Tag Archive for: #granvillecountyboardofcommissioners

Granville Youth Leadership Council Gives Teens A Voice In Decision-Making

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Youth Leadership Council provides high school students a voice in local government’s decision-making processes while promoting civic engagement and responsibility.

The Council is a platform that empowers young minds to actively participate in decision-making processes, fostering a sense of responsibility and commitment to community development, according to a press statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. Members are representatives of youth civic engagement, and also can bring about change by bringing new ideas and opportunities to the community.

The purpose of the council is to make sure youth in the community have a voice, but more importantly, that  their voices are heard, recognized and valued. Through participation in the council, the youth will gain leadership skills  through their service on selected county boards, outreach, initiatives and youth-led projects.

This year’s new members to the council are:

  • Ana Black, District 4;
  • Josef Black, District 4;
  • Claire Glavin, District 7;
  • Jacquelin  Jose, District 4;
  • Kaylee Overby, District 5;
  • Dylan Roseman, District 5;
  • Nathanael Royster, District 7

 

The new class joins the following members already serving on the council:

  • Jermaine Puryear, Jr., Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 
  • Elaina Eley, Vice Chair, Board Liaison, District 6
  • Amber Necessary, Secretary, Board Liaison, District 6 
  • Jaden Easow, Treasurer, Board Liaison, District 6 
  • Iesha Landis, Social Events Chair, Board Liaison, District 6 
  • Cassie Peele, Media and Public Relations Chair, Board Liaison, District 2 
  • Vashti Pearson, Social Media/Content Creator, Board Liaison, District 5 
  • Asia Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 
  • Joydan Johnson, Board Liaison, District 6 

The council had a strategic planning session retreat in November and worked to plan future initiatives, including launching a Teen Clothing Closet, sponsoring a Teen Night and developing a mental health proposal for teens.

Learn more about the Council and their activities, visit https://granvilleylc.weebly.com/.

Granville Committees, Advisory Board Openings

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The Granville County Board of Commissioners is looking to fill a number of vacancies on various citizen advisory boards and committees.

Most positions will be filled by citizens who reside in the district listed, but final appointment decisions are at the discretion of the board of commissioners. Additionally, some positions must be filled by residents that reside within the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction of a municipality, which is roughly a one-mile radius outside of the municipal limits. These appointees serve as county representatives on those municipal advisory boards.

The application is available here: www.granvillecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Boards-and-Commissions-Application.pdf

Return completed to Debra Weary, clerk to the Board of Commissioners, by email at debra.weary@granvillecounty.org, or deliver in person to the county administration office at 104 Belle St., Oxford. Applications may be mailed to P.O. Box 906  Oxford, NC 27565 to the attention of Debra Weary.

To verify your district, please visit the N.C. State Board of Elections website: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/

Look for the district number beside “County Commissioner” under “your jurisdictions.” If you need additional information, contact the Granville County Addressing and GIS Mapping coordinator at 919.692.1278.

Detailed information about each committee can be found on the Granville County website:  https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/other-boards-commissions/.

Vacant seats are available for the following boards and committees:

  • Adult Home Care Community Advisory Committee (two at-Large seats). New members must complete a 36-hour training course completed in three phases.
  • Butner Board of Adjustment (ETJ Alternate, should reside in District 7). The Butner Board of Adjustment meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m.
  • Butner Planning Board (ETJ, should reside in District 7). The Butner Planning Board meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m.
  • Granville County Planning Board (District 7). The Planning Board meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. • Human Relations Commission (Districts 6 and 7). The Human Relations Commission meets monthly on Mondays at 7 p.m.
  • Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (District 7). The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council meets monthly on Fridays at 10 a.m.
  • Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee (At-Large). New members must complete a 36-hour training course completed in three phases.
  • Oxford Planning Board (ETJ – two seats). The Oxford Planning Board meets monthly on Mondays at 5:30 p.m.
  • Social Services (one appointed by Granville County and one appointed by the NC Social Services Commission). The Board of Social Services meets monthly on Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

Granville Poll Workers Get Pay Boost

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-Courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Poll workers in Granville County will receive a pay increase beginning with the 2023 municipal elections on Nov. 7. The Granville County Board of Commissioners approved a recommendation from the Granville County Board of Elections to increase the pay rate by about 25 percent, bringing pay to $11.50/hour for poll workers and $13/hour for poll workers in charge, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

The commissioners also approved overtime pay for Poll Workers who staff the One-Stop Early Voting locations in Granville County.

