Here's How To Prepare For Post-Christmas Trash Collection

Due to the City of Sanford's holiday schedule, residents' solid waste collection will be a little off for the next couple of weeks.

However, there are a couple steps you can take to make trash collection go more smoothly -- and to keep your curb looking nice.

Step 1: Rely on Recycling

You already know you can recycle shipping boxes, but your blue recycling cart can handle more than that. This year, make sure you also recycle your wrapping paper, tissue paper, and gift boxes. This will leave more room in your brown garbage cart for non-recyclables.

And remember: Don't bag anything that's headed for the recycling cart. Recyclables should be loose in the cart.

Step 2: Un-Trim the Tree

When you're ready to throw away your natural Christmas tree, make sure you strip it of all ornaments and other decorations. It should be completely bare before it leaves your home.

You can then place your bare tree at the curb. The City's limb truck will pick it up within a few days, and your tree will be used in our certified compost facility (versus dumped in a landfill).

Step 3: Be Patient

Due to the holidays, your trash, recycling, and leaf/limb collection will be off schedule. Please be patient and know that trucks will be there as soon as possible. You can expect schedules to get back to normal in early January.

Questions?

If you have questions or concerns about pick up, call the Public Works Service Center at 919-775-8247.

The City's Holiday Schedule

Marshall Administers Oath, Welcomes New Council

NC Sec. of State Elaine Marshall administered four oath of offices at the Sanford City Council meeting this past Tuesday.

Calling their elections an "act of faith" by voters, Marshall swore in new mayor Chet Mann, re-elected Council members J.D. Williams and Sam Gaskins, and newly elected Council member Chas Post.

The new Council's first act of business was to elect Williams as Mayor Pro Tem.

For more information about the meeting, read this article in Wednesday's edition of The Sanford Herald.

View more photos from the meeting and the reception that followed on our Facebook page.

Call For Donations: 3 Alarm Toy Drive

The Lee County Firefighters' Burned Children Fund is again collecting gifts for donation to the NC Jaycee Burn Center at UNC.

What to donate

Families and burn victims most need the following donations:

• New, unwrapped toys
• Blankets
• Hygiene items
• Gift cards
• Gas cards
• Phone cards

Donated items will be taken to the Burn Center by local firefighters and will be used by the Burn Center's patients and their families.

How to help

You can donate items at any of Sanford’s fire stations, which are open around the clock. The deadline to donate is Wednesday, Dec. 18. Call 919-775-8242 for more information.

Donations will be delivered on Thursday, Dec. 19.

Benjamin Moore Paints Downtown

Last Monday, Benjamin Moore representatives, Mayor Cornelia Olive, and municipal staffers joined together with business owners and community members to kick off Benjamin Moore's four-week-long makeover of downtown Sanford.

The group moved over to Carolina Customs Home Theatre to add the first stroke of paint (Blue Gaspe). Jose Norato and his crew helped, as they will be the contractor for the project.

For questions about the Benjamin Moore makeover, contact David Montgomery at 919-777-1400.

Benjamin Moore To Start Work In Sanford

Benjamin Moore representatives will be in Sanford on Monday to launch the revitalization efforts the city won in the Main Street Matters competition this summer.

The company will kick off its makeover plans with a celebration event at 10:30am at the Downtown Sanford, Inc offices located at 226 Carthage Street (Federal Building).

The following weeks will be a flurry of activity as Benjamin Moore revitalizes the exterior of a three-block span of businesses on Steele Street from Gordon Street to Wicker Street.

Of the 20 communities in the United States and Canada that won the Main Street Matters contest, Sanford is the third to begin work. Benjamin Moore plans to finish Sanford's makeover by mid-December.

For questions or concerns about the project, contact David Montgomery at 919-775-8332.

Offices Closed For Thanksgiving

The City of Sanford's government offices will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 for Thanksgiving.

Offices will re-open on Monday, Dec. 2 at 8am.

Swearing in for New Mayor, Council Member

There will be a swearing-in ceremony and special reception for Sanford's new mayor and Council member in conjunction with the December 3 meeting of the Sanford City Council.

The meeting will begin at 7pm. During the meeting, Mayor Chet Mann and At-Large Councilman Chas Post will be sworn in. After the meeting, there will be a special reception in the atrium of the Sanford Municipal Center.

The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and reception to welcome the new Council members.

For questions, contact Bonnie White at 919-777-1111.

