LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWS
TOWN OF LAKE LURE
INCORPORATED IN 1927
Mayor: Bob Keith
Commissioners: Linda Turner, Wayne Hyatt, Mary Ann Dotson and John Moore
Town Manager: Chris Braund
July 2010
Published by Town of Lake Lure, P.O. Box 255, Lake Lure, NC 28746
Newsletter Editor & Coordinator: Linda Ward
Telephone: (828) 625-9983
Website: www.TownofLakeLure.com
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
by Bob Keith
Earlier this month the Olympiad staff with
the help of some fabulous volunteers conducted a
Silent Auction at Fire Fly Cove to benefit the new
Lake Lure Classical Academy. The event was
extremely successful in attracting over 100 area
folks and numerous contributors of time, goods and
services. Contributors are listed at the end of my
article.
Special thanks to: John Cloud for the use of
the Firefly Hospitality Center; Terry Tincher,
Firefly Sales Manager, for hosting the event; Mark
and Larkin Hammond for all the wonderful food
and beverages; and kudos to Patti Blenden for her
comedic auctioneering and generous donation of
wine for the event. The Olympiad Board, through
the generosity of so many area people, raised
$12,000 for playground equipment for the new
Charter School. You’ll probably get tired of hearing
me say this, but “it’s all about community spirit!”, a
big high five to all who participated.
Be sure to mark your calendars for the
Olympiad August 26th - 29th.
Olympiad Benefit Auction contributors are:
Judy Arnold; Patti and Gary Blenden; Mary and
Ray Crane; Kay and Ed Dittmer; Mary Ann Dotson;
Susan and Jim Dunn; Pat and Angelo Grillo; Pam
and Bob Keith; Penny and David Klett; Carol Lang;
Char and Chuck Leneschmidt; Lynn Lund;
Carol and Jack Mann; Jayne Mann; Paula and John
Fax: (828) 625-8371
Email: TownHall@TownofLakeLure.com
Moore; Pauline Mullikin; Barbara and Dick Nealon;
Mary Oddo; Deborah Saverance; Bill Silvey;
Suzanne Stohl and Doug Flynn; Paul Thompson;
Linda and Woody Turner; Caroline Upchurch;
Carol and Chris Wolfe; Charlotte and Don Young;
Darley and Gary Hasenfus; Gay and John
Hegwood;
Town of Lake Lure; Hickory Nut
Gorge Chamber of Commerce; Fairfield Mountains
VFD Auxiliary; A Day in the Country; Alyssa’s at
Lake Lure; Blue Ridge Mountain Baskets; Broad
River Equipment Repair, LLC; BRS Landscaping;
Carolina Grill; Charlotte Motor Speedway;
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park; Fibber
McGee’s; Filler Lawn Care; Firefly Cove; Flat
Rock Playhouse; Forest City Owls Baseball;
Gaestehaus Salzburg; Geneva Riverside Motel;
Gregory’s Restaurant; Jade Turtle; KidSenses; Lake
Lure Adventure Company; Lake Lure Tours;
Larkin’s on the Lake; La Strada Restaurant;
Margaret McFarland Residential & Commercial
Cleaning; Mitchell Law Firm; Monograms and
More; Main Street Coffee and Ice Cream; Mountain
Breeze; Mountain 1st Bank; Padgett Law Firm;
Pampered Pet Care; Point of View Restaurant; PRP
Wine International; R & L Services; Riverside
Riding Stables; Rumbling Bald Resort; Esmeralda;
Granddaddy Fly-Fishing Experience; McConnell
Group Public Relations; Island Top Glass Art;
Lodge on Lake Lure; 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa;
View Savers Cleaning; Water Oak Restaurant;
Zumba Fitness.
July 2010
LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWS
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
by Chris Braund
A New Town Budget and Financial Health Check
At the June 8th Town Council meeting, the
commissioners approved the budget for the 2010 /
2011 fiscal year. You can see details of the
approved budget and the manager’s budget message
at www.townoflakelure.com/home_public_notices.
