Tag Archive for: #oxfordnews

City of Oxford Launches ‘Oxford Says’ Segment, YouTube Channel

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-Information courtesy the City of Oxford

“Oxford Says”

The City of Oxford has launched its new ‘Oxford Says’ campaign showcasing local City leaders addressing topics of interest during the COVID – 19 period. New segments featuring City leaders will be featured every Friday at 3 p.m. on the City of Oxford’s Facebook page.
The first segment (April 24) featured Mayor Jacqueline Sergent and her account on the importance of remaining at home. The second segment (May 1) featured updates from Oxford City Manager Alan Thornton. Both may be viewed on the City’s Facebook page.
This week’s “Oxford Says” will feature a Wednesday and Friday segment with Oxford Economic Development Director (DOEDC) Mary Yount addressing the possible easing of the stay at home restrictions and downtown Oxford updates on Wednesday, May 6 at 3 p.m.

If you have any topics you would like to hear discussed in future “Oxford Says” segments or have questions for scheduled guests, please PM the City of Oxford via Facebook.

YouTube Channel

The City of Oxford has also launched its new YouTube channel. Videos relating to the City will be posted there in the hopes of providing a new communication tool with the public. Please check out the channel and subscribe as the City will post videos about the NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival, public campaigns, information tutorials and more.

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRQBRZrLkuI8vAaDFL825-w

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Oxford Commissioners to Hold April 28 Meeting on Capital Improvement Plan

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 4 p.m. in the 3rd-floor Commissioners’ Board Room of City Hall.

The purpose of this meeting is to consider amending the City’s CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) and submitting DWI funding request(s) for the Spring 20’ round of available funding.

In order to observe Governor Cooper’s Order limiting the number of those gathered in a single place to ten (10), a call-in option is being provided for the public. If you have questions or concerns regarding the use of Zoom, please call 919-603-1102.

To attend the meeting by way of Zoom, please use the following information:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86088801212?pwd=QkdGekpwWXYrWjlENm9sQUk3TVUxQT09

Meeting ID: 860 8880 1212

Password: 239344

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Meeting ID: 860 8880 1212

Password: 239344

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kuya3UlGB

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City of Oxford Accepting Bids for Sewer Line Replacement Project

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-Information courtesy The City of Oxford

Sealed bids for the project entitled 2017B Sewer Line Replacements will be received by the City of Oxford until 10 a.m. local time May 21, 2020, at City Hall located at 300 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, North Carolina. At said place and time, all Bids that have been duly received, will be publicly opened and read aloud.

THE PROJECT GENERALLY CONSISTS OF the replacement of approximately 8,700 linear feet of 8-inch diameter and 2,600 linear feet of 10-inch diameter gravity sewer lines located along various streets and existing sewer line outfalls within the Oxford sewer system including manholes, service connections, and related appurtenances.

The project also generally consists of the replacement of approximately 1,200 linear feet of 6-inch diameter water lines with valves, hydrants, and related appurtenances to be replaced concurrently with the sewer line on Green Street.

A pre-bid conference will be held at 10 a.m. local time on May 7, 2020. The meeting is nonmandatory. Due to current travel restrictions, the meeting will be conducted via video conference with a phone-in option. Video Conference: https://call.lifesizecloud.com/431863, Call in Number (audio only) 312-584-2401. Meeting extension: 431863# For additional numbers: https://call.lifesize.com/numbers

The Contract Documents for the project may be examined at the following locations:

McGill Associates, PA (5400 Trinity Road, Suite 107, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607)

City of Oxford Engineering Department (300 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, North Carolina 27565)

However, due to limited hours and social distancing practices, it is preferable that prospective bidders view plans online via McGill’s Website https://www.mcgillassociates.com/bids/.

Digital copies of Bid Documents are available for purchase at www.mcgillassociates.com for a fee of $50 per set. These documents may be downloaded by selecting this project from the “Bids” link and finding the appropriate Quest Project Number. For assistance and free membership registration, contact QuestCDN at (952) 233-1632 or info@questcdn.com. No partial sets of plans and specifications can be purchased.

