On September 1, Cary’s Emergency Operations Center deactivated after nearly six months of operations; staff is prepared to reassemble as the need arises. The pandemic remains an active public health emergency. Evolving North Carolina mandates in relation to COVID-19 resulted in new guidance for citizens and businesses. Face coverings became mandatory in North Carolina in June. As the state entered Phase 2.5 of Gov. Roy Cooper’s reopening plan, Cary playgrounds reopened on September 4. Maximum gathering sizes also increased to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors. This quarter, Cary also:

• Held its first virtual neighborhood meeting for rezoning cases on July 15. Resumed meetings for its boards and commissions in August. 
• Resumed accepting bulk trash by citizen request with the exception of mattresses and box springs. 
• Partially reopened its sports venues. At the Cary Tennis Park, tennis pros taught lessons, oversaw programs, and assisted with adult league play. At WakeMed Soccer Park, the North Carolina Football Club and North Carolina Courage practiced and held games. At the USA Baseball National Training Complex, USA Baseball conducted tournaments, and William Peace University Baseball used fields for practices and scrimmages.

Building Cary’s Comprehensive Tree Program

The building blocks of Cary’s comprehensive tree program took shape this quarter. Staff developed five tree planting and maintenance modules that lay the foundation for the program’s structure: town property plantings, community plantings, a tree distribution campaign, partnership projects, and tree care initiatives. These efforts provide educational and experiential opportunities for citizens throughout the year, so trees are not only planted properly but nurtured to give them the best opportunity to thrive. Together, the five modules help guide how, where, why, and who will plant trees to help maintain Cary’s tree canopy and the environmental health of the community. To help further develop, guide, and lead the fulfillment of these efforts, Cary contracted with Master Arborist
Katie Rose Levin.

New Electric Vehicle Charging Station at Town Hall

 

Just in time for National Drive Electric Week, Cary installed a two-vehicle electric charging station at Town Hall. Located on the east side of Town Hall between the ATM and the Page-Walker Arts and History Center, this electric vehicle charging station was funded through the Clean Fuel Advanced Technology Grant. These spaces are free to use for employees and the public.

Town Hall Parking Deck Lit with Energy-Efficient LED Lighting

The Town Hall parking deck was relamped with energy-efficient light emitting diode, or LED, lighting using smart sensors that increase the amount of light depending on movement in the area. This upgrade will save money, enhance safety, and help Cary meet the goals of its Strategic Energy Action Plan, which commits to reducing energy use in operations.

Cary Recognized as Top Green Fleet in 2020

The 100 Best Fleets once again recognized Cary as a Green Fleet Awards winner for efforts to innovate, increase fuel efficiency, and diversify fleet fuels in accordance with its Strategic Energy Action Plan. This year Cary’s fleet ranked 20th in the nation. 

Mask and Meal Giveaway

Cary Police, including Project PHOENIX and community services officers, and Cary Fire distributed more than 13,000 reusable cloth facemasks to various communities throughout Cary. Mask giveaways focused on neighborhoods disproportionally affected by the spread of COVID-19. Officers partnered with Wake County Human Services and El Centro Hispano of Raleigh to combine these mask giveaway efforts with hot meal and fresh produce delivery. 

New Public Relations Officer

Lt. John Reeves will serve in the newly created public relations officer position. This role focuses on external media relations and the sharing of information on social media platforms in partnership with the Office of Public Safety and other communication staff throughout the organization. Additionally, this role will analyze and research trends in law enforcement that affect policies and procedures. 

NAACP Virtual Conference

On September 15, Capt. Robert Carey participated as a panelist for the “Building a Bridge: Community and Law Enforcement” virtual conference. The event was sponsored by the Raleigh-Apex NAACP, and Wake County  Commissioner  Jessica  Holmes served as moderator. Other panelists participated from neighboring law enforcement agencies, including Apex,  Holly  Springs,  Garner,  Knightdale,  Morrisville,  Raleigh,  State  Capitol  Police,  and  the  North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Fire Department Assists Clayton 

When 17 members, or a third, of the Clayton Fire Department contracted COVID-19, Cary, along with other municipalities, stepped in to help. The Cary Fire Department provided a heavy rescue truck with four personnel for three 24-hour shifts. During the first shift, Cary crews responded to multiple calls within the Town of Clayton and assisted other Johnston County departments after a persistent storm dumped more than 14 inches of rain in some parts of the county, resulting in mass flash flooding. A commendation from Garner’s deputy fire chief stated in part that “if it weren’t for the heroic actions taken by this crew, many lives would have been lost.”

