Archive for January, 2022

Veterans Services Announces Expansion to Southern Granville Office Location

Posted January 31, 2022

Granville County Veterans Services will open an office in Creedmoor to better serve the residents of southern Granville County. Veterans Services staff will begin operation of the southern office at 1546 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor on Wednesday, February 23 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The office is located at the existing Sheriff’s Office Satellite location beside the South Branch location of the Granville County Public Library. This location will be staffed by Veterans Services on the third Wednesday of each month.

This location will provide Veterans with assistance processing forms for license plates, tax relief, and hunting licenses. The Creedmoor location will also allow Veterans in southern Granville County the opportunity to drop- off paperwork locally without making the round trip to the main office located at 141 Williamsboro Street in Oxford. To set up an appointment at either Veterans Services location, Veterans should call (919) 693-1484. Currently, walk-ins are not permitted.

The Creedmoor location also provides the opportunity for additional programming sponsored by the Granville County Veterans’ Affairs Committee. A Veterans support group will meet at the Creedmoor office twice a month starting Monday, February 28 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. This group will be open to Veterans of all ages from all service branches and will meet on a drop-in basis with no attendance requirements. The purpose of these support group meetings will be to hold informal gatherings of Veterans for fellowship, conversation, and comradery. This will also be an opportunity to introduce services provided by the Veterans Services Office for those who may be unfamiliar. The new southern Veterans support group will supplement the existing group that meets in Oxford weekly on Mondays at the Granville County Senior Center (107 Lanier Street, Oxford) from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

“On behalf of the Granville County Veterans’ Affairs Committee, we sincerely appreciate the efforts and support the Committee has received from the Granville County Board of Commissioners, Granville County Sheriff John Hardy, and County Manager Michael Felts,” said Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Michael Turner. “We are thrilled to expand the services provided to Veterans in Granville County. The Veterans’ Affairs Committee believes this new location will provide a positive impact for Veterans and their families that reside in southern Granville County.”

The opening of a new Veterans Services location aligns with Granville County’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan to provide convenient access to services for all residents in Granville County. This office location was made possible with the support of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office to allow shared access of their Creedmoor Satellite Office to provide these additional County services.

For more information about the Granville County Veterans Services Office, call (919) 693-1484 or visit the Granville County website.

For more information about the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, visit the Granville County website.

Human Relations Commission Martin Luther King, Jr. Virtual Program

Posted January 27, 2022

MLK Essay Contest High School Winners

1st Place Ellys Edgecombe – Granville Academy

2nd Place Cassandra Lewis – J.F. Webb High School

3rd Place Christa Kilduff – Granville Early College

Honorable Mention Phaith Royster – J.F. Webb High School

Honorable Mention Illana Morales – Granville Academy

MLK Contest Middle School Winners 

1st Place Angel Crawford – Northern Granville Middle School

2nd Place Melody Crawford – Northern Granville Middle School

3rd Place Roger Lynch – Norther Granville Middle School

Honorable Mention Alayna Forsyth – Butner-Stem Middle School

Honorable Mention Ashton Littleton- Butner-Stem Middle School

Robert Blackwell Award Winner

John Wimbush

Keynote Speaker

Rev. James Isaac, New Hope Granville Missionary Baptist Church

Greetings – Telessie McGhee

Invocation – Kechia Brustmeyer-Brown

Purpose – Rev. Dennis Daniel

MLK Essay Contest Selection Process – Dr. Linda Jordon

MLK Essay Contest Winners – Ethel Anderson

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” – Mary Potter Community Choir

Introduction of Keynote Speaker – William Betts

“We Shall Overcome” – Mary Potter Community Choir

Closing Remarks and Benediction – Rev. John Gooch

Notice of Public Hearing February 7, 2022

Posted January 25, 2022

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 February 7, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter. The meeting will be held remotely by ZOOM video/conference call. Efforts will be made during the meeting to receive verbal comments from interested individuals attending the remote meeting. Written comments received prior to the opening of the Public Hearing will be considered and may be sent to Debra Weary, Clerk to the Board, 104 Belle St. Oxford, NC 27565. Zoom meeting information can be obtained by contacting the Clerk’s office at 919-693-5240 prior to meeting.

The purpose of the public hearing is to hear the views of the public on aiding and encouraging the relocation and expansion of industrial facilities in Granville County, specifically as follows: the relocation and expansion of a manufacturing company in Granville County to expand its existing facility. The company will invest approximately $5.7 million and employ potentially 24 new employees. The maximum cost of the County-funded improvements will be up to $32,500 in accordance with the County funding policy to serve as a 50% match of $25,000 towards the $50,000 One NC Grant and a 5% match of $7,500 towards the $150,000 Building Reuse Grant awarded by The North Carolina Department of Commerce.  

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.

Rob Montague Receives Governor’s Award for Customer Service

Posted January 25, 2022

Stream Restoration Grants Now Available

Posted January 24, 2022

The Granville County Soil and Water Conservation Office is seeking eligible properties to participate in a new program to fund preventative improvements to local waterways and reduce flooding hazards in Granville County via the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

A total of $38 million dollars is now available for a new program in North Carolina that aims to reduce flooding across the state’s waterways. The N.C. General Assembly approved the money to create the StRAP. It allocates money for projects that protect and restore the integrity of drainage infrastructure.

