As of July 1, 2017, the County Inspections Department will change to a “multi-trade “ inspection procedure/ format for all SMALL RESIDENTIAL remodels, additions and new construction projects of 1000 sq. ft. or less. This change will also reduce the amount of time spent by homeowners and contractors waiting for the inspector to arrive. The procedure will not apply to any commercial projects.

The procedure will be as follows:

• The contractor will be required to make sure that all trades are ready for inspection at the same time for rough-in and final inspections. Other inspections (foundation, projection, etc.) will not be affected.
• The procedure will not be retroactive to permits already issued, but a contractor may request all trades together on already permitted small projects if he or she so chooses.
• The project will be designated as Multi-Trade at the time of permit issuance, and the contractor will be informed of the procedure and receive a copy of this document.
• This process will not be optional, and no partial inspection requests for rough-in or final inspections will be accepted. If all trades are not ready when the inspector arrives, a $50.00 re-inspection fee will be charged.
• The contractor may still request pre-siding (building paper) inspections if desired. We would still like to do an open floor framing inspection prior to installation of subflooring.

We appreciate your cooperation in making this procedural adjustment

For more information about this change, please contact Robert Key, Inspections Director at Robert.Key@alamance-nc.com or visit https://www.alamance-nc.com/inspections/.

Alamance County Fire Sprinkler Awareness and 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, the Alamance County Inspections Department is pleased to institute our Fire Sprinkler Incentive Program.
 
The Program will discount the cost of a new home permit by 50% when a non-required home fire sprinkler system is installed, helping to significantly defray the cost of a system. There will also be no fee charged for the plan review or permit for the sprinkler system itself.
 
In order to qualify for the reduced permit fees:
1. Sprinkler plans must be submitted and approved prior to issuance of building permit.
2. The system must be installed by a licensed sprinkler contractor.
3. If the sprinkler system is not to be installed, the difference between the reduced and regular permit fees must be paid prior to release of electrical service or certificate of occupancy.
4. The system must pass all required inspections and be fully operational prior to issuance of certificate of occupancy.
5. Special fee reduction is only valid for non-required NFPA 13 D sprinkler systems.
 
Our goal is to help more people become aware of the importance and affordability of Home Fire Sprinklers. Tell your contractor that you want Fire Sprinklers to keep your family safe!
 
For more information about the Sprinkler Incentive Program, please contact Robert Key, Inspections Director at Robert.Key@alamance-nc.com or visit https://www.alamance-nc.com/inspections/.

Veterans Experience Action Center

Alamance County Veterans Services invite Veterans seeking compensation benefits to join us for the Veterans Experience Action Center (formerly known as the VA Claims Clinic). This event will be held on Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17 at the Durham County Human Services building from 9am to 3pm each day. 

During the Veterans Experience Action Center, there will be continual informational sessions, activities, games, and snacks. County, State, and VA Representatives and Ambassadors will be available throughout the two-day event. In addition, Alamance County Veterans Services staff and committed community partners will offer substantive services during the shared veterans’ experience. These services include:  

• ​Face-to-face explanation and assistance facilitating and expending existing claims and appeals
• Filing new claims
• Providing information regarding benefit-related VA programs
• Answering healthcare and eligibility questions
• Bereavement and military sexual trauma counseling
• Substance abuse and mental health screening

Veterans are asked to bring their DD-214 and any supporting medical evidence and service documentation to assist with the process.

There will be free parking in the Human Services Building (414 East Main St. Durham, NC) and the Services Guest Parking Lot-only, (across the street from the building on the corner of Main and Dillard Street) on a first come, first served basis on Friday, June 16. There is unlimited parking on Saturday, June 17 in the Human Services Building Guest Parking Lot and in the Social Services Parking Lot which is in front of the building on the corner of Main and Queen (1000 spaces).

Alamance County Veterans Services will be closed on Friday, June 16 as Veterans Services staff will be working this event. If you have any questions, please contact Veterans Services at 336-570-6763.

Alamance County is pleased to announce Sherry Hook and Bruce Walker as the new assistant county managers effective Monday, May 15, 2017. The additional duties of Assistant County Manager will be added to their current positions as Human Resources Director and Information Technology Director respectively.

Sherry Hook holds a bachelor’s degree in Textile Management, Law and Labor Relations from North Carolina State University and has earned two Human Resources Certifications. She spent 14 years in the private industry serving in various roles as HR Director, IT Director, and Shipping Manager; and has spent the last eight years with Alamance County as Human Resources Director.

“I am grateful for this opportunity that will allow me to work more closely with the County Manager’s Office as well as provide a new level of support to our departments and employees.”

Bruce Walker graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Geography. He attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he studied Geographic Information Systems and Planning. He holds a GIS Certificate and is a 2010 Leadership Alamance graduate. In addition, he will receive his North Carolina Chief Information Officer Certificate from the School of Government in June. His background brings over 20 years of experience in local government in the Planning Department, Information Technology, and GIS Department.

“I am honored to serve in this position as Assistant County Manager and IT Director. I love Alamance County, and I’m committed to serving all our citizens, businesses, and employees. My goal is to support the Alamance County Strategic Plan and do all I can to help Alamance grow and prosper.”

