NCS000478_April-June 2019 Newsletter_20190812

PARK
► RHODODENDRON LAKE NATURE
AR PARK- UPDATE
leaves In December of 2018, the US Corps of Engineers
:thin three turned over to the Town and Conserving Carolina the
management of the 2.8-acre conservation easement
Mob area in the 10.1-acre Rhododendron Lake Nature
Park (RLNP). The Town generated a Conservation
Easement Management Plan that targets methods for
maintaining the unnamed tributary to Wash Creek and
the designated buffers within the easement, providing
passive streamside recreation, plus enhancing
educational opportunities about water resources and
stormwater management. This plan addresses long-
term management issues, including the maintenance
of the flora and fauna as well as how visitors interact
with the easement.
The Parks and Greenways Board is developing plans
with Conserving Carolina and the North Carolina
ESKCooperative Extension Service to organize a volunteer
workday program this Spring that will remove
invasives and create sight vistas in specific areas.
Supporters of RLNP have donated over $18,000 by
purchasing pavers engraved with their chosen texts.
These engraved pavers have been placed in the RLNP
supporter circle (look in the picture below for the circle
in the walking path along the lake.) Please consider
purchasing a paver as a keepsake for loved ones or
events. Pavers come in 4 sizes to hold those special
thoughts. Go to the Town website, laurelpark.orr , click
on Park Donations, Purchase a Paver or to Town Hall
and fill out a forin.
If you would like to help as a volunteer with the RLNP
maintenance program, or to donate funds for the
effort, please contact Interim Town Manager, Mike
Morgan at 828.693.4840 m [e-mail].
G
Rhododendron Lake Nature Park - 2018 Aerial View
From Lake Drive side

RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING
Household Recyclable Material is collected one (1) time
per week on your normal scheduled pick up day.
An unlimited amount of recyclable material may be
placed curbside for collection. You may place items
in a blue or clear bag; these are available at your local
supermarket. You can also find containers labeled for
Recycling at your hardware store. Waste Pro will leave
behind all materials not accepted in the program. The
following materials ARE currently accepted in the
curbside recycling program:
WHAT MAY 1 RECYCLE?
1. Metal Cans & Empty Aerosol Cans —
Aluminum, Steel, Tin
2. Plastic Bottles, Jars & Plastic Food to
Containers #1 through #7
(Exception: black microwavable trays and
Styrofoam)
3. Glass Bottles and Jars — Clear, Brown, Green
4. Aluminum Pie Tins and Food Trays
5. Milk & Juice Cartons
6. Newspapers & Inserts
7. Corrugated Cardboard
8. Mixed Paper.
Catalogs, Junk mail, Magazines, Egg cartons
(paper), Envelopes
Manila Envelopes, Office Paper, Phone books,
Glossy Paper
Post -It -Notes, Cereal boxes, Brown paper bags,
Paper towel rolls
Shredded paper (place in paper bag with top
rolled down), Etc.!
HOW TO PREPARE RECYCLABLES
1. RINSE all bottles and cans — lids and labels may
remain on.
2. FLATTEN plastic jugs and bottles
3. BREAK DOWN and FLATTEN corrugated cardboard
4. SET your recyclables at the curb by 7 A.M. on your
recycling day
WHAT IS NOT RECYCLABLE?
1. Aluminum Foil
2. Dishes or Cookware
3. Styrofoam
4. Plastic Wrap
5. Window or Mirror Glass
6. Plastic bags (please take these to Ingles, Wal- Mart,
Target, etc.)
7. Light Bulbs
8. Drinking Glasses
9. Paper towels or tissue
10. Black microwavable trays
RECYCLING TREND
From a Refuse and Recycling Manager's point of view,
the negative recycling trend, in which the recycling
commodity continues to be heavily contaminated and
the shortage of buyers for the end, finished product
continues to grow, will become more pronounced this
year. China, the main end destination and purchaser of
the different recycling commodities, has tightened the
restrictions of contamination in mixed paper to .5%! This
basically means that the chances of being able to sell
the commodities for a profit is almost non-existent, and
the cost to remove more and more contamination in an
effort to prepare the commodity for sale, continues to
soar.
Many municipalities no longer offer the option to recycle
as the cost to dispose of a ton of recycling has reached
unprecedented heights, and they can no longer afford
to offer this service. Other towns are having to take the
recycling to the landfill and dump them as trash, then
the recycling centers are full of bails of material that
they don't have buyers for, and the landfill is their only
other option. The cost to dispose of one ton of recycling
has more than doubled over the course of the last year
in many areas, and in some cases, is well over $100/ton,
more than the cost to dispose of a ton of solid waste
(trash)!
Glass is a huge problem that many waste companies
no longer accept as a recycling product as it is very
abrasive to machines and collection and vehicles, and
the cost to process and ship this material outweighs any
yielded profit.
• BILL PAYMENT CONVENIENCE •
DROP BOX & BANK DRAFT •
• Paying your water bill can be convenient! We have •
a secure steel drop box located next to the USPS .
• Mailbox at Town Hall, and it is accessible from a •
• vehicle. You can use it for bill payment, house check
• forms, or other correspondence to the Town.
The weather-proof drop box is checked every business
day. Payments deposited by 9:00 AM are counted for •
the day collected. •
• For the ultimate convenience, sign up for bank draft •
payment of your water bill. Fill out a 1-page form and •
•. provide a canceled check. In most cases, we will be •
• able to draft your account the same month. For more •
• info or to sign up, please call [phone]. > •

