Flat Rock celebrates greening of village

From the Times-News:

The Park at Flat Rock, as the former Highland Lake Golf Course is now being called, wasn't just the biggest thing to happen to the village in 2013, Village Administrator Judy Boleman said.

"It's also the biggest capital project in the village since we incorporated in 1995," Boleman said, looking out over the 66-acre park last week. Flat Rock residents cherish their trees and open space, she said, "and this park is very much in alignment with that concept."

Village Council agreed in May to buy the former links from Course Doctors Inc. for $1.15 million to protect open space at the village's gateway and create a dawn-to-dusk park with passive features such as walking and biking trails, playground equipment and picnic areas.

The park officially opened to dog-walkers and exercisers Dec. 13, although there are no restroom facilities or amenities, yet. But the village has installed benches, trash cans, signs outlining park rules and a donated doggie waste station. . .

Read it all.

Buyer wants to resurrect Braewood plan

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

A Fletcher developer who bought the 88-acre Braewood property in a foreclosure sale this month said he would like to resurrect a site plan that called for a 121-home residential development on West Blue Ridge Road next to the Mill House Lodge.

Matt King bought the bank-owned property for $1.078 million in a foreclosure auction on Dec. 10.

"It is under contract and I expect it to close by the end of the year," said Frank Smith of the auction company Stephen Jax & Associates. "It was a good auction. Almost every (registered) bidder placed a bid. It's a very appealing piece of property for a lot of different reasons."

The property was owned by TD Bank, the successor to Carolina First Bank, which in February 2008 had loaned $2.5 million for the development proposed by Hilton Swing and his father, Ken Swing.

King also bought the Fox Glen property in Fletcher in a foreclosure sale and developed the subdivision. He has spoken several times with Flat Rock Village Administrator Judy Boleman about the process for reactivating a special use permit the village issued in 2007. . .

Read it all.

Merry Christmas!

Flat Rock Village Council again waives pay

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

The Flat Rock Village Council said farewell to three veteran council members and welcomed three replacements this month.

Anne Coletta, Albert Gooch and Sheryl Jamerson replaced retiring members Dave Bucher, Jim Wert and Ron Davis. . .

The council continued the tradition of waiving council pay, which is budgeted at $3,000 a year for council members and $6,000 for the mayor. . .

Read it all.

Flat Rock Village Council can't fudge on crucial vote

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

It started with talk about fudge. Then it became a challenge.

Ron Davis and Jimmy Chandler, members of the Flat Rock Village Council, both said their moms made the best fudge. The obvious solution: A Fudge Off, as Chandler dubbed it. There was a brief discussion about nut allergies. "Ron and I discussed it but we could not adulterate our mother's recipe by leaving out the nuts," Chandler said. The fudge was laid out, labeled A and B. Ballots were handed out.

Tension was as thick as chocolate batter. . .

Check it out to find out whose fudge won!

Three retiring Flat Rock council members interviewed

For those who missed the print edition of the Hendersonville Lightning a few weeks ago, the stories on the three retiring Flat Rock councilmen are now online:

• Dave Bucher
• Ron Davis
• Jim Wert

The Park at Flat Rock is open

The Park at Flat Rock is open! From the Hendersonville Lightning:

So far use of the Park at Flat Rock has been light, with a few walkers and dogs sighted since the park opened on Friday, Dec. 13.

The Flat Rock Village Council last week announced the official park opening, showed off the first two park benches and appointed a park advisory committee. The Village Council bought the former Highland Lake golf course property for $1.15 million. It has appropriated roughly $832,000 for park improvements for the budget year ending June 30, although no major work has been authorized yet. . .

The Village Council also created a new Park and Recreation Advisory Board and appointed retiring council member Dave Bucher and former park exploratory committee members Ginger Brown and John Dockendorf to serve. The Village Council scheduled a planning workshop Jan. 7 to discuss park development. The first two priorities are an improved walking trail, rest rooms, a picnic pavilion and a new entrance off Highland Lake Road. Walking the entire perimeter of the parkland would be about a 1.5-mile trip. . .

The council decided to go ahead and open the park despite the fact that no park improvements have been made. "The park is in development phase and portions of the park may be closed to tbe public at times," a sign says. "Obey all construction zone instructions." The Park is open from dawn until dusk. For more information about the Park, contact Flat Rock Village Hall at 697-8100.

Read it all.

Park workshop to be January 7

At today's regular village council meeting, the council decided to hold a workshop to discuss various issues on the park development. The workshop will be held Tuesday, January 7, at 9:30 a.m. at the village hall.

All council meetings/workshops are open to the public, so see you there!

88-acre Braewood property sold at auction

The auction for the Braewood property was December 10. From the Hendersonville Lightning:

An 88-acre tract of land that was once the site of proposed 121-home residential development sold at auction on Tuesday for just over $1 million.

A developer who bought the Braewood property visited Flat Rock Village Hall on Tuesday, the same day as the auction, to check on zoning and village development regulations, said Village Administrator Judy Boleman.

The Village of Flat Rock had authorized a 121-unit planned residential community on the undeveloped property in gently sloping woods on West Blue Ridge Road that would include walking trails, a 50 percent set-aside for open space and access to Jordan Lake. The property is across from Bonclarken between the Mill House Lodge and Flat Rock Middle School.

Hilton Swing and his father, Kenneth Swing, received a special-use permit in August 2007 toward the tail end of Henderson County's real estate building boom. The Braewood development never got off the ground. When the special-use permit expires on Jan. 1, the property will revert to R10, R20, and R40 residential zoning, which require quarter-acre, half-acre and one-acre lots respectively. . .

Read it all.

2014 Village Council meeting schedule

January - December 2014
Village of Flat Rock

Schedule of Meetings

Monday, December 30, Agenda Workshop

Friday, January 10, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, February 3, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, February 13, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, March 3, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, March 13, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, March 31, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, April 10, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, April 28, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, May 8, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, June 2, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, June 12, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, June 30, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, July 10, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, August 4, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, August 14, Monthly Council Meeting

Tuesday, September 2, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, September 11, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, September 29, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, October 9, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, November 3, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, November 13, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, December 1, Agenda Workshop

Thursday, December 11, Monthly Council Meeting

Monday, December 29, Agenda Workshop

All meeting locations are in the Flat Rock Village Hall unless otherwise dictated by space requirements or other circumstances.

All Monthly Council Meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month, unless that Thursday is a holiday, and start at 9:30 a.m.

Agenda Workshops also start at 9:30 a.m. and precede Monthly Council Meetings by 10 days, unless that Monday is a holiday.

Check the village council agenda and meeting minutes online here.

