Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

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TownTalk: Why Vance County Gets Zero from State Budget

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It’s sort of like a high school student who didn’t follow the directions to complete an assignment – that’s the way one caller likened the situation that Vance County finds itself in with regard to earmark projects in the new state budget.

Vance County is one of three counties among the state’s 100 counties that received no money for special projects. On Monday’s Town Talk, John C. Rose heard from several callers who offered their perspective on the issue.

“If you took our list of needs in Vance County and compared it to any one of the other 97 other counties that received money from this appropriations bill, you would see that our list of needs grows a lot longer than most,” one caller said.

“My family stopped buying the city water over two years ago – ever since we started having issues at the treatment center. We pay our water bill every month, of course. But we don’t drink it and we don’t cook with it. In essence, this household pays for water twice.

“I can’t think of a bigger failure on the political front in my lifetime,” he continued. “I probably won’t see a failure this big anymore.”

“We missed our opportunity – big time.”

Other callers offered similar sentiments and said more than state politics, local officials should be held more accountable.

“I think that it had nothing to do with politics,” another caller stated. “There are people that are supposed to keep up with all that stuff,” she said. “Grants and all the things that come to Vance County (have) to be applied for…that was a big, big oversight on Vance County personnel. “They don’t just give (money) to people who act like they don’t want it,” she added.

“I put all the blame on Vance County,” she said.

One caller said everyone in Vance County should be upset about not getting our share of money in the state budget. “We need the money – it is just crazy that we’re not getting this money.”

 

 

Slicing The Budget Pie And The Budget Process

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Despite efforts by local government leaders, Vance County and Henderson were on the short end of the stick when it comes to the recently passed $52 billion state budget. Rep. Terry Garrison said he has some ideas about why it happened that Vance County didn’t receive any funding for earmark projects.

He said in a phone interview earlier today (Friday) with John C. Rose that it all boils down to politics.

“There is absolutely no question about it,” he said. “(Politics) accounts for why we didn’t get any of the earmarked money.”

It’s common for local leaders to discuss funding projects with their representatives in Raleigh informally before the formal request for funding is made, Garrison said.

There was a formal request for funding help with the Kerr Lake Regional Water System, but Garrison said it was made in August, after the April 30 request period had ended.

But Garrison also said he, along with State Sen. Mike Woodard (District 22) tried to get some money for the project, “but it didn’t happen. If the politics had been different, I feel like it would have been included.”

Garrison and Woodard are Democrats; House Speaker Tim Moore, who met with the Vance County and Henderson contingent, is a Republican.

Politics aside, Garrison did have some encouraging words for future funding for the regional water system.

“There are some funds that have been earmarked for water and sewer. I don’t think the door is completely closed…to get some funding assistance.”

Garrison said the request process works like this: he submits a formal funding request to the House Democratic caucus, which in turn presents it to the budget committee for inclusion in the budget.

Garrison did vote to approve the budget, which was long overdue. “There were a lot of things in the budget that were good for North Carolina and good for Vance County,” he said, mentioning salary increases and bonuses for teachers, rural broadband support and funding for community colleges.

“On that basis, I supported it – the good outweighed the negative.”

Unfortunately, the negative included no earmarked projects for Vance County or Henderson.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon offered his understanding about special projects. “For all intents and purposes (they) are earmarks for politicians that are loyal to the prevailing party.” Right now, the prevailing party in the legislature is the Republican party.

“We made a case to our state representatives and it was not well received by the leadership in the N.C. General Assembly.  We will continue to make requests and apply for funds at the agency level to hopefully assist with many of the projects here in Henderson that need additional funding,” Blackmon said.

The regional water system did get a boost of $3.5 million, Blackmon said, thanks to Congressmen G.K. Butterfield and David Price. However, the federal government is operating on a continuing resolution because it has yet to pass a budget.

“Most of the projects appear to be in Republican districts and/or districts where Democrats voted for the Republican budget passed by the NC General Assembly,” Blackmon said of the state-funded projects awarded to 97 of 100 counties.

“It does seem to come down to politics,” Blackmon said.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Garrison concurred.

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: A Proper Foundation

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

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TownTalk: Vance Gets $0 From NC Budget

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The recently passed state budget was more than two years in the making. There seems to be something for everyone. Almost everyone, that is. Vance County is among only three counties in the state that received no funding.

Nothing.

The big question is: Why?

Finding that answer may not be so simple. But one thing seems clear: Vance County did not receive any funding for projects earmarked for counties from the $3.1 billion appropriations bill that Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law last month.

Currituck and Chatham counties are the other two counties that didn’t receive funding, according to a recent analysis of the budget by the News & Observer.

Granville County got more than $45 million – the bulk of which is slated for South Granville Water and Sewer Authority in southern Granville County. Warren County got $300,000 and Franklin got a total of $1.8 million for three projects.

