Help Shape Your Community: Volunteer for a Town Advisory Board or Committee

The Town of Garner is now accepting applications for its resident advisory boards and committees. These are volunteer positions. Serving on one of these bodies is a great way to get involved in your town and to shape its future.

We'll be accepting applications through May 28. Interviews for the positions will occur in June. The application for the boards and committees can be found here.

Here is some information about each body:

Board of Adjustment: This board hears and decides appeals from any order, decision, requirement or interpretation made by the land use administrator or other administrative officials in carrying out or enforcing any provisions of the Town of Garner Unified Development Ordinance, and to hear and decide applications for zoning variances. The board meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Committee: This committee provides recommendations to the Town Council with regard to recreation services, facilities and fee policies. This committee meets every third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

The Planning Commission: The Planning Commission requires proportional membership of citizens residing within the Town limits and within Garner’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Some members are also required to have experience in fields such as architecture, planning, development, landscaping, the arts or other fields related to urban design or appearance. The Commission provides recommendations to the Town Council concerning land use matters, including the consistency of applications for zoning map and text amendments with adopted Town plans/policies, and meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

Senior Citizens Advisory Committee: This committee serves in an advisory capacity with the Town of Garner in planning, coordinating and directing of programs and activities at the Garner Senior Center. Committee members must be eligible to participate in senior activities by being at least 55 years of age. This committee meets bimonthly every third Friday of odd numbered months at 9 a.m. at the Garner Senior Center.

Veterans Advisory Committee: This committee operates as a public interface between Garner residents and Town officials to explore ways in which to honor and recognize the service of area veterans; assist the Town of Garner’s planning for ceremonies, observances, holidays and events honoring veterans and interact with local veterans’ organizations and assist in the preservation, operation, integrity, maintenance and upkeep of the Garner Veterans Memorial. The committee meets every three months on the second Monday of the meeting months of March, June, September, and December with meeting time scheduled at 9 a.m., at the White Deer Park Nature Center.

For additional information, please visit the Town Boards and Committees webpage or contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 919-773-4406.

Two Longtime Members of GPD to Retire

Two veteran Garner Police Department team members have announced their retirements.

Accreditation Manager Dana Clay will retire after 30 years of service with the North Carolina Education and Training Standards Commission and Garner Police Department, and Sgt. Sophia Sandlin will end a career with the Garner Police Department that has spanned 27 years.

Ms. Clay and Sgt. Sandlin will be recognized at the April 20 Town Council meeting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, located at 900 7th Ave. Media are welcome to attend.

Garner Police Chief Joe Binns noted the commitment, professionalism and humility of both Ms. Clay and Sgt. Sandlin.

“Ms. Clay is humble and has never expected recognition for her efforts and dedication,” Chief Binns said. “She does these things simply because they are the right and proper things to do for the betterment of the Garner Police Department and the law enforcement profession. We have been fortunate to have Ms. Clay as an employee since 2003.”

“Sgt. Sandlin has demonstrated that service is at the center of what she does,” chief said. “She has never done it for the recognition, as she prefers not to be in the spotlight. She genuinely cares about serving the community. She is a humble person and never looks for recognition even when it is well deserved. Our department has been fortunate to have her as a Garner police officer since 1993.”

Ms. Clay served in a variety of roles during her 11 and a half years as an employee at the North Carolina Training and Standards Commission. She started her career with the Garner Police Department in May 2003 as the police administrative manager.

In 2004, Ms. Clay assumed primary responsibility for the role of accreditation manager for the department’s national law enforcement accreditation through CALEA. She continued to serve in this role until January 2014 when she transitioned to part-time employment status with the Town of Garner and continued as the department’s accreditation manager.

Ms. Clay was selected by her peers to receive the Rob Apple Officer of the Year Award in 2007.

She became a certified general instructor in 1994 and subsequently became an instructor evaluator, teaching instructor school and mandatory in-service training courses. Ms. Clay served on the School Directory Advisory Board, NC Training Officers’ Association and, most recently, the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation Advisory Board, which was established to assist in bringing state accreditation to North Carolina.

Sgt. Sandlin, who will retire effective May 1, will be the Garner Police Department’s first female African American officer to retire with 30 years of creditable service.

