Wallace joins Main Street initiative

WALLACE — Members of the Wallace Town Council and Mayor Jason Wells asked only, “Where do we sign up?” after a presentation by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street Initiative and Rural Planning Program during the monthly meeting on July 11.

Samantha Darlington, community economic development planner, explained that the initiative works all over the state with towns, cities and communities to help with strategic planning and historic preservation. “Our whole goal is to help communities prepare for economic growth,” Darlington said.

The Main Street initiative provides strategic planning services, implementation services, technical support, and training and education.

“Economic development happens intentionally,” she said. “It is not something that happens by accident. Because of that, we want to be intentional in how you are growing by creating a plan. These plans are not something you put on a shelf and you never touch it.”

She further explained that working with Main Street helps towns and communities see their goals, tasks and action items come to fruition.

In addition to helping foster growth, the planning can also create a foundation for a stronger downtown. Though it can help downtown, the rural planning program will “focus on the entirety of Wallace,” she stressed. “If you have a stronger downtown, you have a stronger town. If you have a stronger town, you have a stronger downtown.”

The program is free of cost, and can start as soon as the town council approves a resolution and memorandum of understanding.

The council verbally committed to taking part in the program, and will likely pass the resolution and memorandum of understanding at the next meeting, Aug. 8.

Also at Thursday night’s meeting, the council got a first look at a proposed pedestrian and bicycle plan, which outlines what sections of town need more sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes.

“It’s a good starting point for us,” said Planning Director Rod Fritz. “The reason we need this is so we can get on DOT’s radar and ask for grant money to get better pedestrian and bicycle links.”

With the Backstreet Music Festival coming up Aug. 3, and a Latino festival planned for October, the council also discussed festivals in town, and whether the town should waive permit fees for certain events to help the process go more smoothly.

Police Chief Jimmy Crayton suggested offering a refundable fee as a way to help ensure that festival organizers follow through with their responsibilities. However, Fritz stated that the $300 fee currently charged may not be enough.

“I think the biggest thing is you’ve got to make it standardized across the board, whether it’s the Strawberry Festival with 20,000 people or somebody showing up with 500 people,” Mayor Wells said.

The council agreed they couldn’t take action at Thursday’s meeting, but Fritz and Taylor planned to send them the current special permit wording and go from there.

In other business at the July 11 meeting:

• A public hearing was scheduled for the next monthly meeting on Aug. 8 to consider rezoning of a 6.08-acre parcel on Highway 11 from R-20 to Highway Business. The parcel is the site of a planned Royal Farms gas station, convenience store and car wash, and this rezoning would cover the remainder of the property that has not yet been zoned Highway Business.
• The council updated the Depot Commission’s bylaws to reduce the number of commission members to 12, require attendance at meetings and clarify rentals of the Depot and Depot property.
• The council updated its memorandum of understanding with Pender County so that Pender can continue its water services contract.
• The council renewed the town’s fire contract with Duplin County.
• Sarah Cailler of the River Landing community spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting to voice complaints about ongoing “brown water” at her home. She talked with the town manager about upcoming changes to the lines that will hopefully alleviate the problem.
• The council approved a $2,500 budget amendment for the police department for training.