On Oct. 23, in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cary Police Department took part in a National Prescription Drug Take Back event. This year, Cary collected more than 400 pounds of unused prescription drugs. Such events help curb the misuse of prescriptions to prevent drug addiction and overdoses.

Cary continues to establish itself as a key area resource when it comes to utilizing drones in municipal operations. This quarter, with permission of homeowners, Cary used drones to capture the extensive amount of solar installation that is occurring, particularly in western Cary. The technology allowed staff to get bird’s-eye views to see the different orientations of homes with solar. Staff also utilized drone imagery as part of the state’s required environmental permitting process for the Citizen’s Convenience Center. On the public safety side, Police used the technology to identify safety concerns in advance of the Cary Christmas Parade, and Fire assisted agencies, including Morrisville, with calls such as a search and rescue. Outside of these uses, Cary utilizes drones for crash reconstruction, surveying, signal improvement projects, and capturing photo and video of Town projects, facilities, and events, while continuing to look for new ways to use the technology to create new efficiencies.

In December, Alfredo Del Valle, Victoria Rossway, Chase Elliott, and Milton Baker completed Wake Technical Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy. The cadets successfully completed 768 hours of intensive law enforcement training, including topics and instructional methods required by the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. Areas of focus include constitutional law, ethics, elements of criminal law, mental illness and people with disabilities, patrol duties, investigations, communications, hazardous materials, and physical fitness. 

Each year, Project PHOENIX partners with nonprofit and faith-based organizations Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, Covenant Life Church, Covenant Christian Church, the U.S. Veterans Corps, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Cary Citizens Assisting Police team to provide gifts for deserving children. On Dec. 11, Cary police officers provided 21 children toys, hats, gloves, shoes, coats, a new bike, and a gift card.

This quarter, the Cary Police Department added two all-electric Tesla Model Y long-range patrol vehicles to its fleet. When it comes to its fleet, Cary actively seeks to reduce fuel consumption, save money, improve efficiency, and reduce emissions. The Tesla Model Y patrol vehicles have a 5-star safety rating from the national Highways Traffic Safety Administration in all categories and an estimated range of 324 miles on a full charge. Both vehicles will include the same safety features and utilities as the other police vehicles currently in service. While upfront costs are about $8,000 more, the reduced operation and maintenance costs are anticipated to lower the cost of ownership by $4,000 over the life of the vehicle when compared with the current police fleet. The Tesla Model Y patrol vehicles will be assigned to the department’s Traffic Safety Team. 

During heavy rains in October, Fire responded not only in town to impacts of flash flooding, including a tree down on an apartment building, but also to a request for help from Raleigh Fire to assist with rescues and evacuations of flooding victims. Fire also answered the call in  December to assist Rocky Mount Fire Department in extinguishing a fire at a large QVC warehouse. Fire values  opportunities to hone collaborative skills by working alongside other departments.

Work began in November to rehabilitate a 1.3-mile stretch of 48-inch sewer pipeline along the south shore of Lake Crabtree. This is the first phase of a $12 million sewer rehabilitation project along the Crabtree Creek and Black Creek greenways. Over the last few months, contractors prepared the site, including assembling temporary piping to allow wastewater to continue to flow during the work. In order to facilitate a safe work environment for the public and contractors, the Crabtree Creek Greenway will be closed until spring. Greenway traffic will be rerouted according to posted detour maps and signs.

Upon completion of the first phase of the project in the spring, the Crabtree Creek Greenway will reopen and work will begin on the Black Creek Greenway. More information about the project and the detour route can be found at carygreenwaydetour.com. 

In October, Water Environment Federation recognized Cary as a “Water Resources Utility of the Future” in the category of water reuse. The Utility of the Future Today Recognition Program celebrates the progress and performance of exceptional utilities for innovative and forward-thinking practices that provide sustainable, efficient, and value-added services to their community. Cary’s recognition focused on exceptional performance with water reuse during its 20 years with a reclaimed water system program. 

