Archive for January, 2024

Call for Advisory Board and Committee Applicants

Posted January 31, 2024

The Granville County Board of Commissioners is seeking qualified applicants to fill roles on several citizen advisory boards and committees. Most positions will be filled by citizens who reside in the district listed, but final appointment decisions are at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners. Additionally, some positions must be filled by residents that reside within the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction of a municipality (ETJ), which is roughly a one-mile radius outside of the municipal limits. These appointees serve as county representatives on those municipal advisory boards.

Applications are available on the Granville County website at this link. Completed applications should be returned to Debra Weary, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners, by email at debra.weary@granvillecounty.org, hand delivered in person to the County Administration Office located at 104 Belle Street in Oxford, or by mail to PO Box 906 Oxford, NC 27565 to the attention of Debra Weary.

To verify your district, please visit the NC State Board of Elections website. Look for the district number beside “County Commissioner” under “your jurisdictions.” If you need additional assistance, contact the Granville County Addressing and GIS Mapping Coordinator at 919-692-1278.

Detailed information about each committee can be found on the Granville County website. 

Vacant seats are available for the following boards and committees:

– Butner Board of Adjustment (ETJ, should reside in District 7). The Butner Board of Adjustment meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

– Butner Planning Board (ETJ, should reside in District 7). The Butner Planning Board meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

– Granville County Planning Board (District 7). The Planning Board meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

– Granville County Social Services Board (At-Large County Appointment). The Social Services Board meets monthly on Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

2024 Tax Revaluation Information

Posted January 30, 2024

In the coming weeks, property owners in Granville County will receive letters that will show the tax values of their property. The tax value of each property must be updated with a regular “revaluation” as required by the State of North Carolina. As will come as no surprise to anyone who has watched the real estate market in the last few years, most property owners will see an increase in their property values. An increase in tax value could result in a higher tax bill, but this will only be decided after local elected officials including the Granville County Board of Commissioners decide on the tax rate during the annual budget process this spring.

How will the 2024 revaluation affect my taxes?

Two factors contribute to property taxes: 

– The property’s assessed value.

– The tax rate per $100 of assessed value, which is set each year by elected officials.

Granville County will be required to identify and publish a revenue neutral tax rate. The revenue neutral tax rate is calculated by determining a tax rate that would generate the same amount of revenue as the previous year after allowing for normal growth. Considering the overall increase in property values, the revenue neutral tax rate is likely to be lower than the current tax rate.  As of this writing, the revenue neutral tax rate is still being calculated. A future announcement will include that information.

As part of the annual budget process, the County Manager will recommend options to the Board of Commissioners for the tax rate needed to fund Granville County services. After a series of public meetings and a formal public hearing, the Board of Commissioners will approve a tax rate as part of the annual budget ordinance. This will occur no later than June 30, 2024, and the new tax rate will be reflected on 2024 tax bills.

Why is this happening?

North Carolina requires a regular property revaluation and Granville County last completed this process in 2018. The revaluation process sets the tax value of all land (residential and commercial) and structures like homes, office buildings, stores, and farms. Property tax is Granville County’s largest source of revenue to fund key services like public education, law enforcement, social services, and a host of other community and public services.

Property taxes are based on assessed value and revaluations ensure that the assessed property value is up to date and reflects changes in the market.

What’s next? Where can I find additional resources?

The new values will be available soon to property owners on the Granville County website along with a tool called “Comper” that allows property owners to compare their values to others. All Granville County property owners will receive mailed notices. Property owners wishing to appeal their new assessed value will be able to do so by utilizing the “Comper” tool and providing additional evidence to Tax Administration staff that may have been unknown during the revaluation process.

Granville County will continue to provide additional information to residents on the Granville County website.

If you have any questions, staff in the Granville County Tax Administration Office are ready to help you. Call 919-693-8161 or email reval.2024@granvillecounty.org

Invitation to Bid – Granville Athletic Park Trail Project

Posted January 29, 2024

Sealed bids must be submitted no later than 2:00 PM on February 22, 2024, to Granville County at the Granville Development Services Office, 122 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC 27565. Bids will be opened and read publicly for the furnishing of materials, labor, and equipment for the construction of the Trail Repair Project. Electronic bids will not be accepted.

Approximate quantities involved are as follows:

ESTIMATED PROJECT QUANTITIES

± 334 TN Greenway Trail Patching – 6” Depth

± 1924 LF Shoulder Rehabilitation

Including but not limited to: Mobilization, traffic control, temporary signage, and all other associated work. The quantities displayed above are estimates.

Complete digital bidding documents are available at http://withersravenel.com/bid/ or www.questcdn.com. You may download the digital documents for $30.00 by inputting Quest project #8928249 on the website’s search page. Please contact QuestCDN.com at 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com for assistance in membership registration, downloading, and working with this digital project information.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held for this project at 11:00 am on February 13, 2024, at Granville Athletic Park (GAP) Conference Room (4615 Belltown Rd, Oxford, North Carolina 27565).

