In November, Police was awarded its 10th Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies accreditation. CALEA accreditation is the gold standard for public safety agencies and represents a commitment to excellence. It is intended to enhance organizational service capacities and effectiveness, serve as a tool for policy decisions and management, promote transparency and community trust, and establish a platform for continuous review. 

The Cary Police Department graduated 14 students from Class #46 of its Citizens Police Academy in November. The academy is a 10-week free program offered to Cary residents that affords attendees a close-up view of their police department. Presented in a substantially abbreviated version of the basic law enforcement training program offered to new police cadets, the academy retains the core elements believed to be essential for citizens who wish to gain a better understanding of law enforcement and police operations. The course is a prerequisite for citizens interested in becoming members of the police department’s Citizens Assisting Police team. Twelve students from Class #46 elected to further commit themselves as CAP team volunteers.

Fire celebrated its 14 graduates of Academy 27 on Dec. 15 at a ceremony held in Council Chambers with attendees including Councilmember Michelle Craig, Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton, and Deputy Town Attorney Nicholas Yates. It marked the end of an intensive seven-month academy for eight of the recruits, who earned all their required fire, rescue, hazardous materials, and rescue certifications and began their shift assignments. Six of the recruits of this “hybrid” academy were hired as certified firefighters and underwent a rigorous short academy before going on shift in August. 

Fire wrapped up fire prevention month in October with a smoke alarm drive in selected neighborhoods in Fire Station 9’s district. Over two Saturdays, fire crews and Cary Community Emergency Response Team volunteers canvassed a total of 775 homes and installed 339 combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms in 127 homes. Six homes visited had no functional detectors at all. On Oct. 29, all fire stations opened their doors for open houses to let the public meet the firefighters, see the stations, and check out the top-notch equipment used to keep citizens safe.

The Cary Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Responders Breakfast at Prestonwood Country Club on Dec. 6. Keynote speaker Scott Kartvedt, a former Blue Angels pilot who served 20 years in the Navy and was featured in the movie “Top Gun: Maverick,” shared inspirational stories about his personal journey with the audience, which included members of the Cary police and fire departments, Wake County EMS, the Wake County Sheriff’s Department, and the military, as well as Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Lori Bush, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Jennifer Robinson, Michelle Craig, and Sarika Bansal.

This quarter, Cary completed the White Oak Church Road Water Main project. It is now active and closes a 3,200-foot gap between White Oak Elementary and Morrisville Parkway. Construction of this 16-inch main increases resiliency in the western pressure zone as well as improves water system reliability, operations, water quality, and fire protection for the surrounding area. The project also provides a drinking fountain to the American Tobacco Trail at the White Oak Church Road trailhead. Cary activated the new fountain and bottle filler just in time for the ATT 10-Miler and RDC Marathon in late October.

Following a four-month closure, South Harrison Avenue reopened to traffic between Faculty Avenue and Shirley Drive/Heater Drive in December. Infrastructure improvements included water, sewer, stormwater, curb and gutter, sidewalk replacements, and road resurfacing along the corridor. This area was initially targeted for water main replacements to improve fire protection and reduce service interruptions, and the new water mains have an estimated service life of 100 years. 

Cary’s water main replacement project continues in 2024 with work focusing on Griffis Street between Shirley Drive/Heater Drive and Ann Street through March. Infrastructure renewal on South West Street, South Page Street, West Park Street, and West Chatham Street is also expected to wrap up during the third quarter with work in all areas anticipated to be complete in April. 

Cary hosted a downtown Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) tour for the Wake County Water Partnership in October. The Wake County Board of Commissioners established the WCWP in 2016 to provide expertise and guidance on water-related issues in the community. The advisory group includes representatives from municipalities, property owners, and environmental groups. Following a brief presentation about Cary’s recent success with incorporating GSI for new development projects downtown, the tour began at the Cary Arts Center and included 14 sites that featured completed GSI installations as well as projects still in the planning phase. The tour was well received and is a tribute to Cary’s commitment to promoting GSI and protecting the environment.

