Town of Garner Names Chris Adams as Next Chief of Police

A 26-year veteran of the Garner Police Department and U.S. Marine Corps veteran has been named the department’s next chief of police. 

Chris Adams, who has been serving as interim chief since the retirement of Lorie Smith in late April, will be sworn in as chief later this month.  

He has served as deputy chief in the Police Department since July 2024 and previously served in various other leadership roles for the department including support services captain, patrol lieutenant and several sergeant positions. 

“Chief Adams has the skills, experience and passion to effectively lead the Garner Police Department,” Town Manager Jodi Miller said. “He cares about the staff and the Garner community as demonstrated in his 26 years of service. He is committed to leading the department with a focus on data driven decision-making, officer well-being and strong communication. I look forward to working with Chief Adams as he leads the Police Department.” 

The Town partnered with POLIHIRE, an executive leadership recruitment firm, to conduct a nationwide search for Garner’s next police chief. A total of 66 resumes were received, and 12 candidates were shortlisted. 

Chief Adams, who holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and master’s degree in criminal justice: public administration from Liberty University, emerged as the top candidate after an exhaustive and thorough process. 

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me in my role as interim chief, as well as during the chief selection process,” Chief Adams said. “Ms. Miller, the Town Council, Town staff, Police Department staff, community members, and my family and friends have all played a significant role in my decision to accept the chief of police position, and they will all be integral to our success in making the Garner Police Department one of the best in the country. I am excited to officially get started as the police chief in this wonderful community.” 

Chief Adams points to his family and his service in the U.S. Marine Corps as the main influences that steered him toward a career in law enforcement. His service as a Marine taught values such as honor, courage and commitment, he said, and to be “always faithful” (Semper Fidelis) to a higher cause.  

Chief Adams said he wants the CALEA-accredited Police Department to continue to seek new levels of excellence while demanding accountability “across the board.” 

“My vision is that the Garner Police Department will be the best agency of its size in the country and that Garner will be the safest municipality of its size,” he said. “There is no reason we cannot accomplish those goals. We have excellent officers and professional staff, and we get outstanding support from Town Council, Town management and the community we serve.”  

He said the department will “master our profession through advanced training and education, data driven decision-making as well as formal and informal mentoring processes.” 

Recruitment and retention will be a top priority too, he said, adding that the department will seek to provide the appropriate resources and technology needed for success.  

"We will also focus on the holistic health of our staff,” Chief Adams said. “That starts with ensuring our employees are mentally and physically healthy and that they have everything they need to be safe and resilient in a profession that can be extremely taxing.” 

Chief Adams also intends to focus on excellence in communication and engagement—both internally and externally—and he wants to increase civic engagement opportunities by involving residents, business leaders and other stakeholders in problem solving.  

“We are but a part of the public safety solution,” he emphasized. “It takes everyone to truly make Garner a safe and thriving community.” 

For more information about the Garner Police Department, please visit GarnerPD.org. 

Via Town of Garner

Garner Town Council CLASY Candidate’s Forum Shows Love for Garner but Some Distinct Differences on History, Growth, and the Future

The candidates – Kathy Behringer, Mike McIver, Gra Singleton, Kelvin Stallings, Rex Whaley, and – addressed critical issues facing Garner, including growth, infrastructure, affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and the downtown area, as well as the town's recent rebrand at the Choose Local and Small Y’all (CLASY) candidate’s forum on September 6th at the Garner Civitan Club.

A sixth candidate, Patricia Uzzell, did not participate.

Topics covered included

• The Town’s recent logo and motto rebranding

• Garner Growth

• Affordable Housing

• Infrastructure

• Supporting Small Businesses

• Downtown Garner

Overall Tone and Candidate Platforms

All candidates expressed a deep love for Garner and a commitment to its future. A recurring theme was the balance between preserving Garner's "small town charm" and managing its rapid growth. Each candidate highlighted specific areas of focus:

• Gra Singleton (Incumbent): Emphasizes responsible and thoughtful growth, fiscal oversight, affordable housing, and transportation improvements (sidewalks, bus service). He prides himself on being prepared and responsive to citizens, making sure his vote reflects their wishes. "My goal is to ensure that Garner remains a community where you want to live, work, and raise a family."