2010/2011 Approved Budget
General Fund
Water/Sewer Fund
Hydroelectric Fund
Total
% Change from 09/10
$3,750,001
692,817
350,500
$4,793,318
-1.9%
-7.8%
+130%
+1.4%
Our expenditures are balanced against revenues
which are projected to be $4,727,409--basically the
same as last year. There will be no change to the
local tax rate of 21 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Keep in mind that just 28% of your property tax bill
goes to support the Town budget; 72% goes to
Rutherford County.
For the second year now, our budget covers the
basic staff and services deemed to be essential to
the town’s mission. No salary increases are
included, but contingency funds were set aside to
provide merit increases when justified by the
achievement of job performance objectives. There
are no vehicle purchases planned; in fact, over
$19,000 was raised this year from the sale of
surplus vehicles and equipment. Out of necessity,
we are aging our fleet, accepting higher
maintenance costs and postponing inevitable
replacements. There are no staff additions or
eliminations planned; in the past year, we have been
able to reduce the payroll by 6 full-time and 2 parttime positions through attrition and outsourcing.
Only a few capital improvements and projects
deemed strategically critical have been budgeted
Regular operating budgets have been further
reduced across the board. In all, nearly $400,000 of
recommended expenditures were eliminated from
the budget. What remains is, in the opinion of the
Council, the minimum, responsible level of town
services and staff. And, we can only defer capital
improvements and projects for so long before the
Page 2
costs of repairs and maintenance accelerate.
Without growth in revenues, the town will have
diminishing ability to live within our means and
provide the full scope of services enjoyed today.
Debt
The town’s overall debt burden is low. Payments
on long-term debt (over 1 year) are less than
$200,000…about 4% of the total budget. Several
loans will be fully paid after the year 2013 and the
remainder are at low interest or no interest. When
facing future costs to repair, replace or expand
aging infrastructure, the Town may need to consider
additional debt as an alternative to tax increases or
cuts in services.
Fund Balances
Each of the town’s operating funds (General,
Water/Sewer, Hydroelectric) has a balance that is
carried over from year to year. Any excess
revenues are contributed to these balances for future
needs; any operations shortfalls are covered by
withdrawals from the funds. These provide critical
protection against unforeseen emergencies,
expenditures or investment opportunities. A fourth
fund, the Capital Reserve and Silt Removal Fund,
was established as a savings account for
extraordinary dredging after floods or for capital
improvements.
The balances in these funds are expected to increase
slightly at the end of the current year (after June
30th) from excess revenues and a careful
management of expenditures. Actual year-end
balances will be finalized as part of our financial
audit and I’ll report those in a future update. The
fiscal year 2010/2011 has no provisions for
contributions to fund balances.
While the
hydroelectric fund balance is healthy, the other
funds are below recommended levels to provide
prudent fiscal protection. Replenishing them will
require a reduction in expenditures by eliminating
or reducing the scope of town services…or
increasing revenues through growth or by
increasing the tax rate.
I thank the council for their hard work with our staff
to review and adjust the budget. Thanks also to our
finance team, Sam Karr and Vicki Coggins,
July 2010
LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWS
Page 3
TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES
by Town Clerk Mary Flack, MMC, CTC
* approved a commercial lake structure permit for
Mark Helms of the Lake Lure Adventure Co.;
REGULAR MEETING:
The regular town
council meeting was held on Tuesday, June 8, 2010,
7:00 p.m., in the meeting room of the Lake Lure
Municipal Center.
* approved a request from Nelson Long on behalf
of the American Red Cross regarding a fund-raiser
event being held on August 21, 2010; town council
requested that adequate measures are in place to
collect all of the rubber ducks used in this activity;
the community hall fee was waived and the town’s
peddling ordinance was suspended for this event;
Under the “consent agenda,” Town Council
approved and adopted:
* minutes of the May 11, 2010 (regular meeting),
May 20, 2009 (special meeting), and May 27, 2010
(special meeting & closed session);
* a budget amendment regarding the administration
department to cover salary cost for intern student
Kendall Edwards as submitted by the finance
director;
* a budget amendment regarding the Lake Lure
Municipal golf course for renovation payments to
Course Doctors, Inc. as submitted by the finance
director;
* a request as submitted by Marilyn Brucksch for
the visually impaired group of Rutherford County to
hold a luncheon meeting in the Community Hall of
the Lake Lure Municipal Center on September 11,
2010 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.; waive the
rental fee for this event; and
* a request from Woody Turner on behalf of the
Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad Board to waive the
rental fee for use of the Community Hall in the
Lake Lure Municipal Center on for the Olympiad
event being held on August 28, 2010.
