-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Board of Commissioners met for its annual retreat on Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22, 2019. The session, which provided an opportunity for commissioners to hear updates on developments pertaining to the county’s five-year strategic plan, was held at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center in Oxford.

Public Health

Health Director Lisa Harrison of Granville-Vance Public Health kicked off the presentation schedule, providing an update on the condition of the building currently used by the local Health Department. Citing structural issues after 42 years of use, Harrison noted that the foundation is sinking in one corner of the facility, causing walls to crack and ceilings to be compromised. A request was made to consider a relocation from 101 Hunt Drive. Several sites are being evaluated and will be brought back to the Board for consideration.

Planning/Inspections and Transportation

Planning Director Barry Baker and Development Services Director Scott Phillips provided information relating to current and future planning activities. Baker noted in his presentation that total zoning permits had seen a steady increase since 2014, with most permits for single-family dwellings in 2018 being issued for the Brassfield Township. Almost 400 new lots – to be located in planned subdivisions in Butner and Creedmoor  – were approved in 2018 and more are expected to be approved in 2019, it was reported. As the East End Connector nears completion – which will connect I-40 to the Raleigh-Durham Airport – this growth is expected to continue.

Transportation Planner Justin Jorgensen reported that projects pertaining to the NC 56 and NC 50 Corridors are also planned in the summer of 2019 and in 2020, and that sidewalk and greenway projects are underway in all municipalities.

Commercial construction has also risen drastically since 2014, from more than $14 million in value in 2014 to an approximately $43 million value in 2018.

Capital Improvement Projects

Exterior painting of the Granville County Courthouse has been completed, with work on the windows, cornice, soffit, bell tower and foundation stucco coming in at less than projected cost. Duct cleaning and mold abatement were also completed for the HVAC system and equipment, Phillips reported.

Site work has begun for the new Law Enforcement Center and Animal Shelter, to be located at 525 New Commerce Drive in Oxford. Stormwater infrastructure is now 60 percent complete, according to Phillips, with an estimated completion date of August 2019 for this phase of the project. Water and sewer taps have been completed and piping has been installed to the project site, with a plumbing and electrical rough-in scheduled for April. Grading continues for the new Animal Shelter. Due to weather and soil conditions, work had been temporarily delayed, but the project is still expected to be completed in April 2020. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for March 12, 2019, at 2 p.m.

Exterior renovation on the building located behind the Courthouse, 122 Williamsboro Street, was also discussed. In 2013, the county retained professional engineers to evaluate the roof and exterior wall system. Basic needs identified in this report included removal of the existing exterior coating – as well as the deteriorated mortar – and replacing existing window and door sealants before exterior paint could be applied. Repairs were also recommended for the exterior fire escape stairs. Funding for this restoration was projected to be around $375,000. With a plan to move the Planning/Inspections office to the current Sheriff’s Office after the new Law Enforcement Center is completed –  and to relocate Child Support Services –  other options will also be considered for this building.

Work at the scale house located at the Butner Convenience Site was also completed in 2018 as a new 560 square foot building was added. Building and site improvements were also recently completed on this site, Phillips noted. Work at the Granville County Landfill is also substantially complete, with a C&D closure certification being submitted to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality for review and acceptance.

Recreation

An update on the Phase III expansion of the Granville Athletic Park (GAP) and the grant funding tied to that project was discussed by Management Analyst Charla Duncan. Granville County had secured a National Parks Service Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for $250,000, which was added to the $500,000 sum already set aside towards this project. The expansion will encompass approximately 12 additional acres for planned use and for future expansion. Added to the park will be six tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, an additional picnic shelter and restrooms, a paved walking trail, an all-inclusive playground area, three horseshoes pits, nine additional disc golf targets, open green space and parking.

The design schematic has now been completed, Phillips added. Once the proposed site plan is approved, construction documents and permit applications are expected to be completed by May 2019 with construction anticipated to begin in August of this year.

A partnership with the Granville County United Way has resulted in the 2018 addition of outdoor classroom space, little free libraries, a sound garden, a butterfly garden and other amenities to the already existing acreage.

“Accessibility and safety are our goals for this project,” Duncan remarked.

The county has plans to pursue additional grant funding from the United States Tennis Association.