May 17, 2006

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            The commissioners will meet Monday night, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. in town hall for a budget work session. There may be more sessions but none were scheduled.

            Only one person spoke against funding. Former mayor George Mackie, who lives across West Juniper Avenue from the birthplace museum (the Calvin Jones House), said the town should not approve the $550,000 request from the birthplace museum board. “It’s not an obligation of the taxpayers to pay for the situation of the birthplace. It’s nice to have a library or a museum, but this was never intended to be funded by the Town of Wake Forest or its citizens. A lot of taxpayers could care less about Wake Forest University.”

            Edward Morris, the new executive director for the museum, asked the town “to become a full partner in developing a new museum facility” to be built behind the current house on North Main Street. He said an aggressive fund-raising program will begin soon and Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch is very interested. “Now is the time for the town to increase its role.” Since it was first proposed, the size of the facility has been reduced from 10,000 to 7,000 square feet. The $550,000 would be about a third of the facility’s projected cost.

            Morris agreed a request of that size is unusual and suggested it be spread over three or four budget cycles.

            Morris’ request was seconded by former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court I. Beverly Lake, a Wake Forest native who said he hopes “to return home soon to Wake Forest. I have a daughter and grandchildren living here.” He is a member of both the birthplace museum board and the cemetery board.

            “I cannot think of any investment or any endeavor that would enhance the lives of the residents of Wake Forest more,” Lake said. Speaking as an alumnus of Wake Forest College when it was in town, Lake said the alumni group is “dwindling. We very much love the old campus and the town of Wake Forest.”

            Jim Wallace and Kathryn Spiegel spoke on behalf of the Wake Forest Cultural Arts Association. It was formed, Wallace said, as a collaborative effort of the town and what is now the United Arts Council, and in its first year had a full-time director and the use of a house, now demolished, on East Owen Avenue where there is now a parking lot.

            The group is asking for $7,400 for a part-time director to help the board and membership in organizing the events they sponsor – the DuBois Jazz Festival, Six Sundays in Spring and the Autumn Arts Festival – and the events they co-sponsor such as the garden tour, the Artists Studio Tour, the Historic Homes Christmas Tour and the Wake Forest Singers. Doing all that with volunteers “is like trying to herd cats,” Spiegel said.

            Town Manager Mark Williams’ proposed budget did not include funds for either the birthplace or the cultural arts association.

            The proposed budget did include $15,000 of the $40,463 Southlight asked for, and Franklin Ingram, the executive director, and Christina L. Powell, the director of community services, explained the problems youth face and the services for youth and families Southlight offers in town.

            Hugh McLean, director of the Wake Forest Boys and Girls Club, said they were thankful for the support the town and commissioners have given over the years to the club, which has been in operation for over 20 years. Williams had not recommended the club receive the $7,500 requested.

            Williams did recommend fully funding the DRC’s three requests for a total of $105,860 to begin the streetscape improvements on South White Street, for the signs leading people to downtown and for a façade improvement grant program. Chairman Tom Iversen talked about the projects and plans for next year.

            Christy Smith of Child Care Services Association said the group asked for the $1,400 denied by Williams to expand their services into Wake Forest. Those services include helping parents find child care that serve their needs and child care workshops. So far this year about 50 requests have come from Wake Forest.

            Williams’ budget keeps the property tax rate at 54 cents per $100 valuation with 10 cents of that earmarked for the Wake Forest Fire Department, a separate organization. There were no speakers about the budget as a whole at Tuesday’s hearing.