Briefs and shorts from the June 2011 issue of CountyLines

Cabarrus County voters approve quarter-cent sales tax referendum

Cabarrus is the 19th county in the state to receive voter approval to levy an additional quarter-cent sales tax. The referendum received an approval rating of more than 59 percent on May 17.

The tax will take effect on Oct. 1.

The $4.6 million in estimated annual revenue will be used to avoid a property tax increase that the county was facing as it pays down $500 million in debt resulting from the construction of 17 new public school facilities and 18 school renovations or additions during the past decade. According to the county, a 2.2-cent property tax increase would have been needed if the referendum were to have failed.

Cabarrus is just the second county to hold the referendum in 2011. The other – Halifax – received voter approval on Feb. 1. Buncombe and Orange counties have taken steps to hold the referendum on Nov. 8. Fifty-four counties have held 78 referendums on the Article 46 sales tax since the local revenue option was granted to counties by the General Assembly in 2007.

Rob Boyette succeeds late father on Wilson County board

The Wilson County Board of Commissioners on May 16 accepted the Democratic Party nomination of Rob Boyette to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Boyette's father.

R.S. "Sid" Boyette died April 28, less than six months into his third four-year term. He was serving his first term as board chairman.

Rob Boyette is a 31-year employee of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, currently in the Division of State Historic Sites.

"My father thought a tremendous amount about Wilson County, about District 5, and about all the citizens in the county," Boyette told commissioners May 16. "He particularly thought that the job you do is very, very important. He took it seriously ... I will do exactly the same thing: Take it seriously, study, learn and listen, and speak, particularly when I feel there are issues that need to be discussed in front of the people."

Jenkins makes move from Robeson to Cumberland

Rodney Jenkins was to resign his position as Robeson County assistant manager June 20 in order to become deputy director of human services with the Cumberland County Health Department. He will begin his new job July 5.

Jenkins has served with Robeson County since January 2009, heading up the county's risk management and safety efforts, and overseeing several departments, including emergency management, EMS, veterans services, human resources, and planning and zoning.

Jenkins succeeds Jane Stevens, who retired at the end of 2010 after 36 years with the Health Department.

N.C. Rep. Winkie Wilkins swears in Person County Chairman Jimmy Clayton to the Energy Policy Council with the aid of Clayton's wife, Betsy, who holds the Bible. (Photo courtesy Jimmy Clayton)

Person County chairman appointed to state's Energy Policy Council

Person County Chairman Jimmy Clayton was appointed by Governor Beverly Perdue in May to the North Carolina Energy Policy Council. He was sworn in May 16 by Rep. Winkie Wilkins, who represents Person County and part of Durham County in the N.C. House, for a term that will continue until Jan. 31, 2015.

Clayton is currently in his third term on the Person County Board of Commissioners. He was first elected in 2000, and served as vice chairman from 2004-10.

Clayton chairs the NCACC's Environment Steering Committee, of which he has been a member since 2005, and sits on the Association's Board of Directors. He has served on the Board for six of the past seven years.

Clayton is a part-time employee of the Granville-Vance District Health Department and is retired from State of North Carolina Children's Environmental Branch. He worked almost 20 years for Person County in environmental health. In June 1998, Clayton was awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine.

He was honored as Region "K" Outstanding County Elected Official in 2009. He is involved in the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments and is a member of the Orange-Person-Chatham Mental Health Board, the Person County Social Services Board, the Upper Neuse River Basin Association, the Person County Emergency Planning Committee, and Partnership for Children.

A Person County native, Clayton received an associate in agriculture degree from N.C. State University in 1967.

The governor appoints 12 of the 16 members of the Energy Policy Council, which is the state's central energy policy planning body with responsibility to develop and recommend a comprehensive long-range state energy policy for effective management and use of present and future sources of energy – including efficiency; renewable and alternative sources of energy; research and development into alternative energy technologies; and improvements to the state's energy infrastructure and energy economy. Two members are appointed by the Speaker of the House and two are appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

New SOG guide covers available revenue-raising mechanisms

The School of Government has released a new publication, "Local Government Revenue Sources in North Carolina," by Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government Kara Millonzi.

Part of the Local Government Board Builders series, the 39-page publication provides a survey of the general revenue sources available to local governments in North Carolina, advice on how funding mechanism(s) for a local government can be chosen, and the varied legal implications of charges and procedures. Specifically, for each revenue source, the guidebook identifies the type of local government (county, municipality or both) authorized to employ the revenue-raising mechanism, specifies any special eligibility or procedural requirements, and describes generally for what purposes the revenue may be expended.

The guide is available for purchase for $25 (plus tax and shipping) via the SOG website, www.sog.unc.edu. Click on the "Publications" link in the upper-right corner of the page, and search for the title or enter "2011.05" in the search field.

Portman set to replace Norwalk on Wake County board

Erv Portman, a Town of Cary councilman, was nominated by the Wake County Democratic Party in late May as the replacement for Stan Norwalk, who resigned his District 4 seat on the Board of Commissioners earlier in the month.

Portman, whose term on the Town Council ends in December, indicated that he would not step down from his seat until Cary had adopted its annual budget. Once he resigns his town council position, the Board of Commissioners can legally appoint him to the county board, although the board is not required to accept the Democratic Party's nominee.

If accepted by commissioners, Portman would serve Norwalk's remaining term until December 2012.

Overman makes move from Martin County to Carteret

Russell Overman, who has served as Martin County manager for the past six and a half years, was set to move to the same position in Carteret County by late June.

Overman was to step down in Martin County on June 21 after wrapping up the budget process. His 28-year local government career includes stops with Hertford County as finance officer (1982-89) and as manager for the Town of Ahoskie (1989-2004).

