Warren County Public Hearing July 1 On CDBG Funding

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The Warren County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing for July 1, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Armory Civic Center in Warrenton to get input from the community about the county’s application for Community Development Block Grant funding.

Warren County plans to submit a Neighborhood Revitalization application in the fall of 2024. This meeting will provide information about the available funding, including requirements and eligible activities. Citizens are encouraged to participate and provide feedback on the County’s potential use of CDBG funds.

This hearing will explain the funding available under the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Small Cities Community Development Block Grant – Neighborhood Revitalization Program (CDBG-NR). These funds benefit low- and moderate-income residents, and eligible activities include housing rehabilitation, relocation, reconstruction, emergency repairs, public facilities, and administration of these activities. Projects must benefit at least 51 percent low- and moderate-income persons for area-wide benefits and 100 percent for direct benefits.

All interested citizens are encouraged to attend to voice their views, respond to proposed funding plans, and ask questions. Another public hearing will be scheduled before the application is submitted to discuss specific project activities.

Community & Economic Development Director Charla Duncan said “Pursuing CDBG funding for housing rehab is the next step in growing the scope of work of the county’s community and economic development department.”

“The county’s 2022 comprehensive development plan addresses several goals around housing, particularly around workforce and affordable housing needs in the community,” stated Rose Ponton, Warren County Community Development Division Manager. “Homeowner assistance programs like the CDBG funding can fund critical and urgent repairs for some of our more vulnerable populations,” Ponton said.

For more information about the public hearing, the CDBG program, or to submit written comments; please contact Rose Ponton with the Warren County Community & Economic Development Office by email at roseponton@warrencountync.gov or by calling 252.257.3115.

Warren County Revaluation Underway

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The Warren County Tax Administration is currently conducting a revaluation review as required by state law. The county has contracted with Pearson Appraisers Inc., to visit each parcel in the county to measure and list any changes to the property and determine current market value.

Each appraiser has been issued Warren County ID and their vehicles are marked “Warren County Revaluation.” The parcel reviews will run through the end of the year.

New assessed values will be mailed out in early 2025 to each property owner.

 

Vance-Warren FSA: Summer Crop Acreage Reports Due July 15

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-information courtesy of the Vance-Warren County Farm Service Agency

Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after spring planting should make an appointment with the Vance-Warren County Farm Service Agency before the applicable deadline – Monday, July 15.

“In order to comply with USDA program eligibility requirements, all producers must file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Hattie D. Jordan, FSA’s County executive director in Vance-Warren County. “Once planting is complete, please call our office to make an appointment to report your acreage.”

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch, as well as its intended use and location. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage, and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits.

To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:

  • Crop and crop type or variety
  • Intended crop use
  • Number of crop acres
  • Map with approximate crop boundaries
  • Planting date(s)
  • Planting pattern, when applicable
  • Producer shares
  • Irrigation practice(s)
  • Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable
  • Other required information

The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:

  • If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
  • If a producer acquires additional acreage after the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP-covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or crop harvesting begins.

Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant but were unable to because of a natural disaster, including drought. Prevented planted acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.

FSA recently updated policy that applies to prevented planted acreage due to drought. To certify prevented planted acreage due to drought, all the following must apply:

  • The area that is prevented from being planted has insufficient soil moisture for seed germination on the final planting date for non-irrigated acreage.
  • Prolonged precipitation deficiencies that meet the D3 or D4 drought intensity level as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
  • Verifiable information must be collected from sources whose business or purpose is recording weather conditions as determined by FSA.

Agricultural producers with perennial forage crops have the option to report their acreage once, without having to report that acreage in subsequent years if there are no applicable changes on the farm. Interested producers can select the continuous certification option after FSA certifies their acreage report. Examples of perennial forage include mixed forage, birdsfoot trefoil, chicory/radicchio, kochia (prostrata), lespedeza, perennial peanuts, and perennial grass varieties.

Once the continuous certification option is selected, the certified acreage will roll forward annually with no additional action required by the producer in subsequent years unless the acreage report changes.

Producers can access their FSA farm records, maps and common land units through the farmers.gov customer portal. The portal allows producers to export field boundaries as shapefiles and import and view other shapefiles, such as precision agriculture boundaries within farm records mapping.  Producers can view, print, and label their maps for acreage reporting purposes. Level 2 eAuthentication or login.gov access that is linked to a USDA Business Partner customer record is required to use the portal.

Producers can visit farmers.gov/account to learn more about creating an account. Producers who have authority to act on behalf of another customer as a grantee via an FSA-211 Power of Attorney form, Business Partner Signature Authority or as a member of a business can now access information for the business in the farmers.gov portal.

