November 2010 LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWSPage 1
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
by Bob Keith
OK! WHO STARTED THE RUMOR?Many residents who have boats moored around the lake became inquisitive and mildly angry over the alleged decision by the town to lower the lake this December. I’ve never witnessed incorrect news spread so quickly and endure so long no matter how many times I tried to correct the record. And the decision as to what to do was made before the first question was asked. Go figure. Please see Town Manager Chris Braund’s detailed explanation below of the issues leading up to a recommendation from the Lake Advisory Board (LAB) and acceptance by the Marine Commission and Town Council to leave the lake at FULL POND this year. Chris’ excellent article also provides a framework for future decisions in the matter.
This occurrence leads me to recognize the importance of timely and accurate communications. We continue to try to keep all informed through the town newsletter and the website can provide some useful information to interested residents. Soon we will be broadcasting our town council meetings over the internet to provide more visibility to the town process and decision making. Plus, our offices are open to anyone who has a concern, question, idea or needs direction on town matters. Please take advantage of these resources.
As it specifically relates to lake issues like lake lowering, the LAB meets on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 pm. All are welcome to share their ideas, participate and keep informed. Meetings run roughly between one and two hours. We encourage YOU to attend. You can also place your name in nomination for a position on the LAB (or any of the other town committees for that matter) through our Town Clerk Mary Flack. These positions are voted upon by Council each December. As a community, we are only as strong as those who participate in the process.
After a long, cold winter and hot, humid summer, most folks were speculating and predicting a lackluster, comparatively dull autumn. How wrong they were. The clear crisp sunny weather has been spectacular with temps ranging from 45 to 75 degrees daily but with some much needed rain soaking us late in October. The fall colors have been brilliant and should peak well into November. Get outside and go hiking or biking, or golfing or riding on the lake and enjoy all this beauty. As I’ve said before….what a place to live!
We would all like to wish everyone a
very happy Thanksgiving.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
by Chris Braund
LakeLevels
First, let’s answer the biggest question we have received regarding lake levels: There are no plans to lower the lake this winter. After last year’s drawdown, a number of people suggested that it would be beneficial to draw down the lake more frequently than every third year. Some of the reasons or benefits they cite are listed below. Given the variables and options on the horizon at this time, the Lake Advisory Board and Town Council have decided to keep the lake as is this winter.
In our management of the lake, few topics are as complex and debated as the policies regarding lake levels. Are we considered “a constant level,” lake? No, not exactly. However, we are much closer than the majority of lakes in the region. Our regular operating range typically varies from 12” below full pond to 6” above full pond, depending on the season and conditions. In practice, we strive to keep it as near full pond as is prudent. The decision to draw down the lake for winter inspections and repairs is never made lightly. Many different needs, desires and interests are valued and considered:
- Repair and/or new construction to lake structures
- Logistics, weather delays and timeframe needed to make repairs or constructing seawalls, docks and boathouses
- The desire for winter boat usageand months of value lost from annual boat permits during drawdown periods
- Businesses that operate boats on the lake during the winter
- Businesses that seek and expect boat traffic to their establishments
- College rowing teams operating in the spring (in high or low water conditions)
- Necessity by the Town and homeowners to visually inspect and make repairs to broken, private sewer lines near manholes around the lake. Twenty were found in the winter of 2009/2010. Is it prudent to wait three years between inspections?
- Logistics surrounding the preparation of boats for lake lowering, such as those in marinas or that are not on boathouse lifts. Estimated to be about $300 per boat.
- Anglers that desire year-round access to the water. The Town marina ramp is now accessible during a 5-foot drawdown.
- Needs for the Town and/or landowners to perform dredging operations
- Perceived impact on property values from the lowering of the lake
- Perceived impact on the lake’s scenic beauty during the drawdown
- Impact on the fish and environment. This is not fully known, but consulting scientists have expressed that it should be nominal for LakeLure.
Absent from this list of considerations is the revenue-generating opportunity at the hydro plant. Although the Town does make additional revenues from the lowering, this has not been a primary or even secondary tool of consideration used in justification for lowering.
In the past, the Town has lowered the lake at different timing intervals: every year, every three years, every five years, and by as much as 15-feet after significant flooding in the region. Each year, the Town council decides on the best course of action, considering the advice and recommendation of the Lake Advisory Board.
When the Town does lower the lake, the aim is to maximize the benefit and minimize the disruption to all. To achieve this, the Town adheres to the following procedures:
- Communicates early and often the lowering and raising dates
- Sets “must start by” dates for approved construction projects
- Frequently reviews the status of projects during the drawdown
If homeowners and business owners have suggestions regarding lake lowering, you are encouraged to contact the Lake Advisory Board (contact info available through town hall).
TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES
by Town Clerk Mary Flack, MMC, CTC
REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 7:00 p.m., in the meeting room of the LakeLureMunicipalCenter.
