Safety First

It's been said hundreds of times but is worth repeating: if you are not facing an emergency situation or need to drive out of absolute necessity, stay off the roads when wintry precipitation makes for hazardous conditions. (After Christmas sale shopping does not constitute an emergency.)

Our Morrisville public works staff will be out during storm events and expected events, pre-treating and plowing roads to keep them passable. NCDOT will cover state maintained roads. And our emergency personnel and CERT teams are ready to respond when needed.

The bottom line - you can assist by staying home (or staying put) to enjoy the snow. Be safe!

The Budget and Beyond

The Budget:

By a vote of 6-1, the Morrisville town council approved a $21.3M budget for the fiscal year that began July 1st. This year's plan amounts to an 8.1% increase over the original FY 2010 budget of $19.7M. A leaner budget than those approved in FY 08 ($22M) and FY 09 ($21.6M), our property tax rate remains the 3rd lowest in Wake county at .3665 per $100 of property value.

And Beyond:

• Larger recycling bins will be rolled out in early August. To get yours, submit a request here.
• Citizen Survey Panel Morrisville residents are encouraged to participate in shaping town policies through public hearings, public comment opportunities, work shops and our online surveys. Register once for regular
• Dine Local - Supporting local restaurants Morrisville style! Stay tuned for promotions, special dining hours and opportunities to offer community support of our seventy two (yes, 72) local eateries. Congratulations to Morrisville resident Chuck Vitello for the winning entry in our logo contest.
• Community Garden update: the interest survey is now online and a public interest forum is scheduled for July 28th at 6:30 PM. As always, overflow parking is available at the Ed White Chamber Bldg at 260 Town Hall Dr.
• Town Center Code - with the unanimous council vote of approval on July 13th, we're one step closer to creating a downtown. First official building will be our new Fire Station #1.
• And less than 2 weeks into the fiscal year....... thanks to our Street Division Superintendent Jim Grimstead, we'll be entering into a heavy equipment agreement with our neighbors in Cary. Projected savings over the 5 year agreement - $75,000. Not a bad way to start the year.
  

Heart of the Triangle - Transportation Info and Updates

In case you missed it: as part of the Mayor's Town Hall Meeting series, our Morrisville staff presented information on a number of transportation related topics. Not as good as the live version, but here it is on Memorex. With thanks to our staff:Mayor's Town Hall Meeting - Transportation June 15, 2010

View more presentations from JackieHolcombe.

FY 2011 Budget Proposal

No Property Tax Increase Proposed

During our January 2010 retreat, town council members were asked to provide staff with general budget direction. 6 of 7 council members recommended maintaining a high level of service to our community while holding our property tax rate steady at .3665. The preliminary budget based on that recommendation is now available for review and will be discussed at an open house:

Tuesday, May 11th

5:00 - 6:30 PM

Morrisville Town Hall - Council Chambers

The highlights:

• No property tax increase
• No new staff positions
• 3 positions currently vacant are frozen
• Conservative capital spending - construction of new Fire Station #1 is the only funded item for FY 2011
• $10 increase in per vehicle fee for needed road maintenance plus matching funds for future CAMPO projects - NC54 corridor study & McCrimmon (preliminary) grade separation/NC 54 intersection design
• Limited town funded events

How do we compare with other Wake municipalities? From the budget proposal:(Click above graphic to enlarge)

Overall, this is a sound budget proposal, with conservative spending that holds our property tax rate steady. In addtion, the $10 per vehicle increase will allow the town to submit future road projects for cost share consideration. Agree? Disagree? Have suggestions for additional capital spending on currently unfunded items? We won't know unless you tell us, in person at our upcoming public hearings May 25th and June 8th or online at your leisure.

The Next 6 Weeks

In progress and yet to come.......

Closing of the railroad crossing on Barbee Rd - Widening of the intersection of NC 54 & Morrisville-Carpenter Rd/Aviation Pkwy to improve traffic flow required addition of a road lane across existing railway tracks. That lane addition was at direct odds with the goal of the North Carolina Railroad to limit or reduce, for safety reasons, at-grade (street level) crossings of railroad lines. As such, the town of Morrisville entered into a binding four party agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway, North Carolina Railroad and the North Carolina Department of Transportation in April of 2008. That agreement requires the Town of Morrisville to blockade Barbee Road at the railroad tracks within 180 days (on or about March 24, 2010) of the completion of the Morrisville-Carpenter Rd project. The town council has heard from many residents expressing valid and heartfelt concerns, especially about public safety response times and neighborhood safety. Of additional concern - the eventual closing of the intersection of Church St and NC54 for rail realignment. A required council vote is scheduled for March 23rd.