For questions, please contact the Vance-Warren County FSA office at 252-438-3134 ext2.

The FSA office is located at 853 S. Beckford Dr., Suite B, Henderson.

American Flag

Wise Independence Day Parade, Festival

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The Wise Independence Day parade and festival will take place on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Warren County community just up the road from Norlina.

The parade will begin the day’s activities at 10 a.m., starting at Bruce Parkinson’s home and ending at Wise Baptist Church, according to information from Danielle Edgerton, one of the event organizers.

Serving as parade Grand Marshal is the Hon. Bernard Harris.

The festival will start immediately following the parade on the grounds of Wise Baptist Church, located at 1840 U.S. 1, Wise.

Come enjoy live music by Feature Attraction Band, a car show, various food vendors, rides for kids, and more!

For more information about parade entry, vendor space or the car show please contact Gary Paynter at 252.438.0574, Danielle Edgerton at 252.204.2605 or

Mike McCray at 919.604.3081.

Warren Co. Memorial Library

Warren Library Summer Reading Program Kicks Off June 11 – Let “The Adventure” Begin!

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Information courtesy of Warren County Executive Assistant/Deputy Clerk Monique Howard

Participants of all ages are invited to Warren County Memorial Library for this year’s Summer Reading Program – “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” Starting with the opening of registration at 10 a.m. on June 11 and ending with the finale and prize drawing on July 31 at 12 noon, “Adventure Begins at Your Library” will feature myriad programs, activities and fun for the whole family.

As the school year draws to a close, library staff wants to make sure all Warren County students keep reading to avoid the summer slump.

But who says that a reading event can’t be exciting?

In addition to the literacy-building essentials, participants will also get to experience live animals, music, performances, competitive events, crafts, movies, board games, video games and more. All programs are free and open to the public.

“Our goal for this year was to have inclusive and enriching events that people of all ages – from 1 to 100 – can enjoy,” said Library Director Tanika Alston.

Warren County Schools will provide lunch to all school-aged children at the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 noon to 2 p.m.  The Summer Meal Program will run from June 11 until July 30, taking a break during the week of July 4.

“We would like to encourage all of Warren County to discover the adventure that awaits them at our library,” said Summer Reading Coordinator Ky’el Owens.

The fun kicks off at 10 a.m. on June 11 when community organizations will be at the library to share information and materials until 2 p.m.. Library staff will host “All Day Fun and Games” that will include a variety of activities – everything from board games  and air hockey – until 4:30 p.m.

Registration begins on June 11, but continues throughout the summer. Everyone who signs up is automatically entered to win Summer Reading prizes. The prize drawing will be held during the Finale event at noon on July 31.

 

 

 

Warren Commissioners Schedule Public Hearing On Proposed Occupancy Tax For Short-Term Rentals

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The Warren County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at their Monday, June 3, 2024 regular meeting at 6 p.m. to hear public comment about the proposed occupancy tax for short-term rental accommodations in Warren County.

A local occupancy tax applies to the same transactions that are subject to state sales taxes on accommodations mandated by general statutes.

Occupancy taxes on short-term rentals are not levied against the property/business owner; they are levied on the occupant/renter. However, facilitators, rental agents, and business owners engaged in short-term rental accommodations are required to charge the occupancy taxes to the occupant and to remit that revenue to the local government.

In 2023, the General Assembly granted Warren County the authority to levy an occupancy tax up to 5 percent. The approval for the occupancy tax can be found in N.C.S.L. 2023-144, Senate Bill 154, Part 13.

A short-term rental accommodation subject to a local occupancy tax is anything supplied to one person for less than 90 days. Short-term accommodations include hotel and motel rooms, residences, cottages, or a similar lodging facility, as well as any type of structure that is rented for temporary residential use such as houseboats, tents, yurts and train cabooses. Parking spots for recreational vehicles, campsites, and boat slips would not be subject to local occupancy taxes. Occupancy taxes do not apply to enrollment in school, camp or hospital programs.

Occupancy taxes apply to the cost of the accommodation rental, as well as to other mandatory charges of the rental, such as early or late departure fees, cleaning fees, pet fees, etc. (all mandatory charges that are directly related to the use and occupancy of a rental accommodation).

The three parties held liable for collecting occupancy taxes from tenants and for remitting the taxes locally are: retailers (ex: hotel operators, bed and breakfast operators), facilitators (ex: Airbnb, Vrbo), and rental agents (brokers and other persons engaged in property management).

The penalties for delinquent occupancy taxes are the same as the penalties for delinquent sales taxes. Counties are allowed to enforce collection remedies with the exception of placing liens on properties and governments cannot foreclose on properties that do not property remit their occupancy tax collections. Occupancy taxes are not subject to successor liability (they do not go with the property when it is sold).

