Carolina Trace News

September Carolina Trace News!

CTA News - posted September 7, 2023

Security and Safety

North Gate Barrier Arm - Update: The barrier arm has now been operational for two weeks. To speed traffic through the entrance during daytime hours, the barrier gate will be used from 6 AM to 6 PM, and the swing gate will be used from 6 PM to 6 AM. Those using this entrance are asked to exercise patience and not push into the gate arm. Such an action results in the motor going into failsafe mode, rendering the gate inoperable until it can be reset. The gate arm moves very quickly in comparison to the swing gate, but Security and Safety will continue to monitor the timing of the gate arm as well. For your own safety, please do not walk or stand near the barrier gate.

CT Volunteers Recognized for Thirty Years of Service

Adopt-A-Highway Program: Golf West POA resident Debbie Betts presented CTA with a 30-year Service Star from the DOT Adopt-a-Highway program. Carolina Trace residents first organized cleanup of a portion of NC-87 in 1993. The group needs additional volunteers to meet every other month for this important community service. Contact Debbie Betts, [email protected].

Trace Lake and Dam Committee

Dam Work: The engineering work on the dam will begin by the mandated December 2, 2023 deadline. As was reported in August, the dam valve issue has been addressed.
Hydrilla: The most recent treatment in mid-August has had a positive impact on the hydrilla. Additional sightings can continue to be reported to Kate Woods.
Note: Updates to any lake or dam issues are the purview of Escalante Golf, which owns both. Escalante provides updates to the TLDC as a courtesy,, and are reported to residents as received. Residents are asked to report issues to CTA’s TLDC chair Kate Woods ([email protected]), who will then share them with Escalante. Thanks for your understanding.

Carolina Water Service Infrastructure Tracking – The ongoing increases to our water service without any upgrades to infrastructure is concerning. POAs are asked to report all incidents of water pipes/main breaks to resident volunteer Jeff Wennberg, [email protected]. Please include type of issue, date of occurrence, location of issue, and length of time your water service was impacted.

Carolina Trace Volunteer Fire Department Board Elections – October 3 is the date to vote for three members of the Fire Department’s 9-member Board. Bios of the candidates can be reviewed at this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RM0-wPekFYZpq7zzixnYPsvMVl9e2x-y/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100853700761842761827&rtpof=true&sd=true

Continued Hydrant Flushing This Month – CTVFD Chief Myers reports that community hydrant flushing will continue in accordance with state law.

CTA 2024 Budget Work Continues - The CTA Board of Directors worked hard on crafting the final 2024 budget at the September 5 Board meeting. However, an errant clause that was not updated in the 2021 bylaw changes means that the budget cannot be voted on until October’s meeting. In the coming months, CTA will put a task force together to review the bylaws and propose a clean-up of contradictory or confusing language to avoid such issues in the future.

Calendar Items for All

September 9-10, CERT Ham Radio Event – The CERT Ham group is preparing for the North Carolina Parks on the Air, and the goal is to activate all 107 North Carolina State Parks during the 2-day event. The Lee County Ham Radio group has signed up to activate Raven Rock State Park and the House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site. An activation consists of making at least 10 ham radio contacts from the park location.
September 11, 8:30 a.m., North Carolina National Guard 9/11 Observance and Golf Tournament – Open to all residents of Carolina Trace. Click here for additional details and to register: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ai6b1SlrT527JNogIZFRELomSr2DFIxs/view?usp=drive_link
October 3, CTVFD Board Elections – See above news item.
October 3, National Night Out (NNO), 6-8 p.m., Swann Station Baptist Church, Sanford – Community event NNO provides an excellent opportunity to meet and get to know your elected and city officials, firefighters, local law enforcement, and neighbors. Join Carolina Trace Fire Department and others. The church is located at 7592 NC-87, Sanford.
October 24, Special Forces Charitable Trust First Annual Grog Invitational Golf Tournament – Open to all residents of Carolina Trace. Click here for additional details and to register: https://events.golfstatus.com/event/790e27bb-de76-4ef9-84bc-a8c4047b00f3/details

Housekeeping

August 1 CTA Board Minutes have been uploaded to the website: https://www.carolinatrace.org/file/document/3210774961/x6x8pX2CEQoVkOye.pdf

Read and learn for yourself; don’t fall victim to third-party “interpretations” as to what CTA is or is not doing. Your POA’s CTA Director is your closest source of accurate information. Remember that CTA exists to keep the infrastructure common to all POAs in good working order. Each POA is responsible for its own infrastructure, amenities, regulations, and lot assessments.

