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JANUARY
Alston-Massenburg Center
The Town of Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department announced in early January that renovations and repairs were completed at the Alston-Massenburg Center. Workers gave the center a full makeover by painting inside walls and doors, installing a new tile floor, and completely refurbishing the kitchen. Improvements to the kitchen included the installation of new cabinets, a new counter top, a new sink, and the addition of new appliances, including a stove, microwave, and refrigerator. Workers also replaced a significant portion of the Alston-Massenburg Center’s roof, installed new flashing and down spouts, pressure washed the exterior of the building, and resealed the concrete blocks. The total cost for the renovations and repairs was approximately $24,000.
Online Utility Bill Payment
Wake Forest introduced free, online utility bill payment service on January 30 for all Town of Wake Forest residential and commercial utility customers. To date, over 800 Wake Forest electricity customers have enrolled in online bill pay. Once enrolled in the online payment program, customers can pay their utility bill with a MasterCard or Visa credit card or debit card with MasterCard or Visa logos; view their bill, current balance and due date; access billing history, payments, and charges; and view historical consumption data.
Residential Energy Audits
The Town announced that starting in February it would begin providing free home energy audits to qualifying Town of Wake Forest electricity customers on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month. The Town’s residential energy audit program was designed to help its electricity customers identify ways they can save energy and money at home. A Residential Energy Auditor visits your home and helps you uncover the most cost-effective ways to save energy (and money) while making your home more comfortable.
FEBRUARY
State of the Town
For the first time in Wake Forest’s history - the mayor videotaped a “State of the Town” address for re-broadcast on Community Channel 10. Mayor Vivian Jones’s seven-minute presentation focused on a number of the Town’s accomplishments during 2005. Jones also addressed several current issues, including the Renaissance Plan and preliminary plans for the construction of the new Town Hall. The State of the Town address was re-broadcast on Community Channel 10 throughout March.
MARCH
Smith Creek Greenway Extension
The Wake Forest Parks & Recreation Department announced that construction was set to begin to extend the greenway along the Smith Creek corridor. The new addition, which was completed in June, measures 10-feet wide and extends from the Smith Creek Soccer Center in the Heritage subdivision to the bridge at Rogers Road (beside Hope Lutheran Church). The 1500-linear foot trail links with the current trail at the soccer center and continue south to Rogers Road. The extension, which follows the Town’s sewer easement, lengthens the park trail to approximately one-half mile. A 60-foot long bridge crossing was constructed to complete the new link.
Stadium
Drive Bridge Closing
The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced that it had awarded a contract to replace the bridge carrying Stadium Drive over Richland Creek. Consequently, the NCDOT reported that Stadium Drive would be closed from April 3 to August 24 in the vicinity of the bridge to facilitate the demolition of the existing bridge and the construction of a new three-lane bridge with sidewalk. Much to the delight of area residents, Stadium Drive opened on schedule.
North Allen Road Sidewalk Project
Pedestrians in northeast Wake Forest, and particularly those who stroll along North Allen Road, found it easier and safer to get around thanks to the completion of the North Allen Road sidewalk project. The project was proposed in the late 1990s but encountered delays due to a lack of funding. A partnership between the Town of Wake Forest, the NCDOT, and the Wake County Housing and Community Revitalization resulted in the allocation of funds and a contract was awarded in early 2005. The long-awaited project officially got underway in the fall of 2005. In addition to the construction of the walkway, which extends along North Allen Road from Juniper Avenue to the intersection of Wait Avenue (NC 98), the project included the widening and resurfacing of North Allen Road, as well as the addition of new curb and gutter. As expected, the sidewalk improves pedestrian safety by separating pedestrian traffic from vehicular traffic. It also serves as a link to other sidewalks in the northeastern part of town by connecting with the Juniper Avenue sidewalk which extends along Juniper past Allen Road to Ailey Young Park. Planning Director Chip Russell said future plans call for the construction of a sidewalk from North White Street from East Juniper north to Flaherty Park.
US 1A / NC 98 Business Roundabout Construction
Travelers in the vicinity of the US 1A / NC 98 Business road junction noticed the work being done on the central island of the proposed roundabout. Although the junction continued functioning as a “Tee” intersection for a short while longer, the contractor began constructing the other half of the central island of the roundabout a few weeks later. At that time the stop sign at South Main Street was replaced with yield signs at all three legs of the new roundabout and the junction began working as a roundabout with traffic yielding to vehicles already traveling within the circular portion of the intersection.