Town Council also:
* held a public hearing and adopted Ordinance No.
10-06-08 Regarding the Town Budget for Fiscal
Year 2010-2011 as presented;
* authorized the town manager to enter into an
agreement with Faye Thompson regarding a
payment arrangement to the town over a two year
period concerning her utility bill for sewer a
connection at 211 Sunset Cove Road;
* William D. Miller was appointed to fill Carl
Nelson’s position as regular member on the Parks
and Recreation Board with a term expiring on
December 31, 2011; Chuck Watkins was appointed
to fill William Miller’s position as alternate member
on the Parks and Recreation Board with a term
expiring on December 31, 2010;
* approved a request from Utility Billing Clerk
Linda Ward to write off $1,338 concerning a
delinquent water/sewer account at 176 Boys Camp
Road for Land Resources/Gray Rock LLC since the
company is in bankruptcy and has not made a
payment or used any water/sewer since November
2, 2008; town council also stipulated that in the
future the new owner of this property would need to
apply for water/sewer and pay new tap fees since
services for this account were being discontinued;
* approved a request from Rumbling Bald Resort to
hold fireworks shows on the lake June 19, 2010,
July 4, 2010, August 14, 2010, and August 28,
2010; and
* approved a Lake Structure Permit application for
Camp Lurecrest Ministries to install a 1,600 ft.
inflatable “AVIVA Iceberg” water slide/climbing
wall for the summer season replacing the existing
inflatable referred to as the “blob”.
CUSTOMER SERVICES
by Linda Ward
I hope everyone has a safe and happy July
4th holiday. Please be sure that you have your boat
permits on your boat so you don’t ruin a good time
out on the lake.
July 2010
LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWS
COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS
by Chief Eric Hester
Police Department
The 4th of July is upon us and our summer
season is already in full swing. During the next
several months we will see an influx of tourism and
will need to pay special attention to the congested
areas. We want to continue to keep our town as safe
as possible during the holiday weekend so please
pay extra attention to these areas where people are
crossing the roadways or children could be darting
across the road heading toward the beach. We hope
everyone has a safe and enjoyable vacation while
visiting Lake Lure.
There will be two fireworks shows again
this year in Lake Lure and both will be held on
Sunday, July 4th. One show sponsored by The
Hickory Nut Gorge Chamber will be at Morse Park
and the other will be held at and sponsored by
Rumbling Bald Resort.
While on the subject of fireworks, it is
against the law to possess or use certain types of
fireworks or Pyrotechnics in North Carolina
without a valid permit.
The North Carolina General Statues 14-414
gives a list of Pyrotechnics that are legal. In a basic
nutshell if the fireworks make a loud bang or leave
the ground in any way, shape or form they are
illegal. Any person violating these provisions shall
be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. If you have
questions about buying fireworks, please contact the
Lake Lure Police Department and we will try to
answer any questions you may have.
Youth Center
On May, 28th the Lake Lure Youth Center
held its 5th Annual Emergency Services Day and
we had a great time as always. I want to thank all
the agencies once again that participated in this
special event. We look forward to this event each
year because it is such a blessing to be able to
interact with all the children in the Hickory Nut
Gorge area. I want to thank Youth Center Director
Sharon Theiss and Assistant Director Kathryn
Canant for putting in many hours of their own time
preparing all the food and making sure the event
went without a hitch.
