Archive for July, 2019

Back to School Safety Tips

Granville County Sheriff Brindell B. Wilkins, Jr. offers some safety tips for drivers and for students as the new school year approaches. “We can all learn from the safety tips below and abide by them to make Granville County safer for everyone,” Sheriff Wilkins said.

Drivers should:

·       Remember to not block crosswalks and to yield to pedestrians, taking extra care in school zones;

·       Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians;

·       Never pass a bus loading or unloading children;

·       Stop far enough behind a stopped school bus to allow students to safely enter and exit the bus, remembering that the area ten feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children.

Students walking to school should:

·       Always travel with a friend – two heads are better than one, especially if there’s an emergency;

·       Remember that a stranger is anyone you or your parents don’t know well;

·       Never get close to a car driven by a stranger. You could get pulled in. And never get in the car;

·       Never tell anyone your name or address when you’re walking. Don’t think that because someone knows your name that they know you – they may just be looking at your name printed on your lunch box, school bag or tee-shirt;

·       Always tell your parents or teacher if a stranger has approached you.

Those riding bikes should:

·       Know the rules of the road. Ride single file on the right side of the road, come to a complete stop before crossing the street and walk the bike across;

·       Watch for opening of car doors and other hazards;

·       Use hand signals when turning;

·       Wear bright-colored clothing;

·       Always wear a helmet that is fitted and secured properly.

“By taking the time to carefully prepare for these situations, we can ensure student safety, whether on the way to school or home, playing on a playground or riding bikes,” Sheriff Wilkins concludes. “Let’s have a safe start to the new school year.”

Contributions of school supplies are now being accepted at the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, located at 143 Williamsboro Street in Oxford. Donated items will be delivered to local classroom teachers before the first day of the new school year. For more information about this project, call 919-693-3213.

For more safety tips, visit the National Safety Council Website at www.nsc.org.

Changes in Medicaid requirements to be effective Nov. 1, 2019

Changes to Medicaid requirements will take effect on Nov. 1, 2019.  While most recipients will see no changes to the services they have been receiving, enrollment through a health plan will be required.

A health plan – through Medicaid – is a group of doctors, hospitals and other providers that will work together to provide healthcare to meet collective needs. The goal is for every medical service – physical health, mental health and medicine – to come through the same healthcare plan. A primary care provider (PCP) should also be selected to assist with health care needs, which could be in the form of a family doctor, clinic or other health care provider.

Granville County is in the first phase of the Medicaid transformation, with recipients to be enrolled by a Sept. 13 deadline.

Recipients who already have a primary care provider may keep the one they already have or choose a new one. If a PCP or health plan is not selected before Sept. 13, the Granville County Department of Social Services offers a reminder that one will be chosen for you; however, depending on the type of health services needed, a small number of recipients will be able to continue enrollment through NC Medicaid Direct.

A series of informational and enrollment events have been scheduled through the Granville County Department of Social Services to guide local Medicaid recipients through the process of determining eligibility and/or selecting a health plan and primary care provider. These sessions will be held in various locations across the county and are scheduled for:

·       July 31, 9:30 until 11:30 a.m., Granville County Expo and Convention Center, 4185 Hwy. 15 in Oxford;

·       Aug. 9, 2 until 4 p.m., Granville County Expo and Convention Center, 4185 Hwy. 15 in Oxford;

·       Aug. 14, 9 until 11 a.m., Granville County Senior Services, 107 Lanier Street in Oxford; and

·       Aug. 23, 10 until 11:30 a.m., South Granville Country Club, 2539 Sam Moss Hayes Road, Creedmoor (temporary location for South Granville Senior Center).

Participants are asked to bring valid identification or the notification letter sent from the Department of Health and Human Services which states, “there will be a new way to get Medicaid Health Care.” It is also recommended that recipients who are senior citizens should bring a trusted family member or friend to assist in the selection process.

If unable to attend any of these events, an outreach specialist is available for assistance at the Granville County Department of Social Services, 410 West Spring Street in Oxford, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services notes that there are several health plans Medicaid recipients can choose from. To learn more about the health plans available in NC Medicaid Managed Care, visit ncmedicaidpland.gov/choose/compareplans.

For a list of doctors for each health plan, or to enroll, visit ncmedicaidplans.gov, use the NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app or call 1-833-870-5500. A language line is also available.

For eligibility information or for questions about Medicaid’s new requirements, contact Beverly Ferrell, Granville County Department of Social Services, at 919-693-1511.

Legal notice of public hearing

At their meeting on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, the Granville County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. or later in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room in the Auditorium of the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South in Oxford.

The purpose of the public hearing is to hear public comments on the following zoning map amendment (rezoning) petition:

Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning) Petition

Z-2 2019

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Colletti, Applicants, Parcel located on US Highway 158

Mr. and Mrs. Colletti are requesting to rezone a parcel located on US Highway 158 from Neighborhood Business (NB) to Agricultural Residential 40 District (AR-40). The parcel is more specifically identified as Tax Map #099300358470. 

