As County Manager Jordan McMillen explained in an email to WIZS News, work at Vance County’s newest solid waste site on Warrenton Road has wrapped up. He said the final punch list inspections were completed last week.
And the target date for opening the new site of today, April 14, was met.
McMillen wrote, “This site is located directly adjacent to the old site and the new site will offer additional space located further off of the road and includes a paved area surrounding the solid waste collection compactor.”
Green For Life (GFL) operates all of the county’s convenience sites by way of contract.
Last week Commission Board Chairman Dan Brummitt and Commissioner Archie Taylor took a ribbon cutting photo at the site alongside representatives from GFL.
Those in the photo from left to right include: Spencer Pernell – Operations Supervisor GFL; Chairman Dan Brummitt; Commissioner Archie Taylor – represents District 2 where the site is located; Randy Deming – General Manager GFL.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GFL-Warrenton-Rd.jpg265504John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2021-04-14 22:27:352021-04-14 22:27:35New Solid Waste Site Open on Warrenton Rd.
Vance County commissioners got an update Monday regarding results from a recent employee satisfaction survey. Although there are some positive takeaways from the survey results – valuing diversity and general job satisfaction – the board’s Human Resources Committee has identified several priorities for follow-up attention.
County Manager Jordan McMillen said 70 percent of the county’s employees responded to the online survey, which was conducted in December 2020 and January 2021. The UNC School of Government, which facilitated the survey, reported that the results were “typical of government organizations that are early in the organizational development process,” McMillen told WIZS News.
“On the positive side our employees identify very well with the organization, they feel good about the level of teamwork shared across and within departments and generally employees feel good and are satisfied with their jobs,” he said.
But other employees said they feel “emotionally drained” from the work they do and turnover is higher in some departments than others, he noted. “We intend to bring the School of Government back in to take deeper dives into some of the negative areas,” McMillen added. Among the more negative comments from the respondents were “organizational silence” and “workplace incivility.” McMillen said. Public safety and human services (Department of Social Services) respondents accounted for most of the negative results, he added.
The Human Resources Committee members Carolyn Faines, Archie B. Taylor Jr. and Gordon Wilder met on Mar. 30 to review staff recommendations for priorities and agreed to begin with workplace incivility and organizational silence. The committee also decided to revise a third issue to only include morale/burnout/emotional toll of work, McMillen said.
“We want employees to feel comfortable speaking up if they have ideas and want to ensure our employees feel their ideas are given the attention that is needed, McMillen said.
“As we strive for creativity from our employees, we want them to feel comfortable sharing ideas that can lead to improvements for our county and citizens.”
County staff will coordinate with the school of government to organize small groups of employees that will examine the priority areas and report back to the committee with recommendations later this year.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Vance-County-Logo.png265504Laura Gabelhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngLaura Gabel2021-04-07 20:25:072021-04-07 20:40:02Vance County Employee Satisfaction Survey Conducted in Dec. and Jan.
The Vance County Public Safety Committee met Monday to continue discussing the possible reorganization of the county’s fire department structure. Although no final decisions have been made yet, County Manager Jordan McMillen said there seems to be some progress toward a satisfactory resolution.
This issue – to create a fire department structure to provide as close to 24-hour protection as possible – has been the topic of conversation for the past several years, and McMillen said Tuesday that there is hope for reaching that goal.
The board renewed its desire to bring the issue to a close at its recent planning retreat in February. The volunteer fire departments have been able to lower their Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings as a result of receiving additional funds from the county, which were used to hire at least part-time paid staff.
“Some good things” have come about as a result of the continuing talks at the county level, and despite some disagreement, “at the end of the day, we’re making some improvements,” McMillen said.
The volunteer fire departments have been able to lower their ISO scores, which operate on a scale of 1 to 10 and indicate how well the community is protected by the fire department. The lower the score, the better protected the community. The volunteer departments have scores of 5 or 6, some down from as high as 9. ISO ratings affect fire insurance rates.
McMillen said the board would hear the update from the public safety committee at its next meeting, and would be considering several key issues: 1)how to handle rescue services – continue with contract services or pull the service in-house; 2)determine whether there is interest in dispersing the county’s fire department; and 3)determine whether to look at revisiting fire district lines which could reduce response times.
The rescue services contract should be able to be decided before the end of fiscal year 2021, but the discussion of the other two components probably will take longer to decide.
McMillen said the committee members stressed that the most important thing is to provide the best fire service possible. “We’re on the right path,” he said.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Vance-Co.-Fire-Department.png265504Laura Gabelhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngLaura Gabel2021-03-16 19:40:252021-03-16 19:48:29Vance Commissioners Could Bring Fire Discussion to a Head Soon
In “The Local Skinny!” audio podcast listed below, please find calls and emails with items for sale plus Wayne Rowland’s Vance Co. Cooperative Extension Report for Monday, March 15.
“The Local Skinny!” news topic planned for the day today was actually presented as the second segment of TownTalk today and pertained to Vance County Fire Reorganization. The script used was from the today’s (Monday, March 15) Vance County public safety committee meeting agenda packet.
One goal of the Vance County Commissioners, as set in an earlier retreat, is to bring closure to the fire reorganization discussion. The committee members are Commissioner Brummitt, Commissioner Faines, and Commissioner Wilder.
And, TownTalk on Tuesday, March 16 (tomorrow) will feature Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen with information from the meeting.
