Raleigh, N.C. – NC State Extension announced that Kianna Cook is completing an Extension internship this summer with the Alamance County Center.
An Extension summer intern works with Extension personnel to deliver hands-on, educational programs. Job shadowing and mentoring help interns learn about the mission and work of North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Cook will be working closely with the 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences (food/nutrition) programs during her internship. She will also learn about the horticulture, field crops, and livestock programs.
“Extension makes a positive difference in the community every day. We provide educational programs that connect communities with research-based information. Our internship program is another way we help prepare students for challenging and rewarding careers in food, agriculture, natural resources, and family and consumer sciences” said Dr. Richard Bonanno, Associate Dean of the NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Director of NC State Extension.
Cook is a senior from North Carolina State University majoring in Applied Nutrition and minoring in Psychology, and is a native of Franklinton, NC.
County attorney Clyde Albright has advised the Alamance County Board of Commissioners that, pursuant to state and federal law, Alamance County does not have the legal authority to move the Confederate Veterans Memorial at courthouse square. The monument in Graham is an object of remembrance as defined by North Carolina General Statute 100-2.1, which gives it different legal status than a statue of an individual person or a commemoration of a battle or event. The county manager neglected to obtain information about the legality of his opinion before he offered it.
The drafting and announcement of this open letter is troubling. Very few of the people who participated in this statement (four of the fifty-six) have contacted any one of the five commissioners in the past few months to discuss their concerns about the monument. We have learned that at least some of those whose support for this letter was sought were told, “Don’t tell the commissioners” about the effort to draft it. Mayor Baltutis waited until 9:40 am on Monday, twenty minutes before his press conference was to begin, to inform Chair Galey, which prevented her from being able to attend.
One may ask, why would the authors of this letter not want the commissioners to know that it was being drafted and circulated? Why was it done in secret and then unveiled at a press conference? This would lead an observer to believe that this “call to action” is political in nature. Its true purpose would not appear to be to persuade the commissioners, but to ambush them in as public a manner as possible.
We do not doubt that those who signed the letter are sincere in their beliefs and hope to see the county find a resolution to this difficult challenge. The best way to seek a resolution is not by operating in secret, drawing up in opposing lines, and engaging with the press. Alamance County deserves leaders who are willing to reach out and communicate with one another.
The Alamance County Inspections Department is excited to announce the first participant in the Alamance Fire Sprinkler Incentive Program! Concept Builders of Burlington is pleased to take advantage of the program with a home they are building at 1025 Soapstone Trail in Snow Camp.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, “Home fire sprinklers can dramatically reduce the heat, flames, and smoke produced in a fire. Properly installed and maintained fire sprinklers help save lives.”
To encourage home fire sprinkler installations, the Alamance County Inspections Department created the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Program in order to promote public safety, raise awareness of the benefits of home fire sprinkler systems, and help defray the cost of their installation in new homes. This program discounts the cost of a new home permit by 50% when a non-required home fire sprinkler system is installed. There is also no fee charged for the plan review or permit for the sprinkler system itself.
The Inspections Department wishes to promote public awareness of this important safety feature via our incentive program. Per the NFPA, United States fire departments responded to an estimated 1,318,500 fires in 2018. These fires resulted in 3,655 civilian fire fatalities and 15,200 civilian fire injuries; most or all of these could have been prevented if homes were protected by a residential fire sprinkler system. Fire sprinklers are required by law in all new residential construction in places like California, Maryland and Washington DC. The hope is that residents will become more informed about this important safety feature.
June 26, 2020 – Alamance County Health Director Stacie Saunders has announced she is resigning her position at the Health Department effective July 31. Saunders will join the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services as Public Health Director effective August 3.
“This is an incredible health department and I am so proud of the work we have done together including improving access to birth control methods, committing to better birth outcomes by making Centering Pregnancy our standard of care for maternity, expanding Children’s Dental Health Clinic services to schools, and combating multiple communicable disease threats, including the current novel coronavirus pandemic,” Saunders said of her time in Alamance. “This health department is filled with dedicated individuals, committed to serving the people of this community. It has been an honor to serve alongside these public health champions every day.”
Saunders began her public health career at Alamance County Health Department in 2007 in a grant-funded position aimed at reducing infant mortality. Saunders has served as the Public Health Director for Alamance County since 2014.
The Alamance County Board of Health will appoint an interim Health Director in the coming weeks.
The Alamance County Public Libraries will begin offering computer appointments beginning Monday, June 29, 2020. Computer sessions will be limited to one hour per day. Session times are as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The library is not open to the public at this time as access to the building is for computer use. To schedule your session, please contact your branch by phone:
Please be advised that Century Link/AT&T is experiencing outages that affect 911 service for residents in the Gibsonville area. Some residents are unable to use their landline or internet service phone to call 911.
Alamance County urges customers in this area to use a cell phone or find alternate options to contact the Alamance County Communications Center (911) in case of emergency.
Century Link/AT&T is currently unable to give estimates for time of repair, but staff are working to restore service as quickly as possible.
Alamance County will continue to provide updates as new information is received.
RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina elections officials are looking for “democracy heroes” to work at polling places and early voting sites in 2020.
These local heroes will protect democracy, learn about the elections process, serve their communities and get paid in the process.
The State Board of Elections encourages voters of all ages to lend a hand to the democratic process in this important presidential election year. Election workers often consist of retirees and older members of a community – groups at higher risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more and express your interest in working in the 2020 general election, fill out this election worker interest survey on the State Board of Elections’ website.
