Tag Archive for: #warrencountygovt

Warren County Board Chair Elected to NCACC As Second Vice-President

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— Warren County Press Release

Warren County, North Carolina- Warren County is pleased to announce that Warren County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Tare “T” Davis, was elected as Second Vice President of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners during the 114th Annual Conference on Saturday, August 14, 2021.

This is a great accomplishment for Commissioner Davis and Warren County, as it relates to Warren County being represented in the organization that develops policy and directly advocates on behalf of the 100 counties of North Carolina and its residents.

When speaking about the accomplishment, Commissioner Davis stated that he is “very humbled” by the opportunity to serve as Second Vice President of the NC Association of County Commissioners (NCACC).

“This opportunity is not about me as an individual, but it has everything to do with the work that the Board of Commissioners is doing and the feedback we receive from our residents,” stated Davis. “Warren County being represented in this organization is important, so that Warren County has a seat at the table when statewide policies impacting counties are being developed.”

“We are continuously working to improve the quality of life for Warren County from recent economic development project announcements, such as Glen Raven, and new residential development, to this opportunity with NCACC,” said Davis. “These accomplishments are all results of different tools in the tool box that we are using to change conditions for the better here in Warren County.”

Additionally, with Davis in this position, it is likely that this will serve as a pathway for Warren County to be represented in the role of NCACC President in the coming years.

NCACC is the official voice of all 100 counties on issues considered by the NC General Assembly, NC Congress, and federal and state agencies. The Association provides expertise to counties in the areas of advocacy, research, risk management, and education and leadership training.

Warren County is an NCACC member and benefits from participation in the organization in areas including: advocacy, education and conferences, risk management programs, research and data on policy issues, legal consultation and communication tools to help share the stories of North Carolina’s 100 counties.

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One Additional Death Reported; Increase in Spread of COVID-19 in Warren County

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County public health officials reported the latest fatality due to COVID-19 yesterday. The fatality was a 75-year-old resident. This brings the COVID-related death toll in the county to eight individuals.

At the time of this press release, the Warren County Health Department reports 558 positive cases of COVID-19 with 466 recovered cases and two individuals in the hospital. The Health Department is following 88 active cases as of 5 p.m. on November 17.

“Like other counties within the region and across the state, Warren County continues to see increases in new cases,” stated Dr. Margaret Brake, health director. “The percent of positive tests has increased from 2.5% in mid-September to 7.3%.”

On November 17, NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) launched the COVID-19 County Alert System to inform counties of their level of transmission of COVID-19 statewide. The system uses three metrics (case rate, percent of tests that are positive and hospital impact on a county) to place counties into three tiers: Yellow- Significant Community Spread; Orange-Substantial Community Spread: Red-Critical Community Spread.

According to NC DHHS officials, the system will update during the second week of the month.

Warren County is in the Orange Tier for the period of November 1, 2020 – November 14, 2020. Counties in the Orange Tier must have had at least 21 new cases in 14 days and also meet one of the following metrics: 8-10% positive cases or has a moderate impact on county hospital(s).

Warren County has 299 new cases per 100,000 population within the two-week period. This equals to 29.9 new cases per 10,000 people. Warren County cases have a moderate hospital impact. Brake shared that since Warren County does not have a hospital, the Warren County score for this metric is based on where the highest percentage of the county’s inpatient hospital admissions occurred.

The state has created a menu of actions that counties can take to slow the spread of COVID by individuals, businesses, and community organizations and public officials.

For county residents, some recommendations include wearing a mask at all times when you are not at home and maintaining physical distance from people who do not live with you; limiting the mixing of people who do not live in your household; avoiding settings where people congregate and large gatherings/celebrations; adhering to the no more than 10 people indoors for events.

Individuals who are at high risk for developing serious illness should consider staying home as much as possible and only going out for work, medical appointments or other business.

Other recommendations are that community and religious organizations should avoid any in-person indoor meetings, events, worship services, or other gatherings above the indoor mass gathering limit of 10 people.

For individuals who are caregivers, please take care to wear a mask and wash your hands when checking in on elderly parents or family members so that you do not spread the virus to them. If you are sick, please have someone else to check on your loved one.

All businesses are strongly encouraged to implement teleworking if feasible and cancel any non-essential travel. Businesses can also share messages about the importance of wearing a mask and practicing the 3Ws; post signs about the 3Ws at entrances in accordance with the executive order; provide face coverings to employees and patrons and support employees to stay home when they are sick.

Anyone who is sick or thinks he/she may have been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested for COVID-19.

For more information, please contact Public Health Director Dr. Margaret Brake at (252) 257-1185.