Under the “consent agenda,” Town Council approved:
* minutes of the October 12, 2010 (regular meeting).
Town Council also:
* held a hearing regarding an appeal of a civil penalty for John Cloud with regards to Nimbostratus LLC for violations on lot #13 at Allen Drive; Town Council approved reducing the one-day initial civil penalty assessed in the amount of $5,000 to $500 for Nimbostratus LLC regarding violations on lot #13 at Allen Drive assessed by Environmental Management Officer Clint Calhoun;
* held a hearing regarding an appeal of a civil penalty for Dale Shields with regards to Nimbostratus LLC for violations on lot #13 at Allen Drive; Town Council approved dismissing the one-day initial civil penalty assessed in the amount of $5,000 for Dale Shields regarding violations on lot #13 at Allen Drive assessed by Environmental Management Officer Clint Calhoun;
* a plaque was presented to Town Council from the VFW Post 10473 recognizing the town for exceptional service and to extend their sincere appreciation;
* approved not to opt out of the extension and take no action as recommended by the Zoning and Planning Board regarding Session Law 2010-177 (an amendment to the 2009 development permit extension act);
* adopted Resolution No. 10-10-12 authorizing the execution of two quit-claim non-warranty deeds to respective grantees James Wade Logan and wife Maria P. Logan, and James Stephen Walters and wife Janet Marshall Walters as submitted by the town manager; and
* approved a fabric structure permit for Crystal Melrose’s wedding reception.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE LAKELURE MARINE COMMISSION: The Lake Lure Marine Commission held their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., in the council meeting room of the LakeLureMunicipalCenter.
The Marine Commission:
* held a hearing for Richard Dayton Knight appealing Civil Citation No. 000127; the Lake Lure Marine Commission voted unanimously to uphold the citation as written;
* held a hearing for Walter Henery Schriefer appealing Civil Citation No. 000355; the Lake Lure Marine Commission voted unanimously to uphold the citation as written;* held a hearing for Kenny J. Horton appealing Civil Citation No. 000357; the Lake Lure Marine Commission voted unanimously to uphold the citation as written;
* held a hearing for Cary Ross Benson appealing Civil Citation No. 000400; the Lake Lure Marine Commission voted unanimously to uphold the citation as written; and
* held a public hearing and adopted Resolution No. 10-10-12 amending the Lake Use Regulations, regarding Section 1.57 (L) Relating to Commercial Operations, Section 1.59 (D) Lake Commercial License Schedule of Criterion, and Section 1.99 (I) Enforcement/Penalties
BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED - The Town is accepting applications to serve on the Planning & Zoning Board. All applications must be submitted to the town clerk by November 1st, 2010 to be considered for the available position. If you are interested in serving on this or any other committee, please stop by the town hall and fill out an application. Applications may also be obtained from the town’s website .
LAKEOPERATIONS
by Clint Calhoun, Environ. Mgmt. Officer
Things have begun to wind down for the season. As I write this, the fall colors have not quite peaked. The colors appear to be a little drab this year, but occasionally a brilliant maple or hickory will catch my attention. Soon the holidays will be here and we settle in for what some say may be another rough winter. I guess we’ll have to wait and see about that. I no longer try to guess.
For all those folks out there who have inflatable structures, either permanently moored or inflatable, we want to remind everyone that those must be removed from the water starting November 1st and can not be placed back on the water until April 1st, 2011. This requirement does not apply to permanently moored floating docks. It just applies to inflatables. We will be going out after the 1st of November to check for compliance so please make sure you take your inflatable structures out of the water.
If you happen to drive by the golf course and the dam, you might notice that the amount of kudzu at those locations is beginning to decrease. Earlier this year, the Course Doctors began work to eliminate the kudzu along the highway visible portions of the Municipal Golf Course which should greatly improve the golf course appearance, but also provide greater management of this exotic invasive pest that threatens much of Hickory Nut Gorge. In addition to the kudzu management work at the golf course, the Town has embarked on a kudzu removal effort at the dam. The purpose is multi-parted. It will hopefully provide better maintenance access and protection of the dam and associated facilities, but it also helps the town to get a handle on the infestation and move towards establishment of more desirable species. At the time that the kudzu was planted in many areas of the town during the 1930’s, it was at its height as an erosion control plant and appears to have done its job well. The problem with kudzu is that it is extremely invasive and can literally cover houses, trees, and anything else not fast enough to get out of the way. The underground tubers can get large enough that they are capable of displacing soil and large rocks, creating potentially bigger problems in the long run. The town has begun an initial attack on the kudzu, starting around the dam, which involves the use of a high-powered, narrow spectrum herbicide that will kill kudzu, but little else. After the initial attack, a management plan will be implemented that will help reduce the kudzu (probably not completely eliminate it) and allow for re-vegetation with more desirable species. The management plan is critical because we don’t want to create new issues as we get rid of the kudzu. As we look at the success of this effort, if all goes well, hopefully this effort will expand to other infestations within the town. If anyone has any questions about this exciting endeavor, I’ll be happy to talk about it.
