The first meeting of 2016 for the Carrboro Board of Aldermen led to a number of changes and developments for the town in the upcoming year.
The board and the Carrboro Public Works Director James Freeman are working with Sungate Design Group to resolve the problems with recent flooding that have resulted in the damage of several homes.
Sungate is currently proposing a study that will estimate the effects of modifying culverts, which are structures that allow water to flow below obstructions such as roads, to reduce flooding.
“We are planning a hydrologic study that will tell us what the estimated downstream effects of removing culverts will be,” Freeman said.
In addition, Board of Aldermen member Sammy Slade said he had some concerns about the impact of global warming on the recent inclement weather in the winter season.
“We should consider sending a letter to Duke Energy,” Slade said. “Every day they burn coal and natural gas and are accountable and responsible.”
On a lighter note, the board unanimously voted to permit artist Matthew Willey to paint a mural related to honeybees on the wall of Firestation 1 in Carrboro.
Willey is the founder of The Good of the Hive Initiative and has painted murals of honeybees in several locations across the U.S.
Willey started his program to spread awareness about the plight of honeybee populations after witnessing the tragic beauty of a dying honeybee in his studio in Manhattan nearly six years ago.
“I came across this behavior called altruistic suicide, in which a bee will leave in times of sickness for the good of the hive,” Willey said.
After seeing this particular event, Willey found himself drawn to the idea of using honeybees as models for human society. He was inspired by their society and the beauty of their interactions with one another.
The board will also be creating an Affordable Housing Committee. The act will transform the current Affordable Housing Task Force into a committee that will create advisory control to help grow Carrboro into a community with adequate housing.
Carrboro Staff Planning Director Patricia McGuire said she wants to help the town of Carrboro with its problems.
“We have lots of issues,” McGuire said. “There are a lot of different aspects to address. We need to balance our needs.”
Notable:
The board passed the resolutions to retire Karma, a K-9 ally of the Carrboro Police Department, after seven years of loyal service. They placed him under the care of Sergeant Charles Hobby.
Quotable:
“I think it’s really fitting because bees are modeling for us how to be in the new world,” Slade said in response to Willey’s proposal.
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