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Warren County Donates Equipment for VIPER Tower Improvements

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County completed the final task in its latest partnership with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) and the Warren County Firemen’s Association- the donation and handoff of approximately $174,000 of equipment to make public safety improvements to the VIPER towers (owned and maintained by NCSHP) in Warren County.

Currently, only Warren County EMS and the Sheriff’s Office have the equipment to communicate on the VIPER network. With the county’s support to fund grant writing assistance, the Warren County Firemen’s Association applied for and received a $702,900 federal grant – matched by $66,900 from Warren County in FY 20 – to purchase updated radio equipment for all volunteer fire departments to communicate on this network. The equipment on the VIPER towers still needs to be upgraded in order for these radios to work.

“This partnership with NCSHP is another level of growth in emergency services infrastructure for Warren County citizens,” stated Warren County Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Tare Davis. “This much-needed advancement of new-age communication allows our fire departments to have what is necessary to keep us safe and respond to our county’s needs.”

The funding for the equipment was included in the FY 21 budget in fire protection. The county was required by NCSHP to purchase this equipment in order for these improvements to be made; by donating the equipment to NCSHP, the equipment will be maintained and upgraded by the state moving forward.

“Warren County has chosen a prudent course for designing a reliable interoperability communication system among all public safety agencies within Warren County by partnering into the state-owned VIPER system,” stated Dennis Paschall, Director of Warren County Emergency Services. “This phase will bring VIPER interoperability into volunteer fire departments that is a critical component in having VIPER capabilities within all the public safety agencies for natural and manmade responses.”

“As a county commissioner and fire commissioner, I’m grateful we have entered into this commitment for our brave men and women of our fire departments who volunteer every day,” Davis said.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at (252) 257-3115.

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Warren County Releases First FY 2021 Budget Book

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Annually, the Warren County Manager’s Office works with the Finance Department to present a balanced budget that is then approved by the Warren County Board of Commissioners. The annual budget is then posted to the county’s website, which is a practice mandated by state statute but is also a best practice for organization transparency and public education.

For the FY 21 budget, Warren County has worked to create a budget book that puts the annual budget into a narrative framework with accompanying visuals. Instead of only presenting the ledger sheets to the public along with the budget message, Warren County has put those numbers into a broader context of county strategic development.

The FY 21 budget book is located at warrencountync.com on the Finance Department page.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at (252) 257-3115.

Rabies Alert

Skunk Tests Positive for Rabies in Warren County

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

A skunk that was taken on October 12, 2020, from Warren Plains Road in Warren County has tested positive for rabies at the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. The skunk was killed by the citizen’s dog. The dog’s rabies vaccination had expired, and the dog is currently under observation.

Dogs and cats not current on their rabies vaccination that come into contact with a rabid animal have very few options. One option is quarantining the animal for a period of up to six months at the owner’s expense; the second option is euthanizing the pet.

The top three wild animals testing positive for rabies in North Carolina continue to be the raccoon (number one), the skunk and the fox. The cat continues to surpass other domestic animals, such as the dog and livestock, in testing positive for rabies.

The feeding and keeping of stray and other unvaccinated cats presents a health risk to our communities and the animals themselves; this practice should be halted and is discouraged. The disposal of food scraps in yards and wooded areas attracts animals and is unsanitary. Residents are encouraged to dispose of food scraps by composting or placing scraps in covered rubbish containers to avoid attracting animals.

North Carolina law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets that are four months of age and older should be kept current on their rabies vaccination. Failure to vaccinate pets is a violation of state law and local ordinance and owners can face fines and criminal charges.

The Warren County Animal Control Department offers one-year rabies vaccinations. Vaccinations are available Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. for $5 each at the Animal Ark. Appointments can be made by calling the shelter at (252) 257-6137.

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Warren County Tops State in 2019 Tourism Expenditures Growth

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Domestic visitors to and within Warren County spent $31 million in 2019, an increase of 16.6% from 2018 ($26.65 million); this growth rate is the highest the county has seen going all the way back to 1990. This growth was the highest increase seen in all 100 counties in North Carolina from 2018 to 2019.

The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

“We, as residents, know that Warren County is a special place; it’s great to see that being recognized by visitors as well,” said Charla Duncan, Economic Development Director (Interim). “It’s encouraging to know that our existing businesses are feeling a positive impact from our tourism draw, and we hope that potential businesses can look at this growth and see the value of operating in Warren County.”

2019 state tax revenue generated in Warren County totaled $1.13 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. Approximately $2.75 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses. This translates into about $194 in tax savings per resident in Warren County.