Any takers? Flat Rock seeks bids for removing buildings

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

The Village of Flat Rock is seeking bids for someone to remove two buildings from its new park property at the former Highland Lake Golf Club.

The Village Council has determined that it will have no use for the old Course Doctors office and the cart barn when it makes improvements to the 66-acre park.

"If anyone would like to have them, if they would dismantle them and take them away, that would be the best of all worlds for the Village," Mayor Bob Staton said. "We need to dispose of the two buildings."

Engineers say that the concrete floor of the cart barn can be used for the pavilion the village plans as part of the phase 1 improvements. Moving of the building "must be undertaken with caution so as not to damage the concrete floor," the village said in a legal notice seeking bids for the buildings' removal. . .

Read it all.

Public hearings on Flat Rock village council agenda for December 12

Some highlights on the upcoming regular monthly Flat Rock village council meeting on Thursday, December 12, at 9:30 a.m., which will include the following public hearings:

• Ordinance No. 86, Capital Projects Budget Ordinance, The Park at Flat Rock 
• Ordinance No. 87, Amended Historic Landmarks Designation 
• Ordinance Historic Landmark Designation for Beaumont 

Under Old Business, the agenda lists a financial update on the Flat Rock Playhouse. Should be interesting. 

Talk about possible occupancy tax increase to help FRP . . . again?

For those with short memories, July, 2012, saw heated discussion by the Henderson County commissioners, lodge owners, and citizens about the idea of increasing the occupancy tax by one percent, and designating that increase to the Flat Rock Playhouse. In August, 2012, the county commissioners tabled the idea of increasing the tax at that time and said they would revisit the idea in six months. In February, 2013 (six months later), the Flat Rock Playhouse asked the county commissioners to drop the idea of a tax increase, opting instead to concentrate on a new "Stay & Play" partnership with the Tourism Development Authority (TDA).

Now, as part of the agreement between the county commissioners and the TDA (from the Times-News):

TDA Chairman Shannon Clarke told his board Tuesday that county leaders have agreed to grant the TDA full discretion over spending of room tax revenues — including half a percent currently funneled to the museum — in return for a capped $80,000 to $100,000 annual lease on the county-owned Visitor Center building. . .

Moreover, Clarke said [Henderson County] commissioners have agreed to allow the TDA control over spending an additional 1 percent of occupancy tax allowed by state law but not levied yet. Only commissioners can increase or decrease the occupancy tax, he said, but “they will not do it without our request.”

“Now, if we’re seeing that we’re not creating enough revenue to compete with counties around us, then we’d also make a request for them to increase it by a half or 1 percent,” Clarke said.

He suggested possible beneficiaries of extra room tax proceeds, including a wayfinding (signage) program and the Flat Rock Playhouse. In September, TDA board members rejected a proposal to renew a $25,000 “Stay and Play” program involving the purchase of Playhouse tickets, which were distributed to accommodations as lodging incentives.

On Tuesday, Clarke proposed another way for the TDA to support the Playhouse, which he said draws many visitors to the county but has lost several hundred thousand dollars in local governmental support this year. He suggested the TDA become a “season sponsor” for Playhouse productions, valued at $25,000 but subject to negotiation. . .

But board member Brenda Ramer questioned why the theater has not provided the TDA with “any kind of strategic plan, in how they’re going to fix their own issues other than to keep asking for money in different ways.”. . .

The Playhouse funding issue was tabled until the board could digest the results of a tourism study they were getting from consultant Young Strategies Inc. That study shows the Playhouse ranked seventh in “visitor attractions” among 1,350 survey respondents, behind Main Street shopping, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Carl Sandburg Home and Chimney Rock State Park, among others.

Read it all. And more on the consultant's study is here.

Dean’s Deli in Flat Rock has new owners

This time, a story in the Times-News about the new owners of Dean's Deli:

Shannon Zlacki said that as soon as she saw the deli and other shops on Rainbow Row near the Flat Rock Playhouse, “We thought, ‘Oh my gosh! This is the cutest, quaintest little town. If we were on vacation we would definitely come to Flat Rock. We enjoy kayaking and biking. The mountains are beautiful and the people here are so friendly.”

On Nov. 1, Shannon Zlacki’s birthday, [Dustin and Shannon] sold their home in Pittsburgh and bought Dean’s.

The Deans have spent the week training the Zlackis on the ins and outs of running the business. Kathy Dean has also been sharing family recipes for the deli’s most popular sandwiches. They include “The Big Mamma,” a turkey and bacon sandwich; “Kathy’s Club,” which includes ham, cheese, turkey and bacon; and “Ed’s Big Mouth,” which is named after Kathy Dean’s father and includes provolone cheese, ham and lots of salami. . .

Dustin Zlacki said that for now, not much will change, but the couple are considering a few options. . .

Read it all. An earlier post on the new owners is here.

Flat Rock taking possession of park land Friday

Just as an FYI--while Flat Rock takes possession of the park on Friday (November 15), the park will not be open to the public for walking until sometime in mid-December. From the Hendersonville Lightning:

One day before the Flat Rock takes possession of its new 67-acre park land, the Village Council decided that it needed to hold a workshop to order priorities for park development.

The council has been talking about acquiring the former Highland Lake Golf Club property for 14 months. It closed on the $1.1 million purchase in July and allocated $832,000 last spring for park development in the current budget year. It adopted a master plan for development and set out a phase 1 of improvements. Part of that seem to unravel Thursday when council members debated what exactly should happen first. Before the council started discussing plans for the 67 acres along Highland Lake Road, CPA Carl Shaw suggested that the council segregate park spending in a capital project ordinance. . .

[Vice Mayor Nick] Weedman's comments drew the council into a few minutes of friction, a rarity in Flat Rock, where political accord and smooth operations are the usual order. Weedman suggested that the council still needed to set its priorities. Mayor Bob Staton and Councilman Dave Bucher countered that the council had already done that. It adopted a master plan in a special meeting earlier this month and decided that the first phase would include a new entrance, a perimeter walking trail and restroom and pavilion. Weedman said he is not sure a new entrance, reconfigured parking lot or lighting are needed. The village might be better off, he said, waiting to see how much the park is used. . .

Read it all.

Little River Road will reopen Friday, DOT says

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

The new bridge over Mud Creek is expected to open by Friday night (Nov. 15), the DOT says, opening up the 4-mile length of heavily traveled Little River Road for the first time since March.

A contractor was finishing up roadway paving on the new bridge on Little River Road in Flat Rock this week. The DOT's website projects that the bridge will open by 7 p.m. Friday. The DOT had made opening projections of Oct. 1 and Oct. 15. . .

Read it all.