Fire Station 9 Debuts Drafting Feature

In September, the Fire Department put into service a drafting pit to allow the department to service test its fire trucks. This is a first for Cary, which previously relied on other municipalities’ resources to conduct this required annual testing. Crews can also use the pit for training on drafting operations, which ensures they are able to secure a water supply if a fire hydrant is not available. 

Water Main Replacement Project Underway

 

The annual water main replacement project kicked off this summer with phase one efforts focused along North Academy Street, next to Cary Town Hall. A new water main, extending from the railroad tracks to Chapel Hill Road, is complete and in service. This fall, Cary will resurface this section of street, leaving it renewed both under and above ground.

SEWER REHABILITATION UPDATE

 

Cary rehabilitated the Upper Swift Creek Interceptor from Southwest Maynard Road to Southwest Cary Parkway by installing liners to seal and reinforce the sewer lines, extending their life by 50 or more years. In August, Cary also completed improvements to the Walnut Creek Wastewater Pump Station, which serves a large portion of downtown Cary, Cary High School, Cary Towne Center, and the future Fenton development. These improvements, including electrical wire replacement and the application of a corrosion-resistant coating, will help provide reliable service to citizens and businesses for 20 or more years.

North Cary Water Reclamation Facility Improvements Project Underway

 

A contractor working on behalf of Cary began work on a $15 million project to improve and modernize Cary’s oldest wastewater treatment facility. In the first four months of the project, the contractor constructed a new blower building, standby generator pad, and piping for an onsite equalization pump station. All upgrades will be complete by May 2022, allowing the North Cary Water Reclamation Facility to continue to perform at its high standards for years to come.

Water System Resiliency and Emergency Response Planning

This summer, Cary completed a two-part plan to meet the requirements of both America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and the revised North Carolina Source Water Protection Rule. Addressing potential threats to Cary’s water treatment and distribution systems, as well as its source water supply at Jordan Lake, the two documents will allow Cary to continue development of a flexible and resilient water system and help staff respond effectively in emergency situations. Created through a collaboration with Apex, Morrisville, and Chatham County, which share Cary’s water supply, the two documents provide an easily accessible and adaptable resource to help staff
respond quickly and effectively to a wide variety of emergency conditions.

Annual Wastewater Report

Cary released its 2019–2020 Annual Wastewater Report electronically to citizens and wastewater utility customers in August. The annual report is created to keep citizens and customers informed of programs related to the operation, maintenance, and performance of Cary’s wastewater collection and treatment systems. There were no permit compliance violations at any of Cary’s three water reclamation facilities, which treated more than 6.8 billion gallons of wastewater this year. Cary’s wastewater treatment facilities continue to provide high-quality treated wastewater for returning to receiving streams, as well as for beneficial reuse as reclaimed water.

Cary’s Wastewater Treatment Facilities Receive Platinum Awards from NACWA  

All three of Cary’s water reclamation facilities received Platinum Awards from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. The award recognizes excellent sustained performance for more than five years.

Cary Employees Selected for Municipal Administration Program

This quarter, Susan Bradley, operations and program supervisor at the Cary Tennis Park, and Cassie Schumacher-Georgopoulos, assistant development director, were accepted into the 2020–2021 Municipal Administration Program, offered through the School of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill. This comprehensive, seven-month course is designed for city and county officials whose responsibilities require an understanding of local government functions beyond individual areas of specialization.

Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year 

On August 7, Officer Robert Tonietto was recognized as both Cary Police Department’s and Wake County’s 2019 Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year. The awards recognize Tonietto’s selfless and heroic act of saving a young woman’s life when he pulled her to safety after finding her in a life-threatening crisis at the Kildaire Farm Road bridge at U.S. 1. This is the second time Tonietto has been recognized as Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year. 

Longtime Cary Employee Reaches 44 Years of Service

On September 17, Sammie Garris, the longest tenured employee at the Town of Cary, celebrated his 44th work anniversary. Garris works as a solid waste equipment operator, driving a one-arm automated garbage truck. He started in that same division in 1976, when Cary was home to only 12,000 people, toting a barrel around his shoulder from people’s backyards. Over the years, Garris worked numerous celebrations, including Spring Daze, Lazy Daze, and Fourth of July, as well as inclement weather events. Cary selected Garris as its employee of the year in 1993, and he served as the Grand Marshal for the Cary Jaycees’ Christmas Parade in 2012. “Sammie is a true public servant,” Public Works Director Scott Hecht said. “He wants nothing else than to serve the public and make someone’s day. He has seen what this Town has become, and people have seen what he has become. He is a true gentleman with a big heart, a bigger smile, and work ethic like no other.”