Each bid shall be accompanied with a cash deposit or certified check drawn on a bank or trust company insured by the FDIC or a Bid Bond prepared on the form of Bid Bond contained in the Bidding Documents or a Surety Company’s standard form and properly executed by a corporate surety licensed under the laws of North Carolina to execute such bonds. The amount of the bid bond shall be equal to five (5) percent of the total of the bid. The bid deposit shall be retained by the Owner if the successful bidder fails to execute the contract or fails to provide the required bonds, as stated above, within ten (10) days after the proper notice of award of the contract.

Bidders must comply with the requirements of the State of North Carolina and be appropriately licensed as a Contractor as provided in General Statutes Chapter 87. AB – 2

Neither the Owner nor the Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including any Addenda, obtained from any source other than the Owner’s representative, McGill Associates, P.A. Each Bidder shall be responsible for the review of all addenda for the project and shall acknowledge the addenda on the bid form.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive informalities, or to reject nonconforming, non-responsive, or conditional bids. The Owner reserves the right to award a contract to the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder or bidders, taking into consideration quality, performance and time.

It is the policy of the City of Oxford to award public building contracts without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age or disabling condition. Each bidder shall make a good faith effort and shall document such efforts to utilize minority businesses and comply with the City of Oxford’s plan.

Bidders must comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246 as amended, which prohibits discrimination in employment regarding race, creed, color, sex or national origin. Bidders must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Davis-Bacon Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, the Contract Work Hours Standard Act, and 40 CFR 33.1016, and 40 CFR 60-4.

Jacqueline vdH Sergent – Mayor, City of Oxford

Express Employment Professionals: Muetzel Says ‘Essential Industries Hiring’

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Hal Muetzel, owner and operator of Express Employment Professionals, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

Located at 124 Main Street in Oxford, Express Employment Professionals is a staffing company focused on helping people find jobs and providing workforce solutions to businesses. Services include a full range of employment solutions, including full-time, temporary and part-time employment in a wide range of industries.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, Muetzel explained that those industries deemed “essential” by the government, including manufacturing, distribution, food, logistics, infrastructure and healthcare, are the ones hiring at present.

“We are busy here at Express,” Muetzel stated. “We are working with companies like essential businesses that are still looking for people, and many of these companies are starving for the type of laborers needed for these positions.”

Muetzel pointed out that many manufacturers, including the Oxford-based Home Care Products, LLC, have either switched to or have added assembly for goods needed during the pandemic, including masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Another local employer, Walmart Distribution Center in Vance County, has also been on an “aggressive hiring campaign to get supplies, mostly food supplies, shipped out and into stores,” said Muetzel.

While some companies have been in a holding pattern for the last few weeks, Muetzel said the movement he is starting to see gives him hope that the near future looks bright for the workforce.

“Some companies have stalled out for a little while but are coming back online as early as next week in the manufacturing sectors. There are a fair number of economists that say this will be short-lived and, as soon as we can start to get people back to work, we should start to see the economy creep up again.”

If you are currently seeking employment, Muetzel said the best bet is to target essential businesses. “Keep informed and stay focused on your job search because, eventually, we are going to all be back in a situation where we are looking for work again or are being recalled back to our previous employment.”

Express Employment Professionals is available to assist you in your job search and has the means to conduct the majority of the employment process, including an initial interview, remotely.

For more information, please visit www.expresspros.com/oxfordnc/ or call (919) 693-1730.

To hear the interview with Muetzel in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk. Muetzel’s segment of the interview begins at the 15:13 mark.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

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Oxford Board of Commissioners’ April 14 Meeting Canceled

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

Notice is hereby given that the monthly regular meeting for the Oxford Board of Commissioners that was scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2020, has been canceled.

If you have any questions, please call City Hall, 919-603-1100, and watch the City’s website www.oxfordnc.org for updates as they become available.