Some other reminders from LakeOperations:
- Commercial applications for boat permits are due at Town hall by November 1st.
- The Marine Commission has approved some additions to the Lake Use Regs. For a complete copy of the regs with these changes, inquire at Town Hall.
- Make sure all boats and watercraft are winterized. Check ropes, batteries, bilge operation, and conduct other checks to make sure your boat is in good shape for the winter months, particularly if you plan on leaving it in the water this winter since the lake is not going down this year.
If anyone has any questions about any of these or other lake related issues, please contact Dean Givens at (828)625-9318 or or Clint Calhoun at (828)625-9983 ext. 123 or .
COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS
by Chief Eric Hester
POLICE REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2010
ALARM CALLS RECEIVED...... 8
ACCIDENTS...... 7
ARRESTS...... 6
BANK ALARMS...... 0
BREAKING AND ENTERINGS...... 3
BUSINESS CHECKS...... 8,036
CITATIONS ISSUED...... 31
COMMUNITY CONTACTS...... 1,799
EXTRA PATROLS...... 63
LARCENY REPORTS...... 3
REQUESTED RES. CHECKS...... 223
ROAD CHECKS...... 2,571
VANDALISM REPORTS...... 0
WARNINGS ISSUED...... 56
CASES CLEARED...... 3
CASES CLEARED BY ARREST...... 1
LAKEACTIVITIES
PATROLS...... 5
COVE CHECKS...... 329
VERBAL WARNINGS...... 0
WRITTEN WARNINGS...... 0
CITATIONS ISSUED...... 0
ASSISTANCE TO OTHER VESSELS...... 1
ASSISTANCE TO OTHER AGENCIES...... 0
BOATING ACCIDENTS...... 0
HOLIDAY EVENTS...... 0
PATROL HOURS...... 8
YouthCenter
The tally is in from our Dirty Dancing tent donations. Miss Sharon and Miss Kat manned the tent at the viewing of the Dirty Dancing movie during the festival event. During the evening, individuals donated almost $270.00 to the LakeLureYouthCenter. We thank everyone so much for the donations given, we will use this money to get much needed supplies for the children to work with.
If you have been by the center in the afternoons, you’ve seen our awesome kids outdoors enjoying the beautiful weather. The girls have been busy making pretend mud pies and sand cookies. The older kids and now some of our parents have been playing football with our two teams. The Spicy Mustard Team has been playing against the Red Hot Ketchup Team. We’ve had over 20 kids playing a great game of Football daily with the help of several parents. Cheering is done by staff, parents and yes, even stray tourists. We’ve also been able to enjoy some great games of tennis and volleyball which gets the blood pumping and gives the kids some important exercise in the afternoons.
As always we appreciate and welcome donations throughout the year to keep our YouthCenter fully functional. We are so blessed that the youth of the Hickory Nut Gorge area have a place to come after school and participate in our after school program. This program has been an important service to our community and to the youth of the Hickory Nut Gorge area. We appreciate all the support from our citizens and from our communities.
Upcoming closure dates- Parents please mark these dates on your calendar:
October 29th and November 11th.
Public Safety and Awareness
Every year we have a number of different Scams that hit our area. Here is some refresher material to look for when you come in contact with these Scams.
Online Scams
The Internet has become a breeding ground for criminals. Many criminals find ways to take advantage of innocent victims by stealing personal and financial information, as well as their money. Most send unsolicited commercial emails. The emails range from business and investment opportunities, chain letters health and diet opportunities, credit repair, loans and vacations.
It is important to take steps to protect your personal information and learn what to do if your personal information is accidentally disclosed or stolen to minimize the theft of your identity.
The Citizen Internet Safety Program is divided into six segments: This month I’m going to touch on Online Scams and Fake Check Scams.
The Nigerian E-mail Scam
The bait: Con artists claim to be officials, business people, or the surviving spouses of former government leaders in Nigeria or another country whose money is somehow tied up for a limited time. They may offer to transfer lots of money into your bank account if you will pay a fee or ‘taxes’ to help them access their money. If you respond to the initial offer, you may receive documents that look ‘official.’ Then they ask you to send money to cover transaction and transfer costs and attorney’s fees, as well as blank letterhead, your bank account numbers, or other information.
The catch: The emails are from crooks trying to steal your money or perpetrate identity theft. Inevitably, emergencies come up, requiring more of your money and delaying the ‘transfer’ of funds to your account; in the end, there aren’t any profits for you, and the scam artist vanishes with your money.
Your safety net:
a)Don’t respond.
b)Forward all the email addressing information to .