The Walnut Creek Corridor Study is nearing completion. This first phase of the study evaluated the anticipated future Walnut Creek greenway trail alignment extending from Downtown Cary Park to South Hills with a primary focus on identifying potential property acquisitions within the Walnut Creek floodplain. To date, roughly 14,880 linear feet of the corridor has been studied, and of that, Cary has acquired about 9,540 linear feet through ownership or dedicated easement. These acquired properties and easements will enable Cary to extend its greenway system by linking Downtown Cary Park with Fenton, Raleigh, and beyond. Acquisition of flood-prone properties as part of this long-term endeavor will help Cary mitigate flooding impacts, enhance open space, and expand the tree canopy downtown. These environmental benefits combined with the future expansions to Cary’s greenway network will not only improve neighborhood connectivity but also contribute significantly to achieving Cary’s goals and vision for an active and vibrant community.

Cary is committed to maintaining the reliability and resiliency of stormwater infrastructure, including Cary-owned lakes and dams. In addition to regular dam maintenance, periodic dredging helps ensure Cary-owned stormwater infrastructure, such as Symphony Lake, is fully functional for years to come. The Symphony Lake Dredging Project is being conducted to remove sediment that has accumulated since the lake’s construction in the early 1980s. This quarter, Schnabel Engineering wrapped up the dredging design, and Cary received three bids, awarding the bid to H.G. Reynolds Company Inc. for $2.9 million. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2024.

Cary believes in taking a proactive, data-driven approach to assessing and managing its stormwater infrastructure. In September, Cary embarked on its first large-scale closed-circuit television assessment of stormwater assets in the right-of-way. The assessment process includes using specialized cameras inserted into stormwater pipes and manholes. As the cameras record the conditions of the infrastructure, technicians monitor the live feed to identify and assign an initial rating of the pipe’s condition. Maintenance and repair recommendations are then provided following a more detailed review and assessment of the CCTV inspection. Cary uses various dashboards to deliver these condition ratings, view the final assessments, and follow and track the progress of the CCTV work in real time. As of mid-December, CCTV video for over 11,000 feet of pipe in Cary’s right-of-way has been viewed as part of the inspection and assessment process. Using CCTV to inspect and assess stormwater assets contributes significantly to the resilience and sustainability of Cary’s urban infrastructure. Regular monitoring and timely maintenance and repairs based on these assessments are crucial for preventing failures and ensuring the longevity of Cary’s stormwater infrastructure.

Through a partnership between Cary and Wake County School System, Cary rehabilitated a poorly functioning stormwater control measure, or SCM, that detains stormwater runoff from Faculty Drive, Dry Avenue, Cary Arts Center, and Cary Elementary School properties. The roots of cypress trees that were planted when Cary constructed the SCM in 2004 were overgrown and had clogged the underdrain pipes, which prevented the SCM from draining properly. The bioretention area was redesigned for improved flood control and water quality function. The cypress trees, old soil media, and old underdrains were removed and replaced. The rehabilitated bioretention area was replanted with a variety of flowering shrubs and plants that were specially selected to support monarch butterflies and other pollinator species.

Sgt. Travis Gresham 

On Nov. 10, Sgt. Travis Gresham graduated from the Southern Police Institute’s 150th Administrative Officers Course through the University of Louisville at Kentucky. This nationally recognized 12-week course is designed to develop informed, effective, and ethically and technically competent law enforcement managers who are assuming leadership positions for their respective agencies. During his cohort, Gresham had the distinction of being elected class vice president by his classmates.

 

N.C. One Water Awards 

2023 was another banner year for Cary at the N.C. One Water Annual Conference. This gathering of water industry peers provides opportunities to learn about technologies, share experiences, and network with professionals from throughout the state. Cary won both Distribution System of the Year and Collection System of the Year, continuing a five-plus-year streak.

The South Cary Water Reclamation Facility won the Plant Operations and Maintenance Excellence award, and the Cary-Apex Water Treatment Facility came in second place in the Best Tasting Water Competition. Staff also won individual awards. Betsy Drake took home the WEF Arthur Sydney Bedell award for service, and Jason Parker won the Lab Analyst of the Year award for the second time. These awards acknowledge Cary staff’s passion and commitment to clean, safe water.