Harold's Blog

Ted Abernathy Economic Forecast

Wednesday morning I attended the Economic Forecast presentation by Ted Abernathy. He presented 92 slides with tons of data. Here are some of my takeaways from that presentation:

• Cary continues to be ranked at the top in many national categories. For example: #1 to attract corporate headquarters, #1 most resilient economies, #4 healthiest housing market, and #1 safest city
• A look back at predictions from 10 years ago after the recession: slowing population growth, entrepreneurs will come back, North Carolina regains competitive position, mounting college debt, declining home values, retirement tsunami, and escalating political discourse. Predictions were right on track.
• The last few years were built on the assumption that the US, Russia, and China would work together. This change is significantly impacting our economy.
• Technological changes continue to accelerate.
• Major weather events are becoming more common.
• Politics continues to get worse.
• Current State of Economy:
  • Inflation near record high
• Unemployment near record low
• Hiring remains strong
• Retail sales steady
• Trade deficit improving
• GDP growth slowing
• Interest rates rising
• Stock market falling
• National debt…
• Large gap between job openings and hiring rates.
• Since Covid, NC has seen an increase of 4.3% in jobs. About half the state in the country are losing jobs.
• Raleigh/Cary metro area has seen a 30.7% growth in jobs since 2011 which is the highest in the state.
• Raleigh/Cary metro area has seen a 6.7% growth in jobs since COVID.
• Raleigh/Cary metro area is expected to have the largest population growth in the next 10 years with 19.2% growth.
• Raleigh/Cary metro area has seen growth beyond state and national averages in all types of jobs. For example: construction, trade, transport, utilities, financial, profession and tech, and leisure and hospitality.
• Consumer spending has slowed while disposable income is well below pre-COVID rates.
• Personal savings has dropped to about 3.5%.
• Business conditions remain very good.
• Corporate profit margins are about the highest they have been at 15.5%.
• Inflation rate is the highest it has been since the 1970s at 8.4.
• Countries around the world experiencing inflation. Germany’s inflation is above 10%.
• Inflation rate breakdown – top dozen:
  • Food at work or school 91.4%
  • Airfare 42.9%
  • Utilities Piped Gas 33.1%
  • Butter and Margarine 32.2%
  • Eggs 30.5%
  • Health Insurance 28.2%
  • Public Transportation 27.1%
  • Energy 19.8%
  • Gas 18.2%
  • Poultry 17.2%
  • Electricity 15.5%
  • Milk 15.2%
• Commodity Prices are starting to come down but well above pre-COVID.
• Employment costs are rising about 5.1% a year.
• Average price of home has increased more than 45% in North Carolina the last two years.
• Between March 2020 and April 2021 half of all US adults had experienced some change in their work.
• Labor Shortages by 2030:
  • Germany will see a shortage of up to 10 million
  • Brazil will have a shortage of up to 40.9 million
  • Canada’s labor deficit of up to 2.3 million
  • China’s shortage of up to 24.5 million
• US population growth has changed from 0.99% in 2001 to 0.12% in 2021.
• Working age immigrants is about the same as it was in 2018.
• Millennials are not having that many children.
• US Labor Force (18 and older) is about where it was pre-pandemic.
• Two income families are declining.
• Participation rate of those eligible to work has been declining the last 20 years and is currently around 62%.
• Work force participation from 1960 until now:
  • Increased from 68% to 82% in the 25 to 54 age group
  • Increased from 55% to 57% in the 16 to 24 age group
  • Remained the same at 40% for the 55 and over age group.
• For decades, there has been a steady decline in the number of potential workers in the 25 to 54 age group. The largest age group is now 55 and over.
• Labor productivity (non-farming) has declined 2 ½% since Covid.
• 68% of people who quit jobs do not have a next job. 57% of those are looking in a different field.
• 40% of US workers say they will leave their jobs in the near future.
• There is a shortage of workers in critical positions: soldiers, truckers, teachers, mechanics police officers, and healthcare workers to name a few.
• North Carolina is ranked as the best or one of the best states for business by multiple agencies.
• North Carolina ranked 4^th for business climate, workforce, and innovation.
• North Carolina has one of the top 10 business tax climates in the nation.
• North Carolina ranks in the best third in the nation for legal climate.
• North Carolina ranks 11^th for Internet, 27^th for Energy, 29^th for Transportation, and 22^nd overall.
• North Carolina ranks 17^th for Innovation.
  • 14^th for Science/Tech Employment
  • 23^rd for Patents
  • 16^th for Venture Capital
  • 25^th for Immigration of Knowledge Workers
  • 26^th for High-Tech Exports
  • 9^th for Inward FDI
  • 33^rd for Broadband Subscription Rate
  • 7^th for Labor Productivity Manufacturing
  • 21^st for Workforce Education
• North Carolina is one of the top 10 states in Tech Sector Employment growth for the last five years.
• North Carolina is 2^nd in Workforce Development in the South Atlantic behind Virginia.
• North Carolina is projected to have population growth in the next 10 years.
• North Carolina’s labor force participation rate is under 60% with the national average at 61.7%.
• Cary employment has grown from 74,185 in 2012 to 95,513 in 2022.
• Cary has the lowest unemployment rate in the triangle at 2.8%.
• Cary’s annual residential permitting has leveled off over the last 10 years.
• Cary’s annual commercial permitting has more than doubled over the last 10 years.
• In 2010 Cary permitted 27% of Wake’s Total. Today this is at 7%.
• Average price of a residential property in Cary has risen from $312,116 in 2012 to $506,575 in 2022.

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Wednesday night I joined council members and staff for a volunteer appreciation event held at Colletta’s in Fenton. It was an opportunity to thank all our volunteers especially the outgoing board members. And we also welcomed the incoming volunteer board members. I was a great time in a great atmosphere. Thanks to Colletta’s for being our host.

N&O Inquiry about Wastewater Samples

Thursday I was contacted by the News and Observer and asked about Cary’s extended agreement to continue providing wastewater samples to the county and state for COVID-19 and other disease research. Here is the information we provided:

• Cary signed the updated Memo of Understanding with Wake County on October 20, 2022
• Wake County Health and Human Services signed on October 21, 2022
• The updated Memo of Understanding runs through June 30, 2025
• Generally speaking, wastewater samples are collected twice a week from Cary’s three wastewater treatment facilities.  The samples are picked up by a State Lab and analyzed for Covid, (SARS-COV-2).  The information is used and shared with NC Department of Health and Human Services and CDC through the NC Wastewater Monitoring Network to help track COVID-19 trends along with other public health data. Cary extended our agreement with Wake County to continue COVID-19 wastewater monitoring for an additional 3 years and to add other infectious diseases such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and other health-related issues to the panel for surveillance and tracking.
• Overall, this ongoing and evolving work represents one important way Cary can support our public health agencies with monitoring and tracking Covid and other infectious diseases.  More information about Cary’s wastewater testing for Covid can found on our webpage.

Veteran’s Luncheon

Friday I joined several council members, county commissioners, legislators, and Congresswoman Ross in a Volunteer Luncheon held in the ballroom at Prestonwood Country Club. Council member Jack Smith was the emcee and the featured speaker was Terry Westbrook who is the Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the State of North Carolina. A special thanks to Prestonwood County Club who donated the space for the event allowing the town to only pay for the food. The ballroom was at capacity and there was even a waiting list.

I was honored to be in the presence of so many heroes who served to protect our freedom. I had my picture made with the only surviving World War II veteran, Mr. Young, who was 94 years old. We are blessed to have so many willing to serve. Thanks to all our veterans!

The event was probably one of our best thanks to American Legion Post 67 who arranged the flag presentation and coordinated the speaker. A special thanks to the Cary staff from the Senior Center who helped organize this event and who were all present.

Parkside Tree Lighting

Saturday night I had the joy of participating in the tree lighting ceremony for Parkside Commons. Attendees were treated to man made snow (even though it was 80 degrees), karaoke, arts and crafts including face painting, train rides, and of course Santa Claus. At dusk I invited the kids in attendance to join me in flipping the switch and lighting the tree.

Ed Yerha Park Sign Dedication

Sunday afternoon I had the honor of emceeing the park dedication for Ed Yerha. The town’s policy for naming parks states that this should only occur for individuals who have shown “outstanding accomplishments by an individual for the good of the community.” Ed Yerha did this and much more.

He and his wife relocated to Cary in 1995 and he began his early years of service to Cary by serving on the Planning & Zoning Board, including acting as the Chair. Following that, he spent time serving on the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Ed Yerha was appointed to an At-Large seat on Cary’s Council on August 23, 2012. He spent the past decade representing and serving Cary’s citizens as a Council Member and as Mayor Pro-Tem.

Ed Yerha has been an active part of multiple groups and roles in Cary including: Council Liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission, Council Liaison to the Senior Advisory Board, Sister Cities Commission Vice Chair, Town Center Area Plan Citizens Advisory Committee, Downtown Parking Committee, Historic Preservation Master Plan Advisory Committee, Historic Preservation Survey Committee, Council Liaison to the Friends of the Page-Walker Hotel Board, Council Liaison to Cary150 Task Force, Member of Triangle J Center of Region Enterprise work group, regular speaker at the UNC School of Government, and more.

Ed Yerha is perhaps most well-known for his being a fountain of information of, and an advocate for, Cary’s History. Throughout Cary’s Sesquicentennial anniversary year, Council Member Yerha shared a piece of Cary’s history every month during his History Moments at the beginning of Council Meetings. In addition to the many ways he has educated us with his knowledge, he has also helped bring action to the preservation of Cary’s history through supporting the creation of Cary’s first Historic Preservation Commission and serving as the Council Liaison to the Commission since its creation in 2014.

The dedication ceremony began shortly after Ed Yerha arrived with a fire and police escort to the park from his home. Remarks were provided by the town manager, town attorney, town clerk, and me. In Ed’s typical fashion he spoke to the crowd for about ten minutes both entertaining them and educating them.

I am blessed to know Ed and am grateful that I had the opportunity to serve with him. He truly represents the best of Cary. Thank you, Ed, for all you have done!

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I hope you will join staff and I on Sunday as we celebrate the sign dedication for the renamed Ed Yerha Park in honor of our dear friend, Ed Yerha, who devote countless hours to making Cary a great place to live, work, and play. The event is November 6 at 2 p.m. at Ed Yerha Park. To recognize the occasion, History Moment signs have been placed along the greenway between the greenway entrance by Davis Drive Middle School and Ed Yerha Park. 

In other news, with the upcoming holiday, there will not be a Council Weekly Report on November 11. However, I will be sending you information early next week in preparation for the Quarterly meeting on Thursday. 
Sean

The Carying Place “Journey Home” Gala

The Carying Place hosted their annual gala this week and Council Member Carissa Johnson served as a guest speaker along with Ralph Ashworth and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Rennie Curran. Carissa shared Cary’s vision for diverse housing options for all residents and celebrated The Carying Place’s long-standing history of supporting those most vulnerable in the community. The Carying Place is Cary’s largest organization that provides both housing and supportive services to families with fragile housing. Their housing and programming are supported by Cary’s Community Development Block Grant program.

Advisory Board Volunteer Appreciation

On November 2, Council, staff, and advisory board members gathered at Colletta in Fenton for a night of appreciation for Cary’s Council-appointed advisory board volunteers. During the event, Mayor Weinbrecht shared remarks welcoming new members and recognizing the 15 outgoing members who have completed terms on advisory boards.

Veterans Luncheon at Prestonwood County Club

Cary’s annual Veterans Day luncheon is back! After two years of hosting a drive-thru affair, we gathered in-person to celebrate and honor our veterans. Cary partnered with Prestonwood Country Club to create a truly unique experience by providing a meal and entertainment to over 300 veterans.

Terry Westbrook, Assistant Secretary of NC Veterans Affairs inspired attendees with a keynote address. Additional guests from the Department of Veterans Affairs included Charles Lee, Robert Johnson, and Edison Platt. Council member Jack Smith emceed the event.

Special guests included Mayor Weinbrecht and Council Members Ya Liu, Jennifer Robinson and Jack Smith; Wake County Commissioners Vickie Adamson, Matt Calabria, Maria Cervania and Susan Evans; NC State Representative Julie Von Haefen; and US House Representative Deborah Ross.