There are 628 pages that comprise the Senate Bill 105, which outlines details of the budget. And nothing in those 628 pages is earmarked for Vance County. According to the budget bill, Vance-Granville Community College was  awarded more than $7.3 million, so perhaps some of that money will find its way to Vance County.

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington told John C. Rose in an email today (Thursday) that he was among a contingent of city and county officials that paid a visit to House Speaker Tim Moore. Ellington said he, along with City Manager Terrell Blackmon and county commissioners Tommy Hester and Archie Taylor went to Raleigh and were told that “no money was requested from our representatives in the House or the Senate.”

Terry Garrison represents Vance County in the state legislature, as does Sen. Ernestine Bazemore. Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen suggested that Garrison or Bazemore may have more information about what McMillen called “political maneuvering” in Raleigh.

“Sadly it comes down to the ugly side of politics,” Ellington said in an email Thursday to WIZS News. Ellington said the group asked Moore to “overlook that and make an exception for us, being that we were sitting in his office and had made the special trip.”

According to Ellington, Moore said he would look at the request again but that the budget had already been determined.

“Upon returning to Henderson, I spoke with Rep. Terry Garrison and he said he had been trying but being from the opposite party it came with strings attached and he couldn’t answer the quid pro quo. Our state Senator Ernestine Bazemore has been very sick and has basically not able to participate at all. This went on for another month before the 2021 budget was actually signed so something could have been done,” Ellington continued.  Despite a couple of visits by Sen. Phil Berger to the Henderson/Vance County area, “it wasn’t enough to help us.”

He said the overdue budget, the ongoing power struggle between the Speaker of the House, the Senate Pro tem and the governor have put Henderson in a “tough spot.”

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NC Forest Service

Burn Ban Still In Effect For Vance, Granville And 31 Other Counties

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The burn ban issued last month remains in effect for Granville and Vance counties, although more than two-thirds of the state saw the ban lifted Wednesday. That means all burn permits previously issued have been cancelled for the time being, and other types of fires – including campfires and leaf burning – are not permitted. Vance/Granville Ranger Rob Montague reminds all area residents that 67 counties have been removed from the list in light of recent rainfall, but weather conditions in Granville and Vance remain such that the ban is still in effect, Montague said.

For more information, contact Ranger Rob Montague at rob.montague@ncagr.gov or 919.693.3154 or view the original press release at  https://www.ncforestservice.gov/news_pubs/newsdesk_2021.htm#11292021.

 

TownTalk: Garrison And Sossamon To Make Bid For NC House 32 Seat

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This post has been updated after originally posted to reflect the latest information.

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Henderson-Vance Chamber Banquet Set For Jan. 27, 2022

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The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting and banquet in January 2022, during which time the Vance County Citizen of the Year will be announced.

The meeting and dinner will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 at the Vance-Granville Community College civic center, according to information from Chamber President Michele Burgess.

Current board chairman Dr. Levy Brown will recap the year’s successes and incoming board chair Ronald Bennett will announce member benefits and program initiatives for the new year.

Burgess said invitations are forthcoming, so check your email inboxes for those as well as for sponsorship opportunities for the banquet.

A video is being produced to spotlight community pride in Henderson and Vance County which will feature interviews with local business leaders discussing the benefits Chamber membership provides.

“If you or your business has seen a direct benefit from your chamber membership, please email us a short statement that we can share or if you would be willing to be interviewed for our video about why you belong to our Chamber,” Burgess stated. Email comments for the video to michele@hendersonvance.org.

Nominations for the citizen of the year award are due before Jan. 6, 2022. Request a nomination form and guidelines from the Chamber at 252.438.8414 and return it via email to Burgess or mail a paper copy to the Chamber, P.O. Box 1302, Henderson, NC 27536.

This annual award honors a member of the community for outstanding service and long commitment to Vance County and Henderson.

Granville Chamber Banquet Set For Jan. 24, 2022

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The Granville County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual membership meeting a nd banquet on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 at the Vance-Granville Community College civic center. The organization is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, and has as its guest speaker North Carolina native and basketball legend Phil Ford, according to Chamber Executive Director Lauren Roberson.

Ford played for UNC-Chapel Hill and was named National Player of the Year, First-Team All-America, and ACC Player of the Year. He also helped the US team bring home the gold in the 1976 Olympics under coach Dean Smith.

The John Penn Citizen of the Year award winner also will be announced at the banquet. Nominations are due to the Chamber office by Jan. 4, 2022. Contact the Chamber at 919.693.6125 for more information or to get a nomination form.

The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 each; seating is limited at the VGCC civic center to observe COVID-19 social distancing protocols. An RSVP is requested by Jan. 12, 2022.

Sponsors for the banquet include:
Presenting Sponsor: Spectrum Medical Solutions
Gold Sponsors:
Certainteed
Duke Energy
Granville Health System
Hicks & Koinis, PLLC
Silver Sponsor:
Oxford Preparatory school
Bronze Sponsors:
Rogers Property Group
Union Bank-Oxford
Wake Electric Membership Corporation