Anti-Graffiti Meeting

Please make plans to attend a very important community forum on graffiti and what we as a community can do to help local officials in winning this battle. The meeting is scheduled for May 19Th at 6:30 P.M. at Town Hall. The meeting is hosted by The Town of Kernersville and the Kernersville Police Department. This meeting will be informative and educational. There will be time for citizens to ask questions and express concerns. MAY 19Th 6:30 P.M. Town Hall

NC Primary Election TODAY

It’s time to make your voice heard. Today all across North Carolina we have the opportunity to vote. Although the republican nominee has been chosen there are still very important races on the ballot, so please take time today to vote. On the democratic ballot NC voters have a chance to play a large role in who will become the Democratic Presidential nominee.

Today is a day that many around the world will never know. The opportunity to freely vote with no recourse or fear. Please research your choices and make good informed decision. To see a sample ballot in your area click on the link below.
http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/voterlookup.aspx?Feature=voterinfo.

A Day of Planning

Last week the Board of Aldermen participated in a planning session to identify and brainstorm on the major issues facing Kernersville. I am pleased to say this was one of the best planning retreats I have participated in since being on the BOA. We had solid, positive discussion that should help our Town Manger and staff in carrying out the vision of the BOA. Five major areas of concern were focused on during the session.

1. Open Government
2. Public Safety
3. Small Town Atmosphere
4. Economic Development
5. Facilities and Growth

We could have spent an entire day on each topic but do to time we talked about the main items in each area. Over the next few days I will talk more about my vision on each area and the things that we all can do to keep Kernersville a safe and vibrant community.

Budget Discussion

Proposed Budget 2008 – 2009


Last week the Kernersville Board of Aldermen discussed several major issues facing the TOK in the upcoming year. The fist day of the planning session focused on the proposed budget. Town Manger Curtis Swisher in my opinion did a great job on presenting an accurate accounting for the upcoming year. The proposed budget does contain a 1 cent tax increase. I like many or most of you are not in favor of passing along another tax increase to our citizens. We are still working on ways to find the additional 1 cent. It could come from fund balance which is currently close to 8.5 million dollars or it could be that some of the figures used in property tax collection could increase, thus the need for the tax increase would not be necessary. The numbers used where estimated projections of collection from back in February. I invite the public to attend the Public session on the budget to be held June 3rd at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

New Town Manager / Open Mayor Position

I am positive the citizens of Kernersville are pleased that a New Town Manger has been named. As a Board of Aldermen member I am glad to see that we chose a native of Kernersville and former Mayor, Curtis Swisher. This announcement came late Wednesday evening following a long closed session meeting held by the BOA. Curtis has served the citizens of Kernersville over ten years as an elected official. Many of those years he served as Alderman before first being appointed and later being elected Mayor.

A special meeting of the BOA will be held Monday, January 14th at 6 pm in the executive conference room at town hall. During this meeting the BOA will discuss and may take action on the appointment of a Mayor.

I am confident the BOA will make a good decision on the appointment of Mayor and select an experienced BOA member.

Two Community Leaders Will Be Missed

As we celebrate the start of 2008, Kernersville will miss two great community leaders. David Holt and Rev. Homer Good. I knew Mr. Holt growing up in the Kernersville community but as I attended High Point University in the early 1990’s he became a personal friend and advisor. He always took the time to give to others and the community. I came to know Rev. Good when I was about ten years old. My family attended Main Street Baptist Church here in town and Rev. Good was filling in as Pastor for the church. It was at that time I accepted Christ as my Savior and Rev. Good baptized me at the church. I would say it would be impossible to know the impact Rev. Good has had on the lives of many in this community.

I feel blessed to have known both of these gentlemen.