In November, the N.C. American Water Works Association recognized Cary with Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection System of the Year awards. These annual awards go to the water distribution and wastewater collection systems that protect the public health through proactive practices of management, operations, and maintenance. 

In October, staff attended the Jordan Lake One Water Association meeting, which culminated in the finalization of the One Water Vision for Jordan Lake. This document will guide collaborative efforts with the state as it reevaluates the Jordan Rules regulations. Cary’s active involvement in the association’s initiatives aligns with its watershed protection funding effort. This ongoing investment to voluntarily protect and conserve undeveloped land in the water supply watershed is just another example of Cary’s regional leadership in environmental stewardship, a core value of the Imagine Cary SERVE chapter. The new vision plan is available at bit.ly/JLOWvision.

This quarter marks a watershed date for a special collection of green stormwater infrastructure programs and projects within the Walnut Creek Watershed. Funded though the $300,000 Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund Grant that Council accepted in 2018, five programs addressed stormwater flooding and drainage, citizen education and outreach, and environmental equity. In December 2021, the grant concluded; meaningful impacts from the grant projects are described below. With the completion of these projects, Cary continues its leadership in innovative stormwater management.

• Dunham Park renovation created an opportunity to build a green infrastructure basin that helps store and treat water runoff during large storm events. The feature will reduce water runoff fourfold, addressing existing downstream flooding concerns from the adjacent neighborhood and providing water quality benefits in the upper reaches of the Walnut Creek basin.
• Five Cary residents received a financial incentive to install green stormwater measures on their property. These riparian buffer restorations, rain gardens, and rainwater harvesting system projects help manage drainage issues on the residential sites and mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff onto neighboring properties.
• With an eye on equity, Cary partnered with Step-Up Ministry to provide employment training in green infrastructure skills for Cary residents. This partnership resulted in two participants accepting full-time jobs with a local green infrastructure firm, expanding Cary’s green stormwater industry employment and capacity.
• Additionally, Cary partnered with Partners for Environmental Justice to develop and deliver educational and outreach programs for low-income communities and communities of color. The program included door-to-door outreach to Spanish-speaking communities in Cary and Raleigh, community litter patrols, and formal classes on watershed care. 
• Cary partnered with N.C. State Cooperative Extension Service and local experts to develop “Rain It In,” a series of green stormwater infrastructure videos. These 10 videos provide bite-size amounts of information and actions to help “slow rainwater down, spread it out, and soak it in.” The series will be launched to the public in April in time for Earth Day.

On Oct. 2, citizens and staff volunteered to help clean up Hillcrest Cemetery. Following a demonstration of proper cleaning techniques, volunteers cleaned an entire section of the cemetery. Cleanup days are planned to occur biannually, and information on future cleanup days will be posted at townofcary.org/hillcrest.

At its Dec.16 meeting, Council recognized the work of Cary’s 14 Cary 150/Cary Magazine Hometown Heroes. During Council member Ed Yerha’s History Moment, he acknowledged how each honoree went above and beyond to help others in the community during the pandemic. To read about each Hometown Hero in Cary Magazine’s October issue, visit carymagazine.com.  

Cary selected Sarah Martin as the 2021 Hometown Spirit Award recipient at the Nov. 9 Council meeting. Prior to the announcement, a reception was held at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, where Mayor Harold Weinbrecht honored each of the three finalists: Sarah Martin, Carla Michaels, and Barry Mitsch. The Hometown Spirit Award is bestowed annually on a Cary citizen who enhances the quality of life in Cary by preserving, promoting, and carrying out positive and quantifiable small-town community values and traits.

Officers Graduate from West Point Leadership Program  

On Nov. 16, Sgt. Travis Gresham and Cpl. Ken Hutchison graduated as part of the 32nd cohort of the West Point Leadership Program offered by Methodist University. This challenging 16-week leadership course is adapted from a course at West Point and is designed to inspire leaders to develop an informed, systematic, and dynamic approach to leading in police organizations.