She began her career in 1993 as a patrol officer. While in the Patrol Division, she served as a field training officer helping train new officers. She served as an FTO for many years, training an untold number of officers.

“She was well known as one of the best FTOs that Garner PD has had,” Chief Binns said. “She provided valuable feedback about the recruits she trained and the FTO program. Sophia also served on many different oral review boards for new hires in her career. She has been a staple during those interviews and has played a vital part in the hiring of quality officers.”

Sgt. Sandlin received crisis intervention training and subsequently helped many people over the years who were experiencing mental health crises. She eventually became the department’s CIT supervisor. Sgt. Sandlin was selected as platoon leader in 2010. She was promoted to sergeant in 2013 and worked patrol for several more years.

In 2016, Sgt. Sandlin was assigned as the community services supervisor. While in that role she worked closely with the Garner Citizens and Police Together team, ran the Citizen’s Police Academy and managed several other community programs. She also taught many crime prevention classes and made important recommendations that improved the safety and quality of life for many people in Garner.

Sgt. Sandlin has never forgotten what it means to serve the community. She volunteered with the SCOR program, which involved weekly visits to a local elementary school and reading with a student. She also volunteered with the Shop with a Cop program, which assists families in need with a shopping trip for items they need, as well as gifts for Christmas.

For more information about the Garner Police Department, please visit garnerpd.org and follow the department on social media.

Wake County Public Health to Launch Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccinations on Jan. 19

Wake County Public Health to Launch Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccinations on Jan. 19

Shots to Become Available to Residents Ages 75 and Older

Post Date: 01/12/2021 2:05 PM

The following is a news release from Wake County government concerning COVID-19 vaccinations:

Wake County Public Health will start vaccinating residents ages 75 and older against COVID-19 on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Wake County Public Health has made significant progress in vaccinating Phase 1a and is ready to roll into Phase 1b of the process.

“We’ve taken a major step forward in providing protection to our healthcare workers, and now, we’re poised to give the vaccine to our older residents who are at greater risk of serious health problems if they contract the virus,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Matt Calabria. “We strongly encourage anyone 75 or older to consider rolling up their sleeves and getting the shots to safeguard themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19.”

How the Vaccination Process Will Work
Wake County Public Health’s COVID-19 response team has worked diligently to create a process that ensures none of our seniors waits outside in a long line in the bitter cold to get vaccinated only to find out the day’s allotment of doses is gone when they get to the door.

To avoid this scenario, the team has built a new tool that will allow residents ages 75 or older to express interest in getting vaccinated, and essentially reserve their place in line. Then, when supply allows, the team will reach out to them to schedule an appointment. That way, they’ll know exactly when and where to get their shot, making for an easy and efficient experience.

The tool will go live in two ways on Jan. 19. It’ll be accessible on our website and via a special phone line staffed by customer service representatives. The county will share the phone number and the web address, as well as more details about the process, as we get closer to Jan. 19.

Limited Supply of the Vaccine

Wake County Public Health is one of five healthcare providers in the county to receive shipments of the vaccine. The others include the three local hospitals and UNC Wakebrook.

Together, the five entities have received 24,757 doses – with just 3,950 of them going to our Public Health clinic. To date, the county has administered 2,000 doses, with more than 2,000 additional doses scheduled to go in arms over the coming days.

“We’re moving quickly to vaccinate as many people as we can, according to the priority order established by the state,” said Dr. Jason Wittes, Wake County’s Pharmacy Director. “The challenge is we never know how much vaccine we’ll get from week to week, which has made planning for all the phases difficult.”

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for determining how much vaccine is allotted to each healthcare provider in each county and when they receive it.

There are 53,000 people in Wake County who fall into the 75 and older age group. If only half of them request an appointment to get vaccinated, Dr. Wittes and his team still don’t have enough supply to serve them all right now. It will take time – and patience – to meet the demand.

Partnering with Local Healthcare Providers

To help, Wake County Public Health is partnering with Duke Raleigh Hospital, UNC Health, and WakeMed Health and Hospitals to expand accessibility to the vaccine for seniors ages 75 and older, with each partner making their own decision as to when they begin vaccinating persons in Phase 1b.

