In Thursday’s “State of the County” address sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Henderson Rotary Club, county officials laid out a list of initiatives and programs, all of which bode well for Vance County, both in the immediate future and in the long-term.
County Manager Jordan McMillen painted a positive picture in remarks to the group of about 100 business and corporate leaders, elected officials and other key players.
“Vance County is alive and thriving,” McMillen said. “That’s not to say that we don’t have our challenges…but today’s going to be positive.”
Vance County Board of Commissioners Chairman Leo Kelly also spoke to the group assembled at the business luncheon held at Henderson Country Club.
Kelly highlighted four projects within the county that have helped to propel the county forward:
- The $4.5 million renovation of the Eaton Johnson campus, which now houses several different agencies, from DSS and the Senior Center to GRRO and the city-county youth services
- The second shell building in the industrial park
- Sale of the former DSS building to the Henderson Family YMCA
- Purchase of 2.5 acres beside the EMS building to prepare for construction of a new facility
“We’re real proud of what happened to that building,” Kelly said of the renovation of the former middle school campus. “The building is getting fantastic use.”
Finding ways to use existing buildings is one way the county has maximized its resources, but the shell building concept is one that has proven itself as well.
When Mako Medical was looking for a location in 2017, McMillen said, company leaders looked here “because we had a building.”
Public-private partnerships like the shell buildings are going to continue to play a vital role in moving the local economy forward, McMillen noted, and he encouraged the audience to continue to invest in the future of the county and their community.
The total value of all the property in Vance County comes to just shy of $3 billion, and that property generates about $26 million in tax revenue, he said. “That funds everything we do.”
More than three-quarters of the county’s total $55 million budget goes to three sectors: public safety, education and human services.
Other county services highlighted include:
- Tax collection rates are at an all-time high, more than 97 percent
- Senior Center provides more than 20,000 meals and in-home assistance to older citizens
- Animal Services has a new facility and boasts the lowest euthanasia rate in the area
- 911 answers an average of 236 calls a day
- Veterans service staff helped more than 1,200 veterans and their dependents access $17 million in benefits
- The kitchen at the county detention center provides meals for inmates, but also prepares meals for the Senior Center and for Meals on Wheels
- Parks and rec programs – which gets 45 percent of its funding from the county – served 8,500 youth in its various programs and activities
- Another 6,500 residents participated in Cooperative Extension activities and programs
- Smart Start, the Boys & Girls Club, Gang Free, Inc. and the local children’s home all are supported by county funding.
Residential home construction is on the rise, and the county is getting more tourism dollars – and a record occupancy tax from hotels and motels. There’s plenty of room for more, McMillen said.
“We’re not there yet, but I think the state of Vance County is strong,” McMillen said.
To view the presentation, visit https://www.vancecounty.org/and click on the link titled State of the County under the heading Latest News.
The Local Skinny! County Commissioners Meeting Review
/by WIZS StaffVance County Commissioners have approved bumping up the pay for some county employees whose jobs require permanent night shifts, which could put more than $3,800 in the paychecks of 911 dispatchers and detention officers.
County Manager Jordan McMillen said the commissioners approved the $20 extra per night shift worked at the Nov. 7 meeting. The pay increase will begin with the Nov. 13 pay period, McMillen said.
This could mean an additional $30,700 paid to 911 employees and another $50,400 for detention staff, if night shifts are fully staffed.
McMillen said that “shift differential pay” is common in private industry and is endorsed by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.
In other matters before the commissioners:
Hauling will complete the project, which will be paid with funds from the capital fund totalling $44,395. Originally, only a portion of the site was going to be paved – at a cost of just more than $17,000, McMillen said. But it was decided to pave the whole site in “an effort to improve the citizen experience” at county-owned sites. The county spends money each year to add gravel at the sites, but decided that pavement was a better long-term investment which would save on future maintenance costs.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 11-14-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Forest Service Offers Veterans’ Discount On Tree Seedling Purchase In November
/by WIZS StaffTo show its appreciation for service to their country, the N.C. Forest Service is offering a 25 percent discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel during the month of November.
“North Carolina is home to many veterans and current military members, many of whom are forestland owners,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a press statement.
November is also National Veterans and Military Families Month, a time to celebrate both those who have served in the military as well as their families, for their contributions and sacrifices to the country.
“This discount is a token of appreciation as we honor them this Veteran’s Day and it also helps ensure the sustainability of forestland in the state.”
To qualify for the discount, proof of service is required. A valid military ID, Department of Defense Form 214/215 or National Guard Bureau Form 22/22A is acceptable. Standard shipping rates still apply. Tree seedlings may be ordered by calling 1-888-NCTREES or by visiting www.buynctrees.com.
The discount applies to the first $500 of all new orders, up to a $125 discount.
The Local Skinny! Granville County is Ready for the Holidays!
/by WIZS StaffGranville County is chock full of events happening in November, and Angela Allen shared some of what’s going on with John C. Rose on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
Learn more about these events and more at www.visitgranvillenc.com
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TownTalk: Aycock School Presents Festival Of Lights
/by Bill HarrisThe staff at Aycock Elementary is gearing up for the 3rd annual Festival of Lights, when the campus will be transformed into a glittery, shiny bright holiday drive-through wonderland.