Committee Summary from August 2020 – Last Discussion on Fire Reorganization
In February 2019 the board voted to continue the Goldenbelt fire district in its current structure. During the retreat in January 2020, a commissioner brought up the fire reorganization plan and the board asked the committee to review the plan. At its June 30, and July 21, 2020 meetings, the committee reviewed and discussed organizational charts and an updated financial analysis associated with the reorganization plan. At its July 21, 2020 meeting the committee reviewed the updated financial analysis as prepared by county finance staff. The analysis indicates the plan would create an initial savings of $281,791 on the general fund while creating a $206,136 deficit on the fire tax fund which would require a 1.2 cent fire tax increase. The finance director discussed concerns with transferring monies from the general fund to the fire fund to cover the deficit and mentioned state law within the budget and fiscal control act that prevents paying for a service fund deficit with general fund monies. Committee members mentioned management, HR, and potential legal concerns with the plan having county fire employees report to county policies while also being subject to non-county operational policies with the employees physically being located in a volunteer station and operating volunteer department equipment. The committee then reviewed input from the Fire Association indicating that the fire association members had too many questions and concerns with the proposal to support its passage. As requested by the board, the committee has reviewed the plan and based upon input gathered and concerns raised, the committee recommended (2-1 vote) not proceeding with further conversations on the reorganization plan. For Your Information.
Board Actions related to Fire Reorganization
February 4, 2019 – Added part-time positions to the Volunteer Fire Departments and
voted to continue Golden Belt in its current structure
August 3, 2020 – To not follow the committee’s recommendation to cease discussions on
fire reorganization; and to continue further conversations as to the reorganization plan.
March 1, 2021 – Board adopted goals for FY22 which included to bring closure to the
fire reorganization discussion.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/504x265-w-white-background.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2021-03-15 14:05:402021-03-15 15:58:25The Local Skinny! March 15; Items for sale; Cooperative Extension; Fire Reorganization Add On
The Vance County Board of Commissioners discussed and prioritized a wide range of goals for the 2021-22 during its recent board retreat, from attracting new businesses to finding ways to lowering EMS call volume.
The number one goal is to retain or create new jobs and attracting $10 million in new investment in the county, according to information from County Manager Jordan McMillen.
Next comes exploring options that will support the county’s economic development efforts. Options include creation of “pad ready sites, construction of a shell building and/or repurposing existing buildings.”
Additional goals, listed in order they were prioritized are:
Implement a 24/72 schedule for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), to keep the countywide response time to under 10 minutes. Included in this effort would be having enough staff and ambulances to achieve the response time.
Implement a community paramedicine program as a way to “improve community health, reduce frequent fliers, and assist in lowering EMS call volume.”
To bring closure to the fire reorganization discussion.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Vance-County-Logo.png265504Laura Gabelhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngLaura Gabel2021-03-10 11:46:422021-03-10 12:09:00Vance County Goals for 2021-2022
The Vance County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of new voting machines at its March 1 meeting, and County Manager Jordan McMillen said local election officials are already making plans to have new machines in place for the fall 2021 elections.
McMillen recommended purchase of the new DS200 machines at a cost of $263,064. The county would be responsible for close to $150,000 of the total cost, he stated, which will come from the county’s fund balance. A $21,800 trade-in allowance, $30,461 from the City of Henderson (the city funds 17 percent of elections expenses) and $83,876 from HAVA (Help America Vote Act) offset the overall cost by more than $136,000. The HAVA funds must be spent by June 30. On top of those offsets, McMillen said he expected to be able to save about $25,000 in equipment maintenance once the new machines are installed.
McMillen told WIZS News that elections officials have begun the process of evaluating replacement voting machines.
The current M100 machines have outlived their 10-year life expectancy by four years, according to McMillen. In the 2020 election, he said, the machines had “challenges with sensors, batteries and tabulators.”
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0079_VANCECOUNTY.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2021-03-09 08:44:002021-03-09 08:44:53Vance County Getting New Voting Machines
Construction projects often face challenges to completion, and chief among those challenges are weather and money. The site of the former Eaton Johnson Middle School has experienced both lately, but County Manager Jordan McMillen said Tuesday he anticipates that by early summer, the renovations to convert the former school should be complete.
The county commissioners approved a change order that adds almost $38,000 to the construction project to transform the Eaton Johnson campus to the new home for the Department of Social Services and the Senior Center, McMillen said in a written statement to WIZS.
Commissioners approved the addition of $37,019.39 to the project cost, he said, to cover costs to make sure the building and ceiling are supported properly to meet building code. These items were discovered during the demolition phase of the project, he added.
The prolonged wet weather and winter ice storms have slowed the project by three or four weeks, but McMillen said work should be able to get back on track for a June or July move-in date for the two agencies.
“This schedule will be refined as we work through the final stages of construction and as we work to move approximately 110 DSS employees, phone equipment, storage cabinets and other items to the new facility,” McMillen said.
The project will bring the Department of Social Services offices under one roof, he added. “Our $4.5 million investment in this facility not only puts a vacant school into reuse, but allows us to look towards the future,” McMillen said. The new senior center more than doubles the current square footage, – from 9,000 to 21,000 square feet – and “will lend itself to serving more seniors in the future and will address concerns we have heard in the past with limited parking downtown for the seniors,” he added.
Those in the photo from left to right include: Spencer Pernell – Operations Supervisor GFL; Chairman Dan Brummitt; Commissioner Archie Taylor – represents District 2 where the site is located; Randy Deming – General Manager GFL.