“Elections officials in many North Carolina counties are looking for election workers for the November 3 general election and the early voting period in October,” said State Board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell. “Not all heroes wear capes. You can be a hero for democracy and our state in 2020.”
After completing the online form, your information will be forwarded to your county board of elections. You will be contacted if election workers are needed in your county.
The State Board is committed to protecting election workers’ health and safety. Appropriate protective equipment, including where applicable masks, gloves, face protection, and cleaning supplies, will be provided, and social distancing guidelines will be in place at polling places this year.
Election workers have an important role. They:
Staff polling places during early voting and on Election Day
Set up and close the voting enclosure
Check in voters and issue ballots
Assist voters upon request
Serve at the Help Table and perform research for voters who are not on the pollbook
To serve as an election worker, you must be a registered voter and serve in your county of residence. Other restrictions may apply. To check your registration status, go here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.
In North Carolina, high school students may also serve as election workers. To become a student election assistant, you must:
Be 17 years old by Election Day;
Be a U.S. citizen;
Reside in the district where you wish to serve;
Be enrolled in a secondary educational institution with an exemplary academic record as determined by that institution;
Be recommended by the principal or director of the institution; AND
Have the consent of a parent, legal custodian or guardian.
The Alamance County Manager has submitted his proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Alamance County Board of Commissioners. A public hearing on the proposed budget ordinance will be held on Monday, June 15, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Alamance County Historic Courthouse located at: 1 Court Square, 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 at the Alamance County Historic Courthouse. Pursuant to Executive Order 141 Section 4, press will be permitted to attend. All interested citizens wishing to comment on the budget can do so in the following ways:
Oral Comments – Citizens wishing to make oral comments may attend the public hearing on Monday, June 15th at 7:00pm at the Alamance County Historic Courthouse, Graham, NC. (There will be limited seating available.)
Additionally, persons wishing to submit their public comments orally during the meeting, may do so by telephone. These persons 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 no later than 9:00 P.M. on June 14th. Then at the appropriate time during the Commissioners’ meeting on June 15th at 7:00 P.M. the citizen will be called to submit their comments verbally by phone.
Written Public Comments – Beginning June 4th, citizens are encouraged to submit written public comments for the June 15th budget public hearing:
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. Written comments received prior to the start of the June 15th meeting will be entered into the record and minutes at the June 15th Regular Meeting.
The proposed budget ordinance is available online on the Alamance County website:
The recommended General Fund Tax Rate is $0.67 per $100 of assessed valuation. Recommended tax rates for fire districts are:
Fire District
Current Tax Rate
Proposed Tax Rate
54 East
0.0900
0.0900
Altamahaw-Ossipee
0.1400
0.1400
E. M. Holt
0.1175
0.1175
East Alamance
0.1050
0.1050
Eli Whitney/87South
0.0800
0.1100
Elon
0.1100
0.1200
Faucette
0.1100
0.1200
Haw River
0.1350
0.1350
North Central Alamance
0.1150
0.1150
North Eastern Alamance
0.1000
0.1000
Snow Camp
0.0950
0.0950
Swepsonville
0.0900
0.0900
An overview of the 2020-2021 proposed general fund budget includes:
Fiscal year 2020-21 budget totals $209,166,397
Property tax rate is recommended to remain at $0.67
Property tax revenue is projected to increase due to overall tax base growth by 2.5% or $2,458,374
Sales tax revenue is projected to decrease by 20% from projected FY 19-20 amounts.
Makes use of $3,500,000 in appropriated fund balance for operations, $1,518,539 less than the previous year’s allocation
Uses $1,066,719 in designated funds from sources including revaluation, performance management savings, etc. and $221,824 for grant matching funds
Reduces proposed general fund spending by $14,101,278 from budget retreat requests, and $4,289,171 from previous fiscal year general fund spending
Eliminates County CIP funding, limits capital equipment to public safety only
Provides funding for the Alamance County Capital Finance Plan for ABSS’ and ACC’s proposed bond costs and paygo projects at a reduced level for ABSS due to decreased restricted sales tax revenue
Eliminates the 2.0% merit increase for County employees
Freezes hiring for 25 full time employee and 5 part time employee positions
Adds one new School Resource Officer employee funded by ABSS contract
Accommodates required $884,968 increase for employee retirement costs and retiree insurance
Reduces education operations spending by $500,000
Recommends approval of fire district tax increases for Faucette, Elon and Eli Whitney VFDs
This 3rd day of June 2020. Tory M. Frink, Clerk to the Board Alamance County
The Alamance Soil and Water Conservation District anticipates receiving its cost share allocation from the State to assist with nonpoint source pollution control from agricultural activities. The funds are available to assist farmers to install conservation practices which help decrease the amount of sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, chemicals and other pollutants in the surface and ground waters of our state.
The District anticipates to receive funding for the program year 2021 in July, 2020. Landowners and operators of existing agricultural operations may apply for cost share assistance to install conservation practices such as grassed waterways, sowing crop fields to grass or trees and livestock exclusion. Funds may also be available to assist farmers who have an inadequate water supply that may be hauling water to livestock and vegetable fields.
Applications for assistance will be accepted starting in July. With limited funding expected, farmers and producers are encouraged to contact the Alamance Soil and Water Conservation District office as soon as possible, the contact information is as follows:
ALAMANCE SOIL & WATER, 209 N. GRAHAM HOPEDALE ROAD, BURLNGTON, NC 27217-0185 PHONE 336-290-0380