The Wake Forest Town Board met Tuesday night, September 17, 2024 as usual at 6 p.m. – and it was well after 9 p.m. when the mostly silent commissioners and mayor could adjourn.
It was not a long agenda, but several items took a long time. There was only one proclamation read, and it was to recognize October as P.A.N.D.A.S. Awareness Month with JJ Wilson and his parents behind Mayor Vivian Jones as she read the document and said this was the 11th year she has done so. JJ was afflicted by the condition as a young child after strep throat; it continues to inflict damage to his body.
This year the ceremony was followed by a 25-minute video about JJ, the disease and how it could afflict one in 200 Wake Forest children. JJ’s doctors, Dr. Jean-Ronel Corbier and Dr. Paul Corbier, brothers practicing in South Carolina, had come to Wake Forest for the ceremony and spoke about the difficulties of diagnosing the condition. They said JJ’s parents are heroes, caring for him day and night.
Next Ann Welton gave an update on the town’s status as an AARP Age Friendly Community. The next step will be a community-wide survey about our strengths and opportunities, after which the committee will decide “what we can afford to do” and choose two projects to accomplish.
Nik Davis with Houseal Lavigne began a description of the new Downtown Plan which, with his lengthy dissertations about building size, shape, height, took another 50 minutes. The plan fills every empty space and lot in downtown with his preferred three-story height shown and explained in detail.
Senior Planner Patrick Reidy went to the podium to outline the addition of a right-turn lane in the Reserve at Dunn Creek subdivision plan.
At 7:50 p.m. Town Attorney Hassan Kingsberry explained to the mayor and commissioners that they had to be free of conflict with or for the parties involved in order to sit as judges. Then he read the conditions and requirements for a quasi-judicial hearing.
Finally Senior Planner Tim Richards was able to give the staff report and conditions for a drive-through Whataburger along the NC 98 Bypass/Dr. Calvin Jones Highway in the Wegman’s development. The planning department had recommended the request be handled through the quasi-judicial process.
The next two public hearings demonstrated the town’s diversity once more. Two men living in the Del Webb subdivision wanted bocce ball courts in the town’s parks; there is one in Del Webb. David McCracken and Angela DiPaulo want the lot south of the senior center to be an intergenerational park. Did you know that it has been named the Ricky Wright Park?
The any-topic public hearing centered on the upcoming PrideFest along with assorted topics. Deborah Bates said she had met many LGBTQ people and has found that they are often rejected by a place of worship because of who they love. “Haters have got to hate.”
Matthew Tapley, who said he was speaking for the North Carolina Baptist Convention, spoke at length about his view that the town should cancel PrideFest and that the inclusion of gay people is wrong. In opposition, Janice Davis said “On October fifth Jesus will be downtown.”
Tripp Black celebrated Constitution Day by showing a video about the United States Constitution, which was 237 days old – or young – and has had “significant improvements in our rights.” His wife, Nicki, followed.
Martha Gruber said we are supposed to love everyone and she will attend PrideFest.
At 8:50 p.m. the mayor announced a five-minute break. When everyone returned, she read the consent agenda, which was approved.
Kingsberry told Richards and Lee Bakely, P.E., there was more evidence about Whataburger so the quasi-judicial case was reopened. When it was all heard, the case was closed and the five commissioners unanimously approved it.
The commissioners whizzed through approvals for the sale of some bonds and approval of the new parks and rec plan. There will be two sales on October 1 of $22,050,000 for parks and recreation, roadway and transportation, and greenway improvements. An additional sale of $1,460,000, funding for improvements at Miller Park and the town reservoir, will be held on the same date.
It was nearly 9:30 p.m. when it was all over.
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