Garner Police Chief Joe Binns to Retire Effective Oct. 1

Garner Police Chief Joe Binns has announced his retirement with 30 years of creditable service to the Town effective Oct. 1, 2021.

Chief Binns served in a variety of roles in the department over his long career with the Garner Police Department before being selected to serve as the interim chief in 2019 then permanent chief in October 2020. Prior to becoming interim chief, he was assigned as the department’s operations bureau captain with responsibilities over patrol operations, criminal investigations and special operations.

Chief Binns was the first chief to rise up through the ranks to become the top leader of the Police Department.

“I believe the Police Department is in a strong position with many capable leaders who will continue to provide excellent service to our residents,” Chief Binns said. “I have been honored to have been able to serve Garner for over 28 years and am very appreciative of the opportunities I have been given. Unfortunately, I need to focus on some personal health issues but am grateful to have served the Town and its residents over a full career.”

Under Chief Binns’ leadership, the department-wide deployment of NARCAN was instituted to fight the opioid epidemic, saving at least 22 lives since implementation.

The department received its national reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) during Chief Binns' leadership tenure. Chief Binns also expanded the department's leadership structure to prepare for the fast growth and changes Garner is now seeing.

During his tenure, Chief Binns has focused on building internal capacity to meet the growing needs of the Town as well as expanding on programs and relationships that built trust and legitimacy in the community. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Police Department has continued to build on relationships and programs that support community engagement.

“Chief Joe Binns has been an integral part of the leadership team over the last two years,” Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said. “During his year as chief, he valued community relations externally and professional development and officer morale internally. He continued the integrity and professionalism of what was already an outstanding, nationally accredited Police Department, but he also put his own stamp on the department by instituting key policy changes. His common-sense approach, combined with nearly 30 years of experience, served this community well and served me well.”

Town Manager Dickerson expects to name an interim chief soon. A search for Chief Binns’ permanent replacement will begin in the coming weeks.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Jackie Johns Honored Posthumously with Stevens Award

Former Town Council Member Jackie Johns has been named the 2021 recipient of the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award, considered our community's most prestigious recognition for public service. 

Mr. Johns, who passed away in January 2019 at the age of 81, is being honored posthumously. The Town Council will recognize Mr. Johns at its Aug. 17 regular meeting starting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Garner Town Hall, located at 900 7th Ave. There will be a reception on the second floor of Town Hall preceding the Council meeting. 

Mr. Johns served as a Town alderman and, later, Town Council member for a total of nearly 36 years during three separate tenures. A native of the Auburn community, Mr. Johns was the first African American elected municipal official in town history and served as Garner’s only African American elected official during his entire time on the Board of Aldermen and Town Council. 

Former Mayor Ronnie Williams, who served as an alderman and Council member with Mr. Johns before becoming mayor, said Mr. Johns “was a true advocate for the people.” 

“He was the people’s politician,” Williams said. “He looked out for the interests of every citizen in town.”

Longtime Garner resident and community activist Helen Phillips had similar recollections of Mr. Johns. “He has always spoken for the community,” she said after Mr. Johns’ passing. “He was always trying to help people live better.” 

Mr. Johns was first elected as an alderman in 1973 and served four years. He then had a second stint as an alderman from 1979 to 1983. In 1991, he was voted into office again. This time, he would serve as an alderman and Council member until his death. 

Mr. Johns also was a member and deacon of Springfield Baptist Church in Garner. In addition, he served on the church’s Board of Trustees and as a Sunday school superintendent. He also was known to have regularly visited other churches all over Garner and to have made contributions to them. 

When asked about the accomplishment of which he was most proud as an elected official, Mr. Johns cited being part of the leadership that decided to purchase the land that became Lake Benson Park. Prior to its acquisition by the Town in the early 1980s, the tract had been farmland.   

Mr. Johns helped lead Garner as it grew and evolved in numerous ways. The Town’s population was approximately 7,000 when Mr. Johns won his first aldermen election in 1973. At the time of his passing, Garner had over 31,000 residents.  

Over the span of his service, White Oak Crossing shopping center was built; White Deer Park was developed and opened; Garner Performing Arts Center was renovated and rebranded; and the Town built a new Town Hall and police headquarters as a result of $35.7 million bond program approved by voters in 2013.  

Garner also was named an All-America City during Mr. Johns’ tenure, and he proudly served as a delegate with the citizen-led team that traveled to Denver to earn the prestigious national recognition in 2013. 

Following his passing, the community recognized Mr. Johns in a unique way. In response to a remarkable petition drive that collected over 1,000 signatures, the Town Council in August 2019 voted unanimously to change the name of Rand Mill Park to Jackie Johns Sr. Community Park.  

