White Lake Board Hears Lake Water Management Update and Mult-Use Path Phase II Information

Mayor Goldston Womble gave an update to the White Lake Board of Commissioners during the Tuesday evening meeting.  Dr Diane Lauritsen of LIMNOSCIENCES provided the December report.  Water Quality Monitoring continues with identifications of algae found in the lake to be completed in the next few weeks with the expectation of no new types.

No Hydrilla has been found and a whole lake sampling report should be available soon.  Counts of birds in and around the lake are underway.  The information will be provided to Wildlife Resources Commission personnel to assess trends and a public presentation will be scheduled.  Nutrient mitigation options are also being evaluated.  Rainfall for 2019 was a bit above normal at 53″ and lake levels are at the point they were last January. In addition, a grant proposal to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund is in the process of completion.  More information can be found on the White Lake Watch website at https://whitelakewatch.com/.

Eddie Madden, Project Manager for the Multi-Use Path, updated the Board on Phase II and Phase IIA.  The next portion of the multi-use path will continue from Turtle Cove subdivision to the White Lake Marina.  The Board will seek public input through 2 public meetings (Feb. 11  and March 10th at 7:00 p.m.) where the conceptual plan will be shared.  A Citizen Survey will also be available for anyone to complete and can be accessed on the Town’s website. This section of the path includes a wetland portion which will require the use of a raised boardwalk.  The total project for phase II of development is $686,989 which includes $400,000 for the boardwalk. A grant from Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is being requested to fund $343,495 toward the project which leaves a local commitment of $343,495.  For the Phase IIA portion, the path will extend from the Marina to to the Scotchman.  In order to offset the local match, applications will be submitted to various organizations.  The Board approved  the public meeting dates, the amendment to the CIP to include budgeting capital expenditures for Phase II of the project and the Basic Facts and Assurances Agreement as presented.

In administrative matters, the Board approved 2018/19 Fiscal Year Audit; approved Utility, Tax releases/refunds; approved Southern Software, Inc. annual support agreement; and appointed the Mayor and Board as the budget officer and budget committee for the FY 2020/21 budget process and approved the budget calendar/activities.

The municipal complex will be closed Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Day.  The on-call person will be available in case of water/sewer emergencies.

The meeting was adjourned to Thursday, February 6th at 4:00 p.m. for a work session.