Mayor Olive and Councilman Cohen Honored With Outgoing Reception

Outgoing mayor Cornelia Olive and Council member Poly Cohen were honored with a special video presentation and reception at the end of the Tuesday, Nov. 19 meeting of the Sanford City Council.

This was the last Council meeting for both Mayor Olive and Councilman Cohen as the Wednesday, Nov. 27 meeting of the Law and Finance Committee has been canceled.

Watch the videos

Local talent Mitch Lassiter of M. Lassiter Photography donated his videography services to put together a parting video for each board member. The goal of the videos was to thank the members for their dedication to and influence on Sanford.

More Details

For more information about the meeting, read this article in The Sanford Herald (registration required). You can view photos from the night on our Facebook page.

Civil Affairs Students Examine Local Municipalities

On Friday, a group of Civil Affairs students from the John F. Kennedy Special War Center and School visited the Sanford Municipal Center to learn more about the infrastructure and management of cities and counties.

Director of the Sanford/Lee County Department of Planning and Community Development, Bob Bridwell, led a program that included presentations from the NC Department of Transportation, Lee County GIS, the Sanford Police Department, the Sanford Fire Department, and Lee County Emergency Services.

Key personnel from each department shared how the city and county work together to provide services to and promote the welfare of residents, as well as how they rely on each other during emergency situations.

The Civil Affairs students will apply what they've learned during these discussions when they are deployed to third-world and war-torn nations. These students will be responsible for setting up infrastructure and working with local officials in those countries.

This is the Kennedy Center's second visit to the City of Sanford's municipal center in as many months. An earlier group toured the Sanford Police Department this October to learn more about security and special operations.

Sanford Christmas Parade Returns

The annual Sanford Christmas Parade returns to downtown Sanford on Monday, Dec. 2 at 7pm.

To accommodate the parade, several streets will be closed starting at 6:30pm.

For more information about the parade, go to the Central Carolina Jaycees' website.

Mural Arts Program Completes First Mural

The first mural in the City of Sanford Appearance Commission's Mural Arts Program is now complete.

The mural is located at 140 N. Steele Street and was painted by Shirley Patterson. The paint used for the project was donated by Downtown Sanford.

The next mural in the Mural Arts Program is already in the works. Local art student Katie Hancock will paint a mural at 115 Moore Street in Sanford. We'll let you know when work begins.

Sanford Launches Mural Arts Program

The vacant storefront located at 140 N. Steele Street is quietly becoming more beautiful, thanks to the City of Sanford's new Mural Arts Project.

The store's front window, which has been busted out numerous times, was boarded securely by the City's Appearance Commission. The Commission had already noted that boarded windows were a wonderful canvas for local artists' creativity. Therefore, the white board used for 140 N. Steele Street was the perfect place to start the mural program, says Commission member Liz Whitmore.

The Project's murals will be painted by local artists and are meant to reflect Sanford's history, Whitmore says. For this first mural at 140 N. Steele Street, Downtown Sanford donated the paint and artist Shirley Patterson is painting the mural.

Next: Local art student Katie Hancock will paint the next window mural. It will beautify 115 Moore Street.

Special Reception For Outgoing Council Members

There will be a special reception for outgoing City Council members following the November 19 meeting of the Sanford City Council.

The meeting will begin at 7pm. Following, there will be a special presentation along with light refreshments to celebrate the service of outgoing members Mayor Cornelia Olive and At-Large Representative Poly Cohen.

The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and reception to help celebrate the members' years of service.

For questions, contact Bonnie White at 919-777-1111.

City Asks Residents To Help With Street Light Issues

The top way to increase the safety of any street is to ensure it is well lit, but it's difficult to know about every broken or burned out street light.

That's where the City of Sanford hopes you and other residents will come in.

The Streets Maintenance Department wants residents to report any street light problems they notice so that we can get them resolved. Potential issues include:

• Burned out lights,
• Lights cycling on and off,
• Flickering lights, 
• Tree limbs blocking light from reaching the street, and 
• Any damage to a light.

Action plan: If you see any street light issues, follow these steps:

1. Record the pole number and location. 
2. Report that information to Duke Energy Progress at 800-708-7488 or
3. Report that information to the Public Works Service Center at 919-775-8247.

You can also report problems using YourGov, a free mobile reporting app for Android or Apple devices. The app will allow you to submit a photo of the pole number and its location right from your phone.

Thank you in advance for helping us ensure that our street lights work properly.

