fayetteville frontline employee newsletter (october-november 2015)

www.cityoffayetteville.org | www.faytv7.com | www.fayettevilleoutfront.com | Twitter @CityOfFayNC

The “Award-Winning” Newsletter for City of Fayetteville Employees OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 Vol. 3, No. 2

www.FayettevilleNC.gov | www.FayTV7.com | www.FayettevilleOutfront.com | Twitter @CityOfFayNC

City Launches New Website to Improve Information Sharing to Citizens The City of Fayetteville launched its newly redesigned website, www.FayettevilleNC.gov, Oct. 1, greatly improving the way it presents information to its citizens.

The newly designed site makes it much easier to find information about the City and its services. Prominent features on the site include: a robust “How Do I” menu that includes the most likely services and pages citizens typically seek on municipal websites, a landing page that easily points citizens to all of the City’s social media sites, an “Around the City’ rotating banner showcasing the City’s most newsworthy topics, a City events calendar/meetings/public notices section placed prominently on the front page, a robust “search” capability that will allow for a thorough review of all City pages, a “hot topics” section at the top of the page to learn about issues of a breaking news nature, the ability to look up information on elected officials, and finally, the site will be mobile-friendly and accessible from smart phones. The old web address, www.CityOfFayetteville.org, will redirect to the new website. Departmental websites for Police, Fire/Emergency Management, Parks & Recreation and Transit will migrate into the new website later in the fiscal year.

“The new website will drastically improve the way we are able to share information with our citizens, whether it is simply helping them more easily locate a specific department within the City or learning about upcoming City-sponsored events or meetings,” said Kevin V. Arata, the City’s Corporate Communications Director. “The teamwork between our Corporate Communications Department, the Information Technology Department and the more than 30 content managers across the City to make this happen was critical to the success of our new site. It truly has been a group effort. We expect our citizens will find an enjoyable experience when they come to visit our page.”

The last major redesign of the website occurred more than six years ago. The City partnered with Vision Internet, out of California, to design this site, which has produced hundreds of high-quality state-of-the art municipal websites across the country.

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin (left) and Mayor Nat Robertson (right) award Fire Chief Ben Major (center) and the Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management Department for achieving the highest possible inspections rating - the ISO Class 1 at the Oct. 26 City Council Meeting.

Fire/EmergencyManagement Recognized for ISO Class 1 Rating

Medlock Participates in White House ForumPolice Chief Harold Medlock was invited to the White House to participate in a forum Oct. 22. Chief Medlock participated in an “Arm Chair Discussion” with President Obama to discuss implementation of the “Police Data Initiative,” which is included in the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Fayetteville, along with about 25 other cities nationwide, was chosen to participate in this discussion.

Topics discussed included the behind the scenes work and progress being made towards transparency through projects such as the Fayetteville Police Department’s new Open Data Portal, body cameras and community engagement efforts. The focus highlighted local efforts being made to invest in our communities and to improve America’s Criminal Justice System.

Fayetteville FrontLine - October/November 2015

City Employee Profile “The Sensational 7”

Signs and Markings Division, Engineering & Infrastructure Department

Formally known within the City as the Signs and Markings Division of the Engineering & Infrastructure Department, the seven employees who make up the division affectionately refer to their team as “The Sensational 7.” The employees maintain and manufacture City signs and pavement markings. Comprised of seven employees and supervised by Dean Sears, the following is a special profile that features “The Sensational 7.”

“I love being a member of the Sensational 7” - Nelson Barnett

Nelson BarnettTitle: Signs & Markings TechnicianYears Here: 10Hobbies: Three kids and serves as a youth football coach

Vernon BrownTitle: Sr. Signs & Marking TechnicianYears Here: 16Family: Wife & kidsHobbies: Coach basketball, Pastor of Live by Faith Outreach Ministries

Wayne BrownTitle: Signs & Markings TechnicianYears Here: 19 yearsFamily: Daughter & granddaughterHobbies: Fishing

James MacNeilTitle: Signs & Marking TechnicianYears Here: 8Hobbies: Exercising and playing guitar

Michael MongeTitle: Signs & Markings TechnicianYears Here: 3Hobbies: Enjoy spending time with family and concentrating on health and fitness

Dean SearsTitle: Signs & Markings SupervisorYears Here: 21.5 yearsFamily: Married 17 years. Daughter - 13, Son – 10 and Daughter – 6.Hobbies: Running Tough Mudder runs; also running my own fitness camps for my business, Next Level Fitness & Nutrition.

