Briefs from the June 2010 issue of CountyLines

Harley riders honor Rockingham Commissioner Stanley

David Reece presents a plaque to Commissioner Bobby Stanley recognizing the efforts of an animal shelter committee.

Rockingham County Commissioner Bobby Stanley, who also serves as chairman of the county's Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, was honored May 8 during the Wolf Creek Harley Owners Group's second annual "Give Me Shelter" ride to benefit the Rockingham County Animal Shelter Fundraising Campaign.

During his comments, Stanley described how commissioners arrived at their decision to build a complete animal shelter, including a spay neuter clinic and adoptions bonding room.

"We looked at the whole thing very carefully, and we thought that the only way to keep operations costs down over time was to provide a clinic for spaying and neutering animals," he said.

Transylvania County gears up for 150th anniversary celebration

In preparation for its sesquicentennial celebration in 2011, Transylvania County has unveiled a 150th anniversary logo. A county Sesquicentennial Steering Committee has been meeting to plan events and activities for the year-long celebration.

Commissioner Mike Hawkins, who serves as chairman for the steering committee, said the group settled on four images – musicians, the county courthouse, a waterfall and tree, and a train – to include in the logo because they represent the county's history and culture.

The county was carved from Henderson and Jackson counties and created in 1861.

Former Alamance County Manager Scott dies

Hal Scott, who served as Alamance County manager from 1979-84, died May 19 at the age of 73. A U.S. Army helicopter pilot who was injured during the Vietnam War, Scott also served as Randolph County assistant manager from 1987-99. Prior to becoming Alamance County manager, he served as personnel director for Guilford County.

Scott was twice recognized as North Carolina Disabled Veteran of the Year, in 1970 and 2001.

Albemarle regional jail opens

The new Albemarle District Jail officially opened May 21 with a dedication ceremony at Pasquotank County Commerce Park. Construction on the $20 million, 248-bed facility began three and a half years ago. It will replace a facility that has a 90-bed capacity.

Wiring, plumbing, kitchen and office infrastructure at the new jail allows for up to 600 beds, and adjacent land is available should expansion be needed.

The jail serves Pasquotank, Perquimans and Camden counties.

Styron takes seat on Hyde board

Darlene Styron became the newest member of the Hyde County Board of Commissioners on May 25. She represents the Ocracoke Township and succeeds Eugene Ballance, who resigned the seat on May 19.

In his letter of resignation, Ballance said that he wanted to give Styron the opportunity to participate in the budget process.

"We have accomplished many good things for both sides of the Pamlico Sound," he wrote in the resignation letter. "I pray that many of these good things will continue."

During the May 25 meeting, Commissioners Sharon Spencer and Ken Collier expressed their appreciation to Ballance for his service on the board.

Duplin DSS director ends amazing 52-year career For the past 52 years, Millie Brown has been a mainstay in the Duplin County Department of Social Services. Her long tenure with the department, which included 43 years as director, ended April 30 following Brown's retirement. She began as a clerical clerk with the office on Oct. 1, 1957. The many groups recognizing her service included the Eastern Regional DSS Directors, which honored Brown on June 3 during a meeting in Carteret County. During the meeting, Sen. Charlie Albertson (in photo, at right) thanked Brown (at left) for her years of service.

Willis' death stuns, saddens Chatham County

Chatham County officials and staff are mourning the unexpected death of Jim Willis.

Willis, who died May 6, quickly developed an award-winning Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control (SESC) program for the county after joining the county as lead SESC officer in the Health Department in July 2006. The program moved under the Sustainability Communities Department in 2009.

"One reason that Jim was so successful in his role is that he had a huge personality and was very dedicated to his job," said Commissioner Chair Sally Kost. "He was in the unenviable role of regulating development activities, but Jim had a way of approaching folks. It truly was hard for them to be upset with him."

Rachael Thorn, the only other SESC staff member, is currently handling all SESC duties for the county.

Anson chair among graduates of Rural Institute

Several county officials – including Anson County Board of Commissioners Chair Anna Baucom, Jones County Manager Franky Howard, Surry County Assistant Manager Chris Knopf and Duplin County Planner Randall Tyndall – were among graduates of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Institute, which held graduation ceremonies May 7.

The Institute is an intense, three-month leadership training program sponsored annually by the Rural Center that offers an opportunity for leaders in business, government, economic development, civic groups and grassroots organizations to broaden their understanding of rural community and economic development and to hone their personal leadership skills. Wilkes mourns death of Shew

Former Wilkes County Commissioner Claude Eugene Shew Sr. died May 24 at the age of 79. A veteran of the Korean War and a retired farmer, Shew served on the Wilkes County board from 1982-86.

In addition to his service as a county commissioner, Shew served on boards for Clingman Community Center, Clingman Medical Center, the Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, Wilkes Community College and the N.C. Poultry Federation.

Smith retires after 34-year run as Caswell County clerk

After holding down the position of Caswell County Clerk to the Board since December 1975, Wanda Smith said goodbye May 25 during an emotional sendoff at the Historic Courthouse.

The retirement celebration drew more than 100 people. Smith received a plaque honoring her years of service from County Manager Kevin Howard. The county also announced that a brick inscribed with Smith's name will be added to the courthouse sidewalk.