• Kelvin Stallings: Focuses on an "AAA approach" – Accessibility, Accountability, and Affordability. His background as an organizer informs his desire to improve citizens' quality of life with every decision. "I want to make sure that government is making sure we're improving the quality of life of our citizens with every decision that we make."

• Kathy Behringer (Incumbent): Driven by a desire to make her community a better place, emphasizing reasonable balanced growth, respectful interactions with developers ("Developers are not our enemies. They're our business partners.

• Rex Whaley: Highlights 40 years of public service experience, particularly in financial management, auditing, and budgeting. His focus is on financial oversight, public safety, and ensuring residential development adds value, not just population, with a strong emphasis on commercial development. "I want to focus on residential development adds value to the town, not just population."

• Mike McIver: A lifelong Garner resident and retired Deputy Chief of Police, his platform includes smart growth, limiting tax increases, supporting public safety, and maintaining Garner's quality and charm. "I'm looking at… smart growth, limiting tax increases moving forward… ensuring our public safety is supported… and finally making sure that maintains the quality and charm that we all know Garner is."

Town Rebrand and Logo Change

The Town Council recently voted 3 to 2 to support the Town Manager’s recommendation and roll out of the new town logo and motto. Incumbents Singleton and Behringer split their votes, with Behringer ‘for’ and Singleton ‘against’.

General Sentiment

Mixed, with strong opinions on both sides regarding the chosen logo and process.

Concerns & Criticisms

• Cost: Rex Whaley and Gra Singleton felt the $65,000 cost was excessive and could have been better spent, particularly on small businesses. Whaley noted a lower bid of $25,000 was bypassed.

• Community Involvement: Rex Whaley suggested involving high school students in the design process.

• Design Choice: Gra Singleton strongly criticized the new logo's "heavy industrial G," stating it "don't match" the town's strategic plan for "small town charm" and "hometown feel." He also expressed personal attachment to the "blue and gold" colors, which he said have historical significance, particularly related to the town's segregated past. "Refreshing it and just totally discarding it is stupid in my opinion."

• Lack of Transparency: Singleton also mentioned reading the contract multiple times, suggesting a concern about the process not aligning with the stated goal of "refreshing" the brand.

Support & Acceptance

• Trust in Leadership: Kathy Behringer expressed willingness to "trust her [the Town Manager's] leadership here and support the decision that she's made," acknowledging the Town Manager's decades of experience.

• Periodic Necessity: Mike McIver agreed that every organization needs to "do a rebrand or a refresh from time to time" to stay current.

• Dual Support: While acknowledging his "blue and gold" loyalty (as a Garner High School graduate), McIver also stated, "I also support our town staff with what they're trying to do."

The Town of Garner’s old logo.

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Garner's Growth 

Reasons for Growth (Consensus)

• Proximity to Raleigh/RTP: Many are moving for job opportunities in the Triangle area. "Garner is literally 10 minutes, 5 to 10 minutes outside of Raleigh." (Stallings)

• Availability of Land: Compared to more developed areas like Holly Springs and Morrisville, Garner (and southern/eastern Wake County) still has land for development. "The reason we're growing here now is because they run out of land in Holly Springs and in Morrisville." (Singleton)

• Quality of Life/Reputation: Garner is seen as a desirable place to live, work, and play, with a strong community feel. "Garner is a great place to live, to work, and to play. And and our reputation is out there. People want to come here." (McIver)

• Amenities & Location: Access to downtown Raleigh's cultural resources, 2 hours from the beach, 3 hours from the mountains, and seasonal changes were all cited as attractions.
  

Balancing Growth with Small-Town Feel

• Candidates agreed on the need for "smart" or "responsible" growth.

• Rex Whaley emphasized making it clear to developers "how we want the residential areas that they're building, what we expect from them," focusing on development that "adds value to Barner. Don't just bring us people and throw up some houses and stack them on top of one another."

• Mike McIver suggested fostering "welcome neighborhoods" and leveraging Garner's "world-class parks" to maintain community connections. He also stressed balancing residential and commercial growth for a stable tax base.

• Kathy Behringer acknowledged Garner is a different town than 50 years ago (45,000 people vs. 5,000), suggesting a focus on being a "welcoming community" with a "hometown feel" rather than strictly "small town."

