Posted September 6, 2023
The Granville County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 5 at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center. The meeting featured a welcome for two county employees starting in new positions along with recognitions of service and achievement for several county residents.
The Board of Commissioners extended a welcome to Veterans Services Officer Albert “A.J.” Spiess who began his tenure with Granville County in 2022 and was promoted to his current position in August 2023. Granville’s new Deputy Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Karen Evans was also introduced at this meeting after starting work with the county the same day.
Howard Tyler was recognized for his twenty-eight years of service to the Granville County Planning Board. Commissioner Tony Cozart thanked Tyler for his decades of service to the county and the citizens of District 4. Chair Russ May and Commissioner Zelodis Jay then recognized the thirty-year career of recently retired NC State Highway Patrol Master Trooper Joe Sinnema. Sinnema spent the entirety of his career patrolling Granville County and quickly rose to the rank of Master Trooper in 2002 after beginning his Highway Patrol career in 1995.
Commissioners Zelodis Jay and Jimmy Gooch also recognized Ronnie Norwood, Elnora Morehead, and Patricia Penn for their medal winning performances in the National Senior Games held in Pittsburgh, PA. Norwood received a gold medal in the cornhole competition and Morehead and Penn won the silver medal in the bowling competition.
The Board also conducted the following business:
- Received an update from Granville County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne and approved a joint Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars and the Ratification of House Bill 306 (School Calendar Flexibility/Granville & Vance).
- Received an update from Upper Neuse River Basin Association Executive Director Forrest Westall.
- Received an update about Granville County’s participation in the NCDOT Fall Litter Sweep scheduled for September 15.
- Held a public hearing and approved a $300,000 incentive ($275,000 cash and $25,000 grant match) for Altec Industries to expand their existing facility in southern Granville County. The cash incentive will only be paid out after increased tax revenues resulting from the expansion are received by the county.
- Held a public hearing and approved a $25,000 grant match incentive for Auction Direct USA to open their new facility in Oxford.
- Held a public hearing and approved a $22,500 grant match incentive for Bridgestone-Bandag to expand their existing facility in Oxford.
- Approved the purchase of remote-control lighting for GAP Phase II youth baseball and soccer fields at a cost of $21,795.
- Approved the purchase of 100 oversized and 56 regular sized cots for emergency shelter use. Funding was made available from the federal Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) revenue.
- Approved funding for a part-time paid firefighter position at the Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department to match the same level of funding provided to all other fire districts in Granville County.
- Appointed Cynthia Ratliff and Marvin Davis to the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Committee.
- Appointed Sandy Woody to the Oxford Board of Adjustment.
- Approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Creedmoor for the shared Grants Officer position.
- Approved Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Amendment #1.
- Approved North Granville Senior Center Project Ordinance.
- Approved tax refunds, releases, and write-offs.
- Approved a request that NCDOT abandon 0.2 miles of Fleming Road between US Highway 15 and Northside Road.
- Approved Federal Title VI Civil Rights Program for Granville County Senior Services.
- Approved Minutes from January 3, 2023; January 17, 2023; February 6, 2023; March 20, 2023; April 3, 2023; April 17, 2023; and May 1, 2023.
- Received an update from County Manager Drew Cummings about the scheduled County Manager listening sessions that will be held in each county district from September through November. The first session will be Thursday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stem Ruritan Club (3595 Old NC 75, Stem).
To stay informed about upcoming meetings of the Granville County Board of Commissioners, visit the Granville County website www.granvillecounty.org where you can sign up for the “Sunshine List” and follow the county on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GranvilleCountyGov. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center.