Charles TaylorTitle: Signs & Markings TechnicianYears Here: 9.5Family: Wife Meghan, Daughter MaggieHobbies: PC gaming, computer repair

Fayetteville Police Department Activity League Sponsors Trip to Pilot Mountain

The Fayetteville Police Activity League partnered with the Climbing Place to sponsor a trip to Pilot Mountain in Pinnacle, N.C. on Oct. 24. Officers from the Police Department, along with several children from the program, enjoyed a day of rock climbing, hiking and history as the group toured the mountain, then tested their skills in scaling a 60’ rock face. The children learned about the history of the mountain and were able to see firsthand how nature is recovering from a devastating wild fire that raced across the mountain a few years ago. The children and officers worked together as teams to scale the sheer face of a 60’ rock wall, building trust in one another, their equipment and pushing themselves to “Higher Limits” by scaling the wall that all thought would be impossible at the start of the day. It was a great time for all involved.

While clearing an illegal burn call located at Shillinglaw Circle, Lt. Marlana Strickland, Firefighter Rickey McAfee and Firefighter Clinton Myers were walking back to the truck. They noticed that an older woman next door was trying to secure her vehicle’s broken window with plastic and was struggling in the process. Without hesitation, the crew took it upon themselves to perform the task for the woman. They do things like this frequently and genuinely care about the citizens they serve.

Lending A Helping Hand

Fayetteville FrontLine - October/November 2015 Fayetteville FrontLine - October/November 2015

From The Desk of the City Manager

The CVA Committee is Now Accepting Nominations!Deadline for submission is November 30, 2015

Awards presented at the Employee Recognition Ceremony in January 2016All information about the CVA program, including the nomination form, is on the City’s website:

www.FayettevilleNC.gov/corevaluesaward

FayPay will be starting soon. The City of Fayetteville Finance Department will be launching the greatly anticipated, new time keeping system beginning in December. All employees, except for Fire and Police, who will begin at a later date, will be tracking their time and attendance in FayPay. Time entry will be either at a FayPay clock or on a computer for the hourly employees.

Training for both supervisors and employees is planned for late November and early December with access to the system during December.

FayPay will begin in earnest in January as we verify that the software is set up correctly to pay our employees accurately. Payroll will have FayPay “managers” in all the divisions reporting payroll in both our current paper/JDE entry system and in FayPay. This is known as a parallel test or dress rehearsal.

In February we will change over completely and the new system will track your hours and give employees the opportunity to view their vacation and sick time accruals, as well as request time off electronically. No more paper timesheets or timecards and no more paper time off requests! If you have questions about our exciting new timekeeping system, FayPay,then please talk to one of your department’s Subject Matter Experts. You can identify them by their FayPay buttons.

Ted Voorhees, City Manager

Couey Retires After 15 Years of Service with Fayetteville Police DepartmentMartha Couey recently retired from the Police Department after serving over 15 years as a Narcotics Office Assistant II. She worked in the Police Department from June 12, 2000 to Aug. 31, 2015. The City would like to thank Martha for her years of dedicated service to the City of Fayetteville!

There's a new ride at Festival Park! City of Fayetteville employees have a little fun and show their creative side as they ride the rollercoaster at the Employee Appreciation Picnic Oct. 27. City Manager Ted Voorhees and Assistant City Manager Jay Reinstein ride along to keep them on track.

City Hall Rollercoaster at Festival Park

Daws, Thompson Honored With Order of the Long Leaf PineBruce J. Daws (above), Fayetteville’s Historic Properties Manager and Commander of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (F.I.L.I.), was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory in thanks for his tireless devotion in leading the State's Official Historic Military Command for 31 years and for his efforts in preserving the history and culture of Fayetteville. State Sen. Wesley Meredith was on hand representing the Governor to present Major Daws with this honor.

Retired Engineering & Infrastructure Director Rusty Thompson (above) also recently received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Thompson served as the City’s head of engineering for four years and City Traffic Engineer from 2000 to 2011. Some of his assignments included the Franklin Street Parking Deck (nationally award-winning deck), pavement management study for City streets and consolidating the department’s Capital Improvement Plan and Information Technology Program projects.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award. Notable recipients of the award include Michael Jordan, Maya Angelou, Coretta Scott King and Charles Kuralt.