• Gra Singleton highlighted existing amenities like the July 3rd celebration, GPAC programs, and efforts on Main Street as ways to maintain a sense of community, noting that the "core" of Garner's togetherness (e.g., fighting library closure, "red route" opposition) is still present.

• Kelvin Stallings advocated for "community informed" decisions, proposing "neighborhood walk teams" to engage citizens directly about their desires for their communities.

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Infrastructure

 Key Challenges:

• Significant Costs: The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is approximately $89 million, but several large projects (e.g., new Public Works facility estimated at $35-40 million, stormwater pipe replacement) will double that.

• Aging Infrastructure: Existing infrastructure, like the Public Works facility (opened 1980s) and stormwater pipes, is in need of replacement and repair, costing "millions and millions of dollars." (Singleton)

• Funding: Tax increases and bonds are politically difficult. "Last fall Cary had two bond referenda not pass and Wendell also had a long referendum to fail." (Singleton)

Proposed Solutions:

• Purposeful Planning: Candidates stressed the need for clear, long-term plans rather than reactive measures. "We would have to have a plan. We would have to work with [developers]... and make it clear to them what our goals are that they need to be in tandem." (Behringer)

• Financial Foresight: Rex Whaley emphasized strengthening debt capacity and prioritizing resources based on future needs (e.g., fire stations). He also highlighted the importance of commercial development to contribute more to the tax base, as residential development "not paying for itself."

• Innovative Approaches: Kelvin Stallings suggested "innovative approaches" to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with growth, possibly including "a tax increase up front to be able to provide what we need for the citizens."

• Fiscal Responsibility: Mike McIver advocated for being "fiscally conservative and responsible," planning for "rainy days," and having a "bank account set up" to avoid burdening taxpayers when infrastructure breaks.

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Affordable Housing

Key Challenges

• National Crisis: All candidates recognized affordable housing as a complex, nationwide issue, not unique to Garner.

• Impact on Public Servants: Kelvin Stallings raised a significant concern: a recent report indicated that firefighters, police officers, and many nurses cannot afford housing in Garner, deeming it a "public safety issue" if those who serve the town cannot live there.

• Supply and Demand: Rapid job growth brings people, but housing supply cannot keep up, driving up prices. "Because the housing can't keep up with the people moving here, supply and demand squeeze for the housing drives the price." (Singleton)

• Community Understanding: Rex Whaley emphasized the need for better community outreach and education, noting that 25% of Garner households make less than $50,000, and the average household income ($77,000) is among the lowest in the county.
  
  

Approaches & Definitions

• Task Force Recommendations: The town is continuing to work with the Affordable Housing Task Force and Central Pines study recommendations (Behringer).

• Varied Types: Kelvin Stallings highlighted various forms: townhomes, apartment complexes, "naturally occurring affordable housing" (older homes whose owners have downsized), and housing for public servants.

• Targeted Benefits: Rex Whaley questioned the effectiveness of some current initiatives, citing the Tryon Station project, and stressed that efforts should primarily "benefit Garner residents," including "firefighters, teachers, first responders, medical professionals."

• Not a Crime Issue: Gra Singleton pushed back on the idea that affordable housing automatically creates problems or strains emergency services, citing existing Habitat for Humanity projects.

• No Single Answer: Candidates agreed there isn't one simple solution, requiring a multi-faceted approach involving the community and partners.

Impact on Taxes, Transit, and Education

• Taxes: The impact on tax rates depends on various factors of the development (affordable, workforce, or upper-end).

• Public Transit: An increase in all housing, not just affordable, will increase the need for public transit. Candidates support expanding bus routes and accessibility (e.g., to the new VA clinic).

• First Responders: Any housing increase will strain emergency services. Mike McIver noted that police officer ratios are typically 2.2 per thousand residents, and high-density vertical development might require fewer officers per area than sprawling developments. Rex Whaley pointed out that Garner's emergency room already sees 40,000 visits/year, 65% from Garner residents, indicating existing strain regardless of affordable housing.

• Crime: Kelvin Stallings cited studies showing that "when people are housed and taken care of, crime and all the other social determinants of health actually increase and crime and things like that go down."

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Supporting Small Businesses

Current Perceptions & Needs

• Self-Reliance: Kathy Behringer, a small business owner herself, noted that she and her husband "never looked to the town to provide help for us."