Arbor Day Celebration
On March 15 over 150 people attended the 2006 Arbor Day celebration, including first and second graders from Wake Forest Elementary School and many of their parents. Mayor Vivian Jones kicked off the festivities by welcoming everyone and providing a brief history of Arbor Day. Brian Bockhahn, a park ranger with the NC Division of Parks & Recreation, was the day’s featured speaker. Bockhahn talked about his responsibilities as a park ranger, but focused on the importance of trees to both people and wildlife. Following Bockhahn’s address, a representative from the NC Division of Forest Resources presented the mayor with the Tree City USA and Growth Awards. Urban Forestry Board Chair Hughen Nourse then presented Arbor Day Poster Contest awards to Liam Finn (Best Picture); Brett Zeck (Most Creative); and Elise King (Honorable Mention). Town Planner Lisa Potts presented each child with a framed certificate and a $50 US Savings Bond. Finn received a special honor as his picture served as the illustration on this year’s Arbor Day T-shirts. Next, Nourse presented the Green Medal Awards to Pete Jordan (Corporate Green Medal), the Wake Forest Woman’s Club (Civic Green Medal), and Hughen Nourse and Liz Ford (Community Forrester Green Medals). A musical performance by the first graders from Wake Forest Elementary School wrapped up the morning’s celebration.
APRIL
Traffic Enforcement Division
The Wake Forest Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Division had issued over 1000 motor vehicle violations since it got started in February. Most of the violations ranged from speeding and driving without a license to failure to wear a seatbelt and driving while impaired. On Thursday, April 6, just two days before its two-month anniversary, the Traffic Enforcement Division made its greatest impact to date. During a routine license and information check on South Main Street, Antwan Markeith Orr, 18, attempted to avoid the check point. After driving the wrong way down a one-way street in a futile attempt to elude capture, Orr eventually parked his car in a parking lot on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. There, he was apprehended by Wake Forest police officers who inspected Orr’s vehicle and discovered 1.2 pounds of marijuana, three (3) grams of cocaine, three (3) grams of crack cocaine, and a 25-caliber Colt pistol.
Automated Electricity Meter
s
As part of Wake Forest’s commitment to continuous service and reliability, the Town announced it would begin installing new solid state electricity meters in June throughout its entire service territory. The new electronic meters will help reduce meter-reading time, improve data-recording and increase billing accuracy. The AMR system will also enable the Town to provide customers with current consumption information, detect interruptions, and more easily restore service during power outages.
MAY
Braxton Perry Celebrates 30 Years
On Monday, May 8, Braxton Perry, an accountant in the Town of Wake Forest Finance Department, celebrated his 30th anniversary with the Town. To commemorate the occasion, Braxton’s co-workers surprised him with a covered dish luncheon.
Flaherty Tennis Courts Resurfacing
The Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department announced it would begin resurfacing the four lighted tennis courts at Flaherty Park between May 29 and June 16. The project entailed removing weeds, sealing cracks, applying a coat of resurfacer and two coats of color concentrate, redrawing playing lines, and refurbishing net posts.
Financial Reporting Award
For the 16th consecutive year, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Town of Wake Forest for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by the Town and its management.
Missing Man Found Dead
On May 31, the search for a missing elderly man ended when North Carolina Highway Patrol aircraft spotted the body of 67-year-old Miklos Ankhely in a wooded area near Deacon’s Ridge Subdivision. Ankhely, who walked away from the Wake Forest Care Center, 306 South Allen Street, was pronounced dead at the scene. The intensive two-day search involved the Wake Forest Police Department, Wake County Emergency Management, Wake Forest Fire Department, Wake County Emergency Medical Services, and North Carolina Highway Patrol.
JUNE
E-Notifier
In an ongoing effort to keep residents informed about local issues, Wake Forest unveiled E-Notifier. With E-Notifier, anyone interested in keeping up-to-date on Wake Forest news and information could request to have Board of Commissioners meeting agendas, Planning Board meeting agendas, the Town Manager’s Weekly Weblog, and/or the Parks & Recreation Department’s quarterly newsletter delivered directly to their inbox at no cost. To date, the Town has received over 1,900 subscriptions to E-News and E-Notifier.