Appearance Commission Keeps Fire Tower Road Beautiful

Last Saturday, the City of Sanford's Appearance Commission held their third beautification day along Fire Tower Road in Sanford.

Despite the brisk temperature, the group picked up 14 bags of trash -- and one sorely battered Little Tykes basketball hoop.

Commission members Ken Laughinghouse, David Schau, and Deon Allbrooks enjoyed working with the Boys and Girls Club of Sanford/Lee County's Passport to Manhood program members Noah McEachin, Trevon Carter, Dwayne Lee, Kavaughn Rice, Ardell Shaw, and Jordan Reed. Rounding out the participants were City staff member Liz Whitmore and her husband, Rex Connor.

The group sipped hot chocolate and noshed on warm donuts to combat the cold. And they even had the opportunity to see two does being chased by two large bucks halfway through the morning.

For more information about the Appearance Commission, contact Liz at liz.whitemore@sanfordnc.net.

Social Spotlight: Leaf Pickup Schedule Picks Up Speed

Question: The leaf vac truck hasn't been to my neighborhood in a few weeks and the leaves are beginning to pile up. When can I next expect it?

Answer: Crisp autumn air and longer days usher in more than just pumpkins. They're also a harbinger of the City leaf vac truck's increased frequency.

Starting the first full week of November, the leaf vac truck will hit Sanford streets every week rather than just the first week of each month. The frequency will remain weekly until late December or early January.

For questions or concerns about leaf pickup, call the Public Works Service Center at 919-775-8247.

Raleigh Exec Jetport Reopens After 2 Months

The Raleigh Exec Jetport reopened this Thursday after a nearly two-month hiatus for runway construction and repaving.

County, City, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the reopening with a ribbon cutting. The renovated runway's surface can now hold 100,000 pounds -- up from 80,000 -- and will allow heavier planes to use the airport.

"I am just so proud of what Sanford has become and what it is going to be when everyone realizes what a great asset we have here," said L.I. "Poly" Cohen during the ceremony. Cohen is a member of the Sanford City Council and Airport Authority, as well as a pilot.

For a detailed recap of the ceremony and construction, read this article in Friday's The Sanford Herald.

Youth Learn Why Municipalities Go Green

At the October meeting of the Sanford/Lee County Youth Council, members were treated to presentations about Lee County's and the City of Sanford's recycling programs.

Joe Cherry, the superintendent of Solid Waste at Lee County Government, explained how the county uses its recycling program to eliminate waste, reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills, and to better recover after storms.

Laura Spivey, the City's Public Works administrator and grant writer, shared with the youth council how the Sanford City Council came to the decision to offer municipal recycling. She also discussed the different factors that go into that decision, such as the cost of recycling containers and pick up, as well as keeping an eye on the City's carbon footprint.

Finally, the members visited the City's state-certified compost facility. They were able to see how the City turns plant matter and other natural debris into an operation that benefits both Sanford and its residents.

For more information about the Sanford/Lee County Youth Council, call Karen Kennedy at 919-777-1113.

Sanford Welcomes Downtown's New Public Space

City and County officials, business owners, and residents came out to celebrate the Chatham Street Parking Lot, Sanford's newest public space, this past Tuesday.

The parking lot and event venue were developed through a public-private partnership between the City of Sanford, Downtown Sanford Inc, and Progressive Contracting Company.

Here's a before-and-after video of the new space:

For questions or further information about the Chatham Street Parking lot, contact David Montgomery, executive director of Downtown Sanford, Inc at 919-775-8200.

New Lot Kicks Off Downtown Revitalization

Residents and visitors now have a safer, more attractive place to park in downtown Sanford, and it could pay off big for local businesses.

Thanks to a public-private partnership between the City of Sanford, Downtown Sanford Inc, and Progressive Contracting Company, the land between McIver Street and Charlotte Avenue located behind Chatham Street has been renovated for use as a public parking area.

The first step in preparing the 70,000 sq ft space was to clear and grade the land that previously hosted the Lee County Rescue Squad. The City also had to work with Progressive Contracting to convert the existing private parking spaces to public ones.

More Parking, More Business

Now called the Chatham Street Parking Lot, the updated space features 96 public parking spaces, period lighting, a clean view of the Little Buffalo Creek, and public art.