• Lease Costs: Gra Singleton identified rising lease costs (driven by increasing property values from high-dollar development) as a major threat, citing numerous restaurant and brewery closures in Raleigh and statewide.

• Permitting Process: Mike McIver reported that new business owners find the permitting process "challenging" and would like it streamlined with a "one-stop shop" approach.

Proposed Town Support

• Direct Engagement: Rex Whaley suggested the town meet with small businesses to ask "what can we do to help your specific business," particularly regarding regulations, permitting, zoning, and infrastructure (e.g., turn lanes). He also proposed reserving space for small businesses in new developments.

• Town Business Contact & Website: Rex Whaley recommended a dedicated business contact and a small business section on the town website, similar to other Wake County towns, to provide information and maps for residents and visitors.

• Promotion & Recognition: Kelvin Stallings actively uses social media to promote local businesses and suggested the town council and staff do the same, perhaps with a "highlight campaign." Gra Singleton recalled a past practice of the mayor recognizing long-standing local businesses at town hall meetings as a simple yet effective form of recognition.

• Downtown Investment: Continuing to invest in the downtown area and recruit local businesses there was seen as crucial for the town's charm. (McIver)

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Downtown Garner

Current State & Challenges

• Growing Vibrancy: Candidates acknowledged progress, citing murals, coffee shops, the Recreation Center, and downtown concerts as positive developments.

• Lack of Initial Planning: Kathy Behringer noted that Garner was "not ever planned" around a downtown, instead settling around the railroad, which has put it "a little bit behind the curve."

• Investor Confidence: The proposed Metro 201 project (a food hall and residential units) has been delayed due to economic signals affecting investor confidence. "You got to have investors investors have to feel confident in what plant what project they're investing in so you can't fault them because of some of the economic signals out there." (Singleton)

• Balancing History & Development: The presence of the "dirt baseball fields" as part of Garner's small-town charm presents a tough question against potential high-value residential development. (Singleton)
  
  

Vision & Strategies

• Promotion: Rex Whaley suggested promoting downtown more actively through the town website, local news stations, and even travel shows to attract both internal and external visitors.

• Community & Business Input: Kelvin Stallings emphasized involving citizens and businesses in conversations about what they want to see in downtown.

• Catalytic Projects: Mike McIver believes getting the Metro 201 project "off the ground" is key to "catapult further expansion of downtown."

• Preserving History: Gra Singleton highlighted the role of the Historical Society and the museum in preserving downtown's history and value.

• Public Art: Kathy Behringer spoke passionately about the growing public art committee, noting that "Art makes people happy," and encouraged residents to visit downtown to see the art and offer suggestions.
  

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Closing Remarks

All candidates urged citizens to vote in the upcoming election, emphasizing the significant impact of local elections on daily life. They encouraged voters to research platforms, attend meetings, and engage with candidates. Kelvin Stallings invited voters to visit his website, kelvinstallins.com. Gra Singleton closed with a touching endorsement from his daughter, highlighting his passion and long-standing commitment to Garner.

Garner Town Council Passes $87.3 Million Operations Budget for Fiscal Year 2026

The Garner Town Council at its June 17 meeting approved by a 3-2 vote an $87.3 million operations budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which begins July 1.  

The budget, which holds the municipal property tax rate at the current 52 cents per $100 valuation, is a $9.9 million increase over this year’s amended budget.  

________

Two main Council priorities are at the center of the approved budget: the Garner Fire-Rescue consolidation with the Town on July 1 of this year and the opening of the new Yeargan Park in the fall of 2026.  

The budget funds nine new positions to support the Garner Fire-Rescue consolidation and 12 new positions for operations at Yeargan Park, which will open with four athletic fields, an inclusive playground, a shelter with restrooms and covered seating, and Garner Road frontage improvements with a 10-foot-wide multi-use path. 

“I am pleased that the FY26 budget invests in Garner’s vibrant future, focusing on community quality of life as well as overall safety and well-being,” Town Manager Jodi Miller said. “We are also thrilled to welcome the Garner Fire-Rescue Department on July 1.” 

The budget includes funding for the Police Department to support staffing, vehicles and equipment needs. The funding may be used to hire additional positions based on the priorities set by the incoming police chief.  