The park, managed by the Town of Garner’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, is located at 508 Rand Mill Road in the neighborhood where Mr. Johns and his wife, Lila, lived with their two sons. In the early 1980s, Mr. Johns was instrumental in persuading Town leaders to move the park from its location at the corner of Bagwell Street and Smith Drive to its current site, and to upgrade park amenities to include a ballfield, basketball court, playground equipment and picnic shelter.  

Just before the Council voted to rename the park, former Mayor Williams remarked, “I think it’s safe to say—and we have to believe—that Jackie is looking down tonight, and he’s pleased with what he sees.” 

ABOUT THE JAMES R. STEVENS SERVICE TO GARNER AWARD 

The James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award is intended to recognize people who have made substantial, outstanding contributions to Garner over a period of years. Emphasis is on service rendered over an extended period of time with preference given to nominees with 20-plus years of service. This is in keeping with James R. Stevens’ tradition of service spanning decades. Non-residents of Garner are eligible if the award committee deems they meet the criteria necessary to receive the honor. The award also can be bestowed posthumously, as in the case of Mr. Johns. 

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner Public Hearing July 20, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE 

 Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Garner Town Council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 to consider the following applications. 

Please Note: The Garner Town Council will meet in the Council Chambers located in the Town of Garner Town Hall located at 900 7th Avenue, Garner, NC 27529. 

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Conditional rezoning (CZ-SP-20-15) request submitted by 900 Rand Road LLC, to rezone 16.7 ± acres from Community Retail (CR) and Single-Family Residential (R-40) to Community Retail District Conditional (CR C240) for the development of a Medical Clinic. The site is located at 900, 1108, 1113, 1116 Rand Rd. and may be further identified by Wake County PIN(s): 1619434624, 1619444380, 1619446238, & 1619447310. (MAP HERE)

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Conditional rezoning (CZ-SP-20-04) request submitted by D&S Properties, LLC to rezone 6.26 ± acres from Single-Family Residential (R40) to Service Business District Conditional (SB C233) for the development of a Flex Space. The site is located at 4700 Guy Rd. and may be further identified by Wake County PIN(s) 1740206340 & 1740209101. (MAP HERE)

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Special Use Permit Hearing

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Special use site plan (SUP-SP-21-03) request submitted by Al Neyer, LLC for 240,000 square feet of Flex Space on a 16.08 ± acre site at 200 Garner Business Park Dr. The property may be further identified by Wake County PIN 1730944375. (MAP HERE)

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Handicapped persons needing assistance or aids should contact the Clerk’s office prior to the meeting at 919-772-4688. 

Stella Gibson, Town Clerk 

DATE PUBLISHED:  Tuesday, June 22, 2021 through Tuesday July 6, 2021

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Garner Public Hearing July 6 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE 

 Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Garner Town Council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 to consider the following applications. 

Please Note: The Garner Town Council will meet in the Council Chambers located in the Town of Garner Town Hall located at 900 7th Avenue, Garner, NC 27529. 

Special Use Permit

Special use site plan (SUP-SP-20-01) request submitted by Wake County for an Ambulance Service on a 3.96 ± acre tract at 1601 Timber Drive. The property can be further identified as Wake County PIN 1700768135. MAP HERE

Handicapped persons needing assistance or aids should contact the Clerk’s office prior to the meeting at 919-772-4688. 

Stella Gibson, Town Clerk 

DATE PUBLISHED:  Tuesday, June 22, 2021 through Tuesday July 6, 2021

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Garner Partners on Purchase of Open Space and Wetlands

Acquisition will support possible greenway system extension and protect watershed

A joint news release from The Conservation Fund and the Town of Garner:

Today, the Town of Garner and The Conservation Fund announced the purchase of 86.5 acres of undeveloped wetlands and open space for future public access and the protection of drinking water resources.

Located southeast of U.S. 401 South and near other permanently protected lands owned by the City of Raleigh, Wake County and the Town, the acquired property borders a major tributary to Swift Creek, which is part of the Lake Benson watershed, a critical source of drinking water supply for Wake County. The site's wetlands and extensive floodplain provide a naturally vegetated buffer that helps to filter storm water runoff from surrounding upland areas while providing important upland habitat for wildlife.

The Town is eager to add the open space to its park system as part of Garner's Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Town officials say the acquisition could make possible the extension of Garner's greenway system, creating new trails that will connect existing parks and schools throughout southern Wake County.

“As Garner grows, we continue to look for opportunities to preserve open space and to do it in a strategic way based on our long-term planning,” Mayor Ken Marshburn said. “The Council and I were excited to have the opportunity to acquire this acreage because it fits well into our master planning efforts and will allow us to provide nature-oriented recreation opportunities, such as hiking, in the future. This land will be a great asset for residents, and its conservation also will help to protect our local drinking water resources.”

The Town partnered with The Conservation Fund—a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing conservation solutions that deliver both economic and environmental benefits—to purchase six parcels of land totaling 86.5 acres from Kay Boling Singletary.

