Commission President introduced himself and the rest of the Commission. He then explained the Meeting minutes are being kept by the Commission Secretary and will be posted onto the blog, with a link to those minutes on the Village Facebook page. Meeting was officially called to order.
Commission Secretary introduced Detective Cindy Douthit with the SIU/Sex Offender Unit in Buncombe County to address concerns and questions about registered Sex Offenders. Detective Douthit explained she has been a Detective with the Buncombe Co. Sheriff’s Dept. for over 15 years. She shared the County’s Sex Offender Registry website: sexoffender.ncdoj.gov. That registry show pictures of the offenders and information regarding their offense and incarceration. If the word “AGGREVATED” appears in their descriptions, that indicates they are guilty of multiple offenses. She presented the Sex Offender & Public Protection Registration pamphlet that is the Law concerning Sexual Offenders for North Carolina, she passed it around for everyone to view. She proceeded to explain before the meeting she was on the phone with the Commission Sec. explaining the web-site. They performed a search of offenders in the area using the Sec.’s address, and 35 offenders showed up within a 3 mile radius of Enka Pine St. Det. Douthit urged Residents to be “proactive” rather than reactive. Be aware who the offenders are and where they are living. Parks, day/child care, schools are off limits to offenders and they cannot be within 300 feet of those areas and cannot live within 1,000 feet of those areas. Offenders are required by law to look like their picture(s) on the Registry. If they do make changes to their appearance they must have new pictures taken at the Sheriff’s office. Det. Douthit explained that unfortunately these offenders are here and just wants everyone to be aware of it whether you have children or not. Det. Douthit then opened to the floor for questions:
Q: The new school is being built down the road, how does that affect and registered offenders in the immediate area?
A: Offenders having an established residence before any of the restricted areas are built are grandfathered in, if they move that grandfathered clause is null and void. In addition to their restrictions to the off-limit premises mentioned, they are not allowed to partake in Halloween with regards to entice trick-or-treaters to come to their doors or residence. They are not allowed to be alone with children, baby-sit, transport to/from children. The same restrictions apple yo churches or facilities with child/day care
Q: When Offenders move how soon are they required to register their new address?
A: 3 Days. If offenders move from and to within the same state, they are required by law to provide the new location to the Sheriff’s Dept. That address is then updated by the SIU/Sex Offender Unit Secretary. If the offender is moving from one state to another state, they have 10 days to provide the new location to the current locations Sheriff Dept. In Buncombe County, updated addresses are posted by the following day of receiving the info. Det. Douthit will work closely in alerting the Commission Sec. If any new offenders move into the area and in turn notify the residents.
The most important thing is to be aware of your neighbors your surroundings and suspicious activity. Most residential break-ins happen during the day-time hours while people are at work.
Q: When offender’s move from one state to another, how do they provide a location if they are looking for someplace to move?
A: They are required by law to provide a location, even if they are staying at a Holiday Inn that is a location and that can be changed once they found someplace, the location is then updated to wherever they end up. Det. Douthit has even confirmed locations for homeless offenders by climbing under bridges with a flash light in the middle of the night to ensure the offenders are where they are supposed to be. There are currently 410 registered sexual offenders in Buncombe County, herself and a team of others continually verify offender’s locations.
Meeting like this are very important to Detectives to ensure awareness and the safety of residents. She welcomes the additional eyes watching. She would rather field 20 calls to turn out to be nothing, rather than no-one calling and it turns out to be something.
Commission President thanked Det. Douthit for coming and speaking and clearing up some of the misconceptions people had and urged anyone with additional questions or wanting to report something feel free to contact her directly at: 828-250-4453 or the Police’s non-emergency number: 828-250-6670.
HERITAGE DAY: President requested possible date(s) reminding everyone last year’s Heritage Day was in May and it rained causing a “light” attendance. This year the President has some new resources and avenues available to get information out to the people. Suggested contacting people from American Enka, try to get that network of people involved with Heritage Day. Ideally that’s what we would want; an afternoon of storytelling and eating BBQ and utilizing our Park. A lot of the new residents moving into the Village is not aware of the rich history this Village is a part of.
Q: Did last year’s Heritage Day involve Enka Baptist Church?
A: The Commission did contact Enka Baptist about participating and possibly serving as a back-up location in case it rained, but Enka Baptist submitted an extensive list of requirements. In meetings with the new Pastor, who recently took over, did not seem interested in being involved.
It was suggested to have Heritage Day on a Sunday to coincide with a church service or Enka Baptists’ Homecoming, they could come next door and partake. It was decided Sunday, June 14th, 2015 for this year’s Heritage Day. Volunteers to form a Heritage Day Committee to plan and organize the event was requested. Julie Nobblitt, the Allbauch’s, MIke Sargent, John Steele, Matt and Meg Baetzhold volunteered.
