Tag Archive for: #granvillecountymanager

Granville Commissioners To Hold Public Hearing On Budget May 20

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The Granville County Board of Commissioners received a budget proposal – more than $87.2 million – from County Manager Drew Cummings earlier this month.

The new property tax rate is 63 cents per $100 property value, which is 10 cents over the revenue-neutral rate, but 20 cents lower than the previous tax rate.

Commissioners will have a public hearing before its meeting on Monday, May 20 to hear from residents about the contents and particular line items contained in the 338-page budget document.

The full budget document is available on the Granville County website at: https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/finance-department/comprehensive-annual-financial-reports-budget-documents/

A copy of the proposed budget also is available for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk to the Board and at the Richard H. Thornton Library and other library branches.

A few highlights included in the county manager’s summary:

  • Proposed budget doesn’t take any funds from fund balance
  • Includes a third year of funding from the newly formed Fire Protection & Rescue Service Tax District and maintains a tax rate of .06 per $100
  • The $8,689,224,747 tax base is projected to generate $54,309,641, assuming a 98.99 percent collection rate.

The commissioners’ meeting and the public hearing will take place in the auditorium of the Granville Convention and Expo Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South in Oxford.

Granville County Manager Plans Listening Sessions To Hear From Residents

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–information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Granville County Manager Drew Cummings is planning a series of listening sessions across the county during the fall to share information about what’s going on and to give residents a chance to ask questions and provide feedback.

Cummings will hold a session in each district in the county, beginning Sept. 14 and continuing through mid-November.

The listening sessions will provide the opportunity for members of the public to learn more about county government, the role of the county manager, as well as give feedback about county operations in a less formal atmosphere. Cummings will be joined by members of the Granville County Board of Commissioners and other county staff.

“We have had an eventful year since I began as county manager and I thought it was time to get out in the community and make sure that I’m getting face-to-face time with our residents,” Cummings said in a press statement. “I have spent time in all corners of Granville during my tenure as county manager, but I’m really looking forward to getting to know some of these communities better and to having the time to sit down and talk with our residents. I think it’s critical to my performance that each citizen can inform me about the issues that are truly important to them.”

The listening sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the dates and locations listed below:

  • Thursday, Sept. 14 at Stem Ruritan Club – 3595 Old NC 75, Stem
  • Thursday, Oct. 5 at Granville County Senior Center – 107 Lanier St., Oxford
  • Thursday, Oct. 12 at Tar River Elementary – 2642 Philo White Rd., Franklinton
  • Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Camp Oak Hill, 1528 Oak Hill Rd., Oxford
  • Thursday, Oct. 26 at Creedmoor Community Center – 116 Douglas Dr., Creedmoor
  • Monday, Oct. 30 at Butner Town Hall – 415 Central Ave., Butner
  • Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Stovall Library – 300 Main St., Stovall

For more information, contact the Granville County Administration Office at 919.693.5240.

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 Announces Drew Cummings As New County Manager

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-information courtesy of Granville Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Board of Commissioners has selected Drew Cummings as the new county manager. Cummings has been an assistant county manager and chief of staff in Durham County for 14 years. He will begin his new job on Oct. 17.

“I am so excited to come to Granville County and look forward to working with the commissioners, staff, and the community to continue building on the strong groundwork that has already been laid,” Cummings said.

Cummings is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. He and his wife, Amy, have three school-aged children and in his spare time Cummings enjoys exercise, woodwork, and singing in his church choir.

“The Granville County Board of Commissioners is unanimous in its selection of Drew Cummings,” said Tony Cozart, board chair. “His educational level and extensive experience make Mr. Cummings the desired candidate to serve as our next county manager.”

Before his time in Durham County, Cummings, worked in other areas of municipal government and was a middle school teacher for seven years before entering work in local government, according to a press statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood..

While 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 is also a 2015 graduate of the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy. He is a graduate of Harvard University, holding a BA in Government and received his Master’s in Public Policy from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy.

Cummings comes to us with outstanding references, is very well trained in county administration, and has shown throughout his career that he is a person who has committed himself to getting results. His longevity with Durham County shows that he is willing to ingrain himself in a community and weather a few storms while moving towards a long-range vision of success. As a longtime Durham resident, Mr. Cummings is already familiar with this region and knows the needs and opportunities for success that we have in Granville,” Cozart said.

“I look forward to getting to know the community and staff much better in the coming months as we re-commit ourselves to the goals of responsive, innovative, efficient government and seek to seize the positive out of all the change we have seen over the past few years. It is a true honor.”

Granville Welcomes New Interim Manager, Bids Farewell To Felts

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Granville County welcomes Doug Logan as interim county manager during a swearing-in ceremony Friday afternoon, just moments before a reception honoring outgoing manager Mike Felts begins.

Logan returns to county service, having retired in 2020 from the position of emergency services director and fire marshal, a job he had held since 1994.

Felts was appointed county manager in July 2013. He tendered his resignation to the board of county commissioners in May 2022 after accepting a position with the N.C. Association of County Commissioners Risk Management Pools.

Logan will be sworn in at 2:45 p.m. and the reception for Felts is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Both events will take place at the Granville Expo Center, 4185 Hwy. 15 South.

Retired EMS Director Doug Logan Named Interim Granville Manager

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The Granville County board of commissioners have appointed Doug Logan as interim county manager to take the reins until a new manager can be hired.

Logan is a Granville County native and retired in 2020 from his role as the county’s emergency services director and fire marshal. He will take over from Michael Felts, who leaves at the end of July to take a job with the N.C. Association of County Commissioners Risk Management Pools.

According to a press statement from Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood, Logan will begin work on July 11 to begin the transition process. He will remain in the manager position until a permanent manager is appointed by the board.

“I’m honored that the board of commissioners placed their trust in me to serve as interim county manager,” Logan said in a prepared statement. “This is my home, and I spent the entirety of my professional life serving the citizens of this county. I can’t wait to get started and help ensure that our residents continue to enjoy the quality of service they have come to expect across all county departments.”

Board Chair Tony Cozart said Logan’s appointment will allow the county time to complete the search process for the next manager. “Doug has proven throughout his career that he is a steady and accomplished leader. We are confident that he is the right person to guide our staff in the coming months,” Cozart said. “We are thrilled that Doug was willing to accept this challenge and we know that he is prepared to step up and continue to serve his fellow Granville County citizens.”

Logan retired in January 2020 after a distinguished career in public service. He began his career with the county with the public school system and then went on to be an emergency medical technician (EMT) with Granville EMS and a firefighter with Granville Rural Fire Department. In July 1994, he became emergency services director and remained there until his retirement.

Following news in May that Felts was leaving, the commissioners engaged the services of Developmental Associates, Inc. to lead the recruitment process for the next county manager. “Recognizing that it would not be possible for this process to conclude before Felts’ last day of employment, the board identified Doug Logan as someone who could shepherd Granville County through this transition,” the statement read.

Since his retirement, Logan has served as an emergency management planner with On Target Preparedness, LLC.