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 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.  

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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.  

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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.  

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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.  

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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.