Since the hospitals have the bulk of the doses, they can bolster the limited amount of vaccine Wake County Public Health has by several thousand doses and, ultimately, help inoculate more people in this high-risk group.

“This is why the scheduling process is critical,” said Dr. Wittes. “By asking seniors to request an appointment, we can match up our collective supply with the demand and offer the vaccine in a measured and methodical way.”

Wake County Public Health will continue providing first and second doses of the vaccine to healthcare workers in Phase 1a while it offers shots to the 75 and older age group.

Next Steps

Wake County Public Health will begin reaching out to local organizations that serve the elderly to inform them about the launch of Phase 1b.

Meanwhile, the county will continue answering questions from the community about the vaccine through its COVID-19 hotline – 919-250-1500 – and its email address – covid19.questions@wakegov.com.

Town Hall to Close to the Public Beginning Jan. 6

Officials Make Decision in Response to Rising COVID-19 Numbers

Post Date:01/05/2021 10:48 AM

In response to the latest COVID-19 trends in the state and region—particularly regarding number of cases, infection rates and hospitalizations—the Town of Garner has decided to close Town Hall to the public effective 8 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 6, until further notice. This decision has been made to better protect staff and the community during this especially dangerous phase of the pandemic.

The Town Council's Jan. 19 regular meeting and Jan. 26 work session will be held virtually and will be live streamed at facebook.com/townofgarner. Details regarding public comments and participation in public hearings for the Jan. 19 meeting will be shared at a later date.

The Jan. 11 Planning Commission meeting will be a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting. Town Hall will be open to the public for that meeting; however, people who are not intending to speak at the meeting are strongly encouraged to stay home and watch the live stream at facebook.com/townofgarner.

Development Services (Planning, Engineering and Inspections) will continue to receive submittals and correspondence by means of drop-off bins that are located in the Town Hall main entrance vestibule. These bins are accessible 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For details about how to use the bins for submittals or correspondence, please visit garnernc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1120/17. For Development Services-related assistance, please call 919.773.4433.

Bill payments will not be accepted at Town Hall during this closure of the building to the public, and residents are asked to NOT use the outside dropbox. Residents wanting to make bill payments to Raleigh Public Utilities or the Wake County Tax Office can do so online or by mailing payments. For Town of Garner payment assistance, please call 919.773.4411.

For continuing updates about the Town's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit garnernc.gov and follow the Town of Garner on social media.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Brittany Washington of Garner Parks & Recreation and Cultural ResourcesEarns ECU Award

East Carolina University has named Brittany Washington, events coordinator for Garner's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, as a recipient of its 40 Under Forty Leadership Award for the Class of 2021.

To be eligible for the prestigious award for the Class of 2021, persons must be:

• under the age of 40 as of Dec. 31, 2020;

• an ECU graduate (undergraduate or professional degree);

• demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with ECU;

• and have made an impact in business, research, artistic, leadership, community, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors.

Washington, an Enfield native, was honored for spearheading scholarship efforts to benefit students at her former high school, including use of her personal funds. In addition, as a certified parks and recreation professional (a credential earned in 2019), Washington became an ambassador for the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association and currently serves as a member of the association's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

ECU's 40 Under Forty Leadership Awards Committee is made up of alumni, staff and faculty and oversees a highly competitive selection process for the 40 Under Forty Leadership Awards program.

"Consideration for this award is a tribute to each nominee’s ability to apply their ECU education in the following categories: research and education, health and wellness, public service, arts and humanities, and business," the awards committee said. "This year’s selection process was extremely competitive with over 320 nominations from accomplished and committed leaders, making the committee’s decision extremely challenging."

Washington earned a bachelor of science degree in recreation and park management with a concentration in youth sports leadership from ECU in 2012. She received a master's of science in recreation and park administration from ECU in 2015.

The 2021 class of award recipients will be honored at ECU's annual Division of Student Affairs 40 Under Forty Leadership Award Banquet on April 24.

Learn more about the 40 Under Forty Leadership Award program.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Town Seeks Public Input on Draft Park Plans

The Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department is seeking community feedback on the draft master plans for two new park properties: Meadowbrook (a bit off of White Oak Road) and Yeargan (on East Garner Road). Your feedback is extremely important to create a vision based on the history and cultural heritage that both park properties symbolize for Garner and the region, while also satisfying the community’s current and future recreation needs.

