Mes s age f rom t he Mayor

TOWN OF WAYNESVILLE

www.townofwaynesville.org

VOL. 7 NO. 4 Town of Waynesville - Incorporated 1871 OCTOBER 2010

Mes s age f rom t he MayorPack the Pantry Food Drive 2010

Last year we asked you to help us Pack the Pantry at Haywood Christian Ministry, and the response was phenomenal! In 2008 two truckloads of food were collected; in 2009 13 truckloads of food were donated. How much food does it take to fill 13 trucks? I know it’s more than 6,278 cans and boxes. That’s how many individual food items the students at Hazelwood Elementary School collected during a three-week food drive competition. Assistant Finance Director Dean Trader worked with the principal and staff at the school to create a weekly competition in which the class that collected the most items won a field trip to the Waynesville Recreation Center and Pool. But the students exceeded our expectations! Every student earned a field trip with that effort.

But even 6,000 items don’t begin to fill the need in our community. This fall the Town of Waynesville is again sponsoring a Community Food Drive in the month of October, ending with a new event, Food on the Fifth, to be held Friday, November 5th.

October – Food donations will be accepted at all town facilities: Recreation Center, Municipal Building, Development Office, Fire Station, and Hazelwood Office.

No Excuse Friday – We’ll be stationed outside of the downtown Municipal Building and Hazelwood Office to accept donations each Friday during the month of October.

Friday, November 5th – Food on the Fifth. All food donations placed at the curb by noon on this date will be collected that afternoon and taken to HCM for distribution. Food donations will only be collected within the town limits. We hope to make this similar to the outstanding food drive conducted by Postal employees each May. (Food should be placed at the curb or beside the mailbox - not on or in the mailbox.)

Yes, I want this to be the most successful food drive yet, but even more I want it to be the kickoff event for another season of giving and generosity throughout Waynesville.

Accepted Items:Flour, Sugar, Cornmeal, Cooking Oil, Soup, Peanut Butter, Rice, Beans, Canned Meat & Tuna, Coffee & Tea, Cereal, Canned Vegetables & Fruit. (Please: No glass or perishables.)

Gavin A. Brown, Mayor

Public Input Sought on WatershedWhite Pine Harvest Plan

The Waynesville Board of Aldermen is considering a Proposed Harvest Plan to actively manage 53 acres within the 8,600 acre Waynesville Watershed. The goal of the Harvest Plan, developed by Forest Stewards as part of the Watershed Management Plan adopted in 2008, is to maintain water quality and preserve forest health through the thinning of white pine plantations that were planted in the mid 1980s. There are two condi-tions present within the white pine stands, and the Pro-posed Harvest Plan proposed different treatments for each. The white pine plantations were initially planted to stabilize the soil and restore soil fertility, and this has been achieved. However, these areas represent an artifi-cial ecosystem, not a natural forest community.

The full Watershed Management Plan, which out-lines the goals and objectives for any activity within the Watershed is available at www.townofwaynesville.org and at the Municipal Building. Comments regarding the plan are encouraged and will be accepted through November 12, 2010. Comments can be submitted via email to admin@townofwaynesville.org or at the October 12, October 26 and November 9, 2010 Board of Aldermen meetings. For further information call (828) 452-2491.

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South Main Street in Waynesville, and all other town facilities, at no cost to town residents. For assistance with the program call toll-free 1-888-620-1749.

The National League of Cities (NLC) is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resources and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. To learn more about NLC, go to www.nlc.org.

Leaf SeaSonBeginning Monday, October 18 (or as soon as leaf

volume is sufficient to justify manpower and equipment) until mid January, the Town will collect leaves by vacuum machine. Leaves should be raked to the curbside but not in the ditches, gutter lines or in a manner that would obstruct the street or sidewalk. Leaves must be free of sticks or other debris and will be left if improperly prepared. The leaf collection schedule will vary due to volume and weather and may not follow your regular garbage pick-up day. You can continue to bag leaves if you prefer - they will be picked up by another truck. Please keep all other material separate from leaves.