________

Street resurfacing funding will increase by $544,000 next fiscal year, and there will be a new annual allocation of $200,000 for traffic-calming measures to improve road conditions and enhance neighborhood safety as Garner grows.  

The budget also supports the priorities of residents, as gleaned from Garner’s participation in the 2024 National Community Survey. 

In response to concerns about housing, $100,000 was set aside in the budget for housing preservation services funding to help residents remain in their homes, to maintain Garner’s older housing stock and to preserve affordable housing options in the town.  

________

To meet residents’ demand for more recreational opportunities and special events, the Parks, and Recreation & Cultural Resources Department received funding to expand its programs and services, including the introduction of new volleyball and basketball opportunities, additional performances for special events and the addition of specialized programs tailored to support individuals with special needs or disabilities.  

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources also received funding for two new full-time positions to support its program enhancements. 

Four other full-time positions are funded in the approved budget as well: 

• Inspections will receive two positions to meet the rapidly increasing service demands related to Garner’s fast growth.

• Two positions have been funded for general government support and innovation.  

________

The Council also approved by a 3-2 vote a capital projects budget for fiscal year 2025-26 totaling $4,987,752. The largest appropriation in that budget is $2.2 million for vehicle and equipment replacement. Nearly a million dollars is set aside for the Penny for Parks program, which enables maintenance and upgrades of existing Town parks and recreational facilities. 

Recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that Garner is the 10th fastest-growing municipality in the country. Despite the rapid change, the Town continues to follow sound fiscal policies and practices that have resulted in maintaining stellar credit ratings of AAA by Standard & Poor’s and Aa1by Moody’s Investors Services. 

For more information on the Town budget, please visit the FY26 Budget Portal webpage. 

via Town of Garner

Jodi Miller to Join Garner Leadership Team as Assistant Town Manager

Jodi M. Miller will be joining the Town of Garner in early February as an assistant town manager, filling an important senior leadership role with the Town.

Miller has served as deputy/general manager for Durham County since 2016. Her areas of responsibility include emergency services (Fire Marshal, Emergency Management and EMS) and emergency communications (in partnership with the City of Durham), as well as Durham County’s Youth Home and Criminal Justice Resource Center. She also serves as liaison to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Durham Detention Center, Durham County Courts and the N.C. Forest Service, a division with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Garner Town Manager Rodney Dickerson will make a final decision about Miller’s exact areas of responsibility for the Town in the next couple of weeks. John Hodges also serves in the role of assistant town manager for Garner.

Dickerson said that Miller's talents and broad range of experience will make her a valuable addition to the Town's municipal leadership team.

“Jodi Miller is an analytical thinker and problem solver who has a passion for local government,” Dickerson said. “She has an impressive background in a number of areas that will allow us to draw on her insights as Garner positions itself for continued growth.”

As a deputy/general manager with Durham County, Miller has helped lead implementation of a major organizational transformation that emphasizes a strategic governance approach using metrics and data as the principal drivers for decision-making. In addition, she has played a key leadership role in updating Durham County’s strategic plan and capital improvement plan.

Before joining Durham County, Miller served a deputy city manager for the City of Williamsburg, Va., for 16 years.

Over the course of her career, Miller has gained extensive local government experience in the areas of executive leadership, strategic planning, performance management, budget preparation and management, capital project development and management, economic and community development, emergency services, communications, human resources, civic engagement and innovation.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the talented and dedicated Garner team and feel fortunate to be given the opportunity,” Miller said. “Garner’s future is bright, and I look forward to using my skills and experience to help the Town achieve its strategic goals and objectives.”

Miller sits on numerous professional and community boards including the International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Credentialing Advisory Board and the Museum of Life & Science Board of Directors. She has previously served on the North Carolina City and County Management Association Executive Committee and on the national League of Women in Government board.

Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in public administration from Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy. She is an ICMA credentialed manager, as well as a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Senior Executive Institute and the University of North Carolina’s Public Executive Leadership Academy.

“Jodi is self-driven but also excels in a team atmosphere,” Dickerson said. “I look forward to her bringing her wealth of knowledge and experience to this important role in the Town of Garner Manager’s Office.”

To learn more about the Town of Garner, please visit GarnerNC.gov.

Courtesy Town of Garner

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.