Corrected: Weaverville's e-Focus Newsletter

September 2018 | Volume 33

Weaverville 9/11 Patriots Day Observance

Weaverville will hold its annual 9/11 Patriots Day Observance at Noon on Tuesday, September 11, at Lake Louise Park. Weaverville Fire Chief Ted Williams will be the guest speaker. Chief Williams, a life-long resident of Weaverville, has been a local firefighter his entire adult life. Other participants include Pastor Jim Dykes from Brookstone Church, the Reuter Center Singers, the Mars Hill VFW Post 5483, bagpiper Howard Dusenbery, and the Weaverville Police and Fire Departments. This event is open to the public and your attendance is encouraged.

North Carolina First Responder's Day

In 2017 the NC General Assembly designated September 11 ^th of each year as First Responder Day, making it an official State holiday. The date of September 11 ^th was chosen in recognition of the huge sacrifices made by first responders at the World Trade Center attack in New York. According

to Tim Bradley, Executive Director of the NC State Firefighters’ Association (NCSFA), there are over 50,000 firefighters, both career and volunteer, in North Carolina serving 1,376 fire departments. “After the attacks on 9/11/01 we vowed to never forget the sacrifices made that day by first responders, 343 of whom were firefighters. Having this day each year as aState holiday will help keep the recognition of that sacrifice alive, and continue to honor those who serve their community with sacrifices every day.”

Fire departments across the State will hold various festivities on First Responder Day. This involves everything from ringing the community fire alarm to formal 9.11 services. According to Swannanoa Fire Chief Anthony Penland, who serves the year as President of NCSFA “these services and recognitions are wonderful, but sometimes all it takes is a positive comment or pat on the back from a member of the community”. “It’s a recognition of service and sacrifice in the past as well as sacrifice yet to come” Penland said.

For information about events that may be occurring local for First Responders Day, contact your local fire department or police department.

NCDOT Proposes Intersection Improvements

The N.C. Department of Transportation proposes to improve the intersection of U.S. 19 Business (Weaverville Highway) and New Stock Road (S.R. 1740) in Buncombe County. Once complete, the project will improve traffic flow at this intersection and the nearby I-26 interchange. Preliminary planning and engineering work on the project began in November 2017.

Two design alternatives are being evaluated for this project.

Alternative 1 includes:

Realignment of On and Off Ramps for I-26 Westbound
Realignment of Blueberry Hill Road with U.S.19 Business controlled by a traffic signal
Roundabout at Highlander Road

Alternative 2 includes:

Realignment of On and Off Ramps for I-26 Westbound
Realignment of Blueberry Hill Road with U.S.19 Business with right-in / right-out access only

Left turns into Blueberry Hill would be accomplished by making a U-turn
Using the new "bulbout" turnaround between Blueberry Hill and Highlander

For additional information please contact NCDOT Division 13 Project Manager, Michael Clark by email at mgclark@ncdot.gov or view the information and maps contained in the following link fbrmpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/U-5973_ProjectHandout_FINAL.pdf.

Town Career Opportunities

Finance/Benefits Specialist

The Town of Weaverville is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Finance/Benefits Specialist. This employee will be responsible for a wide variety of Accounting and Employee Benefits tasks, requiring professional knowledge of applicable principles and practices. Considerable experience in Accounting, Payroll, and Employee Benefits, preferably in a municipal or county finance. Additional information can be found

here.

Police Officer

The Weaverville Police Department is accepting applications for a Police Officer. This position will patrol the Town of Weaverville, prevent, detect, and investigate disturbances and crime; perform traffic control, apprehend suspects, and execute related assignments. Cabdudates must have a High School Diploma or equivalent and must be B.L.E.T. Certified

Additional information can be found at here.

Citizens Academy 2018 Graduates

The Town of Weaverville hosts an annual Citizens Academy to promote open dialogue and provide the community with education about the workings of town government. Any resident is welcome to participate. Past academies have promoted the collaboration between residents and local government. The curriculum covers town programs, services, policies, procedures, plus a “behind the scenes” look at how Weaverville’s government operates.