Changes may be made in the advertised proposal, which reflects debate, objections and discussions at the hearing. Any interested citizen is invited to attend.

For additional information or public examination, contact the Granville County Planning Department, 122 Williamsboro Street, PO Box 877, Oxford, NC 27565; phone 919-603-1331 or fax 919-693-6794.

Granville County to expand internet access to rural areas

Granville County has joined neighboring Vance and Franklin Counties, through an initiative of the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, to improve internet connectivity and availability issues throughout the county.  This past June, the Granville County Board of Commissioners approved a seven-year contract with Open Broadband LLC to expand services of fixed-wireless broadband internet service into unserved and underserved areas of the county.

“Applying for jobs, access to medical records, access to student coursework and online banking all require good internet infrastructure,” said Open Broadband CEO Alan Fitzpatrick. “Affordable internet options also help address the ‘digital divide.’ We believe everyone should have access to home broadband internet service.”

In August of 2018, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) led a joint broadband enhancement Request for Proposal (RFP) for the tri-county region, with each county to implement its own contract and strategy. In Granville County, the installment process will begin in the northwest portion, which is currently the most unserved area. The county is currently in the planning and research phase of how the wireless routers will be placed. As the service expands, more areas will be selected to be included as deployment continues.

“During the RFP process, we identified sectors of the county where broadband is in most demand,” explains County Manager Mike Felts. “Over the course of this project, we will be addressing the entire county, but want to make sure we’re starting in areas that are currently unserved, so that everyone will have access to high-speed internet.”

Open Broadband is now accepting waitlist signups for enhanced services that range from 25 to 50 Mbps speeds. In certain areas, 100 to 1,000 Mbps speeds can be offered. Those on the waitlist will receive regular updates on the progress of the network build and will be contacted once service is made available in their area.

Granville County residents interested in being included on the waitlist should visit the Open Broadband website at https://openbb.net/granvilleco/ or call 919-205-5400, if internet access is not available. Those interested in this initiative are also encouraged to attend a series of community information meetings, which are now being scheduled.  The first meeting will be held on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m., with a location to be determined. More information about these meetings will be announced when available and can be found at http://www.granvillecounty.org/government/county-commissioners/broadband-initiative/.

Open Broadband, LLC is currently working with 18 other counties within North Carolina to provide hybrid fiber and fixed wireless solutions for broadband services, along with providing gigabit fiber or fixed wireless internet to residential and business customers. Engineers of the North Carolina-based company will also identify existing assets to install their equipment (for example, water towers, communication towers, church steeples, silos, etc.).

Open Broadband’s customer support service is based in Wilson, NC.

“We are pleased to be awarded the contract with Granville County to bring service to those in need,” said Fitzpatrick.

For more details about this project, please contact Charla Duncan, Management Analyst, at 919-693-5240 or charla.duncan@granvillecounty.org.

Notice of Public Hearing

All interested persons please take notice that a public hearing will be held by the Granville County Board of Commissioners pursuant to N.C.G.S. 158-7.1 on August 5th at 7:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter in the auditorium of the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, located at 4185 US Hwy 15 South, Oxford, North Carolina.

The purpose of the public hearing is to hear the views of the public on aiding and encouraging the location or expansion of industrial facilities in Granville County, specifically as follows: the expansion of an existing industry.  The company will invest approximately $8,745,000 and employ potentially 72 new employees.  The maximum cost of the County-funded improvements will be up to $25,000 in accordance with the County’s funding policy.  This project will be funded with general County operating funds.  The cost to the County of the County-funded capital improvements will be offset by new tax revenues generated by the company’s capital investment in the project over a period not to exceed five years.

The public benefits to be derived from the making of these improvements include the development of industrial properties which will increase the County’s tax base to better provide for County services, and to increase employment opportunities within the County.

All interested citizens are invited and urged to attend.

Notice of Public Hearing

Granville County is considering applying to the North Carolina Department of Commerce for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Economic Development.

The CDBG program permits a wide range of development activities to occur which are directed towards promoting the creation or retention of jobs, enhancing income levels and providing local employment opportunities principally for persons of low and moderate income through 1) economic development and 2) public infrastructure. Applications for CDBG assistance must show that at least 60 percent of the CDBG funds proposed for each activity will benefit low and moderate income persons.

Granville County will conduct a public hearing on Monday, August 5, 2019 at 7 p.m. or shortly thereafter, in the auditorium of the Granville County Expo and Convention Center located at 4185 US Highway 15 South in Oxford. The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain citizen input into the identification of economic needs and desired economic development activities. The input from the public hearing will be incorporated into the County’s consideration and submission of a CDBG application to the Department of Commerce. Written comments received prior to the opening of the public hearing will be considered and may be sent to Michael Felts, County Manager, 141 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC 27565.