Granville County is not responsible for bidders relying on incomplete bid documents.

Contractors offering a proposal on this project must be licensed to do the specified type of contracting in the State of North Carolina. All bids must include a non-collusive affidavit. Contractors offering a proposal on this project must comply, and must ensure that their subcontractors comply, with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes, “Verification of Work Authorization,” and must provide documentation or sign affidavits or any other documents requested by Granville County demonstrating such compliance.

Each proposal shall be accompanied by a bid deposit in the amount of not less than five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid in the form and subject to the conditions provided in the Instruction to Bidders.

Granville County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

Board of Elections Meeting Cancellation and Continued Meeting

Due to delays in the Logic & Accuracy Testing of our voting machines and the length of time involved to test the machines due to the number of ballot styles, the absentee meeting that is set for Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm has been cancelled by the Chairman.  It has not been rescheduled.

The next scheduled absentee meeting that is set for Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 5:00 pm will be called to order virtually and continued to Tuesday, February 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm.  This is due to a required State Board Training Conference that is being held at the same time as the absentee meeting. If there are no returned absentee ballots to count, the absentee meeting will be cancelled.  Notification will be posted as soon as possible if the absentee meeting is cancelled. 

The public can call in and listen to the February 6, 2024 absentee meeting at 5:00 pm being called to order virtually and continued to February 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm. using the information below:

Tonya Burnette is inviting you to join their FreeConferenceCall Meeting Room.

Join the meeting using one of these easy options:

    1) One Tap Mobile Dialing: +14254366372,,329624

    2) Tap here to have us call you: https://www.freeconferencecall.com/backup?dial_number=4254366372&access_code=329624

    3) Join online for Video and Screen Sharing: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/tonyaburnette

Additional Options to connect:

    Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6372

    Access code: 329624

    Find your local number: https://fccdl.in/i/tonyaburnette

    Having trouble connecting?

    Text ‘Call Me’ to (425) 436-6372 to receive a call back; then dial 329624 to join the meeting. Standard Messaging rates may apply.

Human Relations Commission Hosts 2024 MLK Event

Posted January 26, 2024

Granville County Continues Broadband Expansion Efforts

Posted January 25, 2024

The Granville County Board of Commissioners recently approved a partnership with the NC Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) and Spectrum under the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program that will fund the construction of fiber-optic broadband infrastructure capable of servicing at least 1,530 addresses in Granville County. Granville’s contribution to this project will be $10,000, while the State of North Carolina will contribute $4 million, and Spectrum will invest $7.9 million.

The locations serviced with broadband internet as part of the CAB program will be in addition to the previously announced partnership with Brightspeed under the Growing Rural Communities with Access to Technology (GREAT) program that will service at least 1,914 addresses and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) project currently underway by Spectrum that will service an additional 1,120 addresses. Once all three projects are completed, more than 4,564 homes and businesses will have gained access to broadband internet in rural Granville County because of funding from federal, state, and county governments combined with partnership agreements with Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Additional information about these projects and a full map of the awarded addresses can be found at the Granville County website or the NC One Map.

Granville County has proactively sought methods to bridge the high-speed internet access gap in Granville County, which began in earnest with a formal Request for Qualifications in 2019. Various state laws and regulations prohibit county and city governments from providing internet services or installing infrastructure themselves, but they may partner with ISPs to expand access and improve service. The NC CAB Grant Program utilizes funding that the State of North Carolina received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that allows ISPs to competitively bid and partner with counties to provide internet access to rural North Carolina locations that are “unserved” according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) parameters defining “high-speed” internet.

“This partnership showcases the ongoing effort made by Granville County to ensure that our citizens have access to high-speed broadband internet,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Chair Timothy Karan. “We are pleased to partner with Spectrum on this project that with minimal use of county tax dollars will service over 1,500 homes and businesses across the county. We will continue to work with internet service providers to ensure this vital resource is available for all who choose to live or work in our community. There are many parts of the county yet to be served and we will exhaust every possibility to make it happen.”

The areas served by the CAB project with Spectrum are spread throughout the county, notable areas serviced will include northern and western Granville County in the Berea, Cornwall, and Oak Hill communities along NC Highway 49, NC Highway 96, US Highway 158, Old NC 75, Grassy Creek-Virgilina Road, Oak Hill Road, Cornwall Road, Mountain Creek Road, Goshen Road, Old Roxboro Road, Sunset Road, Pine Town Road, Hobgood Road, Moriah Road, Range Road, Culbreth Road, and Enon Road among many others. The project will also service areas east of Oxford including Tom Parham Road and Salem Road and in southern Granville County including US Highway 15, NC Highway 50, Bryans Hill Road, Tar River Road, Smith Road, Lyon Station Road, Cash Road, Will Suitt Road, Brassfield Road, and Lawrence Road among others. For more information or to view a full map of addresses served, visit the Granville County website or the NC One Map.

