By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — In response to citizen complaints about overgrown bushes and overhanging trees all but eliminating line of sight at traffic intersections, at the March 12 meeting of Town Council, the Town of Blowing Rock staff presented a “friendly” strategy to remind property owners of town code regulating street and intersection-related safety — and the proposed strategy was passed unanimously by the Board of Commissioners present. Commissioners Pete Gherini and Melissa Pickett had previously disclosed schedule conflicts.
The strategy adopted by the Board of Commissioners, as presented by town staff without amendment, includes:
- Staff will identify all locations where trees, limbs, shrubs, fences, trash enclosures, etc., protrude into a traveled portion of a street.
- Staff will then contact all property owners or persons responsible for the obstructions and provide 45 days clear vegetation and 60 days to remove physical obstructions (i.e. fence, wall, other built obstructions),
- If not corrected within the prescribed timeframes, the Town street maintenance department will clear the reference obstructions.
The chapter of Town Code relating to this issue is Section 7.2.
For reader convenience, we have included the entire Section 7 HERE (please click).
In other business, Mayor Charlie Sellers and Interim Town Manager Kevin Rothrock introduced and made official that former town manager Shane Fox has been hired as the new town manager, effective May 1.
Please see our report on the hire (click): “Back to the Future”
In other business of note in the light agenda:
- The annual Mayview Madness Run hosted by the Blue Ridge Conservancy was approved for September 21, 2024, as part of the consent agenda.
- Kevin Rothrock and each of the Council members applauded the work of Public Works in addressing a sewer/water line problem near Martin House over the weekend and through to Monday. “Our guys are amazing,” said Rothrock.
- Each of the Council members, including Mayor Charlie Sellers, and commissioners Kat Perry, David Harwood and Doug Matheson took some time in their closing statements to thank Rothrock for his hard work and dedicated service as Interim Town Manager.
- Sellers and Fox reported that the Blowing Rock Academy had its ribbon cutting the same afternoon, March 12. Read related story HERE.
