The Henderson City Council adopted the 2023-24 budget at its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, but it was not a unanimous vote. The budget was approved on a 3-2 vote, with three council members absent. Council members Jason Spriggs, Ola Thorpe-Cooper and Lamont Noel voted to approve the budget, with Garry Daeke and Mike Rainey casting a ‘no’ vote.
Council members Melissa Elliott, Sara Coffey and Marion Brodie Williams were not present at the meeting. Daeke said Monday evening to WIZS after the meeting that although he was in favor of raising revenues, he thought the 3.8 cent tax increase was too much. Rainey said that the upcoming revaluation would bring extra revenue to the city’s coffers as well.
Mayor Eddie Ellington said if he had been called to break a tie vote, he would have voted against approval of the budget.
“The city’s budget is of the utmost importance and will have major consequences for the following fiscal year,” Ellington told WIZS News. “I have expressed my concerns during the budget work sessions and I am against raising our city tax rate and placing the burden on our taxpaying citizens, especially during this time of uncertainty with a county wide property value revaluation already underway.”
The budget includes a 3.8-cent tax increase and sanitation fee increases, but as of now, no increases in water and sewer rates.
The tax rate in the new budget is .75, up from .71 per $100 valuation, and the sanitation fee will rise to $32, up from $29.
The $23.4 million budget calls for a $1,500 bonus for all full-time employees of the city in lieu of a COLA (cost of living adjustment), except members of the police department, whose salary increases were approved in March.
The council received the budget on May 8, and had several work sessions and offered at least one public hearing since then. The increases in the tax and sanitation fees is expected to add more than $500,000 to the city’s coffers.
These proposed increases would be the first since 2014, and Blackmon said there could be a slight increase in the water rate in the near future, now that financing for the Kerr Lake Regional Water System has been secured.
“Additional revenues will help sustain a stable fund balance to balance the budget and to help meet increased costs related to salaries, utilities, supplies such as chemicals, and other expenses impacted by inflation,” Blackmon told WIZS last week.
Some of the capital outlay expenditures budget highlights include IT upgrades police vehicles and equipment, fire truck upfitting and redevelopment.
Capital projects include McGregor Hall signage, Food Truck Court and redevelopment through land purchasing initiatives.
The Council also voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the request for purchase of bulletproof vests. Police Chief Marcus Barrow said the vests have a five-year life expectancy. The department has just hired four new officers, and the vests, which are custom made for each officer, will be provided. Barrow said the department is hoping to get additional funds from the N.C. League of Municipalities to help defray the cost of the vests.
The city is a step shy of designating a “social district,” which allows for public consumption of alcohol within a specifically defined area of downtown. The council approved giving the city manager authority to say “yay” or “nay” when event organizers request permission for the public to consume alcohol during particular events, upon his first receiving a recommendation on the request from a committee comprised largely of public safety officials.
Council also approved a request from Recreation and Parks to pursue a $150,000 grant from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation as it continues with construction of the new park at William and Montgomery streets, on property that once was the site of the Vance Hotel.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 06-14-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Maria Parham Health Adds Midwife For Womens’ Health Care
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Health marketing & communication coordinator
Maria Parham Health has announced that Sofronia Germany, MSN, CNM has joined its staff and will be offering midwife services to patients throughout Henderson, Vance County and the surrounding area.
“We are pleased to welcome Sofronia Germany to our Maria Parham team,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “Women’s care is an important need in our community, and Germany‘s midwifery experience will go a long way toward giving our area’s parents more choices in their families’ care. She is an important addition as Maria Parham Health works to make our community healthier.”
Germany graduated Magna Cum Laude from The University of Cincinnati in Ohio and was a student Nurse Midwife at CareConnect OBGYN in Cordele, Georgia. Germany is an advanced practice midwife, and specializes in care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period; sexual and reproductive health; gynecologic health; and family planning services, including preconception care. She is seeing patients at her offices at Maria Parham Women’s Care. For a referral or to schedule an appointment, please call 800.424.DOCS.
SportsTalk: Oxford’s Adcock Called Up to the Majors
/by Bill HarrisOxford’s Ty Adcock has been called up to pitch for the Seattle Mariners. The South Granville High School Graduate made his Major League Baseball debut Monday night in relief during the Mariners 8-1 win over the Miami Marlins. Adcock pitched two innings and gave up no hits, no runs and no walks. The 26 year old pitcher is the son of Keith Adcock and Jennifer Strickland Adcock. He played college ball at Elon.
The road to the majors has been a long one for Adcock. While at Elon, Adcock developed a back injury in his freshman year, fracturing his L5 vertebra, and shoulder issues hampered his senior season. After being drafted by the Mariners, the team kept him off the field in 2019 to rehab. In 2020 Covid took care of the season. In 2021 Adcock tore his UCL ligament in his elbow while facing his 6th batter of the season during a stint in the Mariner’s farm system. That injury resulted in Tommy John surgery and 17 months of rehab.
