Tag Archive for: #vancecountyboardofcommissioners

County’s Initial Community Town Hall Session Set For July 29

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The first in a series of Community Town Hall sessions will be held on Wednesday, July 29 at Bearpond Fire Department.

The event, hosted by District 4 Commissioner Dan Brummitt, will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Bearpond Fire Department is located at 285 Bearpond Road.

Residents from across the county are welcome; it’s not just for District 4 residents.

Among topics to be discussed include public safety, economic development, infrastructure and water projects, county services and community priorities.

Similar programs are being planned in the county’s other districts.

(Note: The following information was added to this post on 7-28-26)

PUBLIC NOTICE
To: Press and Members of the Public
From: Dywanda Pettaway, Clerk to the Board, DP
Date: July 27, 2026
Re: Notice of Potential Quorum

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT Members of the Vance County Board of Commissioners will attend Town Hall #1 on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Bear Pond Volunteer Fire Department, located at 325 Bearpond Road, Henderson, NC 27537.

This event is open to the public. A quorum of the Vance County Board of Commissioners may be present; however, no official business will be conducted, and no action will be taken by the Board of County Commissioners.

This notice is provided in accordance with North Carolina’s Open Meetings Law.

For additional information, please contact the Vance County Clerk to the Board’s Office at (252) 738-2003, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Vance County Commissioners, Planning Board Schedule July 9 Joint Work Session On UDO

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Planning Board are scheduled to have a joint work session next week to discuss and review the county’s unified development ordinance.

According to a notice from Clerk to the Commissioners Dywanda Pettaway, the meeting will be held on Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room in the Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young St., Henderson.

This meeting is work session #1 regarding the development and review of the proposed county UDO. Discussion will focus on the structure, content and implementation of the proposed ordinance, as well as opportunities for feedback and collaboration between the two boards.

Although open to the public, work sessions do not include public comment periods. The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUMNYAAhyvKx5leijt5iK6Q

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Commissioners Approve $72.4M Budget 5-2

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(This story was originally published on June 2, 2026.)

The Vance County Board of Commissioners adopted the county’s $72.4 million 2026-27 budget Monday by a vote of 5-2.

Dan Brummitt reiterated his opinion that the county is spending too much money.

“We’ve got to figure some way to lower the cost of government,” he said. He voted against the budget ordinance.

Brummitt and Commissioner Valencia Perry cast the two dissenting votes.

The budget follows County Manager Renee Perry’s recommendation with funding for the health department, school system or library funding, and KARTS will get the same allocation as last year – $75,759. Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunities allocation almost doubled – from $13,000 to $25,000 and VGCC will receive $400,000 for capital expenditures.

The newly approved budget includes creation of a Detention Center Capital Reserve at $3.4 million, along with several other major capital projects like a city/county communications tower, Senior Center sprinkler project and a 2030 revaluation catchup fund. In total, the budget appropriates $7.06 million from fund balance to balance the budget.

View the budget ordinance on the county’s website at https://www.vancecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Signed-FY-2026-2027-Budget-Ordinance.pdf

In other action, the commissioners:

  • heard a recommendation from Manager Perry to discuss and research the idea of a data center moratorium at its next work session, after hearing from numerous individuals speaking out against data centers during the public comment and public hearing portions of the meeting. More than one speaker called on commissioners to establish a moratorium on data centers – one said one year and another said two years – in the county. Commissioner Valencia Perry asked the board to consider a moratorium, and Manager Perry suggested further discussion at the board’s upcoming work session.
  • approved a new social worker position in DSS to oversee adult services. The salary range is from is 98,000 to $124,092, which Perry said includes between a minimum to midpoint salary, including benefits. The new position will allow adult services to be separated from child services, currently under supervision of N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Finance Director Stephanie Williams will bring a budget amendment to commissioners at its next meeting. Commissioner Tommy Hester made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Leo Kelly. Motion passed.
  • Progress continues to ready the county-owned building to be housed by city and county departments to make a “one-stop shopping” destination for prospective developers and others seeking permits and information about planning and zoning. The city is expected to complete work on the parking in the next week and will then move to fencing and landscaping. Hester called the city/county collaboration “outstanding.”
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Vance Commissioners Adopt Resolution Opposing Section Of SB 214

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution opposing wording in N.C. Senate Bill 214 that would give Franklin County the authority to take property from Vance County without the commissioners’ approval.

The vote was swift and unanimous and the emergency special called meeting lasted less than 10 minutes.

The vote was 6-0; Commissioner Yolanda Feimster was not present at the meeting, which began at 4 p.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room in the county administration building.