New owners for Dean's Deli

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Like Kathy and Richard Dean before them, Shannon and Dustin Zlacki decided to uproot from home, buy a business in little Flat Rock, N.C., and work side by side long hours six days a week.

The difference is the Zlackis don't have to build the business from the ground up. The couple has bought Dean's Market and Deli from the proprietors who made it what is today — a popular hangout for retirees and a few working folks and a place to grab a homemade biscuit, cup of soup or sandwich. It's the leading food market in the Village of Flat Rock. Well, it's the only food market in Flat Rock. "We were looking for a change," Shannon Zlacki said. . .

Shannon says she plans to keep the same menu. Kathy Dean is sharing recipes, and both Deans are staying on to train the new owners and introduce them to regular customers for the next two weeks. Shannon promises a few Pittsburgh specialties, including chopped ham barbecue and French fries on sandwiches. . .

Read it all.

Fall falling. . .

I didn't think the leaves were as pretty this year as last. All the yellows were brown(ish), but some of the reds were very nice. Just a few from last week on the Japanese maple next door. . .all gone now. . .

GOP chair Andrew Riddle to challenge Mike Edney for county commissioner

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Henderson County Republican Party chair Andrew Riddle plans to run against Michael Edney next year for the District 1 seat on the Board of Commissioners.

"I'm going to have three issues to my platform, which I'm still finalizing," he said. "I'm definitely going to run against Mike Edney."

A building contractor, Riddle, 37, lives in Flat Rock Forest. He and his wife, Denise, have four young daughters. . .

Read it all. Mike Edney currently represents District 1, which includes Flat Rock. You may remember his comments at the December 5, 2011, county commissioners meeting when the final vote was taken to terminate the county's option on the Highland Lake Golf Club/soccer complex deal. As I wrote then (Mr. Edney's exact words in quotes):

Mike Edney: Considered Flat Rock’s response somewhat “shameful” and that people say those in Flat Rock “get lost once they get past Fresh Market” (they're not interested in being part of Henderson County)

Know the ten rules of land use

I saw this in the Henderson County Planning Department and thought it was clever, so enjoy!

Know the Ten Rules of Land Use

These ten truisms are offered by the Staff of the Henderson County Planning Department to anyone considering buying land in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

1. Never assume that undeveloped land in your neighborhood will always remain so. Unless you own it, count on something else being built there. 
2. Water runs down hill. Unless you live at the top, you will probably experience stormwater runoff problems.
3. The winter sun rises low in the sky. If you must live on the side of a mountain, always choose the south side. 
4. Not all land is zoned. If property near you is not zoned, then think of the most obnoxious use conceivable and picture it in your community.
5. If you are not native to this county, whatever attracted you here will likely attract others. This phenomenon is known as growth.
6. Land values are driven by supply and demand. Taxes are based on land value. These things change.
7. There are significant difference between public and private roads. If you must live on a private road, be prepared to pay for it. 
8. Wells and septic tanks tend to fail. Make no mistake about this.
9. If your land is so located that it is safe from annexation or incorporation, it is probably a prime candidate for a landfill, prison, utility tower, quarry or reservoir.
10. In land use issues, the common good usually prevails. Never assume that you know what the common good is. 

November 5 election info, including change in voting location

Don't forget to vote Tuesday, November 5, for the three village council seats up for election. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. You can find a sample ballot here, and instructions for voting by absentee ballot here.

Also, there has been a change in voting location for those Flat Rock residents who normally vote at the Amory. For the November 5 election, they will vote in the Flat Rock Precinct (at the Flat Rock Village Hall at 110 Village Center Drive).

If you have any questions, you can reach the Henderson County Board of Elections at 828.697.4970.

Flat Rock High School to mark history this Saturday

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Green River native and nationally renowned author Robert Morgan will speak, alumni can thumb through a book listing every graduate from 1925 to 1960 and all can join hands and sing the alma mater when people gather to celebrate the old Flat Rock High School on Saturday. . .

The event will also include historic photos of the school, school memorabilia and a tribute to E.L. Justus (1900-1994), who was principal from 1932 to 1960 and then served as EHHS principal for its first nine years.. .

The Flat Rock recognition is part of a series of history commemorations sponsored by the Henderson County Education History Initiative.

Flat Rock High School Historic Marker Celebration
Saturday, Oct. 5
2-4 p.m.
Flat Rock Middle School
Emcee: Charles Thomas
Speaker: Robert Morgan

Read it all.

Public hearing set on rezoning of golf course property for park

FYI: the October Village Council meeting will be held Thursday, October 10, at 9:30 a.m. There are three public hearings scheduled during that meeting on three different issues:

1. Ordinance No. 81, Historic Landmarks Designation for Dunroy     
2. Ordinance No. 82, Amendment of Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
3. Ordinance No. 83, Rezoning and Zoning Map Change for Highland Lake Golf Course

The village council will vote on changing the zoning for the golf course property from its current zoning of R-20 to GCPS (Government, Civic and Public Service District), which would allow it to become a park. You can take a look at the GCPS information in section 813 of the Flat Rock Land Development Ordinance (pages 42-43 of the printed copy).   

*Sigh, sniff*. . .the golf course is gone

I meant to post this on Sunday but forgot. From the Times-News:

The end of September will mark the end of one era for a Flat Rock recreational facility and usher in the beginning of another.

On Sept. 30, Highland Lake Golf Club is closing permanently and will begin its transition into a municipal park for the Village of Flat Rock.

“I would like to thank the community for all of the support that we have gotten over the 19 years that we have owned the course.

“This is the end of an era in the county. We have gotten to see a lot of enjoyment here over the years,” said Highland Lake's owner Jim Sparks.

At an April 29 meeting, the Flat Rock Village Council approved to purchase the 66-acre Highland Lake Golf Club and the buildings for use as a “passive park.”. . .

Read it all. I have to say, I really wish it could have remained a golf course, but there are so many golf courses for sale that there just doesn't seem to be a big enough market for them or enough buyers. Having the area become a low-impact, passive park is the next best thing, I suppose, but it will look and feel different.

Oh well, the only thing constant is change.

Sandburg goats win at mountain fair

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Shamrock and Shadow, Toggenburg dairy goats from Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, won first and second place respectively for Best in Class, intermediate doe kid class, at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair on Sept. 7.

The does are a seventh generation descendents from Lillian Sandburg's champion Toggenburg Jennifer II, who in 1960 earned a Top Toggenburg World Record for milk production. Mrs. Sandburg was often recognized for her accomplishments as a champion goat breeder and these goats winning awards fifty years later with the same genes is a testament to her legacy. The goats were shown at the competition by youth volunteers Evan and Mara Shook. . .