This may be a good timeto consider composting which can include leaves. For more information, see www.HowToCompost.org.

Avoid Sewer Back-ups and Overflows - Keep Grease From Going Down The Drain

Please remember – sanitary sewer systems are designed to handle only three things: used water, human body waste and toilet paper. Most sewer back-ups occur between the house and the Town’s sewer main and the property owner is responsible for correcting the problem. When the blockage occurs in the Town’s sewer main, the Town corrects the problem. Some suggestions to avoid sewer backups and overflows include:

DO NOT • Pour grease, fats and oils from cooking down the

drain;• Use the toilet as a wastebasket; and• Use the sewer as a means to dispose of food scraps.DO• Collect grease in a container and dispose of it in the

garbage;• Place a wastebasket in each bathroom for the disposal

of solid waste. Disposable diapers, condoms, paper towels and personal hygiene products do not belong in the sewer system; and

• Place food scraps in waste containers or the garbage for disposal with solid waste, or better yet, start a compost pile.

Upcoming EventsOct. 9 Church Street Art & Craft ShowOct. 16 Haywood Co. Apple Harvest FestivalOct. 30 TREATS on the STREET, 5-7 pmDec. 6 Christmas ParadeDec. 11 A Night Before Christmas

Reminder - animals are not allowed at Town eventsAll downtown events are FREE

For more information, call DowntownWaynesville Association at 456-3517 or visit

www.downtownwaynesville.com

Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 6, 2010Why promote walking and bicycling?- To enhance the health of kids.- To improve air quality and the environment.- To create safer routes for walking and bicycling.Additional information is available at www.walktoschool-usa.org.

Waynesville Residents IncreaseRecycling Efforts

Town of Waynesville residents have increased the amount of recycling each year since 2007. 2009-2010 recycling increased 45.275% from 2008-2009 going from 231 to 336 tons. Thank you for your attentiveness to conserving our natural resources by recycling more materials. This increase means that 104.61 more tons of material were kept out of the landfill, saving space in a facility that is very expensive to build. Thank you Waynesville residents!!!

Prescription Discount Card Launched for Waynesville Residents

To help provide residents with some relief from the high cost of prescription drugs, the town is making free prescription discount cards available to town residents through a program sponsored by the National League of Cities (NLC). The discount cards offer town residents average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed medications.

The discount cards may be used by all residents of the Town of Waynesville and have no restrictions based on the resident’s age, income level, or existing health coverage. The discount card benefits not only those without insurance, but can also be used by underinsured residents to obtain prescriptions that are excluded from health benefit plans. The NLC card can be used when purchasing prescription drugs at approximately five pharmacies around the town, as well as at more than 60,000 participating retail pharmacies across the country.

Cards can be printed at www.caremark.com/nlc and are available at the Municipal Building located at 16

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Please report back-ups or overflows immediately! Call 456-3706 Monday – Friday, 7 am until 4 pm, or call 456-5363 on weekends, after normal business hours or holidays.

The Town of Waynesville’s Sewer Use Ordinance requires that restaurants install and maintain grease traps and/or interceptors to prevent grease from entering the sewer system. These suggestions can save more than the environment. They can save you money as well by avoiding plumbing bills!

Ongoing ProjectsConstruction continues and is nearing completion

on the Hendrix Street Bridge.Using a low interest loan from the Drinking Water

State Revolving Fund, the town is replacing water lines at the following locations: Mauney Cove, Dayton Drive, Ray Street, Dolan Road, Andrew Lane, Pine Street, 5th, 6th and 7th Streets, Hospital Street, Nelson Park Drive, Blackberry Ridge, Fairway Drive and Green Drive.

Compost and Mulch SaleThe Town of Waynesville will have compost and

single-ground mulch available for pickup 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon at the Town yard waste landfill October 20 – 23, 2010 (while supplies last). Both the compost and mulch are available for $10 per load, in either a regular size pickup truck or trailer or $90 per load per tandem truck. We are currently out of double-ground mulch. However, we should have a large supply in our Spring sale. Payment must be made by cash or check. Town personnel will be available with a wheel loader to load your pickup or trailer. Please be environmentally friendly – State regulations require that loads be covered.