“This project represents a rare opportunity to conserve a large section of undeveloped land in a rapidly urbanizing area that sits within a critical water supply watershed,” said Bill Holman, The Conservation Fund’s North Carolina State Director. “Land protection efforts like this are key to a comprehensive strategy for clean water and pollution reduction in the Triangle, and we are pleased to work with the Town of Garner to secure this site for future public recreational access and enjoyment.”

This project utilized funds from Raleigh’s Watershed Protection Program through the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative, the Wake County Open Space Bond Program, and the Town of Garner. Additional private-sector support from the Caterpillar Foundation was provided through a new partnership recently created with Conservation Trust for North Carolina to safeguard important local natural lands in North Carolina’s Triangle region through investments in natural infrastructure and land conservation.

“This is an exciting step in providing local watershed protection, and we are thrilled that everyone in the community, including Caterpillar families, will see sustained water quality and avoid nitrogen and phosphorous impacts,” said Asha Varghese, Caterpillar Foundation president. “The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to be a part of this multi-sectoral collaboration as part of our focus on building resilient communities through sustainable infrastructure solutions.”

“We are excited about this project due its proximity to Lake Benson and the opportunity to partner with Wake County and the Town of Garner to protect water quality,” said Ed Buchan, Senior Communications Analyst, City of Raleigh. “Lake Benson helps provide approximately 20 percent of the drinking water to our 600,000-plus customers, so it is critical to protect this natural resource through conservation efforts like this.”

“Wake County’s population continues to grow. With that growth comes the need to protect land that preserves natural resources, wildlife habitat, and historical and cultural properties; protects forest and farmland, scenic landscapes, riparian corridors and water quality; and provides venues for outdoor recreation,” said Chris Snow, Wake County’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space. “This project can do all of these things.”

About The Conservation Fund

At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than 8.5 million acres of land, including nearly 235,000 acres of beloved natural lands across North Carolina.

Entrepreneurs Wanted: LaunchGarner to Take Off This Fall. Apply Now!

Garner, NC—The Town of Garner has partnered with Wake Tech and a network of local partners to bring LaunchGarner to the community. This 10-week immersive entrepreneurial course is designed to help prospective entrepreneurs and current small business owners get in-depth knowledge on how to develop and execute a business plan. The program also partners students with a mentor, who for six months, will help the student gain further insights in to how to operate a successful enterprise. The program is now seeking 10-20 students for the inaugural class.

To qualify, students must meet the following requirements: 

• Live or Work in the Garner area; 

• Demonstrate a need for financial and business resources; 

• Consent to interview by the selection committee; 

• Complete in-person business training once a week for 10 weeks; 

• Develop a business plan and budget; 

• Meet and communicate regularly with an assigned business mentor for 6 months; 

Those interested in the program can apply online at launchGarner.com no later than Saturday, July 31, 2021. The selection process will include an online interview that will be scheduled during August.  Those interested in applying can also attend one of three information sessions on June 24 at 12pm, July 12 at 6:30pm, and July 22 at 6:30pm.  To register to attend an information session, please go to www.launchgarner.com.    

Selected students will be required to attend 10 weeks (one session each week) of a small business course as well as an in-person orientation and graduation ceremony.  The courses will be held virtually and are provided free of charge to all LaunchGarner participants. Each class is three hours long and will be scheduled on Thursday evenings beginning in September. 

After the training, students are paired with experienced businessmen and women who will act as mentors for another six months.  Students will also receive a free one-year members to the Garner Chamber of Commerce. 

LaunchGarner is aimed at entrepreneurs who have a great idea but are unsure where or how to begin as well as those who are already in business and need to learn how to progress to the next level. At the end of the 10-week course, students will graduate with a business plan, marketing plan, and a path to make success a reality. 

This program would not be possible without the support of the following: Wake Technical Community college, the Garner Chamber of Commerce, Garner Rotary Clubs, the Town of Garner, Garner Economic Development Corporation, the Downtown Garner Association, and many other community partners. 

For more information regarding economic development matters in the Town of Garner, contact Joe Stallings at 919-773-4431 or jstallings@garnernc.gov. 

Mayor Marshburn Proclaims June 19 ‘Juneteenth—Freedom Day’

Proclamation presented by Mayor Ken Marshburn on June 7, 2021:

WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring enslaved people in Confederate-controlled territory free and paving the way for passage of the 13th Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States; and

WHEREAS, enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation was delayed by up to almost two and a half years in some Confederate territory, and by more than two years in the area that would become Garner; and

WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, Union Major-General Gordon Granger read to the people of Galveston, Texas, General Order No. 3, which stated:

Mayor Marshburn presents Juneteenth proclamation to Town Manager Rodney Dickerson (right) and Council Member Demian Dellinger (left), who were representing Garner's Juneteenth Committee.