Projects could include:

• Clearing debris or sediment that has blocked streams and drainage ways.
• Stabilizing and restoring streams and streambanks.
• Rehabilitating or improving certain small watershed structural projects that were previously constructed.

“This is a monumental step to help us prevent future flooding,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “While we have previously secured federal and state money to clear debris from waterways after flooding events such as hurricanes, those efforts were reactive approaches that were part of disaster recovery funds. StRAP now allows us to be proactive in clearing waterways so we can hopefully reduce flooding and protect people’s property before the next big flood event happens. I’m grateful that the General Assembly understood the need for this program.”

Interested property owners are encouraged to contact Granville County Natural Resource Conservationist Byron Currin at (919) 693-4603 or byron.currin@granvillecounty.org to explore the feasibility for StRAP funded projects.

January 20, 2022 Planning Board Meeting Cancelled

Posted January 20, 2022

The Planning Board meeting originally scheduled for Thursday, January 20 has been cancelled due to the forecast winter weather.

The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. 

Notice of Remote Meeting January 18, 2022

Posted January 14, 2022

Due to the recent rise in Covid numbers, the Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet remotely by Zoom conference call for regular meetings through March 2022. This includes our regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

Please contact the County Administration Office at 919-693-5240 to receive the registration link.

Public comments will be accepted in written format and must be received by Tuesday, January 18th, at 12:00 p.m. by mail to P.O. Box 906, Oxford, NC 27565 or email to grancomrs@granvillecounty.org.

January 18, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Offices Closed but County to Host MLK Virtual Event on January 17

Posted January 13, 2021

Granville County Government Offices will be closed on Monday, January 17 in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Normal hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, January 18 at most locations.

Branches of the Granville County Library System will be closed from Saturday, January 15 through Monday, January 17. Normal hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, January 18. Visit the Granville County Library System website for more information about regular branch hours.

The Granville County Animal Shelter will be closed to the public on Monday, January 17. Normal hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, January 18. Phone lines will be answered by Animal Management staff or 911 Emergency Communications when the shelter is closed to the public. Call 919-693-6749 to receive assistance for Animal Management needs.

911 Emergency Communications will be staffed 24 hours a day throughout the holiday. Dial 911 in the event of an emergency.

MLK Virtual Event

Utility Assistance Programs Offered by Department of Social Services

Posted January 12, 2022

The Granville County Department of Social Services offers assistance programs to support residents who may otherwise have challenges paying utility bills. The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) are both available through the Department of Social Services for assistance with electric and/or gas heating bills or for water/wastewater utility services.

LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program)

Some households in Granville County may qualify for assistance with their heating bill during the winter. Depending on the heat source, eligible households may receive $300, $400, or $500 (in the form of a one-time payment) toward their heating bill through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

Those interested in applying for this assistance –– should provide this information when applying:

• Valid identification
• Social security numbers for everyone in the home
• Proof of income for the month prior to the application
• A heating bill that indicates the account number

Every household must complete an application. If approved, payments will be made directly to the heating provider.

If applying for someone else, applicants should provide a signed permission statement from the person they are representing.

Applications are currently being taken and will continue through March 31, or until funds are exhausted.

LIHWAP (Low Income Household Water Assistance Program)

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a temporary emergency program that will help eligible households and families afford water and wastewater services, providing a one-time payment for eligible low-income households paid directly to the utility company. LIHWAP runs through September 2023 or until the funds are exhausted.

Currently all three groups are able to apply:

• Group 1 – Households that have had water services disconnected.
• Group 2 – Households that are in jeopardy of water services being disconnected unless action is taken to prevent the disconnect.
• Group 3 – Households that have current water services bills and need assistance to maintain service.

To safely and better serve our customers who need assistance, apply online. Other ways to apply are over the phone by calling (919) 693-1511, mail in application to Granville County Department of Social Services, 410 West Spring Street in Oxford, fax application to (919) 693-5090, or drop off the application in our secure drop box available to you at any time.  

Recreation Grant Applications Now Available

Posted January 7, 2022

The Granville County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Committee is accepting grant applications for the 2022-2023 grant application period until Feb. 7, 2022. Follow this link to download the application.

Granville County’s Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Programming Funds are used to facilitate the development and support of active and passive recreation and leisure activities for Granville County residents.  The objective is to make these activities available to as many residents as possible, and to include a broad spectrum of participants, especially in areas of the county that are underserved by recreational opportunities (such as the southeastern portion of the county) or have not received prior funding.  Recreation programming should seek to serve all age groups.  The Granville County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Committee Bylaws prohibit discrimination in the use of funds.

The application will be available online or by hard copy from the Granville County Planning Department’s Office in Oxford. All applications must be submitted by Feb. 7, 2022 by 3 p.m. Applications should be submitted by email to justin.jorgensen@granvillecounty.org, or in person/by mail to the Granville County Planning Department, 122 Williamsboro Street, P.O. Box 877, Oxford NC, 27565.

Applicants must be a government entity or non-profit organization. While those interested in applying for these funds do not have to be a registered 501c-3, it is encouraged.

Submitted requests may not exceed $25,000.

To learn more about this grant, contact Justin Jorgensen, Senior Transportation Planner, by phone at 919-603-1332 or by email at justin.jorgensen@granvillecounty.org.