Tag Archive for: #vancecountyboardofcommissioners

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Public Comments on Fire Reorganization Welcomed at Vance Co. Board Meeting

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance

The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, January 7, 2019, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson. The Invocation will be given by Rev. Joseph Ratliff, Shiloh Baptist Church.

Public comments regarding the fire services reorganization (agenda item #2) are welcomed and encouraged. 

Agenda items:

1. Public Hearing – 6 p.m.

Opening Burning Ordinance, Keith Duncan, Fire Marshal

2. Appointment – 6:15 p.m.

Fire Services Reorganization

– Public Comments

– Fire Chief Comments

– County Manager Comments

– Board Discussion

3. Public Comments (for those registered to speak by 5:45 p.m. – each speaker is limited to five minutes)

4. Water District Board

-Staff Report – Phase 3 Construction Update

-Monthly Operations Report

5. Committee Reports and Recommendations

Properties Committee

– Minimum Offers for REO Properties

– REO Properties – Pending Offers

– REO Properties – New Offers

– REO Property – Upset Bid Process Complete

6. Finance Director’s Report

– Financing Resolution – Vehicles

7. Consent Agenda Items

-Tax Refunds and Releases

-Ambulance Charge-Offs

-Monthly Reports

-Minutes

8. Closed Session

– Property Transaction

Click here to view current and prior Board agendas.

 

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Commissioner Hester Calls for New Study in Vance Co. Fire Redistricting Plan

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In response to a fire redistricting plan that includes switching the Vance County Fire Department and the Golden Belt Fire District to a volunteer company, no longer employing a fire chief in the county and moving existing paid staff to work at volunteer departments during the day, County Commissioner Tommy Hester told WIZS News by phone that he has major concerns.

“I don’t think it’s enough of a plan,” Hester said. “I feel you need a fire chief; the way it was proposed, it seems like they want to do away with the fire chief. That’s not a position they need to be doing away with. You need a leadership position. I’ve never heard of not having a fire chief.”

Another concern is the age of the study being quoted. “The study was done 10 years ago in 2008. Ten years ago versus where we are today is entirely different. I feel we need a professional from outside the county to give us their input,” said Hester.

Yet another concern, according to Hester, is that other locations around the state are doing the opposite of what’s currently being proposed in Vance County. Instead of focusing on volunteer efforts, other areas are increasing paid positions in an acknowledgment of the difficulty in recruiting unpaid staff.

Hester emphasized that a lot of hard work has been put into the present plan by the leadership in Vance County, but said he feels more information and research is needed. “I don’t want us moving in the wrong direction not having looked at all of the alternatives.”

It is unknown at this time how much hiring an outside consultant and conducting a study would cost, but Hester essentially makes the point that the price would be worth the knowledge obtained. “The bottom line is the more information you have, the better decision you can make.”

The Vance County Board of Commissioners’ next meeting will be held on Monday, January 7, 2019, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson.

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Vance Co. Properties Committee to Discuss REO Properties at Jan. 2 Meeting

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Vance County’s Properties Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 4 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

The committee will discuss REO properties and possible minimum bid amounts.

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County of Vance Releases Fire District Reorganization Info.; Public Hearing Set for Jan.

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-Information courtesy Jordan McMillen, County Manager, Vance County

To assist the public, the County of Vance has posted several documents related to the fire commission’s proposed reorganization of the County’s fire services on their website. The County will be seeking public comments at the Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting to be held on Monday, January 7, 2019.

The proposal includes the following changes:

– Converts the Goldenbelt fire district into a volunteer district with the Rescue Squad reincorporating as a volunteer fire department and rescue to take on the district.

– Moves existing county fire staff out of Goldenbelt district and splits them between Hicksboro and Bearpond Volunteer Departments; moves the county fire staff under the fire marshal/fire services department for oversight of paid personnel and creates an Assistant Fire Marshal position.

– Utilizes savings from the general fund county fire department operational expenses to offset costs in fire fund for 12 part-time positions, two at each station for Cokesbury, Drewry, Kittrell, Townsville, Watkins, and the newly constituted Goldenbelt volunteer fire departments during the day-time.

– Provides $200,000 in annual funding to the Rescue Squad as the new volunteer fire department that would also take ownership and associated debt of County’s newly ordered fire truck.

– Includes paying off the existing Kerr-Lake substation and county tanker debt from the general and/or fire fund balance.

– Provides equal funding of $100,000 to the border departments, Drewry and Epsom.