Safety Award
Wake Forest electric utility workers make safety a number one priority every day of the year. On June 5 in recognition of their efforts, Mike Byrd, ElectriCities Safety & Training Supervisor and NCAMES representative, presented the North Carolina Association of Municipal Electric Systems (NCAMES) 2005 Safety Award to Mayor Vivian Jones during a brief ceremony at Town Hall. Every member of the Wake Forest Electric Department attended the presentation. Prior to the ceremony, Byrd thanked the employees for their efforts and their dedication to getting the job done safely. Mayor Jones, Public Works Director Mike Barton, and Electric Superintendent John Thrift echoed Byrd’s comments in separate remarks. NCAMES presents Safety Awards each year to public power cities and towns throughout North Carolina that experience zero lost work-days due to on the job accidents. Our electric department has received the award seven out of the past nine years, most recently in 2004.
NC 98 Bypass
The NC 98 bypass section between US 1-A (South Main Street) and US 1 (Capital Boulevard) opened for traffic Saturday afternoon, June 10. To commemorate the much-anticipated occasion, the Town held a
ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of Friday, June 9. Several local dignitaries were in attendance, including Mayor Vivian Jones, State Senator Neal Hunt, and Commissioners Velma Lawson, Stephen Barrington, and Margaret Stinnett. The final section of the bypass – known as Phase A - will connect back into NC 98 near Thompson Mill Road. NCDOT officials say they plan to award the contract for the final phase of construction in August of 2007. Construction is expected to get underway in early 2008 and will more than likely take about two years.
JULY
H.O.P.E. Celebrates Anniversary
In July 2005 the Town of Wake Forest partnered with ChurchNet to unveil the H.O.P.E. program. The initiative was created to help less fortunate Town of Wake Forest electricity customers pay their utility bills. Over the past year, 68 Wake Forest electricity customers contributed a total of $4,400 to the program. These generous donations, along with a $1,000 contribution from Wal Mart, and the contributions of several area churches, enabled the Town to help 88 electricity customers keep their power on.
Erosion and Sedimentation Control
On July 3, Wake County transferred control of preconstruction and land disturbing activities in Wake Forest and its extraterritorial jurisdiction to the Town of Wake Forest. As part of the Town's new Erosion and Sedimentation Control program, Wake Forest will serve and assist customers and citizens with erosion and sedimentation control permits, plan review, and educational outreach.
AUGUST
Wake Forest Police Officer Passes
Wake Forest Police Officer Joey McCrea Wiggins, 39, died August 2. Wiggins, a native of Wake Forest, joined the Wake Forest Police Department in 2001 after serving for 10 years as a detention officer with the Wake County Sheriff’s Department.
Hodges Elected to State Post
Tom Hodges, chairman of the Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, was elected the 2006-07 Vice-Chair of the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Association’s Citizen Board Division. Hodges was chosen at the 27th Annual Citizen-Board Member State Forum in Greensboro, August 3-5. Hodges has been an active member of the group since attending his first forum in 2005. After serving on the planning committee responsible for organizing this year’s forum, Hodges was elected vice-chair during Saturday morning’s business session. His three-year term will culminate in 2008-09 when he serves as chairman.
Communications Award
The Town of Wake Forest was one of 14 public power communities to receive a Communications Public Power Award of Excellence at the ElectriCities Annual Meeting, August 11 - 12. The award recognizes outstanding customer communication, including the use of bill inserts to communicate information to customers, use of innovative strategies to communicate policies, production of a newsletter or e-newsletter, assignment of a public information officer, and completion of a coordinated communications plan.
New Logo
Wake Forest
announced the adoption of a new Town logo. The logo depicts the Deodar Cedar tree located at the intersection of Front Street and East North Avenue, across from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. For several years, Wake Forest's vehicles were identified by the Town seal. Although Wake Forest will continue utilizing the seal, the new logo bearing the Deodar Cedar tree will be more visible on various Town items, such as stationery, signage, and vehicle decals.
Vehicle Break-ins
Following a rash of vehicle break-ins that plagued the town for several weeks, Wake Forest Police arrested and charged Quinton Byron Teasley, 708 North Allen Road, with 18 counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle and larceny. Police also charged Teasley with three counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle. Following his arrest and questioning by Wake Forest Police, Teasley, 33, confessed to 21 instances of breaking and entering. According to Wake Forest Police Lt. Trent Coleman, Teasley admitted to preying on unlocked vehicles in close proximity to his North Allen Road home. A portion of the stolen property was recovered and returned, but most of the property had already been sold.