Adcock was called up to the Mariners after an injury to pitcher Penn Murfee.
TownTalk: VGCC Hosts Off-Campus Enrollment Event
/by Laura GabelVance-Granville Community College has scheduled an Enrollment Day
Enrollment Day is set for Thursday, June 22 in Henderson and rather than having prospective students come to the college’s Main Campus, staff from Main Campus will be set up at Perry Memorial Library to assist individuals with registering for Fall 2023 classes, according to VGCC Director of Admissions Sherry Alston.
Taking the enrollment show on the road is just one way that VGCC officials are thinking outside the box to get the information out about the various programs and services that VGCC offers.
“Knowing that transportation can sometimes be a barrier, we wanted to go where the people are,” Alston said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.
VGCC representatives will be at the library from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to provide information on the enrollment process, as well as the academic programs and student support services available – including financial aid. Advisors will be ready to help with registration for the fall semester, which begins Monday, Aug. 14.
Both 8-week and the traditional 16-week classes will be available.
Unsure about whether this Enrollment Day is for you? No matter how far along in the enrollment and registration process you are, Alston said there will be VGCC staff on hand at the library to help. Linda Fletcher with Career Services has an interest assessment for prospective students who may not have a career path in mind.
The interest assessment helps individuals learn more about their likes and dislikes, and helps to match them with possible career paths.
“We interact with individuals who may not know or understand what their next step is – they know they want to go to school, but not much more,” Alston said.
An orientation for new students will be held at 10 a.m. on June 22 as part of Enrollment Day. Orientations can be completed online on June 22 or students can arrange for an in-person orientation at a later date.
Alston said participants will get a chance to learn more about all the academic programs available at VGCC, whether that’s a certificate or degree program or a college-transfer program.
“We want to make it a productive day,” Alston said.
For more information about Enrollment Day, or to sign up for orientation, visit www.vgcc.edu/enrollment-day.
The Local Skinny! Elder Abuse Walk To Be Held Thursday In Creedmoor
/by WIZS StaffKerr Tar Council of Governments, Granville County Senior Services and Granville County Department of Social Services are hosting an Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Conference and commemorative walk Thursday, June 15. The event will be held at the Creedmoor Community Center on 108 East Wilton Street in Creedmoor, according to Kimberly Hawkins, regional ombudsman for the Agency on Aging and a key organizer of the day’s event.
The conference will include various workshops and information sessions on topics including avoiding scams, identifying and preventing financial abuse and much more, Hawkins said.
The walk is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served about 12 noon. The activities will be held at the Creedmoor Community Center on 108 East Wilton St. in Creedmoor. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and end around 1 p.m. There will be more than 30 vendors onsite from a variety of agencies that support the prevention and mistreatment of our disabled adult population.
This is a free event open to the public of all ages. The first 200 people will receive a free t-shirt, a tote bag and lunch will be provided. There will be a contest with prizes for 1st,2nd and 3rd place to the individuals that show the most “spirit” or express their efforts to support the prevention of elder abuse, Hawkins said.
Even if you can’t attend, please support this international opportunity by wearing purple and silver on this day.
Community partners are very supportive of the event, from sponsoring meals and providing t-shirts to donating space to hold the event.
“By doing all that we can to strengthen the social support structure, we can reduce social isolation, protect communities and families against elder abuse, and build a nation that lives up to our promise of justice for all,” Hawkins stated.
There will be presentations on Financial Abuse by the NC Attorney General Office and the Butner NCSECU branch, Fraud and Scams by the Creedmoor Police Department, Healthy living thru exercise by Ms. Rumsey and Elder Abuse Trivia Bingo hosted by Mr. Ed Wilson. Staff from our local Departments of social services and senior centers will be on hand to answer questions about their services, several Long Term Care facilities such as Louisburg Healthcare and Rehab, Roxboro Healthcare and Rehab, Warren Hills, and Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation centers. Medicare service vendors, NC DOI/ SHIIP and United HealthCare, Granville Medical Center, NCDHHS Services for the Blind, The Help Center, Warren County Health Department, Land Loss Prevention Project, NC PACE, VGCC, SafeKey Staffing and Respite care and more.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 06-13-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden
/by Bill HarrisListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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The Local Skinny! City Council Adopts 2023-24 Budget
/by WIZS StaffThe Henderson City Council adopted the 2023-24 budget at its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, but it was not a unanimous vote. The budget was approved on a 3-2 vote, with three council members absent. Council members Jason Spriggs, Ola Thorpe-Cooper and Lamont Noel voted to approve the budget, with Garry Daeke and Mike Rainey casting a ‘no’ vote.
Council members Melissa Elliott, Sara Coffey and Marion Brodie Williams were not present at the meeting. Daeke said Monday evening to WIZS after the meeting that although he was in favor of raising revenues, he thought the 3.8 cent tax increase was too much. Rainey said that the upcoming revaluation would bring extra revenue to the city’s coffers as well.