Page 4
The Lake Lure Fire Department brought the
Smoke House and we brought Critter Camp again
this year and the children had a great time. The
Critter Camp offers a wide variety of things for the
children to do from bean bag tosses, sack races to
pony rides and a Mobile Petting Zoo. They had a
great time with all the animals. We are grateful for
all the continued support the children receive from
the Hickory Nut Gorge Area.
The youth center summer program will be
operating from June 14th - August 18th with several
scheduled events for the children throughout the
summer. The operating hours are Monday through
Friday, 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm. If would like to register
a child for this program please contact Sharon
Theiss or Kathryn Canant at the youth center and
they will be happy to see if your child qualifies.
POLICE REPORT FOR MAY 2010
ALARM CALLS RECEIVED .................................9
ACCIDENTS ...........................................................5
ARRESTS ................................................................3
BANK ALARMS.....................................................0
BREAKING AND ENTERINGS ............................5
BUSINESS CHECKS .......................................8,743
CITATIONS ISSUED ...........................................12
COMMUNITY CONTACTS ...........................1,397
EXTRA PATROLS .............................................102
LARCENY REPORTS ............................................2
REQUESTED RESIDENTIAL CHECKS ..........150
ROAD CHECKS ..............................................2,654
VANDALISM REPORTS .......................................0
WARNINGS ISSUED ...........................................48
CASES CLEARED ..................................................3
CASES CLEARED BY ARREST ...........................1
LAKE ACTIVITIES
PATROLS ................................................................9
COVE CHECKS ..................................................310
VERBAL WARNINGS ...........................................2
WRITTEN WARNINGS .........................................0
CITATIONS ISSUED .............................................1
ASSISTANCE TO OTHER VESSELS ...................0
ASSISTANCE TO OTHER AGENCIES ................0
BOATING ACCIDENTS ........................................0
HOLIDAY EVENTS ...............................................0
OTHER ....................................................................0
PATROL HOURS .................................................11
July 2010
LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWS
LAKE OPERATIONS
by Clint Calhoun, Environ. Mgmt. Officer
Hope everyone is having a good boating
season so far. Memorial Day Weekend appeared to
be one of the busiest that Lake Lure has seen in a
long time. There were a lot of boaters out there and
not a single mishap, so we are grateful for that.
According to Dean Givens, our Lake Operations
Director, despite the traffic, everyone was following
the rules and safely operating their vessels. Only
two warnings were issued but no citations, which is
a turn around from years past. We truly appreciate
everyone’s effort to be safe out there.
It was recently brought to the attention of
the Lake Advisory Board that problems are
occurring with some of our galvanized steel cables.
Galvanized cable is used for many boatlifts and as
part of the anchoring system for floating platforms.
The galvanized cable in many cases is showing a lot
of signs of corrosion and we have some instances of
failure, causing problems for boatlifts. This matter
has been brought to the Lake Advisory Board to
look at possible changes to the Lake Structure
Regulations which require the use of galvanized
steel cables for anchoring floating platforms. The
regulations require galvanized unless a different
material is recommended by an engineer. Due to
the corrosion that is possible with galvanized, if
anyone is considering building a boatlift or floating
platform, stainless steel should be considered as a
non-corrosive alternative. This may mean using a
larger diameter cable in some cases where stainless
may not support as much load as galvanized, but
this is better than having your platform float away
and create a safety hazard, or worse, having your
boat to fall while on the lift due to a sheared
galvanized cable. You will likely be hearing more
information about this as the weeks go by.
Reminder: If you are making any changes to
a lake structure, you need to check with the town
before undertaking the project. We have had some
instances where we’ve had to issue Notices of
Violations because what was being constructed did
not meet our regulations. Please give us a heads-up
before you start construction or you may be
required to remove the offending structure. The
same reminder goes for land-disturbing activities
Page 5
and tree removal. Removal of significant trees
without permission or disturbing more than 500
square feet of land (100 square feet if within 50 feet
of a water body) without a permit can potentially
lead to some pretty substantial civil penalties, so
make sure you call before you cut or dig. We’ve
had some instances of this happening this year as
well and we are showing very little tolerance for
such offenses because everyone should know better
by now, as these regulations have been in place for
some time.