The survey deadline is January 8th

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You can view a quick video overview of the plans below.

Chris Clayton Promoted to Garner PD Captain

Chris Clayton was promoted to captain in the Garner Police Department in a ceremony held Dec. 21.

Capt. Clayton has served the Garner community in various roles for 27 years. As a lieutenant, he served as a commander in the Criminal Investigations, Patrol and Professional Standards divisions. He also served as a Special Response Team Commander. As a sergeant, Capt. Clayton supervised patrol, traffic safety and administration.

Prior to entering supervision, Capt. Clayton served as a patrol officer, field training officer and school resource officer.

Capt. Clayton graduated from Campbell University with a bachelor of arts in government and graduated from the FBI National Academy Session #253. He is a Garner Police Athletic/Activities League board member and a CALEA assessor.

Congratulations to Capt. Clayton.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Joe Binns Named New Police Chief

Town Manager Rodney Dickerson has appointed Garner Police Capt. Joe Binns as the new Police Department’s chief of police effective Monday, Oct. 12.

Chief Binns has over 27 years of policing experience with the Town of Garner, most recently serving at the department’s interim chief of police for approximately the past year. Prior to that, Chief Binns was assigned as the department’s operations bureau commander with responsibilities over patrol operations, criminal investigations and special operations.

“I am pleased to announce that I have selected Joe Binns as the next Garner police chief,” Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said. “He has a wealth of law-enforcement experience and has worked his way through the ranks, excelling in the field and administrative aspects of policing. Joe is devoted to serving the Garner community. He has proven to be worthy of the position and has been actively engaging the community over the past year as interim chief. He will be a great addition to our senior leadership team.”

Chief Binns said he was honored and ready to assume his new position.

“I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead,” Chief Binns said. “I am proud to be selected to lead this team of dedicated, professional public servants who work diligently day and night to keep our community of Garner safe.”

Chief Binns is a graduate of the 261st session of the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Va. He has a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University in political science and a master’s of justice administration from Methodist University in Fayetteville.

Chief Binns is an LGFCU Fellow and a graduate of the Public Executive Leadership Academy through the UNC School of Government. He also is a Paul Harris Fellow member and past president of the Garner Mid-Day Rotary Club, and he volunteers in his department’s Police Athletics and Activities League (PAAL) program.

Chief Binns and his wife, Amy, have two children, Katie and Emily. The Binns family attends the Garner campus of Hope Community Church.

A formal swearing-in ceremony for Chief Binns is planned for the Oct. 20 Town Council meeting. That meeting will be live streamed on Facebook at facebook.com/townofgarner.

To learn more about the Garner Police Department, please visit the department’s main webpage.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner Welcomes New Town Attorney

The Town Council has selected Terri Jones to be Garner’s new town attorney. When she starts in her new position on Monday, Oct. 12, Jones will become the first town attorney who is a Town of Garner employee.

Terri Jones

Jones is an accomplished attorney with over 20 years of local government experience—six years with the City of Greensboro, three years with Montgomery County, Md., and 14 years with Carroll County, Md. Most recently, she served as deputy city attorney for the City of Greensboro. Jones also was an assistant county attorney with Montgomery County and the deputy county attorney for Carroll County.

Her other government service has been with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We're extremely impressed with Ms. Jones's wealth of experience in local government,” Mayor Ken Marshburn said. “Over the course of her distinguished career, she has dealt with a wide range of matters that we think will pertain directly to what she will encounter in her work here with the Town of Garner. We are confident there will be a seamless transition as Ms. Jones moves into her role as our attorney, and we look forward to her becoming a valuable member of our team.”

Jones is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and is currently serving as a legislative chair for the Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Section as well as participating in the Government and Public Sector Section.

She received a bachelor’s of art degree in biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, graduating summa cum laude from the Honors Program. Jones received her juris doctor degree, graduating magna cum laude, and a master’s degree in environmental law, graduating summa cum laude, from the Vermont Law School.

While at the Vermont Law School, Jones was a finalist in the National Environmental Moot Court Competition, the associate articles editor of the Vermont Law Review and the winner of the American Agricultural Law Association’s Award for Excellence in Student Scholarship.