The Town yard waste landfill is located off Bible Baptist Drive from Russ Avenue, near the bypass. Go straight through the gate at the end of Bible Baptist Drive and see the attendant.

The sale will be canceled in the event of wet weather as the site will be too muddy to operate heavy equipment. For further information, please call 456-3706.

Street Maintenance in Waynesville - Town Crews or NCDOT?

Did you know that Waynesville maintains 81 miles of streets? Most streets inside the corporate limits of Waynesville are maintained by town crews. However, some streets are maintained by the N. C. Department of Transportation. For instance, Pigeon Street, Main Street,Asheville Highway and Russ Avenue are maintained by the NCDOT. Speed limits on NCDOT streets are recommended by the Town of Waynesville Board of Aldermen, but must be approved by the NCDOT.

Watershed Hike

The 8,600 acre Waynesville watershed is normally closed to public access, but free guided hikes are offered twice a year, in the spring and fall. The last hike of the year will be on Saturday, October 9th at 8:00 am. The hike will be between 3 and 5 miles long, across moderately strenuous terrain. Hikers should bring their own lunch, water, appropriate (warm) clothing, hat, rain gear, and wear sturdy shoes. Birders should bring their binoculars. The group will leave from the Waynesville Water Plant and return by 2:00 pm. Advanced registration is required and can be done online at www.townofwaynesville.org or by calling 452-2491.

Art Connects the Parks Railing Installation – November 2010

During the week of November 15th the fourth permanent piece of public art will be installed in downtown Waynesville, and a celebratory dedication will be held Friday, November 19th. In honor of the connection between Waynesville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the theme for this railing is “Art Connects the Parks.” A dedicated group of volunteers, the Public Art Commission, has worked tirelessly to raise funds and coordinate the installation of the railing at the Mini-Park, located at the corner of Main and Depot Streets. Designed and fabricated by Wilmington-based Intracoastal Iron, the railing design contains layered mountains, handcrafted trees, a recognizable Waynesville church steeple, and in honor of the designation of the Great Smoky Mountains as the “Salamander Capital of the World,” three salamanders.

The $20,000 commission was raised from private individuals, area businesses, and a grant from the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. A fundraiser was held June 24th at HART Theater, and the “Salamander Capital of the World” theme continued with an art auction of more than twenty custom worksof art – paintings, jewelry, pottery, quilted wall art and metal – all of which featured the evening’s theme of the salamander. Fundraising iscontinuing, and all donations, large and small, are welcome, as well as volunteers. For more information, please call 452-2491 or visit the town website.

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A Bright Idea: Recycle YourFluorescent Bulbs

Many people are switchingover to more energy efficientcompact fluorescent bulbs.This may be good news forsaving energy and reducingthe electric bill, but bad for theenvironment. Inside each bulb isa hidden danger: mercury. Mercury is found in compact fluorescent bulbs, linear fluorescent and high intensity discharge bulbs. The amount found in each bulb is small. On average each bulb may contain about 5 milligrams or 1/100th of the amount found in oral thermometers. However, when you consider over 670 million mercury containing bulbs are discarded each year, the amount of mercury entering the environment can add up fast.

Once in the environment mercury can become a health hazard. Birth defects, as well as other side effects, have been well documented in humans and wildlife. Mercury from improperly discarded bulbs can enter the air and later come down with the rain, or leak from the landfill where it can enter the food chain. Many states across the US have consumption restrictions for wild caught fish because of the amount of mercury contamination in their meat.

