Town of Snow Hill in Greene County, North Carolina

The State of the Town Address

February 9, 2009

Mayor Lorrine B. Washington Delivers State of the Town Address

At the G. Melvin Oliver Town Hall of Snow Hill

Snow Hill, North Carolina

7:30 PM EST

The Mayor. It is an honor to see our residents and visitors present tonight. I also thank my family and friends for your presence and support. I am grateful to have among us the members of the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners.

Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Likes, Commissioner James Bizzell, Commissioner Percy Edwards, Commissioner Stephen Ginn, and Commissioner Geraldine (Pat) Shackleford.

Commissioner Liles, we thank you for recently accepting the appointment of Mayor Pro-tem and for your commitment and dedication to serve the Board and residents of Snow Hill.

Commissioner Ginn your recent appointment to the Snow Hill Board adds to our depth of experience and shows your dedication to public service for the residents of Snow Hill.

In addition, I thank the board for your confidence in appointing me as Mayor to fill the remaining term of former mayor Don Davis.

The Setting

This 181^st year since the State Legislature chartered the Town of Snow Hill; I can report that the Town of Snow Hill continues to look forward as we celebrate our heritage. This we do knowing that our nation faces serious economic times.

President Obama challenged the federal government and all our nation’s citizens to the difficult tasks ahead. Citizens everywhere must hold hands, support one another, and focus on a future that will rebound. After all, we know there were more terrible times overcome by past generations. Prosperity will come again.

Governor Beverly Purdue and the General Assembly face a $3.2 billion gap in state revenues and anticipated spending for the coming budget year. Although the state is better prepared than many others we know it will not be easy to continue meeting the growth needs of this state while keeping up services, and improving education. As the economy stalls we know cities and counties across North Carolina will face their own economic pain. Local governments, as is the case with the State, are required to balance our budgets.

Mayors and commissioners are close to our constituents, our neighbors. We know firsthand when family and friends worry about their jobs, or struggle to keep their homes, or pinch to pay for transportation. We know when they graduate from school, get married, raise families, and celebrate other achievements.

We trust the Federal Stimulus initiatives will help the private sectors rebound and provide jobs and smart investments soon while pushing for long term prosperity.

We urge the State and Federal Government to recognize that Snow Hill and other local governments are closest to the people and we want to stay strong for them.

How can we do this when the town faces the mandated costs of alternative water, aging water lines, expensive wastewater treatment, and public safety needs?

We must do these things while completing projects we have obligated ourselves to do because they are important to our town.

I know we can be fiscally smart, be frugal, seek partners, and seek a portion of the Federal Stimulus infrastructure funds, and work efficiently.

And importantly, we should invest in those things the town has proven will attract new investments, more jobs, and residents. We will continue to do this by welcoming a diversity of small businesses, by taking advantage of the town’s strategic location, by investing in community improvements, by supporting our youth, and by marketing Snow Hill’s beauty, history, progressiveness, and friendliness.

What is my challenge to you?

Tonight, I am asking the commissioners, administration and department heads, and volunteer boards to do these things:

Number 1—save where we can. Look over what we have set out for this year that we might hold or modify to address next year.

Number 2—identify any projects that have potential for funding from outside sources.

Number 3—Let’s use the Town Board retreat on February 25 to focus on water ….knowing that it will cost more and we need to find ways to pay for it, conserve it, and protect it.

About Water

And because water is so important to our community I will focus on it for a while tonight.

In September, we partnered with our regional alternative water source communities by getting a $500,000 Rural Center Supplemental Grant to the Greene County alternative water fund.

Last month the Commissioners authorized project development of needed waterline upgrades in anticipation of being competitive for Federal Stimulus monies. The Commissioners are to be commended for their decision to do this. To have “shovel ready” projects paid for through the stimulus will upgrade our waterlines and save local users these tremendous costs.

Another bonus, if we are successful, will be that local contractors will have the opportunity to have work and employ our citizens.