Additional information on this fantastic program can be found on the Town's website at this link: https://weavervillenc.org/living/citizens-academy/

Congratulations to our 2018 Citizens Academy Graduates:

Michele Czajkowski
Barbara Heller
Paul King
Larry Murray
Alan Steinberg
Marty Stickle
Barbara Stickle
Sylvia Valois
Earl Valois
Robert Vigeland

The 2019 Citizens Academy will begin in January 2019 and applications will be solicited in November 2018. Consider 0participating!

Call Public Works to Purchase a Toter 64-Gallon Garbage Can

The Public Works Department is responsible for the collection and disposal of garbage within the town limits. Residential collection is done once per week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in various areas of the town. As a reminder, all garbage must be placed in garbage bags (not to exceed 25 pounds) or in cans (limited to 32 gallon capacity and 50 pounds in weight). Recently, the Public Works staff has noticed that some residents are not observing these weight restrictions, thereby slowing the collection times and affecting the health of our crew members as they struggle to lift the overweight bags and cans.

To assist our crews and help to resolve the issues of overweight cans, the Town will be purchasing 100 “Toter” brand 64 gallon garbage cans (pictured here) for re-sale to the public. These garbage cans are intended to be filled by the home owner and then rolled to the street on garbage day. Our garbage crews can roll the “Toter” to the back of the garbage truck where a lift-assist device mounted on the truck uses a special attachment on the back of the can to pick it up and empty it into the truck. Our crew then rolls the empty “Toter” back to the curb, without ever having to manually pick up the loaded can. Retail price for a comparable can is $65-70; the Town’s cost for town residents is $45 per “Toter” and includes delivery to the resident’s home and future maintenance of the lid, wheels, and axle. When a homeowner needs to add or replace their garbage

can, the Town encourages its citizens to consider purchasing a “Toter” to speed our garbage collection and more importantly to save the backs of our hard-working sanitation staff.

To order your “Toter”, call the Public Works Department at 645-0606 and speak with Kara Shea to arrange payment and delivery.

~ Submitted by Weaverville Public Works

Town wins GFOA

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Town of Weaverville has won the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 24th consecutive year! Congratulations to our Finance Director Tonya Dozier for her work on achieving this award!

The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (CAFR Program) in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving

that goal. The goal of the program is not to assess

the financial health of participating governments, but rather to ensure that users of their financial statements have the information they need to do so themselves.

WBA Needs Volunteers for Art in Autumn!

The Weaverville Business Association is gearing up for Art in Autumn 2018! This year's event takes place on September 15. It takes a village to put this show together and we need volunteers! Zander and Silver are looking sporty wearing this year's t shirt. All volunteers will receive a free t shirt when they show up for their shift.Sign up to volunteer here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e45adaf28a1ff2-artinautumn

Weaverville Police Department Collaborates with the Pink Patch Project

The Pink Patch Project is a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles County Police Chief's Association and over 110 public safety agencies throughout the United States. The program centers on vibrant pink versions of the agency’s uniform patches. Officers from the participating agencies wear pink patches or pink badges on their uniforms during “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in October.

The Pink Patch Project is an innovative public awareness campaign designed to bring attention to the fight against cancer and to support breast cancer research or treatment organizations in combating this devastating disease. The Weaverville Police Department’s Pink Patches are intended to stimulate conversations with our community and to encourage public awareness about the importance of early detection.

The Weaverville Police Department will donate all money from the sales of our Pink Patches and

memorabilia to The Hope Chest For Women and other women's cancer charities in Western North Carolina.

Please contact Detective Somer Oberlin at (828) 645-5700 at the Weaverville Police Department for more information about this important project.

Community Events

Vintage Pop-Up Sale

Main Street in Weaverville

Saturday, October 20, 2018

10:00am - 5:00pm

This is a free event, but donations are welcome!

Spaces Available

QUESTIONS? 828-777-9206

Benefits

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 124