For more information, visit www.warrencountync.com or email Charla Duncan, Director of Warren County Community and Economic Development, at charladuncan@warrencountync.gov.

MedAssist OTC Medicine Giveaway May 31 At Warren Armory

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The Warren County Health Department is partnering with NC MedAssist and Triangle North Healthcare Foundation to host a free over-the-counter medicine giveaway on Friday, May 31, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The event will be held at the Warren County Armory Civic Center located at 501 US Hwy 158 Bus E in Warrenton. The NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy Program provides medicine items including allergy, cough and cold, pain relief, vitamins and children’s medicine. Vendors will also be on-site to provide free health screenings for children and adults as well as information on a variety of health topics.

No appointment or registration is needed. You must be 18 years or older to receive medicines. Dr. Margaret Brake, health director of Warren County Health Department, welcomes the event to the community. “I am excited to have this wonderful event to come back to the county,” Brake said. “Sometimes it is expensive to buy these types of medicines from the pharmacy so I invite everyone to come and get some free medicines for themselves and their family. You do not need bring an ID or income verification to qualify for this program.”

Warren Residents Invited To May 30 S-Line Mobility Hub Meeting

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Warren County Community and Economic Development, the N.C. Department of Transportation Integrated Mobility Division and project engineers will be at the Warren County Recreation Complex on May 30 for a community engagement event to talk about the future of the S-Line as part of the project’s mobility hub feasibility study.

NCDOT is working with communities along the proposed S-Line passenger rail corridor to conduct feasibility work for potential mobility hubs in each community. Feasibility work consists of initial design and environmental analysis.

But what exactly are mobility hubs? Transportation officials define them as  safe and comfortable public areas to transfer from one mode of transportation to another. A mobility hub may look different and have different transportation amenities depending on the community’s existing transportation needs, and that’s where input from local residents comes in.

The engagement session on May 30 is designed for the public to express their current transportation needs, as well as what they desire to see in the future regarding transportation in and around Warren County; input will be collected about community desire around transportation options to access places outside of Warren County. These transit options could include a train stop on the S-Line as well.

The engagement session is floating and will run from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. on May 30 at the Warren County Recreation Complex. In the event of rain, the event will be held at the same time and date at the Warren County Memorial Library.

For more information, email Charla Duncan, director of Warren County Community and Economic Development, at charladuncan@warrencountync.gov.

Young Farmers & Ranchers Group Gathers Next Generation In Agriculture

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The Tri-County Young Farmers & Ranchers group will convene later this week at a local farm that produces organic, environmentally sustainable pork, beef and milk and will learn straight from its owners how MY Meat Farm was created.

If you’re a farmer or rancher between 18 and 35, you’re invited to join this group, which is sponsored by Farm Bureau and brings together young farmers and others in agriculture together from Vance, Granville and Warren counties.

The Tri-County YF&R meeting will be held Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at MY Meat Farm, located at 3182 Sims Bridge Rd., Kittrell. Although it is a Kitrell address, the farm is located in Franklin County.

The YF&R program is a new endeavor in the county, said Dr. Wykia Macon, Vance County extension director. “It is a tri-county group of people 18-35 who are farmers and ranchers. Our local Farm Bureau Board and Catherine Watts, who works with Labor Service International, is working to create a community of local young ranchers and farmers who will lead the next generation,” Macon told WIZS News.

MY Meat Farm will provide the backdrop for the final meeting of the season, but the group will pick back up in September.

The farm produces woodland raised pork, pastured beef and raw milk that is “beyond organic.” The owners use methods that are environmentally sustainable, truly humane, and naturally healthy, according to information from Catherine Watts, one of the organizers of the group.

All participants are reminded to wear comfortable shoes – there will be some walking involved at the meeting! As a biosecurity measure, there will be a footbath for everyone’s shoes before the tour begins.

RSVP to Farm Bureau’s Catherine Watts.

To learn more about the YF&R program, visit https://www.fb.org/program/young-farmers-ranchers.

Warren County Offers Safety Workshop For Spanish Speaking Farmworkers

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The Warren County Extension Service is sponsoring a safety workshop for farmworkers who are Spanish speakers.

The workshop, Spanish Safety Training for Farmworkers, will take place Tuesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at the Warren County Extension Center 158 Rafters Lane, Warrenton. The workshop is open to all; workers don’t have to work just in Warren County.

The training will be conducted in Spanish and will include information about worker protection standards, green tobacco sickness, heat stress and CPR.

For more information contact Matthew Place at 919.496.3344.