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves”; and

WHEREAS, June 19th thus has acquired special meaning, and is called Juneteenth, combining the words June and nineteenth, and has been celebrated as Freedom Day by many African Americans for over 150 years; and

WHEREAS, in Wake County, there were more than 10,000 enslaved people—nearly two-fifths of the county’s population—recorded in the 1860 Census; and

WHEREAS, these citizens contributed greatly to the prosperity and development of the area that would become Garner both during their enslavement and after they were freed; and

WHEREAS, like enslaved African Americans in Texas, enslaved people in Wake County, including in the area that would become Garner, were not liberated until after Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union troops in Appomattox, Virginia, which occurred in April 1865; and

WHEREAS, the creation of a Garner Juneteenth Committee was authorized by this Town Council to raise awareness about Juneteenth and about other relevant information that places Juneteenth in historical context; and

WHEREAS, the United States celebrates its freedom from tyranny on July 4, 1776, but we acknowledge that not all Americans were free on that day; therefore, Juneteenth should be celebrated alongside July 4th Independence Day and not in lieu of it.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Ken Marshburn, Mayor of the Town of Garner, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2021, as

Juneteenth—Freedom Da

Garner Public Hearing June 22, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE 

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Garner Town Council at 7 p.m. on  June 22, 2021 to consider the following applications. 

Please Note: The Garner Town Council will meet in the Council Chambers located in the Town of Garner Town Hall located at 900 7th Avenue, Garner, NC 27529. 

Special Use Permit 

SUP-SP-20-05 - US Highway 70 East and Yeargan Road

Special use site plan (SUP-SP-20-05) requested by W&M Partners, LLC for a 264-unit apartment complex with a club house and a pool on a 22.01-acre site where US HWY 70 E and Yeargan Road intersects. The property may be further identified as Wake County Pin(s) 1701964018 and 1711051809. 

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Conditional Rezoning 

PD-Z-20-02 - 7770 Bryan Road

Conditional rezoning (PD-Z-20-02) requested by Burton Engineering Associates, P.C rezone X +/- acres from Single-Family Residential to Planned Residential District Conditional (PD 12) for the development of approximately 170 single-family homes.

The property is located at 7770 Bryan Road and can be further identified as Wake County PIN(s) 1720012472, 1720027137, and 1720019776.

CZ-SB-20-08 C239 - Weston Road

Conditional rezoning (CZ-SB-20-08 C239) requested by Habitat Humanity of Wake County to rezone 7.67 +/- acres from Single-Family Residential (R-40) to Single-Family Residential Conditional (R-9) for the development of a 25 single-family subdivision.

The site is located at 227, 219, & 215 Weston Road and can be further identified as Wake County PIN(s) 1711473367, 1711472174, 1711462936, and a portion of 1711371783.

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Annexations

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Garner Town Council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, to consider the following annexation applications filed pursuant to G.S. 160A-31. Public Hearings will be held at Town Hall located at 900 7th Ave, Garner, NC 27529.

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ANX-21-06 - Elevate at White Oak

(ANX-21-06) Elevate at White Oak – Contiguous annexation: Southeast corner of White Oak Rd and Salt Hill Rd; +/- 19.726-acres of Wake County PINs # 1720533317, 1720521929, 1720532042, 1720528735, 1720524844, 1720523554, and 1720525597 or Real Estate IDs 0126337, 0185190, 0039231, 0080841, 0141476, 0030537, and 0148990; and +/- 0.9-acres of Right-of-Way within Salt Hill Rd only along the property’s frontage, totaling approximately 20.626 +/- acres. (MAP HERE) 

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ANX-21-07 - JS Commercial

(ANX-21-07) JS Commercial – Contiguous annexation: Both northwest and southwest tracts of the intersection of Jones Sausage Rd and Wilmington Rd; +/- 53.74-acres of Wake County PINs # 1721165744 and 17211154229 or Real Estate IDs 0255800 and 0255801; and +/- 10.8-acres of Right-of-Way within Jones Sausage Rd, Wilmington Rd, and Calebar St only along the properties’ frontages, totaling approximately 64.54 +/- acres. (MAP HERE) 

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Handicapped persons needing assistance or aids should contact the Clerk’s office prior to the meeting at 919-772-4688.

Stella Gibson, Town Clerk

DATE PUBLISHED: Tuesday, June 8th  through June 22nd.

Town Council Approves Budget for FY 2021-22 That Supports Critical Services

The Town Council at its June 7 regular meeting voted unanimously to adopt a $43.2 million operating budget for fiscal year 2021-22, which begins July 1.

The budget funds a sidewalk maintenance pilot program, replacement of multiple bleachers at Town ballfields and numerous new positions, including four critically needed police patrol officers and a community risk captain for Garner Fire-Rescue. 

The additional officers will allow the Police Department to respond to the Town’s growing population and maintain current service levels. The community risk captain will enable Garner Fire-Rescue to implement various initiatives designed to educate local residents about fire-prevention practices.

A municipal property-tax rate increase of 1.5 cents is included in the FY 21-22 budget, bringing the Town's rate to 50.21 cents per $100 valuation.

