Alternate Day Watering

On April 13, the Cary Town Council passed a new and permanent alternate day watering rule to protect the Town’s water supply by reducing peak demand. Effective May 1, 2000, all Cary's utility customers will be able to water their landscape three days a week. Customers with odd numbered addresses (addresses ending in 1,3,5,7,9) may water their grass, shrubs, trees, gardens, etc. only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Customers with even numbered addresses (addresses ending in 2,4,6,8,0) may water their landscapes only on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. No one waters on Mondays, which allows the water treatment facility time to perform preventive maintenance. This policy applies to all means of watering outdoors--handwatering, automatic irrigation systems, hoses and sprinklers. It does not include any type of washing, such as car washing, or power washing driveways and houses. Applications for watering exceptions will be available for customers who are planting warm-season grasses (Zoysia, Bermuda, St. Augustine, Centipede) between May 1 and September 1. No watering exceptions will be given for fescue until late fall.For more information, please call 469-4090.

"Irrigate Intelligently," is the theme for this year's Beat the Peak water conservation program. It reflects the need for everyone to pay particular attention to outdoor watering habits. the summer demand for water can more than double the winter demand, surpassing the ability of the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility to distribute water while keeping a safe

supply for water pressure and fire protection. The Town’s water system is more likely to effectively manage peak demand if utility customers water no more than one inch per week, including rainfall, and follow the alternate day watering rule.

Cary Regulates Signs Of All Kinds
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Yard sale signs are permitted in two locations: one sign on the property where the sale is occurring and one additional sign on another property (thus, two signs total are allowed). The additional sign must be located on private property (i.e. not in the right-of-way or other public property) and only with the property owner's permission. Yard sale signs are allowed between 5:00 PM Friday and 8:00 AM Monday. Signs are limited to 42 inches in height and 4 square feet.

Be advised that illegal signs may be removed and discarded by Town staff. The Town may also issue fines amounting to $100 per sign per day. Repeat offenders could face fines amounting to as much as $1,000 per sign per day. It is important to note that the intent of the Town is not to fine anyone. The fine is a tool to be used ONLY after other reasonable efforts to achieve compliance with Town Ordinances have not been successful.

The Town recently prepared a sign brochure. The brochure highlights major components of the Sign Ordinance and includes a section of "Frequently Asked Questions." Access the sign brochure via the website at www.townofcary.org, by calling 469-4082 to have one mailed, or stop by the Zoning Enforcement office located in Building B on Town Hall campus to pick one up.

FY2001 Budget

The FY 2001 Budget focuses on two main issues: improving service levels to the citizens and providing sufficient infrastructure. In the past, the town has planned five years into the future for capital improvements. This year, for the first time, the planning window has been extended to ten years. In our rapidly changing environment, this allows for longer term planning for future needs.

One area of the budget that is receiving a lot of attention this year is property taxes. As stated in our information on the Town of Cary website, on November 15, 1999, the Wake County Revenue Department announced the new assessed values for all real property in the county, including property in Cary. Overall, property values in Cary have increased an average of about 47% since the last revaluation was completed eight years ago. Since this is an average, some citizens in Cary may see their property values go up less than 47% while others may go up more than 47%. The Cary Town Council sets the tax rate—currently 54 cents per $100—each year as part of the budget process. The tax rate for the year becomes official when the new budget is adopted annually in June. On April 13th, the Town Council adopted a resolution for revenue neutrality in setting the tax rate for FY 2001.

Essentially, this means that the tax rate will be determined based on generating the same amount of taxes as in the previous year (FY2000) plus the growth that has occurred during the year.

The FY 2001 Proposed Budget will go to the Council for first reading in May. A public hearing will be held in June and adoption of the budget is expected at the regular Council meeting on June 22, 2000.

Trail Workday at Hemlock Bluffs

Looking for a volunteer experience, community service project, conservation project, or just a way to give back to the nature preserve you love? Well, look no further! Saturday, June 3^rd is National Trails Day and what better day is there for you to help maintain the trails. Trails encourage the preservation of our lost precious resource…nature. By donating two hours of hard work, you will aid Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in its conservation efforts and you will improve the experience of many future visitors. Please come and join us on Saturday, June 3^rd from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Participants should bring high spirits as well as gloves, rakes, and wheelbarrows or buckets if you have them. Call 387-5980 to register yourself or your group for this very worthwhile effort. Pre-registration is requested, but not required.