Unsafe Building Use

Because of life/safety building codes associated with an assembly use, staff from the Fire and Inspections and Permits departments have had to post as unsafe the Bethel City Church, 7000 Hospitality Court. The congregation can no longer gather there until these issues are addressed, which we believe may impact as many as 200 parishioners. We understand the disruption this will cause and will continue to work with the occupants and owners. If you have any questions, please contact Chief Cooper. 

DEI Task Force

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of attending the Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity (HRID) Task Force meeting. This meeting presented an opportunity for Task Force members to introduce themselves, learn about my leadership style and life experiences, and the expectations for the work of the task force. The Task Force members were able to learn more about the Reimagining Policing Initiative and affordable housing from me, and I affirmed the pace of the Task Force’s work to date.

Welcome to Cary!

As part of the branding rollout, some of our major events and venues have started integrating Cary’s new logo. WakeMed Soccer Park has a new entrance sign to welcome all visitors to the park and is visible to drivers along E. Chatham Street. We anticipate approximately 30,000 people will be attending the ACC soccer and NCAA soccer matches during the months of November and December, which created a great opportunity to make a splash with the new brand!

Public Hearing for the Historic Nancy Jones House

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has studied the historic significance and architectural integrity of the historic Nancy Jones House, located at 9321 Chapel Hill Road and owned by Cary, and has determined it is eligible for designation as a Cary Historic Landmark. In addition to being federally listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a local landmark designation would show that the Nancy Jones House is valued by the community, deserves the honor of being a historic landmark, and would ensure preservation through a legal ordinance.
The HPC will hold a public hearing on the proposed landmark designation ordinance on November 9. Following the hearing, the HPC will forward the ordinance along with the commission’s recommendation to Town Council for the required second public hearing and Council’s final action. 

Greenway Bike & Wine

In an effort to further “Activate Cary Greenways,” an inaugural Greenway Bike & Wine event was held this past Sunday afternoon. Registrants enjoyed a 10-mile bike ride along White Oak Creek Greenway and learned about Cary’s greenways as well as conservation efforts along the western end of White Oak Creek. Participants then spent the afternoon enjoying hors d’oeuvres, wine, and lovely jazz saxophone music by Bond Lake. Cary businesses were activated to make this event special and to encourage participants to explore and curate their own experiences along Cary’s greenways. Keep an eye on the Spring Program Guide and www.townofcary.org/greenways  for a Spring Greenway Bike & Bubbly event!

Fire Leads CERT Certification Course

This past weekend Fire graduated the latest Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic certification course. Fire and Emergency Services Analyst Blake Boyd, with assistance from Fire suppression staff, taught 16 citizens skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available or delayed. Topics covered include basic disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, fire safety, disaster preparation, and more. Course participants have the option of joining Cary CERT.

Cultivating Collaboration

Cary continues to collaborate with Toward Zero Waste (TZW) to seed conversations and foster local actions to reduce food waste and increase composting opportunities. TZW Cary Community Director, Meghan Holler, teamed up with Waste Strategy and Community Impact Consultant, Srijana Guilford, to speak at Morrisville’s Environment and Stormwater Committee meeting. They shared the benefits of partnering to support community initiatives. Cary’s food waste drop-off has become a model for NC communities, and the committee was interested in the design and development of it. Also this week, Cary and Toward Zero Waste led a food waste reduction workshop to nearly 30 residents, the third co-hosted program offered this year.

First Financial Operations Group Meeting

Approximately 30 staff members from multiple departments attended Cary’s first Financial Operations Group session. With all the new faces in Cary it felt like a great time to bring folks together to facilitate cross departmental collaboration and idea sharing on financial matters. The first meeting focused on relationship building as a first step to helping one another with improving operations. Recurring monthly meetings in the future will allow the group to discuss various financial topics and to continue to build relationships.  

Howlin’ Good Halloween

Citizens celebrated a Howlin’ Good Halloween with a variety of activities across Cary. The annual Herbert’s Haunted House hosted by Cary Teen Council attracted a record 1,116 brave attendees who took a walk through the house of horrors. Screams were prevalent throughout the night with many patrons happy just to survive. The Mummy & Son Ball provided a fun-filled spooktacular evening for mummies and sons who dressed in their favorite costumes and competed for prizes. Over a hundred spooky guests danced the Monster Mash, played eerily fun games, and roasted a ghost over an open fire for a tasty marshmallow treat! The Cary Theater was thrilled to showcase two fun-filled screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Nearly 200 die-hard fans filled the theater to sing along to their favorite musical, dance to the Time Warp, and dress up like their favorite character. Zombiepalooza attracted a sold-out crowd featuring a costume contest with prizes and a zombie short film. Twelve zombie short films were selected out of 700+ submissions. Audience members selected their People’s Choice award winner at the end of the program. Pumpkins were afloat on Bond Lake during the annual Pumpkin Flotilla which attracted over 1,000 attendees who came to watch the orange glow of pumpkins and listen to the live music. And finally, the Great Pumpkin Carve was more popular than ever with over 900 people attending the event. The Cary Public Library provided story time, and there was face painting and outdoor movies. Water marbling pumpkins was new this year were participants created designs on top of water and then dipped mini pumpkins in to transfer the design onto the pumpkins.  

Strengthening Connections

On Monday, October 31, Human Resources team members embodied Cary’s values of People First by visiting departments, re-connecting with staff, and giving away Halloween goodies. By sharing gratitude, recognition, and appreciation for the dedication and commitment of staff, Cary continues to celebrate the best and be one of the best local government places to work. 

Kildaire Farm Road Closure

Work on Kildaire Farm Road is off to a good start despite challenges with the availability of some construction materials. Installation of the new waterline started on October 31. Beginning on Monday, November 7, the contractor is planning to close Kildaire Farm Road from Pleasants to Walnut Street for approximately two weeks. During this closure contractors will be concurrently working to upgrade Cary’s waterline as well as installing a duct bank for burying overhead utilities. During the road closure, traffic will be detoured to use Walnut Street and Maynard Road.

Wake Bus Rapid Transit Fall Open House

Join us for a Wake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) update on November 30 at the Cary Regional Library. Planners will be available from 12-2 PM to answer questions and share updates on all Wake BRT projects. Additional information, including virtual meeting opportunities, is available at https://raleighnc.gov/bus-rapid-transit. Please contact Kelly Blazey, Transit Administrator, with any questions.

Town Hall Parking Deck Maintenance

Beginning next week and through the month of November, the Town Hall parking deck will be undergoing maintenance. Beginning Wednesday, November 9, contractors will perform clearance pruning of the trees adjacent to the Town Hall parking deck and following the pruning contractors will begin pressure washing and cleaning the deck. Sections of the deck will be closed on a rotational basis until November 21, but those will be clearly marked with signs and cones. 

Upcoming Meetings

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Monday
Nov 7
 5:00 p.m.

Hybrid Information Services Advisory Board
Monday
Nov 7
6:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday
Nov 9
6:30 p.m.

Council Quarterly Meeting
Thursday
Nov 10
11:30 a.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Complaints about the proposed Holt PDD rezoning in Regency (council will not receive information about this rezoning until a public hearing is scheduled)
• A concern about safety at the Walnut Street and Lawrence intersection
• A thank you for the volunteer appreciation event

Next Week

Next week’s schedule is lighter due to the Veterans Day holiday. Activities include staff meetings, the council-staff quarterly meeting, and the Cary Veteran’s Day Observance.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 13^th. 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.

Kingswood Elementary Visit

Monday morning I joined Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar in a visit to Kingswood Elementary which is a magnet school in downtown Cary. Kingswood teachers are trained to provide an interdisciplinary approach by integrating science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in all Common Core State Standards through project-based learning. Our outdoor learning centers combine STEM concepts with Montessori based activities where students enjoy learning opportunities year-round. BTW, I was told that Kingswood was the first year-round school in the nation.

The first part of the visit was to meet with teachers and administration about their award-winning sustainability efforts. Initiatives include compostable trays in the cafeteria. This combined with composting food waste has reduced their trash production by about 70%. There are also raised garden beds throughout the property to allow students to grow and harvest food. A rain garden was created to fix a flooding and erosion problem at the school. But the most impressive part of all their initiatives is that the students know the how, what, and why of the initiatives. Kingswood is currently working toward achieving the status of a Green Ribbon School.

The second part of the visit was to meet with two fifth grade classes who were studying the different levels of government. I explained local government and how we are the closest to the people. In my remarks I talked about my role and the role of the council, our duties, responsibilities, and a typical day. Afterwards, I answered questions for about 15 minutes.

I really enjoyed my visit Kingswood, and I am so impressed with their sustainability efforts. I committed to taking part in future sustainability events.

Rajagopuram Inauguration at SV Temple

Monday afternoon I joined several dignitaries, including the Governor, for the inauguration of Rajagopuram at the SV Temple. Others in attendance included NC Speaker of the House, NC Secretary of State, a NC State Senator, Cary council members, Morrisville Mayor and council members, and county commissioners.

Rajagopuram (Raja meaning king, Gopuram meaning gateway in Hindi, the language of India), will serve as the entrance to the SV Hindu Temple in Cary. At 87 feet, it is the tallest of its kind in North America. Five thousand contributors funded the building of the structure eliminating the need for a loan. Several craftsmen from India worked on this structure for years creating intricately designed figures that go around the outside of the tower. The process included pouring into concrete molds and then carrying the figures up the scaffolding and placing them by hand onto the structure.

The inauguration celebration started with a procession through Rajagopuram which is the entrance to the temple and a place where “you leave your worries behind” and a lighting of the lamp.

After the procession a temple board member, the Governor, the NC Speaker, Madam Secretary, a NC State Senator, and I all provided remarks. In my closing remarks I said the structure is not only a religious symbol but a beacon of diversity.

Agenda Meeting

Later Monday I met with Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz and management to go over the agenda. Since I was unable to attend the meeting on Thursday, Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz was responsible for questions and concerns. There were questions from council members on the property conveyance to Holly Springs and the Swift Creek Elementary renovation.

Town Manager One-On-One

After the agenda meeting I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz in a meeting with the town manager. Several topics were discussed including a process for council member appointment if council member Ya is elected to the NC House and the redevelopment of town hall campus.

Dorcas Tour

Wednesday I toured the Dorcas Ministry facility on High House Road. This was my first visit since the new CEO, Andre Anthony, was hired. I toured the crisis center, food store, education center, the store space, and the back of the house. This ministry has grown so much over the years and is essential for many of the residents in Cary and Morrisville. Currently their biggest challenge is finding space to expand. A big thanks to Mark Helwig and Andre Anthony who spent over two hours with me.

Council Meeting

I was unable to attend the council meeting in person due to a medical procedure. I was able to watch the entire meeting. There were 14 items on the consent agenda, 1 public hearing, and 1 discussion item.

The public hearing on Swift Creek Elementary School Renovation/Replacement ACT 30 Comprehensive Plan Amendment was continued to the next council meeting in November. Questions at the public hearing included transportation and access issues. There was also concern that the playground area, part of the Wake County Park system, was going to be eliminated in the new design. The school’s gym, built in the 1930’s, is considered by many to be historic. Unfortunately, the school system will tear it down unless someone wants to pay to have it moved. Across the street from the newly planned elementary school has plans for a future small middle school with limited capacity. The county school representative said this use could change in the future as needs change.

The discussion item was on a Wake County Public Schools System (WCPSS)/Cary Proposed Joint-Use Baseball Field Project in Mills Park. Council asked a lot of questions concerned that citizens would have less access to the fields due to programming by the school. After much discussion the council unanimously approved the manager to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the WCPSS. The Town and WCPSS will take six months to finalize the capital and operating issues associated with this joint use proposal and determine if it is feasible. Staff will return to Council to present final operating and capital numbers so Council can make an informed decision.

The council meeting concluded after a little over an hour.

