Weekly One-On-One
Monday I met with the town manager and town attorney virtually. Topics included legislative authority for certain types of ordinances, a non-compliant use in the airport overlay, South Hills concept meetings, the Singh proposal off Old Apex Road, Fenton issues, and the Cary Tennis Park Clubhouse rebuild. Our meeting concluded after about half an hour.
SAS Championship Pairing Party
Tuesday I, along with council member Bush, and council member Smith, attended the SAS Championship pairing party to determine the professionals that we would be playing the Pro-Am with the next two days. It was a great time to talk with C level executives from all over the world that were participating in the Pro-Am. Hopefully, they will do business with SAS and maybe have a presence here in Cary.
SAS Championship Wednesday Pro-Am
Wednesday afternoon I participated in the Pro-Am with the town manager, former Cary Chamber President, and Council member Smith. Our professional was Robert Karlsson from Sweden. What a great guy! Karlsson and I had a great conversation about Swedish political parties and American political parties. During our round we received information about a shooting in Cary High School. This was very upsetting and made it difficult to be where we were. However, we were in constant communications with our police chief.
Cary High School Shooting
Wednesday a student at Cary High School fired a gun into a toilet. Apparently, no one heard it. Consequently, the school wasn’t put on a lockdown until 45 minutes later. A detailed account of what happened can be read from various news reports including this one. It is very concerning that a loaded gun was on school property. While security is the official responsibility of the WCPSS, Cary has and will continue to help in making our schools safer. We were very fortunate that no one was hurt.
SAS Championship Thursday Pro-Am
Thursday morning, I participated in the Pro-Am with the town manager, former Cary Chamber President, and Council member Smith. Our professional was Brett Quigley from the United States. Once again, we had a great guy and a fantastic time.
Cary Tourism Taping
Thursday afternoon, as I have done for the last 15 years, I taped a welcome message for the Golf Channel’s presentation of the SAS Championship. Here is the content of that taping:
“Hello from Cary, North Carolina, where we’re proud to host the 22nd annual SAS Championship here at beautiful Prestonwood County Club. This great tournament is just one of many national and international, amateur, collegiate, and professional sporting events we host in Cary at our world-class venues. They’re helping make Cary and the surrounding Triangle, rank among the top sports and visitor destinations in the nation. Please accept my personal invitation to come visit and see why Cary is consistently named one of the best places to live, work, and play in America.”
The taping took about 5 minutes, and it was broadcasted at the beginning of the telecast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Raleigh Shooting Kills Five and Injures Others
Thursday evening a 15-year-old shot and killed 5 people and injured two others. The shootings started on Osprey Cove Drive and continued along the Neuse River Greenway. The victims included his brother and a police officer on his way to work. The shooter was taken into custody from an outbuilding on a property on McConnell Oliver Drive, about six miles from his home. Details of the shooting were all over the media including this one from a local TV station. Our nation continues to suffer from a plague of gun violence.
As a town we have contacted the police chief, city manager, and the mayor to help in any way possible and to offer condolences. Of course, our hearts are broken, and we will continue to pray for the families of the victims and all who were impacted by this senseless tragedy.
Cary #1 for Attracting Corporate Headquarters
Last week The Boyd Company listed Cary as the number one location for attracting corporate headquarters. The WRAL story did a great job of summarizing Boyd’s criteria and reasoning.
From my position I see numerous opportunities for Cary in the near- and long-term future. We continue to aggressively seek these opportunities.
Cary #1 for Most Resilient Economy
This week we were notified that Cary ranks #1 as the “most resilient” economy according to SmartAsset. Raleigh was ranked at #12, Durham at #37, and Charlotte at #48. Some economists predict the country will go into a recession. This in addition to the high inflation is causing a serious problem for many U.S. citizens which makes this ranking all that more significant.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
It’s difficult not to have the good things from this week be overshadowed by the tragedy in Raleigh and our own brush with potential gun violence at Cary High School. It is difficult – because it should be. It must be.
We work to mitigate “bad luck,” “luck of the draw,” or poor timing with hiring and retaining the best people, being well-resourced, and undergoing ongoing training, which is what we saw from our public safety team and school staff on Wednesday. In my estimation, our response – from dispatch to operation to communication – was spot on, and I know you join me in gratitude for their willingness to step into harm’s way when called upon.
As for Raleigh, many on staff have offered our condolences and assistance. Mayor Weinbrecht has reached out to Mayor Baldwin, and I have reached out to City Manager Marchell Adams-David. Also, our Fire Department did play a limited role in last night’s events as part of our mutual aid agreement.
On behalf of the staff, Council, please accept our appreciation for your steadfast support as we each do our unique part in keeping Cary Cary. Your fingerprints are on everything good that happens here.
Stay safe.