SEPTEMBER
Wake Forest Power
In a move to present a clear, strong presence in the community and to its electricity customers, the Town of Wake Forest Electric Department changed its name to Wake Forest Power. In addition to its new name, Wake Forest Power unveiled a new visual image to be introduced over the coming months on utility vehicles and uniforms, as well as on brochures, banners, and other printed media.
Employee of the Year
Accounting Services Manager Laverne Harding was the Town’s 2006 Employee of the Year. Town Manager Mark Williams made the announcement during the luncheon portion of the Town's second annual “Family Fun Day” on September 9. Several of Laverne’s long-time friends were on hand when she accepted the award. Employed with the Town for six years, Laverne is a native of Pleasant Hill, North Carolina and an alumnus of Winston-Salem State University. Laverne came to work for the Town after working for over 20 years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Good Neighbor Day
On Sunday, September 17, the Wake Forest Human Relations Council hosted Good Neighbor Day at Wake Forest’s Holding Park. A festive gathering that celebrates diversity and promotes unity among town residents, Good Neighbor Day offered good food, a variety of music, and live entertainment from both national and local acts.
General Obligation Bonds Ratings Upgrade
The Town learned on September 19 that both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s rating agencies had upgraded their ratings of the Town’s general obligation bonds. In a move considered “very rare,” Moody's Investors Services upgraded the Town’s $2.96 million of General Obligation bonds two steps – from A2 to Aa3. At the same time, Moody's assigned a Aa3 rating to the Town's $9.2 million General Obligation Bonds.
NC Main Street
Also on September 19, Wake Forest received additional good news when NC Main Street named Wake Forest as one of four Main Street communities. NC Main Street is a service of the NC Department of Commerce that focuses on a four-point approach to downtown revitalization.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) awarded the Town a 2006 Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant. The grant will provide $50,000 to fund the development of a comprehensive Wake Forest Bicycle Plan.
New Town Hall Site
The Board of Commissioners announced that the Town would purchase the Green & Wooten Insurance office on Brooks Street and exchange land with the American Legion paving the way for the two tracts, along with a parking lot the Town already owns, to form the nucleus of the site for a municipal complex anchored by a much-anticipated new town hall.
OCTOBER
Energy Depot
Wake Forest Power celebrated Public Power Week, October 1 – 7, by introducing two new features on the Town of Wake Forest website. Protecting Your Power offers a suite of web pages designed to educate the Town’s electricity customers about how Wake Forest Power keeps your energy flowing safely and reliably - and how you can help. The Energy Depot is a free internet website filled with online energy tools customers can reference to answer their energy questions. It also offers a Personal Energy Profile that allows you to obtain a comprehensive look at your home energy usage. It also shows how you can save energy and money by conducting an online home energy audit.
Walk to School Day
The Town of Wake Forest joined with Wake Forest Elementary School on October 4 to participate in International Walk to School Day. The event is designed to encourage students, parents, staff and community leaders to walk to school on this date.
Public Power Week Word Search Contest
For the second year in a row, the Town of Wake Forest celebrated Public Power Week, October 1-7, by sponsoring a “Public Power Week Word Search Contest” throughout the month of September. Nearly 100 of the town’s electricity customers participated, and their names were included in the grand prize drawings for free electricity in October. The drawing was held October 9. Grand prize winners were Joan Lutz and Mary Glowalki; James and Linda Bruno; and Bill and Lezlie Rusin. The town also held a drawing for a gift certificate worth $50 off a customer’s electricity bill and Shani Morgan was the winner.
NOVEMBER
LaBarge Earns CIO Certification
Tom LaBarge, the Town of Wake Forest's IT Director, graduated from the 2006 Chief Information Officers Certification Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The CIO Certification Program is the first local government specific program for CIOs in the nation. The program is designed for local government Information Technology Directors and Chief Information Officers whose responsibilities require a broad understanding of management, leadership, and enterprise topics. The course is approximately 240 hours in length. Course instruction covers enterprise issues, strategic technology planning, communication, project management, emerging trends, risk assessment and management, acquisition management, change management, leadership, security, grantsmanship, and financial trends. LaBarge was one of only 28 public sector technology professionals who graduated the course in this year and has received the national designation of Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO).
