Tag Archive for: #vancecountyboardofcommissioners

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Brummitt and Carpunky Tackle Fire Redistricting Questions

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Doyle Carpunky, president of the Vance County Fire and Rescue Association and chief of the Vance County Rescue Squad and Vance County Board of Commissioner Dan Brummitt were on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the County’s recent fire redistricting proposal.

The proposal, which will go before the Vance County Board of Commissioners at this evening’s meeting, includes, in part:

  • Converting the Vance County Fire Department into a volunteer department with some paid personnel and designating the Golden Belt district it serves as a volunteer district.
  • Repositioning current paid personnel into volunteer departments throughout the county.
  • Converting savings from the operational expense of the Vance County Fire Department in order to provide daytime personnel at every fire department.
  • Creating a Vance County Fire Services Division under the fire marshal’s office for oversight of paid personnel.
  • Changing the current fire response structure from 3-alarm to 4-alarm, increasing the number of departments and personnel on the scene.

According to the proposal put forth by the County’s Fire Commission consisting of Carpunky, Carolyn Faines and Daren Small, this restructuring aims to improve response time, improve cost-effectiveness and establish a consistent level of service to all citizens of Vance County with an opportunity to integrate current paid staff into the volunteer departments.

“This isn’t a locally invented process,” explained Brummitt. “The fire commission conducted a fire study that was completed in 2008. That study set forward a lot of the process to bring our fire services up to a higher standard.”

This newest fire redistricting proposal is the next phase in a larger plan that began approximately four years ago when paid part-time workers were placed in volunteer fire departments including Bearpond, Townsville and Hicksboro, according to Brummitt.

In response to local concern regarding the validity of data that was compiled in a study conducted 10 years ago, Carpunky said the census numbers have not changed. “From the 2008 study to today, the census has not changed on the amount of personnel in our county or the population of our county.”

Carpunky addressed a number of concerns and questions regarding the redistricting proposal with figures he said he received from the County. The majority of the information focuses on the Golden Belt Fire District and the concern with making Vance County Fire Department into a volunteer district. According to Carpunky’s stated figures:

  • The Golden Belt Fire District is the largest single district in Vance County with a total population of 8,042. The total population for the rest of the fire districts throughout the county is 22,033.
  • The Golden Belt Fire District accounts for 29% of the property value of the county; 71% of the property value is from the current volunteer district.
  • The Golden Belt’s primary district is 138.86 road miles of fire district; current volunteer fire districts cover 476.53 road miles.
  • The Golden Belt district responds to an average of 1,100 – 1,200 calls per year; volunteer districts respond to approximately 21,000 calls. Carpunky clarified that a percentage of these calls involve motor vehicle collisions or first responder calls, and are not fire-related.

“I understand the Golden Belt’s the largest district, has the highest population in a single district and has the highest percentage of property value in a single district,” said Carpunky. “What about the other districts of our county? That’s what this fire restructure is concentrated on – every citizen as a whole, not one fire department or one fire district.”

According to Carpunky, the Golden Belt Fire District would remain unchanged for now with the exception that it would become a combination paid/volunteer department “like the rest of the volunteer departments in the county.”

Brummitt stated that the County does anticipate changing fire districts in the future, which could affect the Golden Belt. “We do anticipate changing the fire districts, so this mega-district [Golden Belt] that was created because it was a paid department will decrease in size, decrease in property value and will experience a decrease in number of citizens served.”

With all of these changes, Carpunky said one of the concerns he’s heard from citizens is in regards to insurance increases. “For those concerned that changes will increase their insurance rates, an insurance change would not happen with the proposed restructure. If they [Vance County Fire Department] were to go to a combination department today, their current rating would stay the same.”

Another concern mentioned in the interview was the job of current Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright. The current proposal calls for each volunteer fire department to have their own chief for their district and calls for the creation of an assistant fire marshal position.

When asked about talk that Wright would be slated for the assistant fire marshal position if the proposal was approved, Brummitt responded, “No, that’s a rumor that was created somewhere along the way. At no point did we propose staffing positions. We [fire commission] presented to have a fire marshal and an assistant fire marshal. The Vance County Board of Commissioners doesn’t handle personnel assignments. It will be up to the County Manager [Jordan McMillen] to evaluate what individuals he wants in specific positions.”

Brummitt stated that even if the Board approves the proposal at tonight’s meeting, it would still be some time before all phases are active. “If the Board says ‘we’re going forward with it,’ that doesn’t mean tomorrow morning we start moving fire trucks. We’ve got a process we’re developing so that certain elements would be staged so that once we’ve accomplished level one, we’d move on to level two.”

The proposal may be one step closer to implementation after tonight’s Vance County Board of Commissioners’ meeting, although some in the community, including Commissioner Tommy Hester, have expressed their opinion that the County should invest in an updated fire study before approving the proposal.

The meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. with a public hearing on the fire redistricting proposal to begin at 6:15 p.m. will be held in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street in Henderson. The public is highly encouraged to speak; advanced sign up is not required for this particular hearing.

To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here. 

 

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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.