Also we want to remind folks to keep
exposed soil areas covered with grass or other forms
of ground cover to prevent washing, and for those
with gravel roads and driveways: please keep them
maintained and graveled. Driveways and gravel
roads contribute an enormous amount of sediment
to our streams and the lake. Regular upkeep cost
much less than trying to repair a washed out road or
driveway and certainly cost less than the cost of
having to dredge the material from the lake.
Our next big holiday is July 4th. We hope
everyone has a good 4th and encourage everyone to
continue to be safe out there. If you need to reach
us regarding a lake or environmental issue, please
contact Dean Givens at (828)625-9983 x128 or
loa@townoflakelure.com or Clint Calhoun at
(828)625-9983 x123 or eco@townoflakelure.com.
NEWS AROUND LAKE LURE
4 Day Olympiad Sport Festival. The 6th
Annual Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad will be held
August 26th – August 29th. Rumbling Bald will be
hosting this event that you won’t want to miss. This
year’s featured beneficiary will be Lake Lure
Classical Academy. Proceeds will be used to help
with the purchase of playground and athletic
equipment.
This charity event is for the entire family
with a full weekend of activities and sport
competitions. The 4-day festival begins with a Golf
Tournament at the Rumbling Bald Golf Course on
Thursday. Friday’s activities include: a challenging
10k run, pontoon challenge, ski show, shag dance
competition, traditional southern barbeque, free ice
cream, fireworks and the Lighting of the Olympiad
Torch Ceremony. Saturday’s events include: The
July 2010
LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWS
triathlon sprint, tennis, pickle ball and volleyball
tournaments, plus kids games. The junior
Olympiad, dragon boat races and the bike/run to
Chimney Rock will be held on Sunday.
There will be fun activities for all ages and
all abilities. For more information concerning the
event
schedule,
lodging,
etc,
visit
www.HickoryNutOlympiad.com or call 828-4299011.
The "Dirty Dancing Festival at Lake
Lure" is scheduled for September 17-18. Attendees
will have the chance to fulfill every girl's dream of
wanting to be Jennifer Grey by dancing in these
waters for play and fun competition.
The "Dirty Dancing Festival" GALA is on
the evening of Saturday, Sept. 18th after the Friday
night film screening and afternoon dance and music
festival. You can learn more about the festival
events by visiting www.dirtydancingfestival.com
or calling the Hickory Nut Gorge Chamber of
Commerce at 828-625-2725.
They want to make sure our community gets
first dibs on the VIP seats before they sell out. The
1960s-inspired, seated dinner is lakeside at Firefly
Cove and will max out at 500 people. Of those 500,
only 100 VIP seats are available. VIP seating will
be prime for watching the dance performances,
other special performances and the band. We also
have gift bags planned for the VIP seats.
VIP tickets are $75 per person and regular
seating is $50 per person and can be purchased
online at www.dirtydancingfestival.com. The
dinner is being catered by Larkin's Restaurants.
The festival will benefit Hospice of
Rutherford County, the Isothermal Foundation
Performing Arts Center and the Lake Lure Youth
Center.
Now Open...Lake Lure Market
Produce, Crafts, Arts and More...
April 3rd thru Oct. 30th
Tuesday's & Saturdays
located behind ABC Store.
Page 6
.LAKE LURE LION’S CLUB
23rd ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Monday, July 12 2010, 8:30 am shotgun start
Apple Valley Golf Club
Rumbling Bald Resort, Lake Lure, NC
Format:
1. Players can make up their own foursome or
tourney officials will make up foursomes as
required for 18 holes. Men will play from yellow
tees. Single golfers can be paced on a team.
2. Players must have a verified USGA handicap.
3. Scoring will be: 2 net best balls per hole.
4. Two divisions: men’s and women’s.
5. Entry fee of $50/person includes golf, cart fees,
breakfast and lunch.
6. Special prize package $15 includes: Hole-in-one
($500 cash prize), putting contest, closest to pin for
Men & Women, and 2 Mulligans! Raffle prizes
consist of very nice selections.