Youth from the site's volunteer program are selected each year to compete at the fair. They form the group of volunteers known as Flat Rock Exceptional Sandburg Helpers, or FRESH, which assists with farm chores and provides visitor information. . .

Read it all.

Hornets' nest soon to be gone

Awwww, I was kinda' getting used to it, but. . .already on its way out, I suppose:

The hornets' nest or wasp nest has been visible for several weeks on the traffic signal facing Highland Lake Drive where it tees it into Greenville Highway. The traffic light is still working despite the busy work in the lower right corner of the device.

"They're not too particular about where they build, whether it's in a tree or a stoplight or wherever," said Marvin Owings, the director the Henderson County Cooperation Extension Service and a longtime farm agent. "The question we normally get is how to get rid of them.". . .

The state Department of Transportation last week sprayed the nest with wasp killer and will come back, probably next week, to take it down, a traffic engineer said.

The DOT crew responded to calls about the nest last week, said Roger Ayers, a deputy traffic engineer for Division 14. The Hendersonville Lighthing reported a story on its website Wednesday about the nest and had not been able to reach the DOT. It turns out that the crew sprayed the nest. . .

Read it all.

More on the Flat Rock Park grant

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

The Village of Flat Rock has won a $475,000 grant that will cover just under half the purchase price of the town's new park.

The office of Gov. Pat McCrory notified village officials on Monday that the state had approved the town's application. The village council agreed to buy the Highland Lake Golf Club property for $1.15 million. The state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant will cover a January payment of $475,000, Mayor Robert Staton said. . .

The Village Council on Thursday authorized landscape architect Ed Lastein to proceed with the first phase of park improvements, which includes a new entrance and a new lower parking lot, rest rooms and a walking trail. The Village Council allocated $487,000 in its current budget for park construction. . .

Read it all.

Flat Rock gets $475K grant for new park

Great news! From the Times-News:

The village of Flat Rock got word Monday that the N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority has approved a $475,000 grant to put toward the village’s purchase of Highland Lake Golf Course for a municipal park. . .

[Mayor Bob Staton] said he was pleasantly surprised by the grant’s approval, since the village’s park project was initially put on a waiting list. He said the village was told in June the Parks and Recreation Authority was holding off to see how the state budget shook out.

“From the scuttlebutt we got, we were encouraged we would get an award, but the surprise was it was for the full amount we had applied for,” said Staton, who praised the grant writing help given the village by Rebekah Robinson, administrative director of the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. . .

Read it all.

It's coming. . .

Fall is in the air. . .

Highland Lake Dam

Local election fields set for fall elections

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

The field is set for the fall municipal elections in Henderson County led by a crowded field vying for two seats on the Hendersonville City Council and a three-way race for mayor of the county's largest city.

Across the county generally, incumbents chose to seek another term. In Fletcher, incumbent mayor Bill Moore and  council members Sheila Franklin and Eddie Henderson will go back on the board unless someone were to mount a highly unusual write-in campaign. No one filed to oppose them. Filing closed at noon Friday.

The exception to incumbents signing up was Flat Rock, where three incumbents are all retiring and three newcomers have signed up for their seats. That means Sheryl Jamerson, Anne Coletta and Albert Gooch will be the three new Flat Rock Village Council members. . .

Here is a list of candidates who have for the 2013 election. (I) denotes incumbent.

Flat Rock Village Council

District 1: Ronald Davis (I), not running.
Sheryl Jamerson, filed.

District 2: David Bucher (I), not running.
Anne Coletta, filed.

District 3: Jim Wert (I), not running.
Albert Gooch, filed.

Read it all.

Community invited to 'Shakespeare and Friends'

From the Times-News:

Shakespeare and Friends at The Cove, as the troupe calls themselves, will perform an outdoor reading of “The Sonnets of Shakespeare” at Highland Lake Cove Retreat and Learning Center.

Written by another local, William H. Logan, a veteran of the Vietnam War as well as the stage, the performance includes readings of some of the 154 sonnets penned by the Bard of Avon and is billed as a “brief tour of the sonnets.”

The narration, read by Bryan Byrd, explains the literary elements of sonnets, since as Logan said, he wrote the play one weekend years ago after a co-worker who was an English literature major asked him what a sonnet was. Byrd feels that having narration interwoven with the sonnets is a way of opening up the language of Shakespeare to those who may think of it as difficult. . .

Throughout the reading of Logan's play, five actors take turns moving from the waterfront stage out onto the grass and into the seating area, adding movement to their words. . .

The play will be performed at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Cove, off Rhett Drive off of Highland Lake Road. Signs will be posted to help with locating the stage and finding parking. There is no admission charge.

Read it all.

Drop off school supplies at Highland Lake Inn

From the Highland Lake Inn, via email:

The 5 Promises of Henderson County is teaming up with the Children & Family Resource Center, the City of Hendersonville's Rhythm & Brews Concert Series and Four Seasons Rotary to collect school supplies, non-perishable food items, and toiletries for IAM and Only Hope WNC, two local non-profits supporting the impoverished and homeless youth of Henderson County.  Items donated will be collected at the July 18th Rhythm & Brews concert.

Highland Lake Inn and Season's Restaurant is helping out by promoting the school supply drive at our location. We will be collecting donations through the week until delivery to the collection booth at the Rhythm & Brews concert on Thursday, July 18th.

Bring us your donations at your convenience and know you made a difference in the lives of neighborhood children; we'll take care of the rest!

First filers sign up for 2013 elections

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Early filers lined up to sign up for city offices as the two-week filing period opened for the 2013 municipal elections.

Joking about how they'd been drafted or that they didn't know why in the world they were running or that the $10 filing fee was too high a price to pay for the privilege of running, the candidates filled out paperwork and chatted until the struck noon. Then elections officials took their checks and had them sign the filing forms. Newcomers were transformed at that instant from regular citizen to candidate. Every town but Fletcher was represented with at least one early filer. . .

Read it all, and check out the candidate list so far at the Henderson County Board of Elections. The filing period ends at noon on July 19 and  election day is November 5.

Village budget adopted for FY 2013-2014

The village of Flat Rock budget for fiscal year 2013 - 2014 was adopted on June 13 as ordinance 74. You can take a look at it on the village website.

Public hearing at July 11 council meeting

At the July monthly village council meeting (July 11 at 9:30 a.m.), there will be a public hearing:

PUBLIC HEARING: 
The Village Council will meet on Thursday, July 11, 2013 @ 9:30 a.m. in the Village Hall Assembly Room for their regular monthly Council Meeting. The agenda for the meeting will include consideration of the proposed update of the Village of Flat Rock Comprehensive Land Use Plan. A copy of the plan is available at the Village Hall for public review during regular business hours, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Village Hall is located at 110 Village Center Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

Public hearing on village budget this Thursday

It's that time of year again--budget time. This Thursday's (June 13) monthly village council meeting will include a public hearing on the FY 2013/2014 budget. The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. in the village hall--see you there!