"I've recorded the history for generations in the future to read and see what was going on in Caswell County, and I just feel very blessed and very fortunate that I was able to work in a job that I just loved in a county that I love with so many wonderful people," Smith said during the celebration, according to The Caswell Messenger.

New 'Public Records Law' publication now available

The School of Government has released the second edition of "Public Records Law for North Carolina Local Governments." Written by David Lawrence, the book reviews and explains the principal public records statutes applicable to records held by N.C. local governments and examines the public's right of access to those records. It expands the coverage of the first edition and its cumulative supplement and also includes developments in the law since 2004.

The book is for sale for $75 plus sales tax. To order, visit www.sog.unc.edu, click on the "Publications" link along the top menu bar.

Clay DSS makes pitch for facility

Clay County commissioners are considering a proposal for a $2.5 million facility for the Department of Social Services. DSS Director Debbie Mauney told commissioners in mid-May that the county would only have to chip in $113,200 to fund the facility, with a large chunk of needed funds coming by way of federal and state grants.

The currently cramped DSS occupies half of the first floor of the county's Community Services building and fails to meet a number of minimum space requirements around case workers and supervisors for client privacy, according to Mauney.

Henderson, Chatham receive bond rating boosts

Two major credit rating agencies have delivered good news to Henderson and Chatham counties.

In the process of reviewing the county's credit for the issuance of $28.1 million in taxable and tax-exempt limited obligation bonds, Standard & Poor's Rating Services raised its long-term rating on Henderson County's general obligation debt one notch to 'AA' from 'AA-'.

Standard & Poor's (S&P) upgraded Chatham County two positions to AA+. Moody's also upgraded the county two slots from A1 to Aa2. Chatham's overall ratings are higher than other counties of similar size and most surrounding counties, according to county officials.

Wake receives national recognition for 911 Communications Center

The Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center recently received the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) 2010 Horizon Award for Large 911 Centers. The award will be presented at the APCO International 76th Annual Conference in Houston in August.

The award is presented annually to acknowledge the efforts of communications centers that have proactively assessed and met the technological and operational needs of their center, employees and service population.

Among the services provided by the Raleigh-Wake center is an Automatic Vehicle Location system, which assures that the closest ambulance is dispatched to every call.

Four counties honored during NC3C conference in Cabarrus

Buncombe and Cabarrus counties were big winners in the North Carolina City & County Communicators' (NC3C) second annual Excellence in Communications Awards competition. Awards were presented April 29 during NC3C's third annual Spring Conference in Cabarrus County.

Buncombe and Cabarrus each received four awards. Union and Durham counties also received one award each.

Two county public information officers were elected to serve as officers of the organization: Buncombe's Judy Rhew Davidson as secretary and Caldwell's LouAnne Kincaid as treasurer.

Onslow gets in step with 275th anniversary
Onslow County celebrated its 275th birthday on April 24 by hosting a "Celebrate 275! Festival" featuring the military precision of the United States Marine Corp Silent Drill Platoon, along with musical and dramatic performances showcasing the diversity of the community. The county has held several activities in conjunction with the anniversary since October 2009, including art and flower shows, a "birthday ball," a 5k run/walk, door decorating contests, and readings by select authors. (Photo courtesy Onslow County)

SHORTS

Brunswick: Anthony Marzano began work as emergency services director May 17. He succeeds Randy Thompson, who retired in December. … Camden: The county has been awarded a total of $925,000 in grants by the N.C. departments of Commerce and Transportation to help build roads within a proposed 100-acre industrial park. In 2009, the county received a $2 million grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation to run water and sewer lines to the park site. … Chatham: Sam Groce was named director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Chatham County on June 7. Groce has served as an agriculture and livestock agent with the county extension program since 1993. He succeeds Glenn Woolard, who retired last year after 32 years of service. … Jason Sullivan was officially named planning director May 24 after serving as acting director since the retirement of Keith Megginson in October 2009. Sullivan first came to work for the county in December 2004 as a planner. He was promoted to assistant planning director in 2006. … Chowan: Peter Rascoe resigned as county manager in early June in order to become manager for the Town of Southern Shores. He served in the county manager role for two years. … Gaston: Commissioners voted May 27 to delay by two years a scheduled revaluation for 2011. … Graham: Steve Odom resigned his seat on the Board of Commissioners on June 7. A former sheriff, Odom was appointed to the board in 2009. … An early morning May 17 fire gutted a portion of the Sheriff's Office and forced the sheriff and deputies to move operations to a vacant bank building. Investigators arrested and charged a man in connection with the fire. … Hyde: Commissioners appointed David Smitherman to serve as interim county manager through the end of 2010. … Northampton: Board of Commissioners Chair Fannie Greene has been appointed by Governor Beverly Perdue to the North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission. The 17-member commission is comprised of 12 sheriffs, two ex-officio members, and appointments by the governor, Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tem. … Stokes: Paramedic Scott Brown has received the 2010 Honoring Dedication to the Community Award for Excellence in EMS from the Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Brown, who has served with Stokes County EMS since 1988, is the county's second winner of the award; Wayne Tilley was presented the inaugural award in 2005. ... Wake: The county sold $34.9 million of Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCBs) – taxable bonds for which the federal government reimburses the county 100 percent of the interest cost – on May 19. By issuing QSCBs as compared to tax exempt general obligation bonds, the county will save approximately $16 million in debt service costs over the life of the issue.