Jones is a graduate of the University of North Carolina’s School of Government Municipal and County Administration course, Community and Economic Development Academy, and Development Finance Institute. She is also a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Academy for Excellence in Local Governance.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Public Input Session About Garner PD Slated for October 13th

Event Is Part of CALEA Assessment Process

As part of the The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) assessment taking place Oct. 12-14, 2020, Garner Police Department personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public input session on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Garner Town Hall Council Chambers, located at 900 7th Ave., Garner, NC 27529.  The public input session will conclude when there are no remaining speakers. 

Due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, the public input session is restricted to those who would like to speak to assessors. If you wish to speak at the public input session, please enter the main entrance of Garner Town Hall and proceed to the Council Chambers on the first floor. Masks will be required while social distancing but may be removed while speaking to assessors. 

Police Department personnel and the public also are invited to offer comments through a public phone-in session on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The public may call (984) 233-2511 to offer comments directly to the Assessment Team. All calls are unscreened and unrecorded.

Appearances at the public input session as well as telephone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the Garner Police Department’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. If the public has questions regarding the specific standards or standard topics, they may contact Accreditation Manager Dana Clay at (919) 772-8810 or via email at dclay@garnernc.gov. 

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Garner Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA, 20155 or email comments to calea@calea.org.

Courtesy Town of Garner Post Date: 09/28/2020 12:09 PM

UPDATED - Census 2020: Make Garner Count! October 31st is the Deadline!

​Make Garner Count

Hospitals. Fire departments. Schools. Even roads and highways. The census is more than just a head count, it can shape many different aspects of Garner and Wake County.

You can respond to the census in less time than it takes to finish your morning coffee.

Help Garner count! Complete your census response today.

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Why is the Census Important? 

Results are used to help determine:

• How more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to states and communities. These funds are spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.

• The number of seats each state gets in Congress.

• How state and local officials draw boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts and school districts.

The 2020 Census will determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade.

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Redistricting and Representation for Garner

The U.S. Constitution mandates that the country count its population once every 10 years. The results are used to adjust or redraw electoral districts, based on where populations have increased or decreased.

How Will 2020 Census Data be Used? (30 Seconds)

Learn how census data helps governments make funding decisions, nonprofits perform services, and businesses create jobs. Understanding changes in a population helps communities for the better.

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For Garner Parks, Public Space, and Business

The 2020 Census will be valuable to businesses, as the results will provide a rich set of data on the communities they serve, including population trends and growth projections.

Business owners rely on census results to make decisions, such as where to open new stores, restaurants, factories, or offices, where to expand operations, where to recruit employees, and which products and services to offer.

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 Is My 2020 Census Data Safe? (30 Seconds)

The Census Bureau keeps your personal information safe and secure. By law, it cannot be shared with other government agencies, law enforcement, or landlords. Complete your 2020 Census with peace of mind.

September 17th Proclaimed Ronnie Williams Day

Proclamation Honoring Mayor Ronnie Williams (Mayor of Garner 2005-2019)

Post Date:09/15/2020 11:25 AM

WHEREAS, Mayor Ronnie Williams passed away from this earthly life on September 12, 2020, while dealing bravely and energetically with Parkinson’s disease; and

WHEREAS, Ronnie Williams has heretofore served as Mayor of Garner 2005-2019 for 14 years and served on the Board of Aldermen for 20 years prior to that having distinguished himself as one of the longest serving members of the Garner Town Council; and

WHEREAS, he has also served as President of the Wake Mayors Association, as Chair of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and in other capacities representing the region; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Williams has lived a true life of public service including serving in the US Army during the Vietnam War, serving as a volunteer with the Garner Fire Dept. and as Chief of Garner EMS; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Garner, including the current Town Council and Mayor, would like to express their appreciation to Mayor Williams for his life of service.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor Ken Marshburn, hereby proclaim Thursday, September 17 as

Ronnie Williams Day

in the Town of Garner and hereby order that the flag of the State of North Carolina and the flag of the Town of Garner be lowered to half staff at all Town of Garner facilities beginning at dawn on Wednesday, September 16, and ending at dusk on Thursday, September 17, 2020.

Duly proclaimed this 15th day of September 2020.

