at the Lake Lure Police Department at 625-4685 or 625-4911 for further information.

Employees

     With the recent departure of two officers to work for the Polk County Sheriff's Department, the Lake Lure Police Department would like to welcome two new officers, Cpl. Tommy Lytle and Ptl. Joseph Montgomery.  Lytle comes to us with many years of experience from the Marion Police Department, while Montgomery is beginning his law enforcement career and is from the Bills Creek area.  We are extremely pleased to have these two fine officers and they are eager to serve and protect! 

Crime Trends

     The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department recently announced the arrest of a 17 year old man on over 100 counts of identity theft.  The suspect is alleged to have stolen envelopes from roadside residential mailboxes and used the financial information contained therein to apply for credit cards.  He reportedly made more than $100,000 in purchases by assuming the identities of the Edgecombe County residents whose mailboxes he struck.  The U.S. Postal Inspections Service also participated in the investigation.

      In another incident, a fraud task force member reported that a woman who claimed to be collecting donations for 'Edlercare stole cash and credit cards from an older High Point citizen who let the solicitor into her home.  (Eldercare is a name used by two home care agencies in the triad area of North Carolina.)  The theft occurred when the phony solicitor requested a glass of water and the victim went to the kitchen.  After leaving with the victim's wallet, the thief called the victim and claimed to be with her bank.  She told the victim that she needed the PIN numbers from her debit card in order to correct an error in her account.  The victim refused to give the numbers, thus protecting her account contents.  Apparently this thief went to several homes in the victim's neighborhood, as revealed by the resulting investigation.

      Don't get sucked in.  By learning the basic scam types, you will be able to spot any scam - no matter what new spin it's given by clever con artists.       

                 New Emergency Preparedness

                       Guide for Homeowners

The Department of Homeland Security and the Homeownership Alliance have collaborated on an emergency preparedness guide that homeowners can use in the event of a terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Some citizens might think: we'll leave preparedness and protection to the professionals - first responders, law enforcement, governors and mayors - much the way a person might leave the plumbing, painting or electrical jobs in their homes to professionals. Well, what we have been saying, and will continue to say, is that you cannot hire out the protection of your home and family; it is a personal hands-on job. So we are pleased to join the Homeownership Alliance today to announce the Emergency  Preparedness Guide for homeowners. This guide will give homeowners the information they need to prepare for any emergency and protect their most cherished assets: their homes and their  families said Secretary Ridge.

Http://www.homeownershipalliance.com/documents/emergency_final_ooo.pdf.

 

UPPER BROAD RIVER WATERSHED

PROTECTION PROGRAM

by , Erosion Control Specialist

 Our long arduous journey through the world of stream dwellers is finally coming to an end.  I view this end with disappointment, but also with some excitement too because I can now move on to some other exciting topic.  Last month, we looked at amphibians and this month we will end the series of what's Living in Your Stream with fish.  Most of the time when exploring the animal kingdom, biologists will discuss fish before amphibians.  I chose the opposite approach just because fish are generally more popular topics of discussion than frogs and salamanders.  Stories can be told of fish and the exploits of those who catch them.  Some of the greatest lies and stories ever told have been about fish.  What we are about to discuss here, however is no lie.

 Anyone who has ever baited a hook and sat on the riverbank or in a boat can tell you about the sheer ecstasy of fishing.  Anglers study the habits of the fish they are seeking and know what bait will catch the big lunkers that get mounted and displayed on the wall.  Most anglers however, do not know how water quality affects their favorite swimming hole or why certain fish are in certain places to begin with.

 Certain species of fish are highly adaptable.  They can live in almost any kind of aquatic environment.  Others are adapted to a specific type of environment and any change to that environment reduces their chances of survival.  Cat fish for example, are fairly adaptable.  They are typically a bottom-feeding species and are not greatly affected by sediment and low dissolved oxygen levels.  In fact, it seems that catfish are more active when streams are muddy.  Shell crackers (bream, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass) prefer higher quality waters.  These fish generally thrive where there is a fairly substantial invertebrate smorgasbord that can tolerate warmer water and moderate oxygen levels.  Trout on the other hand are the least adaptable of the species we have here.  Trout must high quality waters to reproduce and survive.

 If you have fished much in the Rocky Broad River, you will know that there are three species of trout that are stocked in our waters:  brown, rainbow, and brook.  The brook trout is the only native trout species to eastern North America.  Brown trout were introduced from Europe and rainbow trout are native to western North America.  The speckled trout is typically considered to be a subspecies of the brook trout but they are increasingly rare and are limited to high elevation streams where water quality is premium.

 

Inland trout species require excellent water quality. They cannot tolerate high levels of sedimentation, chemical pollution, or low dissolved oxygen content.  High levels of sediment cover the cobbles and stones that are essentially the spawning grounds for trout.  This sediment also reduces the amount of substrate to which many invertebrate species attach themselves and provide a food source for trout.  Higher sediment levels result in reduced visibility, making it more difficult for trout (a sight predator) to locate food.  Sediment also reduces the water's ability to carry dissolved oxygen and actually warms the water temperature.  Warm water does not carry oxygen as well as cold water.  Chemical pollution prevents oxygen exchange through the trout's gills and causes sores and disease that kills fish.  The Pigeon River is a good example of a river that was almost destroyed because of chemical pollution.  Thanks to the efforts of some organizations like ours, the Pigeon River supports trout again. 

 

 By understanding how our actions affect the things around us, we can make steps toward prevention.  By knowing what types of things are living in our streams and how they are affected by water quality, we can take the necessary steps to ensure their survival.  I hope you have enjoyed our little exploration into the natural world.  If you would like to know more, I have lots of information with pictures that I could show you.  Stop by my office some time.  I love to meet with the people who live in our watershed.  With your help we can improve water quality in our area.  If you have an erosion problem or if you know somebody else that does, please call me anytime at (828)625-9983 Ext. 123 or e-mail me at clintcalhoun@blueridge.net for details.

                                         

 

              CLIPPINGS FROM THE TREE

               MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

         By Paula Jordan and Chris Braund

 The Tree Management Committee wishes to thank everyone who has gone online and taken the time to provide feedback on what a tree protection and land clearing ordinance should address and what oversight role the town should (or shouldn=t) have in these activities. But there are still many voices that haven=t been heard, so the committee is keeping the survey open until February 15^th. They would especially like to hear from the residents who expressed concerns over the issue of trees and development in the December and January town council meetings. Having those views reflected in the survey would be valuable.

To take the survey go to www.ci.lake-lure.nc.us/tree_committee.htm. Then read the ordinance goals and click on the survey button at the bottom of the page. You can use the computers at the Mountains Branch Library to take the online survey if you do not have access at home. Or you can obtain a paper copy at the Town Hall.

If you need help with the survey or have questions you may e-mail Chris Braund at chris@lacertallc.com.   The committee appreciates all responses.    

 

               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 Rod or Yvonne Anderson at 828-625-0464.