Welcome to Town of Wake Forest E-News
November 23, 2005
The Town of Wake Forest is constantly exploring new ways to communicate with town residents, so that we may communicate with you more effectively. We strive to keep you informed about what’s going on in and around our area and are excited about many of the recent communications initiatives we have introduced.
You may have noticed that in July we unveiled our new and improved website. To coincide with the emergence of the new site, we initiated a Town Manager web log as a means of relaying more up-to-date information to you about our town. So, each Friday Town Manager Mark Williams shares his thoughts about what’s going on in and around Wake Forest. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, check it out and let us know what you think.
A few weeks after we got the new website up and running, we completed a makeover for Community Channel 10. It now has the same look and feel of our website and highlights a lot of important news you can use. If your email message format is set to HTML view, note the advertisement to the left as an example of one of the spots currently running on Channel 10.
We are excited about these initiatives and hope you will utilize them and come to view them as valuable resources whenever you need information concerning the Town of Wake Forest. If you ever have any suggestions on how we can improve our communications efforts, please let me know.
About E-News
As I noted earlier, we strive to communicate better with you. Several weeks ago we began collecting email addresses so we could send correspondence directly to you concerning Town of Wake Forest programs, services, and special events. This is the first installment of what we anticipate will be a monthly E-newsletter that comes out around this time each month. We hope you enjoy receiving information in this fashion because we believe it is an incredibly effective way to keep you informed about what’s happening in your community. We urge you to forward E-News to your friends and neighbors and encourage them to sign up to receive it on the homepage of our website. However, if for whatever reason you wish to be removed from our E-news mailing list, please click here, and type UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Citizen Surveys
The Town of Wake Forest has implemented “Results Based Management” or RBM to help gauge town operations. By employing RBM, we believe we will be better able to focus on our work, plan strategically and demonstrate the affect we are having on the community. A critical component of this effort is the feedback we receive from you concerning your experience working with our various town departments. By clicking on the links below you will access surveys designed to help us determine the effectiveness of these units. Please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaires. Skip any questions which do not pertain to you or for which you do not have sufficient information to respond. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Inspections
http://www.empliant.com/survey/F9DE53B09-B0D0-E1B3-4164/
Planning
http://www.empliant.com/survey/FA667EA71-B0D0-E1B3-41FF/
Parks & Recreation
http://www.empliant.com/survey/F9DF97E0C-B0D0-E1B3-41DB/
Engineering
http://www.empliant.com/survey/FA6664F11-B0D0-E1B3-41CE/
Finance
http://www.empliant.com/survey/FA6687A5D-B0D0-E1B3-4122/
Cemetery
http://www.empliant.com/survey/FA666C1A1-B0D0-E1B3-41B3/
Public Buildings
http://www.empliant.com/survey/FA6678389-B0D0-E1B3-41BF/
Road Construction Updates and Advisories
South Main Street
In the past couple of weeks you have likely noticed all of the construction work going on around town. Several contractors are diligently working to build a roundabout at the intersection of South Main Street and South Avenue (NC-98 Business) in front of the Seminary. The roundabout, which is expected to be completed in 3-5 weeks, is designed to help alleviate congestion and keep traffic moving at a slower, safer speed. In addition, several sidewalks and handicap ramps are being replaced along South Main and North Avenue. We request your patience as this work continues and ask that you obey the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit. Also, please be aware of lane closures, construction barrels and work crews in this area.
North Main Street
A milling and overlay project is taking place on North Main Street and around the Seminary. Work began Tuesday, November 22 along North Main from North Avenue to Harris Road. Today, crews began milling Front Street/North Avenue. Beginning Monday, November 28, work crews will complete milling of North Main Street. This project will be a “moving operation” involving a pilot truck and flag men directing traffic around the area. It will take approximately two weeks to complete. You may wish to find an alternate route to decrease congestion unless you live or work in this area.
North Allen Road
Work crews have also started working on the North Allen sidewalk project, which will add 500-feet of sidewalk and curb/gutter on the west side. It will also involve resurfacing both sides of North Allen Road from Wait Avenue to Juniper Avenue. We expect this initiative to take approximately 90 days to complete.
