Briefs and shorts from the May 2010 issue of CountyLines

Orange County Commissioner Valerie Foushee (right) presented Shirley Wiggins with the Outstanding Leadership Award from the N.C. Association of Black County Officials on Aug. 29, 2009. (Photo by Jason King)

Perquimans County mourns death of Commissioner Wiggins

Shirley Wiggins, who became the first woman and the first African American to serve as a Perquimans County commissioner when she took office in 1992, died April 18 at the age of 77. She was in her 18th consecutive year on the county board at the time of her death.

"Shirley was a longtime county commissioner and has been an integral part of the decision-making of our board," Board Chairman Mack Nixon said in a statement. "She has especially been an advocate and voice for our county's children, senior citizens and veterans. Her spirit and dedication has led to many improvements for all Perquimans County citizens, and her influence will continue for years to come. She has been a model for character, leadership and unselfishness for us all."

Commissioners had yet to appoint anyone to Wiggins' seat at press time for this issue of CountyLines.

Wake County digs in
More than 40 years after Wake County erected its last courthouse, commissioners and other court and public safety officials broke ground on the county's future Justice Center on May 10. The planned 577,000-square-foot facility will hold up to 22 courtrooms and two court hearing rooms, as well as meeting space for the Board of Commissioners and various offices for court officials and county personnel. It is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2013. The building has been designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Participants in the "dirt turning" ceremony included (from left to right, beginning with sixth from left) Vice Chair Betty Lou Ward, Commissioner Joe Bryan, Sheriff Donnie Harrison, Chairman Tony Gurley, Commissioner Lindy Brown, County Manager David Cooke, and Commissioners Stan Norwalk and Harold Webb. (Photo by Jason King)

Iredell County seats successor to late Godfrey Williams

Frank Mitchell rejoined the ranks of county commissioners April 20 after being sworn in as a member of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. Mitchell, a former county commissioner (1990-92) and state representative, filled the seat on the board that became vacant March 6 following the death of Chairman Godfrey Williams.

Mitchell will serve through November. The person to serve out the remaining two years of Williams' term will be elected in November. The board also elevated Vice Chairman Marvin Norman to chairman, and voted Steve Johnson as vice chairman.

Earlier in April, the county honored Williams by presenting his widow with a plaque that will be displayed in the government center.

Nash County mourns death of longtime chairman Mayo

Longtime Nash County Commissioner and Chairman J. Claude Mayo Jr. died April 27 at the age of 82. Citing health reasons, Mayo resigned his seat in February 2009, bringing to an end his tenure on the Board of Commissioners that began in 1981.

Mayo was appointed chairman in 1990 and held the post until his resignation. He was lauded for his economic development efforts during his more than 27 years on the board.

Person County board votes to delay revaluation

Person County joined multiple counties across the state in delaying a scheduled property revaluation. The county voted April 19 to delay the revaluation until 2011. The county, which is on a four-year revaluation schedule, last conducted a revaluation in 2005. Commissioners also voted in 2009 to delay revaluation.

Several counties – Alexander, Burke, Dare, Davidson, Lee and Wilkes – indicated in a recent NCACC survey that they had delayed scheduled revaluations until 2013. Moore County has delayed its next revaluation until 2015. Lincoln County said it has moved up its revaluation from 2012 to 2011.

Haywood County commissioners on April 26 discussed delaying the county's next revaluation by a year to 2011.

Graham turns to Duvall as county manager

Graham County commissioners hired Mickey Duvall, who served as a Macon County commissioner from 1996-2000, as county manager in late April. Duvall has for the past five years served as economic development director for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Duvall succeeds Lynn Cody, who resigned March 22. Assistant County Manager Kim Crisp has served as interim county manager since then.

Durham campaign rewards residents for recycling

Durham County kicked off its "Recycle and Win Campaign" in mid-April. The campaign lasts 15 weeks and rewards one household per collection day for recycling properly. Each randomly selected winner receives a pair of Durham Bulls game tickets, an all-you-can-eat buffet meal and souvenir cap. The campaign concludes Aug. 3.

"'Recycle and Win' rewards county residents who recycle their items at the roadside," said Brian Haynesworth, waste reduction specialist for the county's General Services Department. "It's a win-win scenario that helps the environment and increases the rate of participation of recycling in Durham County."

Carteret appoints interim manager

Carteret County welcomed Wayne Deal, a retired county manager who most recently served in Nash County, as its interim county manager April 19. He succeeded John Langdon, who retired April 16 after six years in the position. The Carteret County Board of Commissioners made a special presentation to Langdon, thanking him for his service, during its April 19 meeting.

