Tag Archive for: #hendersoncitymanager

NCDOT

Henderson Gets $463K in Powell Bill Funds From NCDOT

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Henderson is the big winner among area municipalities in the recent $154.8 million Powell Bill allotment announced by the N.C. Department of Transportation for street improvements.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS Wednesday that he and the City Council will be working to help prioritize where and how to use the $463,634.73 allotment, about half of which has been distributed.  The remaining amount to be paid by Jan. 1, 2023, according to a press statement from NCDOT.

Officially called the State Street Aid to Municipalities, the program also is known as Powell Bill funds. This year, a total of 508 municipalities statewide benefitted from the allocation.

The Powell Bill funds are used primarily to resurface municipal streets but also may be used to maintain, repair, construct, or widen streets, bridges, and drainage areas. Municipalities can also use Powell Bill funds to plan, construct and maintain bike paths, greenways or sidewalks.

The amount each municipality receives is based on a formula established by state law, with 75 percent of the funds based on population and 25 percent based on the number of municipality-maintained street miles.  The annual population figures are provided by the Office of State Budget and Management.

“Powell Bill funding allows us to complete a lot of transportation projects important to North Carolina communities from Murphy to Manteo,” said State Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette.  “Municipalities can use these funds on projects that make our state a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

The fund is named for Junius K. Powell, a former state senator and mayor of Whiteville. Powell was the primary sponsor of the 1951 bill to help the state’s cities with urban road problems. The first allocation of Powell Bill funds was for $4.5 million and was distributed to 386 cities and towns.

Here’s what other area municipalities received through the Powell Bill:

  • Oxford – $255,752.37
  • Butner – $211,071.63
  • Creedmoor – $136,485.84
  • Louisburg – $95,153.03
  • Franklinton – $81,171.29
  • Youngsville – $61, 422.29
  • Norlina – $36,146.25
  • Stem – $29,567.39
  • Warrenton – $29,013.37
  • Stovall – $12,849.72
  • Middleburg – $6,201.01
  • Kittrell – $5,248.47
Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Blackmon, Kelly Bring Home KTCOG Honors From Annual Banquet

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The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments held its annual awards banquet last week and two local officials were honored for their leadership at the city and county levels.

Leo Kelly, Jr., chairman of the Vance County board of commissioners was named Outstanding County Elected Official, and City Manager Terrell Blackmon received the Outstanding Manager Award, according to information from KTCOG’s Susan Tucker.

Kelly received his award from Granville County commissioner Sue Hinman. Henderson City Council member Mike Rainey presented Blackmon with his award at the banquet, held Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Warren County Armory Civic Center. KTCOG Board Chair Walter Gardner presided over the meeting.

Tucker said 124 individuals were present for the annual banquet representing the five counties that comprise the KTCOG.

“The primary purpose of this annual banquet is to highlight the achievements of regional leaders who have been nominated by their peers/constituents for outstanding performance and contributions,” Tucker said in a statement to WIZS News Monday.

The 2022-23 officers also were installed at the banquet. The new chairman is Zelodis Jay, a member of the Granville County board of commissioners; vice chairman is Derrick Sims, a Person County Commissioner; and treasurer is Betty Wright, a Louisburg town council member.

In addition to awards received by Kelly and Blackmon, the following awards were presented:

  • Kerr-Tar Outstanding Board Member Award was presented to Betty Wright, with the town of Louisburg. Jimmy B. Clayton of Person County presented the award.
  • Outstanding Municipal Elected Official Award went to Jackie Sergent, mayor of Oxford. Oxford City Commissioner Quon Bridges presented the award.
  • Outstanding City or County Clerk to the Board award was given to Paula Pulley of Warren County. Warren County Commissioner Tare Davis presented the award.
  • The Regional Star Award was presented to David Smith of Granville County. Granville County Commissioner Tony Cozart made this presentation.
Terrell Blackmon

Town Talk 03/10/20: New Henderson City Manager Edward ‘Terrell’ Blackmon

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Edward “Terrell” Blackmon, Henderson’s new city manager, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

A native of Smithfield, and now a resident of Henderson, Blackmon brings over 25 years of economic development experience gained in various planning positions in Monroe, Raleigh, Garner and Tarboro, NC.