Aycock Principal Kristen H. Boyd said teachers and staff are already planning for the two-night event, which will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec 7. and Thursday, Dec. 8.
“We’re getting really excited about it,” said Kristen H. Boyd, Aycock principal. “It’s a lot of work but it’s a really fun time,” Boyd said on Thursday’s TownTalk with John C. Rose. She and Aarika Sandlin discussed the upcoming event, which is free to the public. Donations will be gratefully accepted, however, and Boyd said all proceeds go into the festival of light fund, as well as to help support various clubs for the students.
Boyd said some of the school’s club include a garden club, an Imagineering club, as well as clubs for art and engineering.
“The money goes back to the children,” she explained.
Some display favorites are back – like Who-ville and Polar Express, but a new display called Santa’s Workshop will make its debut in this year’s event.
Vehicles will enter via the Aycock Rec Center, Sandlin noted, adding that there’s a specific traffic pattern to follow that will weave onlookers through the various light displays.
Boyd said turnout was great the past two years, and she hopes this year’s festival of lights will be bigger and better attended than ever.
The festival of lights is a way to give back to families in the community, and it’s also a time to give folks a chance to experience the result of teachers’ collaboration.
“It’s a lot of work,” Boyd reiterated. “We all just pull together and make it happen.”
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Vance “State Of The County” Focuses On Positives In Service, Economy And Business
/by Laura GabelIn Thursday’s “State of the County” address sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Henderson Rotary Club, county officials laid out a list of initiatives and programs, all of which bode well for Vance County, both in the immediate future and in the long-term.
County Manager Jordan McMillen painted a positive picture in remarks to the group of about 100 business and corporate leaders, elected officials and other key players.
“Vance County is alive and thriving,” McMillen said. “That’s not to say that we don’t have our challenges…but today’s going to be positive.”
Vance County Board of Commissioners Chairman Leo Kelly also spoke to the group assembled at the business luncheon held at Henderson Country Club.
Kelly highlighted four projects within the county that have helped to propel the county forward:
“We’re real proud of what happened to that building,” Kelly said of the renovation of the former middle school campus. “The building is getting fantastic use.”
Finding ways to use existing buildings is one way the county has maximized its resources, but the shell building concept is one that has proven itself as well.
When Mako Medical was looking for a location in 2017, McMillen said, company leaders looked here “because we had a building.”
Public-private partnerships like the shell buildings are going to continue to play a vital role in moving the local economy forward, McMillen noted, and he encouraged the audience to continue to invest in the future of the county and their community.
The total value of all the property in Vance County comes to just shy of $3 billion, and that property generates about $26 million in tax revenue, he said. “That funds everything we do.”
More than three-quarters of the county’s total $55 million budget goes to three sectors: public safety, education and human services.
Other county services highlighted include:
Residential home construction is on the rise, and the county is getting more tourism dollars – and a record occupancy tax from hotels and motels. There’s plenty of room for more, McMillen said.
“We’re not there yet, but I think the state of Vance County is strong,” McMillen said.
To view the presentation, visit https://www.vancecounty.org/and click on the link titled State of the County under the heading Latest News.
TownTalk: Keeping Pets Safe Over The Holidays
/by Laura GabelThe advice could be coming from your family doctor about how to manage the upcoming holiday season: Limit treats, avoid fatty foods, get regular exercise and stay calm when there’s a houseful of company.
Humans would do well to follow these suggestions, but this advice actually comes from Bridget Waters, DVM. She’s talking about caring for our dogs and cats as we prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Our pets may get anxious when guests arrive for a holiday gathering, Waters said in a TownTalk conversation Thursday with John C. Rose. Waters operates Dabney Drive Animal Hospital in Henderson.
There are some chews that have natural calming agents – like the tryptophan in turkeys that makes us all want to nap after our Thanksgiving meal, she said. Some pets, however, get so anxious they may need a prescription medication.
And although humans may feel compelled to feed pets foods from the table, Waters said it’s not always a good idea.
“Don’t feed them the foods we eat over the holidays,” she said, because some of them may be too rich or too high in fat content. It’s not a great idea for humans to over-indulge, and that holds true for our pets as well.
She suggested that pet owners have pet-friendly treats on hand for those who can’t resist slipping that furry friend an extra morsel. In addition to grapes and raisins – both no-no’s for dogs, Waters listed as “not dog-friendly” onions, garlic, currants and chocolate,
As cold weather sets in, it’s important to remember to keep things like anti-freeze and ice melt granules out of the way, too. While sprinkling ice melt on driveways and sidewalks can help human navigation, when a dog or cat walks on it, it may stay on their paws and cause a problem.
It’s a good idea to wipe the animal’s paws when they come back inside. “Clear the paw pads of anything they might pick up outside,” she said.
Don’t let your pets be couch – or carpet – potatoes in the wintertime, which could bring on weight gain.
“Get them out for a little 5- or 10-minute walk instead of letting them lie around,” she said.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 11-10-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Sharing, Pt. 4
/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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TownTalk: Election Recap
/by Bill HarrisA look back at yesterday’s election results.
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