Cary Government Best Place to Work

Friday I was notified that Cary Ranked #1 in the nation for Best Places to Work in Local Government. Here is what they said:

“Why they’re the best: Great core values to focus on people

The Town of Cary, NC had us with their organization’s core values:

1. People First: We exist to build an inclusive community and take care of people.
2. Evolution: We seize opportunities to experiment, learn and adapt to create a better future
3. Working Smart: We prioritize work on the most important things
4. Anyone Can Lead: We differentiate leadership from authority and believe that everyone can find ways to make our community better.

When it comes to these values, Cary practices what it preaches, with monthly “rap sessions” to provide a safe space for colleagues to discuss uncomfortable or challenging topics. Cary focuses on rewarding its employees, including with a “Benefits My Way” program that offers additional paid time off each year and offers lifestyle reimbursements for things like childcare, tuition assistance, fitness and physical activity, veterinary bills and more.

I am so proud of our town manager, the management team, and all the great people who work for Cary. Thank you for all you do!

Town Manager’s Report

Dan’s Message

Happy Friday!
From my very first days in local government and continuing through today, one of my career’s greatest rewards has been the opportunity to work in and with Public Works. For me, it represents the heartbeat for any community, including Cary.
This week, Director Matt Flynn and the extraordinary team successfully conducted our all-important annual winter weather preparedness exercise, known as the Snow Rodeo. It was great sharing a BBQ lunch with dozens of valued emergency management partners from across the organization as well as engaging with the media for virtual and live interviews. Watch the CBS17 clip here. 
In other great Public Works news, you’ll begin seeing the Live Inspired brand hit the streets this week! Cary’s brand-new leaf collection truck is the first in the fleet that will showcase our new logo. These changes are coming in tandem with an ongoing effort to update our entire fleet by the end of the year. Keep an eye out for these exciting changes. 
Dan 

Inauguration of Rajagopuram and Celebration of Diwali

Mayor Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Liu and Kohn-Johnson joined Governor Roy Cooper in the Grand Inauguration of Rajagopuram and the annual Celebration of Diwali – Festival of Lights, on October 24 at the Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina. The 87-foot tower is known as the “Tower of Unity and Prosperity,” and is the tallest Hindu temple in North America. 

Nicole Coughlin Appointed to U.S. Department of Commerce IoT Advisory Board

This week, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the appointment of 16 members to the newly formed Internet of Things Advisory Board (IoTAB), which will advise the Internet of Things Federal Working Group. Included as the only representative from local government is Nicole Coughlin, Cary’s Chief Information Officer. Board members, who will serve two-year appointments, will advise the federal working group on matters such as IoT opportunities and challenges for small businesses, the ways in which IoT can deliver economic and societal benefits to the U.S., and IoT international opportunities for the US. All meetings are open to the public.

Kingswood Magnet Elementary School Visit

The Mayor and Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar visited Kingswood Magnet Elementary School on Monday. They met with their sustainability committee and engaged in a roundtable discussion about their initiatives including a composting system the students piloted and implemented school system-wide. In addition, Mayor Weinbrecht spoke to fifth graders about government and his role. 

Cary Band Day

Mayor Pro Tem Don Frantz met with Cary Band Director and three Drum Majors in advance of the proclamation presentation at last night’s meeting. This year marks the 63rd anniversary of the event and the 101st anniversary of the Cary Band. It has been described as the greatest celebration of marching band and music education excellence in North Carolina. 

Sharing Cary’s Culture

In July, Chief Development Officer Scot Berry and Assistant Human Resources Director Ashley Lategan attended the Senior Executive Institute (SEI) at the University of Virginia. This week they were invited back and asked to speak about Cary’s culture at an alumni event in Charlottesville attended by senior local government professionals from across the country. Their presentation shared Cary’s evolution: how the Imagine Cary Community Plan is a blueprint for our vision, on how our purpose and values encourage us to stay at the top of the arc, and how adaptive leadership gives us a common language and philosophy for our organizational development efforts. Scot and Ashley now join other SEI alumni in Cary, including Sean Stegall and Russ Overton.

Cary Chamber Eye Opener: Cary and NCAA

On Wednesday morning, William Davis, Sports Venue Manager, discussed Cary’s decades-long relationship with hosting NCAA events and championships at the Chamber Eye Opener. The presentation covered not only the sizeable economic impact of NCAA events, but also the things that set Cary apart from other cities: our commitment to excellence, the quality of our facilities, and how we treat the players, coaches, and families throughout their experience in Cary. He also previewed some exciting championships coming up, including the Division I Women’s & Men’s College Cup at WakeMed in December and the Division II Baseball Championships at USA Baseball in early 2023.

Highlighting Cary’s Environmental Leadership

Cary was well represented at the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) NC annual conference. Staff shared and learned about new technologies, ideas, and solutions to transform waste into a resource. Fleet Manager, Brandon Pasinski, and Waste Strategy and Community Impact Consultant, Srijana Guilford, spoke about Cary’s new electric sanitation truck purchase and food waste drop-off, both unique assets to NC municipal operations, and are keeping Cary a leader in municipal efforts to reduce emissions and food waste.

Project PHOENIX Nottingham Drive Unity in the Community Event

On October 22, the police department’s Project PHOENIX Unit hosted an annual Unity in the Community block party on Nottingham Dr. Residents from Williamsburg Manor, Aurella Cary, and Woodcreek Apartments were invited to enjoy fun activities, games, and food for the day! This year’s participants included some new faces to include Cary Resources for Seniors, El Centro Hispano, Wake County Health and Human Services, SAFEChild, and much more!

Project Epic Trek (PET) Launch

On October 24, Cary staff had a successful formal launch for Project Epic Trek (PET). This project will transform the existing financial and human capital platform into Oracle Fusion Cloud. The excitement of this trek was evidenced by the documented attendance of 195 employees preparing to join the journey into the future. There were morning and afternoon sessions, that provided a high-level snapshot of what the system has to offer from time entry to how we pay our vendors. This day was filled with meet and greet opportunities between Cary staff and vendor partners from Oracle, Enterprise Solution Consulting (ESC) and Plante Moran. While many of the vendor team returned home on Monday, a team from ESC remained in Cary all week to participate in the first week of workshops. A special thank you goes out to all PET Sponsors, Steering Committee, and Change Champions.

Wake County Wastewater Testing

Over the last year, Cary has been working with Wake County Public Health on COVID-19 wastewater monitoring. Cary provides influent wastewater samples from our three water reclamation facilities twice a week to Wake County for COVID-19 testing and trending. The information is used and shared with NC Department of Health and Human Services and CDC through the NC Wastewater Monitoring Network  to help track COVID-19 trends and is used with other public health data. Cary extended our agreement with Wake County to continue COVID-19 wastewater monitoring for an additional 3 years and to add other infectious diseases such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and other health-related issues to the panel for surveillance and tracking.

RAD Share at Carpenter Park

On October 22, Olympic BMX Freestyle coach Ryan Nyquist partnered with RADshare and Cary Action Sports to give back to the community by providing free helmets. RADshare a non-profit that aims to promote a safer bike culture by offering educational opportunities, free helmets and dependable cycling equipment gave out more than 24 helmets. Most of the 40 participants of all ages walked or biked to Carpenter Park to enjoy the unique opportunity to interact with the Olympic coach Ryan Nyquist.  Action Sports staff were onsite to answer questions and provide information about bike, skate and scooter programs Cary offers.

Upcoming Meetings

Human Relations, Inclusion & Diversity Task Force
Tuesday
November 1
6:00 p.m.

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday
November 2

2:00 p.m.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning
Wednesday
November 2

6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Concern that Cary Downtown Park doesn’t look like it is on schedule (It is on schedule and should be open next summer)
• Complaint about the location of handicapped parking at Fenton (Owners responded with maps)
• A request for World Pancreatic Cancer Day Proclamation (We do this every year)
• Complaint about rezoning in Regency (Council does not have information on this until the Public Hearing which is not scheduled)
• Complaint about 18 wheelers parked on Chapel Road near the Cary/Morrisville border (Staff is looking into code violations)

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, Cary Chamber Eye Opener with Ted Abernathy, Advisory Volunteer Appreciation Event, Veterans Luncheon, Parkside Commons Tree Lighting, and the sign dedication to Ed Yerha Park.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 6^th. 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.

South Hills Mall Redevelopment

Monday afternoon I met with a representative for the South Hills Mall redevelopment. He presented some preliminary plans which, if built as suggested, will make this site very pedestrian friendly. The preliminary plans included The Center along with residential, retail, and office. According to our conversation, development will likely be done in phases and be spread over several years. I hope to see their submittal in the next few months.

Weekly One-On-One

Monday I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Before our meeting I attended the tail end of council member Johnson’s meeting with all the Department Directors and heard her speak of her passions and expectations. She is a great addition to the council, and I am excited about what she will accomplish.

In my meeting with the town manager, we talked about several topics including the Tennis Center, the South Hills Mall redevelopment, future bicycle trails, and an unhappy citizen that is in a dispute with his neighbor.

Wake County Mayors Association

Monday night I attended a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association. Attending were mayors from Apex, Cary, Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, and Zebulon. In our roundtable discussion we talked about several things including issues related to growth, social districting, future bond projects. Our meeting lasted a little over two hours.

CAMPO Executive Board

Wednesday afternoon I participated in a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. The agenda included four consent items, one public hearing, and two discussion items. In the board’s only decision, the Wake Transit Community Engagement Policy was approved unanimously. One of the most interesting items on the meeting agenda was the presentation of all the I-40 projects from Raleigh eastward. Unfortunately, it appears there is a long way to go construction especially with bridges and intersections.

Cary Chamber Membership Appreciation

Wednesday night the Cary Chamber held their annual membership appreciation reception. I was a great time to visit and connect with various business leaders in Cary. I spent a couple of hours mingling, talking, and hearing about business issues.

Mooresville Retreat Welcome

Friday morning I provided welcome remarks to the Mooresville mayor, council members, and staff who were in Cary holding their annual retreat at the Mayton Inn. Some of the topics I covered in my remarks included facts about Cary, development, and political decisions over the last couple of decades. They chose Cary specifically to look at Boutique hotels. Other topics of interest in their retreat included arts centers, baseball stadiums, coworking stations, greenways, libraries, smart connected communities, transportation and mobility, and sustainability and stormwater management. It was great to get to meet Mayor Atkins and I hope their retreat was a success.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

On Wednesday, I held a quarterly All Hands with staff. This is always a very special time for me to connect with our employees, highlight their excellent work, and re-emphasize the vision for the organization. This session was unique because it was the first All Hands where we featured our new logo and tagline “Live Inspired.” This set the tone for the meeting, where we covered several important topics such as the Laurel Street Project and The Center . Director of Community Projects Doug McRainey joined us for the latter half of the discussion to share his passion and expertise when it comes to the development of the new community center. Doug is a wonderful example of Cary using our employee’s strengths to their fullest potential.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean

Native Tree Planting for Affordable Homes in Cary

On Saturday, Cary partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Wake County to bring the My Tree, Our Tree program to the affordable homes built on Trimble Avenue. Council Member Lori Bush and Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar joined in the planting of native trees along with homeowners, staff, and resident volunteers. This blend of housing and environmental programming is the first of many for Cary. Special thanks to Marie Cefalo and Morgan Mansa for coordinating this partnership and event.

2022 SAS Golf Championship

Last week, many of us enjoyed activities surrounding the SAS Golf Tournament and we have Ted Boyd, Director of Economic Development, to thank for it. We are glad that SAS week is Ted’s favorite week of the year because he ensures it is one of ours as well. Through the week of activities, $250,000 was raised for the YMCA of the Triangle’s We Build People program. 

Gale Adcock Visits Fire Station 9

On Wednesday, Fire Station 9 hosted Representative Gale Adcock and Assistant Town Manager Shelley Curran for an educational tour. The morning visit consisted of an overview of the station and trucks, lunch prepared by Firefighter Megan Prato – who is a trained chef, and even an opportunity to go on a call. It was a great morning to showcase the fantastic fire staff, assets and their commitment to the Cary community. 