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Even with the tax-rate increase, the adopted budget continues to ensure that Garner will have the lowest effective tax rate among Wake County municipalities (view comparison chart).

"I want to thank the staff that worked on this [budget], but particularly I want to thank this Council,” Mayor Ken Marshburn said at the June 7 Council meeting.

He said the Council made prudent decisions to restore to the budget several new positions that had been requested by departments but were not originally part of the recommended budget. Mayor Marshburn said the positions that were restored would help the Town meet important service needs and that failing to include them in the budget would have amounted to “kicking the can down the road—and that’s not a good thing.”

In addition to the four police officers and the fire community risk captain, new positions funded in the budget include a risk manager; a GIS mapping position for Planning; an IT/communications specialist; four park attendants; conversion of part-time Public Works grounds positions to full time; enhancements to the Public Works fleet management team and four positions that could help the Town manage a new bond program if approved by voters in November.

The projected Town-wide value of assessed property for fiscal year 2021-22 increased by $186.2 million, or 3.9 percent, over the projection for the current fiscal year. This rise was driven mainly by new home construction and the addition of $154 million in equipment at the Amazon fulfillment center on Jones Sausage Road.

View the original recommended budget.

View the changes approved by Council as part of the adopted budget.

Watch discussion and adoption of budget at June 7 Council meeting.

Post Date: 06/08/2021 2:55 PM

Garner July 3rd Celebration Is Back!

The Town of Garner is pleased to announce that our July 3rd Independence Day Celebration at Lake Benson Park (921 Buffaloe Road) is back this year with fireworks, the North Carolina Symphony, food vendors and more.

Johnny White and the Elite Band will kick off the festivities on July 3rd with a concert early in the evening before the symphony performs. Once the symphony concludes its show, one of the Triangle’s best fireworks displays will light up the skies over Garner.

There will be no kids zone inflatables this year, but the Town's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department will have craft activities available for children.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. There will be some parking available at the park as well as free shuttle service from South Garner High School (8228 Hebron Church Road) starting at 5.

Riders will be asked to wear masks while on the shuttles. And although masks will not be required at the park, attendees are asked to socially distance to the extent possible.

“We are so excited to welcome folks back to the park this year for our July 3rd Celebration,” Mayor Ken Marshburn said. “Our staff is working exceptionally hard to bring back this beloved Garner tradition after the one-year hiatus due to the pandemic. We look forward to seeing the community come together for this signature event.”

Please look for any updates regarding our July 3rd Celebration at garnernc.gov and on the Town’s main social media accounts as well as accounts managed by Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.

We remind attendees that pets are not allowed at Town-sponsored events; exceptions are made for service animals.

For more information about Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, please visit the department’s main webpage.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner Veteran Memorial Guided Tours at Lake Benson Park

Town offices will be closed Monday, May 31, in observance of Memorial Day. There will be no Memorial Day ceremony at the Garner Veterans Memorial this year, but from 9-10:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, there will be free guided tours of the memorial, which is located in Lake Benson Park at 921 Buffaloe Road. There is also a self-guided audio tour that visitors can do anytime; just scan one of the QR codes on the signage at the memorial.

Entrepreneurs Wanted: LaunchGarner to Take Off This Fall

The Town of Garner has partnered with Wake Tech and a network of local partners to bring LaunchGarner to the community.  

This 10-week immersive entrepreneurial course is designed to help prospective entrepreneurs and current small-business owners get in-depth knowledge on how to develop and execute a business plan. 

The program also partners students with a mentor, who for six months will help the student gain further insights into how to operate a successful enterprise. The program is now seeking 10 to 20 students for the inaugural class.  

To qualify, students must meet the following requirements: 

• Live or work in the Garner area;

• Demonstrate a need for financial and business resources;

• Consent to interview by the selection committee;

• Complete in-person business training once a week for 10 weeks;

• Develop a business plan and budget;

• Meet and communicate regularly with an assigned business mentor for six months.

Those interested in the program can apply online at launchGarner.com no later than July 31, 2021. The selection process will include an online interview that will be scheduled during August. 

Those interested in applying can also attend one of three information sessions on June 24 at 12 pm (noon), July 12 at 6:30 pm, and July 22 at 6:30 pm. 

To register to attend an information session, please go to launchGarner.com.    

Selected students will be required to attend 10 weeks (one session each week) of a small-business course as well as an in-person orientation and graduation ceremony. The courses will be held virtually and are provided free of charge to all LaunchGarner participants.

Each class is three hours long and will be scheduled on Thursday evenings beginning in September. After the training, students are paired with experienced business persons who will act as mentors for another six months. Students will also receive a free one-year membership to the Garner Chamber of Commerce. 

LaunchGarner is aimed at entrepreneurs who have a great idea but are unsure where or how to begin as well as those who are already in business and need to learn how to progress to the next level. At the end of the 10-week course, students will graduate with a business plan, marketing plan and a path to make success a reality. 