FRIENDS OF
LAUREL PARK
NEWS
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH FLP : The Friends of Laurel
Park (FLP) hosted two meetings for town residents -
January and March -to get your feedback on the events
we sponsored last year and to find out what you would
like to have us sponsor this coming year. Your response
was enthusiastic and positive about last year's calendar
of events. For the coming year, you told us that you were
interested in gardening, developing walking trails, the
history of Laurel Park and you want the FLP to continue
to sponsor your favorite -the Jump Off Rock Music
Festival.
It takes people to make these events happen and we
need you to volunteer to help make them a success.
And did we have a successful event on April 6th! Ilene
and Phil Broome, Timber Creek residents, organized
the "Furry Friends Meet & Greet" in Rhododendron Lake
Nature Park. The FLP sponsored the event and hosted
a dog walk to get things started. Seventeen pet care
vendors set up around the lake providing information on
their services. The weather was perfect and many "furry
friends" and their companions enjoyed the event.
So, we thank those of you have signed up to help, and
we ask that if you are interested in supporting our events
that you send us an email at friend soflp@mail corn or
go to our website at www.friendsoflaurelparl<.org. You
will also should have received a letter asking for your
support for the FLP. Just know that we thank you for
your support and welcome your participation!
SAVE THE DATES: The FLP has a great line up of events
for this spring.
May 11th, Saturday, Spring Roadside Clean-up:
iMeet at the Town Hall at 9am and join your
neighbors to help make our town even more
beautiful after the LONG winter.
May 18th, Saturday, Bird Walk: Meet at the
Primrose Lane entrance to Rhododendron Lake
Nature Park at 9am. Stroll around the park with
ornithologist, Mike Erwin. Bring your binoculars!
Rain date, same time, same place - May 19th.
RSVP to Mike at [e-mail]
June 8th, Saturday, Jump Off Rock Music Festival:
It's that time of year again ... bring your friends, a
chair, some food, your dancing shoes and listen
to the music of Dashboard Blue and watch the
sunset. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the program
starts at 5pm. Rain date is Sunday, June 9th -
same time - same place! Tickets, costing $10, will
be available in mid -April at the Laurel Park town
hall, The Crate & Project and the Hendersonville
Visitor Center -or go to the FLP website and pay
using PayPal. -
YAM Yoga has also said that they will once again
provide weekly yoga and chair massage events in
Rhododendron Lake Nature Park ... so, stay tuned
for the specifics!
SPRINGTIME SAFETY TIPS
Winter is coming to an end and as we transition
into spring people are ready to get outside to clean
up their property, start springtime projects and
exercise. However there is still a lot of cold weather
during springtime, especially in Laurel Park's higher
elevations.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
➢ Be aware of icy steps, decks, walkways and
drivewaysduring the morning hours.
➢ Keep a bag of ice -melt or sand handy. Wear
proper footwear if you suspect icy conditions.
➢ Wear a high visibility vest or a bright colored shirt
such as lime green or yellow when out for a walk.
➢ When working in your yard be sure to drink plenty
of water and take frequent breaks.
➢ If you going to burn yard debris you must first
obtain a burn permit from the town office and
follow all laws, regulations and ordinances on
open burning in Laurel Park.
➢ Change the battery in your smoke alarm when
daylight savings time begins. If you need any
assistance with changing a battery or testing
your alarm, contact Valley Hill Fire & Rescue.
➢ Smoke alarms should be tested every month.
VALLEY RML' If you have any questions or
concerns please contact
Fire and Life Safety
Officer Chris McDowell:
C 828-692-2581 ext 105
Um

...................................................................
Mayor.
:Town Hall 693-4840
Public Meetino Schedule
J. Carey O'Cain
: 9:00 am-5:00 pm Mon —Fri
: Meetings held at Town Hall,
Mayor Pro-Tem:
• Tax Collection
: unless otherwise noted
Robert 0. Vickery
Utility Billing
: Town Council Regular Meeting .
. Sanitation
: 3rd Tuesday @ 9:30 am
Commissioners:
A. Paul Hansen
• Zoning
:Public Works 692-7568
: Town Council Work Session
George W. Banta
:6:30 am-5:30 pm Mon-Thurs: Thursday prior to Regular
P. McKinley
Nancy y
: After hours 697-3025
: Meeting @ 9:30 am
Interim Manager.
• Water/Sewer
: Parks & Greenways Board
Mike Morgan
• Street
: 2nd Tuesday @ 9:30 am
Town Clerk:
Police Office 692-9399
(non -emergency)
: Planning Board
Kim Hensley
: 2nd Tuesday @ 3:00 pm
Police Chief:
Police Dispatch 697-3025
: ABC Board
Bobbie Trotter
; (non -emergency)
4th Tuesday @ 8:30 am
Police Mobile [phone]
at the ABC Store
Public Works Director.: (answered by Hville Police Dept
: Zoning Board of Adjustment
Andrew Griffin
dispatch)
: Every other month (odd); Thurs
Valley Hill Fire 692-2581
: prior to Council mtg @ 4:00 pm ;
?018 PROPERTY TAX UPDATE
'otal Levy
$1,541,548.20
layments Received
$1,471,984.55
.evy Balance Due (principal)
$69,563.65
iterest/Penalties Due
$1,390.44
OTAL BALANCE DUE
$70,954.09
:ollection Rate
95.25%
TOWN OF LAUREL PARK
441 White Pine Drive
Laurel Park, NC 28739-0910
(Outstanding taxes as of February 1, 2079)
*Notices to delinquent taxpayers were
mailed in April. The names of taxpayers
with delinquent taxes remaining will be
advertised in the newspaper and posted
at Town Hall in May.