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By Scott Nicholson
The Boone Town Council avoided the clutter of another subcommittee,
directing the appearance committee to look at trash cans, light
posts and other design considerations, as well as reviewing
turn lanes and water usage on Thursday.
Adrian Tait, chairman of the town’s appearance commission,
asked for creation of a Downtown Street Appearance Improvement
Committee, saying the committee’s mission could be accomplished
with existing resources, looking at trees, furnishings and fixtures
for the downtown Boone area.
Tait said the committee’s goal was to create an identifiable
and consistent downtown image. Bike racks, public art, sidewalk
replacement and signs merit consideration, Tait said, estimating
the town would need to provide 50 to 75 hours of staff time.
The committee would make both short-term and long-term recommendations.
Council member Janet Pepin said staff members sat on a number
of different committees and that took away from their other
duties. She said she supported planning, but she was concerned
about creating yet another committee.
Council member Rennie Brantz questioned whether the downtown
decisions could be spread throughout the town to create unity
in design.
The town council discussed the Howard Street improvements and
how they should tie into King Street improvements. The town
had budgeted $55,000 for trash cans and posts this year, and
the council by consensus agreed the designs should be consistent
across the town. The council requested the appearance committee
deliver its design recommendations in February.
The town’s transportation committee presented several recommendations,
including contacting the North Carolina Department of Transportation
and the Appalachian Regional Health Care System about installing
a right-turn lane on Deerfield Road at the intersection of State
Farm Road, as well as exploration of a right-turn lane at the
intersections of Deerfield and Blowing Rock roads.
The committee also recommended seeking a right-turn lane on
Tracy Circle at the Council Street intersection, with the work
to take place during the scheduled King Street widening that
begins in 2009.
Public works director Blake Brown said the NCDOT was already
working on the State Farm turn by shifting existing lanes to
dedicate one for right turns only. Brown said a private developer
was exploring the right turn off of Blowing Rock Road.
Brown said during the King Street widening, water lines would
have to be shifted near Tracy Circle. Other projects could be
coordinated at the same time, Brown said. He said there were
hundreds of homes in the Tracy Circle area that would be affected
by construction, and the council voted to make those concerns
known to the NCDOT.
The town council discussed water-and-sewer extensions for affordable-housing
projects, with qualifying developments limited to those eligible
for federally subsidized housing. Under the proposal, those
residents who lived out of town would be charged in-town rates
for the services.
The council would also be able to revise the ordinance if projects
that currently qualified changed in nature and were no longer
qualified.
Currently, only the White Laurel housing development in the
Bamboo area would be eligible for the discount. The change would
cost the town about $20,000 a year in service revenues. The
council approved the change.
Public utilities director Rick Miller said town water usage
had decreased 6.5 percent in November from the same month in
2007. Miller said 6,286 gallons per day were available for allocation
this year, with 16,577 gpd available for 2009 and 29,757 gpd
in 2010.
Council member Lynne Mason said the town’s conservation
methods were effective, with water usage down in most months
this year. She said the town should continue its conservation
program even after development of a proposed water intake system
to add an additional 4 million gpd to the town.
Nancy Spann presented a request from Horn in the West and the
Southern Appalachian Historical Association. Spann said the
town had helped the outdoor drama in the “lean times”
of the last few years, with construction upgrades and electrical
improvements.
Spann said the biggest audience complaint was the state of the
sound system. She said equipment had been donated, but a sound
booth was needed to protect the equipment and allow better monitoring
of sound levels. SAHA is also requesting assistance with stage
improvement, wheelchair ramps, paving and other structural work.
Spann said attendance was up 14 percent last year and said the
audience was contributing to the local tourist economy. The
council agreed to consider the improvements during its budget
planning retreat next year.
Cherry Johnson, director of the Watauga Arts Council, presented
a report on the Centennial Celebration of the Jones House Community
Center. The celebration included compilation of history on the
Jones family and construction of a replica of the Jones House
for the Fourth of July parade.
The Boone Town Council adopted a proclamation designating Jan.
18 through 25, 2009, as “I Have A Dream Week.”
Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson noted the town had won a “CAFR”
award for its financial reporting, with Amy Davis receiving
the certificate of excellence.
Accountant Billy Combs gave the town a clean bill of financial
health, delivering a “clean audit,” saying the town
staff handled more than $19.5 million in the last fiscal year.
Combs said the town had a tax-collection rate of more than 98
percent and said the town had a good fund balance.
“In economic times that we’re in now, its extremely
important to protect your fund balance,” Combs said.
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