– Eliminates the substation funding of $10,000 for Hicksboro and eliminates the rotating capital funding of $30,000, with the fire fund being used to assist departments with 50/50 grants and capital needs.

– Moves dispatch from three alarm to four alarm.

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Vance Co. Board of Commissioners to Hold Monthly Meeting Dec. 3

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance

The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, December 3, 2018, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson. The Invocation will be given by Pastor Carolyn Roy, Plank Chapel United Methodist Church.

Agenda items:

1. Reorganization of Board

  • Swearing in of Re-elected Commissioners
  • Election of Chair
  • Election of Vice-Chair

2. Adopt Schedule of Holidays

3. Renewal of Board of Commissioners Meeting Schedule

(First Monday of each month at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted)

4. Special Recognition 

Bearpond and Epsom Volunteer Fire Departments

5. Public Comments (for those registered to speak by 5:45 p.m. – speakers are limited to five minutes)

6. Appointment

Porcha Brooks, Tax Administrator – Untimely Exemption Applications

7. Public Hearing

Angie Blount, County Planner Rezoning Request – Case RZ20181108-1 616 Bearpond Road; Parcel 0453 05005

8. Public Hearing

Angie Blount, County Planner Rezoning Request – Case RZ20181108-2 651 Bearpond Road; Parcel 0224 01009

9. Water District Board

a. Committee Report – Phase 1B Project Review

b. Monthly Operations Report

c. Recess Water District Board for Closed Session – Property Matter

10. Committee Reports and Recommendations

a. Properties Committee

– REO Property Offers

– Agricultural Land Lease

b. Public Safety Committee

– Rapid Entry Resolution

– Open Burning Ordinance

– Addressing Ordinance

– Fire Service Reorganization

11. Finance Director’s Report

a. Surplus Property

b. Fire Truck Financing

12. County Attorney’s Report

a. REO Property – Lot 6 Big Ruin Creek Lane; Parcel 0404 03029

13. County Manager’s Report

a. Schedule Annual Planning Retreat

b. Broadband Update

14. Consent Agenda Items

a. Budget Amendments and Transfers

b. Tax Refunds and Releases

c. Ambulance Charge-Offs

d. Monthly Reports

15. Miscellaneous

a. Appointments

16. Closed Session

a. Water District Board – Property Matter

b. Economic Development Project

The agenda for the December meeting may be viewed in its entirety on the Vance County website.

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Vance Co. Properties, Public Safety & Fire Commission to Meet Mon., Nov. 26

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Please be informed of the following committee meetings:

Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)

Monday, November 26 at 3 p.m.

Administrative Conference Room

  • Offers to purchase REO properties

Joint Meeting of the Public Safety Committee (Wilder, Brummitt, Faines) and the Vance County Fire Commission

Monday, November 26th at 3:30 p.m.

Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Room

  • Rapid Entry
  • Open Burning Ordinance
  • Address Ordinance
  • Fire Restructure

All commissioners are invited to attend.

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Wilder, Unopposed Vance Co. Commissioner, ‘Feels the Need to Continue Getting it Right’

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Vance County Commissioner Gordon Wilder was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss his recent unopposed run for a third consecutive term on the Board.

“I’m no politician. That’s not in the Wilder DNA,” Wilder said. “I’ve been fortunate to be elected by the people for a third time now.”

The most recent election saw Wilder, a commissioner since 2010, run unopposed in District 3, with fellow incumbents Dan Brummitt and Tommy Hester also running unopposed.

“I think the three of us who ran unopposed certainly feel the need to make sure we continue getting it right and continue to do the right things,” said Wilder.

When an unidentified caller to Town Talk asked Wilder why people in the community shy away from running for elected positions, Wilder explained that while the reasons vary, it is often the case of talk but no action.

Wilder also recognized the difficulties some may have in fulfilling the mid-day meeting requirements of the position. “You’d have to have a very understanding boss,” chuckled Wilder.

In discussing other election results, Wilder said the commissioners are looking forward to working with newly elected Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame and will “fully support him to every extent possible.”

According to Wilder, the citizens of Vance County had three good candidates for sheriff to choose from in Curtis Brame, Charles Pulley and Allen Simmons. “I know all three candidates and I’m very proud of them. I coached Curtis in high school and have been bird hunting with him. I think he’ll do a great job.”

Wilder also piggybacked on a Town Talk discussion earlier this week with Dennis Jarvis, II, director for the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission, concerning phase III of the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park.