Flat Rock celebrates tomorrow with ice cream, bluegrass, Sandburg tours

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Fans of ice cream and bluegrass are invited to Celebrate Flat Rock Saturday. Mayor Bob Staton will kick off the festivities at noon. The Celebrate Flat Rock Ice Cream Social including a bluegrass band and other activities is noon until 4 p.m. . .

Check it out for the list of events tomorrow (June 1)!

New restaurant opens in Flat Rock (yea!)

The Flat Rock Cinema welcomes a new neighbor:

The former Mama Christina's is now THE WHITE AND RED ROSES CAFE and Friday (May 17) is their Grand Opening! Please join us in welcoming the new owners by showing your support. Their new menu features fresh food from their new kitchen and a fantastic chef. You'll love their Shrimp & Grits, Pasta Primavera, Roasted Stuffed Peppers, Shepherd's Pie, Tuna Melts and more - plus you'll find a great assortment of local wines and beers!

Click HERE for their lunch and dinner menus.

Lunch is served Tuesday-Friday from 11AM - 2PM and Dinner is served Thursday-Saturday from 5PM - 10PM. Call (828) 692-4470 to find out more.

Please support them (but save some room for popcorn) and tell them we sent you!

Wild azaleas

Not a very good picture, but one of my favorite plants--my orange wild azalea that has survived three transplantings due to house construction and now seems to be thriving.

Flat Rock to hold Ice Cream Social June 1

From the Times-News:

The Village of Flat Rock will hold its annual Ice Cream Social at noon June 1 on the grounds of the Flat Rock Village Hall and throughout the village. Vanilla, chocolate chip, strawberry, no sugar added butter pecan and sherbet will be served.

Mayor Bob Staton will kick off the festivities, which continue until 4 p.m. Beginning the afternoon’s entertainment is Appalachian Fire Bluegrass Band, led by Dwayne “Doc” Durham. Also returning are the Bishop Brothers (Myron, Wayne and Lenior), who grew up in Brevard.

New to the Ice Cream Social this year will be Simple Folk, a four-piece Asheville/ Hendersonville band celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer. The West Henderson High School Jazz Band, directed by Alan Klaes, will close out the afternoon’s entertainment. Tiffany Ervin will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

The performance of the Flat Rock Village Merchant’s Music Series, sponsored by the Village of Flat Rock, will feature singer and songwriter Tom Fisch at 6 p.m. on the back porch of the Wrinkled Egg. Call 828-697-0208 for more information.

Blue Ridge Book Fest May 17 - May 18

The fifth annual Blue Ridge Book Fest is this coming Friday, May 17, through Saturday, May 18, at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock. Honoree this year is novelist Wiley Cash and there will be workshops on self-publishing and North Carolina and the Civil War, as well as a rare book appraisal and the introduction of the Henderson County High School Graphic Novel Team Contest, to be judged by Shirrel Rhoades, a former publisher of Marvel Comics and a consultant with DC Comics and Mad Magazine.

Check it out!

Flat Rock agrees to pay $1.15 million for golf course

(Sorry I'm so late with this, but we've been out of town.) From the Times-News of May 1:

FLAT ROCK — A month and a half after deciding to build a municipal park, village councilmen agreed Monday to pay the owners of Highland Lake Golf Course $1.15 million for the 66-acre property, beginning with a $525,000 payment at closing on June 30.

Council voted unanimously to enter into a purchase agreement with Course Doctors Inc. to purchase all property and buildings on the golf course except for practice range lights and a “pole barn,” which the current owners must remove at their expense.

Course Doctors owners Jim Sparks and Tom Davis had the golf course on the market for $1.3 million, but Henderson County optioned the property in 2011 for $1.1 million before abandoning plans for its own park and soccer complex there after citizens objected....

[Flat Rock Mayor Bob Staton] said the village plans to establish an advisory committee with the goal of preparing a master plan for the property and “determining what the phases of development might be, along with estimated costs for budgeting purposes.”

Protecting open space at the village's gateway was cited by councilmen as a key reason for purchasing the golf course. Though two-thirds of the land is within a floodplain, Staton said Course Doctors could have built up to 44 multi-family condos or townhouses on the land closest to Greenville Highway....

Read it all.

Village of Flat Rock enters into purchase agreement on the Highland Lake Golf Course

A fact sheet on the purchase agreement from the Village of Flat Rock:

HIGHLAND LAKE GOLF COURSE

PURCHASE AGREEMENT – contemplates an installment sale and leaseback

CONTRACT TERMS:

Purchaser: Village of Flat Rock, a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina

Seller: Course Doctors, Inc., a North Carolina corporation

Real property: all property, including land, buildings and other improvements, except for the practice range lights and the pole barn, which are to be removed from the premises, at no expense to the purchaser, no later than the end of the lease term

Purchase price: $1,150,000. Seller has elected an installment sale. Purchase price to be paid:

• (a) $525,000 cash at closing;
• (b) $625,000 balance to be evidenced by a non interest-bearing promissory note secured by a deed of trust on the property, to be paid:
• (i) $475,000 on January 15, 2014
• (ii) $150,000 on January 15, 2015
• (c) Prepayment at Seller’s option/demand upon 60-days’ prior written notice to Village

Earnest money: $50,000 – to Timothy R. Cosgrove, Attorney at Law

Closing attorneys: Prince, Youngblood & Massagee, PLLC

Closing: on or before June 30, 2013

Leaseback:

• Term: Settlement date thru November 15, 2013; (“Golf season” to end September 30; 45 days to vacate)
• Rent: $500 for the term, plus an amount equal to 1/12 of the annual county and village ad valorem taxes for each month or part of a month of the lease term after the month in which the closing occurs; payable at closing
• Maintenance, utilities, insurance, etc.: Tenant responsibility
• Hold harmless: Tenant to hold Landlord harmless against all liabilities, claims, damages, causes of action, etc., arising from action of the purchaser; Village to be named as an additional insured under Tenant’s insurance policies
• Income from golfing operations: Tenant

Possession: to Buyer on or before November 15, 2013

Environmental Phase 1 (Soil tests – pesticides, other contaminants): Purchaser

Title examination: Purchaser

Survey: Purchaser

April 29, 2013

National Park Week at Carl Sandburg

From the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site:

Fee Free Week at National Parks - April 22 - 26, 2013

Tour fees at Carl Sandburg Home and entrance fees at most national parks will be waived during National Park Week

April 27, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Spring Into the Park - A Family Fun Day at the Sandburg Home

The day will feature performances by Asheville poetry performers, Poetry Alive!, kid-friendly house tours and hands-on activity stations. Visitors will receive a schedule and activity guide when they arrive at the park. This festival is part of national Junior Ranger Day, an event to encourage youth to learn about America's National Parks and how they belong to them too! All programs including house tours are free. Young visitors will win awards for completing activities, too.