Specialized Recreation Monster Mash Dance Returns

Last Saturday, Specialized Recreation’s very popular Monster Mash Dance returned to the Herbert C. Young Community Center. Our Specialized Recreation participants, family members and friends were beyond excited to get together again for a night of showing off awesome costumes, favorite dance moves, and just being together once again for a night of dancing fun. Eighty people were in attendance consisting of 45 Specialized Recreation participants and 35 staff, volunteers, and family members. A special thank you to the fourteen Teen Council members who did a phenomenal job helping staff with decorating and serving as dance partners/assistants with participants throughout the dance. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Clean Water Act and Neuse River Recognition

October 18 marked the 50-year anniversary of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972. The CWA was the first comprehensive legislation for improving water quality in the United States. The CWA established federal protections and paved the way for rules, policies, and funding for clean water and environmental protection. As we recognize this momentous CWA anniversary and its achievements, we also celebrate this week’s recognition of the Neuse River as American Rivers – River of the Year 2022 . This accolade is bestowed upon a river each year when environmental stewardship at local, state, and federal levels made notable improvement in the overall health of the river system. Cary takes great pride in our clean water programs, including wastewater collection and treatment and stormwater management. As a community within the Neuse River basin, we are very proud to support clean water programs that protect and enhance our environment.

Fire Investigative Approaches Training

Fire Captain Dennis Jacot received the NC Fire Investigator of the Year award at the International Association of Arson Investigators Fire Investigative Approaches seminar held this week in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Fire sent five members of its fire investigation team to this annual training, hosted by the North Carolina and South Carolina Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators. The week-long conference featured a number of classes and breakout-session opportunities for team members to enhance their fire investigation knowledge and experience.

All Hazards Event Class

As part of our ongoing emergency management efforts, staff members participated in the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s (TEEX) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Operations and Planning for All-Hazards Events Course.  Over two days, staff were trained in the skills necessary to effectively plan for and manage a large-scale incident by applying and implementing an all-hazards, multi-disciplinary, management team approach, with specific emphasis on the planning, resource management, and information management processes.  The course concluded with a practical application, simulation-supported exercise designed to provide practical experience with the emergency management and decision-making skills necessary to effectively manage an EOC. This course develops and reinforces emergency management, planning, situational awareness, information management, resource management, and decision-making skills for participants.

Engaging Local Government Leaders Conference

Financial Strategy Analyst Alice Mahood was part of the national planning committee for the Engaging Local Government Leader’s 2022 conference in Phoenix, AZ. The three-day conference brought together 200 local government leaders from across the nation to learn about innovation, leading from all levels in government, and inspiring others. During the conference, Alice led a roundtable discussion on what small and large changes an organization can take to foster collaboration and breakdown silos.

On the Forefront of Food Waste Reduction

Cary is part of ongoing conversation and efforts to reduce food waste in our state. Staff joined nearly 100 representatives from the US Environmental Protection Agency, North Carolina (NC) Dept. Of Agriculture, local government, universities, the compost industry, and non-profits at the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Food Waste Stakeholder meeting. It was also the launch of the Use the Food NC campaign, with Elizabeth Biser, Secretary of the NC DEQ, emphasizing the state’s commitment to support the growing need for innovation and action that prevents food loss, increases food rescue, and composting. Cary’s composting initiatives are part of the local efforts highlighted in DEQ’s new online food waste/rescue map and continue to be in line with the key words of the meeting – partnerships and collaboration.  

Citizens Take a Bough

Now in its third year, Saturday’s My Tree, Our Tree event provided more than 600 native trees to registered participants. The community has continued to embrace this campaign that beautifies landscapes and supports Cary’s tree canopy. 

Upcoming Meetings

Athletic Committee
Monday
October 24
 6:00 p.m.

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday
October 24
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday
October 26
6:00 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday
October 27
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Complaint about a neighbor’s outdoor fire container
• Complaints about a proposed rezoning in Regency (council has yet to receive information about this proposal)
• A request to help with community needs

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a visit to Kingswood Elementary, an inauguration ceremony at the SV Temple, a Dorcas Ministry tour, a Cary-RTP Rapid Bus Extension Stakeholders Oversight meeting, and the only regularly scheduled council meeting of October.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 30^th. 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.

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 22^nd 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 23^rd. 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.

SAS Championship Media Day

Monday I participated in the SAS Championship Media day event where I provided remarks at the breakfast and played the Championship course. This will be the 22^nd year that Cary is home for this PGA Tour Championship. That is the 4^th longest tenure for a community to host a PGA Tour Champions Event. Prestonwood is the 2^nd longest host facility on Tour. The SAS Championship annually shines the spotlight on Cary through national coverage on Golf Channel and international distribution through PGA Tour Entertainment. SAS has sponsored this event for all 22 years. They are an incredible corporate citizen hosting hundreds of customers each year including C level executives from all over the country and around the world.

Town Manager One-On-One

During the Media Day I did talk with the town manager about several issues. Topics included EMS issues with the county. Cary is currently working with the county to try and resolve their issues. We also talked about the South Hills Mall redevelopment and storm cleanup.

Congresswoman Ross Meeting

Tuesday I met with Congresswoman Ross in Cary to talk about issues facing the underprivileged. In our conversation we discussed the national immigration issue and how that impacts many citizens and businesses in Cary. After my meeting she was scheduled to meet with WakeMed Cary about funding for mental health. We are grateful for all the work Congresswoman does for Cary and the surrounding areas.

Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Advisory Board

Wednesday I joined a meeting of the Atlantic Tire Championships Board in a debrief meeting of the professional tennis tournament held in September. It was our most successful tournament yet with much larger crowds, ticket sales, and sponsors. In addition to going over data we talked about other potential tournaments at the Cary Tennis Park. The design and build of the new clubhouse will play a major role in determining how successful we are in attracting future tournaments.

N&O Interview

Thursday I did a brief interview with a News and Observer reporter about dancing in Diwali and what Diwali means to Cary. In my remarks I pointed out that our brothers and sisters of Indian descent are a loving and welcoming people. And that they make it easy to participate in their cultural celebrations such as the Festival of Lights, Diwali. Cary embraces this celebration. It is through valuing the gifts, talents, and culture of others that we reach our potential as a community. Happy Diwali!

Diwali Dance Final Rehearsal

We had our final rehearsal for our Diwali dance on Friday night. We have been practicing almost every week since July. So the next time I watch youth or others dancing I will have a much better understanding and appreciation for all they have put into their performance.

Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears Memorial

Saturday afternoon my wife and I attended a memorial service for long time mayor and my friend, Dick Sears, of Holly Springs. We were blessed to have known him personally and shared dinner with him and his wife, Molly, several times. As mayor he managed Holly Springs growth from a small town of about 2,000 to more than 40,000 today. His personality made you feel like you had known him all your life. I, along with many others were blessed to have known him and will miss him. Rest in Peace Dick!

Diwali Cary

Saturday Cary Diwali was held at Koka Booth Amphitheater. Diwali is an Indian cultural holiday celebrating light and the victory of good over evil. It is a festive occasion in many regions of India and is looked upon as the beginning of the New Year.

The day started with opening ceremonies including remarks and a reading of a proclamation around noon. This was performed by council member Bush since I was at a funeral. There were dance performances, art, education exhibits, and food available throughout the day. At 4:00 there was recognition of the Hum Sub Board of Directors and sponsors. I arrived around 4:30 and provided remarks shortly after arriving. The evening started with a dance competition from local universities including N.C. State and UNC. Afterwards were the celebrity dance performances which included teams from Cary, Morrisville, and Apex with each of the mayors participating. I thought the Cary performance went well and I give myself a B-. Hopefully, no one saw or recognized my mistakes. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed seeing the teams from Morrisville and Apex perform.

The main attraction were Bollywood singers Sandeep Batraa and Shivangi Bhayana who were backed up by amazing performances by local dancers. The evening concluded with a fireworks display. What a great time and a lot of fun. Over 15,000 people attended the event as of 8 PM. If you missed it this year you have to check it out next year.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

This week, we sadly lost Sammie Garris, long time Cary employee and friend, who retired in January 2021. Sammie, with his tremendous spirit and kind heart, touched the lives of countless people during his 44-year tenure. From colleagues to the residents along his route, everyone knew Sammie’s smiling face. 
Solid Waste Supervisor Jesse Troublefield shared with me that “Sammie was a pillar of our community. He was loved by many, and he was a man of the people. Sammie was an individual that was genuine, caring, thoughtful, and lead from his heart. Having the opportunity to know Sam, is an honor. He was truly committed to every aspect of his life and all lives that he touched. Sam will forever live in our hearts, and if we had the opportunity to ask Sam today, “Sam, do you still want it”! I guarantee Sam would reply, “Is butter beans green”! A man of true honor, integrity, dedication, and love for all.”
Sammie was a true representation of the OneCary culture by always putting people first and he will truly be missed.
Take care of yourself and others.
Sean

Public Safety Honored by Heart of Cary Association

To commemorate First Responders Day, which is Oct. 28, the Heart of Cary Association honored first responders Thursday at The Matthews House with a breakfast and generously donated thank you notes. Fire Chief Mike Cooper and Police Chief Terry Sult both spoke, giving an update on Downtown Cary. House Representative Gale Adcock, Mayor Pro Tem Don Frantz, and Council Members Lori Bush, and Carissa Kohn-Johnson were in attendance, with Council Member Bush issuing a proclamation.

Going Green on TV

Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar was a guest on WNCN CBS-17’s My Carolina this week. During the five-minute featured segment, Danna discussed the growing need to establish My Tree, Our Tree and the program’s recent partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Sticking with the plant theme, the segment concluded with upcoming gardening and planting events at Good Hope Farm’s Harvest Fest. You can watch the full clip here, and be sure to check out harvest fun at Good Hope Farm on October 15 and November 19.

Cary Friendship Café Grand Opening

This Monday, Assistant Town Manager, Danna Widmar; and Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison; Morgan Mansa, participated in the grand opening of Cary’s first Friendship Café, a space for seniors to eat with one another and host senior-focused community events. In partnership with the White Oak Foundation and Meals on Wheels of Wake County, this location is the seventh Friendship Café in Wake County. The café is located at the White Oak Foundation Community Resource Center which is funded in part by the Cary Community Development Block Grant program. Meals at the Friendship Café are provided by local food purveyors, with discounted and free meal options for those who need them. The Friendship Café is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am-12 pm. 

Advisory Board Orientation

On October 6, staff members Russ Overton, Matt Pentz, and Julie Clifton hosted a new member orientation as part of the onboarding process for 18 new members to Cary’s Council-appointed advisory boards. The new members heard from staff on a variety of topics including the One Cary culture, Leadership on the Line, the Imagine Cary Community Plan, policies relating to board member work, public records, meeting information, and much more.

Firefighters Visit Adams Elementary

Captain Kevin Stewart visited kindergarten classes at Adams Elementary School this week and spoke about fire safety and toured the fire truck. Towards the end of the presentation, Firefighter Ricardo Rojas was advised of a group of Spanish speaking students. Since Firefighter Rojas knows the language, he began to speak to the children in Spanish which resulted in a memorable exchange for all students involved in the fire education session. The teacher was so thankful and happy that all the children felt included and were able to learn from the experience.

Jordan Lake Levels

The water levels in Jordan Lake have been steadily dropping since August because the dry conditions in late summer were moving our area into a drought. One silver lining to the unwelcome arrival of Hurricane Ian is that it brought enough rain to bring lake levels up 1.5 feet, which is only six inches below the normal pool elevation.

Upcoming Meetings

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday
Oct. 12, 2:00 p.m.

Human Rel, Inclusion, & Diversity
Wednesday
Oct. 12, 6:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday
Oct. 12 6:30 p.m.

Environmental Advisory Board
Thursday
Oct. 13, 6:00 p.m.