Notice of Possible Quorum

PUBLIC NOTICE

A quorum of the Granville County Board of Commissioners may be present during a visit by North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt on Friday, January 19, 2024.  The visit will begin at 10:00 a.m. at G.C. Hawley Middle School, 305 E. Wilton Avenue and continue to South Granville High School, 701 N. Crescent Drive, Creedmoor, NC. 

For more information, please contact the County Manager’s Office at 919-693-5240.

Debra A. Weary
Clerk to the Board

Notice of Special Joint Meeting

All interested persons please take notice that the Granville County Board of Commissioners and the Granville County Board of Education will hold a Special Joint Meeting on Monday, January 29, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center for Education, 200 Taylor Street, Oxford, NC.  The purpose of the meeting is to discuss long-term budgeting and facility planning. 

Members of the public are invited to view the meeting via livestream. To join the livestream meeting, please use the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj    

Metal Detectors will be in use upon entry to the building.  No bags will be permitted in the building.

Please take notice that the Boards will gather immediately before the meeting to share a light meal.  No business will be discussed.

Human Relations Commission to Host MLK Event

Posted January 9, 2024

The Granville County Human Relations Commission will host an event to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on Monday, January 15, at 10:00 a.m. The event will be held at Oxford Baptist Church (147 Main Street, Oxford), with the program titled “Remembering the Dream by Calling for Unity and a Celebration of Diversity in our Community.”

The 2024 event will be highlighted by the announcement of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest winners. This year’s entries came from Granville Early College, J.F. Webb High School, and South Granville High School. The winning essays will be read by Granville County Commissioner Tony Cozart, Town of Butner Mayor Linda Jordon, City of Oxford Commissioner Quon Bridges, as well as Human Relations Commission members Mike McFadden and Ethel Anderson. Reverend Dr. Brett Pardue, Senior Pastor of Oxford Baptist Church, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker.

The Granville County Human Relations Commission invites all the Granville County community to celebrate diversity and unity in Granville County while also honoring the academic achievement and writing talent of local students. The event is free and open to the public and attendees are encouraged to bring canned foods in support of the Area Congregations in Ministry (ACIM) food pantry.

For more information about the program, please contact the Granville County Administration Office at 919-693-5240 or audrey.hill@granvillecounty.org.

Board of Commissioners Meeting Recap – January 2, 2024

Posted January 3, 2024

The Granville County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 2 at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center. The meeting featured the approval of a partnership with NC Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) and Spectrum under the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program that will fund the construction of fiber-optic broadband infrastructure capable of servicing at least 1,530 addresses in Granville County. Granville’s contribution to this project will be $10,000, while the State of North Carolina will contribute $4 million, and Spectrum will invest $7.9 million. Additional information on broadband expansion in Granville County can be found on the Granville County website: https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/administration/broadband-initiative/.

In other business conducted on January 2, the Board of Commissioners:

– Approved recruitment and retention bonuses along with salary adjustments for Department of Social Services (DSS) employees. This includes a sign-on bonus of up to $4,000 for new DSS employees along with retention bonuses of up to $4,000 for existing employees earning an annual salary of $50,000 or less and $1,500 for those earning more than $50,000 per year. The approved plan also includes salary adjustments and a new classification plan for all DSS employees.

– Approved a recommendation from the Fire Commission to modify the part-time staffing plan for the 12 volunteer fire departments in Granville County. The new plan will allow flexibility for days of the week and the number of paid fire fighters staffing each station based on the availability of qualified candidates and departmental needs. The Fire Commission will evaluate the modified staffing plan in April 2024.

– Approved a scrap metal/white goods recycling contract with Mike’s Auto Salvage at $100 per ton. This contract produces approximately $50,000 per year in revenue for Granville County.

– Approved a proposal from Paul Williford Builder, LLC to complete interior alterations for the Berea Branch Library to convert a storage room into an administrative office and meeting space at a cost of $23,600.

– Reappointed Mark Pennington to the Town of Butner Board of Adjustment.

– Reappointed Mike Wood and appointed Kate Sellgren to the Citizens Advisory Committee for Environmental Affairs.

– Reappointed Karen Alley and Amy Wester to the Library System Board of Trustees.

– Reappointed Sharon Pittman, Carolyn White, and Bridget Waters and appointed Kelly Claiborne to the Granville-Vance District Board of Health.

– Reappointed David Smith and Carol Jo Harris to the Senior Services Advisory Committee.

– Approved budget amendment #5 for fiscal year 2023-2024.

– Approved tax refunds ($4,915.41), releases ($1,799.82), and write-offs ($10.84).

– Approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2023 audit contract with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co.

The next meeting of the Granville County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center.

To stay informed about upcoming meetings of the 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.