Mayor Ronnie Williams Obituary & Visitation Information

Mayor Ronnie Williams

February 24, 1948 ~ September 12, 2020

GARNER- Mayor Ronald Stephen Williams passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2020, after a long and hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Surrounded by his loving family, his death was peaceful at his home. Ronnie grew up in Garner and graduated from Garner High in 1966. After a stint at Wake Technical Community College, He was drafted into the Army and served two years in Vietnam.

Read Mayor Williams’s Full Obituary on the Bryan-Lee Website HERE

Mayor Williams will lie in state from 4:00 to 8:00 PM Wednesday at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner. The family will plan a Community Memorial Service for Ronnie as soon as Covid restrictions for congregation are lifted.

Flowers are welcomed or memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Visitation

September 16, 2020

4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner

Former Mayor Ronnie Williams Passes Away

Former Garner mayor Ronnie S. Williams passed away Saturday, Sept. 12, at the age of 72. 

Williams had served as mayor from 2005 until last December, when he was succeeded by current Mayor Ken Marshburn. Before being elected mayor, Williams had served for 20 years on Garner’s Board of Aldermen (since renamed the Town Council). 

During the Garner native’s more than three decades of public service, the town blossomed from a sleepy community along a rail line to a dynamic, fast-growing suburb of over 30,000 residents adjacent to downtown Raleigh. 

“Under Mayor Williams’ leadership, Garner experienced a transformation that brought prosperity and opportunity while maintaining our town’s unique charm and character,” Mayor Marshburn said. “Garner’s ability to grow while holding on to its vital community spirit and identity is a testament to Mayor Williams’ vision and to his love for his hometown.” 

Williams’ tenure as mayor was marked by numerous accomplishments that greatly enhanced the community’s quality of life and the level of municipal services provided to Garner residents. 

His first term as mayor got underway with completion of renovations of the Garner Performing Arts Center auditorium in the old Garner High School building. In 2009, the Town opened the 96-acre White Deer Park and its LEED Gold Certified Nature Center.

In 2013, thanks to a citizen-led initiative and with the support of the Town, the Garner Veterans Memorial in Lake Benson Park was dedicated. That same year saw voter approval of a $35.7 million bond program that enabled the construction of a new Town Hall, police headquarters and other projects including the Garner Recreation Center.

In June 2013, Garner was named an All-America City. Williams led a delegation of community representatives who traveled to Denver to compete and win the prestigious honor, known as “the Nobel Prize for civic accomplishment.”

Williams also helped guide the town through tragedy when in 2009 an explosion at the old ConAgra plant on Jones Sausage Road killed four people. During his last term as mayor, the Town was able to announce plans to redevelop the former ConAgra site as an Amazon fulfillment center. That center recently opened, bringing over 3,000 jobs and $200 million of new investment to Garner.

Williams assumed roles of regional and statewide leadership during his tenure as mayor. He served as chair of the Wake County Mayors Association from 2007 to 2009 and was selected to be an at-large member of the N.C. League of Municipalities’ Board of Directors.

Williams was especially proud of his service to his country. He graduated from Garner High School in 1966, attended Wake Community College then served in U.S. Army. He was deployed to Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. Williams was a member of American Legion Post 232 and Garner VFW Post 10225.

In addition to his military service, Williams was a former first responder. He was a volunteer both in the Garner Volunteer Fire Department and in Garner EMS, serving as chief of the latter from 1980 to 1983.

Williams is survived by his wife, Betsy, as well as two sons and a grandchild. Ronnie and Betsy married in 1972.

Funeral arrangements for Williams are pending.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Starting September 1st, North Carolina voters may request an absentee ballot completely online directly from the North Carolina Board of Elections

To request a ballot through the new portal, voters must provide their first and last names, date of birth, county of registration and personally identification information for verification purposes.

Voters will sign electronically and submit the form. confirmation email after the request is submitted through the portal, if the voter provide an email address.

County boards of elections will begin sending absentee ballots to voters who request them on Friday, September 4.

Request your ballot HERE

Visit the NCSBE Homepage HERE

Neal Padgett Named 2020 Winner of James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award

One of Garner’s biggest boosters and most well-known faces is being honored for his many years of work on behalf of his hometown.