Thanks for reading to the end!

Community Hotline: Call 919.499.2722 OR the Gatehouse line, option 2. The hotline will provide the status of roads, gates, and utilities.

Questions or Concerns? Your POA's CTA Director can help and is in the best position to point you in the direction of the correct volunteer if they can’t.

Reminder – Do Your Part: 2024 is quickly approaching, and with it, new volunteer opportunities for the new year. CTA and all POAs are run by volunteers from within our communities, and all will welcome more willing hands.

August 2023 CTA News

8/26/23: CTCC Update on the Lake Trace Water Levels & Dam
As previously noted, there has been an increase in the amount of water loss in the lake. After inspecting the dam it was found that the valve is not closing all the way.

According to Eric Graveen, CTCC Golf Course Superintendent, "As reported earlier, a diver was hired by Caroline Trace Country Club (CTCC) to inspect the dam valve blockage. He was on-site today (Saturday, Aug. 26). The good news is that it was just a build up of silt and mud on the valve shaft. This build up has been cleared away, and the valve is now fully closed. CTCC will come up with a plan to keep the debris away in order to avoid future occurances.
Aug 16, 2013
The August 14 Bradford/Callery Pear Committee Town Hall Notes & Slides have been uploaded to the CTA website and can be viewed at this link: Bradford/Callery Pear Committee Town Hall Notes & Slides

August 3, 2023

Security and Safety

Reporting Incidents to Gatehouse: There appears to be confusion as to the role of gatehouse personnel. Here’s a quick summary (more information can be found at https://www.carolinatrace.org/p/CTA-Security-Safety-Info):

For police, fire or medical emergencies, call 911 to request assistance; do not call the gatehouse. If it was an event requiring a police response it would be helpful if you would contact the gatehouse after the incident is resolved so it can be added to the incident log, which is used to identify any trends or patterns. The gatehouse employees cannot act as law enforcement.
Tailgaters. If you see someone trying to enter the back gates by tailgating, do not try to block or confront them because you could be putting yourself in harm's way. If you believe the vehicle was not authorized to enter Trace, call the gatehouse and provide a description of the vehicle and the time of day it happened. With that basic information, video of the vehicle and license plate can be pulled up. The installation of the barrier arm gate will help with this (see below for progress of installation).

Gatehouse Staffing: The S&S Committee is pleased to introduce Lt. Brandon Cruz as our new Site Supervisor, and JR Wilburn as Southern Protection Agency’s (SPA) Security Operations Manager for this area. JR will oversee the gatehouse security staff for the Carolina Trace, Carolina Lakes and Anderson Creek communities. JR and Brandon both have extensive experience in military and private security operations. JR and Lt. Cruz have initiated a new turnaround procedure to deal with unauthorized visitors/delivery drivers and are continuing to work with the rest of the staff on CT procedures. Current emphasis is on controlling traffic through the visitor lane/visitor gate arm. CTA and SPA appreciate your continued patience with all new employees as they become familiar with the gatehouse policies, protocols and operations specific to Carolina Trace.

North Gate Barrier Arm Gate Update: The concrete slab work is completed and electrical and motor installation should occur soon. S&S is researching options to protect the new barrier arm from incoming traffic, such as a concrete-filled bollard or a jersey barrier. The media centers will alert residents if access at this location will be impacted during any upcoming work.

Trailers – Restrictions on Entering Carolina Trace: Operators of vehicles pulling trailers of whatever size or style are reminded that they should only come in through the main gatehouse visitor lane, where the gate arm can be manually controlled to avoid damage to gates and vehicles. The back entrances are narrower, and the gates have been damaged on occasion by careless drivers. Vehicles with e-stickers pulling trailers through the back gates run the risk of having their e-sticker privileges suspended for all gates.