“Poll workers are critical to ensuring that Election Day and One-Stop early voting runs smoothly in Granville County,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Russ May. “We listened to the feedback from the Board of Elections and their staff and understand the challenges they face in recruiting poll workers each election cycle. Hopefully, this pay increase for poll workers will help ease the burden and show our appreciation for the valuable service these individuals provide.”

Board of Elections Chair James A. Wall, Sr. thanked commissioners for their consideration in this matter. “In my view, the (board’s) decision to increase the pay for poll workers is a recognition of their dedication and hard work and an acknowledgement that poll workers are essential to the Granville County Board of Elections mission,” Wall said.

The 2023 municipal election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7. For more information about becoming a poll  worker, contact the Board of Elections at 919.693.2515.

Learn more about upcoming elections in Granville County at  https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/board-of-elections/.

 

 

New Granville Company Makes Game-Changer Construction Materials That Saves Trees

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— Information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

A facility in Granville County that had been used to make cigarettes has new life making highly advanced building materials out of fast-growing perennial grass. That’s right: Grass.

Plantd Materials officially opened its new headquarters and production facility last week in the Knotts Grove Road building last occupied by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

City and county leaders, as well as the local Chamber of Commerce were on hand Friday, May 6, to officially welcome the new business.

Plantd is an advanced production technologies company that manufactures carbon-negative building materials using natural materials, like its proprietary perennial grass.

“In Granville County, we see an unparalleled opportunity to reshape the construction industry, build a credible climate change solution, and bridge this rural region into the 21st-century economy,” said Josh Dorfman, co-founder and CEO of Plantd. “Integrating into the economic and social fabric of this area is the foundation we will build upon to drive positive impact at the local, national, and global levels.”

“We couldn’t be happier that Plantd has decided to literally Grow with Granville,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Tim Karan. “A company like Plantd is such a great fit for Granville, melding our agricultural roots with a new forward-thinking production process for building materials is the perfect combination of tradition and innovation. We are thrilled that Plantd has decided to invest in Oxford and Granville County so soon after Santa Fe closed their doors.”

“When the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco decided to close its Oxford facility in 2022, Granville lost one of its anchor economic development engines,” said Granville County Economic Development Director Harry Mills. “Santa Fe was so important to Granville in providing contracts and employment for many local farmers and workers.  Plantd will provide a new opportunity for local farmers who will grow Plantd’s proprietary perennial grass, and this company will create many jobs to boost the local economy as they continue to grow. They have already made a concerted effort to hire local workers and we look forward to helping them in any way we can for years to come.”

Learn more at https://www.plantdmaterials.com.

Granville Plans May 15 Public Hearing To Review Proposed 2023-24 Budget

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The Granville County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing on May 15 to discuss the proposed 2023-24 budget.

County Manager Drew Cummings presented his first budget during the commissioners’ May 1 meeting, which calls for an extra $1 million to Granville County Public Schools, cost of living adjustments for county employees, all with no increase in the county tax rate.

A vote on the final budget draft is planned for June 5, according to information from Granville Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

Highlights of the recommended budget for the upcoming fiscal year include:

  • No increase to the current Granville County tax rate (property tax rate remains $0.84 per $100 valuation and Fire Tax District remains $0.06 per $100 valuation).
  • Major market adjustments (up to 8%) and paid meal breaks (equivalent to a 4.35% increase) for public safety employee salaries. Maintain current merit pay program (up to 4%).
  • Up to 4% cost of living adjustments for all other county employees and maintain current merit pay program (up to 4 percent).
  • Lowering employee health insurance premiums and enhancing retirement benefits.
  • Funding increase to Granville County Public Schools current expense of nearly $1 million. An increase of 4.7 percent on a per-pupil basis.
  • Continues significant recent increases to EMS funding.
  • Maintains strong support of Vance-Granville Community College funding.
  • A net increase of seven full-time positions and four new part-time positions in Administration, Finance, Tax Administration, Board of Elections, Senior Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Social Services (Social Services positions are all partially funded by the State of NC).
  • Increased funding to Kerr Area Transportation Authority.
  • Fleet management transition to leased vehicles.