FPD Explorer Program Hosts Family Fun Day

On Oct. 24, Sgt. Ketchum, Specialist Thueme, Specialist Casey, Specialist Essique, Officer Hansen and the Fayetteville Police Department Explorer program hosted a Family Fun Day at the Police Training Center. There, the explorers learned about ropes and rappelling. Explorers from the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office joined them for the day. Members from the Fayetteville Fire Department’s Station 14 and Station 1 came out to participate, as well.

Environmental Services Receives OmniSource Recycling Champion Award

Every recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for two hours. Cumberland County has saved enough energy to power a TV for 800 million hours! Mayor Pro Tem Kady-Ann Davy, Environmental Services Director Jerry Dietzen and Council Member Bobby Hurst stand with employees from Environmental Services to receive the OmniSource Recycling Champion Award, recognizing our county as recycling the most aluminum cans in a set period of time. Well done! Keep recycling those cans!

Orellano Promoted to Police SergeantPlease help us congratulate the newly promoted Sgt. Pedro Orellano, who was recently promoted at a Sept. 21 promotion ceremony. Sgt. Orellano previously served as a homicide detective. Congrats!

Dixon Promoted to Fire CaptainPlease join us in congratulating Joseph A. Dixon II on his recent promotion to Fire Captain. We applaud Capt. Dixon’s hard work and dedication to the department thus far, and he will continue this with his new roles and responsibilities. Congrats!

Mayner Promoted to Chief Branding OfficerKenneth Mayner in Corporate Communications was promoted to Chief Branding Officer. Mayner, who has been with the City of Fayetteville since December 2005, previously served as Graphics Manager since May 2013 and Interim Corporate Communications Director earlier this year. He started with the City in 2005 as a Graphic Designer. In his new position, Mayner will oversee and administer the City’s branding and corporate identity standards and manage the City’s website, including the supervision of two dozen content managers from City departments.

Bryant Accepted for ICLMarsha Bryant, Development Advocate in Planning & Code Enforcement, has been selected to participate in Class XII in the Institute for Community Leadership (ICL). ICL is Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s joint community leadership program. It is designed to provide local citizens the opportunity to participate in activities leading to community leadership, volunteer service and membership on local boards and commissions. Congrats Marsha!


Stone Announced as Engineering & Infrastructure DirectorRobert Stone began as Director of Engineering & Infrastructure Oct. 26. Stone brings to his directorship nearly 25 years of engineering experience with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (N.C. DOT).

His most recent assignment with N.C. DOT was the Division Eight Engineer for the last two years, where he was responsible for the oversight and management of all multi-modal activities for an eight county region while maintaining public and employee safety as a priority. As the Division Engineer, he was required to provide technical assistance and advice to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations; review and approve value-engineering analyses on a project-by-project basis; and meet with a variety of community stakeholders, officials, elected boards, the Secretary of Transportation, N.C. DOT board members and other N.C. DOT units, among other related duties.

With the City, Stone will oversee operations that include the divisions of Engineering, Construction Management, Traffic Services, Street Maintenance, Stormwater and Real Estate. Stone obtained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from N.C. State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of North Carolina.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Lee Jernigan for his service as Interim Engineering and Infrastructure Director and Phillip Hart, who served as Interim Traffic Engineer,” Deputy City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney said. “Both of these individuals stepped up to the plate and did an outstanding job keeping the department on the right path as we searched for a new director upon our previous director’s retirement.”

Watch the Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony On-Demand!Watch the entire ceremony at your convenience online at www.faytv7.com. Join us in January for the next Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony!

Capt. Jack Sparrow (Deputy City Manager Kristoff Bauer) (left) participated in the City’s Employee Appreciation Picnic Oct. 27.

Arrgh Matey! Belated K9 Birthday!

Please join us in saying Happy Belated Birthday to K9 Maize. K9 Maize turned 4 on Sept. 28 and is assigned to the Firearms Enforcement Unit, along with her handler,Police Department Investigator Harding.

The Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management Department delivered a pallet of bottled water donated by the Fayetteville Public Works Commission to the Florence Fire Department (South Carolina) Training Center on Oct. 10. The water was requested by the South Carolina Firefighters’ Association via the North Carolina Firefighters’ Association for flooded communities. Pictured (L to R): Emergency Management Coordinator Scott Bullard, Fayetteville Fire Department, and Capt. Alan Walden, Florence Fire Department.

