Welcome to Town of Wake Forest E-News
April 28, 2006
The Town of Wake Forest is pleased to present the April edition of E-News. Please forward this monthly news letter to your friends and neighbors and encourage them to sign up to receive it by visiting the homepage of our website. Thanks to you, we now have over 1,200 E-News subscribers!
NC 98 Bypass Scheduled to Open in June
Recently, the NCDOT provided the following tentative schedule for the opening of the new NC 98 Bypass at US 1:
May 8, 2006 - The contractor plans to close Retail and Galaxy Drive and complete the ramps on the north side of the interchange.
June 8, 2006 - The contractor plans to open the new NC 98 to traffic. Additional work on US 1 must be completed after the road is opened.
July 7, 2006 - Completion Date
Residents are urged to remember that the schedule is tentative and may be affected by inclement weather and other unforeseen factors.
Be sure to visit the Road and Construction Projects web page for the latest on the projected opening of the NC 98 bypass and other construction projects taking place in Wake Forest. The page is updated regularly and offers current information on construction projects around town. Be sure to bookmark it and check it often.
Downtown Development Underway
The Renaissance Plan for the Heart of Wake Forest envisioned the construction and development of new buildings that would blend in with existing buildings in downtown Wake Forest.
Demolition underway at the intersection of White Street and Roosevelt Avenue signifies that the Renaissance Plan is being implemented. The razed buildings most recently housed “Hair and There” beauty salon and “Red Sun Academy.” The demolition work is making room for a new CVS Pharmacy designed to complement historic downtown Wake Forest. Be sure to watch for ongoing redevelopment at the site.
And be on the look out for the yellow “work” sign to the right. When you see it in a work area, you’ll know the construction going on is another part of the execution of the Renaissance Plan.
Republic “Apologizes” to Wake Forest Officials
In recent months many Wake Forest residents have experienced repeated problems with Republic Waste Services, the Town’s contracted trash collection service provider. According to Public Works Director Mike Barton, the main issue for most customers has been missed pick-ups on scheduled collection days. In response, Rick Hazelwood, Republic Waste Services General Manager, sent a letter dated April 13 to Wake Forest officials wherein he accepted full responsibility for the problems and assured them that missed pick-ups are a thing of the past. According to Hazelwood, considerable turnover among Republic’s route drivers has caused the company to send inexperienced drivers out to navigate the town’s collection route. In his letter, Hazelwood wrote that he is confident the personnel problems have been resolved, and he assured officials that Wake Forest residents would receive the highest customer service. He also outlined a number of changes Republic plans to adopt to improve service delivery, including implementing a new system for tracking missed collections. Hazelwood also appeared before the Board of Commissioners at their April 18 meeting to reassure them that the trash collection issues have been resolved. Still, if you experience any problems with your waste collection service, please call (919) 554-6120.
Holding Park Pool Set to Open May 27
Holding Park Pool, located at 133 West Owen Avenue, is the Town's 50-meter outdoor swimming pool. Open during the summer months, the pool offers swimming to the general public, as well as water aerobics classes, swim lessons, lap swim times, and parent-child swim times. Holding Park Pool will open for the season Saturday, May 27. Open swim times are 1 - 6 pm, Monday – Friday and 1 - 7 pm, Saturday - Sunday. Open swim passes will be available May 1. The swim lesson schedule will be available May 20 and swim lesson registration begins June 1. For more information, contact Ed Austin at (919) 554-6183.
Public Hearing on Budget Set for May 16
Town Manager Mark Williams will present the proposed FY 2006-2007 budget to the Board of Commissioners for consideration on Tuesday, May 2. For two weeks following the presentation, a copy of the proposed budget will be available in the Town Clerk’s office for the public to view. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16 to receive comment. Final approval will take place at the June 20 meeting. If you have any questions or would like a copy of the budget, please contact Aileen Staples at (919) 554-6105.
Traffic Enforcement Division Nets Major Discovery
The Wake Forest Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Division has issued over 1000 motor vehicle violations since it got started February 8. Most of the violations range 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. To view the entire article, click HERE.
Enhancement Project to Focus on Front Street & Stadium Drive
Work crews will begin removing and transplanting several trees along Front Street and Stadium Drive within the next few weeks to accommodate new sidewalk construction. The project is being funded through a North Carolina Department of Transportation Enhancement Program (TEA-21) grant designed to improve the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of North Carolina’s transportation system. The affected sections of sidewalk are part of the town’s long-range plan for sidewalk construction. To view the entire article, click HERE.