Trace Lake and Dam Committee Updates

Note: Updates to any lake or dam issues are the purview of Escalante Golf, who owns both. Updates are provided to the TLDC as a courtesy from Escalante, and are reported as received. Residents are asked to report issues to CTA’s TLDC chair Kate Woods ([email protected]), who will then share them with Escalante. Thanks for your understanding.

Hydrilla: The next hydrilla treatment by SOLitude Lake Management is set for August 10. There may be irrigation restrictions with this treatment; CTA will send a follow-up notice as soon as that information is clarified. Hydrilla is not easily controlled and it is a multi-year process; to learn more about this aquatic weed, read here: https://www.solitudelakemanagement.com/hydrilla-is-on-the-move/

Dam Work: Escalante home office personnel visited CT last week and met with the engineering firm on site. They are set to meet the December deadline for work to begin on the dam.

Algae: Escalante is aware of the blue green algae witnessed in the lake. SOLitude Lake Management has been contacted to provide them with a professional assessment.

Lake Lowering Requests (Dock and Seawall Work): The deadline for homeowners and POAs to submit requests for possible winter 2024 lake lowering is August 31. The decision of whether and when to lower the lake will be made by Escalante after consultation with the TLDC. The lake lowering policy can be found here:

https://www.carolinatrace.org/file/document/1890183746/ftFaUIlQKLcUldz7.pdf

The application for lake lowering (pdf form fill in) is here:

https://www.carolinatrace.org/file/document/1890183746/KuHQIKL5du1VwRCS.

pdf

Peaceful Boating on Lake Trace: With the increased availability of high powered electric motors, TLDC is committed to preserving the peaceful aspect of Lake Trace. The Harbor Creek boat launch, may be used by any resident or property owner in Trace through an arrangement with CTA. The Harbor Creek POA will be approached to assist in deterring unauthorized users of the lake by posting “No Trespassing” signs near their marina, as well as reviewing video from the camera that records those attempting to use the boat ramp. TLDC also recommends the posting of a “No Wake Zone” sign in the same area for boaters to see as they enter Lake Trace from the Harbor Creek Marina. Thanks to all users who protect the rights of all for the peaceful enjoyment of Lake Trace. More information on recreational use of Lake Trace is here: https://www.carolinatrace.org/p/Lake-Trace-Recreation

Trace Roads and Maintenance (TRAM)

North Gate Restriping: Thanks to Ernie Patterson and Ernie Violon for giving up two early Sunday mornings to oversee the contractor doing this work.

But Wait, There’s More!

CTA 2024 Budget Work Continues - The CTA Board of Directors had a very productive budget discussion on August 1 and voted unanimously to proceed to the next phase with a modified preliminary budget. That revised budget, along with background and clarifications of the proposed budget, will be sent to CTA Directors to share with their POA Boards soon so part two of the two-tier voting process can occur at the CTA September meeting. Each POA will then develop its own budget and lot assessments according to the POA's bylaws and fiscal-year timeline. Questions can be answered by your POA’s CTA Director.

Raffle Fundraiser for Retired Firefighter Wally Stone – Wally is a retired Captain for the Sanford Fire Department and a retired member and board member of the CTVFD who is fighting cancer. Raffle tickets to raise funds to help offset his medical expenses are available for purchase ($5 each) through CTVFD Chief Chris Meyers. For more information, contact Chief Meyers (919.499.8241) or stop by the fire station (37A Indian Trail) Monday through Friday (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Ticket sales are through August 31, and the drawing is September 4.

Calendar Items for All

August 10 – Hydrilla Treatment on Lake Trace
August 14, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Bradford/Callery Pear Tree Project Town Hall – at the CTCC (2100 Country Club Drive). CT residents are encouraged to attend and hear updates to the action plan outline for this project.
August 18, 19, 25 and 26, CERT Training, Basic Course – The 21-hour training course is offered at no cost to all CT residents. For more information on CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), visit https://www.carolinatrace.org/p/CERT. CERT needs Carolina Trace volunteers!
August 7, 14 & 21 - CTCC Elite Sports Camp Weeks - at the CTCC, open to all children (ages 6-14) with a special discount for CT residents. Camp includes swimming, yoga, golf and tennis. For more information, visit http://www.elitesportscamp.org. Thanks for the community support for 2023! Watch for 2024 dates, etc., which will be available in the spring.
August 31, Deadline to Request Lake Lowering – Consideration for winter 2024. See item above under TLDC.
September 9-10, CERT Ham Radio Event – The CERT Ham group is preparing for the North Carolina Parks on the Air, and the goal is to activate all 107 North Carolina State Parks during the 2-day event. The Lee County Ham Radio group has signed up to activate Raven Rock State Park and the House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site. An activation consists of making at least 10 ham radio contacts from the park location.