This program would not be possible without the support of the following: Wake Technical Community college, the Garner Chamber of Commerce, Garner Rotary Clubs, the Town of Garner, Garner Economic Development Corporation, the Downtown Garner Association and many other community partners. 

For more information regarding economic development matters in the Town of Garner, contact Joe Stallings at 919-773-4431 or jstallings@garnernc.gov. 

Town of Garner Wins Statewide Awards for Communications

The Town of Garner recently won three 2021 Excellence in Communications Awards from N.C. City and County Communicators.

The awards include second place statewide for a Garner Veterans Memorial audio tour featuring tour guide and veteran Spencer Cardwell. This award-winning project was the result of a unique collaboration among staff in Communications and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, and individuals in the community. The next time you are at the memorial at Lake Benson Park, scan one of the QR codes on the signage and start listening to this fantastic narrative. You can also find it on YouTube.

The Town also won a second-place award for the 2020 Popular Annual Financial Report. The publication was the result of a collaboration between staff in Communications and Finance. Earlier editions of this report have received numerous honors from NC3C and from the Government Finance Officers Association. The report is one more way the Town seeks to be transparent and to make important information easily digestible. You can find the 2020 PAFR online.

In addition, the Town took home second-place honors for a father-son photo made during a community vigil held outside Town Hall last summer amid calls nationwide for racial justice and reconciliation. Communications staff made the photos for the event.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner Police Deny Dangerous Animal Permit

Post Date:05/24/2021 10:05 AM

After careful review, the Garner Police Department has denied the request for a Dangerous Animal Permit for the two dogs, Blitzen and Athena.   The dogs were seized on 4/27/2021 by the Garner Police Department after attacking 7yo Jayden Henderson and her mother at the home at 156 Roan Drive.  Jayden died of her injuries sustained from the attack.  The animals are currently being held at the Wake County Animal Shelter. 

“We believe that the dogs are just too dangerous to be allowed to be returned to their owners,” said Chief Joe Binns.  After reviewing all the information, the attack appeared to occur without warning or provocation.  Allowing the dogs to be released would create a substantial and unnecessary danger to the public.” 

The animals will continue to be housed at the Wake County Animal Shelter until 60 days from the date of seizure.  At that time, the animals will be turned over to the shelter to be humanely euthanized.  There are no further avenues for appeal with the Town of Garner, but the owner may appeal to a Superior Court Judge should they wish to challenge the decision. 

Courtesy Town of Garner

Wake County Board of Commissioners Votes to Use Higher-Than-Expected Sales Tax Revenues to Meet Critical Community Needs

The Wake County Board of Commissioners today voted on how to allocate the $67 million in higher-than-anticipated sales tax revenues for Fiscal Year 2021, which ends on June 30.

“When we developed last fiscal year’s budget, we proceeded cautiously to ensure that we would be prepared if sales tax revenues plummeted as a result of the pandemic,” said Matt Calabria, Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “Thankfully, sales tax revenues exceeded our projections, and our prudent financial management left us with a surplus. We’ve chosen to appropriate the surplus to address some of the county’s most critical needs. Among other things, the board is using these funds to create more affordable housing, expand our public health facilities, improve our behavioral health services and reduce our debt load.”

During its regular meeting, the board approved:

• Putting $22.7 million towards the county’s fund balance to ensure it maintains strong reserves as part of its prestigious AAA bond rating from the top three rating agencies;
  

• Devoting $12.3 million to the Wake County Public School System’s debt service; and
  

• Utilizing $32 million for important one-time projects and initiatives.
  

Breaking down the $32 million
The board voted to use those funds in eight key areas:

1. $12 million for a future Public Health Center
   
   The county originally budgeted $62 million in 2017 to develop and build this four-story facility, but cost escalations between 2017 and 2020 forced the county to reduce its budget and shrink the building plan to three stories. With this new injection of $12 million, the county can afford to restore the four-story design and even expand the square footage to meet growing public health needs.
   
   

2. $7 million transfer to the county’s Housing Capital Fund
   
   The board has challenged our housing department to generate 2,500 affordable housing units by 2023, and they’re currently on track to exceed that goal. The additional $7 million investment will enable their high success rate to continue for several more years and possibly support expanding our services that help the homeless.
   

1. $2 million to fund a behavioral health data-sharing pilot project
   
   Some data is collected on people who enter the criminal justice system with drug addictions or mental health challenges, but it’s not uniform or available in one central location. This pilot project would change that. It would create a single database for health, housing, criminal justice and social service information on our “familiar faces” – those who interact regularly with the county or its partners. This data would be used to help break the cycle of recidivism by providing the right services and interventions to those familiar faces.
   