Sean
GoTriangle and Wake Forest Connect to Cary’s Radio System
This week, an agreement with GoTriangle and the Town of Wake Forest was signed to connect their dispatch sites to the Cary P25 Radio System “Core”. This connection will allow improved and enhanced functionality to current and future dispatching consoles for both Wake Forest and GoTriangle. Some examples of enhanced functionality include “patching” of radio channels for more effective communication, fire station alerting to portable radios, and emergency alerting. In addition, GoTriangle will now have the ability to transmit alerts via radio to all buses in the event of an emergency. They will also have the ability to create an “open mic” (listening device) via the bus radio microphone in the event the driver is unable to transmit. This is a great example of Cary’s ability to create partnerships that improve regional interoperability and communication. Staff is currently working on a contractual agreement for RDU Airport and the Town of Holly Springs to connect to our “Core” as well.
Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day
On Wednesday, October 12, Cary officers participated in the National Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day. Officers joined students, parents, and teachers at Northwoods Elementary School and Horton Creek Elementary School as part of the national event. The event celebrates physical activity and strengthens social connections between families, schools, and the community.
2022 SAS Golf Championship
This week kicked off the festivities involved with the SAS Golf Championship being held at the Prestonwood Country Club through this weekend. Between the Pro Am, Women’s Day Luncheon, HBCU Invitational and the hospitality tents this weekend, there is a lot to enjoy and a chance to demonstrate our pride for Cary. Enjoy two new commercials that will be airing on the Golf Channel throughout the weekend.
Hum Sub Diwali 2022
Cary’s annual Diwali celebration with Hum Sub drew more than 15,000 people to Koka Booth Amphitheatre on October 8. In addition to dozens of local dance groups and the evening’s professional performances, “Celebrity Dances” featured elected officials and staff from Cary, Apex, and Morrisville. Cary was represented on stage by Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Council Member Lori Bush, and staff Doug McRainey, Matt Pentz, Matt Wetherell, Sarah Braman, Sarah Preston, and Shivani Tripathi. In addition to Cary Representation, Congressman David Price, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, and the Mayors of Apex and Morrisville were in attendance, and there was a video message from Governor Roy Cooper.
Transit Multi-Modal Center Project
This week, joint initial contact letters were sent out to eleven property owners which begins the property acquisition phase of the Transit Multi-Modal Center project. Carolina Land Acquisitions was integral to the Cary’s Real Estate Team in obtaining the land needed to deliver this project.
Utility of the Future Today Award
On Tuesday, Cary received the Utility of the Future Today award at the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference. Receiving the award on behalf of Cary was Utility Engineering Manager Robert Hirt and Senior Project Manager Betsy Drake. The Utility of the Future Today program recognizes water and wastewater utilities that advance resource efficiency, maintain proactive relationships with their stakeholders, and create resilient, sustainable and livable communities. Cary’s innovative and forward-thinking practices in the area of “Beneficial Biosolids Use” was the catalyst for this year’s award. Cary was joined by 33 other exceptional utilities from across the country in being recognized. This is Cary’s second time receiving this honor.
Chief Innovation Officers Reconnect in Amsterdam
This past Sunday, Cary’s Chief Information Officer Nicole Coughlin joined more than 90 innovation officers from around the world in Amsterdam to share solutions and learn from each other’s experiences driving new ways of working in city halls. A major theme of the day was the power of inclusion in innovation, and Cary stood alongside representatives from Barcelona, New York City, Tel Aviv, and more cities from 12 nations across the world as they shared their motivations for working in public service and showed off some of the cutting-edge work, they’re leading that can be adapted by other cities.
Winter Crops at the Compost Education Center
Thanks to the work of many volunteers, the Compost Education Center is ready for winter weather with winter crops. Saturday, students and families learned firsthand from staff and Cary Garden Club members how to transition summer gardens to cool weather crops such as cabbage, bok choy, kale, and collard greens. This winter, the gardens will be cared for by the Garden Club, who will then donate the healthy harvests to Dorcas Ministries Food Pantry, adding to the 313 lbs. of produce they harvested for donation from Carpenter Park Community Garden this summer.
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting
The Neighborhood Meetings will be held virtually on WebEx from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. The following cases will be discussed on November 2:
- 22-REZ-21 Middleton Avenue Townhomes Rezoning
- 22-REZ-22 107 W. Park St Rezoning
For more information and to register visit the Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting page.
Upcoming Meetings
Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday
Oct. 19 at 6:15 p.m.
Greenway Committee
Thursday
Oct. 20 at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Complaint about contractor not cleaning up on Darbytown Place
- A request to change zoning conditions to allow homes on school properties
- Complaints about a rezoning proposal in Regency (council has yet to receive information since it is not yet scheduled for a public hearing)
- Requests to attend political events
- Concerns about security at high schools after the Cary High gun fire
- Thanks for hold My Tree Our Tree event
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with a developer representative, a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association, a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board, and the Cary Chamber Membership Appreciation event.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 23rd. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
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