Wastewater Testing

I was recently asked about Cary’s involvement in wastewater testing. Here is a summary from the Cary staff:

We’ve been working in this area for a few years and have some really great progress to report.  We typically refer to this work as wastewater surveillance as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC). Cary’s and Morrisville’s utility services have been an innovation leader in advancing this work in NC and the region, and we very much appreciate Council support for this important work over the last few years starting with the testing of opioids in wastewater as early as 2018. Our Wastewater Collection System Manager, has coordinated our participation over the last few years with the testing efforts summarized below:

2018-2019 Bloomberg Challenge – Opioid Testing

Cary’s involvement in public health wastewater testing first began with the 2018 Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge to help increase public understanding of opioid use in our community. We developed a pilot wastewater monitoring project and partnered with Biobot Analytics, an MIT startup company that provides wastewater testing and epidemiology services, to generate opioid consumption data by measuring concentrations of opioid metabolites in sewage. The data collected was shared with public health professionals and used in our community to educate and foster community conversations. The Mayor’s Challenge pilot program occurred through the spring and summer of 2018. This innovative way of collecting and sharing data provided a new tool for healthcare officials and educators focused on developing programs to help those at risk in our community.  The success of the pilot program and our partnership with public health agencies led to extended opioid wastewater testing through much of 2019.  Additional information about the Bloomberg Challenge is described in the press release as follows via weblink.  https://www.townofcary.org/Home/Components/News/News/13886/715

2019-2020 Biobot Covid Testing

As an early innovator of wastewater testing for opioids, Cary was asked to participate in monitoring and testing for SARS-CoV2 with the start of the COVID Pandemic.  Cary signed an agreement with Biobot Analytics in 2019 and began monitoring for COVID in our wastewater in early 2020.  Additional background information is described on the following web page. https://www.townofcary.org/projects-initiatives/alerts-closures/covid-19-information-for-citizens/tracking-covid-19/background-project-history

2021 NC State University Covid Testing

Beginning in May 2020, Cary also joined several utilities in our region and participated with NC State University by supporting research for testing methods that further evaluated and developed COVID wastewater testing experience.  This research through NCSU lasted for approximately 1-year.  Additional information can be found at the following web page.  https://collaboratory.unc.edu/covid-19-research/north-carolina-state-university/

2021-Present – Wake County Testing in conjunction with CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance Network

In October 2021, Cary began participating with Wake County and other public health agencies by collecting influent wastewater at our three water reclamation facilities twice a week to test for concentrations of COVID-19 RNA fragments. Wake County coordinates data management, sampling, and record keeping to develop metrics for public health. Wake County also evaluates wastewater surveillance data against other available health indicators and works with the CDC, NCDHHS, and local communities to improve information and data sharing about the pandemic.

Since November 2021, COVID-19 wastewater testing data for Cary is available on the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) – NC Wastewater Monitoring Network website along with other COVID-19 response health metrics.  Cary began its participation and data sharing with a Wake County Public Health funded project in coordination with NCDHHS and the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System that tracks COVID-19 trends in sewer systems. Wastewater monitoring is a good representation of a larger population who use our wastewater services every day and contribute regularly to the community-based assessment.  The wastewater monitoring network is expanding and additional parameters such as monkey pox and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are being added to the testing panel in select locations.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Complaint about the town’s E-Bike pilot program
• Complaint about messaging for Ian storm debris pickup
• A request to ban all Pitbulls in Cary (we do not have that authority)

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with Engineering firm’s representative, SAS Championship activities, SAS Championship Pro-Am, and the SAS Championship Sunday final.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 16^th. 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.

Mayors Dance Practice

Monday I joined Apex Mayor Gilbert, and Morrisville Mayor Cawley to practice a dance for Diwali. All of us will be participating with groups from our towns and then we will lead the grand finale.

Meet the Mayor Presentation at Coldwell Banker

Tuesday I met with several dozen realtors from Coldwell Banker and presented an updated version of the State of Cary address. Their questions focused almost entirely on our affordable housing efforts.

Cary Chamber Annual Banquet

Wednesday I attended the Cary Chamber Annual Banquet at Prestonwood. This was the Cary Chamber’s 60^th year holding this event. It is a tradition that has allowed business and government leaders to network, receive awards, and celebrate Cary businesses.

This year it was a great joy to see our Mayor Pro-Tem, Don Frantz, receive the Citizen of the Year Award. Well deserved!

I provided a few remarks before and was followed by Kelly King, the former CEO of BB&T. The event lasted about three hours.

Turner Creek Elementary

Thursday I talked virtually with the 3^rd grade classes at Turner Creek elementary. I spoke about our government structure, our authority, and duties we perform. I had a great time answering their questions. It was a fun time and I hope next time we can do it in person.

Remnants of Hurricane Ian Arrive in Cary

All my events for Friday’s were cancelled due to the remnants of Hurricane Ian. The Hurricane first made landfall earlier in the week near Ft Myers, Florida as a strong category 4 causing catastrophic damage and death. Sadly, it will take those communities months to recover and more than likely they will never be the same. Then Friday afternoon, after it went across Florida and into the Atlantic, it made its second landfall as a strong category 1 just south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Cary is very fortunate to have only experienced a minimal disruption, downed trees, and debris. Most importantly, no major injuries or loss of life were reported. Here is a summary of impacts for Cary:

• Roughly 4 inches of rain fell in Cary.
• As of this morning, roughly 54,000 customers in Wake County without power.
• Koka Booth Amphitheatre is without power impacting Oktoberfest and the South Plant (Wastewater) is running off a back-up generator.
• 600 calls to 911 and just over 100 calls to 311, which remained operational until 9 p.m.
• 43 calls related to trees and large limbs down.
• Several street closures remain due to fallen trees laced with powerlines in the areas of Willowbrook, Maynard at Sloan, Maynard at Medlin, and Ridgecrest at Charles.

Recognizing the debris left in our community, Public Works will be flexible with yard waste collection rules for the next two weeks. Bottom line, if you can get it to the curb, they will collect it.

Again, Cary was fortunate, but many were not. Please keep all those who suffered and are suffering in your thoughts and prayers.

Town Manager’s Report

The Town Manager’s report for this week included:

Sean’s Message

As we all know fall has the potential to throw us weather curveballs that impact our day-to-day responsibility occasionally, and today that curveball is in the form of Hurricane Ian. Instead of planning for more fun fall activities staff shifted their focus on keeping Cary facilities, staff and community members safe from the potential impacts of Ian. In preparation for the weather event, staff from across the organization have been closely monitoring the storm all week and we are ready. I hope you and your families stay safe this weekend.
Sean

Don Frantz Named Citizen of the Year

On September 28, at the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s 60th Annual Banquet, Mayor Pro Term Don Frantz was named the Citizen of the Year. Along with serving Cary through his role on Council since 2007, he has also served on the Planning and Zoning Board, served as President of the Heart of Cary Association, active with the Cary High School Imp Club, and Cary Chamber of Commerce. He is a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and successful Cary business owner who has been making Cary a better place for over 30 years.

Joy Innis Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations to Downtown Cary Park General Manager, Joy Ennis, who was awarded with Cary Magazine’s Women of Western Wake’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Each year, the Women of Western Wake select honorees to discuss how they leverage their careers and personal aspirations to tackle important issues for our community at its annual forum. A previous honoree is then selected to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of the continued impact they have made on our community. With Joy’s history of work with the Cary’s legacy festivals and downtown events; opening and managing The Cary Theater; and now overseeing the management of the highly anticipated Downtown Cary Park, she was the ideal candidate to receive this honor.

Sallie Jones Receives Anthemion Award

Cary’s own Ms. Sallie Jones was awarded an Anthemion Award for Preservation Advocacy. Ms. Jones was honored with this award from Capital Area Preservation for her work on the Cary First Christian Church Cemetery, one of Cary’s local historic landmarks. Given the passion and commitment Ms. Jones has shown over several years, the 2022 Preservation Advocacy Award is a great way to celebrate and acknowledge her continued work. Congrats Ms. Jones.

Fairview Fire District ISO Assistance

A cross-departmental team of Cary Utilities, Fire and Public Works staff assisted the Fairview Fire District with the Insurance Services Office (ISO) process to maintain their ISO fire rating score of 3. Cary staff developed mapping, graphics and provided detailed system information and hydraulic modeling results to support the review process. The score assessed by ISO reflects how prepared a fire department and community is to respond to fires. The Cary Fire Department maintains an ISO fire rating score of 1 which is the highest achievable score.

2022 Source Water Protection Week

During Source Water Protection Week, we reflect on the importance of protecting drinking water sources. Cary’s water source is Jordan Lake, and we have a long history of working to protect it through careful water resources planning, regional partnerships, funding watershed protection projects, and completing capital projects that improve system resiliency. In addition to the public health benefits of having a high-quality reservoir for clean drinking water, source water protection enhances the community by providing opportunities for environmental stewardship, habitat preservation, and enhancing the aesthetic quality of the watershed.

Council Appoints Advisory Board Volunteers

At the Council meeting on September 22, Council appointed or reappointed 40 citizens across eight of Cary’s advisory boards. These citizens were selected from the 175 applications received. The list of appointments is available as an attachment on the meeting’s agenda. For more information about Cary’s advisory boards, visit townofcary.org/boards.

Fall Family Night at Bond Park

Fall Family Night at Bond Park was very well received by many families with requests for similar events to occur more than once a year! The park was lit up with luminaries allowing event participants to rotate through a variety of activities at their leisure. Favorites include tie die, stargazing, axe throwing, boating, and s’mores!

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Rec, & Cultural Resources Advisory
Monday, Oct. 3
5:15 p.m.

Information Services ​​​​​​​Advisory
Monday, Oct. 3
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, Oct. 3
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Complaint about long EMS response. The person noted that Cary Fire (EMS trained) was there quickly but no ambulance. Eventually, they put the person in a car and took them to the hospital. Ambulance service is now the responsibility of Wake County. We will be working with them to try and resolve this issue.
• A request for an interview by a NC State student.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, SAS Championships Media Day breakfast, a meeting with Congresswoman Ross, Diwali practices and performance, Atlantic Tire Championships Advisory Board meeting, and a homeowner association block party.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 9^th. 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.

World University Games Meeting with Dignitaries

Monday at lunch I met with FISU (Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire) officials of the World University Games. These games are held every two years in a different city and are a celebration of international university sports. It draws thousands of student-athletes in competition making it among the world’s largest and most prestigious multi-sport events. I made remarks and presented gifts to the FISU CEO, President, Vice President, and Head of Games. They also presented me with a gift. We are hopeful that they will be choosing Cary and the surrounding communities when they make the selection in November.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday I attempted to contact each council member for concerns or questions about Thursday’s regular agenda. The only question was about the proposed Land Development Ordinance Amendments for signs. Later in the day I met with management to go over the agenda. At that point we didn’t have any planned call-in speakers or any written comments for Public Speaks Out or Public Hearings. We anticipated the meeting would be relatively quick.

Town Manager One-On-One

In my last meeting Monday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz in a meeting with the town manager. Topics discussed included the future of WakeMed Soccer Park, Duke Health at Green Level, an issue Holly Springs is having, an issue with the Greater Raleigh Visitors Bureau, and a personnel matter.

Duke Health Tour

Tuesday I joined council members Liu and Johnson for a tour of the Duke Health facility off Green Level West Road. They showed the current facility and talked about their plans for expansion along with their partners from Halle and Bel Canto. Their partners currently have rezonings going through the process. Those proposals are mostly apartments with some mixed use. In our discussion we believed that a council work session might be the best next step.

CAMPO

Wednesday the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board met. The agenda included no consent items, one public hearing, and five discussion items. Items approved unanimously included Amendment #9 to FY2020-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Transit Asset Management 2023 Performance Measures & Targets for State of Good Repair, and the CAMPO organizational study. The presentations for this meeting can be found here.

Council Meeting

Due to a family emergency, I had to leave town Tuesday night and returned Wednesday night. I decided not to attend the council meeting in person Thursday due to an exposure on Tuesday although testing on Thursday and the remainder of the week showed no infections. Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz did an excellent job running the meeting.

The agenda included four consent items, six public hearings, and one discussion item. After the public hearing on the annexation 22-A-16 on Carpenter Fire Station Road, the council approved the annexation unanimously. This will allow the 22-DP-3723 development plan to move forward.

The only discussion item was to install solar on a new Cary/Apex Water Treatment facility maintenance building. This 4500 square foot building will be totally run on solar. Additional solar with be used by a neighboring maintenance building. The return on investment for this project is about four to five years. Council unanimously approved this project.

Playing George Washington

Friday I joined members of the Daughters of the American Revolution in an outdoor performance of “Anna Strong” as part of Constitution Week. I was dressed as George Washington (complete with wig) and mimed the parts of the book as they were read. After the play I read a scaled down version of a proclamation celebrating Constitution Week.

