NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 1998

CARY’S FIRST TOWN HALL TOUR SLATED FOR SATURDAY

CARY, NC -- Cary citizens of all ages will be afforded a unique opportunity to learn more about their town government with the first Town Hall Tour, to be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 1998. The Tour is a sort of Town Hall open-house during which certain Town facilities, some with restricted access, will be open for citizen tours.

"We’re very excited about this event," said Town Manager Bill Coleman. "Most people never get to experience the kinds of things included on the Tour, and we hope that citizens will use this time to get to know their Town government."

Tour sites will include the 9-1-1 Telecommunications Center, the Water Plant, Management Information Services, North Cary Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fire Station 5, and the Public Works Operations Center:

• At 9-1-1, tourists will talk with the people who respond to Cary’s emergencies and see the Telecommunications Center in action;
  
• At MIS, visitors will see an aerial photo of their property become a map, view topos of the city, and surf the Town’s website;
  
• At the North Wastewater Treatment Plant, participants will tour this state-of-the-art facility and see what is done with the solids and liquids that leave their homes. They will also visit the lab and the high-tech computer control room as well as discover SLUDGE;
  
• At the Public Works Operations Center, kids of all ages can climb aboard the big machines that keep the Town running and visit the state-of-the-art fleet management facility that keeps these vehicles on the road. Also, they will see how the Town gets water from the Plant into their house. And in Purchasing, visitors will find out just how much stuff is kept on hand to keep the Town in top working order.
  
• At Fire Station 5, tourists will meet the men and women who risk their lives each day; the Town’s newest fire station also includes a Police substation. They will see the restored Seagraves pumper and the ladder truck, and the kids can learn practical tips in the Fire Safety House.
  
• At the Water Treatment Plant, everyone will learn what it takes to turn lake water into safe, good- tasting drinking water. Citizens will get the latest information on what they can do to conserve water. And there will be a Water-Wise Landscaping Demonstration throughout the day.

Participants may move through each site at their own pace. Town staff will conduct site tours, answer questions, and provide interesting demonstrations appropriate for any member of the family. Transportation between venues will be provided by the Triangle Transportation Authority, with buses running between all locations about every 30 minutes.

In addition to the Tour Sites, Cary's Community Center will host the Town Hall Expo where departments not on the Tour Site list will prepare and staff booths, answering questions and providing demonstrations similar to what will be done at specific sites.

The Community Center will also serve as the event's headquarters and is a great place for everyone to begin their Town Hall Tour. Refreshments will be available throughout the day at the Community Center, with all proceeds going to the Kid's Together Playground.

Citizens who complete the entire tour will be eligible to win free prizes by playing Town Hall Trivia. Prizes include water, leaf mulch and wood chips, boat rentals, and fire safety devices. Four Grand Prize Winners will receive Flextix subscriptions to this year's North Carolina Symphony's Summerfest Series at Regency Park.

Because many of the activities can be held indoors, Cary’s Town Hall Tour will take place as scheduled regardless of weather conditions.

For more information, visit the Town’s website, <www.ci.cary.nc.us> or call 469-4001.

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PRIMARY CONTACTS: Bill Coleman, Town Manager, 469-4002

Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, 460-4951