Wake Forest Remains at Stage 2 Mandatory Water Conservation Measures
The long-term weather forecast for the coming spring and summer months is for less than normal rainfall. These circumstances require the Town of Wake Forest to remain in mandatory water conservation status Stage 2. Among the Stage 2 restrictions, vehicles may be washed only at professional vehicle washing establishments and lawn watering is allowed only twice weekly; Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and on Wednesday and Sundays for even-numbered addresses. Additionally, customers are allowed to clean porches and decks of mold, mildew and pollen for personal health reasons and not merely for esthetic purposes.
New Drop Box in Town Hall
Utility customers who wish to pay their bill and have it processed that day can now deposit their payment in a convenient, secure drop box. Located on the receptionist’s desk just inside the front door of Town Hall, the drop box is the perfect remedy for customers who wish to pay with a personal check and do not need a receipt. Cash and money orders are not accepted, so customers opting to utilize the drop box must pay with a check only. Anyone with questions should contact Drew Brown, customer service supervisor, at (919) 554-6107.
Town Highlights Savings Programs on Web
Wake Forest offers a number of programs designed to make it easier for its utility customers to save money on their utility bills. Among those programs are load management, appliance rebates, and energy audits for both residential and commercial customers.
Ever since Wake Forest unveiled its new website in July, the Town has attempted to provide as much useful information as possible on its website about town programs and services. Recently, the Town developed a new page entitled “Savings Programs” which will serve as a gateway to its money-saving programs.
Additionally, staff created an Energy Savings web page that provides links to ways residents can make their homes more energy efficient year-round. Be sure to visit these pages and let us know what you think. If you have any questions about any of the money-saving programs the Town offers, contact Drew Brown at (919) 554-6107.
Phone Book Recycling
Wake Forest residents and business owners can recycle their outdated phone books through May 1 by dropping them off at the Town of Wake Forest Operations Center, located on Friendship Chapel Road. A sign at the entrance of the facility will direct residents to the designated phone book recycling receptacles. For more information, contact Betty Pearce at (919) 554 6120.
Community Calendar
Our Community Calendar provides useful information concerning programs, activities, and events taking place in the Wake Forest community. Please note, submissions to the Community Calendar should be emailed to Bill Crabtree at least one month prior to the event. Additional notice is recommended to maximize event exposure. Please include the event name, date, time, and location, as well as any additional relevant information. For more information, call (919) 554-6196.
Online Utility Bill Payment Service is Available
All Town of Wake Forest residential and commercial utility customers are eligible to make online utility bill payments. Getting started is easy. Just visit our website, click on "Utility Billing", then click "Online Services" and follow the simple instructions. Customers with questions concerning the new online bill payment service should contact Customer Service Supervisor Drew Brown at (919) 554-6107.
Parks and Recreation
Track and Field Series Coming in May
The Town of Wake Forest Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring a series of Track & Field meets each month from May through August at Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School. For more information or to obtain a registration form and meet-day schedule, contact Edward Austin, Athletics Coordinator at (919) 554-6183.
Cultural Programs
The Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of cultural activities for both youth and adults. Click HERE for information concerning upcoming classes, workshops, and special events sponsored by the Parks & Recreation Department. For more information, contact Cindy Fergeson at (919) 556-4818.
Town News
It’s never been easier to keep informed about what’s happening in the Town of Wake Forest. Bookmark Town News for instant access to the latest press releases, the Town Manager’s Weblog and Weblog archives, Community Calendar, and much more!
Calendar of Events
Board of Commissioners Work Session – Tuesday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m.
Joint Public Hearing and Planning Board Meeting – Tuesday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. Joint Public Hearings and Planning Board meetings are aired live on Community Channel 10 and re-broadcast over the next two weeks throughout the day on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Board of Commissioners Meeting – Tuesday, May 16, at 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioner meetings are aired live on Community Channel 10 and re-broadcast over the next two weeks throughout the day on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Equal Payment Plan, Bank Draft, & Load Management
The Town of Wake Forest offers several utility billing programs designed to help our utility customers save time and money, including online bill pay, Equal Payment Plan, Bank Draft, and Load Management. For more information on these customer-friendly programs, click on the links or call 554-6107.
H.O.P.E.
Helping Others by Providing Electricity or H.O.P.E. is offered by the Town of Wake Forest to help financially disadvantaged electric customers reconcile their utility bill. The initiative is funded by the generous donations of area residential and commercial utility customers. Donating is quick and easy, and contributions are tax-deductible. The program is administered through a partnership between the Town and ChurchNet, a local non-profit organization assisting people in need. For more information, contact Drew Brown at (919) 554-6107.
Employment Opportunities
For a complete listing of job openings with the Town of Wake Forest, click HERE.