Neal Padgett, who led the Garner Chamber of Commerce for 14 years before retiring in February, has been named the 2020 recipient of the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award. The honor is bestowed on individuals who have made substantial, outstanding contributions to the Town of Garner over a significant number of years.

“Neal’s leadership at the Chamber put our sleepy little suburb on the map,” the nomination for Padgett said. “Because of Neal’s professionalism and advocacy, Garner finally found its well-deserved place in important conversations highlighting the Triangle’s best places to live, work and play.”

The nomination spotlights Padgett’s role in helping to establish the performing arts as a driving cultural and economic force in the community. Specifically, he is credited with making Garner Performing Arts Center the town’s cultural arts hub by working with Garner resident Tim Stevens to launch the nationally recognized Broadway Voices series, which for a decade now has brought top Broadway stars to the GPAC stage.

“Broadway Voices changed the arts scene in Garner,” former GPAC manager Debbie Dunn said. “The series showed the potential of the GPAC and the community in the arts.”

Stevens, a former James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award winner (the award was named for his father), was quoted in the nomination as saying it took Padgett’s special skill set to make Broadway Voices a reality.

“The series was difficult to get started because it was just a dream,” Stevens said. “There was nothing tangible there. But when Neal got involved, he brought a toolbox filled with assets: dreams, love of the arts, connections and persistence.”

“No other Chamber of Commerce in the country was involved in anything like Broadway Voices, and the Chamber really didn’t benefit a lot from the series, but Neal thought it was important for Broadway Voices to succeed,” Stevens said. “He looked at the series from the economic development as well as performing arts perspective. He also saw the series as an asset for our community as we looked to grow and attract businesses.”

Padgett pitched a proposal for Broadway Voices to Town officials, emphasizing its potential to contribute to Garner’s economic and community development. His plan included making the Town the primary sponsor of the series and delegating to the Chamber the responsibilities for marketing, ticket sales, production and logistics.

Today, Broadway Voices regularly brings in visitors from along the East Coast from Maryland to Florida. The series’ success spurred the Town to beef up its cultural arts personnel, replacing a part-time GPAC manager with two full-time employees (including a full-time GPAC manager) and several part-timers. The Town also launched its own performing arts series called It’s Showtime, which brings a wide range of nationally touring acts to the GPAC.

Padgett was part of a delegation of Garner residents and Town officials who traveled to Denver in 2013 to compete for the All-America City Award. Garner won the award, and one of the key components of its successful application and presentation was the role of Broadway Voices in breathing life into the GPAC.

Padgett also started new Chamber events that raised both the town’s and his organization’s profile throughout the region.

He developed the Chamber’s Summit Awards, which, as the nomination puts it, “transformed the Chamber’s annual meeting into an event that recognizes outstanding businesses and business people in our community.” Padgett also created the annual Connect Conference, an event focusing on economic development trends in Garner that brings together well over 200 business leaders from around Garner and the Triangle.

Under Padgett’s direction, the Garner Chamber in 2018-19 earned the Carolinas Accredited Chamber designation; it is currently one of 30 accredited chambers in the Carolinas.

In addition to his leadership of the Chamber, Padgett has long been known as the highly accomplished organist at Aversboro Road Baptist Church. He has been involved in the community in many other ways too, including helping to create the original iteration of the Town’s July 3rd Celebration, which was held in the football stadium at Garner High.

Neal is married to Karen Padgett, who in recent years has been active in the Garner Area Historical Society and the citizen-led effort to move Garner’s Historic Train Depot to the corner of West Main and Pearl Streets and have the renovated building serve as home to a museum that showcases Garner’s history. The couple have an adult daughter, Carson Padgett Hart.

The award nomination notes that Padgett has received a number of other individual awards, such as the News & Observer’s Tarheel of the Week and N.C. Chamber Executive of the Year from the Carolinas Association of Chambers of Commerce. “However, citizens throughout Garner and Wake County recognize him for applying his numerous talents to promote and support the success of others and, in doing so, strive for the greater good of Garner,” the nomination says.

Padgett will be formally recognized as this year’s Stevens Award winner at the Aug. 18 Town Council meeting, which will start at 7 p.m. and be held in the Council Chambers at Town Hall at 900 7th Ave.