• Poetry Alive! performs at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• Activity stations will be ongoing and include: Kid Care (how do Rangers care for the baby goats), Gardening Green (dig in the dirt and take home seeds to start your own), The Bees Knees (see a live hive and learn about bee pollination)
• House Tours will be offered free every 30-minutes

For more on National Park Week and activities in other near-by national parks, check out the National Park Week website.

What a difference a day makes. . .

A little more sunshine and a little rain. . .

Apple Blossom

Azalea

Azalea

Japanese Maple

Looks like a photo shoot for a Smith & Hawken catalog

Dogwood

Spring has sprung

One of my favorites (even if we're not exactly New York here).

Spring in the Bronx by Anon

Spring is sprung
Der grass is riz
I wonder where dem boidies is?

Der little boids is on der wing,
Ain't dat absoid?
Der little wings is on de boid!

And I'm sorry, but other than the dogwood tree, I have no idea what these plants are.

New kids at Carl Sandburg

Both the Times-News and the Hendersonville Lightning cover the new kids at Carl Sandburg. From the Times-News:

Two Toggenburg doe kids arrived at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site on April 1.

The 3-week-old kids — Houyhnhnm Sweet Little Heart and Houyhnhnm Sweet Dancer, nicknamed Shamrock and Shadow — were purchased because they are direct descendants of Mrs. Sandburg’s award-winning Toggenburg doe, Jennifer II.

Each doe is a seventh-generation descendant from Jennifer II, who in 1960 produced 5,750 pounds of milk in 10 months, which averaged to be 2.5 gallons of milk each day. Her production record was the top all-breed record in the United States and the top Toggenburg record in the world.

The does were purchased from a herd owned by June Meacham in St. Johns, Ariz. The acquisition was made possible through support from the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara....

Read it all, and also check out the Hendersonville Lightning:

... June Meacham's Toggenburg herd has been raised as a closed herd for 30 years. The connection with Lillian Sandburg's prize-winning Jennifer II, came when she acquired a Toggenburg herd from Helen Hunt, who had worked for many years directly with Mrs. Sandburg and had purchased goats from her when Carl Sandburg passed away in 1967. The park acquired its first Toggenburg goats from Helen Hunt when it reintroduced goats to the site in the early 1970's. While all the Connemara Farms goats retain a bloodline directly from Mrs. Sandburg's herd, it is exciting when such a close connection can be made and reintroduced to the park. Visitors are welcome to visit with Shamrock and Shadow this spring at the barn....

Read it all.

HL editorial: Flat Rock can make park work

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Some people said yippee and others said oh no when the Flat Rock Village Council voted last week to buy the Highland Lake golf course and develop it as a park.

We believe it was the right call.

As the Lightning has said in this space before, the Village Council exhibited a model of openness and transparency in its study of whether to buy the 66-acre tract, which is on the market for $1.3 million.

The Highland Lake Park Exploratory Committee covered an amazing amount of ground in just over three months, producing a 41-page report that recommended walking trails, a playground, picnic shelters and other passive features phased in over a number of years.

The council has some time, assuming it reaches agreement with the property owner to buy the land, to make plans. Mayor Bob Staton said the council has already notified course owners Jim Sparks and Tom Davis that they may go ahead and sell season memberships through September. Under that time frame, the village would take possession of the property in October. That's when the council will squarely confront the big question — now what?...

Read it all.

Flat Rock Playhouse offers discount for county residents

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Flat Rock Playhouse is offering local people a $5 discount to the first shows of the season — "The Odd Couple" on the Mainstage and "Cotton Patch Gospel" at Playhouse Downtown as a thank you their support over the past few months....

Read it all.

Flat Rock Playhouse hires new financial manager

Stories in both the Hendersonville Lightning and the Times-News on new hires at the Flat Rock Playhouse. From the HL:

The Flat Rock Playhouse has hired a theater manager from Dallas as managing director of the Playhouse, giving her responsibility for budget development and administration, personnel, contract negotiations, marketing and strategic development.

Hillary Hart, a 2000 graduate of the UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, has been with the Dallas Theater Center since 2006. In that job she was responsible for budgeting and strategic planning, contract negotiations, union relations, intellectual properties, vendor relations, personnel and development, said Playhouse president Bill McKibbin, who announced Hart's hiring on Saturday.

The hiring of a general manager with a background in financial management was a key demand of donors who helped the Playhouse survive a financial crisis last year....

McKibbin, the Playhouse president, described the addition of Hart as a structural change that matches the way other regional theaters are managed. It's a departure from the long history of the official state theater of North Carolina, which was led creatively and managed financially for 56 years by founder Robroy Farquhar followed by his son, Robin.

"With this hire, the Flat Rock Playhouse will be adopting the management structure that most non-profit theaters of our size have used for decades," McKibbin said in a news release. The model is made up of equal administrators — the artistic director and a managing director — both directly accountable to the Board of Trustees, he said. "This is a long-term structural change designed to get us fully up-to-date on today's best practices in non-profit theater management," he added....

Stephen Terry, a lighting designer from San Diego who has worked in Playhouse shows in the past, has come on board as fulltime production manager, filling the role that Billy Munoz had held. Terry announced his new job in a Facebook posting....

Read it all, and from the Times-News:

After interviewing more than 40 applicants, Flat Rock Playhouse has hired the former general manager of the Dallas Theater Center in Texas as its new managing director.

Hillary Hart, a 2000 graduate of the University of North Carolina's School of the Arts, will start work April 2. She will report to the Playhouse's board of trustees directly and work collaboratively with Artistic Director Vincent Marini.

Her primary responsibilities will be financial management of the nonprofit theater, said Board Chairman Bill McKibbin, including budget development and administration, personnel, contract negotiations, marketing, strategic planning and daily operations of YouTheatre.

McKibbin said having two equal administrators — one managing, one artistic — who are both accountable to the board was a structural change that brings the Playhouse more in line with what other nonprofit theaters of its size have done for decades....

Hart said the Playhouse's reputation as an “organization with deep roots in the community” was also a draw. She and her husband have a 5-year-old son who is starting kindergarten, so the couple was also looking for a family-friendly area in the mountains to call home, she said....