Town Center Code - Following our years-in-the-making Town Center Plan, the final public hearing on our Town Center Code is scheduled for March 23rd. The purpose of the Town Center Code is to implement the Town Center Plan adopted by the Town Council in 2007, and to help make sure that new development is built in a manner consistent with this community vision. In addition, the code encourages "eco-conscious design." A council vote on the code is scheduled for April 27.

The first in a series of Mayor's Town Hall Meetings will take place on Wednesday March 24 from 7 - 8 PM at the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce. The topic - an informational update on the Park West Village development, past, present and future.

Budget Portal - Not unlike other area municipalities, Morrisville has adjusted to difficult financial times. Growth has slowed and sales tax and other revenue is not expected to return to previous levels for quite some time. The council has given direction for the Fiscal Year 2011 budget that begins July 1st. Now it's your turn. Share your priorities and expectations by clicking the link.

Census 2010 - Ten minutes, ten questions for Morrisville's share of "per capita" funds. READ: $1200 - $1500 per person per year. The town is doing all it can do keep property taxes low. Here's your chance to help. Fill out your form and mail it back promptly. Census Day is April 1st.

Fitness Challenge - A work in progress, but prompted by Rolesville Mayor Frank Eagles' challenge to area mayors and municipalities. More to come.

Citizen Survey Panel - Morrisville residents are active, engaged participants in our town government and have said time and again that they want a place at the Heart of the Triangle table. Our citizens survey panel is an opportunity to provide input from the comfort of your own home. Or work. Or library.

With sincere thanks to all who dedicate their time and talent to our community,

Jackie

"Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break." - Jane Wells

The First 6 Weeks

Beginning with the swearing in ceremony on December 8th, these past 6 weeks have been busy ones for our Morrisville town council.


Our retreat on January 9 & 10 focused on working relationships, town goals and our financial picture. Council provided early general direction on our FY 2011 budget: maintain town services without a property tax increase. With intergovernmental revenues continuing to shrink, this will be a tall order. In addition, staff suggested and council agreed that 2010 will be the Year of Transparency. To kick off this year's theme, staff has put together a comprehensive 5 year business plan that provides specific detail on every town expense. Expect an online version to be available to the public in the weeks to come.

Discussions on our Town Center Development Code and Park West Village are ongoing. The public hearing for the Town Center Code will open on 1/26 and likely be continued until February. This is an important step toward further defining our town center and council is committed to an outcome that will benefit residents and business owners alike. An informational meeting on Park West Village will take place on Wednesday, March 24th. Approved in early 2008, minor site plan changes requiring staff review are being proposed. As a courtesy to all interested, a representative of Casto/1st Carolina, Morrisville staff and your mayor will provide updates and answer questions at the meeting on the 24th.


Also high on the priority list for the council and of significant importance - the closing of the Barbee Rd RR crossing. The town previously entered into an agreement to close the crossing no later than 6 months after the improvements at NC54 and Morrisville-Carpenter Rd were completed. That deadline has now passed. Town council will hold a public hearing on the closing beginning in February.

My schedule over these past 6 weeks has included meetings with residents, area mayors, the Wake county school board, CAMPO, business leaders, town staff and members of the press. Each of those meetings has provided opportunities to reinforce both our mission:

"The Town of Morrisville is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life by preserving our past and protecting our future through a collective community partnership. By balancing responsible growth with core values, we embrace a sense of membership, communication, and support.”

and vision:

“The Town of Morrisville will be an innovative crossroads where cultural heritage meets the next generation nurturing vibrant communities of thriving families and businesses while preserving small-town values.”

Casual suggestions of a merger with our much respected neighbor Cary aside, Morrisville is and will continue to be, in more ways than one, the Heart of the Triangle. To wit....


Hats off to our Morrisville fire department. As part of their dedication to "Service Before Self" one of our fire companies adopted a local family at Christmas. And as if that weren't enough, they also spent several days over the Christmas holiday constructing an accessible ramp at our First Baptist Church. Thanks go to them for demonstrating the very best in small town values.