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City of Oxford Declares State of Emergency Effective March 23

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-Information courtesy The City of Oxford

PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN OXFORD, NORTH CAROLINA 

WHEREAS, COVID–19 is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death by the SARS CoV–2 virus, which is a new strain of coronavirus previously unidentified in humans and which can spread from person to person; and, 

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared COVID–19 is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020; and 

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the “CDC”) has warned of the high public health threat posed by COVID–19 globally and in the United States and has deemed it necessary to prohibit or restrict travel to areas designated by the CDC, and 

WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary declared a public health emergency in the United States for COVID–19 under Section 391 of the Public Health Service Act; and 

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed multiple cases of COVID–19 in the State of North Carolina, including one or more cases in Granville County; and 

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency for the State of North Carolina based on the public health emergency posed by COVID–19; and 

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national emergency; and 

WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, the Chairman of the Granville County Board of Commissioners issued a Declaration of a State of Emergency for Granville County; and, 

WHEREAS, immediate attention is required to protect public health from the spread of the disease, reduce further damage, ensure public safety, and render emergency relief, and 

WHEREAS, I, Jacqueline vdH Sergent, Mayor of the City of Oxford, North Carolina, do find that the potential spread of COVID–19 within the City of Oxford constitutes an imminent threat to the safety and welfare of the City of Oxford that existing conditions have caused or may cause widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life, and public safety authorities may be unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives or property, and 

WHEREAS, declaring a State of Emergency and imposing the restrictions and prohibitions ordered herein is necessary to maintain order and protect public health, safety, and welfare. 

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of Oxford under Article 1A of Chapter 166A of the North Carolina General Statutes and Chapter 7 of the City of Oxford Code of Ordinances, after conferring with my colleagues on the Oxford Board of Commissioners, I, Jacqueline vdH Sergent, Mayor of the City of Oxford, North Carolina, hereby declare and proclaim that a State of Emergency exists within the City of Oxford. 

SECTION 1. Emergency Area Established. The emergency area covered by this Emergency Proclamation shall be the entire jurisdiction of the City of Oxford. 

SECTION 2. Adoption of Granville County Declaration. I, Jacqueline vdH Sergent, Mayor of the City of Oxford, North Carolina, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. $ 166A–19.22, do affirm that the Declaration of a State of Emergency issued by Granville County applies in its entirety to the City of Oxford. 

SECTION 3. Implementation and Enforcement. I hereby order all City of Oxford law enforcement officers and employees and all other emergency management personnel subject to our control to cooperate in the enforcement and implementation of the provisions of this declaration, all applicable local ordinances, state and federal laws, and the City of Oxford Emergency Operations Plan. I urge all City of Oxford residents and businesses to follow the advice and recommendations of the CDC, and the advice and recommendations of the federal, state, and county governments regarding our public health and controlling the spread of this virus. 

SECTION 4. Distribution. I hereby order this declaration: (a) to be distributed to the news media and other organizations calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public; (b) to be filed with the City of Oxford Clerk, and (c) to be distributed to others as necessary to ensure proper implementation of this declaration. 

SECTION 5. Effective Date and Time. This Declaration of Emergency shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded. 

DECLARED this the 23rd day of March 2020, at 4:30 p.m. 

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City of Oxford Reminds Residents NOT to Flush Wipes, Paper Towels

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-Press Release, City of Oxford

While disinfecting and sanitizing spaces, please DO NOT flush your wipes. Flushing wipes, paper towels, and similar products down toilets will clog sewers and cause backups and overflows at the wastewater treatment facility.

This creates an additional public health risk amid the coronavirus pandemic. Even wipes labeled flushable will clog pipes and interfere with sewage collection and treatment throughout the City.

Let’s work together during this challenging time to keep our systems running smoothly.

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Oxford Public Works Committee to Meet Thurs., March 19

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The Public Works Committee for the Oxford Board of Commissioners will meet on Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in the First Floor Training Room, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street in Oxford.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the System Development Fee study by Raftelis, the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan by McGill, Engineering Fees, and general updates.

All those interested are invited to attend.

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City of Oxford Announces Closures, Cancellations & Postponements

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-Information courtesy the City of Oxford

As the number of cases of COVID-19 rises in North Carolina, the City of Oxford is making the health and safety of our citizens and employees a priority. The City is closely monitoring the situation and taking the necessary precautions to maintain a safe workplace and community.