While Hart's resume was strong on the financial management side, McKibbin said her well-rounded theater background made her an even more impressive candidate. Before joining DTC in 2006, Hart worked as production manager for the renowned Alvin Ailey II dance company and has served, at various times, as a stage hand, writer and director....

Read it all.

Catching up. . .

So of course, I had to be out of town for the past two weeks when all of the excitement was taking place! (But yes, Phoenix was very sunny and warm, and most importantly of all, had wifi--thank goodness for the Internet.)

So, playing catch up, here are a few things you might find to be of interest.

First, yesterday's editorial in the Times-News:

Flat Rock Village Council should buy Highland Lake Golf Club to create a park, especially now that leaders have determined the village can afford to do so without raising taxes....

There are several good reasons for the village to build a park, including strong public support. Many residents who opposed the idea of the county building a soccer complex at the site in 2011 are much more accepting of the village’s plan for a “passive” park, with walking trails but no ballfields....

It may not be possible for village leaders to issue an ironclad guarantee that having a park will never, ever require a tax increase. But with such a healthy reserve fund, the village should be able to build the park with careful budgeting that avoids the need to raise taxes.

Among the many reasons for Flat Rock to seize this opportunity is the chance to protect a valuable gateway to the village from possible development while providing residents of all ages with places to exercise and play....

Read it all. And check out the information that Vice Mayor Nick Weedman presented on the financial impact if the village of Flat Rock goes through with the park purchase. I won't quote the facts and figures (you can check those out online), but the conclusions are:

• Park purchase would take fund balance to $3 million 
• Developments should be made over several years 
• Minimal grant and donations are projected Park purchase and development could be done without a tax increase 
• Two operational questions of significance 
      - How to manage the facility (volunteer vs contract)
      - Security (is supplemental security needed and cost)

And recommendations:

• Define areas needing further study
• If Council votes to purchase property
      - Quickly appoint Park Management Committee
      - Staff support from Village Administrator
      - Have one or two Council members as permanent liaison to the Park Management Committee
      - Apply for 501(c)(3) status
      - Start grant and donation activities
      - Refine current plan and secure Council approval

Habemus Parkum! [Update]

Well, not quite yet--negotiations on price still to come--but I couldn't resist. From the Hendersonville Lightning:

The Flat Rock Village Council voted unanimously Thursday morning to move forward with negotiations to buy Highland Lake Golf Course and develop it as a passive park.

The vote was unanimous after all seven council members expressed support for the plans. They said an analysis by vice mayor Nick Weedman suggesting there would be no need for a tax increase was one factor.

“I think we all realize that this is a paradigm shift in village policy and over the next two or three years, the torch is going to pass to a new generation of Village leadership and I’m encouraged by the fact that that generation has had a part in the planning for this park,” said Councilman Ron Davis.

“It’s clear to me,” said Councilman Jim Wert, “that a majority of the folks favor pursuing the park idea. I think a key point for me was the analysis Councilman Weedman did on the taxes, (showing that) we should be able to support the development and maintenance of this park without the consideration of a tax increase for several years.”...

"Notwithstanding Councilman Weedman’s excellent work I don’t personally want to and I don’t think that the council wants to promise that there will not be a tax increase," Davis said.

Weedman agreed, saying this council cannot bind future councils to any action.

"I am in favor," Weedman said, though "not without some trepidation, because we are opening a door to the unknown. Who knows how this thing is going to go in the future."...

The council went into a closed session to discuss a price the village would offer to owners of the property, Jim Sparks and Tom Davis and their company, Course Doctors. The land has been on the market for $1.3 million but council members have said they thought they could pay less than that. The Henderson County Board of Commissioners had tentatively agreed in the fall of 2011 to buy the land for $1.1 million before the county scrapped that deal....

Read it all.

UPDATE: Also from the Times-News:

Calling it a “paradigm shift” and a “big step out of the box,” Flat Rock’s village council unanimously agreed Thursday to move forward on purchasing the Highland Lake Golf Course for a municipal park.

By a 7-0 vote, members approved Councilman Dave Bucher’s motion that the village authorize the mayor to negotiate a purchase of the park in a closed meeting with principles of Course Doctors Inc., which owns the 66-acre property.

Council members acknowledged there are still unanswered questions about the cost of operating and maintaining the park, but chose moving forward over further analysis since the subject has been thoroughly vetted over the past six months....

Immediately following the vote, council went into a closed session to discuss the terms and price of its offer to Course Doctors. Council members were not expected to disclose their offer until it’s presented to the owners, Staton said, perhaps on Friday.

Read it all. 

Agenda for March 14 Flat Rock village council meeting

From the village of Flat Rock website, the agenda for this Thursday's village council meeting (yes, there will be discussion/action on the park):

AGENDA

FLAT ROCK VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING
VILLAGE HALL ASSEMBLY ROOM
110 VILLAGE CENTER DRIVE
MARCH 14, 2013
9:30 AM

Call to Order

Moment of Silent Meditation

Pledge of Allegiance

Agenda Approval/Changes

Public Comments

Consent Agenda
1. February 4, 2013 – Agenda Workshop Minute
    February 14, 2013 – Council Meeting Minutes

Special Reports
2. Administrator’s Report – Village Administrator Boleman
3. Village Hall – Council Member Wert
4. Tax Report – Vice Mayor Weedman
5. Sidewalk Update – Council Member Farr
6. Comprehensive Land Use Plan – Council Member Chandler

Old Business

7. Highland Lake Park – Discussion/action

New Business

Other Business
8. Mayor - Council Reports

Public Comments

Adjournment

Flat Rock council: No tax increase necessary for park

From the Times-News:

Flat Rock can afford to buy Highland Lake Golf Course and develop it into a passive park in phases without raising taxes, Vice Mayor Nick Weedman told an overflowing room during a public hearing Monday.

Weedman presented a financial analysis, based on numbers from an exploratory committee report, showing it would cost the village about $1.21 million through 2019 to operate the park, averaging about $200,000 per year.

While creating the 66-acre park would shrink the village’s fund balance from $5.6 million to slightly more than $3 million by 2019, he said no tax hike would be necessary to run it. Taxes have been the main bone of contention for park opponents....

Weedman, the council’s finance officer, said the key is spreading the costs of park development over several years. He outlined a plan that would spend $1.4 million in 2013 to get the park up and running, and roughly $982,000 over the next six years, assuming $200,000 in donations for a playground in 2016-17 and a $460,000 state grant....

However, a few park opponents were undeterred by Weedman’s analysis. Kenmure resident Warner Behley, who was instrumental in creating that subdivision’s park, said, “I think you’re greatly underestimating the cost (of maintenance)” and predicting the park would be “underutilized” except by dog walkers....

