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NC Department of Labor presents Pender County Departments with safety awards

Pender County Human Resources was pleased to welcome Jennifer Haigwood, Department of Labor OSH Deputy Commissioner, at the Oct. 17 Pender County Board of Commissioners meeting. Haigwood presented Pender County departments safety awards as follows:

 

Silver Awards

Criteria: Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50% below the industry average.

First Year

 

Pender County Government, Facilities and Fleet Services

 

Pender County Government, Information Technology Services

 

Pender County Government, Parks and Recreation

Gold Awards

Criteria: Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50% below the industry average

 

First Year

Pender County Government, Health Department

Pender County Government, Jail

Pender County Government, Tax Administrator

 

Second Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Animal Shelter

Pender County Government, Emergency Management

Pender County Government, Finance

Pender County Government, Human Resources

Pender County Government, Planning and Community Development

 

Fourth Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Tourism

Pender County Government, Social Services

 

Eighth Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Register of Deeds

 

Tenth Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Library

 

Eleventh Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Elections

Pender County Government, Housing

 

Twelfth Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, County managers office

Pender County Government, Mosquito Control

Pender County Government, Vehicle Maintenance

Pender County Government, Veterans Service

Pender County Departments presented safety awards from the NC Department of Labor

Pender County Human Resources was pleased to welcome Jennifer Haigwood, Department of Labor OSH Deputy Commissioner at the Oct. 17 Pender County Board of Commissioners meeting. Haigwood presented Pender County departments safety awards as follows:

Silver Awards

Criteria: Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50% below the industry average.

First Year

Pender County Government, Facilities and Fleet Services

Pender County Government, Information Technology Services

Pender County Government, Parks and Recreation

 

Gold Awards

Criteria: Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50% below the industry average

 

First Year

Pender County Government, Health Department

Pender County Government, Jail

Pender County Government, Tax Administrator

 

Second Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Animal Shelter

Pender County Government, Emergency Management

Pender County Government, Finance

Pender County Government, Human Resources

Pender County Government, Planning and Community Development

 

Fourth Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Tourism

Pender County Government, Social Services

 

Eighth Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Register of Deeds

 

Tenth Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Library

 

Eleventh Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, Elections

Pender County Government, Housing

 

Twelfth Consecutive Year

Pender County Government, County managers office

Pender County Government, Mosquito Control

Pender County Government, Vehicle Maintenance

Pender County Government, Veterans Service

Pender County departments receive safety awards from NC Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson

On Oct. 4, NC Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson presented Pender County departments with awards for safety.

Receiving first-year awards were Animal Control, Animal Shelter, Emergency Management, Facilities and Fleet Services, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, and Planning and Community Development.

Receiving Third Consecutive Year honors were Social Services and Tourism.

Seventh Consecutive Year awards were presented to the Register of Deeds and the Tax Assessors Office.

Ninth Consecutive Year honors were presented to the Library.

Tenth Consecutive Year honors went to Elections and Housing.

Eleven Consecutive Years without a major safety violation or injury were presented to the County Manager’s Office, Mosquito Control, Parks and Recreation, Vehicle Maintenance, and Veterans Services.

 

Pender County awarded an economic development grant

BURGAW – The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced yesterday that Pender County was awarded a $1,575,000 grant for a Natural Gas Fuel Generator Project.

The public utilities project, based in the Pender Commerce Park, will create 50 jobs and save 30 jobs. The total cost of the project is $2,100,000, including $8 million in private investment leveraged.

The EDA investment supports Pender County with constructing a permanent natural gas-fueled generator at its water treatment plant and establishing a berm around the adjoining county’s wastewater treatment plant to mitigate the impact of significant flooding on the operation of both facilities.

“The natural gas generator and earthen berm will greatly improve the resiliency of our water and sewer plants during natural disasters like Hurricane Florence,” Chad McEwen, Pender County Manager said. “In addition, these improvements will help ensure continuity of operations for the industries located at Pender Commerce Park during similar events.”

“Once completed, the project will create and retain jobs, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency near Opportunity Zones and throughout the region,” said George Brown, Chairman of the Pender County Board of County Commissioners.

EDA, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, awards competitive grants based on the application’s merit, the applicant’s eligibility, and the availability of funds.

Henderson Field Airport to receive state funds

Seven N.C. Airports to Receive State Funds

RALEIGH – The N.C. Board of Transportation approved state funds totaling $4,285,500 for projects that help improve safety and customer service at seven North Carolina airports. The board approved the funds during its May 6 meeting.