Since John Langdon retired in April 2010 after six years as manager, Carteret County has seen two managers – Duncan Ballantyne, who was on the job for less than six months before resigning in February, and Wayne Deal, who held the interim manager position prior to and following Ballantyne's tenure.

Former Bertie County Manager Jack Williford will assume duties as interim manager for Martin County following Overman's resignation.

Hardison to retire from Coastal Regional Solid Waste post

Allen Hardison will retire at the end of July after 13 years as executive director of the Coastal Regional Solid Waste Management Authority.

Hardison is a longtime member of the Association's Environment Steering Committee.

Following retirement, Hardison will continue on an interim basis with the authority until a successor is ready to take over. The authority serves three member counties (Carteret, Craven and Pamlico) and 28 municipalities.

Buncombe, Cabarrus counties showcase redesigned websites

At least two counties – Buncombe and Cabarrus – launched updated websites in May.

Buncombe County's new design (at www.buncombecounty.org) incorporates more space for social media and videos, and increases accessibility to information most requested by citizens.

Cabarrus County touted its redesigned website (www.cabarruscounty.us) as providing "an improved user experience to enhance the findability and search of desired information, to increase transparency of county operations, and to showcase Cabarrus County as a great place to live and work." The new-look home page highlights recent news; upcoming public meetings, programs and events; major initiatives; a recent video; and popular links.

Jails in various stages in three counties

An overhaul of the 1928 Buncombe County Courthouse includes a nine-story addition on the building's east side with elevators, stairs and restrooms. Construction on a new facility for courts is scheduled to begin later this year, with an estimated completion in 2014.

As Yadkin County made plans for a new jail and Moore County saw progress being made on its future detention center, Buncombe County watched as its old jail began to be taken apart.

Yadkin County commissioners voted June 6 to build a $6 million, 72-bed jail addition next door to its existing facility, which was built in 1968 and holds 29 inmates. The 25,560-square-foot addition could be ready to open as early as 2013.

Moore County saw the walls of its future jail begin to rise in early June. Construction on the $27.2 million, 147,000-square-foot building began in the fall of 2010, and the detention center won't be ready to accept inmates until late 2012. It will sleep 192 inmates, with expansion capacity of 324. The facility will also serve as home to the Sheriff's Office and emergency services.

In Buncombe County, a courthouse renovation includes the removal of the jail that sits in the upper five floors. The space will be renovated to make way for offices for probation officers and personnel for the pre-trial release and day reporting programs.

The jail was used from 1928-96. The old metal cell bars were being cut into smaller pieces and evacuated by a large crane via holes in the courthouse's roof.

Larger meeting room in works for Buncombe commissioners

Buncombe County commissioners and administration should have a new home by the end of the year. Work was to begin by the end of June on renovations to the 9,000-square-foot "Carolina First" building located on College Street, a block from the board's current home. The renovations are estimated to take no more than six months.

In addition to a larger meeting room for the Board of Commissioners, the facility will include offices for the county manager, county attorney and support staff.

The board moved its meeting quarters from the courthouse in 2009. The current meeting room can accommodate 82 attendees, and overflow crowds have occurred. There is also no smaller available meeting room to accommodate closed-door sessions. The new meeting room will seat 120 people, and a planned training room equipped with a television can seat overflow crowds.

In addition, recently passed legislation will allow the board to expand from five to seven members in 2012.

The county's social services attorneys and their staff will occupy the facility to be vacated by county commissioners and administration.

Renovated courthouse, library annex a hit in Jackson County

Some Jackson County leaders are viewing the recently completed library annex – added to the scenic and renovated 1913 courthouse – as a tourist attraction and key cog in the county's future economic development efforts.

The county held a grand opening ceremony for the $8.6 million library on June 11.

"It's going to be huge, a huge draw," Mary Otto Selzer told The Sylva Herald. Selzer helped raise funds for library furnishings. "It is going to be a destination."

The restored historic courthouse includes a 2,500-square-foot courtroom for functions, as well as office space for the county's arts council and genealogical society. The new 22,000-square-foot library annex sits at the back of the building.

"I tell every tourist who comes in here about it," Linda Worley, who works in the county's Chamber of Commerce, told The Herald. "It is just magnificent — such a draw."

Massey awarded by Alamance Community College

Linda Massey

Alamance County Board of Commissioners Chair Linda Massey was honored May 26 as Alamance Community College's 2011 Distinguished Alumna. She was nominated for the award by Sheriff Terry Johnson and Director of Social Services Susan Osborne.

Massey completed business and computer classes at the community college in the early 1990s, and used its university transfer program toward a bachelor's degree in political science from N.C. Central University. She also holds a real estate broker's license from the community college.

"I've used the community college for years, and they've just been a great resource," Massey told the Times-News of Burlington. "It's wonderful we have this community college in Alamance County."

Massey was elected in 2008 to her first four-year term on the Alamance County board. She is a retired medical records supervisor with the Orange County Health Department.

The Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award is for an ACC alumnus or alumna who has excelled in his or her career.

SHORTS

Cabarrus: Erica Nesbitt has been appointed budget and performance manager. She has spent the past 10 years in various roles with Mecklenburg County, most recently as fiscal administrator/budget manager for the Information Services and Technology Department. … Onslow: Scott Shuford resigned June 3 as planning director, a position he has held since January 2009. He will become development services director for the City of Fayetteville. … Warren: Commissioners voted June 6 to outsource housekeeping services, eliminating 10 part-time jobs and one full-time position. The county estimates a $70,000 annual savings.