S pring is here, finally! And of course this means our neighborhood wildlife will begin to make a regular ap- pearance. This wildlife of course includes our infamous Seven Devils bears. If you need a refresher on our Nuisance Ordinance, which includes the new section regarding trash receptacles, the requirements of the Ordinance, and possible enforcement actions, the Ordinances can be found on our Town website, www.sevendevils.net. All Seven Devils citizens are required to follow these specific instructions, in order to keep themselves and the rest of the Town safe. Make wise decisions when deciding how to dispose of your trash. Utilizing a trash pick-up service is one option that many residents choose. Also, many utilize convenience centers located around Watauga and Avery counties. One is just below Seven Devils on Hwy 105 towards Boone. Let’s start the Spring and Summer seasons in Seven Devils the safe way! Spring time means that all of our seasonal residents will be making their way back up the mountain! Please read below for a reminder of our basic water policies and regulations! All residents in Town agree to pay a minimum of $35 a month for water service. If you have a private well, $15 is billed each month. ALL WATER BILLS are due in this office by the last business day of the month (we do not honor post marks). There will be a $5 late fee assessed if the bill is not paid in full by that date. If your bill is not paid in full within 45 days from the billing date, your water will be turned off and locked until FULL PAYMENT is received. If this occurs, a $50 reconnect fee will be charged to your account. You may pay your water bill by check, cash or credit card (a 3% convenience fee is charged with ALL Debit/Credit cards). You may also set up automatic draft if you prefer, via a checking account or a credit card. All drafts occur on the last business day of the month due. If you wish to use this option, please request a Draft Information Form. All residents are encouraged to have the Town turn their water off if they are leaving to avoid high water use bills due to possible leaks. To do this, call Town Hall to initiate a work order. We do require a 48-hour notice. Without a 48-hour notice, there will be a $10 charge per occurrence. All residents are allowed 4 free turn-ons and offs per year with appropriate notice. Points of Interest: •SafetyFest 2014, Page 3 •Recreation Articles, Page 5 •Tax Notices, Page 6 •Red Cross Message, Page 8
Transcript
S pring is here, finally! And of course this means our neighborhood wildlife will begin to make a regular ap-
pearance. This wildlife of course includes our infamous Seven Devils bears. If you need a refresher on
our Nuisance Ordinance, which includes the new section regarding trash receptacles, the requirements of the
Ordinance, and possible enforcement actions, the Ordinances can be found on our Town website,
www.sevendevils.net.
All Seven Devils citizens are required to follow these specific instructions, in order to keep themselves and the
rest of the Town safe. Make wise decisions when deciding how to dispose of your trash. Utilizing a trash pick-up
service is one option that many residents choose. Also, many utilize convenience centers located around
Watauga and Avery counties. One is just below Seven Devils on Hwy 105 towards Boone. Let’s start the Spring
and Summer seasons in Seven Devils the safe way!
Spring time means that all of our seasonal residents will be making their way back up the mountain! Please read below
for a reminder of our basic water policies and regulations!
All residents in Town agree to pay a minimum of $35 a month for water service. If you have a private well, $15 is
billed each month. ALL WATER BILLS are due in this office by the last business day of the month (we do not
honor post marks). There will be a $5 late fee assessed if the bill is not paid in full by that date.
If your bill is not paid in full within 45 days from the billing date, your water will be turned off and locked until
FULL PAYMENT is received. If this occurs, a $50 reconnect fee will be charged to your account.
You may pay your water bill by check, cash or credit card (a 3% convenience fee is charged with ALL Debit/Credit
cards). You may also set up automatic draft if you prefer, via a checking account or a credit card. All drafts occur on
the last business day of the month due. If you wish to use this option, please request a Draft Information Form.
All residents are encouraged to have the Town turn their water off if they are leaving to avoid high water use bills
due to possible leaks. To do this, call Town Hall to initiate a work order. We do require a 48-hour notice. Without a
48-hour notice, there will be a $10 charge per occurrence. All residents are allowed 4 free turn-ons and offs per year
We have great news that many of you have been anxious to hear. The acquisition project for the Otter Falls property was
successful and the Town of Seven Devils closed on the real estate transaction on December 31, 2013. The Town now owns this
much-desired property. The goal of owning the property had been a long-standing goal for many citizens and Council members.
The initial attempt to purchase the property began in 2006 using a series of grants. However, in the end, circumstances prevented
the success of the project and it seemed as though this beautiful property that the Town so desired would never be “Town owned.”
A renewed attempt to purchase the property began in 2012. The Seven Devils Town Council authorized Manager Evans to
submit an application for a grant through the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (NC PARTF). The Town subsequently entered into an Offer to Purchase and Contract with the property owners Mr. and Mrs. Clyde David Little, in January 2013 and
work on the grant application began. The High Country Council of Government’s Mr. Kelly Coffey worked to put the application
package together with Manager Evans, and the grant application was subsequently submitted to NC PARTF.
In May of 2013, the Town received unofficial notification that Seven Devils would be awarded this ‘reimbursement’ grant for one
half of the purchase price and one half of the closing requirements, up to a maximum grant of $135,800. Official notification of
receipt of this grant came in July 2013.