   

2. $1 million to restore funding to purchase library books
   
   In FY2021, Wake County Public Libraries had to reduce its book budget by $700,000 due to the economic downturn. An infusion of $1 million will enable the libraries to purchase thousands of new titles while replenishing perennial favorites in children and adult fiction. It will also expand the collections for youth and adult book clubs, and support our bilingual reading initiative.
   
   

3. $500,000 to fund a study of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office detention center medical services
   
   For several years, the county has seen increased medical, dental, substance use and mental health needs among the jail population. The $500,000 will enable the county to hire a consultant in FY2022 to determine detention medical unit best practices, staffing models, facility needs and financial considerations.
   

1. $150,000 for a marketing campaign to recruit businesses and talent to Wake County
   
   To capitalize on the buzz generated by the recent series of announcements, Wake County Economic Development will use the $150,000 to fund a three-year marketing campaign to increase the county’s brand awareness. The goals are to reinforce that Wake County is the destination for top talent in key industries and the place where companies should expand or relocate.
   
   

2. $7 million to improve the county’s Enterprise Resource Planning System
   
   The county uses a traditional ERP system that houses the core functions of finance, budget and human resources, including payroll, benefits and accounts payable. Many of its processes still require staff to do work on paper or manually. The county is evaluating options to automate processes for employees and residents while making those processes solely electronic. The $7 million would help fund the cost of those enhancements.
   

1. $2.35 million for Wake 2.0 investments
   
   Due to COVID-19, employees in many positions across our organization worked remotely over the past year, proving that they can serve customers effectively from outside the office. Through an effort called “Wake 2.0,” the county is evaluating potential policy changes to accommodate more teleworking while taking a closer look at the kind of workspace needed in this new environment. The $2.35 million could fund facility modifications and IT investments to serve a more remote workforce.
   

These expenditures would amend the FY2021 budget to be accessed now or incorporated as part of the FY2022 budget. Per North Carolina law, Wake County is required to maintain a balanced budget.

Published May 17, 2021 via Wake County

Town of Garner Names New Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Director

María Muñoz-Blanco has been selected to become the next director of the Town of Garner’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.

Muñoz-Blanco brings more than 25 years of experience in the public sector, working at the state, county and municipal level in arts, parks, venue management and grantmaking organizations. Her work in the public sector has focused on improving quality of life in diverse communities, expanding programs and services in the arts and parks, and successfully integrating diverse voices and a broad spectrum of creative organizations and artists.

Most of Muñoz-Blanco’s professional experience has involved working in large metropolitan areas, and she has had direct responsibility for managing annual operating budgets as large as $38 million. She most recently served as vice president in the Leadership Transitions practice of Arts Consulting Group, Inc. (ACG), a bi-national cultural management consulting firm.

“Maria brings a wealth of experience in all areas of parks and recreation, including programming and cultural resources,” Garner Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said. “Her experience in larger organizations should translate well to the Town of Garner as we plan for continued growth.”

Muñoz-Blanco will assume leadership of a nationally accredited department that currently has 12 parks totaling more than 473 acres and facilities including the Garner Performing Arts Center, Garner Senior Center, White Deer Park Nature Center and the soon-to-open Garner Recreation Center.

“I am honored and delighted to join the Town of Garner Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department,” Muñoz-Blanco said. “Public parks and leisure activities are central to the quality of life of a community and increasingly play an important role in health and wellness. This is an exciting time for the Town of Garner and for the department, with a new master plan and new assets coming online to better serve the community. I look forward to working alongside Town leadership, staff and our advisory boards to provide Garner residents with great recreational experiences in our beautiful park system.”

Muñoz-Blanco has served as deputy director of the Fulton County Arts Council in Atlanta; executive director of the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County; director of cultural affairs for the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs; executive director of cultural affairs for Miami Dade College; and director of parks and neighborhoods for the City of Memphis.

In her leadership role with the City of Memphis, Muñoz-Blanco oversaw a recreational system with 162 parks, 24 community centers, five senior centers, 17 pools, eight public golf courses, a football stadium/fairgrounds and a variety of athletic and sports facilities. 

In Dallas, where she led the Office of Cultural Affairs for nine years, Muñoz-Blanco oversaw 22 city-owned cultural facilities managed through long-term partnerships with leading arts organizations or directly by her staff team.

Her capital projects experience includes planning and opening the $40 million City Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District and a neighborhood cultural center in Oak Cliff, as well as managing $5 million in improvements to the historic Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis.

Muñoz-Blanco has a bachelor of arts degree in arts theory from the University of Puerto Rico, where she graduated magna cum laude, and a master of arts in art history from Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey.

For more information on the Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, please visit garnernc.gov/departments/parks-recreation-and-cultural-resources.

Vandora Pines Community Stands Against Dangerous Dog Permit

Watch the petition to council above.

Patrice Johnson, Vandora Pines HOA board member, speaking on behalf of the Vandora Pines community.