Town Manager’s Report

The Town Manager’s report for this week included:

Sean’s Message

It never ceases to amaze me the number and variety of things to do in Cary on any given day. Last weekend, thousands attended high-level sports competitions at the Atlantic Tire Championships at the Cary Tennis Park and the Adidas XC Challenge and NC Courage match at WakeMed Soccer Park. Thousands also visited Koka Booth Amphitheatre, enjoying Asia Fest and the spectacular Dragon Boat Races on Symphony Lake. Thousands also came downtown for an impressive array of activities, including Public Safety Day, Carolina Circus Fest, Farmers Market, Pickleball Paddle Battle at Herb Young, a concert at the Page-Walker, and the Beyond Film Festival at The Cary. While yet others gathered at Good Hope Farm for its Fall Harvest Fest or took to the greenways and trails for FitCary Month.

So many different options. So many people engaged. It’s a subtle but significant sign that Cary has arrived as a mature, dynamic, and bustling community. We are attracting people from across the region and country not just for one event but countless. We are living the vision we laid out in Imagine Cary to be not only a community of excellence but also a destination.
I am aware of the tireless work that goes into making weekends like this happen, and we are all so appreciative of your continued support! Another great weekend lies ahead, and I can’t wait to hear all about the great things that happen. Have a great time.
Sean

Cancellation of October 6 Council Meeting

Two council members have a scheduling conflict with the upcoming October 6 regular business meeting. Staff reviewed all upcoming agenda items and determined that the few items that would have come before you on October 6 are not time sensitive and can wait until the next scheduled meeting on October 27. As a result. the October 6 Town Council meeting has been canceled and The Clerk’s Office will handle notifications of the cancelation.

Park Hosts Kay Yow Pink Out for 2022

The Downtown Cary Park was honored to be the site for the Park’s construction company, Balfour Beatty’s participation in the Kay Yow Pink Out. Balfour Beatty and their sub-contractors raised $36,000 to help the Kay Yow Foundation fight women’s cancer. The Downtown Cary Park is honored to be working with a company that gives back to the community.

Crabtree Creek Greenway Project Update

A new project will complete a section of the Crabtree Creek Greenway. This project will extend from the existing trail system in Bond Park, then head north to connect to High House Road and a proposed street-side trail. The length of this project is approximately 2,500 linear feet. The project is at 30% of design completion and staff is seeking input. Please visit the project website to review the alignment and enjoy a short “virtual open house” presentation. The comment period on the draft designs will remain open through October.

BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival 2022

The 5th annual BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival took place September 15-18, at The Cary. The festival featured 20+ short films from around the world, a live table read of the 2022 winning screenplay, industry workshops, and networking events for filmmakers. Sponsors of our festival included the Southern Documentary Fund, NC Humanities, DigitalP Media, The Mayton, and the Chatham Street Wine Market. This was the first year the festival was able to award cash prizes to all 6 award winners. The festival welcomed over 450 attendees, and 19 filmmakers and industry representatives to BEYOND 2022.

Celebrating the Harvest at Good Hope Farm

Approximately 500 guests gathered at Good Hope Farm for Harvest Fest last Saturday. It was the first celebration of three events that are designed to connect the community to local food and environmental education. The upcoming events are scheduled to take place on October 15 and November 19. Surrounded by the historic homestead buildings and native plant gardens, participants enjoyed farm tours, produce sales, live music, children’s activities, and a chance to partake in a popup pickle-making workshop. Environmental experts and green-themed vendors hosted booths to engage with the community about pollinators, soil health, waste reduction, water quality, and other conservation topics that contribute to food security and celebrate Cary’s agricultural legacy.

2022 Atlantic Tire Championships

Cary Tennis Park hosted the Atlantic Tire Championships, September 11-18. The tournament, an ATP Men’s Professional Tennis event, had a record-breaking year for attendance, with an increase of 25% over last September’s event.

Upgraded lights allowed matches to play into the evening on all three courts. Adding a food truck and ice cream truck added to the festive atmosphere. Cary staff and a group of over 60 volunteers ensured the tournament ran smoothly. Singles champion, Michael Mmoh, was nothing short of grateful for everything the tournament had to offer and stated, “the hospitality, the facility, the crowd, the atmosphere, nothing really matches it. This is the best Challenger in the United States”.

2023 Council-Staff Retreat Dates

The 2023 Council-Staff Retreat is set for February 23-25, in Wilmington. Retreat planning is now underway, and staff will share additional details as the itinerary and agenda get ironed out. We look forward to restarting this annual tradition, so please ensure your personal calendars are blocked.

2022-2023 Cary Teen Council Membership Summary

Cary Teen Council returns to full in-person volunteering in 2022-23 with 860 members ready to serve their community. New member registration ended this week adding 370 participants to the returning membership of 490. September’s monthly meeting set an all-time record with 353 in attendance at Herbert C. Young Community Center. A signature October event, Herbert’s Haunted House, is completely planned and produced by Cary teens. Look for red Cary Teen Council t-shirts volunteering around Cary and Wake County all year long. If you need volunteers to support your event visit https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/special-populations/teens/teen-council  to contact the staff liaison.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meetings

The Neighborhood Meetings will be held virtually on WebEx from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on October 12. The following cases will be discussed:

• 22-REZ-17 – Louis Stephens Dr
• 22-REZ-19 – Holt PDD

For more information and to register visit the Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting page.

Upcoming Meetings

Cultural Arts
Committee
Wednesday
Sept. 28 6:00 p.m.

Senior Center Anniversary
Celebration
Friday
Sept. 30 10:00 a.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Complaints about the proposed rezoning 21-REZ-16 on Old Apex Road for hundreds of apartments. (The public hearing for this drew criticism from the residents and the council)
• A complaint about Chatham County schools being too far away for Cary Chatham residents. They want to attend Wake County Schools. (Unfortunately, we have no control of this, and Wake County does not have authority to take children from another county)
• A complaint about having an Apex address and living in Cary. They want to have Cary in their address. (This is the decision of the Postmaster General. Thousands of Cary residents have addresses in Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Raleigh, etc)
• A big thank you to Firehouse 5 who helped carry someone up 20 stairs who recently had a stroke.
• A thank you for having the Food Waste Collection Pilot program.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, Diwali dance practice for mayors from Apex, Cary, and Morrisville, a presentation to real estate agents, the Cary Chamber Annual Banquet, the Senior Center Anniversary Celebration, and the Octoberfest celebration.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 2^nd. 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.

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday I had a brief meeting with the town manager. We talked about the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships, South Hills Mall redevelopment, and about Epic Games on the old mall site. Later Monday I attended the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships.

Diwali Dance Practice

Tuesday I participated in the weekly Diwali Dance practice. We have been practicing weekly since the beginning of summer. We have finished 90% of the dance steps and now are focusing on doing them correctly and transitioning. I have to practice additional hours just to keep up with “real” dancers.

State of Cary Address at Searstone

Wednesday I gave an updated version of the State of Cary Address at Searstone. It was based on my first address in January but with new information on parks, roads, and development projects. I was there about an hour and only had one question from an audience of about 100.

Wednesday at the Tennis Championships

Later Wednesday I attended the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships and was able to meet and greet several people. At this point in the week we had already surpassed previous attendance records. It was great to see full stands on a weeknight during school.

Covid-19 Omicron Booster

Thursday morning I received my Covid-19 Updated booster for Omicron (my 3^rd booster). I believe Covid-19 will be with us for many more years. It is imperative that we all stay updated on our vaccinations and boosters.

Cary Chamber After Hours at Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships

Thursday I provided remarks at the Cary Chamber After Hours event which was held at the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships at the Cary Tennis Park. I talked about how the tournament had grown in years, how our community benefitted economically, and how it gets us recognition nationwide and throughout the world.

After my remarks I attended one of the singles matches that evening.

North Carolina Metro Mayors

Friday the North Carolina Metro Mayors heard from a Senior Climate Policy Advisor from NCDOT. The following is a summary of her remarks from the Executive Director:

• Overview of Federal Program – National EV Charging Infrastructure (NEVI)

• $5 billion was appropriated for EV charging as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• It is a five-year program with an estimated $109 million coming to North Carolina over those five years.  NC is expected to receive approximately $16 million in year one.
• NEVI Station Criteria

• Phase 1 requires the build out of fast charging stations along the Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).  The station must be within one mile of the AFC and each station must be located within 50 miles of each other.
• Phase 2 focuses on Community-based charging.  After 50 miles of spacing is met, stations can be placed along any public road on a site that is publicly accessible.
• There are currently 10 NEVI-compliant stations along AFCs in North Carolina. 
• Eligible Items for Funding

• Planning such as how many stations are needed and where they need to be.
• Site design and operation which includes capital expenses for EV chargers, operations and maintenance, and signage.
• Utility upgrades for on-site utilities.

• Tentative Schedule Public engagement sessions will begin once the plan is approved at the end of this month.
• Public engagement for Phase 2 Community Grant Program is anticipated to begin in the Spring of 2023.

Asia Fest

Saturday I attended the opening of Asia Fest at Booth Amphitheater. Remarks were provided by the NC Secretary of State and a NC Senator. I was asked to do a Q&A instead of providing remarks.

Afterwards the elected official sat in one of the Dragon Boats for pictures.

Atlantic Tire Tennis Doubles Championships

Saturday afternoon I attended the doubles championships at the Atlantic Tire Tennis Tournament. I was able to provide remarks after the match. Congratulations to the US team Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow for winning the doubles championship.

Atlantic Tire Tennis Singles Championships

Sunday I attended the singles championships at the Atlantic Tire Tennis Tournament. I provided remarks and handed out the finalist trophy. Congratulations to Michael Mmoh on winning the singles championship.

Town Manager’s Report

The Town Manager’s report for this week included:

Russ’ Message

It was great to see so many staff and community members last night as Mayor Weinbrecht welcomed attendees to the Chamber Business After Hours at the Cary Tennis Park. We are fortunate with the weather forecast this coming weekend to welcome many to Cary for multiple community events including the Atlantic Tire Championship. For a full list of community events occurring this weekend, click here.
Have a great weekend!
Russ

MacGregor Downs HOA Meeting

MacGregor Downs Homeowners Association held their annual meeting and invited staff and Council to attend. Public safety staff provided an update to those in attendance. In addition to staff, Council Members Jack Smith and Carissa Kohn-Johnson were also in attendance.

Ed Yerha Park Sign Installed

In August, Council recognized the service of former Cary Council Member Ed Yerha by renaming White Oak Park in his honor. The newly named parks sign was installed this week.

Fire Hosts ICS 400 Class

About 45 employees representing departments from across the organization came together this week for an ICS 400 class. This National Incident Management System training program course is designed for personnel who would be involved in large, complex incidents or events and is a follow-up to the ICS 300 class taught in August. The class was taught by emergency management experts Leslie O’Connor and Darshan Patel. On the first day of class, Fire presented Public Safety Director Toni Dezomits with a fire helmet befitting her position.

Dominion Energy Gas Line Replacement Project

Staff is in the process of working with Dominion Energy on a gas line replacement project along E. Chatham St. A new 12″ steel gas line will be installed, replacing an existing 8″ gas line, along Reedy Creek Rd.
A pre-construction meeting has been set for the week of September 26. The expectation is for the project to start early October and last for up to 8 weeks. Additional updates and traffic alerts will be provided as these dates are confirmed and traffic control measures are well defined.

Growing Interest in the Composting Pilot

A Toward Zero Waste representative joined Waste Strategy and Impact Consultant Srijana Guilford at the NC DEQ’s Sustainability Team meeting to share about Cary’s pilot food waste drop-off. The team sought details on the design and successes of Cary’s model as well as how it may be applied to their sustainability efforts. 

Growing Cary’s Gardens

Last week, over 250 residents participated in 13 different agricultural programs. Volunteers gathered at fire station gardens for environmental service-learning activities, including harvesting, amending soils, and planting in honor of the 9-11 National Day of Service. Carpenter Park Community Garden’s Open House welcomed guests of all ages for tours, crafts, and more. Good Hope Farm hosted compost giveaway workshops and an Organic Gardening class to over 150 students that received free compost, guidebooks, and instruction for successful composting and gardening practices for their lawns at home.