Visitors to North Carolina set a record for spending in 2019. The $26.7 billion in total spending represented an increase of 5.6 percent from 2018.

These statistics are from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2019,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by the U.S. Travel Association.

“The numbers confirm the strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry as an anchor of economic development,” said Wit Tuttell, director of Visit North Carolina. “As the No. 6 state in the country for overnight visitation, we can attribute our success to the natural beauty and authenticity that visitors experience, and to a passionate effort to inform and inspire travelers. The money they spend benefits everyone by sustaining jobs and reducing our residents’ tax burden.”

 Statewide highlights include:

  • State tax receipts as a result of visitor spending rose 5.0 percent to more than $1.3 billion in 2019.
  • Visitors spend more than $73 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $5.92 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.7 million in state taxes and $2.2 million in local taxes).
  • The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 235,000 North Carolinians.
  • Each North Carolina household saves on average $551 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.
Warren Sewer Groundbreaking

Warren County Breaks Ground on Sewer Extension Project at Wise I-85 Interchange

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County broke ground last week on the Wise I-85 interchange sewer extension project. The project was initially approved by the Warren County Board of Commissioners in May of 2018 upon the award of a $200,000 GoldenLEAF grant. The total project budget is $428,331.

Warren County Board of Commissioners voted in 2019 to fully fund the project with additional financial support. The county looks to spur development at the state’s first interchange on I-85 with this infrastructure investment.

“This project speaks to the growth of Warren County, and it speaks to how the Commissioners view economic development,” said Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Tare “T” Davis. “This infrastructure utility puts us in a place to be an asset to the region for future development.”

The contractor for the expansion is H.G. Reynolds. Construction is scheduled to be completed within 120 days. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Friday, August 14 at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at (252) 257-3115.

Warren County Sewer Groundbreaking

Photo (L to R): Fred Stowe (Engineer and Project Manager, Rivers & Associates), Ray Spain (EDC Board Chair), Victor Hunt (Vice-Chair, Warren County Board of Commissioners), Bertadean Baker (County Commissioner), Tare Davis (Chair, Warren County Board of Commissioners), Representative Terry Garrison, Jennifer Pierce (County Commissioner), Walter Powell (County Commissioner), Vincent Jones (County Manager). (Photo courtesy Warren Co. Govt.)

 

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Warren County to Hold Groundbreaking for Wise Interchange Sewer Extension Project

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County is breaking ground this week on the Wise I-85 interchange sewer extension project. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Friday, August 14, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. A quorum of Warren County Board of Commissioners will be present.

The project was initially approved by the Warren County Board of Commissioners in May of 2018 upon the award of a $200,000 GoldenLEAF grant. The total project budget is $428,331.

Warren County Board of Commissioners voted in 2019 to fully fund the project with additional financial support. The county
looks to spur development at the state’s first interchange on I-85 with this infrastructure investment. The contractor is H.G. Reynolds. Construction is scheduled to be completed within 120 days.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at (252) 257-3115.

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Warren County Board Opens FY 21 Non-Profit Grant Funding Cycle

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County is now accepting applications for its FY 21 non-profit grand funding cycle. The FY 21 budget allocates $40,000 for this program. The grant program accepts applications on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply early. 

“I am excited that the Board of Commissioners has chosen to fund non-profits in our annual budget,” stated Vincent Jones, County Manager. “It allows the County to reach different segments of our community that may not be reached by our government services. That can run the gamut from recreation to arts to social services, and that’s a win for the County.”

Warren County adopted its current funding for local non-profit agencies policy in 2014. Funded services through this program must be equally available to all residents. 

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at 252-257-3115 or visit the website at http://warrencountync.com/776/County-Non-Profit-Grant-Fun

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Text-to-911 Now Available in Warren Co.; Residents Urged to Prioritize Calling 911

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County E-911 is pleased to announce that Text-to-911 capabilities are now in place. However, residents should choose to call 911 over texting whenever possible. Text-to-911 should only be used in extreme emergencies.

When using Text-to-911, texters must include their location/address and name. Telecommunicators cannot assist a texter if they do not have a location. No photos or videos should be sent via Text-to-911.

With Text-to-911, the caller has the ability to send a text message to reach 911 emergency call takers from their mobile phones. Whenever possible, the caller should continue to call 911 rather than text.

If the person in need attempts to send a text to 911 where mobile service is not available, providers will send an automatic “bounce-back” message that will advise you to contact emergency services by another means, such as making a voice call. Bounce-back messages are intended to minimize your risk of mistakenly believing that a text-to-911 has been transmitted to an emergency call center when it has not.

Those using Text-to-911 should not text and drive.

For more information, contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at 252-257-3456.