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO HELP THE BLIND,
DEAF & HANDICAPPED IN THIS AREA.
Entry Information:
1. Deadline for entry: 5 P.M., July 2, 2010
2. Need additional information, call 828-625-2888
or 694-3042
3. Make checks payable to: Lake Lure Lion’s Club
4. You can pay when you register or pay in
advance by mailing checks and entry form to:
Buddy Gregg
217 Stayman Court
Lake Lure, NC 28746
Shepherd’s Care - Come join the group
gathering each Friday at town hall from 10am to
2pm. Shepherd's Care is hosting these fun, activitypacked sessions open to all adults over 50
(caregivers welcome for those with disabilities).
From 10 to 11am, the seniors can receive a
health check which includes blood pressure and
weight. They will also have a chance to talk with
Park Ridge Hospital Staff. Coffee and snacks will
be served as well as newspaper swapping, small
group games, puzzles and power and loop walking
in Morse Park. Bingo will be held from 11 to noon
with a light lunch from noon to 12:30.
July 2010
LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWS
From 12:30 to 2:00pm, there will be a
variety of special programs including art therapy,
dance/movement therapy, genealogy, healthy eating
demonstrations, storytelling and crafts. A computer
lab will also be available...bring your laptop and
learn.
Lake Lure Lakefront Owners Association
(LLLOA). If you are a Lake Lure Lakefront Owner
and do not belong to the LLLOA, we encourage you
to join us to stay informed about lake issues.
Associate memberships are welcome. Each year
members receive a membership booklet,
informative Muse Letters, and a first class mailed
subscription to the Town of Lake Lure monthly
newsletter, Lake Lure news and Views. Members
hold a social and business meeting annually a the
Town Community Center. Annual dues are
currently $25.00. You may pick up an application
for membership at the Municipal Center or via the
website www.townoflakelure.com under Lake
Management. You may also call LLLOA President
Brown Thornton at 828-625-8693 for an application
or any questions.
Lake Lure Newcomers Club invites new
residents of Lake Lure (24 months or less), zip code
28746, to join with them in many activities in and
around the area. If you are interested in joining and
becoming a member, call Nancy at 625-9670 or
Karen at 625-4000.
For the convenience of the public, the
VFW Post 10473 has placed a receptacle for old
and worn out American flags in the covered
walkway at the town hall near the entrance to the
police department’s door. If you would like a
replacement flag, for a small fee, or are eligible and
wish to join the VFW contact VFW Vice
Commander Charles Hicks at 828-625-9278.
Free online newspaper for Lake Lure,
Chimney Rock and Rutherford County. Local
history, comprehensive calendar, groups, preserving
the Gorge, fun things to do in the Gorge and local
authors. http://www.hickorynutgorgenews.com
Lake Lure Lakefront Owners Association
(LLLOA). If you are a Lake Lure Lakefront Owner
and do not belong to the LLLOA, we encourage you
Page 7
to join us to stay informed about lake issues.
Associate memberships are welcome. Each year
members receive a membership booklet,
informative Muse Letters, and a first class mailed
subscription to the Town of Lake Lure monthly
newsletter, Lake Lure news and Views. Members
hold a social and business meeting annually a the
Town Community Center. Annual dues are
currently $25.00. You may pick up an application
for membership at the Municipal Center or via the
website www.townoflakelure.com under Lake
Management. You may also call LLLOA President
Betty Ross at 828-625-5161 for an application or
any questions.
Check out the free Mountain Breeze
Newspaper, news of the greater Lake Lure area, at
www.mountainbreezenews.com we are in our 22nd
year
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer
firefighter please contact Ron Morgan at
firechief@townoflakelure.com or (828) 625-9333
for more information.
The deadline for newsletter articles to be received
at Town Hall for the August issue is July 21, 2010.
Complaints concerning the operation of tour boats on Lake
Lure may call 828-625-1373.
The Town of Lake Lure Newsletter is published for
residents and property owners of the Town and reports on
issues and events that affect our community. Please call 828625-9983, x129 with any questions, comments or newsletter
suggestions.