Items of Interest

Granville County Shelter Dogs Head Out West

Weather conditions across the state led to some unexpected assistance in Granville County this week as a Kansas animal rescue group provided relief to the animal shelter.

In an effort to assist those impacted by Hurricane Florence, Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption of Mission, Kansas – with assistance from Polk County SPCA of Livingston, Texas and Paws4Life of Shreveport, Louisiana – reached out to North Carolina animal shelters who were at or near capacity, arriving with transport units to take animals back to safer areas.  According to Granville County Animal Control Director Matt Katz, there was room for several more animals on the return trip. This was a welcome relief locally, as kennels were already pressed for space before the storm even made landfall on our coast.

Over the weekend, several more pets had been surrendered to the Granville County shelter and no more kennel space was available, Katz explains. When volunteer Roxanne Blackburn was contacted by Sherry Davis with the Polk County SPCA about pulling animals on their way out of North Carolina, the offer couldn’t have come at a better time.

Granville County’s Animal Shelter’s save rate is 80 to 90 percent, Katz noted, but the “tough decisions” sometimes have to be made. Not this time, however, as 26 animals were rescued.

Unleashed Pet Rescue is a licensed, nonprofit animal shelter that works to save the lives of rescued pets, pulling them to safety. The organization works to find homes for pets of all ages, health, temperaments and history, giving each animal an opportunity for a better life. During Hurricane Harvey, Unleashed Pet Rescue was an integral part of the animal rescue efforts along the Gulf Coast, as well as offering assistance during other emergencies across the nation. 

Katz says that this will be the first time all year that the shelter has had this many open kennels.

“These folks also pulled dogs from Franklin and Vance Counties on their way out of the state,” Katz said. “This may lead to another avenue for placement of our dogs.”

Katz credits Roxanne Blackburn for taking the initiative and “jumping on this opportunity,” and asks anyone interested in the welfare of local animals to thank these groups for their assistance.

“We are grateful to Roxanne for all her help in this, and ask everyone to please take a moment to thank these groups on their Facebook pages. This opens up so many opportunities for us, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

Granville County Offices to Close Due to Weather

Due to impending weather conditions, Granville County offices will close at 12:30 pm on Thursday, September 13th, and all day on Friday, September 14th. Our goal is to keep all of our employees safe during this time while we also make preparations to prioritize the safety of our greater community. Thank you for your understanding, and we apologize for any inconvenience. 

CHANGE OF MEETING DATES DUE TO HURRICANE FLORENCE

Animal Control Advisory Committee

Will meet Thursday, October 11^th at 7:00 at the Granville County Expo Center (4185 Highway 15 South, Oxford) instead of Thursday, September 13^th.

Granville County Library Board of Trustees

Will meet Thursday, September 20^th at 4:30 p.m. at the Richard H. Thornton Library (210 Main Street, Oxford) instead of Thursday, September 13^th.

Juvenile Crime Prevention Council

Will meet Friday, September 28^th at 10 a.m. at J.F. Webb High School (3200 Webb School Road, Oxford) instead of Friday, September 14^th.

Granville County Veterans Affairs Committee

Will meet Tuesday, October 2^nd at 7:00 at the Granville County Expo Center (4185 Highway 15 South, Oxford) instead of Tuesday, September 18^th.

Public Notice

A quorum of the Granville County Board of Commissioners may be present on September 6, 11, 18 and 19, 2018 for bus tours of the Granville County Commissioner districts.  Bus tours will begin at 9:00 a.m. or shortly after and leave from the Granville County Administration parking lot located at 141 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC.  For more information, please contact the County Manager’s Office at 919-693-5240.

                                                            Debra A. Weary

                                                            Clerk to the Board

Granville County, North Carolina — Notice of Public Hearing Financing for Law Enforcement Center – Animal Shelter Project and Loan Refinancings

The Board of Commissioners of Granville County, North Carolina, will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard). The purpose of the hearing is to take public comment concerning a proposed financing contract, under which the County would borrow money as follows:

• Up to approximately $29,000,000 to pay for the acquisition and construction of a new law enforcement facility and animal shelter,
• An amount sufficient to refinance up to approximately $15,000,000 of existing County obligations to save money on debt service costs, and
• Amounts appropriate to pay financing costs.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners’ usual meeting room, the Auditorium of the Granville Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford, North Carolina.

The proposed financing would be secured by a lien on the new law enforcement and animal shelter facilities (and the associated land), as well as the County’s promise to repay the financing, but there would be no recourse against the County or its property (other than the pledged facilities and land) if there were a default on the financing. The County may also make a similar pledge of facilities that already secure the obligations that are to be refinanced, which may include Granville Central High School and other County facilities.

All interested persons will be heard. The County’s plans are subject to change based on the comments received at the public hearing and the Board’s subsequent discussion and consideration. The County’s entering into the financing is subject to obtaining approval from the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

Persons wishing to make written comments in advance of the hearing or wishing more information concerning the subject of the hearing may contact Steve McNally, Granville County Finance Officer, 141 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC 27565 (telephone 919/693-4182, email Steve.McNally@granvillecounty.org).

Change of Meeting Location – Human Relations Commission

The Human Relations Commission will meet on Monday, August 13, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the Stovall Library at 300 Main Street, Stovall.