Tag Archive for: #westendcommunitywatch

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch to Meet Nov. 19

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch

West End Community Watch will meet on Tuesday, November 19, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall of West End Baptist Church on Dabney Drive. The speaker will be Shauna Gentry, Director of the Vance County Health Department.

Police will be present to give reports and hear concerns.

Please plan to attend. All are welcome!

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch to Hear City Watershed Presentation

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch

West End Community Watch will meet on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of West End Baptist Church on Dabney Drive in Henderson.

The speaker will be Clark Thomas, engineer, with the City Operations Center. Thomas will discuss the City’s watershed through the use of a PowerPoint presentation.

Law enforcement will be in attendance to give police reports and hear concerns from the floor.

This group meets every third Tuesday of the month except for the months of July and December.

Please plan to attend. Everyone is welcome.

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch Hears From City Operations Dept.

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Notes courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch

Andy Perkinson, Director of Operations for the City of Henderson was the speaker for the most recent West End Community Watch meeting held September 17.

The City Operations Department is responsible for water, sewer, sanitation, recycling, litter pick-up, storm drains, cemeteries and maintaining the city utility vehicles. Also, this department is charged with responding to 811 calls before someone digs on private property.

There are 52 employees and more are needed. There are only three leaf-shredder trucks for the entire city.

The old pipes in the city are a major challenge. The department cares for 280 miles of water pipes and 230 miles of sewer pipes.

It costs the city to recycle, but recycling is still encouraged because it keeps trash out of the landfill. Our landfills are filling up and, in the future, we may run out of places to take our trash and it will then go into the oceans. Sadly, only 19% of Henderson’s customers recycle.

Perkinson reminded everyone not to put yard debris in the recycling containers.

Leaves must be bagged in clear plastic bags, except when the shredders are picking them up. Clear plastic is required so employees can see that only leaves are in the bag. Bags are sold at the City Operations’ Center at a nominal fee.

The plastic bags cannot be taken by the debris truck; instead, the bags are emptied and put into garbage carts.

Yard debris and brush are picked up on the same day as garbage but by different trucks. Limbs cannot be longer than four feet. Also, there is a 200lb maximum. If the debris weighs more, a $75 minimum fee is charged.

Building materials are not accepted. Paint can be recycled on a special day that is well-publicized each year. Plastic grocery bags need to be returned to the store and not put in the recycle bin. Fluorescent light bulbs should be wrapped and put in the garbage.

Grass clippings are currently being picked up, but North Carolina law states they should not be collected. The state requires that grass be mowed and the clippings left on the grass.

West End Baptist

City Operations Director to Speak at West End Community Watch Meeting

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch 

West End Community Watch will meet on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at West End Baptist Church on Dabney Drive. Please plan to attend!

The speaker will be Andy Perkinson, Director of the City Operations Center. Police will be present to give an updated crime report.

See you there!

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch to Hear From Sheriff Brame, Law Enforcement

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch 

West End Community Watch will meet on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of West End Baptist Church in Henderson.

The speaker will be Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame. Police will be present to provide a report about recent police activity.

All are invited. Please plan to attend!

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch Hears From Planning Director on Required Permits

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Notes courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch

West End Community Watch met on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.  The speaker was Sam Hobgood, director of Planning and Development.

Hobgood explained that the planning and development end of his job involves property outside the City of Henderson.  However, his office is responsible for issuing permits and doing inspections of all new construction, additions, repairs, etc. in the entire county, with Henderson included.

Any change in the footprint of current structures requires a zoning permit, as well as building permits. Any construction costing over $15,000 requires a permit.

Those in attendance were surprised at the work which requires permits. Homeowners may perform their own electrical work if they own the land and will personally occupy it. Otherwise, licensed electricians must be hired. Reputable contractors will handle all aspects of the permits and will include the $55 fee in their bills. Homeowners should receive a copy of the permit, if they so request.

The addition of a microwave, ice-maker, toilet, gas heater, gas fireplace insert, etc. in a place where the item had not been previously requires a permit. Any change to the type of light fixture being installed requires a permit. Any new gas appliance, gas heater, air conditioning system, etc. requires a permit. Running a new electrical line to an existing outbuilding will, also, require a permit.

The addition of a detached carport which is larger that 12-feet in any measurement (height, width or length) requires a permit. Two sides of a carport may be enclosed, but not three because it is then considered to be a garage and would require a permit.  A portable carport not exceeding 400 square feet with a roof no higher than 12-feet does not require a permit.