“The Chatham Street Parking Lot will make it easier for business owners, employees, customers, and visitors to park near Chatham Street, Charlotte Avenue, and McIver Street,” explains David Montgomery, executive director of Downtown Sanford, Inc. “The lot will also serve as primary overflow parking for downtown events or as a venue itself,” he says.

Planning For The Future

The lot’s renovation matches the streetscape work completed on Chatham Street, which includes brick-lined sidewalks, partial underground utilities, and period lighting for both pedestrian and street lamps. The voter-approved Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvement bonds will fund streetscaping throughout the downtown area.

“The City’s investment in Chatham Street has already increased property values,” points out City Manager Hal Hegwer. “Property values along Chatham Street averaged $200,000 in 2002 but are $1.75 million now. We expect the new parking lot to bring the same results. And with a safer, free place to park, we anticipate more foot traffic for all of our downtown businesses,” he says.

“This parking lot is a great example of what can be accomplished when diverse groups work together toward a common goal,” notes Paul Weeks, City Engineer. The city hopes the parking lot project will set the tone for future public-private partnerships during the streetscaping process.

Creating A Public Space

The lot’s renovation wasn’t limited to paving and utilities, says Bob Bridwell, director of community development and planning for the City. “We took the opportunity to clean up Little Buffalo Creek,” which runs parallel to the renovated lot. Workers removed trash and debris from the creek and trimmed the creek’s foliage.

The Chatham Street Parking Lot is also home to an Art-Force, Inc public art installation. Created by North Carolina artists and local specialty metals engineering firm WST Industries, the zero-waste six-panel art display was installed in mid-August.

More Information

The public is invited to view the Chatham Street Parking Lot and participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 4:15pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

For questions about the new lot or ribbon cutting, contact David Montgomery at 919-775-8332 or downtown@sanfordnc.net.

Sanford PD Hosts Special Operations Students

On Friday afternoon, a group of students from the John F. Kennedy Special War Center and School visited the Sanford Police Department.

The students, who ranged in age from 18 to 22, are training to serve as U.S. Army Civil Affairs personnel. Each recently completed basic training and are now researching their Army career paths.

In particular, Friday's tour was an opportunity for the students to deepen their understanding of local police training and operations. They met with Capt. Tony Hancox and officers Patrick Carroll and Doug Womack of the Community Policing Division for a question-and-answer session followed by a tour of the department.

The Sanford PD provides tours to any group or organization. To schedule one, contact Kelly Quinones Miller at 919-777-1133 or kelly.miller@sanfordnc.net.

Housing Task Force Prepares For 2014

The City's Housing Task Force is already planning for next year's Sanford Block Party. The event has been tentatively set for April 26, 2014.

The committee has chosen Hawkins Avenue to receive a day of cleaning up and beautification. Just like in years past, volunteers, municipal staff, City and County officials, and others will work together to make the chosen portion of the street more attractive to passers by.

While task force members work on confirming dates and lead groups for the future block party, the City's Appearance Commission has selected a residence from each of the past Sanford Block Party events to receive a beautification award.

The award was given to the residents who did the best job of maintaining the work done on their residence during their block party. There is an award for a home on Charlotte Avenue, on McIver Street, and on Maple Avenue.

The awards will be in the form of a sign for the residents to post in their yards. You can expect to see the signs later this fall.

For more information about the task force or the Sanford Block Party, contact Karen Kennedy at 919-777-1113 or karen.kennedy@sanfordnc.net.

Beth Kelly To Serve As Financial Services Director

The City of Sanford has selected Beth Kelly to serve as Director of Financial Services.

As director, Kelly will manage all financial aspects for the City, including financial reporting, debt issuance, budgeting, and revenue analysis and projections for the general and utility funds. Kelly has served as Interim Director since August 19, 2013 when the position was vacated by Melissa Cardinali.

Kelly’s experience makes her a natural fit for the position, says Hal Hegwer, City Manager. She has served as Assistant Director of Financial Services for the City of Sanford since March of 2005. Prior to that, she worked as an auditor of North Carolina local governments (counties and municipalities) for public accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman, formerly Dixon Hughes, PLLC.

This new role will place Kelly in the position to directly manage $14.5 million in debt issuance for the general obligation bonds passed in the September 10 municipal primary. Her previous bond experience shows she is up to the task. “Beth Kelly was integral in obtaining excellent interest rates for the $54 million in revenue bonds necessary for the Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion, a project that totaled $72 million,” Hegwer says.