BY MARGARET DAMGHANI

Tuesday night, several members of the Vandora Pines neighborhood in Garner attended the Town Council meeting to voice their concerns about dangerous dog permits for two pit bulls, stemming from the April 17 attack on a local mother and her child. The widely publicized attack resulted in the death of eight-year-old Jayden Henderson, and serious injuries to her mother Heather Trevaskis.

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“Ultimately the decision on the permit will rest with the Garner Police Department and the Garner Police Chief. The review process for these permits has not been completed at this time,” said Town Attorney Terri Jones. There is no deadline for reviewing it, and the Garner Police are gathering information and verifying the information that has been provided.  

Should the permit be approved, the dogs would return to the owners if they fulfill several requirements. Aggrieved parties, either for approval or denial, may submit an administrative appeal to the town’s appeal board, or a judge could file a temporary restraining order or temporary injunction, Jones said. 

 “The neighborhood is very, very concerned. There are a few things they want to make sure you as a board are aware of. The dog has killed one of our jewels, Jayden. Jayden played with many of the children that currently reside in the neighborhood. This will forever be something that is stapled in their minds. It will cause undue stress to them to have these dogs brought back into the neighborhood, which is the current request of the owners,” said HOA Board Member Patrice Johnson. “At this time, we are asking you to reject this permit request given the nature of the incident and the fact that we have lost one of our children…” 

Johnson echoed the worries of residents, saying that even under the best circumstances dogs can escape, and that the requirements of the permit are not enough to ease the anxiety surrounding these particular dogs. 

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Neighbor and Raleigh Police Officer Blake Dicello was first on the scene of the attack.

Blake Dicello, a longtime Raleigh Police Officer who lives across the street from the home the dogs resided at, intervened in the attack that day. 

“That day will change me forever. I did not see two dogs defending their property. That’s not what I saw. I saw two dogs viciously attacking and mauling two unconscious people,” Dicello said. “I stand unequivocally with this community… I see children playing at that intersection daily...In fifteen years, I have never seen anything like what I saw on that afternoon, and I have seen some serious stuff.”

Mayor Ken Marshburn said that the Council has heard the concerns of the community and “will be diligent in pursuing this matter”, and reiterated that the final decision on if the dogs would be allowed to return rests with the Police Chief.

 There is currently a “For Sale By Owner” sign outside of the residence. 

Garner's Station Podcast #15 | Sophia Sandlin, Retired Garner Police Sgt.

After 30 years with the Garner Police Department, Sgt. Sophia Sandlin reflects on her time in Garner, community policing, and crisis intervention.

Garner PRCR's Lorie Clark Receives Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award

Town of Garner Cultural Arts and Events Manager Lorie Clark has received the 2021 Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award, which recognizes an alumna who has demonstrated committed service in the advancement of gender and family justice since graduation from Eckerd College.

Clark has worked for social justice in the Chapel Hill–Carrboro community of North Carolina for more than two decades. As a high school specialist to the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate Program (BRMA) in the Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools for 18 years, she provided opportunities for student growth with a social justice focus. In BRMA, she created experiences for students of color that empowered them to succeed in spaces not originally welcoming to them.

She also was the adviser of BRMA’s Youth Leadership Institute, serving 100 students of all races each year. Under Lorie’s guidance, the Blue Ribbon Leadership Institute was the third-largest extracurricular program in the school district and earned the University of North Carolina’s University Diversity Award. 

"I am delighted and humbled to be this year’s recipient of the Eckerd College Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award," Clark said. "I believe my family's commitment to service and the experiences at Eckerd College prepared me for a life of service to others."  

In her current role as youth adviser to the Chapel Hill–Carrboro NAACP Council, Lorie worked with students to organize peaceful protests in support of the changes asked by the Black Lives Matter movement. With homemade posters, students marched—socially distant and masked—in summer’s heat with community leaders from Chapel Hill–Carrboro’s NAACP and local churches.

Lorie’s work for social justice extends beyond the school system. She founded The Hannah Ruth Foundation to honor her maternal and paternal grandmothers, who have deep roots in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. By bringing together the youth and the elderly, bonds are built between generations, as bridges to the future. The youth learn about the elderly through service—including holiday meal delivery and organizing events such as a formal Valentine’s Day dance and a holiday party for seniors.

Lorie’s service has been recognized by many organizations, including the Chapel Hill–Carrboro NAACP and National Council of Negro Women. Among numerous awards for her community service, the Pauli Murray Service Award, given to Lorie in 2019 by the Orange County Human Rights Commission, is particularly significant. Born in the Jim Crow era, Pauli Murray—poet, writer, activist, labor organizer, legal theorist and Episcopal priest—overcame obstacles during her youth in nearby Durham, North Carolina. In learning about her, one student wrote that Murray reminded her of Lorie Clark: “Ahead of her time, and behind the scenes.”

Lorie began her employment with the Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department in January of 2020 as the Cultural Arts and Events Manager.  

Learn more about this award program.

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.