A homeowner planning to do projects such as those mentioned should first call Planning and Development (252) 738-2080 to check about the legal requirements. Alternately, a licensed contractor should be called to handle the project. The contractor will then handle all necessary permits.

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch to Hear From City of Henderson – Tues., June 18

/by

-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch 

West End Community Watch will meet on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall of West End Baptist Church on Dabney Drive. The speaker will be Sam Hobgood, director of Planning and Development for the city of Henderson. Law enforcement will be present to listen to citizens’ concerns and give reports of recent police activity.

All are welcome, regardless of area of residence. The group meets the third Tuesday of every month except July and December.

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch to Hear From Local Historian at May Meeting

/by

-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch

West End Community Watch will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall of West End Baptist Church on Dabney Drive.

The speaker will be Mark Pace, local historian, who will discuss Henderson’s history. Law enforcement will be present for reports and to hear concerns.

Please mark your calendar and join us! All are welcome!

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch Hears From Daeke; Positive Changes Ahead for Henderson!

/by

-Notes courtesy Claire Catherwood

Notes from the West End Community Watch meeting held on April 16, 2019:

West End Community Watch met on Tuesday, April 16. The speaker was Garry Daeke. Daeke discussed the City Council’s progress and plans since his joining the council 12 years ago.

In 2006, the City Council was very short on funds and the city was in danger of shutting down. Finances are now greatly improved. Taxes are not expected to be increased any time soon.

Many streets need resurfacing, and they are now being done. Resurfacing is very expensive.

City employee salaries had to be increased because Henderson has not been keeping up with the pay for city employees in neighboring cities. The city is still not on par with surrounding areas.

New equipment has been added; this is also very expensive.

About 80% of city employees’ time is spent on water, sewer, and street maintenance. The city has 100 miles of water and sewer line.

Asked about the THM pollutant in the city water supply, Daeke noted that Henderson was “just over the edge” in recent tests.  The problems existed only at the “dead ends” of water lines that were all outside of city limits.

The City Council realizes that changes must be made in housing and is working towards redevelopment through private and public funding. Cost is the problem. Some of the plans are expected to be “very unique.” Attention is being placed on the entryways to the city; particularly Highway 39/Andrews Avenue. Lighting and signage will soon be added to some areas.

Downtown development is expected soon. An outdoor theater on Breckenridge Street, just outside the police station, has been contracted and will be the final stage of “Breckenridge Commons.” Also, a grant has been procured for a park to be developed at the site of the old Vance Hotel.  An “open-air market” and a park, to include a “splash pool,” is planned for the site.

Beckford Drive is to be widened soon. Original plans included Beckford being wider when first built, however, due to inflation, the money saved was insufficient by the time the road was built.

Dabney Drive is being redesigned. There are currently two separate, projected plans. One widens Dabney Drive only as far as Parker Lane. The second widens it all the way to the Hardees location.

Additional businesses are coming to Dabney Drive. A coffee shop and a bank are soon to be added to the new Aldi’s. After that, additional shops are expected to open. These will add to the traffic in this already congested area.

Daeke said he is pro-sidewalks, but they are very expensive. With the city population decreasing, little progress has been made on building sidewalks.

The council is trying to get more kids involved with the Recreation Center. There are many activities available to Henderson children, but many parents are not aware of offerings. To name just a few opportunities, Henderson has PALS, The Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the “Y”, the Henderson-Vance Recreation Department, Fox Pond Park, Aycock Recreation Center, Rollins Park, the Perry Memorial Library, etc.

From the floor, it was suggested that the police department and/or the City Council post a list on social media so that parents can see the many options open to their kids.

The City Council, realizing that the perception of the city needs to change, is soon to start a trash and litter program. Also, not enough people recycle. Daeke would like to see the existing garbage carts become recycle bins and smaller carts be used for garbage. Both of these goals require a change in the mentality of our citizens.

Complaints are often issued about the cost of the city’s water. Daeke noted that our water is actually much lower than areas around Henderson; however, it is expected that our rates will soon increase. Our sewer rates are, admittedly, already high.

The group asked about the development behind the hospital. Daeke noted that this is outside city limits and beyond the responsibility of the city council.

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch to Meet Tues., April 16

/by

-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch

West End Community Watch will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., at West End Baptist Church.

The speaker will be Garry Daeke, City Councilman. Law enforcement will be present to hear concerns and make reports.

All are welcome!