“I have a great deal of confidence in Beth Kelly. Her accounting background and prior auditing experience are strong assets for the City. Serving as Assistant Director of Financial Services and Interim Director of Financial Services has prepared her to hit the ground running,” Hegwer says.

Kelly graduated from Meredith College in 1998 with a degree in accounting. She is an active member of the North Carolina Governmental Finance Officers Association and the North Carolina Governmental Investment Association.

Voters Pass Bond Referendum

Voters took to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 10 to give their approval of the City of Sanford’s $14.5 million bond program.

Starting in late July, City staff rolled out an education campaign to provide details on the potential bond projects, along with their financial implications and potential tax consequences.

Using public presentations, static displays, social media, and the City’s website, staffers spent the past six weeks educating residents on how the bonds will be used to improve the quality of life and economic development in Sanford.

The outcome of Tuesday’s vote reflected Sanford’s optimism about the bond program’s ability to transition the city from a struggling industrial town to a thriving business community.

For more information about the vote count, read this recap in The Sanford Herald. Information on the next steps in the bond process will be forthcoming.

National Night Out 2013 Set New Record For Sanford

Thanks to Sanford’s neighborhoods, churches, and community groups, this year’s National Night Out ranked as the best attended – and most generous – to date in the region.

With 35 official and two unofficial sites, there was no shortage of food and fellowship during the city-wide celebration on Tuesday, August 6. Each site reported record participation for both new and long-time gatherings.

Even better: In addition to creating safe neighborhoods, this year’s goal was to collect nonperishable food items for the Christians United Outreach Center (CUOC). Local coordinators enthusiastically met the challenge, donating nearly 900 pounds of food to the agency to help provide meals for local families in need.

“We are so pleased that the City of Sanford and the National Night Out coordinators chose to support the Christians United Outreach Center this year,” says Teresa Kelly, executive director for the CUOC. “We look forward working together in the future to combat hunger in Sanford.”

“Mayor Olive, City Council members, the Sanford Police Department, the Sanford Fire Department, and City staff worked together to visit each National Night Out event and show the community how committed they are to making Sanford as safe as possible,” says Kelly Quinones Miller, public information officer for the City and manager of the National Night Out program.

The August 6 celebrations capped off a long summer full of National Night Out events designed to help spread the word both about the program and the safety resources available from the Sanford Police Department.

And you can expect to hear more about National Night Out in the months to come. “Our goal is to carry the spirit of National Night Out throughout the year,” says Sgt. Tony Hancox of the Sanford Police Department. “We hope the community will continue to come out and show their support.”

See photos from the night on our Facebook page.

For more information National Night Out and upcoming events, contact Miller at 919-777-1133 or kelly.miller@sanfordnc.net.

Sanford's Drinking Water Receives State Recognition

For the third year in a row, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the City of Sanford’s Water Treatment Plant for meeting the state’s performance goals.

The NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources’ Area-Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) monitors the state’s public water systems. Each year, systems like the Water Treatment Plant strive to improve the turbidity – or water clarity – of their drinking water.

AWOP’s goal is to ensure the safest possible water for customers of public water systems and position public water systems to handle the challenges posed by new regulations and aging infrastructure.

The Water Treatment Plant has met AWOP’s performance goals year-over-year. The plant’s continued dedication to providing Sanford with safe drinking water “signifies a commitment to excellence” that “extends beyond regulatory standards,” wrote Becky Allenbach, chief of the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Branch in an August 5, 2013 letter of recognition.

The recognition “highlights the staff’s commitment to providing the safest possible drinking water,” says Scott Christiansen, Superintendent of the Water Treatment Plant.

“The staff treats the Sanford’s water beyond what is required by the national primary drinking water regulations,” he says. “This means fewer contaminants in the water supply and the highest quality water for everyone.”

For more information or to schedule a tour of the Water Treatment Plant, contact Christiansen at 919-777-1800.

Public Art Finds Permanent Home In New Downtown Parking Lot

Downtown Sanford's newly re-paved parking lot will be home to the newest Art-Force Inc public art installation.

Art-Force, a non-profit working to stimulate and diversify development in economically distressed communities, allies artists and manufacturers to create art for public spaces.

For Sanford, Art-Force matched local specialty metals engineering firm WST Industries with designers Chandra Cox and Susan Cannon to create two modern projects in metal, one of which will be six large-scale panels. The other is a selection of tables that will be available for purchase on WST Industries' website.