The good news is there is an easy way to reduce the amount of mercury that enters the environment. One way is to switch your lighting over to light-emitting diodes (LED’s). The LED lights are not only energy-efficient, but also free of mercury. Another way to keep mercury out of the environment is to recycle the bulbs. When you recycle the bulbs every component (glass, mercury, and metal) of the bulb can be reused. Lowe’s in Clyde and Home Depot in Asheville are currently accepting fluorescent bulbs in their recycling bins for free. If you have small fluorescent bulbs you can place them in a zip top bag and hand them to the attendant at any of the Solid Waste Management Centers. However, if you have the long fluorescent bulbs you will need to take them to the Solid Waste Management Center at Jones Cove. For more information please contact Haywood County Solid Waste Management at 627-8042.

Finance Department Now Locatedin the Hazelwood Office

If you have questions regarding a utility or tax bill or need to make a payment in person, you must visit the Hazelwood office located at 280 Georgia Avenue. In addition to a second drive-thru lane, there is a 24-hour drop box, computer kiosk in the lobby for online payments, and a staffed payment counter.

Changes Downtown - On Main Street, a dropbox

remains, and a computer kiosk is in the lobby for online payments via credit card or electronic check. However, there are no finance department personnel to accept a payment in the Municipal Building. The ramp associated with the drive-thru window has been removed and replaced by landscaping and additional parking. Traffic to the Municipal Building now enters from Main Street and exits onto Church Street. During this time, you might consider the various convenient alternatives for bill payments - regular mail, online payment with credit card or electronic check or automatic bank draft. Call 456-3515 for more information.

Stormwater Runoff In Your Backyard

Stormwater runoff forms when the rate of water application is higher than the surface’s ability to absorb the water. When you think of stormwater runoff you probably think of rainwater running over a parking lot. Did you know your backyard can act like a parking lot during a heavy rain? Lawns are not very effective when it comes to water absorption and applying fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides to your lawn can be harmful to the environment. Stormwater runoff from a lawn can find its way into a waterway and cause a toxic environment for aquatic organisms or cause algae blooms. Not all lawns require fertilizer; a simple soil test can determine if your lawn does, and if so, how much is the right amount. If your lawn requires fertilizer, be sure there is not a nearby water source. Here are a few ways you can reduce stormwater runoff from your lawn and keep lawn chemicals out of the streams. • Reduce your need to fertilize your lawn by keeping grass clippings on the lawn. The grass clippings will provide nutrients and help the soil absorb water. Grass clippings are also a good addition to your compost pile.• Stormwater runoff can also be reduced by planting bushes and trees. The extensive root system of bushes and trees help to absorb water and hold moisture. • Try to eliminate bare soil on your lawn. Depending on the slope of your lawn and soil type, bare soil can be as impervious as concrete.• Applying organic matter to your lawn can help absorb water and provide a natural fertilizer. Rain gardens are a great way to collect stormwater runoff and allow the water to slowly absorb into the soil. • Rain barrels are a great way to collect the water that flows from your roof. A 1,000 sq. foot roof can collect 600 gallons of water after a 1” rain. The water collected in the rain barrel can be used later to water plants on dry days.

For more information on soil testing or any other background stormwater issues, you can contact the local Cooperative Extension Office in Waynesville for help (828) 456-3575.

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Yard Waste and Bulky Items Pickup ScheduleThe pickup schedule is printed below for the months of October, November and December for bulky items (junk)

and small amounts of brush produced by the homeowner (no more than one truckload or a volume which will take less than 30 minutes to load or chip). For additional information or questions regarding pickup please call 456-3706, Monday through Friday, 7 am - 4 pm.

Community Pride Awards Coming Soon

The Commission for a Clean County (CCC) will distribute entry forms for their annual Environmental Awards program, known as Community Pride, at the end of October. This program gives awards to businesses, civic and community clubs, schools, individual adults and children who make extra special efforts to improve environmental conditions in the county.

The different categories eligible for winning an award are: litter control, recycling, county beautification and environmental stewardship. Stewardship may include “green” building, fleets of electric cars, conservation of natural resources and new technology implemented in businesses which can favorably impact the environment.

For more information, or to request an entry form when they are available, contact CCC Secretary JoAnna Swanson at 452-1550 or pick up an entry form at the Waynesville Municipal Building, 16 South Main Street, at the end of October.