Know this—water will cost more, because:

· The state mandated that Snow Hill and all our water neighboring water systems pay for very expensive pipes, tanks, pumps, and engineering needed to allow purchase of water from Greenville Utilities. Those costs will increase.

· Next year we have to start buying water from Greenville.

· Maintenance and improvement of the water system is expensive and cannot be ignored. Did you know that many of the town’s water lines were installed before most of us were born and these old pipes need replacement to keep our water safe?

· Users, all of us, will need to share in these costs – for having excellent water and safe water for drinking and fire protection.

But wait; there may be some good news.

· There is a possibility Snow Hill can sell its surplus well water to other communities? Mr. Hill and Mr. Clark are already exploring this idea. I have asked them to place a priority on this. Any revenues we can gain will help pay for some of the costs of water.

Recognize local industry and businesses

Please join me in recognizing our newest industries—Yamco, SmartPlay USA, Worth Products, and TideTamer. These industries employ local people and add to the town’s tax base and attractiveness for even more industry. We wish them and our other local manufactures the very best and hope they will prosper during these tough economic times.

Other significant developments are underway. I am looking forward to this Thursday evening’s reception by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce for Cutter Creek and Spirit Aerosystems Industries. This is a great opportunity to see the new Cutter Creek golf community and introduce our newest Global Transpark neighbor to Greene County, Snow Hill, Hookerton and Walstonburg.

Last year we welcomed eleven new businesses to our growing town, including Bonham Meats, Advance Auto, and The Little Shop of Flowers, the Mexican/Latino shop, and Classic Home Interiors. The list continues with The Blue Mamba Nails & Salon, Lucille’s Behavioral services, Robert Heath, Jr., Insurance & Financial, Baileys Bail Bonds, Sincere Focused Care Management, and Home Security Systems a new service of Eastern Control Systems.

We can best sustain our newcomers and established businesses when we shop locally. I will try even harder this year to do just that. I ask Snow Hill and Greene County residents to do that too.

Thank you…Volunteers

I want to make sure we thank and support our volunteers. We are grateful to them for serving on the Recreation Commission, the Development Commission, the Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, the Historic Preservation Commission, our Tree Board, the Snow Hill Tomorrow Committee and the Neighborhood Affairs Committee. Look around this town and you will see their work. Isn’t this a nice place? But we have vacancies on some committees and tonight I ask our residents to consider serving on a Town committee, board or commission. Please consider completing an application.

I want to thank the small but growing list of volunteers and residents for your donations of time and supplies at the Animal Shelter. When you see Dr. Ivy Smith, thank him for helping Kathy with sick and hurt animals. Our investment in animal control is really making a difference: few roaming animals, more spaying & neutering, and improved public safety and treatment of dogs and cats and more responsible pet owners. Thank you Kathy Pazaglia for what you do.

Parents and grandparents of our skateboarders we will look to you for help as the Recreation Commission will be seeking sponsors in hosting our first tournament. And don’t forget to help us remind our users to be safe and wear those helmets. Thank you Ian Whitson, Dillon Lee and friends for helping us with this facility. I also want to recognize the extra effort by the public works crew in putting the equipment together.

The Town has partnered with Lenoir Community College in helping put forth a proposed restoration of the historic Snow Hill Colored School. Historic Preservation is important to our local identity, quality of life and economic development. Thank you Greene County and LCC for seeing the value in maintaining and improving the former South Greene High School Gym. The town’s redevelopment of the ball field and the restoration and active use of the LCC Harper St. campus are part of the larger W. Harper St. Revitalization effort.

Last year we completed the Hart St. Neighborhood Revitalization activities. In January we partnered with Rosenwald Center for Cultural Enrichment, Inc. and the Division of Community Assistance after receiving a $75,000 Capacity Building grant. By mid-2010 we will have the Bridges to Security single-family home ownership program ready for its start-up funding. It will be a challenge, especially since the housing mortgage crises hit; even so, I am confident this local homeownership investment program will succeed.