The funds the N.C. Board of Transportation approved are:
• $240,300 in state funds for the design and bid of runway and apron rehabilitation at Curtis L. Brown Field in Elizabethtown,
• $775,800 in state funds for phase one of wildlife fence installation at Davidson County Airport in Lexington,
• $90,000 in state funds for the design and bid of an airfield drainage system assessment at Duplin County Airport in Kenansville,
• $189,000 in state funds for the design and bid of runway pavement rehabilitation at Henderson Field Airport in Wallace,
• $482,400 in state funds for AWOS and glideslope critical area clearing at Johnston Regional Airport in Smithfield,
• $2,340,000 in state funds for land acquisition in the runway protection zone at Moore County Airport in Carthage,
• $168,000 in state funds for taxiway land acquisition at Tarboro-Edgecombe Airport.

North Carolina’s 72 public airports serve as vital economic engines connecting people and business enterprises with the world. Airports and aviation-related industries contribute more than $61 billion to North Carolina’s economy each year, according to the 2021 State of Aviation report. They support 373,000 jobs, generate more than $2.5 billion in state and local tax revenue, and provide more than $15 billion in personal income.

The funds awarded will be distributed by the NCDOT Division of Aviation, and do not necessarily represent the total cost of a project.

Pender County monitors area fuel emergency, issues a state of emergency

BURGAW- Pender County officials are closely monitoring the fuel emergency, the result of a cyber-attack on Colonial Pipeline late last week.

“Pender County will ensure the continuity of local government operations,” said George Brown, Chairman of the Pender County Board of County Commissioners. “The fuel disruption may extend through this week, according to our communications with state officials. We have issued a state of emergency and we are proactively addressing county staffing to ensure the safety of Pender County residents.”

“Analysts say it will take days for normal conditions to return,” said Brown. “Experts advise motorists not to panic purchase or hoard fuel as that will prolong shortages and spikes, making the situation worse. Motorists are asked to purchase only what fuel is immediately needed and to avoid fill the tank until the pipeline resumes operations.”

“As of 5 pm today, county leadership has implemented a plan to ensure that all emergency and essential employees are able to commute to and from work to serve the County residents, “said Chad McEwen, Pender County Manager.  “We are confident this plan will provide for continuity of all emergency departments, including DSS, Health, Utilities, Emergency Management, and the Sheriff’s Office.”

On May 11, Governor Roy Cooper issued a State of Emergency Executive Order 213. Included in this order is a statute regarding gas price gouging. Residents who witness price gouging should contact the North Carolina Department of Justice.

 

NC Attorney General Josh Stein and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners unveil historic agreement in the fight against the opioid epidemic

RALEIGH — Attorney General Josh Stein and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners today unveiled a historic agreement to fight the opioid epidemic. The agreement governs how North Carolina would use the proceeds of any future national settlement or bankruptcy resolution with drug distributors Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen and opioid manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Purdue Pharma. These potential settlements and resolutions could bring as much as $850 million to North Carolina over an 18-year period to support state and local efforts to address the epidemic.

“The opioid epidemic, in recent years, has taken the lives of more than 16,000 North Carolinians, torn families apart, and ravaged communities from the mountains to the coast,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “These companies helped to create and fuel this epidemic with irresponsible marketing and a lack of oversight – and they must be held accountable to help clean up this mess. I am working hard, along with fellow attorneys general across the country, to do just that. Should we prevail, today’s agreement between the counties and the state is an important step toward getting much-needed resources to communities across North Carolina as they work to address the epidemic and its aftermath.”

“The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on all 100 counties. We all know someone personally affected by this heartbreaking crisis, and local governments remain on the front lines of this epidemic, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic agreement will ensure potential opioid settlement funds coming into North Carolina get to people in need quickly and effectively. I, along with our NCACC Board of Directors, urge all counties and our municipal partners to sign this groundbreaking agreement as soon as possible,” said NCACC President Ronnie Smith, Chair, Martin County Board of Commissioners. The agreement is endorsed by the NCACC Board of Directors, which adopted a resolution in support of the agreement urging all 100 counties and municipal partners to sign on to it without delay.

“The increase in opioid overdoses we saw during the COVID pandemic is a stark reminder that we need strategic, long-term investments to fight the disease of addiction,” said Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “This agreement provides needed funding for local partners to implement strategies in North Carolina’s Opioid Action Plan that prevent overdoses and save lives.”