Mayor Eddie Ellington said if he had been called to break a tie vote, he would have voted against approval of the budget.
“The city’s budget is of the utmost importance and will have major consequences for the following fiscal year,” Ellington told WIZS News. “I have expressed my concerns during the budget work sessions and I am against raising our city tax rate and placing the burden on our taxpaying citizens, especially during this time of uncertainty with a county wide property value revaluation already underway.”
The budget includes a 3.8-cent tax increase and sanitation fee increases, but as of now, no increases in water and sewer rates.
The tax rate in the new budget is .75, up from .71 per $100 valuation, and the sanitation fee will rise to $32, up from $29.
The $23.4 million budget calls for a $1,500 bonus for all full-time employees of the city in lieu of a COLA (cost of living adjustment), except members of the police department, whose salary increases were approved in March.
The council received the budget on May 8, and had several work sessions and offered at least one public hearing since then. The increases in the tax and sanitation fees is expected to add more than $500,000 to the city’s coffers.
These proposed increases would be the first since 2014, and Blackmon said there could be a slight increase in the water rate in the near future, now that financing for the Kerr Lake Regional Water System has been secured.
“Additional revenues will help sustain a stable fund balance to balance the budget and to help meet increased costs related to salaries, utilities, supplies such as chemicals, and other expenses impacted by inflation,” Blackmon told WIZS last week.
Some of the capital outlay expenditures budget highlights include IT upgrades police vehicles and equipment, fire truck upfitting and redevelopment.
Capital projects include McGregor Hall signage, Food Truck Court and redevelopment through land purchasing initiatives.
The Council also voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the request for purchase of bulletproof vests. Police Chief Marcus Barrow said the vests have a five-year life expectancy. The department has just hired four new officers, and the vests, which are custom made for each officer, will be provided. Barrow said the department is hoping to get additional funds from the N.C. League of Municipalities to help defray the cost of the vests.
The city is a step shy of designating a “social district,” which allows for public consumption of alcohol within a specifically defined area of downtown. The council approved giving the city manager authority to say “yay” or “nay” when event organizers request permission for the public to consume alcohol during particular events, upon his first receiving a recommendation on the request from a committee comprised largely of public safety officials.
Council also approved a request from Recreation and Parks to pursue a $150,000 grant from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation as it continues with construction of the new park at William and Montgomery streets, on property that once was the site of the Vance Hotel.
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Granville Chamber Members Can Nominate Students For Quarterly Spotlight Selection
/by WIZS StaffMembers of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce have a couple more days to show support for local students and make them eligible to apply for a scholarship in June 2024 from the Chamber.
Lauren Roberson, the Chamber’s executive director, said the Education Committee has launched an initiative to recognize quarterly local students who work with Member businesses. Nominations for the first quarter are due by June 15. There are three attributes to keep in mind when considering a student to nominate:
“Nominating a Granville County student who works for your organization will not only spotlight them, but your business as well,” Roberson said. The Chamber will notify the business when one of its nominees has been selected and will gather more information about the nominee.
To be eligible, the student employees must attend one of the following schools: Granville Central High School, JF Webb High School, South Granville High School, Oxford Preparatory School, Falls Lake Academy, Granville Early College, Granville Academy, or Phoenix Academy, or be a resident of Granville County.
Every student who is nominated will have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship that will be awarded in June 2024 from the Chamber.
If you would like to submit a nomination, please email Lauren@granville-chamber.com. The first round of nominations are due by June 15.
Find the nomination form HERE.
Franklin Health Dept. Starting Programs For New Moms and Moms-To-Be
/by WIZS Staff– information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks
Franklin County Health Department is launching two new programs for new moms and moms-to-be.
“Ready, Set, BABY” and “Safe Sleep Baby” are new initiatives from Franklin County’s Health Department designed to help mothers prepare for the birth of their baby by offering free classes – taught by certified instructors — on infant safe sleep and breastfeeding basics. The programs are funded through a three-year Reducing Infant Mortality in Communities grant from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services that was awarded to Franklin County in December 2022.
Classes begin in July and will be conducted at multiple locations in Franklin County and are open to all women who are pregnant or postpartum and their support persons.
The Reducing Infant Mortality Program aims to educate and support mothers on how to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death. The program will also help mothers learn the basics and benefits of breastfeeding as well as overcoming common challenges. Participants will receive free items like Boppy pillows, Pack ‘n Plays, breast pumps and much more. The program also provides resources and referrals to other services that can help mothers and their babies.
Sign up at http://www.franklincobaby.as.me or call 919.496.2533. For more information about this grant or the health department, contact Allison Saad at 919.496.2533 or asaad@franklincountync.gov.
Visit www.franklincohealth.org to learn about all its programs and services.