By Karen Hall

Editor

Lewisburg's new city manager sat at the mayor's right hand at a council work session Wednesday, and demonstrated he was already hard at work.

Randall Dunn, who was sworn in last month, started the session by introducing the city's new advisor from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service, Jeff Broughton.

Broughton said he had 36 years of municipal experience, including 25 years as a city manager.

"I look forward to working with you in the future," he said. "You're my No. 1 city by far."

"He's been a great help to me already," said Dunn.

With Dunn's help, councilmen discussed solutions to several problems, the first of which was noise in the city.

"I've had problems over the years with noise," said Councilman Odie Whitehead Jr. who lives on 2nd Avenue North. "Lately I've been getting more calls from residents. It starts Friday night and goes on until Sunday; it's loud, boisterous, and obnoxious! We have an ordinance in place, it just needs to be enforced."

"We do have to witness the noise to issue a citation," said Police Chief Chuck Forbis. "We did make an arrest (for noise) across from Odie (Whitehead) but the court let him go. The ordinance could have more teeth."

After more discussion, Dunn promised to talk with Forbis, and said together they would explore solutions for the noise problem.

Discussion moved on to abandoned residential properties that are in disrepair, and spoiling the appearance of the town.

"We have ordinances, but not a procedure that tells how to enforce them," said Dunn, who presented a policy on how to deal with these properties for councilmen to study.

"He wants an endorsement from the council," said Mayor Jim Bingham.

City Attorney Steve Broadway has looked over and approved the policy.

"It's just setting out the things that will happen," he said. Owners of properties in disrepair will be asked to meet with the city, and given the opportunity to repair their property, with the city monitoring progress on a set schedule. They can also agree to have the property demolished. If bringing a house up to code will cost more than 50 percent of its appraised value, it can be declared unfit for human habitation, and then it will be demolished.

"Is it a good thing?" asked Councilman Trigg Cathey.

"Yes," replied Buck Beard, director of codes.

"We worked on this together," said Dunn.

"I have a list of 10 houses," said Beard. "Three are coming down, and probably four others."

"I think this is fantastic news," said Bingham.

"Hooray for doing this," exclaimed Councilman Steve Thomas. "It will cost money to tear down houses, though."

"We can put a lien on them," said Dunn. "In most of these cases the question will be who tears it down -- the owner or the city."

Beard has also been busy persuading property owners to keep their yards mowed and looking decent.

"We're starting to address the problem (of the city's appearance)," said Bingham. "It's a positive, positive thing."

Another positive thing is the choice of roads in Lewisburg as part of a national system of bicycle routes.

"There's no cost to us," said Bingham. "I'm really excited. There will be (cycling) events through here. They selected a route that was particularly beautiful. We're on the map and I'm proud of that."

Dunn and the mayor held up a large map of the current cycling and walking routes in Lewisburg. There are a few gaps where there are no bike lanes or sidewalks, but those should not be too difficult to remedy.

"That would make it a super system," Bingham said. "We want us to be a community that emphasizes healthy living and exercise. We'll have something we can show people -- that we have a safe way to walk and ride."

"That's a great plan," said Thomas.

Bingham said Lewisburg has two "front doors:" Mooresville Pike and Highway 50.

"Portions of those roads look unkempt," Bingham said. "I hope we can come up with ways of making it more pleasing; making our 'curb appeal' better."

"Don't forget East Commerce," said Thomas. "All our industrial traffic goes down there. Our consultants will be coming back with recommendations for these corridors. A lot of that is coming."

"The square looks better than it has in 30 or 40 years," said Bingham.

Finally, Dunn announced that Waste Management has agreed to allow residents to use the city's small green recycling cans if they can't manage the big new ones.

"We've been picking them (the small cans) up all week," said Public Works Director Kenny Ring. "We've got about 3,000 now. Everyone's going to want one."

"We'll set up some guidelines" for who can use the small cans, promised Dunn, who also said Ring's department would make sure the cans were in good repair before giving them out again.

Residents who want a small recycling can should call City Hall at (931) 359-1544.