To view the County Manager’s Budget presentation, visit the Granville County YouTube page: https://youtu.be/VWcL5Rn9yD0

A PowerPoint presentation of budget highlights can be viewed on the Granville County website at this link  (https://www.granvillecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Drew-Rec-Budget-Powerpoint-5-1-23- FINAL.pdf) and the full recommended budget document can be found here

(https://www.granvillecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FY23-24-Recommended Budget_compressed.pdf)

Those wishing to examine a hard copy of the recommended budget document can do so during business hours  at the Granville County Administration Office (104 Belle Street, Oxford) or at the Richard H. Thornton Library  (211 Main Street, Oxford).

Granville Opioid Advisory Committee Plans Community Meetings

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-information courtesy of Granville Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Opioid Advisory Committee will host two public meetings to educate and engage with the community on strategies to fight the opioid epidemic locally, including how best to spend the $3.8 million that the county is scheduled to receive as part of the national opioid settlement.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, Mar. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center, located at 4185 U.S. Hwy 15 South, Oxford and the second meeting is set for Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Willow Oak Room of the Creedmoor Community Center, 116 Douglas Drive, Creedmoor.

The public will have the opportunity at both meetings to express their opinions on how the county should allocate funding to fight the opioid epidemic.  The county will get the $3.8 million over the course of the next 16 years as a result of the litigation against large manufacturers and distributors of opioids who contributed to the U.S. opioid crisis raging in the United States. The funding will  help state, county and municipal governments grow or implement proven strategies that will help prevent, treat and foster recovery from opioid addiction, according to a press release from Granville Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

In conjunction with these public meetings, the Opioid Advisory Committee has issued a short survey designed to help the committee form final funding recommendations that will be presented for approval by the Granville County Board of Commissioners. Participate in the survey by following this link: www.granvillecounty.org/opioidsurvey.

“Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey and join us on March 8 and May 4 to help us fight the opioid epidemic here in Granville County,” said committee Chair Jimmy Gooch. “As a county government, we have an obligation to utilize these funds to help as many of our residents as possible while also being careful  stewards of the dollars we receive. Gaining a better understanding of how our community would like the county to prioritize our spending is a critical step to improving how the opioid crisis is addressed in Granville County,” Gooch explained.

The Opioid Advisory Committee was established in 2018 by the Granville County Board of Commissioners to engage in shared leadership and collective action to advance a comprehensive response to opioid and other drug use. The committee includes representatives and stakeholders from within Granville County government as well as the Granville-Vance Public Health Department, Granville Health System, Vaya Health, law enforcement, local pharmacy owners, behavioral health professionals, affected families and other concerned citizens.

For more information about the National Opioid Settlements, visit the “More Powerful NC” website:  https://www.morepowerfulnc.org/opioid-settlements/nc-memorandum-of-agreement/.

 

 

Youth Leadership Council Ensures Young People’s Voices Are Heard

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Sixteen Granville County high school students have been selected to serve on the Youth Leadership Council for 2022-23.

The council works with the Granville County Board of Commissioners and the local cooperative extension service to ensure that youth are represented as county leaders make decisions, according to Charissa Puryear, county extension director.

“The purpose of this council is to ensure that youth in the community have a voice, but most importantly, that their voices are heard, recognized and valued, “ Puryear said in a press release. The youth council members will learn leadership skills through service on selected county board, outreach activities, youth-led projects and other initiatives.

The group meets on the second Saturday of the month.

The new term began with a planning retreat and orientation in November at Camp Oak Hill, during which time they learned more about the council’s role in general and their roles as members.

They crafted a mission statement for the council, which reads: “The mission of the Granville County Youth Leadership Council is to provide representation, opportunities and direct connections for Granville County youth by support and amplifying youth voices and focusing on causes that affect our peers and us through education, resources, activities, community outreach, and partnerships.”

To learn more, contact the cooperative extension office at 919.603.1350 or email granvilleylc@gmail.com.