What We Ask of our Visitors

While City Hall will remain open for now, we encourage our citizens to:

  • Limit in-person visits to City Hall and its outlying departments by using phone, email, or other electronic means.
  • Pay utility bills using one of the following methods:
  • Online at municipalonlinepayments.com/oxfordnc
  • By phone at 833-259-4017
  • By mail to PO Box 506 Oxford, NC 27565
  • By Utilizing the drop box outside of City Hall
  • There will also be a new walk-up and pay on the outside of City Hall by Friday, March 20, 2020. The hours of operation will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • If you must visit City Hall or the Operations Center, call ahead to ensure the staff member will be on site.
  • Maintain ‘social distancing’ of 6 feet from other people when possible, as recommended by the CDC.

What we Are Doing to Help Citizens

The City of Oxford will postpone utility disconnections for non-payment and waive transaction fees that are associated with online/bank payments for City utilities, including late fees.

Keep in mind, that even though the water will not be disconnected for non-payment during the next 30 days, you are still responsible for your account balance and any water used during this suspension time.

Closings, Cancellations, and Postponements

  • HPC meeting on Thursday, March 19
  • The City of Oxford Parks & Recreation Department is suspending all programs, including activities in Hix Gym and Public Works Meeting Room, until further notice.
  • Facility rentals through March 30, 2020, will be canceled, renters will receive a full refund or may reschedule for a future date.
  • 2020 Easter Egg Hunt
  • Spring Break Camp
  • Spring Break Lego Camp
  • Volleyball and Baseball Registration will continue through Friday, March 20, 2020, the season will be postponed for two weeks, and we will re-evaluate at that time.

If you have any questions, please call City Hall, 919-603-1100, and watch our website www.oxfordnc.org for updates as they become available.

Oxford Prep Lower School Students Win Diversity Essay Contest

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-Press Release, Oxford Preparatory School

For schools across the nation, February is a time to highlight important accomplishments by African-Americans with the nationally recognized observance of Black History Month. March brings about Women’s History Month, which seeks to do the same by highlighting important women in history.

Students at the current Oxford Preparatory Lower School, presently 5th and 6th grade, participated in a school-wide diversity essay contest. Contest winners, pictured left to right: Michael Cox, 5th grade; Bre’Niyah Purnell, 6th grade and Novina Williford, 6th grade) (OPS photo)

For cultures and peoples marginalized by a traditional curriculum, these months of observance bring about conversations on diversity and inclusion. Students at Oxford Preparatory School kicked off this discussion with an important question: why does diversity matter?

Students at the current Lower School, presently 5th and 6th grade, participated in a school-wide essay contest with that exact question in mind. The essay contest had few guidelines, encouraging students to utilize critical thinking skills and reflection on the topic.

After a guidance lesson on the definition of diversity and discussions with classmates on the topic, students went right into writing their reflections. Some chose to use the time to research important figures who fought for diversity, such as Martin Luther King Jr, while some reflected on their own experiences. Students reflected on times that they felt like the “odd one out,” and even came up with suggestions on how to better support diversity at their school.

Fifth-grader Lily Juntunen writes, “I also always felt singled out for how I looked because I would always get told how I’m too tall to do anything, that I should give up. That’s another reason why diversity matters. People should not feel like they need to change themselves because others aren’t happy with the way they look.”

The three winners – 5th-grader Michael Cox and 6th-graders Novina Williford and Bre’Niyah Purnell – were treated to a bagel breakfast with their friends and family members and bravely read their essays out loud.

For some, this was the first time they had to present their work to an audience. However, as a college preparatory school, these students are being prepared to present their work and discuss such topics.“I had a lot of fun researching for the essay,” shared Cox. “I was really nervous to read it out loud, but I felt a lot of relief after I did it.”

To quote 5th-grader Madelyn Reese, “Diversity does matter in our world today. Regardless of our talents, skin color, gender, language, and culture, we all need to be treated fairly.”