Earlier this year, Vance County received a $2.45 million grant from the Rural ReadySites program for development and expansion of the industrial park located at the intersection of Bear Pond Road and US-1 Bypass in Henderson.

The grant money will cover development costs to include construction of a new roadway and extension of water and sewer infrastructure through the site. The land will be zoned for light industrial and general commercial use.

“The State told us that we needed to have land ready, buildings ready and infrastructure ready for jobs to come in,” Wilder explained. “Our focus right now is on phase III of the industrial park and bringing more jobs into Vance County.”

While constructing a building is not presently on the agenda, according to Wilder, plans are in place to invest in land and infrastructure.

“The land is up for sale,” said Wilder. “We hope that people will invest and build their own building. I’m not sure the county commissioners or the County needs to be in the real estate business.”

To listen to the interview in its entirety, click here.

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Economic Dev. Director Jarvis Talks Phase III of H-V Industrial Park

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Dennis Jarvis, II, director of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss, among other topics, updates to the development of the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park.

Earlier this year, Vance County received a $2.45 million grant from the Rural ReadySites program for development of phase III of the industrial park located at the intersection of Bear Pond Road and US-1 Bypass in Henderson.

The grant money will cover development costs to include construction of a new roadway and extension of water and sewer infrastructure through the site. The land will be zoned for light industrial and general commercial use.

The Henderson-Vance Industrial Park began in 1988 with the purchase of 150 acres for development. According to Vance County officials, the site has been filled since that time with nine businesses contributing approximately 600 jobs, $5.5 million in tax revenue to the county annually and a total value of over $62 million.

“Commissioner Hester and the Vance County Commission, both, as a team, understand that having available product – pad-ready, building-ready product – makes you more competitive regionally, nationally and globally,” said Jarvis.

The park’s development has been a priority for Vance County Commissioners and Jarvis is pleased to see it come to fruition in a short period of time.

“At Monday’s Commissioners’ meeting, we received an update that the engineering firm had been awarded and they are now going through a design phase,” said Jarvis. “Potential contracts for water, sewer and road development should be met by the mid-point of next year. We’re about nine months away from being complete.”

Along with the perks of access to rail and natural gas and the close proximity to US-1 and I-85, the park is expected to draw industries that seek to be near Raleigh without the Wake County price tag.

“If you want an RTP address, you pay RTP prices,” Jarvis said. “If you want to be in the Raleigh market, there are opportunities in the region – especially in our Kerr-Tar region with Franklin, Granville, Warren and Vance – to cut that operating cost by almost half.”

 To listen to the interview in its entirety, please click here.

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Vance Co. Board of Commissioners to Meet Mon., Nov. 5

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance

The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, November 5, 2018, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson. The Invocation will be given by Pastor Bobby Fletcher, First United Methodist Church.

Agenda items:

Committee Reports and Recommendations:

a. Properties Committee

– Property Listing Review

– REO Property Offer

– Former People’s Country Store

– Engineering Agreement – HVIP Phase III

– Animal Shelter – Onsite Spay and Neuter Services

b. Public Safety Committee

– Open Burning Regulations

– Rapid Entry Systems

– Fire Commission Presentation – Proposal for Reorganizing Fire Services

Finance Director’s Report

a. Surplus Property

b. Lottery Fund Applications

County Manager’s Report

a. Grant Agreement – Rural Ready Sites

b. Resolution – Acquisition & Assignment of Kittrell Water Association System

Water District Board

a. Staff Report – Kittrell Water System Consolidation

b. Monthly Operations Report

Consent Agenda Items

a. Budget Amendment

b. Tax Refunds and Releases

c. Ambulance Charge-Offs

d. Monthly Reports

e. Minutes

Miscellaneous

a. Appointments

b. Voting Delegate – Legislative Goals Conference

Closed Session

a. Legal Matters

b. Property Transaction

The agenda for the November meeting may be viewed in its entirety on the Vance County website.

 

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Vance Co. Public Safety Comm. to Discuss Burning Ordinance, Fire Services – Oct. 31

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to the Board, County of Vance

Please be informed that the county’s public safety committee (Wilder, Brummitt, Faines) is scheduled to meet Wednesday, October 31, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. in the upstairs commissioners’ room at 122 Young St. in Henderson.

Topics include open burning ordinance, rapid key entry ordinance and fire services.

All commissioners are invited to attend.