Water Mission Complete

Here is a Fayetteville Police Department Forensic Technician doing what it takes to get the job done right!! They are willing to go above and beyond, or in this case, curl up in the trunk of a car, to get just the right angle.

Getting the Job Done Right


September Start Dates October Start Dates Work Anniversaries

Bain, Dana L.Baltodano, Valree L.Barnhill, RichardBenitez, Cierra R.Bertsch, Cyndl A.Blanco, Sandra M.Bland, Sheila L.Blanks, Brittany D.Boyles, Matthew T.Britton, William M.Brown Jr, Vernon W.Brown, Ernest L.Bullard, StephenByloff, William B.Cain, Justin B.Campbell, DwayneCasady II, Johnnie W.Christian, Donald B.Crump, James Z.Davis, Aaron M.Davis, Christopher O.Delpizzo, Joseph Y.DeBerry, Lamont E.Donovan, Christopher E.Downing, Laura L.Dumas, NorrisDuncan, Robert M.Edmonds, Daniel J.Ellis, Alfred A.Essique, Derek N.Evans-Gaddy, Mary N.Freeborough, Alysa A.Freeman, Robert L.Fulks, Gewarrious M.Furlanetto Duehning, ChiaraGauvreau, Jason K.Gilbert, Monique Y.Glover, John C.Gonzalez-Gomez, Milagros F.Greene, Anthony W.Grubb III, Raymond B.Guilette, Patrick A.Gutierrez Jr., Rafael A.Hagen, Joshua A.Handberry, Paula L.Harris, RebeccaHarshbarger, Donald W.Hart, KellieHaslem, Shauna C.

Hernandez-Muniz, Ivan N.Herring, Spencer R.Heugel, Christopher T.Hilton, Karen S.Hindt, Andrew M.Hines, Jerry W.Holland, William A.Johnson, Kareem S.Jones, Sara C.Joyce, Christopher T.Keels, Roszina S.Keeton, Jennifer L.Kelly, JenniferKempf, Chris L.Kinzie, Andrew J.Lake, Larry K.Larregui, Juan J.Layne, Aaron J.Lepper, Ted E.Lillington, Douglas J.Lindo, Michele D.Lloyd, Eric O.Locklear, JeffLucas, Chanda R.Lugo, WilliamMacNeil Jr, James K.Mata, Marcos A.McAfee Jr., Rickey W.McClain, AlbertMcNulty, Anthony-Guage Megill, Pamela J.Monge, MichaelMonroe, JimmyMonroe, Marcus A.Monteiro, Pieter J.Morris, Barbette L.Moursy, Shahanda N.Mulcahy, Richard T.Munson, Lanessa M.Murphy, James M.Nazario-Negron, NatachaNesbitt Jr, Wayne W.Olund, Jeffrey E.Orellano, Pedro A.Ortiz Jr, IsraelParker, Michael D.Parker, Ryan L.Petti, Michael P.Pierce, Raymond V.Pigg, Michael S.Powell III, Bossie

Adams, Kelly A.Allen, Emma T.Ambrose, William L.Anderson, Kristyn M.Arnette Jr, Billy L.Averitte, James C.Avery, Jessica F.Baggett, Lorrie E.Bailey, Darryn T.Ballance, Rebecca J.Baskin, Brett A.Bell, LawrenceBleazey, Heidi W.Blue, David T.Boyd, Derrick A.Bradley, Patrick L.Brenes, Juan M.Brinkley, Robert L.Brown, Bobby L.Buster, Natasha R.Cambisaca, EladioCaminiti, Richard A.Carlson, Philip J.Clark, Gabrielle L.Clements, Barbara L.Cogdell, Bobby D.Cole, Shamaine L.Coleman, Melissa A.Crawford, Ulysses V.Culbreth, David H.Danilack, JonathanDavis, Gwen B.Davis, Sarah M.Delgado, Pedro J.Dobbins, GeorgeDorsey, Rodrickus E.Dove, Kevin C.Dula, Roland E.Durham, Brandy M.Faircloth, Elliott L.Farley, Marymegan E.Fette, John E.Fleming, Douglas E.Forbes, Jessica L.Foster, Tyus L.Friese, Michael A.Futch Sr., Glenn E.Gerber, Raymond L.Glover, Tracey H.Goodrum, TieronGordon, Latoya D.