The zero-waste steel panels, which feature cut-outs that were used to produce the tables, will serve as entry markers to the newly re-paved and updated downtown lot between Wicker Street and Charlotte Avenue, explains DSI executive director David Montgomery.

The art installation will be fully unveiled during the parking lot's dedication in mid-September.

Social Spotlight: Trash Cart Do's and Don'ts

Question: I've noticed several of my neighbors leaving their trash carts at the curb long after the carts are emptied. Some neighbors never roll their cart back to their houses, choosing instead to take their trash to the curb each day. Is there anything I can do to make them move their carts from the curb?

Answer: The City of Sanford's code of ordinances is very clear about empty trash containers. Sec. 28-40b states:

Empty containers shall be removed from the street by the owner, no later than the day in which garbage and recyclables are picked up by the trucks, with the exception of business areas where the time limit will be 30 minutes between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

That means homeowners and renters should roll their carts back to their homes the day of collection. Of course, things happen and sometimes the carts stay at the street an extra day or so.However, carts should not remain at the curb indefinitely.

Important: Sanford's code of ordinances is also very clear about the type of site or location from which the city will collect trash. Sec. 28-40d states:

No collection, with or without charge, shall be made from vacant lots nor shall any large rocks, tree trunks, stumps, tree limbs, soil, or any other heavy objects be collected from houses or other structures under construction or recently completed, or any property where debris has been cut or placed by a contractor.

In the case of vacant lots or residential construction, the property owner or contractor is responsible for removing trash and debris.

Code Enforcement Is Your Answer

Knowing the rules is only half the battle. The obvious questions is: What can a person do to keep their neighbors within city code?

The short answer: Call in the enforcers. The City of Sanford has a code enforcement team who are responsible for responding to residents' complaints and concerns. They will follow the City's enforcement procedures for moving any code offenders into compliance.

The City's website offers a list of potential concerns and the number you'd call to begin the resolution process. If you don't see your concern listed, you can call 919-777-1405.

Or, YourGov It

The City also offers YourGov, a mobile app that make reporting code violations -- or any service request -- easier. The app is free to download, works on both Apple and Android devices, and can be used anywhere.

For further questions or concerns about trash collection or the YourGov mobile app, please contact the City's Service Center at 919-775-8247.

Greenway Survey Follow Up

We had a question about our greenway survey over on Facebook and thought everyone would appreciate seeing the answer.

Survey Background

Our unpaid intern has been with us about a month and has been researching surveys, survey tools, and survey use. He has been on the Applebee's/Spring Lane Cinemas section of the Endor Iron Furnace Trail (greenway) every day this week implementing the survey he created from this research.

The greenway survey is a great opportunity for our intern, whose college major is Statistics, to get some hands-on experience in his field while also learning about local government.

Though his internship is unpaid, we feel the experience has been and will continue to be beneficial for both of us.

Survey Purpose & Goal

The purpose of the survey is to see how the greenway is currently being used, by what demographic, and at what times of the day. We'd also like to know what amenities users would like to see added, such as more benches, more trash cans, etc.

The goal for this survey is to ensure the greenway facility meets the needs of those who use it and to better understand any barriers to use so that we can help to remove them.

Our intern is specifically targeting areas around the greenway so that the City can get a better feel for how the existing facility is meeting users' needs.

Lee County Government's Parks and Rec department has already performed a large-scale survey of residents' needs and wants concerning recreational activity. That information is available from the county.

Results So Far

Our intern is collecting in-person and online responses to give respondents the opportunity to share their thoughts in the way that's most comfortable for them.

The survey is not limited to residents or active greenway users. We encourage everyone to share their thoughts and perspective.

At this point we have had 82 take the survey (76 online, 6 in person), have posted flyers around the greenway facility, and have handed out short-form surveys to 20 users on the greenway.

Next Steps

With that information, we do hope people will continue sharing their thoughts via the greenway survey. The link to do so is http://bit.ly/15wktir.

If you have further questions about the survey, please feel free to comment here or on our Facebook page, or call 919-777-1133.

Families Learn How To Fight Back At NNO Event

Ten local families came out to First Baptist Church on Saturday, August 3 to learn self-defense techniques to help them ward off any would-be attackers.

Master Jeremy Jackson of Black Belt Leadership Academy gave families hands-on demonstrations and taught them several strategies that even the youngest children could implement.

After a demonstration and practice session, Officer Deck of the Sanford Police Department's Community Policing Division gave parents some practical advice for making themselves, their families, and their property less vulnerable.