Chatham to form task force to study uses for historic courthouse

Chatham County began soliciting the public April 19 for members to serve on a task force to study and make recommendations to commissioners about the use of the Historic Courthouse once it is reconstructed. Commissioners were to make task force appointments May 17.

The task force will be charged with identifying multi-purpose functions for the courthouse and making recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on the optimum combination of these uses. It is to complete its work by August.

"Although the fire was a tragedy for this community, we need to look at the rebuilding process as an opportunity," said Board Chair Sally Kost.

Less than a week after the courthouse burned, leaving little but the four exterior brick walls, commissioners voted to rebuild the historic courthouse, which was built in 1881.

Institute of Emerging Issues looks to 'Unleash Creativity'

The second of two free webinars offered by the Institute for Emerging Issues designed to share information about how to unleash creativity in communities will be held June 2. The first webinar was to be held May 20. The webinar is an opportunity to learn from others who are leading their communities' efforts to develop and implement strategies to cultivate creative businesses, individuals and community assets.

To register for the June 2 webinar, which will be held from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., visit www2.gotomeeting.com/register/467107330.

Wilkes County seeking approval for sales tax increase in June

Wilkes County voters will decide June 22 – the date of the second primary – whether to support a referendum on the quarter-cent sales tax. The sales tax increase would bring Wilkes an additional $1.15 million annually, according to County Manager John Yates.

County officials say they are trying to avoid cutting services and have maxed out options for cutting current expenses by implementing a series of budget reductions, mandating employee furloughs, offering early retirement and delaying the start of a new jail.

At least one other county – Robeson on Aug. 3 – has a referendum scheduled on the quarter-cent sales tax.

Since counties were granted the local option by the General Assembly in 2007, 15 counties have received voter authorization to implement the tax.

Craven's Allen reappointed to state health task force

Craven County Commissioner Lee Kyle Allen, a member of the NCACC and National Association of Counties boards of directors, has been reappointed to the Governor's Task Force for Healthy Carolinians. Allen is a past president of both the National Association of Local Boards of Health and the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health, an NCACC affiliate organization.

Craven hires assistant manager

Jack Veit, who worked as an assistant manager under former Carteret County Manager John Langdon since 2005, assumed the assistant county manager position in Craven on May 10. He succeeds Ray Moser, who retired Feb. 1.

Since 2007, Veit oversaw capital projects and 10 county departments.

Wayne celebrates boost in bond rating
Wayne County received some good news in April from Standard & Poor's, one of the nation's three major credit rating agencies, which raised its long-term rating on the county's outstanding general obligation debt to AA- from A+ based on continued strong financial performance despite recessionary pressures. In its report, the rating agency said that the county's outlook was stable. During its May 4 meeting, the Board of Commissioners offered its congratulations to county staff for excellent fiscal management. Pictured from left to right (back row) are Commissioners Andy Anderson, Steve Keen and John Bell; County Manager Lee Smith; Commissioners Bud Gray and Sandra McCullen; Vice Chairman J.D. Evans; and Chairman Jack Best. Finance Department employees are (front row, left to right) Janice Rice, Paige Serlick, Allison Speight and Finance Director Pam Holt. (Photo courtesy Wayne County)

Onslow's Smith leads Tax Collectors Association
The North Carolina Tax Collectors Association, an NCACC affiliate organization, installed a new slate of officers April 22. Pictured above, from left to right, are Secretary Cathy Booker of Pitt County, Vice President David Reid of Transylvania County, President Harry Smith of Onslow County, and Treasurer John Petoskey of Union County. Among award winners, Forsyth County's Betty Hodges was honored as Outstanding Tax Employee of the Year for her continued work in Forsyth County and for the Association at large in the area of tax collections.

Pitt County commissioners promote Hines to clerk

Kimberly W. Hines, who joined Pitt County in 2001 as deputy clerk, was appointed clerk to the board April 19.

Hines holds a Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation and is working toward the Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation. She received her North Carolina Certified Clerk designation in January 2010. She is a member of the North Carolina Association of County Clerks and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

Longtime Madison County Chairman Ledford dies

James Ledford, who served 16 terms as chairman during his 20 years on the Madison County Board of Commissioners, died April 18 at the age of 84. Ledford took office in December 1970 and served through 1986. He was again elected in 1990 and served through 1994.

One of his two sons, John Ledford, is director of the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division.