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GREENSBORO — City residents caught watering lawns or washing cars face stiff penalties because of the drought, but the city allowed promoters of an RV rally to wash their large luxury vehicles in the parking lot of the Greensboro Coliseum this week.

Are residents outraged? You bet. And some City Council members are right there with them.

"They are coming in and using our water we might need to drink because things are looking so bleak," said Denny Melcher, 61.

But according to the city's water resources department, the RVs can be washed under current water restrictions as long as it's done by professionals.

The invitation-only Monaco Coach Corp. Harvest Homecoming Motorhome Rally kicks off Monday and showcases the company's latest models.
But to sell, the motorhomes need to shine. And dozens of the vehicles brought in for the rally were washed Wednesday through Friday in the parking lot at the coliseum.

And it's legal, said Allan Williams , head of the city's Water Resources Department.

Commercial washing companies, such as the one hired by the rally organizers, do not fall under water restriction ordinances, Williams said.
The Stage II mandatory water restrictions, which began Oct. 9, state: "No vehicle washing, except at commercial car washes."

"It goes on the same theory as I can't wash my car, but I can take it somewhere to be cleaned," Williams said Thursday. "Under the next phase of water restrictions, that would be eliminated."

Williams estimated that it would take anywhere from 50 to 100 gallons to wash each motorhome using a pressure washer.

The rally organizers hired the Livingston, Texas-based Aall Brite RV Cleaning Service, which is in the same category as a commercial car wash, water officials said.

As an outside business, Aall Brite did have to obtain a privilege business license to operate in the city.

But that license holds no other purpose and has no bearing on water restrictions, said officials with the city's collections department, which issues the licenses.

Monaco officials said events such as the rally bring thousands of dollars to communities and rally organizers are doing the best they can to conserve water as the RVs are prepped for the show.

"It is an important part of our business to help our retailers sell coaches at this show," said Craig Wanicheck, a spokesman for Monaco.

"We always enjoy coming (to Greensboro). Our owners like to go places with fun amenities around the community and have facilities to support us."

But the cash flow to the city doesn't mean enough if it puts the flow of water for residents at risk later on, Melcher said.

"I still think it's not the way to use water with the situation that we are in," said Melcher, who filed a complaint with the city about the RVs being washed Wednesday night.

"It doesn't seem that it pertains to anyone but residents, but some outsider comes in ... and can get away with it," he said.

Melcher, who lives at Hagan-Stone Park, said his motorcoach hasn't been washed in three months.

"I'm not happy, and anyone who lives here should be incensed," he said.
Some City Council members agreed Thursday that city government needs to take a closer look what is allowed under water restrictions.

"I think it's ridiculous," Councilwoman Sandra Anderson Groat said. "We all have brown lawns and dirty cars and think we are doing our patriotic and civic duty. It's a terrible loophole that shouldn't be in there."

Groat said the city should be working to build trust among residents, and allowing the RVs to be washed with city water is doing just the opposite.

Councilwoman Sandy Carmany , who is the council's liaison to the coliseum, agreed.

"It's something I would want to take a look at," Carmany said. "The city should be setting an example. We ought to be ... doing more than we have (to conserve water)."

Coliseum spokesman Andrew Brown said the washing was expected to end Friday as the RVs moved inside the Special Events Center for display.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or rseals@news-record.com