Following is a list of the new council members, the districts they represent and their roles on the council:

Jermaine Puryear, Jr., Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 

Elaina Eley, Vice Chair, Board Liaison, District 6 

Carissa Jackson-Rodriguez, Secretary, Board Liaison, District 3 

Jaden Easow, Treasurer, Board Liaison, District 6 

Cassie Peele, Media and Public Relations Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 

Vashti Pearson, Social Media/Content Creator, Board Liaison, District 5 

Chloe Hernandez, Social Event Chair, Board Liaison, District 1 

Asia Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 

Morocco Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 

Annie Drake, Board Liaison, District 2 

Elijah Griffin, Board Liaison, District 1 

Joydan Johnson, Board Liaison, District 6 

Iesha Landis, Board Liaison, District 6 

Amber Necessary, Board Liaison, District 6 

Cassie Peele, Board Liaison, District 3 

Brodie Winborne, Board Liaison, District 1

Drew Cummings Sworn In As Granville’s New County Manager

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The Granville County board of commissioners officially welcomed new county manager Drew Cummings this week, following a swearing-in ceremony and oath of office at the Monday board meeting.

Chairman Tony Cozart administered the oath of office, and Cummings had wife Amy and children at his side. Cummings had spent the past 14 years as Durham’s assistant county manager and chief of staff. Before that, he held several positions in municipal government and had been a middle school teacher for seven years before beginning a career in local government.

Doug Logan had served as interim manager since July 29, following the resignation of Michael Felts.

During his tenure in Durham County, Cummings focused on a wide range of issues including economic development, education, transportation, affordable housing and homelessness. He has been a member of the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) as well as the North Carolina City and County Managers Association since 2004. Cummings achieved his ICMA Credentialed Manager status in 2021 and also is a graduate of the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy, participating in the 2015 cohort.

He is a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in government. He got a master’s degree in public policy from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. Cummings is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. He and his wife, Amy, have three school-aged children (Webb, Isa, and Doran) and in his spare time Cummings enjoys exercise, woodwork, and singing in his church choir.

Granville County Manager Leaving; Accepting State-Level Job

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Granville County Manager Michael Felts announced his resignation at Monday’s board of commissioners meeting and is set to take a position with the N.C. Association of County Commissioners Risk Management Pools.

Felts was appointed county manager in July 2013 after serving 11 years as the county’s finance director. His last day with the county is set for July 31, 2022, according to information from Terry Hobgood, county public information officer.

During his tenure as manager, Felts spearheaded the county’s first long-range strategic plan and established a capital improvement program for county facilities to deal with current and expected growth to maintain a high level of service to county residents.

Board Chair Tony Cozart called Felts’ departure “a tremendous loss” for the county.

“Michael Felts has done so much for Granville County as a leader and dedicated public servant,” Cozart said in the press statement. “He has guided our county staff with a steady hand and worked  tirelessly to implement policies from this board in a diligent and professional manner.

His ability to identify solutions, develop a strong team, and maintain a visionary focus are truly exemplary.”

The board of commissioners will determine the appropriate process to search for the next county manager and will provide details as they become available.

Felts stated that it was a privilege to serve the citizens of Granville County in his roles as manager and finance director and said he was proud of the work he and the team had accomplished.

“It has been an honor to serve this community and I am confident that Granville County is well-positioned for the years ahead, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our staff and the steady and thoughtful leadership of our board of commissioners,” Felts said.

Granville County Logo

Granville School Board, Commissioners To Meet Monday, Nov. 8 To Discuss Draft Voting District Maps

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The Granville County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners will hold a special joint session next week to discuss – as required by law – the revision of voting districts.

The meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, 4815 US-15, Oxford, NC 27565.

The meeting, which will include an opportunity for public input, will be recorded and the video will be made available on the GCPS website, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent of curriculum & instruction and student services and public information officer.

Visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Granville-County-Plan-5.pdf to view a draft of the district revisions. Maps are available for in-person viewing at the Richard H. Thornton Library, 210 Main Street, Oxford, the South Branch Library, 1550 South Campus Dr., Creedmoor and at the Granville County administration building, 141 Williamsboro St., Oxford.

Persons who wish to speak at the meeting must sign up prior to the start of the meeting in the Expo Center lobby.  Each speaker may address the boards for up to three minutes. Comments on topics other than revision of county voting districts will not be permitted at this meeting.