Commissioner Tommy Hester made the motion to approve adoption of the resolution.

After the vote, Hester stated, “Vance County is in support of the city of Henderson. We’re doing this in support of them.”

County Manager C. Renee Perry said she received a call Wednesday from Rep. Rodney Pierce who represents Halifax and Warren counties about Part V Section 5 of the bill, which names Vance, Warren and Halifax counties as the three counties from which Franklin County would be able to acquire property “without consent or approval.”

Perry said other counties and municipalities are considering resolutions opposing the bill as well and she recommended that the Vance County board follows suit, “to try to fight this as much as we can.”

Commissioner Leo Kelly said he’d been in Raleigh Friday speaking with legislators about the bill and local ramifications if it passes. The bill is on the calendar for Tuesday, Apr. 28.

County Attorney Jonathan Care was unavailable to attend the meeting, but Perry shared his comments with the board.

“The more noise that we can make the better,” Perry said Care had told her, adding that the bill was “fundamentally wrong.”

Board Chair Carolyn Faines said she considered the action “unethical to suggest even such a thing” as acquiring property without approval of the board of commissioners.

“To me, it’s like robbery,” Faines said. “You come to take, instead of partner to see what’s needed to be done to help fix  a situation or issue. It’s one of the most unethical behaviors from another government body that I have experienced.”

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Commissioners Approve Rezoning Request 6-1 In Special Called Meeting

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In a 6-1 vote, the Vance County Board of Commissioners voted Monday afternoon to approve a rezoning request for a 40-acre tract on U.S. Hwy 158 Business.

Board Chair Carolyn Faines last week called for a special meeting to be held just prior to a regularly scheduled work session to consider the rezoning request. The special called meeting began at 4 p.m. and the work session began at the conclusion of the special called meeting, which lasted only a few minutes.

Commissioner Tommy Hester made the motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Dan Brummitt, to “approve the zoning map amendment and to adopt the resolution with the statement of consistency and reasonableness.”

In opening remarks, Faines reminded those in attendance to behave in a respectful orderly and quiet manner.

“The board is here to deliberate and take action,” she said. “We ask for your cooperation in maintaining a respectful environment so the board can conduct the county’s business efficiently.”

After the vote was taken, however, there were boos that emanated from the members of the audience, which exceeded that of the Apr. 6 meeting. One person called out to ask for a roll call vote, but that request was declined. Commissioner Valencia Perry cast the nay vote. All commissioners were in attendance.

The beginning of the work session was delayed by several more minutes as members of the audience, visibly and audibly angry and upset at the board’s action, left the commissioners’ meeting room.

CLICK PLAY for broadcast audio prior to the meeting.

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Vance County Commissioners To Meet Apr. 20 At 4 P.M. To Consider Rezoning Request

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, Apr. 20 at 4 p.m. for a special called meeting before its planned work session.

According to the notification, the purpose of the meeting is to consider and take action on a rezoning request that the board, at its Apr. 6 regular monthly meeting, voted to continue.

The rezoning request is for a 40-acre tract along U.S. Hwy. 158 Business west of Henderson, for which the planning board had recommended approval. The zoning would change from EIA – Employment Institutional Area – to LI – Light Industrial.

At the Apr. 6 meeting, about 20 people spoke during the public hearing about the rezoning request; most were not in favor of the rezoning request, and two people spoke in favor.

By state statute, the board of commissioners must have a public comment period during at least one of its monthly meetings. This is a time when the public can address the board on any topic, Vance County Attorney Jonathan Care said.

In the case of the Apr. 6 meeting, Care explained, “There was a public comment period which was not restricted to the rezoning, and then there was a public hearing that was for the rezoning, and the public was restricted to that topic, but you were allowed to speak during both periods.  So we had a public comment period and then a public hearing.”

Chair Carolyn Faines opened the public hearing on the rezoning and that’s when residents came to the podium one at the time to address the commissioners.

Care said there is no requirement for another public comment period this month, “and there is not a requirement to have a public hearing at every meeting a rezoning is going to be discussed.”

The public is welcome to attend the meeting, but there is no scheduled public comment or public hearing included on the agenda.

The meeting and following work session will be available on the county’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUMNYAAhyvKx5leijt5K6Q.

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Vance Commissioners To Hold Special Called Meeting Apr. 20 At 4 P.M. To Consider Rezoning Request

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Vance County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Carolyn Faines has scheduled a special called meeting Monday, Apr. 20 at 4 p.m. in reference to a rezoning request that had been continued at the board’s regular monthly meeting on Apr. 6.