Thank you Cardinal Garden Club volunteers for the outstanding work in designing and building the marvelous children’s garden at the Snow Hill Elementary Pre-K Center. We were glad to join in dedication of the garden as we planted a tree in celebration of Arbor Day. We also appreciate your creativity and donation of the Christmas wreath we display annually at town hall.

A big project has been the Community Center renovations and expansion. There are too many people and groups for me to recognize tonight. Thank you for your contributions to this wonderful facility. But we are not finished. Costs have risen and I ask you to help us complete this important project. In the coming weeks I will be seeking your help with further donations and assistance in funding the outside work including the trails and playground.

To our employees

Thank you employees for you are the ones responsible for keeping the town in good shape. You have welcomed me in my new role. I will see more of you now and ask for your suggestions for improving the ways the Town operates. My office is open to you and I will come to you as well. At this time I would like to acknowledge our department heads. Our Town Clerk is Michelle Stickland, Dana Hill is the Public Works & Utilities Director, and our Town Administrator is Bob Clark. Please give our full-time and part-time employees a hand.

To our Public Safety people

One of the more important functions of the town is providing public safety. The Sheriff’s Department, volunteer Contentnea Rural Fire Department, and volunteer Snow Hill Rescue Squad provide these critical functions. Sheriff Smith has responded to our call for more information about the challenges of delivering law enforcement. I look forward to our future discussions and his assistance with this important service to Snow Hill residents and businesses. We also look forward as he does to seeing the new jail and courthouse improvements.

Dana Hill congratulations on your recent selection as Fire Chief. I know all of us are grateful to you and the other volunteer firefighters for the outstanding work you all perform. The Town Board looks forward to ways we may collaborate with the Rural Department in securing a new fire station.

Join me too in recognizing former Chief Bobby Carraway for his dedication and continuing volunteer fire service. Both chief’s have shown leadership and commitment to this community’s fire service needs and we are safer because of it. We thank you both.

Recognize former mayors

I have served two months. I can’t imagine being mayor for nearly three and a half decades. We recognize Melvin Oliver for 34 years in service as mayor. He must have started when he was 10, because he wears his time well. Mayor Don Davis and the Town Board felt it important to recognize the town’s longest serving mayor in a respectful and important way by naming the place of municipal government the “The G. Melvin Oliver Town Hall of Snow Hill.”

My respect and thanks are also extended to former Mayor Ben Rayford, I am only beginning to see the weight of responsibility that comes with this role. He is an outstanding person as we see by his continuing to volunteer at the Senior Citizens Center, Greene County Interfaith, and with local scouts.

We are very grateful for Don Davis, former Mayor and now our State Senator who is working for us in Raleigh this evening. These past two months I have just begun to experience the many hundreds of things he managed every week wearing the mayor’s hat.

Fun –enjoyment

Tonight you have heard me say a lot about the serious challenges ahead. But I also want to say to everyone it is important to have fun and not take everything so seriously. Take time to know your family and enjoy special moments.

The board recently joined with many friends and relatives of Isoline Taylor in celebrating her lifelong achievements as an educator and trail blazer. We also recognized Stephen and his lovely wife Sharon as they celebrated their golden anniversary. Let’s not forget to find time to embrace life and celebrate the achievements of others in our community.

In Closing

I am committed to working closely with our commissioners, staff, volunteers and citizens in moving this community ahead. I need everyone ideas and help in doing what is best for Snow Hill.

In the coming nine months I will strive to provide leadership the Board has entrusted in me.

My door is open. Let me know how I am doing. And don’t forget to share your ideas, energy, and passion as we have fun working for the continued well-being of this great place.

As Publilius Syrus said “Where there is unity there is always victory.”

May God bless this community by warming our hearts and bringing prosperity to all. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the citizens of Snow Hill as Mayor.

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