The vast majority of those in the packed room spoke in favor of the village buying the land, saying it would protect a valuable gateway to the community from possible development while providing kids and adults alike with places to exercise and play....

A decision about whether to buy the property could come as early as the next council meeting Thursday, Mayor Bob Staton told the audience.

Read it all.

My letter on the park decision

I sent this letter yesterday to Mayor Bob Staton and the village of Flat Rock council members.

Dear Mayor and Council members:

Since I won’t be able to attend the Monday evening meeting, I am sending you my comments here on the possible purchase of the Highland Lake Golf Club by the village of Flat Rock. I am in favor of this purchase for the following reasons:

• The Highland Lake Golf Club location is one of the entrances to the village of Flat Rock. Losing this location to increased development (even if some open space remains) will directly impact the “look and feel” of the village. Creation of a village park in general is not a high priority for me, but retaining the rural, pastoral character of the village is, and developing this location as a low impact, passive park helps keep that character.
• Although the village of Flat Rock is primarily residential with large lots, it has limited open space on its municipal boundaries. I agree with Doug Johnson’s point made at the Feb. 25 special council meeting that saving this property now as open space helps keep at bay any encroaching development later. I have lived in areas where development between communities has essentially over time obliterated any difference between those communities. The area then becomes one large urban/suburban tract. Flat Rock has a unique character, and by providing space between the village and the city of Hendersonville or any additional commercial development, a park can help maintain that character. There is no guarantee that the property would remain open space if bought by a private entity. The point has been made that of the 66 acres, almost two-thirds are in a flood plain and would not be developed. That is not necessarily true. While it would be very expensive and would require zoning variances, residential development of the flood plain area could be approved in the future, thereby eliminating any open space.
• The village population has almost doubled since 1990. Then, the population was 1,721 residents, and now (from 2011), the population is approx. 3,159, an increase of 83.5% (Henderson County Planning Department). I understand from what Bob Demartini has written that at incorporation in 1995, many residents wanted to make sure that village government stayed limited with no additional tax increases. I agree with that in principle, but the reality is that the village in 2013 is different from the village in 1995. The more people there are, the more demand for increased residential development and the greater loss of green space. I think the village council has an obligation to preserve the quiet pastoral nature of the village where it can to help mitigate some of the increased development. The golf course location is ideal for this because it is in an area that has seen much of the residential growth over the past decade.

There are some caveats to the purchase, however:

• The village of Flat Rock should be the only governmental body that has control over the park. Henderson County should not have any control over land the village buys. If the village decides the best option for maintenance is to contract with the county, the contract should relate to maintenance only.
• The property has been on the market for two years with no buyers. I believe strong negotiations on price are essential for the village to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money. The asking price is just that—an asking price, not a final amount. (Yes, the village council should be prepared to walk away if the price isn’t right.)
• I hope the village will work closely with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on any entrance/exit requirements to keep the rural character of the roads in the area.
• The village should carefully monitor any grant applications to make sure the village is not giving up any control or committing to unknown expenditures if certain grant monies are accepted.

If the village does purchase the property for a park, it will change the relationship of the village council with the village residents. Certain expectations and obligations will be entered into, and there is the possibility of a property tax increase. All of that is not to discourage the purchase, but rather to say that if the property is purchased, we need to work together to create a park we can all enjoy while carefully managing the financial responsibilities.

Thank you.

Second public input meeting set for Flat Rock park

From the Times-News:

Sensitive to claims that an earlier meeting excluded working families, the Village of Flat Rock has scheduled another special meeting to take public input on a proposed municipal park at Highland Lake Golf Course.

On Feb. 25, council held a 2 p.m. special meeting to discuss the possible purchase of 66 acres owned by Course Doctors Inc. for use as a passive, dawn-to-dusk park, as recommended by an exploratory committee last month.

Roughly a dozen village residents in the packed assembly room asked council to hold a referendum before deciding on the purchase, citing concerns about higher taxes and the redundancy of more parks and trails.

But John Dockendorf, an exploratory committee member and local camp director, said the afternoon meeting didn't fairly represent the spectrum of public opinion because "clearly at 2 o'clock … working people and families are not represented in this room."

Several council members agreed with that assessment, said Mayor Bob Staton. So the village has scheduled another special meeting from 7-9 p.m. Monday [March 11] at Village Hall to gather more public input on the proposed park.

Staton said if more people show up to speak than can fit into the village's small assembly room, the meeting will be pushed to the following night, Tuesday, March 12, at the parish hall of St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church on Greenville Highway....

Residents who can't make the March 11 meeting can also mail their comments to council at Village of Flat Rock, P.O. Box 1288, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

Read it all.

Special park meeting March 11

Notice of Special Meeting

The Flat Rock Village Council will conduct a special meeting on Monday, March 11, 2013, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., in the Village Hall Assembly Room to obtain public input on the village's proposed purchase of the Highland Lake Golf Course, located at 34 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock, NC, and its redevelopment as a municipal park primarily for passive recreational uses.

The Village Hall is located at 110 Village Center Drive, Flat Rock, NC.

Council agenda meeting March 4

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Monday, March 4, at 9:30 a.m. is the regularly scheduled Flat Rock village council agenda meeting. I believe that they will be continuing their discussion on the possible purchase of the golf course for a village park, so if you're interested, be there!

Flat Rock Playhouse: Nix occupancy tax, bring on TDA tickets

Looks like the Flat Rock Playhouse figures it's easier to get money from the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority than trying to get a tax increase through the public. From the Times-News:

The Flat Rock Playhouse has asked county commissioners to drop the controversial issue of a 1 percent room tax hike to benefit the nonprofit theater, favoring a Tourism and Development Authority ticket program as a better source of funding help.

In an email to TDA members and county commissioners, trustee Robert Danos wrote "the Board of the Flat Rock Playhouse requests that you pull the issue of the occupancy tax increase from further discussion or a vote."

Danos said Playhouse trustees believe a new "Stay & Play" partnership with the TDA designed to bolster cooperation between the theater and local accommodations will be less divisive than an occupancy tax hike and more rewarding for everyone....

Commissioners tabled their vote for six months to allow the TDA a chance to weigh in on the matter, and TDA officials recently pushed back their report until spring. The Playhouse's request may end the matter, though, since the state law authorizing the tax increase expires in 2015....

Under the reworked pilot program, TDA will buy 781 tickets to major Playhouse productions (not Music on the Rock shows) for $25,000. Accommodations will provide the tickets to visitors who stay at least two nights, provided they come as part of a Web-based promotion package....

Read it all. Of course, it's all taxpayer money, but at least this won't single out the lodging industry to bear the brunt of a tax increase. It will be interesting to see how (and how often) the TDA tracks and reports on their Stay & Play program.