Green, Marquel D.Griffin, Travis A.Hall, Thomas W.Hanna, Tyler P.Hanson, Apryl D.Hardin, Stacey L.Hardy, Shatonya A.Hargis, David H.Harrington, Calvin A.Harris, Edward L.Harris, Nathan Ernest LeeHart, Philip J.Harvey, Jacqueline A.Hawkins, Amariche G.Hedrick, Ronnie D.Hewett, Douglas J.Hickmon, Damon W.Hoggard, Erica D.Howard, Trevor M.Hup, Betzabe W.Ingram, John M.Jernigan, Melissa G.Johnson, Annie M.Jones, Kristin H.Jordan, Silvia M.King, Dorine M.Kocher, Danielle R.Leatherwood, Laura A.Macias, Angela Louise HydeMatthews, Justin R.McBryde, Donald K.McBryde, Marcus A.McCloud, RobinMcGee, Richard J.McKoy, Anita D.McKoy, Cedric N.McNeill-Moore, AngelaMcNeill, SylvesterMedina-Toro, Joanie M.Medina, Kristina M.Meeks IV, Herbert L.Melvin, Larry B.Miller, Dennis E.Miller, Stephanie K.Mitchell, Gwendolyn B.Montgomery, Brian L.Morris, Eric L.Moses, Melissa M.Murphy, Lena S.O’Keefe, Crystal A.Olsen, Janett

Radsick, Tenneil E.Ratliff, Troy W.Rhodes, James M.Rivera II, RichardRouse, Barbara JRozier, Jerry C.Ruppert, KathleenSanford, Alan R.Sayers, Charlene M.Seward, Anthony L.Simmons, Janice K.Smith, Charles W.Smith, Shacona R.Southards, Kathy J.Sportsman, Tabitha A.Stanfield, Charles W.Steen, Chance S.Stein Jr, Kurt J.Stevens, Clayton A.Stewart, Samar H.Strickland II, Danny E.Strickland, Marlana P.Tate, Dwayne W.Tatum Jr, Timothy E.Thomas, Kimberly A.Timms, KennethTotten-Lancaster, Brook J.Trollinger, Sharon D.Tuckey, Jacqueline H.Tuinstra, Richard F.Valdez, Sheila A.Walker, Jazzniquekia T.Wall, Jordan K.Wallace, Ranessa W.Warren, Jesse G.Watson, Brittney L.Webb, David G.Wesley, John J.Whitehead, Warner D.Williams Jr, Plato M.Williams, CliffordWilliams, Jacob M.Williams, Phillip M.Wrench, Nicholas S.Zeledon Jr, Denis R.Zirkle, Samantha L.

Padilla Robles, Pedro A.Parker, Kecia N.Prankard IV, William R.Ray, LeonRiggans, Lou E.Roberts, Courtney M.Roberts, Jimmie J.Roberts, Richelle S.Rogers Jr., Joseph A.Savoy Jr, Ronald P.Schweibinz, AngelaShea, Tara G.Shellman, Megan M.Sherbert Jr, John M.Silverest II, Richard C.Simmons, Holly H.Simpson, Alexis N.Singletary, Anthony J.Smith Jr, Thomas A.Staples, Karen M.Stone III, Robert W.Strickland Jr, Danny W.Stroud-Melvin, Ocie J.Taylor, Darius J.Thomas, Robert A.Thorne, LeslieTownsend, Ezra W.Tredwell, Steven D.Vann, Glenn C.Walters, Reginald D.Walton, Marlene V.Washington, Randolph D.White, Denese C.Wilkerson, Barbara J.Williams, Annie L.Williams, Michael H.Williams, Nihal V.Wolfe, Trinia L.Woolsey, Marion W.Wright, Jodi B.Wright, Teresa D.

Upcoming Dates To RememberMonday, Nov. 2 - City Council Work Session,5 p.m., Lafayette Room, City Hall

Nov. 3 - Election Day (Municipal Elections)

Monday, Nov. 9 & 23 - Regular Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Council Chamber, City Hall

Wednesday, Nov. 11 - Veterans Day, City Offices Closed

Nov. 26-27 - Thanksgiving, City Offices Closed

Couey, Martha B.Carr, Steven W.Chandler, Bradley R.