Rogers Road
The NCDOT has announced that Rogers Road will be closed from Forestville Road to NC-401 from December 1-23 while work crews realign the road. Motorists should follow the detour signs.
How to Negotiate a Roundabout
As noted above, the roundabout at the intersection of South Main Street and South Avenue (NC-98 Business) in front of the Seminary is expected to be operational within the next 3-5 weeks.
Roe O’Donnell, Wake Forest Deputy Town Manager, offers several important tips for motorists on how to properly negotiate a roundabout:
- Treat the roundabout as a regular intersection.
- Do not stop upon approaching the roundabout; instead, yield to traffic already traveling on the circle.
- If there is no oncoming traffic, proceed into the circle bearing to the right in a counter-clockwise position.
- Once in the circle, you have the right-of-way over those wishing to enter the roundabout.
- As you approach your exit, give a right turn signal.
O’Donnell says the main thing to remember is not to stop as you approach the roundabout, unless your entrance will interfere with traffic already traveling within the circle.
Stage 2 Of Mandatory Water Conservation Measures
Since the Town of Wake Forest is one of three communities receiving water from the City of Raleigh (Garner and Rolesville are the other two), we are contractually obligated to enforce the same water restrictions as Raleigh does. Following the Raleigh City Council’s unanimous vote on November 15 to enter mandatory water conservation Stage 2, the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners - later that day at its regular monthly meeting - voted unanimously to adopt the measure. To view the Stage 2 Water Conservation Ordinance, click HERE. To view 100 Water-Saving Tips, click HERE.
Mayor and New Commissioners Sworn In
Frank Drake and Margaret Stinnett, who won election November 8, each took their oaths of office at the November 15 Board of Commissioners meeting. Mayor Vivian Jones, who was re-elected to a second term, also took the oath of office. For more information about the swearing-in ceremony, click HERE. For Board of Commissioners contact information, click HERE.
Tips to Save Energy During Cold Weather
Now is the time for area residents to prepare for winter weather and the 2005-06 heating season. Click HERE to view some helpful tips to conserve fuel and reduce energy bills.
Equal Payment Plan, Bank Draft, & Load Management
The Town of Wake Forest offers several programs designed to help our utility customers save time and money, including 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 a new program offered by the Town of Wake Forest. Created 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. Click HERE for more information.
Town News
To stay informed about what’s happening in the Town of Wake Forest, be sure to check out the latest press releases, which are listed on the home page of our website under “Town News. Also, be sure to visit Town Manager Mark Williams’ Weblog every Friday.
Parks and Recreation
The Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of activities for people of all ages and interests, including youth and adult athletics, as well as cultural programs. The Parks and Recreation Department’s Winter brochure which lists all the department-sponsored classes, programs and special events will be available in early December. For more information, call 554-6180.
Town Calendar
Joint Public Hearing and Planning Board Meeting – Tuesday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m. Joint Public Hearings and Planning Board meetings are aired live on Community Channel 10. They are re-broadcast the 1st and 2nd Wednesday and Friday each month at 10 am and 2 pm.
Board of Commissioners Meeting – Tuesday, December 20, at 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioner meetings are aired live on Community Channel 10. They are re-broadcast the 3rd and 4th Wednesday and Friday each month at 10 am and 2 pm.
Special Events
Lighting of Wake Forest – Everyone is invited to come out Friday evening, December 2, at 7 pm for the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree.
Holiday Open House - Santa will be in the Downtown Gazebo from 11am – 3pm on Saturday, December 3rd. Many of the downtown merchants will have special events and activities in their stores. For more information, call 441-9551.
Community Christmas Dinner – Tuesday, December 6, at 6:30 pm. For more information, call 556-1519.
Christmas Parade - Bring in the Holiday season with the annual Wake Forest Christmas Parade Saturday, December 10, at 1:00pm in downtown Wake Forest. For more information, call 441-9551.
Career Opportunities
For a complete listing of job openings at the Town of Wake Forest, click HERE.
Thanksgiving Schedule
The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, in observance of Thanksgiving. Town offices will re-open Monday, November 28, at 8:00 am. Police services will not be interrupted. Solid waste and recyclables normally collected on Thursday will be collected Friday, while solid waste and recyclables normally collected on Friday will be collected on Saturday.
On behalf of the Town of Wake Forest, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!