City Manager’s Report
May 2026
City Manager Jon Mendenhall
ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
Marketing & Special Events
Our 23 Annual Piedmont Pottery Festival is coming up Saturday, June 6 at the First Presbyterian Church located at 582 Southwood Drive. The show runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. We will have potters from all over North Carolina, demos and lots of great pottery door prizes. Entry is FREE. See you there!
Our rivers are ready for you and your adventures! We want you to have fun and stay safe. Here are some safety guidelines to remember while you are on the water:
1. Wear your life jacket! It’s always possible to capsize in any water condition.
2. Make sure you know where you are going. Always tell a responsible person about your plans of where you will be and when you expect to return.
3. Check the weather forecast before you leave for your destination so that you can pack the proper equipment.
4. Know the water conditions. Sometimes the river will be high, low, or a dam may be releasing. This makes water conditions very different and it is important to know what to expect.
5. Know the rules to navigate the water. Find out what you need to know while on waterways.
6. Beware of Strainers. Strainers are fallen trees, bridge pilings, undercut rocks, or anything else that allows the current to flow through it while holding you. Strainers are deadly!
7. Never go boating or tubing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
8. Know your paddling abilities and plan your outings accordingly.
9. Dress appropriately for weather conditions. Carry extra clothes in a dry bag in case you flip and go for a swim.
10. Never float or paddle over low-head dams, avoid fallen trees and other in-stream obstructions.
11. Do not stand up in a canoe or kayak and avoid weight shifts that may cause capsize.
12. If it is your first time on the water, travel with an experienced person that has navigated that part of the river before.
UPTOWN CRUISERS – Henry Street Municipal Parking Lot in Uptown Eden the FIRST FRIDAY of the month beginning May and running until October from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Cruise on in with those beautiful cars and enjoy, music, Uptown Eden food and shopping, and lots of conversation. BIG FUN!
Come out and watch the movies under the stars at our nostalgic EDEN DRIVE IN! Gates open at 6:30 p.m. on weekends and the first movies begin at dark. The grill is open for business.
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Recreation Division
April has been a very active month for Parks and Recreation as we continue moving into our busy summer season.
Prowlers Baseball and Softball are underway at Freedom Park, bringing a lot of activity to the park and keeping our fields busy. Freedom Park is also coming off two great community events. The Special Olympics event and the Autism Awareness event. Both events were well attended and showed the positive impact our Parks and Recreation programs have on the community.
Looking ahead, Freedom Park will continue to host the monthly Cruise-In events during the warmer months. These events are a good opportunity for families and community members to come out, enjoy the park, and spend time together.
Softball games will also begin in May and are scheduled to continue through December 1. These games are expected to take place at least twice a month, which will help keep Freedom Park active well beyond the summer season.
At Mill Avenue, the after-school program is beginning to wind down as the school year comes to an end. Staff are now preparing for the summer camp program, which will be held at Mill Avenue. The larger gym, playground, ball field, and access to the pool will provide more opportunities for the children throughout the summer.
Mill Avenue Pool is expected to open by the first of Jun. Staff are continuing preparations to have the pool ready for the season and to provide a safe and enjoyable place for families and children during the summer months.
The Senior Program is also beginning to pick up as we move into warmer weather. With summertime and better weather ahead, outdoor activities, trips, and other senior programs will begin to increase. These programs continue to be an important part of keeping our seniors active, involved and connected.
PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Planning Division
Local Codes & Inspections April 1 – April 30, 2026
Local Codes Inspected 82
Local Code Notices Sent 41
Local Codes Abated 12
Inspections & Permits
Total Inspections Performed 283(Does not include fire inspections)
Total Permits Issued 143
Boards & Commissions
Tree Board meeting was held on April 20, continued discussion on Highway 14 Tree inventory and clean-up, discussion on applying to become a Bee City, and vote to remove three (3) damaged trees in Grogan Park. Certificates presented to individuals and groups who purchased trees at the April Council meeting.
Community Appearance Commission – meeting was held on April 7, discussion on ongoing nuisances, update on the ongoing sale of Brick Pavers, change to how Community Appearance Awards are awarded, vote on selection of stamped concrete for Bridge Street Roundabout.
Historic Preservation Commission did not meet in April.
Planning Board did not meet in April.
Board of Adjustments did not meet in April.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Fire Department responded to 196 calls for the month of April. The Fire Department completed 1 inspection and 6 reinspection’s in the month of April.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Our cadet is still progressing well in Alamance Community College’s BLET program. He is scheduled to graduate from the program on June 11, 2026.
All spring in-person in-service training was completed in April.
Command staff has officially begun the policy update project in coordination with Lexipol. Full implementation is expected to take six to nine months.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Streets
Street department crews worked to collect 1,075 cubic yards of vegetative waste. Crews also repaired and replaced 38 street signs.
Solid Waste
Solid Waste crews collected 2589.58 tons of municipal solid waste. Along with routine daily garbage collection there were 30 containers repaired. Solid Waste employees continued the collection, transferring and hauling of solid waste to the landfill.
Collection & Distribution
Collection and Distribution crews completed 174 work orders in April. Crews made repairs to numerous water lines / laterals, cleared sewer blockages and installed new taps. Work continues daily to address all sewer issues and water leaks that were reported.
Construction
The Construction crew has continued work on Hamlin Street. Crews then worked on Maryland Avenue, Hale Street and John Street.
Fleet
The Fleet Division had 184 work orders, which includes all outside repairs, road calls as well as regular service, tires and NC inspections.
Utilities
JR Lynch Construction continue to make good progress on the North Basin Project. Currently they are a little over 55% completion. They will continue to pour the remaining elevated slabs in the next few weeks. Electrical conduit will be complete once the elevated slabs have been poured. Backfilling and pressure testing are being completed on the basin as well. The next step is getting the blower building built.