Retirements City Holds Fayetteville OutFront Meeting Nov. 10The City of Fayetteville will hold its second Fayetteville OutFront meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at Fayetteville City Hall, located at 433 Hay St. Residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback about City services to senior management, including City Manager Ted Voorhees. The format is interactive and engaging and is designed to invite residents’ ideas and dialogue.

“This is the first time the City has conducted a meeting like this simultaneously on live television and online. We hope this format allows for an increased amount of citizen participation both in person and online,” Corporate Communications Director Kevin V. Arata said.

Residents can attend a simultaneous Facebook town hall by logging onto Facebook, liking City of Fayetteville, NC Government and selecting the town hall meeting under Events.

These meetings will be held every other month in a different area of the city. To read more about the City of Fayetteville, log onto www.FayettevilleNC.gov.

Fayetteville FrontLine - September/October 2015

City Values AEDsStaff of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation and the Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management Department understands the importance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The American Red Cross says that an AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest and is an easy to operate tool for someone with no medical background. AEDs are very easy to use.

Parks & Recreation full-time employees are required to have CPR/First Aid/AED certification. This training is provided collaboratively by the Fayetteville Fire Department and must be updated every two years. All Parks & Recreation facilities and Fayetteville Fire Department trucks have an AED machine.

Senior Citizen Programs offer a CPR class once a year. The program is normally held in June. Per the American Heart Association, nearly 326,000 of hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually. An effective bystanders CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival, but only 32 percent of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a bystander.

Updated guidelines on CPR now de-emphasize the importance of providing rescue breaths. The process has now been made simpler in an effort not to confuse those providing aid or expose those who are not comfortable giving rescue breaths.

“Personally, as someone who has had to use this training, you hope you never need it, but if you do find yourself in a situation where you need it, it could be thedifference between life and death,” Tokay Fitness Center Director Brian Gaskell said. “The more you train, the more automatic it becomes when you need to utilize it. I also always learn something new when I take it.”

“A person in need of CPR intervention has a four-six minute window of opportunity for someone to act before it’s too late,” Fire Chief Ben Major said. “However, fewer than 1/3 of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a nearby person. Increasing the number of trained personnel within our organization and within our community benefits our City immensely.”


Produced by the City of FayettevilleCorporate Communications Department

Kevin V. Arata, Corporate Communications DirectorKenneth Mayner, Chief Branding Officer

Nathan Walls, Public Information Specialist

The Fayetteville Frontline employee newsletter is produced bi-monthly.

If you would like to contribute to Frontline, please email us at [email protected].

It’s Leaf Season!Fall is upon us, and most of our trees have lost their leaves. Fallen leaves can be fun to play in and kick around, but can also be a source of stormwater pollution. As you rake leaves, the City of Fayetteville Stormwater Division wants you to remember a few things:

Never rake leaves into the street or storm drain.Besides being a potential traffic hazard, this can cause the storm drainage system to become clogged, which could lead to localized flooding. The Stormwater Division encourages you to containerize your leaves and lawn debris throughout the year. This helps to keep the leaves out of the drainage system.

If you do decide to participate in the citywide loose leaf collection program, always place your leaves on top of the curb and away from drains and keep in mind the loose leaf collection dates that the City has set for your area. Please visit http://fayettevillenc.gov/leafseason for more information on pickup schedules. You can also call (910) 433-1FAY (1329) with any questions or concerns. Again, this helps to keep leaves out of the storm drainage system and will help to ensure that your leaves are picked up by the City.

Leaves not only pose a problem for the storm drainage system, but they also cause harm to the water quality of our local rivers and streams. Excess leaves can shade aquatic plants that need the sun to survive. Decomposing leaves release nutrients that can cause harmful algae to grow and bloom. These algae blooms can lead to fish kills by robbing the water of oxygen.

If you notice leaves piling up in the curbing of the street, or on top of a storm drain, raking the leaves into a pile behind the curb will help to prevent flooding and stormwater pollution. However, please use caution when raking leaves around a storm drain. If you notice that a storm drain is not functioning properly, or you feel that it is unsafe to rake the leaves from around the drain, please call the City’s Stormwater Hotline at (910) 433-1613 for assistance.

For more information about stormwater pollution,or the Stormwater Division, please visit http://fayettevillenc.gov/stormwater, or call us at (910) 433-1613.

fayetteville frontline employee newsletter (october-november 2015)

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