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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.