Regional Water Supply Plan – “Out for Bid”

The Triangle Water Partnership (TWP), a regional coalition of water utilities working together to solve water issues, initiated the process for a new Regional Water Supply Plan, which will look at collective water supply needs through 2070. This is one of the hallmark deliverables of the TWP and will update the 2014 Plan which was instrumental in the recent round of Jordan Lake supply pool allocations. Cary remains well positioned with Jordan Lake as robust water supply thanks to continued proactive future water resource planning.

Black Creek Greenway Sewer Rehab

Following the reopening of the Crabtree Creek Greenway in late July, crews have been preparing to rehabilitate sewer lines along the Black Creek Greenway. Over the past several weeks, construction mats have been placed at key locations, temporary stream crossings have been constructed, and a system of temporary pumps and above-ground piping has been installed to manage sewer flows along the Black Creek Greenway between Dynasty Drive and North Cary Park.

Sewer rehabilitation is now underway along the Black Creek Greenway, with installation of the first cured-in-place pipe liner this week near West Dynasty Drive. This first phase of sewer improvements along the Black Creek Greenway is scheduled for completion later this Fall. While this portion of the Black Creek trail is closed, all other portions of the Black Creek Greenway and the Crabtree Creek Greenway are open to the public.

Current information regarding the status of the greenways, detour routes and project details are available at www.carygreenwaydetour.com.

E-Notary Class Offered for Cary Notaries

On Wednesday, several staff members took their first step to become electronic notaries. Legal Assistant Karen Gray organized this training led by Wake Tech Community College with the help of the NC Secretary of State’s Office. Cary is now better positioned to move toward truly paperless transactions, as electronic notaries are authorized to notarize purely digital documents.

Women in Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon

In honor of National Women in Law Enforcement Day, the police department’s very own Captain Kat Christian served as the keynote speaker at the Salisbury Police Department’s Women in Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon.  Kat shared uplifting words of encouragement with her audience of up and coming female police leaders, and discussed her journey navigating the profession to becoming a member of the department’s executive command staff. Despite nationwide efforts to increase representation, women constitute less than 13% of total officers and a much smaller proportion of leadership positions within law enforcement. The Cary Police Department is truly humbled and honored that Kat’s leadership journey is serving to inspire future female police leaders across the State.

American Legion Post 67 Officer and Firefighter of the Year Awards

Congratulations to Cary Police Officer Andrew Reuther and Cary Fire Engineer Tyler Riva, recipients of the American Legion Post 67 2022 Officer of the Year and Firefighter of the Year awards. Andrew was recognized for his life saving efforts on an individual suffering from multiple stab wounds. Tyler, a Marine Corps veteran, was honored for going above and beyond in his pursuit of education and training and for his service on the swift water rescue team during a 2021 deployment. In addition, Wake County EMS District Chief Marion Houle was selected by his peers for the chapter’s EMT of the Year award in honor of 30 years of dedicated service. Police and Fire are incredibly proud of these employees, honored by their recognition, and grateful for the service of the men and women of Post 67.

My Tree, Our Tree Registration Opens with Enthusiasm

Cary residents showed their continued interest and enthusiasm for planting native trees as they reserved more than 500 of the 550 trees within 24 hours of the My Tree, Our Tree registration opening. Between now and early October, the remaining trees can be claimed to take root in Cary’s community and contribute to the canopy.

NW Maynard Sidewalk Construction

The construction for a sidewalk gap at NW Maynard is substantially complete. This is a sidewalk infill project just west of N Harrison Ave. The work included demo, new sidewalk, curb and gutter, cross walk markings, sewer clean out adjustment, and landscape restoration. The contractor, White Oak, has two more things to complete which includes placing sod and crosswalk markings at the nearby access. 

Upcoming Meetings

Hybrid Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday 
Sept. 21
6:15 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday
Sept. 22
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A suggestion for a type of electronic bus
• A complaint that elected officials displaced parents seated to watch their children at Asia Fest
• A question about the town auctioning off firearms. The response from the police chief:

“This is a required public notice prior to selling all types of unclaimed property.  Non firearms are sold via auction to the general public. 

Currently under NC law when we dispose of firearms we are required to sell them to licensed firearm dealers (not the general public).  However, the public notice still applies.  The current law does not allow for us to destroy them unfortunately.

The same holds true for those cities in NC who conduct buy back programs.  Studies have shown that such programs are not truly effective and this is compounded by the inability to destroy confiscated or bought back weapons. 

I hope this helps,

Terry Sult

Chief of Police

Cary Police Department” 

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with World University Games representatives, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a tour of the new Duke Health facility, a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board, a meeting with Turner Creek 3^rd Grade classes, the last regularly scheduled council meeting of the month, playing George Washington as Part of the Cary Trolley tours, and Good Hope Farm’s Farm to Fork event.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 25^th. 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.

Transcript Review for Invest: Raleigh Durham

Monday afternoon I met briefly with the author from Invest: Raleigh Durham about an interview with them last week. The transcript has now been passed on to staff for review.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday I attempted to contact each council member to hear of any questions or concerns about the upcoming agenda. There were a few questions about the Industrial site annexation and the town’s compliance with session law. Later Monday I met with the Mayor Pro-Tem and management to go over and discuss the agenda.

Turner Creek Elementary 3^rd Graders

Wednesday morning I met virtually with three 3^rd grade classes from Turner Creek Elementary who were studying state and local government. I made a brief PowerPoint presentation and then answered several questions. I had a great time and will do another talk to the 3^rd graders at Turner Creek later this month.

Economic Development Committee

Wednesday afternoon I joined council members Jack Smith and Jennifer Bryson Robinson in an Economic Development Committee meeting. The summary of economic activity from the Cary Chamber President included:

• Visits: Penny Mac, HCL, Xerox, Cotton Inc, Beuhler-Aeroglide, Veloxis Pharma, ABB, Lord Corp, MetLife, Avidex, OnLogic, and ServePro.
• Expansions: Advanced Manufacturing and a HealthCare Technology firm. The estimated capital investment for this project is about $80M. The number of new jobs is unknown currently.
• Recruitment potential: 700 jobs / $ 1.4 Billion Capital Investment potential
• Product Trend: most interest in the Industrial and Life Science space, with consultants and corporations looking for existing or shell buildings, with a few a looking at build to suit opportunities averaging from 40,000 sq ft – 750,000 sq ft. Raw land request on average ranges from 20 – 250 acres.
• Industrial Space: The chamber continues to work with Ted and Town staff with two separate development firms on (2) large industrial / flex space type of product sets, one in west Cary which is 15 acres, with a planned building size of around 162,000 sq ft, of which can be 2 buildings, or one large building. This parcel is on target to have final site plan approval over the next 30 – 45 days. The other large tract is in northwest Cary near the airport. This tract is 142 acres and is planned to have just over 700,000 sq ft of flex/ industrial space. This project is estimated to have their site plan approved from the Town within the next 6 months. The Press building has now completed their interior demo work and has the inside prepared as “shell” space. Lincoln Harris in Raleigh is the Broker and Developer on this. They are working with the Planning department on their exterior site plan work (building exterior upgrades, new landscaping, and a parking area expansion). This building is formerly known as the old Oxford University Press company on Evans Road. This building is a great space for Life Science, Biotech, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.
• Class A Office: This product set is still slow, but we have had some smaller opportunities looking from 15,000 – 45,000 sq ft over the last few months. Downtown, Fenton, and Regency Park are the best areas to accommodate those space needs right now. CentreGreen Office Park has (3) areas that can accommodate up to 400,000 total square feet.
• Land: We are continuing to research potential opportunities for land that can accommodate Industrial type of projects, and areas that would also make good future Class A Office Parks.
• Redevelopment Opportunities: Weston Parkway corridor for creating more density of Class A Office buildings. MacGregor Park – this area is prime for Industrial and Class A Office redevelopment opportunities. Big Lots shopping center on Kildaire Farm Rd. This could be a nice mixed-use opportunity for Office, retail, restaurants, and apartments. Crossroads area – This could be an opportunity to connect with the South Hills project in the future, with bridges going over US 1 /64. This can be a nice mixed-use opportunity for Office, retail, restaurant, and apartments.

It should be noted that Industrial in Cary does not mean smokestack type of development. Instead, it is more advanced manufacturing, hands on labs, and Research and Development. A 3D printer lab would be an example.

In the development updates, Cary’s Economic Development Director notified the committee that talks continue with the new South Hills owners. We hope to see plans submitted in the next six months or so.

The remainder of the meeting was a discussion on the upcoming changes to the EDC committee. Staff will present a plan in the future that will include what the committee will discuss and make recommendations on. Staff believes that there could be great value added especially in redevelopment projects. We should see staff’s recommendations for this change at our next meeting on December 7^th.

Fenton Taping

Thursday morning I joined the Chamber president and representatives from Hines and Columbia development to do a video for YouTube. It mocks the use of “The Fenton” when instead of just “Fenton”

Individual Council Portrait

Thursday afternoon I had my portrait made for the council. These are done after each election. I chose one from about a dozen pictures.

Fictional Book in Cary

Thursday, after my portrait, I met with an author of a fictional book called Bittersweet which was based on the life of a lady from Cary and was based in Cary. I listened to her story and was presented a signed copy. I look forward to reading the book soon.

Council Meeting

Thursday night the council held its first regularly scheduled meeting in September. The meeting started with the swearing in of Jack Smith to council for the 9^th time. He has been serving on council since 1989. He was sworn in by a notary who happened to be the son of a friend of his. The notary was in his teens, and we believe it might be the youngest to swear in a council member.

Afterwards, I recognized retiring Associate Planning Director, Debra Grannan with a proclamation for her 31 years at Cary. We will certainly miss her, but I look forward to watching her perform as part of the Cary Players.

The agenda included 8 consent items and two public hearings. Two of the consent items, the industrial site for rezoning and annexation, were removed to be voted on later in the month while the rest were approved. The first public hearings were Code and Land Development Ordinance Amendments. This item was referred to the Planning and Zoning Board for their review and recommendation. The second public hearing was an annexation on Carpenter Fire Station Road. This public hearing was continued until the September 22^nd meeting.

The council meeting concluded after about 30 minutes.

Town Manager’s Report

The Town Manager’s report for this week included:

Sean’s Message

Similar to last night’s Council meeting agenda, the number of items we have for you this week to report is brief.
I am including Utilities Director Jamie Revel’s response to former Cary Councilmember Nels Roseland’s concerns regarding the Black Creek Greenway sewer rehabilitation project. Jamie did an excellent job in his response and serves as an example of the knowledge and professionalism our staff employs when interacting with our citizens.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean

Swearing-In Ceremony

At the September 8 Council meeting, Council Member Jack Smith took the oath of office with his family by his side. Council Member Smith is Cary’s longest-serving Council Member and took his first oath of office back in 1989. At Thursday’s meeting, he was sworn in for his 9th term by family friend, Brendan Lynch.

PRCR Master Plan Update

This week, staff kicked off meetings to start the process of updating the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan. Consultants from the firm Agency Landscape + Planning visited Cary this week and will help develop this document and fully integrate it into Imagine Cary. A detailed scope and schedule is being created and will be rolled out before the end of the year.

NC Affordable Housing Conference

The North Carolina Affordable Housing Conference is North Carolina’s largest annual conference focused on housing affordability. This year, Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison Morgan Mansa presented with the NC League of Municipalities to educate municipalities on how to leverage federal funds and develop local partnerships to better preserve and develop affordable housing. The presentation also used Cary as a case study for its use of American Rescue Plan Act funds on housing affordability.

Travel Safely App Demo

Citizens in Cary now have a tool to travel our roads more safely thanks to a multi-year effort with a private app developer. On Wednesday, staff demonstrated the app Travel Safely for members of the media. The demo included a drive through downtown Cary that triggered all of the features of the app, like audible school zone notifications, cyclist alerts, and countdown to green light, and ended with a behind-the-scenes look at our Traffic Management Center. The app is available for download in both Apple and Android stores. You can learn more about this effort and watch a video on the project here.

