Effective Monday, August 31st, all Alamance County Courthouse buildings, including the Historic Courthouse (1 SE Court Square, Graham, NC), Alamance County Civil Courts (124 W Elm St, Graham, NC), and the J.B. Allen Courthouse (212 W Elm St, Graham, NC) will be closed to the public.
Buildings will remain closed Monday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 1st. This decision was made in order to protect both court staff and visitors while the Alamance County Health Department collects information and provides case investigations for current COVID-19 active cases.
All matters scheduled to be heard on Monday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 1st are postponed. If you need assistance, the Clerk’s office will be available by phone during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm at (336) 570-5200 or through department emails listed at https://www.alamancenc.com/clerkofcourt/.
Alamance County Government will begin implementing the Facility Use Policy for the Historic Courthouse at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2020. These guidelines were developed to further support and encourage the free expression of ideas within a safe and protected environment.
Due to the location of the Historic Courthouse and the logistical multi-agency challenges it represents, a permitting process is now required for large, organized gatherings. The permit will allow groups to reserve space on the Historic Courthouse grounds exclusively for their use. This process will guarantee the organized gathering will have priority and access to the areas surrounding the courthouse while allowing time for government agencies to plan and coordinate a strategy to ensure the freedom of expression of those attending.
While large, organized gatherings require notice to the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, small, spontaneous gatherings do not require a permit. However, without a permit, a gathering will not have exclusive rights to use the Historic Courthouse grounds.
Alamance County Government and the Alamance Sheriff’s Office are committed to supporting and protecting the rights of freedom of expression for all, and the Facility Use Policy for the Historic Courthouse will provide a safe space to exercise those rights.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Alamance County Board of Commissioners’ Regular Meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 17, 2020 at 7 p.m. in the County Commissioners’ Meeting Room located on the 2nd Floor of the County Office Building, 124 West Elm Street, Graham, NC 27253.
The health and safety of its residents continues to be the highest priority of Alamance County. Under the Governor’s Executive Order 141 Section 7, governmental operations are exempt from the prohibition on Mass Gatherings. In recognition of the Governor’s Recommendations to Promote Social Distancing and Reduce Transmission, there will be limited seating available. Seating will be limited to 20 members of the public. Residents who sign up to speak in-person ahead of time will be given priority seating. In order to ensure the health and safety of the Board, staff and general public, access to the regular meeting is available in the following 3 ways:
There will also be a link on the county home page (https://www.alamance-nc.com) above the banner that will say “Click Here to watch Live Commissioners Meeting”
A public comment form will be available on the Alamance County website for any persons wishing to submit written comments prior to the start of the meeting. These written comments will be entered into the record and minutes at the August 17th Regular Meeting.; or
Persons wishing to participate in public comments by telephone must provide the Clerk to the Board with their name, address, topic to be discussed, and telephone number by calling 336-290-0403 and leaving a message. Then at the appropriate time during the Commissioners’ meeting on August 17th at 7 p.m. the citizen will be called to submit their comments verbally by phone.
All County policies regarding the 3-minute limit per comment and number of public comments in the 30-minute period will apply. A copy of this Notice shall be posted on the bulletin board located outside of the Commissioners’ Meeting Room on the 2nd Floor of the County Office Building. A copy of the Notice shall be sent to all parties who have requested and receives notification of any changes in the Commissioners’ Regular Meeting schedule.
Alamance County Government and the Alamance County Court System will implement basic COVID-19 health screenings for all visitors entering any Alamance courthouse facility beginning Monday, August 10 at 8:00 a.m.
Entry screening is one additional public health measure that Alamance County Government can use to help protect visitors and staff from spreading the novel coronavirus. Along with answering basic health screening questions, visitors will have their temperatures taken and will be given a mask (if needed) upon entering the Historic Courthouse (1 SE Court Square, Graham, NC), Alamance Civil Courts (124 W Elm St, Graham, NC), and the J.B. Allen Courthouse (212 W Elm St, Graham, NC). All visitors are also asked to observe social distancing by keeping at least six feet between themselves and others.
Utilizing guidance received from our local public health department, Alamance County Government and the Alamance County Judicial System will continue to take proactive preparedness precautions in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Please visit www.alamance-nc.com/covid19/ to view the screening questions.
The Alamance County Voluntary Agricultural District Board (AVAD) will be accepting applications for the Purchase of Development Rights, Alamance County Farmland Preservation Program Sept.1st – Sept. 30, 2020. The applications can be picked up or emailed from the Alamance Soil and Water Office starting September 1st, 2020.
Applications must be returned to the Alamance SWCD Office at 209 N Graham Hopedale Road, Burlington, NC 27217, beginning Sept. 1st with a deadline of Sept. 30, 2020 @ 5:00PM.
The NC Dept. of Agriculture and Community Services Farmland Preservation Trust Fund anticipates having funding statewide to fund applications in the 2020-2021 cycle. The Alamance County VAD Board will select the top applicants from the applications received based on the ranking system. North Carolina leads the Southeast in lost farmland and Family farms. This funding is made available to encourage Farmland Preservation and protection.
If you have any questions about the program or to request an application, please contact the Alamance County Soil and Water Conservation District Office @ 336-290-0380.
The Alamance County Planning Department periodically receives grant money to assist with the removal of abandoned manufactured homes in Alamance County. This program is available for all residents of Alamance County. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources will reimburse the County for demolition of abandoned manufactured homes.
The grant allows up to $1,500 per single-wide and $2,500 per double-wide manufactured home. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will continue until funds are exhausted. Other applications are kept on file until funds become available again. The application deadline is August 31, 2020.
The Alamance County Tax Office is pleased to announce the August 17th opening of a drive-through service at 378 Harden Street in Burlington (formerly Medicap Pharmacy). While no walk-in payments may be accepted at this location, drive-through customers may pay with cash or check. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are also accepted with a 2.5% convenience fee. The drive-through will be open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, beginning August 17th.
Walk-in payments will still be accepted at the county office at 124 West Elm Street in Graham. Due to COVID-19 safety measures, capacity for walk-ins is greatly reduced and wait times may be longer than usual. The Tax Office encourages citizens to pay via mail, drive-through, dropbox, or online to avoid long wait times.
The Alamance Chamber has long been an advocate for small business and know they are key to a community’s economic health. We’re proud to be a partner in the organization and funding of a new Community Recovery Loan program.
The Chamber has partnered with Alamance County, the Alamance County Economic Development Foundation, and the Alamance Community Foundation to establish a small business revolving loan program for Alamance County businesses.
The program has been established through public-private funding from the Alamance County Economic Development Foundation and Alamance County Commissioners for $300,000 to initiate the program. The funds will be granted to the Alamance Community Foundation which will then work with Self-Help Credit Union to administer the loans. As a bonus, as loans are repaid, funds will be loaned out to new borrowers creating a revolving source of funding assistance for our business community.
“Many businesses in our community have been impacted by the Coronavirus and need a lifeline for recovery” said Mac Williams, President of the Alamance Chamber. “We are proud to announce this fund for local businesses to help them as they adjust and adapt their business not only to the current and post-COVID-19 economy but, importantly, for the longer term.”
Paired with the funding will be technical support from the Alamance Community College Small Business Center and Self-Help. The program wants to make sure businesses have not only the financial boost they may need, but also help to ensure they can address any business-related issues to maximize return on recovery efforts. Assistance can begin with help completing the application, then move to specific business issues such as legal, marketing or bookkeeping.
Want to learn more? Visit the Community Recovery Loan Program webpage for details, flyers in English and Spanish, and the link to apply.
Please share with business connections, associations, churches and other groups you think may be interested in the program.