Both of these positions were restructured to improve the span of control over county departments by allowing each assistant manager the responsibility over four departments instead of a single assistant manager responsible for nine. In addition, the County Manager has also announced Andrea Rollins as the new Project Analyst for the County.

Andrea Rollins graduated from Meredith College with a Business Administration degree. She has served as Budget Finance Analyst for Alamance for the last two years and has worked closely with management and the finance director during the budgeting process as well as on special projects and programs. She is a Certified Public Accountant and brings over 20 years of finance experience in which she audited both nonprofits and governments and has served as Chief Information Officer of a nonprofit. This newly created position will focus on analyzing data, measuring performance, and planning for growth and sustainability.

County Manager Bryan Hagood was able to reallocate existing resources that made this reorganization possible.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Andrea, Bruce, and Sherry. Their commitment to public service as well as their backgrounds and experiences will help us move forward in providing a more efficient government that effectively serves our citizens. These changes also allow for better interaction within county departments which is vital as we prepare to implement our strategic plan and align our goals to meet the needs of our community.”

May 7th – May 13th 2017 is North Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Week

Alamance County Emergency Management urges employees and residents to use Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 7-13, to update their emergency plans and kits before storms strike.

June is the official beginning of summer and the beginning of hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, but most hurricanes strike the East and Gulf Coasts between mid-August and mid-October.

Tropical storms and hurricanes bring damaging winds, heavy rains, flooding and even tornadoes. In coastal areas, hurricanes can cause rip currents and storm surge. In the foothills and mountains, these tropical storms can spur dangerous landslides and mudslides.

Since hurricanes have impacted every part of North Carolina, it’s important for everyone to have a plan in place before a storm threatens Alamance County. Alamance County Emergency Management urges residents to make a plan and put together an emergency supply kit to provide the tools needed to survive the storm and recover from it.

Families should have their emergency kit ready to go at all times with enough non-perishable food and bottled water (1 gallon per person per day) to last three to seven days. Kits also should include:

• Copies of insurance papers and identification sealed in a watertight plastic bag
• First-aid kit
• Weather radio and batteries
• Supply of prescription medicines
• Bedding
• Changes of clothes
• Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
• Cash or checkbook
• Pet supplies including food, water, leashes, bedding, muzzle and vaccination records
• A plan for those under your care who are unable to help themselves

Stay informed during severe weather using a battery-powered radio for weather and evacuation information. Know evacuation routes in your community; heed the warnings of state and local officials, and evacuate quickly when told to do so.

Be sure to review and update your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies to make sure they include coverage for accidental damage, natural disasters and, if necessary, flood insurance.

More information on hurricanes and overall emergency preparedness can be found at www.fema.gov or www.ReadyNC.org.  Alamance County emergency officials also urge residents to get the free ReadyNC mobile app, which provides real-time weather and traffic conditions for all parts of North Carolina.

Also, if you haven’t done so please sign up in NIXLE to receive FREE up-to-date emergency notifications concerning your neighborhood during emergency situations by texting ALAMANCE to 888777.

Contact Debbie Hatfield, Emergency Management Coordinator, at (336) 227-1365 or via email at debbie.hatfield@alamance-nc.com at the Alamance County Emergency Management Department for more information.

Alamance County Commissioner Participates in NC Association of County Commissioners Board Meeting Held in Davidson County

Lexington, N.C. – The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) held its spring Board of Directors meeting in Davidson County April 19. The meeting, which was called to order at 9:30 a.m. and concluded at 1:30 p.m., was the first in-person gathering of the Board since the Association’s offices were damaged by the five-alarm fire that lit up the skies of Raleigh the evening of March 16. Commissioner Bob Byrd of Alamance County serves on the Board as District 11 Director, representing Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Guilford, Randolph, and Rockingham Counties.

Commissioner Byrd is honored to be an active board member of the NCACC. He states, “In addition to voting on several items of business, I was pleased to provide input on legislation that is pending in the NC General Assembly that would regionalize local Departments of Social Services, and on legislation that would support our local school system.”

During the meeting, the Board took action to adopt a resolution recognizing the firefighters who responded to the massive fire, which displaced the Association to a temporary office location five miles from downtown Raleigh. The resolution will be presented during a special event to be held in May. The Board’s agenda also included a government relations report and update on NCACC President Fred McClure’s initiative on mental health and substance abuse.

Among the efforts of the Presidential Initiative is a “Leadership Forum on Opioid Abuse” project whereby all counties will be encouraged to host a local forum of elected officials to discuss how to address the opioid crisis. A pilot forum will be held in Davidson County May 5, and the project materials will be distributed statewide shortly thereafter.

Commissioner Byrd is very excited about holding a Leadership Forum on Opioid Abuse in Alamance County. He states, “Opioid abuse is a serious problem in Alamance County and across the state and nation. This Forum will fit right in with the work of our Stepping Up Initiative to reduce the number of persons with mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse in our jail.”

The Board meeting was held in the middle of a series of district meetings which are held throughout the state. They offer area county commissioners and management staff the opportunity to discuss with other county officials and NCACC staff any issues impacting their county. The last two scheduled meetings will be held in Halifax and Tyrrell Counties April 26^th and 27^th, respectively.

About the NCACC: The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is the official voice of all 100 counties on issues being considered by the General Assembly, Congress and federal and state agencies. The Association provides expertise to counties in the areas of advocacy, research, risk management and education and leadership training.

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