Blackmon received his MBA from Montreat College and his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is also a licensed real estate broker in North and South Carolina, in addition to being recognized as a certified housing development finance professional by the National Development Council.

He is married to the former Akenna Vaught of Lenoir, NC and they have two adult sons: Edward Terrell Blackmon, II and Robert Kennan Blackmon.

Blackmon said it was the area’s potential and the “hard sell” of the Henderson City Council that ultimately led him to the decision to call Henderson home. “I saw Henderson as a great opportunity for me personally and professionally. The City Council really sold me on the potential of the community; there’s a lot of opportunities for this community to grow.”

Arriving a few weeks prior to the official retirement of Henderson City Manager Frank Frazier on January 31, Blackmon said he was fortunate to have Frazier, a 35-year City veteran, available in the transition period.

“I can’t say enough how helpful he [Frazier] was during that period of time, and still makes himself available now,” said Blackmon. “The City Council, Mayor Ellington and Frank all did an excellent job of developing a plan to help make my transition here as city manager a little easier.”

In discussing areas of focus moving forward, Blackmon said officials are working on reestablishing Henderson as a designated Main Street City, enforcing residential and commercial codes, planning larger-scale redevelopment projects, identifying ways to attract private investment and expanding the Kerr Lake Regional Water System (KLRWS).

A 60-percent majority partner of the KLRWS (other partners include the City of Oxford and Warren County), Henderson City Council members approved a rate structure at their Monday meeting that would allow the city to upgrade the water output from 10 million to 20 million gallons a day, Blackmon reported.

Explaining that the KLRWS provides water to other municipalities and county systems in the four-county region, Blackmon said the expanded output would ‘increase the capacity to sell water to our customers, improve our water quality and allow the City to set rates and keep rates affordable for the citizens of Henderson.”

Impressed with the way the various entities have worked together on the KLRWS, Blackmon said he is happy to report a similar “collaborative spirit” in his dealings thus far with both City of Henderson and Vance County officials.

“I am already meeting and working with City and County officials on strategies that will hopefully benefit not just the City of Henderson but benefit all of Vance County,” said Blackmon. “We definitely want to be a partner with the County as it relates to economic development. The City has a lot of value that we can add to the economic development conversation as we are looking to create more jobs, retain the industries we do have and try to attract new industries to our community.”

To hear the interview with Blackmon in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

City of Henderson Logo

Henderson Mayor Calls Special Meeting on City Manager Position

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson, NC

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Mayor Eddie Ellington has requested a Special Called meeting of the Henderson City Council on Friday, November 8, 2019, at 12 p.m.  This meeting will be held at the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments facility located at 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson.

The purpose of the meeting is to hold a Closed Session Pursuant to G.S. 143-318-11(a)(6) Regarding a Personnel Matter pertaining to the City Manager Position.

City of Henderson Logo

Mayor Ellington Provides Updates on Search for Next City Manager

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Information provided by Mayor Eddie Ellington in regards to the search for Henderson’s next city manager:

“Thursday night during a Special Called Meeting, myself and the Henderson City Council received information on the ‘Secondary Screening’ step that was completed by Developmental Associates LLC, based out of Chapel Hill, NC.

During this process, a phone interviewer asked the same questions of all the candidates that are based on the job analysis including a comment section. The phone interviewer evaluated the answers against a predetermined answer key. Then a different interviewer evaluated a written survey response that was provided to all candidates. The two interviewers did not consult with one another about their ratings.

The candidates were then ranked and sorted based on data provided from the survey and the phone interview, as well as an emotional intelligence test (EQi 2.0). These scores in no way determine at this stage if the candidates are qualified for the position.

The purpose of this step was to assist me and the council with more information and to identify whom we want to invite to visit Henderson for in-person skill assessments.

With this completed, we have identified and narrowed the field to six candidates to visit the city on Friday, November 8, 2019.

We are optimistic about who will serve as our next manager and will wait and see how the entire process concludes. This is the most important decision the city has been faced with in recent years and we are very mindful that we have our current City Manager Frank Frazier agreeing to serve as interim on a monthly basis until the ideal candidate is chosen on a unanimous decision. The future lies before us.”

-Mayor Eddie Ellington