This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request.  Please contact Debra Weary at 919-603-1307 for accommodations for this request.  

Esta información está disponible está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Póngase en contacto con Debra Weary at 919-603-1307 de alojamiento para esta solicitud.

Committee selects Juvenile Crime Prevention programs

The Granville County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) has selected five programs for its fiscal year 2019/2020 programming. Programs are funded from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 and serve juveniles of a broad range of ages and risk levels. All programs selected for funding have a history of working with the Granville County JCPC.

Granville County Cooperative Extension was selected for its “4-H BEST” program, which includes the Community Service restitution program as well as the Teen Court and Family Connections programs.

Granville County-based nonprofit Shepherd Youth Ranch was selected for “Trails to Success,” an interpersonal skills building program that utilizes Equine Assisted Learning. The nonprofit was also selected for “Reins of Change,” an anger management and interpersonal skills building program that operates in select Granville County schools.

Also selected was Youth Villages, a Durham-based organization, for its family counseling and wraparound program “Community Connections.” This program guides efforts to build constructive relationships and support networks for youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System.

The Boys and Girls Club was selected for “Positive Action,” an interpersonal skills building program designed to create productive, caring and responsible citizens.

The N.C. Department of Public Safety partners with JCPCs in each county. The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice allocates approximately $22 million to these councils annually. State funding provided to Granville County’s JCPC totals $141,524 for the 2019/2020 fiscal year. Granville County matches state funds at a rate of 20 percent, which adds an additional $30,962 to the JCPC’s annual budget.

According to the N.C. Department of Public Safety, the JCPC’s responsibilities include:

• Reviewing the needs of juveniles in the county who are at risk of delinquency or who have been adjudicated undisciplined or delinquent and reviewing the resources available to address those needs;
• Determining the services needed to address those problems areas and develop a request for proposal for services in need;
• Submitting a written funding plan to the county commissioners for approval;
• Evaluating program performance;
• Increasing public awareness of the causes of delinquency and strategies to reduce the problem;
• Developing strategies to intervene, respond to and treat the needs of juveniles at risk of delinquency; and
• Providing funds for treatment, counseling, or rehabilitation services.  

Local JCPC board members are appointed by the Granville County Board of Commissioners. Meetings are held monthly on the second Friday of each month at 10 a.m., unless otherwise noted. The first JCPC meeting of 2019/2020 will be held on Sept. 13 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, 4185 U.S. Highway 15 South in Oxford. All JCPC meetings for the year will be held at this location and are open to the public. All business discussed during these meetings is considered public information.

To learn more about the Granville County JCPC and how to refer youth to the 2019/2020 programs, contact Granville County JCPC Coordinator Charla Duncan at charla.duncan@granvillecounty.org. Individual programs may also be contacted directly about referrals.

Mobile printing now available at local libraries

Welcome to the Granville County Library System’s mobile print service! With this new addition to a long list of services already available, library patrons can use their personal computer or mobile device to print to the library’s printers from anywhere! Documents can be submitted for printing, then be picked up at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford or the South Branch Library in Creedmoor by presenting a valid library card.

How to use from home or work:

• Visit the Granville County Library System’s website at https://granville.lib.nc.us;
• Select Thornton Mobile Printing or South Branch Mobile Printing;
• Select the printer and enter your email address;
• Browse your computer to find and select the file you wish to print;
• Click the forward button to prompt the status of your print job and a reference number;
• At the Print Release Station in the library, select “Release a Print Job”;
• Enter the mail address you provided and select your print job.

How to print from tablet or smartphone app:

• Visit your device’s “store” for apps;
• Install and launch the PrinterOn app;
• Click “No printer selected”;
• Click “Search”;
• Search for GCLS Thornton Library or GCLS South Branch Libray.

It’s that easy!

For more details, call the Thornton Library at 919-693-1121 or the South Branch at 919-528-1752, or visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/.

Granville County awards recreational grants

At their July 1 meeting, the Granville County Board of Commissioners approved the Granville County Recreation Advisory Committee’s recommendation for its FY 2019/2020 recreation grant program. The Board awarded a total of $111,817 in mini-grants to organizations throughout the county to support recreation projects.

The committee received thirteen applications for the 2019/2020 Recreation Grant, with requests totaling $261,605. The number of applications and total dollar requests are the highest ever submitted to the recreation mini-grant program.

After hearing committee recommendations, Commissioners unanimously agreed to recommend project funding to the City of Creedmoor, the City of Oxford, Granville County Senior Services, the Town of Stovall, the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Butner, the Town of Stem, the Grassy Creek Community Center, Hopping Frogs Forest School and the Toler Reach Out Club.

For more information about grants available through the Granville County Recreation Advisory Committee, contact Charla Duncan at (919) 693-5240.