Skatepark Fundraising Will Soon Begin

The Board of Aldermen, at their meeting on August 24, 2010 reviewed and approved the final Skatepark design submittedby Spohn Ranch. Several public meetings were held giving citizens an opportunity to submit input on the design. The skateboarding community will now begin to work with parents, interested citizens, and town

staff in fundraising to make the construction of the skatepark a reality! A cost estimate will be developed to aid with fundraising. Watch for information on the Town’s website. To date, the Recreation Department has secured $81,000 in grant funds for the project, in addition to the $40,000 already available for the project. If you are interested in helping, please contact Rhett Langston at 456-2030.

Mapping Project

In order to better serve the public, the Public Works Department is launching a project to update the current mapping system and move from the current paper maps to a digital map data base. Maintaining current maps of utility systems is crucial to serving the residents of Waynesville. Digital maps hold much more information about the system than a traditional map which will allow for better communication within the department. Digital maps are more dynamic and interactive than traditional paper maps, and offer more detailed information when responding to a maintenance need or planning future changes.

In order to make this transition, town employees will be collecting GPS (Global Positioning System) points for each utility system. Over time the electric, water, sewer and stormwater systems will be mapped using GPS data. Town employees will be collecting information on power poles, electric meters, water meters, and manholes over the next few months. GPS data will allow town employees to access a map and other important information about the system using GIS (Geographic Information Software) mapping software. The transition to GIS will allow the town to better respond to outages and become more efficient at general maintenance.

TOWN OF WAYNESVILLE2010 YARD WASTE BULKY ITEMS PICK UP SCHEDULE

ALL ITEMS MUST BE PLACED AT CURB ON NORMAL GARBAGE COLLECTION DAY

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TOWN OF WAYNESVILLEP.O. BOX 100WAYNESVILLE, NC 28786

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDASHEVILLE, NC

PERMIT #422

TELEPHONE REFERENCEPolice Administration 456-5363Fire Administration 456-6151Building Inspections 456-8647Code Enforcement 456-2010Utilities 456-3515Tax Collections 452-3588Town Manager 452-2491Asst. Town Manager 456-2002Town Clerk 452-2491Human Resources 456-2028Planning 456-2004Zoning 452-0401Public Works Director 456-4410Streets/Sanitation 456-3706Water/Sewer/Electric 456-3706After Hours/Emergency 456-5363Water Treatment Plant 456-8497Waste Treatment Plant 452-4685Parks and Recreation 456-2030Armory 456-9207

DOWNTOWN WAYNESVILLE ASSOCIATION 456-3517www.downtownwaynesville.com

MEETING SCHEDULESBoard of Aldermen2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7 pm - Town HallABC Board3rd Tuesday at 10 am - 373 Walnut St.Board of Adjustment1st Tuesdays at 5:30 pm - Town HallCommunity Appearance Commission1st Wednesdays at 9 am - Town HallFiremen’s Relief Fund BoardOn CallHistoric Preservation Commission1st Wednesdays at 2 pm - Town HallPlanning Board3rd Mondays at 5:30 pm - Town HallPublic Art Commission2nd Thursdays at 5:30 pm - Town HallRecreation & Parks Advisory Comm2nd Tuesdays 5:30 pm - 550 Vance St.Waynesville Housing Authority1st Wednesdays 5:30 pm - 65 Church St.

MAYOR: Gavin A. BrownMAYOR PRO TEM: Gary CaldwellALDERMEN: Elizabeth Feichter J. Wells Greeley LeRoy RobersonMANAGER: A. Lee GallowayASST. MANAGER: Alison Melnikova

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Thanksgiving – Offices closed November 25 & 26 (garbage pick up November 26 for both days)

Christmas – Offices closed December 24 (garbage will be picked up on 23) & December 27 (garbage will be picked up on 28)

New Year – Offices closed December 31 (garbage pickup will be Thursday, December 30)

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