FESTIVAL of NEIGHBORHOODS: This Year’s Festival of Neighborhoods will be held on Sunday March 15th, 2015. All 26 Neighborhoods in Asheville come together at the Cellular Center to brag and show off their neighborhoods. The President encouraged residents to attend and show their support and pride. Brian Cook volunteered to develop a presentation for the event.
NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP: This year’s Neighborhood Cleanup is scheduled for Sunday April 18th, 2015. It is part of the month long clean-up, just like last year’s, there will be Community dumpsters located in the Village. Volunteers will go around and assist residents with items to be disposed of. Ashley Tweed requested the week before (04/10-11/15) to have a community yard sale. The Yard Sale will start in the park, and proceed from that location. Anything sold from that location will go the Village’s account. Residents can have a yard and anything you raise at your location you may keep, if you wish to donate items to the Village Yard Sale, simply take the items to the park the morning of the sale.
CITY ARBORIST: The City Arborist has requested: if any Residents in want trees (2 max.) for the front of their house to contact him. The Commission President, Eric Bradford is the Village’s direct contact to the City Arborist, so contact Eric if you wish to receive some trees (no charge). The trees that are provided are indigenous to NC.
The meeting was then turned over to the Treasurer for the Treasure’s Report.
(Click Image to see larger view)
The report focused on the year-end of 2014. 67.62% of residents have paid their HOA assessments. If all residents paid their assessments it would total %1,165.91 there is almost $1,000.00 less of what we actually received. Expenses include: insurance on the park, street lights on Hillcrest, lawn maintenance, pay for the room for Commission Meetings and had several expenses that we did not have before like Heritage Day, and Kickball which the Village still has not received any money from. Money was made from the sales of t-shirts. A Committee will be formed if there is a Kickball game this year to monitor expenses and ensure prompt receipt of funds.
Ashley Tweed suggestion to have a community-wide program that rewards residents that have paid their assessments to receive an “I Love My Neighborhood” sticker to display and encourage others who have not paid to do so. Nothing was officially decided.
Q: Do renter’s or the property owners pay the HOA Assessments?
A: Home owners pay, but if renter’s want to pay it would be greatly appreciated.
Commission Secretary announced new Commission Meeting signs were being made due to the face the old signs, with the exception of 1, have gone missing or have fallen apart. He proposed a motion that any emergency or urgent operational expense under $200.00 (one per quarter of calendar year) could be executed without a community vote, it was seconded and passed. Beautification Officer requested approval for additional lighting for the “ENKA VILLAGE” sign in the park. It was decided to present the Commission a proposal with costs and be put up for a vote at the next Commission Meeting.
PROGRESSIVE DINNER: Several people expressed interested in having one. Amy Good was volunteered to organize one, she agreed to set-up and organize one.
EMILY SUTTON DEZIO: Emily explained that she has been working with Garrett Artz (whom achieved getting a cross-walk between Enka-High and Hominy Valley) with regards to getting a Green-way for our area. County Commissioners have approved a Green-way that begins at Hominy Pool, goes behind the school, into the Valley to the base at the light across A-B Tech across the street of the Village down to Sand Hill Venable. A 3 mile biking, hiking and walking green-way.
County Commissioners have approved the land and building of the Green-way, but not the funding of the project. Ultimately the green-way would be connected to the other local green-ways. There was a fundraiser Feb. 3rd at Zaxby’s on Smokey Park Highway at 7 pm. and 10% of all sales would be donated to the Green-way project. On Feb 12th, 2015 at 7 pm, there will be a Community meeting at the Enka Public Library to rally community support and organization for the project. It is open to everyone to attend. The President emphasized the importance of community residents to become involved with showing support. Village residents’ property values will be going down because of the industrial happenings across the street, the Green-way will increase the property values in the area. The Green-way will make the area a more appealing property to all residents in the area. It’s there, it’s waiting all it needs the advocacy/support to build it. It will also serve as a buffer between the Village and Jacob Holmes’ loud fans.
The Meeting was then opened to the floor for comments and questions.
COMMENT: Contacted the County Extension Agent about pruning the Apple Tree in the Park. The agent might make the pruning a demonstration, if so info will be posted on the Village Facebook page.
SUGGESTION: Volunteers in the Village grow seedlings into flowers and sell them as a community fund raiser, possible have them available to purchase at the Village Yard Sale in April. Questions were then raised about a location to grow the seedlings, First Step Farms was suggested because they not only grow the seedling nut will deliver them when ready. Ashley Tweed volunteered to contact the farm to inquire some information.
Q: Has anyone contacted the DOT with regards poor draining of Orchard Street’s alley where it meets the park? When they widened Sand Hill they incorrectly installed the drain resulting a pooling of water. It was decided during the Neighborhood Cleanup, volunteers spruce up the Village, maybe clean the foliage around the sign in the park, and fill in the small pond on Orchard’s alley with gravel.
Next Commission Meeting is scheduled for Monday May 4th, 2015 at the Enka Public Library at 7 pm.
Meeting was concluded.
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