Housekeeping

July 5 CTA Board Minutes have been uploaded to the website: https://www.carolinatrace.org/file/document/3210774961/0H6dEUoBfosJDZGZ.pdf

Thanks for reading to the end!

Community Hotline: Call 919.499.2722 OR the Gatehouse line, option 2. The hotline will provide the status of roads, gates, and utilities.

Questions or Concerns? Your POA's CTA Director can help and is in the best position to point you in the direction of the correct volunteer if they can’t.

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CTA News: Posted Jul 18, 2013

Security and Safety News

Gates and Gatehouse Updates

Passes for a Large Group of Visitors: The visitor pass guidelines were updated in June and posted to the CTA website at that time. They can be reviewed at this link: https://www.carolinatrace.org/file/document/1890183746/5JRzb1FwJPmZnCl5.pdf

The guidelines cover how to request passes for visitors, including contractors, and how to coordinate with the gatehouse when hosting a special event. For example, residents are reminded to request passes for a large number of visitors (5 or more outside guests) at one time by dropping off or emailing the gatehouse an alphabetically-ordered list of the guests' names at least two days in advance. This will minimize delays in the Visitor Lane for your guests as well as all other visitors coming through the gate at the same time.

Gatehouse Staffing: New employees at both the regional and local level of our gatehouse contractor, Southern Protection Agency (SPA), are being onboarded. CTA welcomes Brandon Cruz as SPA's new Site Supervisor for the CT Gatehouse. He is still getting settled in and becoming familiar with our gatehouse operations and protocols. CTA will provide further information about Brandon and some new procedures SPA is developing to better control traffic flow through the Visitor Lane. CTA and SPA appreciate your continued patience with all new employees as they become familiar with the gatehouse policies, protocols and operations specific to Carolina Trace.

North Gate Entrance: Work on the "barrier gate" (a lift-gate similar to those at the Main Gate) at the north Cox Mill Road entrance began last week with the installation of the concrete pad on which the barrier gate will be mounted. The contractor should be back to install the gate in the next couple of weeks. The barrier gate is being installed to speed vehicles through that entrance during periods of high traffic, and should help deter tailgating because it will raise and lower very quickly. The media centers will alert residents if access at this location will be impacted during installation.

North Gate Restriping: TRAM is working with the contractor to get this scheduled with a minimal amount of disruption to traffic. Media center updates will be provided. (We’ve said this before, but it might happen this week!)

South Gate: The gate technician made adjustments to the exit gate, which had not been closing properly.

Bradford/Callery Pear Tree Project

Bradford/Callery Pear Project Town Hall: August 14, 2023, 6:00-7:30 p.m., at the CTCC (2100 Country Club Drive). CT residents are encouraged to attend and hear the action plan outline for this project.

Friendly Reminder: No Signs - Signage on CTA property is prohibited (which may be the case within your POA as well).

CTA 2024 Budget is in the Works - The CTA Board of Directors will be working on CTA's 2024 Budget at its August 1 meeting. Your POA's CTA Director has more information about the draft budget and proposed CTA-sponsored community projects for 2024 should you wish to know more. Each POA will then develop its own budget and lot assessments according to the POA's bylaws and fiscal-year timeline.

Calendar Items for All

August 14, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Bradford/Callery Pear Tree Project Town Hall – details mentioned above.
August 18, 19, 25 and 26, CERT Training, Basic Course – Training is open to all CT residents. For more information on CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), visit https://www.carolinatrace.org/p/CERT. CERT needs Carolina Trace volunteers!
Weekly - July/August - “Elite Sports Camp” at the CTCC is open to all children (ages 6-14) with a special discount for CT residents. Camp dates are weekly through August. Elite Sports Camp includes swimming, yoga, golf and tennis. For more information, visit http://www.elitesportscamp.org.