Board backs Raleigh’s water request

During a 30-minute Wake Forest Town Board meeting Tuesday night the only dissents came when Commissioner Greg Harrington voted no on a waiver to allow alcoholic consumption during Meet in the Street and Commissioner Margaret Stinnett voted against a letter backing the City of Raleigh’s request for a larger water allocation in Falls Lake.

Harrington, the town’s retired police chief, always votes against waiving the ordinance banning alcoholic beverages on town streets for the various street festivals. “I still don’t believe the Town of Wake Forest should allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public streets. The idea is implanted in younger minds that you have to have alcohol to have a good time.” The waiver passed 4 to 1.

Stinnett asked Assistant Town Engineer Holly Miller, who was present because of the closure of the Richland Creek Greenway, for her opinion about Raleigh’s request. Miller said she had not had a chance to review the documents but planned to do so along with the downstream impacts. She said there is a growing need for water because of the population growth in Raleigh’s water service area, which has grown tremendously since the drought of 2007-2008. Falls Lake reached a record low level on Christmas Day of 2007 with 96 days of available water for the public. Rains which began in the week after Christmas averted severe water restrictions for Raleigh’s water service area.

Stinnett said she would like Miller to return with a recommendation, a more informed opinion.

But then Planning Director Chip Russell went to the podium and said he had been privy to a lot of information others do not know. The city’s request for a larger water allocation is “acceptable to the Corps,” Russell said. It will also have to make its way through a lot of environmental checks before the request can be granted.

“This is probably the best alternative because its here,” Russell said. “It is the most cost-effective method of additional (water) capacity right now.” He also said, “One of the benefits is it might push off the Little River reservoir farther down the road. We can remove water that’s there right now.” He added the final decision is at the federal level.

The vote to sign the letter endorsing Raleigh’s request for more water was 4 to 1.

There was a brief discussion about the closure of the Richland Creek Greenway Monday – see Brief Bits in this issue – and Franklin Academy High School senior Jessica Steinmiller spoke about her senior thesis on the importance and benefits of proper nutrition, part of which described the lack of grocery stores and restaurants near her school on the north side of town. One of her solutions is Blessing Boxes, small wooden structures on stilts with shelves where people can leave nonperishable food for any one in need. She will place some of those and also advocate for a closer grocery store.

Donald Cook, who was the equipment services superintendent for fleet maintenance in the Wake Forest Public Works Department, was honored on his retirement for his service to the town from 2000 to 2017. “I love this town and what its done,” Cook said after receiving a plaque and hearing the resolution honoring him

No one spoke at the public hearing about the next year’ town budget. A hearing about the annexation of 48.44 acres on Forestville Road was postponed until next month because, Russell said, the Dos Bros’s plans for the subdivision there are not complete.

Jennifer Rall, the town’s urban forestry coordinator, and Debbie Ludas, one of the town’s trained tree stewards, received the resolution honoring the tree stewards, who will also be honored Saturday, Feb. 25, which is designated Tree Steward Appreciation Day.