Fall Environmental Outreach Campaign Launches

The Cary community is invited to “Dig In and Grow Green This Fall” with over 20 different environmentally focused opportunities. There’s a full lineup of celebrations, workshops, volunteer workdays, and giveaways that promise to make it fun and easy to continue building a more resilient and sustainable Cary. The fall campaign includes activities such as free compost and tree giveaways, farm tours, and virtual solar classes for all to enjoy. Staff are encouraged to join in the fun and share the campaign with their friends and neighbors via www.townofcary.org/green.

Transportation GIS Efforts Recognized

Cary was recently featured in this article in ESRI’s ArcUser Magazine. ESRI, a global leader in location intelligence, publishes the ArcUser magazine to provide practical, technical information to help better understand GIS Technology. The article discusses how GIS Technology is used to assist in analysis and decision making within Cary’s street improvement process. 

Portable Camera System

Fire and Police are conducting a trial on a portable camera system. The system is located in the parking lot adjacent to the Fire Administration building and train tracks. It will remain parked in that location for the next 30 days while staff evaluates its capabilities. 

New Hope Disc Golf Course Tree Chimes

Large chimes have been installed at the Diavolo @ New Hope disc golf course to minimize exposed trees from being hit by discs.
The chimes are a more artistic and aesthetically pleasing alternative to the traditional way of protecting trees with welded wire, plastic wrap, or padding.
After a review period to determine if there are any maintenance concerns, additional chimes may be installed to protect more trees.

Upcoming Meetings

Hybrid Park, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday
Sept. 12
5:15 p.m. 

Hybrid Information Services Advisory Board
Monday
Sept. 12
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday
Sept. 12 
6:30 p.m.

Hybrid Environmental Advisory Board Meeting
Tuesday
Sept. 13
6:00 p.m.

Hybrid Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity
Tuesday
Sept. 13
6:00 p.m.

Hybrid Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
Wednesday
Sept. 14
6:30 p.m.

Hybrid Greenway Committee Meeting
Thursday
Sept. 15
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about overpopulation (Cary has been growing at a rate of 2 to 2 ½ percent for 15 years. Cary has no authority to stop growth nor should it)
• A complaint about a sewer issue on black creek greenway temporary pipe
• A concern about the shooting at Motel 6
• A complaint about fees related to a home improvement project
• A complaint about trash and abandoned cars on Branniff Drive
• A complaint about the renaming of White Oak Park

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Atlantic Tire Championship and trophy presentations, a State of Cary address at Searstone, and the Dragon Boat Festival.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 18^th. 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.

Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Meeting

Monday morning I met briefly with a board member for the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships. We mostly discussed issues related to this year’s tournament.

Interview with Capital Analytics

Monday afternoon I was interviewed virtually by individuals representing Capital Analytics. Questions were on the topics of milestones and highlights during the past year, health of the business community, sustainability and resilience, infrastructure and mobility, and general quality of life. Our interview lasted about thirty minutes.

Cary Matters with Carissa Johnson

Later Monday afternoon I taped an episode of Cary Matters with our newest council member Carissa Johnson. The episode was a Q&A to get to know Carissa better. Here are some excerpts from the questions and answers about Carissa:

Background:

I was raised in the Finger Lakes region in western NY in a blended family and I had 5 siblings and 2 sets of loving and dedicated parents. I have been in North Carolina since 1996 and in Cary for 22 years. I am a 15-year downtown Cary resident, where I raised my smart and kind daughter Bella, who is now a college sophomore. I work in technical product marketing in the IT channel, and I work remotely for a Colorado-based data backup and disaster recovery company called Axcient. 

Volunteering:

I joined the Information Services Advisory Board in 2017. It was there that I learned about Cary 101, which was at the time called Cary School of Government. I completed that in 2019, along with my daughter who was at the time a high school junior. In late 2018, I was appointed the Cary150 Task Force as vice chair to work on our 2021 sesquicentennial celebrations. And in 2020 I completed the Cary Community Emergency Response Team, or Cary CERT, basic training and some additional online FEMA courses, also with my daughter Bella.

Being a council member:

I look forward to learning more and working with stakeholders on addressing housing affordability challenges. I also plan to advocate for environmental protections and the adoption of renewable energy such as solar. Plus, I know our Council and Staff has been working hard towards inclusive municipal policy. And I am excited to work to further those efforts.

Guardian Ad Litem Passion

As a Guardian ad Litem, I am an advocate appointed by a judge to work on behalf of a child or children who has been removed from their home because of abuse or neglect. In my courtroom, there is a third table, where I sit along with the assigned Guardian ad Litem attorney, to represent the wishes and best interests of the child.

It is my job to do my own separate investigation with the sole purpose of representing the best interests of the child. We report our findings and recommendations directly to the judge, which is a big responsibility but there is excellent training and support. This is my passion project because I believe that every single child has the right to dignity in childhood, and that requires a safe and nurturing environment to grow in. When adults are not able to be that safe harbor for their kids, we must step in and do whatever we can to try to make things better. It is the most challenging and important thing I do or have ever done, and if anyone watching is interested in knowing more, I am very happy to share my experience.  The need is so great.

It was great to learn more about Carissa and I am excited about the possibilities she brings to the council. The taping included three full takes and a few extra takes on certain parts. We were finished in about half an hour.

Town Manager One-On-One

My last meeting Monday was with the town manager. It was a brief meeting which mostly centered on the Cary Tennis Park and the Atlantic Tire Championship.

Independent Weekly Photo Shoot

On Wednesday I did a photo shoot for the Independent Weekly. They are doing a story on the Cary Tennis Park and wanted photos of me at the tennis center. The photos were taken in various parts of the center, and we were done in about fifteen minutes.

Debra Grannan Retirement Reception

Wednesday afternoon I attended a retirement reception for 31-year town employee Debra Grannan. She held nine different positions during her time with the town. Her last position was as Associate Planning Director where she interacted a great deal with the council. She is a fantastic lady, and I was blessed to get to know her and work with her. My understanding is that she will now focus her interests on some of her passions like the Cary Players. BTW she, and the Cary Players, will be performing the play “Clue” at the Cary Arts Center in late September and early October. For tickets visit CaryPlayers.org.

Safest City in the Nation

Thursday I was notified that Cary was ranked #1 safest city in America. The ranking was from GoodHire, a company that checks backgrounds using FBI crime data. The analysis weighted crimes against persons and property at 40% and crimes against society at 20%. The safest cities received lowest scores with the dangerous cities receiving higher scores up to 100. Cary received a score of 1.2 compared to #2 McKinney, Texas who received a score of 4.2.

Cary is proud to have the #1 safest city ranking. But it is important to understand that safest city does not mean crime free. We must all do our part to keep our community safe. Recently there have been car break-ins with most of those being crimes of opportunity. That is, the cars were unlocked with valuables inside. Some even had the keys in them. So lock your car, store your valuables, and if you have house alarms please use them.

Town Manager’s Report

The Town Manager’s report for this week included:

Shelley’s Message

I’m happy to share a few highlights from a busy and productive week. 

• This week, the new owners of South Hills invited staff to join them in a design visioning workshop. It was great that they chose Principal Planner Allen Davis to lead this event.
• Wednesday, Associate Planning Director Debra Grannan retired from the Town after more than 30 years. Staff and community members gathered to celebrate Debra and her long and impactful career. We look forward to officially recognizing her at the September 8 Council meeting.
• Walker Street has reopened as The Walker Apartments (AKA One Walker) completes the construction of the new 153-unit apartment building. The final stage for Walker Street will include resurfacing the street from Fairview Road to Waldo Street as part of the Downtown Park project in early summer 2023. The Walker will start welcoming their first tenants this week with 15 residents scheduled to move in during the month of September. The management team has coordinated staggered move-in times as to not affect overall traffic on Walker Street or Walnut Street. The retail spaces on the first level are still under construction and will open at a later date. The streetscapes along the frontages will also be completed as part of the final construction.

Best wishes for a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!.
Shelley

Upcoming Closures

• Page Walker Arts & History is closed September 1 – September 5 for scheduled maintenance.
• Town Hall and most staffed facilities will be closed Monday September 5 in observance of Labor Day.

Cary Senior Center will be closed September 8 – September 16 to repave the parking lot. 

Lazy Daze 2022

The 46th annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival operated at full scale for the first time since 2019 to welcome thousands of patrons and vendors back to Downtown Cary for its annual end of the summer tradition. Council Member Jennifer Robinson provided remarks for the festival’s opening ceremonies and was joined by Council Members Don Frantz, Ya Liu, and Carissa Kohn-Johnson. Festival Founder Jerry Miller participated in the opening ceremonies and presented six artists with the best in show awards. Over 250 volunteer shifts were filled, and the Cary Teen Council sold a record number of bottles of water to raise $4,480. A cross-departmental team served in Unified Command off-site at Fire Station 9, led by Chief Andy Hiscock and Lt. Stephen Matthews, providing support to the operations team on the ground at Town Hall.

Bond Park Deck

The Bond Park Boathouse Deck replacement was completed this week. The previous wooden deck had been in place for over 12 years. A new composite deck has now replaced the aging boards revitalizing the area. Impact to services was minimal during the construction, with public boat rentals and launches continuing throughout the project. The boathouse will be open Labor Day weekend Saturday – Monday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

NCDOT’s Draft State Transportation Improvement Plan

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) released an update to the draft State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) for review and comment. This plan identifies the construction funding and schedules for projects over a 10-year period from 2024-2033. The North Carolina State budget includes an updated sales tax revenue forecast that allows a percentage of the money to be used for transportation projects. For the full draft STIP, timeline for approval, and more information on how it was developed, go to NCDOT’s STIP webpage.

2021-2022 Annual Wastewater Report

Cary’s 2021/2022 Annual Wastewater Report is now available and provides quick facts, descriptions of our treatment facilities, system metrics, and tips to keep the system working smoothly and the environment free from sewer spills. In addition, new to the report this year is a graphic about sewer laterals, which details how homes are connected to the wastewater system. We are happy to once again show that our water reclamation facilities had another year of exceptional performance, and our wastewater system is among the top performing utilities in the state.

CDL Training

On February 7, 2022, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched new Federal Standards for obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Ensuring we meet the new standards; our Public Works team developed new training requirements and created a curriculum for new staff members requiring a CDL to perform their daily tasks. Cary is the first in the area to register four new employees on the FMCSA online database whom all obtained their CDL. This internal training is the first of its kind for a local government in North Carolina and ensures Cary will remain sustainable and resilient to carry on numerous operations that require CDL licensing.

Adopt-A-Spot Appreciation

Since 2011, groups from businesses, schools, scout troops, churches, and families have dedicated their time as volunteers through the Adopt-A-Spot Program. Many groups “retired” their spots during the COVID-19 shutdown, but since relaunching the environmental stewardship program last summer, 24 new locations throughout Cary parks, streets, trails, and neighborhoods have been adopted. With this surge in interest, Cary now has 57 adopted spots that are benefiting from the generous service of Adopt-A-Spot volunteers.

Cary Installs Touchless Toilet Paper Dispensers

Cary is the world’s first municipality to provide BIOtouchless toilet paper dispensers at the Cary Depot. These dispensers are fully enclosed, protecting paper products from airborne pathogens. Based on savings traditionally seen with automatic paper towel dispensers, it is expected to reduce toilet paper consumption by 50% which further supports our focus on sustainability.

Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Film Series

Two Shaw Brothers films were screened at The Cary – The Five Deadly Venoms and the 36th Chamber of Shaolin. The series was curated by filmmaker Christopher Everett. Over 110 people showed up to view these two classic Kung Fu films. Everett also gave away door prizes to two lucky attendees. The Cary will rescreen these films on September 3.

Upcoming Meetings

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday
Sept. 7 
2:00 p.m.

Economic Development Committee
Wednesday
Sept. 7
5:15 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday
Sept. 8
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request to extend certain greenways
• Acknowledgement that Cary was safest city in the nation

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a virtual meeting with 3^rd graders from Turner Creek, an Economic Development Committee meeting, council portrait pictures, and the first regularly scheduled council meeting of September.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 11^th. 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.