The special called meeting will be held in the commissioners’ room on the second floor of the county administrative building, 122 Young St. The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s YouTube channel.

According to the notification, the purpose of the meeting is to consider and take action on the rezoning request of a 40-acre parcel of land located along U.S. Hwy. 158 Business.

The county planning board had recommended approval of the rezoning request from EIA (Employment Institutional Area) to LI (Light Industrial).

Following public comment during the Apr. 6 meeting, during which the majority of the 20 speakers voiced opposition, the board agreed to continue the matter.

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TownTalk: Commissioners Vote Monday To Continue Rezoning Request

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted to continue a rezoning request for a 40-acre tract along Highway 158.

Although the planning board recommended in February to approve rezoning the property to Light Industrial, about 20 people spoke during the public hearing – most in opposition – prompting Commissioner Tommy Hester to make a motion to continue the agenda item.

“I care about this community, and I want to get the facts,” Hester said. “I don’t want to hurt this community, and I want to make sure everybody in that area gets what they need,” he said.

Attorney Beth Trahos, one of three applicants listed on the rezoning request was present at the Monday meeting. In remarks at the beginning of the public hearing portion of the meeting, Trahos said no development plan has been submitted thus far; the matter before the commissioners is a step in the process to get the tract rezoned from its current Employment and Instiuttional Area to Light Industrial.

Another of the applicants on the rezoning request, Michael Natelli, has been associated with the construction of data centers. The town of Apex in Wake County recently defeated an attempt by Natelli to put in a data center. The third name on the application is that of the landowner, Patricia Galloway.

At the public hearing that took place during the commissioners’ regular monthly meeting, residents filed to the podium to express their concern about having a data center in the area.

They cited concerns that included excessive noise pollution, as well as increased energy and water demands, among others.

Addressing those in attendance, Commissioner Leo Kelly said he was opposed to the idea of a data center. “I think we need to look at the process of data centers…I don’t think they bring what we’re looking for in Vance County.”

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Commissioners Set Apr. 6 Hearing To Review Rezoning Request For 40-Acre Tract Along Hwy 158 Business

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners will hold a hearing on Monday, Apr. 6 at 6 p.m. to receive information about a rezoning request for 40 acres of land located off U.S. Hwy 158 Business.

The hearing will take place just before the regular monthly commissioners’ meeting in the commissioners’ meeting room, located on the second floor of the county administrative office building, 122 Young St.

At its Feb. 12 meeting, the county planning board voted unanimously to recommend the property be rezoned from Employment Institutional Area to Light Industrial. The planning board found the request to be in compliance with the adopted Vance County Comprehensive Plan, was reasonable and in the public interest.

According to information from Vance County Planning Director Sherry Moss, the applicants are Michael Natelli and Beth Trahos and property owner Patricia Galloway.

Members of the public are invited to attend and offer comment consistent with the County’s applicable rules of procedure. Questions can be directed to Vance County Planning Department at (252) 738.2091. For more information, visit the Vance County website at:  https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/planning-and-development/planning-board/.

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County Establishes Water Bill Forgiveness Program To Help Customers Complete Connection To County Water System

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— From the office of Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry

The Vance County Water District, in partnership with the Vance County Board of Commissioners, has announced a Water Bill Forgiveness Program designed to assist property owners with outstanding availability fees while encouraging connection to the County’s water system.

This limited-time amnesty program is specifically targeted toward property owners who previously signed up for water service but never completed connection to the system and have since accumulated outstanding balances.

The offer is good through March 31, 2027. Under the program, eligible participants may receive 75 percent forgiveness of their outstanding availability balance in exchange for connecting to the county water system. Currently, unconnected properties are assessed a monthly $30 base availability fee. By participating in the program and completing the connection, customers will not only significantly reduce their outstanding balance but also gain access to the full benefits of reliable public water service.

“This program reflects the County’s commitment to supporting our residents while also strengthening our water infrastructure,” said County Manager C. Renee Perry. “We encourage eligible property owners to take advantage of this opportunity to reduce outstanding balances and secure reliable water service for their homes.”

There are several requirements that must be satisfied to take advantage of the forgiveness program, besides having a property with an outstanding balance and a promise from the customer to connect to the Vance County water system.

Customers also must submit a formal letter of request to participate in the program, and the account must remain in good standing for a period of 12 months following connection, according to information from the county.

Eligible customers should contact the county’s water system operator, Envirolink, to begin the process and receive additional guidance on submitting the required requests.

Contact Information:

Vance County Water District / Envirolink

Phone: 252.235.4900 / Toll Free: 1.888.754.9878

customerservice@envirolinkinc.com

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