To maximize funds flowing to North Carolina communities on the front lines of the opioid epidemic, the agreement would direct settlement funds as follows:

  • 15 percent to the state, which the General Assembly would appropriate to address the epidemic.
  • 80 percent to local governments, including all 100 counties and 17 municipalities.
  • An additional five percent to an incentive fund to encourage counties and large- and medium-size municipalities to sign on to the agreement.

In addition, the agreement offers a high level of transparency into how local governments will use the funds, including special revenue funds subject to audit, annual financial and impact reports, and a public dashboard showing how they are using settlement funds to address the epidemic.

The state of North Carolina, 76 counties, and eight municipalities are engaged in litigation with or investigations of opioid manufacturers and distributors. All 100 counties – along with large- and medium-size municipalities – will now have the opportunity to review and sign on to the agreement.

Click here to access a one-pager on this topic.

Click here to access an FAQ on this topic.

Click here to access the memorandum of agreement.

Substantial rainfall floods local roads, updated list of roads

Updated road impacts

 

PENDER COUNTY – Pender County Emergency Management urges motorists to stay alert to flooded roadways. As promised, Pender County Emergency Management issued an updated list of roads that are impacted by the recent heavy rains.

 

“We will continue to monitor roads within Pender County to keep our citizens informed,” Carson Smith, Interim Emergency Manager, said. “We urge motorists if they see swift-moving water on the roadways to turn around, don’t drown.”

 

Smith said currently the following roads are affected by flooding as of 3 p.m., Feb. 19:

  • Riverview Drive along the river
  • 485-510 block River Trail
  • 0-245 block Rebecca Kennedy Rd
  • 500-5100 block Heading Bluff Road
  • Patriots Hall Drive past the Ranger Station
  • All of Caldonia Creek Rd
  • All of Northeast Drive
  • 100-849 block Old Blake House Road
  • 1500 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 1600 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 1900 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 2400 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 2800 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 250 Horseshoe Loop
  • Old Savanah Road 100 Yards west of Van Eden Rd (Wash Out)
  • Juniper Lane at the turn
  • Whitestocking Rd near Chorley Drive
  • Whitestocking Rd at Mack Williams

 

“Flooded roadways can make a road surface unstable and drivers may not be aware of dangers beneath the water,” Smith said. “It’s safer to find an alternative route.”

 

Motorists can find travel alerts and road closures on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s site, www.DriveNC.gov.

 

Smith said, based upon the weather forecast, some areas in Pender County will experience river flooding through next weekend.

 

Pender County Emergency Management will update any changes in road conditions this Saturday and Sunday.

 

Visit www.FIMAN.nc.gov for the latest flood information from the state’s network of more than 500 river, stream and coastal gauges.

 

For more information, watch our Pender County Emergency Management website or Facebook. If you have not signed up for the CodeRed alert system, register for free at https://pendercountync.gov/em/notices-base/ or call 910-259-1210 for details.

Substantial rainfall floods local roads, caution urged

PENDER COUNTY – Pender County Emergency Management urges motorists to stay alert to flooded roadways.
“Due to the substantial rainfall we are experiencing in Pender County, our roads will be impacted,” Carson Smith, Interim Emergency Manager, said. “Pender County is currently under a Flash Flood Watch. We urge motorists to turn around, don’t drown. This is more than just a cliché. Flash floods are the number one weather-related killer in the United States.”
Smith said currently the following roads are affected by flooding as of 3 p.m., Feb. 18.
  • Willard Railroad Street at the Bridge of the Pender/Duplin County line
  • NC Hwy 50 at the curve just before the Pender/Duplin County line
  • 2356-3276 block of the Old Maple Hill Rd
  • 2593-3573 block Croomsbridge Rd
  • 0-735 River Bend Drive
  • All of River Birch Rd
  • All of Bear Run Rd
  • 485-510 block River Trail
  • 0-245 block Rebecca Kennedy Rd
  • 500-5100 block Heading Bluff Road
  • 4000 block of Herrings Chapel Rd
  • Malpass Corner Road and Herrings Chapel Road
  • 2460-2345 block NC Hwy 53 West
  • 2500 block of Shiloh Rd
  • Patriots Hall Drive past the Ranger Station
  • All of Caldonia Creek Rd
  • All of Northeast Drive
  • 100-849 block Old Blake House Road
  • 1500 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 1600 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 1900 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 2400 block of S. Shore Drive
  • 2800 block of S. Shore Drive
  • NC Hwy 133 at Cedar Farms Lane
  • 44 Saddle Ridge Rd
“Please don’t drive through swift-moving water on the roadways,” said Smith. “Only a few inches of swift-moving water can lift an automobile from the roadway. Flooded roadways can make a road surface unstable and drivers may not be aware of dangers beneath the water. It’s safer to find an alternative route.”
Motorists can find travel alerts and road closures on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s site, www.DriveNC.gov.
Smith said, based upon the weather forecast, some areas in Pender County will experience river flooding through next weekend.
Pender County Emergency Management will update any changes in road conditions.
Visit www.FIMAN.nc.gov for the latest flood information from the state’s network of more than 500 river, stream, and coastal gauges.
For more information, watch our Pender County Emergency Management website or Facebook. If you have not signed up for the CodeRed alert system, register for free at https://pendercountync.gov/em/notices-base/ or call 910-259-1210 for details.