Courtesy Town of Garner

2020 Firemen's Day Festival Cancelled

After careful thought and consideration, Garner Fire-Rescue has made the decision to not hold its Annual Firemen’s Day Festival this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety of members, volunteers, vendors and guests is of the utmost importance, Garner Fire-Rescue stressed. We all look forward to enjoying this great Garner tradition again in October 2021.

Post Date: 07/28/2020 

July 17, 2020 Garner Update

Even though many of our Town events have been cancelled, there's still plenty of news to catch up on in this edition of Garner Update. Learn about how to apply for a job at the new Amazon fulfillment center in Garner and hear about the success of the recent COVID-19 testing events that took place at Avery Street Recreation Center. All that and more in our latest episode of Garner Update with Arlie Kidd.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Town Wins Three Statewide Awards for Video and Publications Work

The Town of Garner has won three Excellence in Communications Awards from North Carolina City and County Communicators in the organization's 2020 awards competition.

The Town earned first place in the category of promotional videos for a recruitment video for the Garner Police Department. Communications Specialist Adam Carroll filmed, directed and edited the video, and worked closely with the Police Department during the months-long project. Garner also won second place in the category of videography for Carroll's work in the Town's 2019 Year in Review video. 

In addition, Garner won second place in the category of annual reports for the Town’s 2019 Popular Annual Financial Report. Communications Manager Rick Mercier teamed up with Finance Director David Beck on the publication.

"These awards in the video categories are a testament to the great work that Adam Carroll does for Garner day in and day out," Mercier said. "Each of these award-winning projects also points to the superior level of collaboration we have among staff in all the departments in our municipal government. This is what good government looks like."

The Town of Garner was among 21 North Carolina local governments to earn recognition in the awards competition. The awards were announced in a virtual ceremony June 24 due to the cancellation of this year’s annual NC3C Spring Conference. All 192 award entries were judged by communications professionals from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators.

For more information about how to receive communications from the Town of Garner, please visit the Communications Division page.

Town Seeking Applicants for Resident Advisory Bodies

The Town of Garner is now seeking applications from residents to serve on a number of advisory boards and commissions. Residents who serve on these boards and commissions perform an important community service using their skills, interests and initiatives to make a difference. Whether you’re interested in community appearance, recreation activities or land-use practices, the Town of Garner has opportunities for you to volunteer to share your time and talents.

Here is information about current opportunities:

Board of Adjustment: The board is an appointed body, authorized N.C. General Statutes, that hears and decides appeals from any order, decision, requirement or interpretation made by the land-use administrator or other administrative officials in carrying out or enforcing any provisions of the Town of Garner Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). It also hears and decides on applications for special-use permits, special exceptions and variances. The Planning Department serves as staff adviser. The board meets, as needed, on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall.

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Committee: This committee provides recommendations to the Town Council with regard to recreation services, facilities and fee policies. This committee meets the third Monday of each month (excluding summer months, when it does not meet) at 6 p.m. at Garner Senior Center.

Planning Commission: This commission needs members who reside outside of the Town limits and also within Garner’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The commission requires some candidates to have experience in fields such as architecture, planning, development, landscaping, the arts or other fields related to urban design or appearance. This commission meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall.

Senior Citizens Advisory Committee: This committee serves in an advisory capacity with the Town of Garner in planning, coordinating and directing of programs and activities at the Garner Senior Center. Committee members must be eligible to participate in senior activities by being at least 55 years of age. This committee meets on the third Friday of every other month (odd-numbered months) at 9 a.m. at the Garner Senior Center.

Veterans Advisory Committee: This committee operate as a public interface between Garner residents and Town officials to explore ways in which to honor and recognize the service of area veterans; assist the Town of Garner’s planning for ceremonies, observances, holidays and events honoring veterans; and assists in the preservation, operation, integrity, maintenance and upkeep of the Garner Veterans Memorial. The committee meets the second Monday every three months (March, June, September, December) at 9 a.m. in White Deer Park Nature Center.

To apply for one of these volunteer positions, please download and complete an application found at https://www.garnernc.gov/home/showdocument?id=4293. For additional information, please contact Town Clerk Stella Gibson at sgibson@garnernc.gov or at 919.773.4406.