Before and after the event, children learned more about work zone safety. They loved trying on the hard hat and vest worn by the City's crews.

Photos in Progress

Stay tuned for our big National Night Out update. We're still sifting through 500+ photos and videos from the night.

We have been on the phone with our coordinators all week and everyone reports that this year's turnout was the best yet! Thank you to everyone who has participated this year!

Detour Alert: Rail Road Crossing Closed All Week

Wicker Street will be closed between Moore Street and Chatham Street for one week beginning on Monday, August 5.

Atlantic Western & CSX have requested this section of the road be closed so that they can change out a railroad crossing near the entrance to Depot Park.

Drivers can use Carthage Street as a detour.

The Moore-Chatham section of Wicker Street will re-open on Monday, August 12.

Notice: Updated Water & Sewer Rates

Effective Aug. 1, 2013, the City of Sanford's water and sewer rates have changed. Refer to the charts below for FY 2013-14 rates.

Water Utility Rates

Residential			Non-Residential
Monthly Consumption Level	Inside City	Outside City	Monthly Consumption Level	Inside City	Outside City
Minimum Charge for up to 3 ccf ($ / month)	$14.32	$28.64	Minimum Charge for up to 3 ccf ($ / month)	$14.32	$28.64
Over 3 ccf ($ / ccf)	$4.34	$8.66	3 ccf to 8 ccf  ($ / ccf)	$4.34	$8.66
			Over 8 ccf ($ / ccf)	$2.82	$5.63

1 ccf = 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons

Sewer Utility Rates

Monthly Consumption Level	Inside City	Outside City
Minimum Charge for up to 3 ccf ($ / month)	$15.30	$22.95
Over 3 ccf ($ / ccf)	$5.10	$7.65

1 ccf = 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons

Sewer Only Rates

Monthly Consumption Level	Inside City	Outside City
Flat Fee	$31.63	$45.95

Industrial Surcharge Rates

Strength Parameter	Proposed Rate ($/1,000 lb)
BOD	$145 / 1,000 lb in excess of 250mg/l
SS	$220 / 1,000 lb in excess of 200 mg/l
Oil & Grease	$200 / 1,000 lb in excess of 40 mg/l

Questions or Concerns?

If you have questions or concerns about FY 2013-2014 rates, call the utility billing department at 919-777-1151.

Let's Talk Greenway

The City's summer intern, Joseph Akinosho, has created a survey to gather more information about how and why people use -- or don't use -- the Endor Iron Furnace Trail (Greenway).

Share your thoughts here or click the image below to take the survey.

City Opens GovDeals Bidding

Need a new vehicle? How about office equipment, radios, or a backhoe? The City of Sanford has you covered.

Starting this Monday, the City has nearly 30 items available for auction on GovDeals.com, a site that allows government agencies to sell surplus items to the public. Items range from big ticket (a utility van and retired police cars) to next-to-nothing (a $10 couch).

Each auction will end 2 weeks from its start date.

See What We're Selling

You can get item photos and descriptions, as well as place your bid, by going to GovDeals.com and entering "Sanford" in the search box.

Quick link: To go directly to the City of Sanford's listings, click here.

Get Registered

Anyone can bid on auction hosted at GovDeals. But before you can place a bid, you'll need to register to use the service. You'll have to enter a phone number where the site can call or text you to validate your registration.

After the validation, you'll receive an email from GovDeals' customer service department. Click the link in the email and then enter the username and password you set up during registration.

From start to finish, the registration process lasts no longer than five minutes.

Start Bidding

Once you've registered, run your search for "Sanford." When you click on any of the items, you'll see a bidding form on the left of the description screen. Enter your bid and you're officially part of the auction.

Make sure you read the terms and conditions for all items before you place your bid. Everything you need to know is right on the description screen.

Payment & Pick Up

If you place the winning bid, GovDeals will issue you a buyer's certificate and you'll have five business days to make your payment. For items less than $5,000, you can pay by credit card or Paypal. You may pay by wire transfer for items that cost more than $5,000.

Note that a 5% buyer's premium is added to the final selling price of each item, in addition to any taxes imposed.

Once you make your payment, you can schedule a time to pick up your item(s). You must remove the item from City property within 10 days of the date on your certificate.

Questions?

For more information about our items or to arrange an inspection of what's for sale, contact Randy Paschal at 919-777-1250 or send an email to randy.paschal@sanfordnc.net.