Once the grant was certain, a campaign to raise the other half of the purchase price was begun. Very quickly, the Town received
pledges and gifts. Contact was made with lending institutions and conservation funds to try to gain additional
support and/or a loan. The Conservation Fund in Washington, D.C. agreed to work with the Town and offered a 2.275%
interest rate for a three-year term. Additionally, we worked with them to find a private donor(s) who was willing to support the
project with a match of up to $54,000. The Conservation Fund pledged this as a dollar-for-dollar match. It required the Town to
raise $54,000 in support to receive the match.
Citizens did support the effort and the Town received donations to make the $54,000 match possible from The Conservation
Fund. Between funds raised from this match, NC PARTF, and citizen donations, the Town has been able to raise enough money
to pay one hundred percent of the $265,000 purchase price. This was very exciting for the Town and support for the project has
been nothing short of amazing and encouraging.
The Town worked with Trails Specialist Tim Johnson, employed by the NC Department of Natural Resources, to design trails for
the property. Subsequently, we began working with a trail building business to establish costs and plans for the actual trail
building portion of the project. The Town Council adopted a final trail plan on April 8, 2014 and set April 23, 2014 at 5:30PM
for a Public Hearing to make citizens aware of the plan and solicit their input and ideas.
The trail building portion of the project will offer citizens, and others who want to be involved, an opportunity to participate in
the actual trail work (for those who want to get their hands dirty). Many people have expressed a desire to be involved in trail
building for this very worthy project, and we hope to provide that opportunity soon. Additionally, the Town is still seeking
donations for the trail building portion of the project. We hope to soon report that the Otter Falls property has become a
beautiful hiking destination. We are very proud of what the citizens have done to support this endeavor and are thankful for help from various sources along the way!
Emergency Contact Numbers:
Seven Devils Public Safety Dept.: 828-963-6760
Blue Ridge Electric: 1-800-448-2383
SkyLine Telephone: 828-963-1350
Charter Communications: 1-888-438-2427
As always, please dial 9-1-1 for a true emergency!
Town of Seven Devils 1356 Seven Devils Road
Seven Devils, NC 28604
Office: 828.963.5343
Fax: 828.963.7418
Seven Devils Eleventh Annual SafetyFest!
Saturday July 5, 2014
10:00AM until 3:00PM
Raffle Drawings, Silent Auction, Games/Activities for
Children, Craft Booths, and the Best BBQ in the High
Country! Proceeds benefit Seven Devils Fire, Police, and
Public Works Department
We Need Help!
Do you have a special talent? If you would like to share your talent at
SafetyFest, contact Kay Lambert at 828.963.4382
to reserve a craft booth space ($25).
Join in on the fun, be a part of the celebration! SafetyFest volunteers are
needed and welcome. Sign-up at Town Hall or contact Kay Lambert at
828.963.4382
We Need You!
WALKING CHALLENGE
Get out your sneakers and get ready to walk this summer! Those of you who joined
us last year for our 3800 mile walking challenge know that we exceeded our goal to log in a
total of 5,839 miles. Way to go walkers!! This year we have increased our goal to 6500 miles.
You can be a part of this fun initiative to get our Seven Devils residents and visitors out in
the fresh air and walking our way to good health! All you have to do is register (either at
Town Hall or by email - [email protected]) and then beginning May 1, start WALK-
ING! Your only responsibility is to keep track of how many miles you walk and turn them in
(at Town Hall or by email, to [email protected]). You can record your miles daily,
weekly or by the month!
Remember, even if you are unable to ‘walk outside’ due to any health reason, you will be al-
lowed to record miles on your treadmill or stationary bike! We want everyone to par-
ticipate. The Walking Challenge will take place from May 1 - September 30, 2014.
Be sure to sign up and WALK!!
Workshops & Activities
Looking forward to summer in the mountains? Your
Recreation Commission is busy putting together a
schedule of workshops and activities for you to enjoy.
Art Guild: Be sure to join all your fellow artists on
Wednesdays at 10:30 AM at Seven Devils Town Hall.
Artists (beginner to expert) of all mediums are invited
to come and share ideas and work on your projects.
What a great way to make time in your busy schedule
to pursue to artistry! Bring your lunch. Workshops
will begin in mid-May, so watch the calendar for start
dates!
Wildflower Walks: The Grandfather Mountain State Park Rangers have begun their Wildflower Walks that
are starting up in April! Join a Park Ranger for a
leisurely walk to enjoy the amazing wildflowers that
are blooming. See the town website or posting on the
bulletin board for dates and times.
Workshops: This is the year of Lepidoptera for the
Grandfather Mountain State Park. Rangers are
working on a moth and butterfly workshop for us.
We will also host another Bear Workshop as we can’t
hear this message enough! Also in the works are
another Kite Workshop and an Animals and their
Camouflage Workshop. More details on dates and
times as summer gets a little closer.
Photography: It has been suggested that we do a Photography workshop and host a contest over the
summer. The winning photograph could be framed
and displayed at Town Hall. We need your help....we
are looking for a photographer who could offer this
workshop at a reasonable fee! Do you know someone
in the area or maybe we have an experienced
photographer right here in Seven Devils?
Past due property taxes are listed below as of April 1, 2014. Please remember that
additional interest accrues on the first day of each month that the tax remains un-
paid. If you need a copy of your tax bill and/or tax account, please call
828-963-5343. We now accept debit and credit cards for payments, and a 3%