Energy Fair
Wake Forest hosted its 6th Annual Energy Fair on November 14 in the Ledford Center on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS). Several town staff were on hand to discuss the billing process, the town’s automated meter reading system, the H.O.P.E. program, and Wake Forest’s array of energy saving programs and services, including Load Management, Online Bill Pay, Automatic Bank Draft and Equal Payment. Wake Forest personnel were joined by representatives from ElectriCities and SEBTS who also shared information about the benefits of public power, energy conservation, and electric safety.
Clean Water Management Trust Fund Grant
Wake Forest was informed in late November that it is the recipient of a $346,000 grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The grants are made available to protect and restore surface water quality. Wake Forest will use the funds to rehabilitate eroded sections of Richland Creek from the Franklin County line to Stadium Drive.
DECEMBER
New Town Hall
Little Diversified Architectural Consulting presented a preliminary design of the new town hall to the mayor, members of the board of commissioners, and town staff. The construction of the plaza, town hall and one parking lot will comprise phase one of the project. Phase two will concentrate on the north side of the site and will include the police station and additional parking. Little’s design provides sufficient room for possible future expansions. As envisioned, the building will be four stories tall with the Brooks Street entrance serving as the main entrance through a large glass rotunda, which will house the Board chambers. Steve Hawley of Little Diversified said he would like to see the new town hall built and everyone moved in by 2009 – which just happens to be the town’s centennial! Current plans call for the Town to break ground around in fall 2007.
Energy Rider Reduced
Wake Forest Power residential customers can expect a decrease of about $1.80 on their electricity bills beginning January 1. The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously in December to lower the energy rider 1.5% or from $11 for every 1,000 kilowatt hours to $9.79. The Board’s decision came on the heels of action taken earlier in the year by the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA), through which the Town buys its power, and ElectriCities, which operates the agency.
South Main Street Widening Project - Rejected
A proposed plan to widen South Main Street between Rogers and Forbes roads was rejected by the Board of Commissioners. The proposal, which called for widening South Main Street to four travel lanes divided by a four-foot concrete median, was unveiled by the Town during a public meeting November 16. Forty-seven residents and other affected people attended the meeting and went away unimpressed with the proposed project. Following the meeting, over 30 people sent in letters or e-mails, again rejecting the plan. Town staff assembled a booklet with all the comments and presented a copy to each of the commissioners, who determined the project lacked sufficient support to warrant moving forward.
South Main Street Repaving
The re-paving of South Main Street, scheduled to be completed in mid-summer, was nearly completed along with several other patching and repaving projects in and around Wake Forest. As of December 22, Durham Road (NC 98) and Ligon Mill Road were patched, resurfaced and marked, and South Main Street (US 1-A) was being worked on. Patching and resurfacing along South Main was completed from Capital Boulevard to Rogers Road. All that remained was a stretch from Rogers to the NC 98 bypass that has been patched and widened but still had to be resurfaced and marked.
Northeast Neighborhood Plan
A community meeting at Olive Branch Baptist Church attended by over 100 people signaled the beginning of Wake Forest’s efforts to develop a Neighborhood Plan for the northeast section of town. The meeting gave the Town a chance to present the planning process to area residents, while giving the residents an opportunity to offer public comments on the needs, wishes, and opportunities for the planning area. The purpose of the Small Area Plan is to develop a strategy for enhancing the social, cultural and historical character of the area by identifying needed public services, desired physical improvements within the neighborhood, and economic development opportunities that would bring local services and jobs to the area. The plan will suggest mechanisms for implementing these community enhancements.
Shop With a Cop
The Wake Forest Police Department hosted its 7th annual “Shop with a Cop” holiday shopping spree on Tuesday, December 19. Twenty-six area children participated in this year’s event, which was co-hosted by Embarq. Shop with a Cop was created to help less fortunate children in the Wake Forest area experience a joyous Christmas. Since its inception in 1999, Shop with a Cop has helped well over 100 area boys and girls.
Harrington to Serve as 2007 FBINAA President
Wake Forest Police Chief Greg Harrington will serve as the 2007 president of the FBI National Academy Associates. The associates are graduates of the FBI National Academy, a prestigious leadership program conducted by the FBI. Harrington, a 31-year law enforcement officer, has been a member of FBINAA since 1992. The Elizabeth City native and graduate of Elizabeth City State University served as the organization’s vice president during 2006 and is the First Vice President of the North Carolina Chapter of the FBINAA. Harrington has served as the Wake Forest Police Chief since October 1993.
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