Cary Education Foundation

For the last several years, Cary citizens have placed "schools" at the top of their list of priorities to be addressed by their government. This concern was expressed in both the Town’s 1998 Biannual Citizen Survey and in the 2000 survey. Citizens throughout North Carolina agree, based on the results of the statewide Your Voice, Your Vote survey, which show "education" as the number one concern.

Determined to meet the needs of the community, the Cary Town Council voted in March to pursue a proposal presented by Mayor Glen Lang to set aside funds to help improve school conditions for Cary children without raising taxes. While the proposal is new to Wake County, Attorney Charles Meeker finds the proposal to be on sound legal footing, and State Treasurer Harlan Boyles, is supportive of the project.

On April 26, six panelists chosen by the Cary Town Council discussed ideas on where and how to utilize the proposed funding. The main issues addressed were funding eligibility, appropriate uses, and makeup of the Board of Directors of the Cary Education Foundation. A second meeting designed specifically for public comment is planned in May. Town staff will incorporate the elements of the proposal in the Town’s upcoming budget, to be voted on in its entirety by Council in June 2000.

FAQ’s of the Month

* Who do I call about watering exceptions (only allowed for warm season turf grasses)? ? Please call the Public Works & Utilities Department @ 469-4090.

* Is an irrigation permit required to install an irrigation system? ? Yes, you must obtain a permit from the Permit and Inspections office located in Building B on Town Hall campus for $33.

* Who do I contact regarding my water bill and water usage? ? For water billing and water usage, please contact the Finance department at 469-4050.

* Who do I contact regarding a water leak? ? For water leaks, please contact the Public Works & Utilities Department at 469-4090.

Bond Park Community Center

The Town of Cary has a new Community Center at Bond Park. The Bond Park Community Center opened its doors to the public in late March. At $4 million and 29,000 square feet, the Bond Park Community Center includes two full size gymnasiums and three meeting rooms, ranging in size from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. The facility, Cary’s second community center, is one of two major projects at Bond Park. The Cary Senior Center, currently under construction, is scheduled for completion this fall. The Community Center is located at 150 Metro Park Drive in Fred G. Bond Metro Park, which is located at 801 High House Road. Contact the new Bond Park Community Center @ 462-3970 for more information.

Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility Expansion Update

Construction on the expansion of the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facilities is in full swing. The project, which will provide advanced state-of-the-art drinking water treatment, is being constructed under five separate contracts, with a total value of nearly $51,500,000. These contracts include improvements at the Jordan Lake raw water pump station, a second raw water transmission pipeline from this pump station to the treatment plant, and expansion of the plant itself. Work was begun in October 1999 and is expected to be completed by February 2002.

Work currently under way includes heavy earthwork, placement of new reinforced concrete structures, and installation of large underground piping. Other piping and major process equipment is beginning to arrive on site for later installation. The project includes carefully coordinated plans to ensure an uninterrupted supply of properly treated drinking water from the facilities during construction. To date, the project is nearly 20% complete.

Temporary Greenway Closures

Portions of the Regency Lake Trail will be closed as follows: North side--through the end of June; South side--1st of May through end of June; Trail area behind amphitheater site-- through April 2001 (due to construction of the amphitheater). The trail is being resurfaced and widened as part of the Regency Park Amphitheater project.

Approximately 700 linear feet of the Black Creek Greenway on the north side of Cary Parkway will be closed until the first part of June. The trail is being re-aligned in this area and a footbridge is being installed to connect the greenway with North Cary Park (under construction).

A Working Smoke Detector Doubles A Person’s Chance of Surviving a Fire

• Replace smoke detector batteries twice a year.

• If the detector makes a chirping sound, replace the battery immediately.

• Clean your smoke detector when you clean your home. Simply vacuum the detector’s air vents to remove dust.

• Replace your smoke detector every 10 years.

Contact the Cary Fire Department @ 469-4056 with questions.

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