Pender County votes to approve 2021-2022 Legislative Goals for NC counties

BURGAW – January 14-15, Commissioner Jackie Newton represented Pender County as a voting delegate for the 2021 North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Legislative Goals Conference on Jan. 14-15.

During the virtual conference, county delegates across North Carolina came together to participate in a series of voting sessions to develop NCACC’s legislative agenda, which will guide county advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels of government. The full list of approved goals is available here.

“Representing Pender County Government and working toward common goals for the betterment of our residents is extremely important to me and my fellow commissioners,” said Jackie Newton, Pender County Commissioner.

On Sept. 21, 2020, the Pender County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution with their proposed legislative goals which were then submitted to the NCACC for consideration. A copy of Pender County’s Legislative Goals Resolution can be viewed here.

Delegates finalized a slate of dozens of goals including longstanding priorities on expanding broadband access, funding for public school facilities, and efforts to preserve and expand local revenue for counties. Counties also voted to support new goals to address challenges that emerged because of the pandemic, including food insecurity. Counties adopted a new goal to support food supply chain initiatives and funding for North Carolina food banks as well as other equipment, supplies, and other nonrecurring expenses. This goal will further NCACC President Ronnie Smith’s yearlong Resilience Initiative to strengthen North Carolina’s food ecosystem.

Legislative goals pertinent to Pender County include but are not limited to the following goals:

  • Agriculture Goal AG-2:  Support legislation to protect all farming operations from nuisance lawsuits.
  • Environmental Goal, EN-5: Seek legislation to provide additional resources for preventative storm damage maintenance to clear debris to help prevent flood damage in low-lying areas.
  • General Government Goal, GG-1: Seek legislation funding and all efforts to expand digital broadband capability to the unserved and underserved residents and GG5: Support legislation to remove inequities and inconsistencies in the current state economic tier program.
  • Health and Human Resources Goal, HHS-4 Seek additional funding and preserve block grant allocations to increase access to high quality childcare, early childhood education, child welfare services, adult protective services and guardianship.
  • Justice and Public Safety Goal, JPS-4: Support legislation and state funding to provide early intervention services through the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils, and support increased state funding for the prevention, intervention and treatment of adolescent substance use disorders, gang involvement and domestic violence; and requires the Department of Public Safety to evaluate and update the amount of local matches for JCPC funding.
  • Public Education, Goal PE-5: Support legislation to provide exceptions to the K-3 class size mandate including but not limited to lack of school facility space and availability of qualified teachers.

The conference also featured remarks by Governor Roy Cooper, North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, and North Carolina Speaker of the House, Tim Moore. Governor Cooper committed to supporting county needs related to vaccine distribution and announced that the state will begin vaccinating individuals 65 and older. He called for robust investments in broadband and other vital infrastructure and emphasized the importance of addressing gaps in healthcare coverage, especially considering the pandemic. Cooper also discussed the state’s progress in implementing disaster recovery programs including the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery and Hazard Mitigation programs. Senator Berger expressed interest in hearing county priorities, including issues related to authority for local taxes. He also acknowledged the challenges counties are facing because of the pandemic and its economic impact. Speaker Moore pledged to continue to work for robust school capital funding and said the North Carolina House of Representatives is working to distribute more funding to local government and small businesses to address COVID-19 challenges.

The Legislative Goals Conference is the final step in comprehensive, grassroots process, which began in July. Every county is invited to submit proposals, which are approved by their Board of County Commissioners. This year, NCACC received hundreds of goal proposals, which were initially reviewed and vetted by NCACC’s seven Steering Committees. Then, the Legislative Goals Committee reviewed and refined the goals and recommended the package to the NCACC Board of Directors. In December, the Board approved the goals package for consideration by voting delegates at the Legislative Goals Conference.

About the NCACC: The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is a bipartisan organization, which represents the official voice of all 100 counties on issues 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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