Reporter – Leigh Hester – Terry Garrison was elected the new Chairman of the Vance County Commissioners in a motion presented by Deborah Brown and Tommy Hester. After a ritual “switching of the chairs” by Eddie Wright, the former Chairman, and Garrison, Tommy Hester was then elected Vice Chair in a motion headed by Wright and seconded by Brown.
Following, current staff were re-appointed their positions, including Kelly Grissom as Clerk, Jerry Ayscue as County Manager, and Steve Stanton as County Finance Officer.
Jonathan Care was re-appointed County Attorney, however, Commissioner Brown requested that Manager Ayscue prepare information on advertising the position to other attorneys to be reviewed at the next Commissioner retreat.
Mr. Garrison, in a brief acceptance speech, said the Commissioners had “achieved some really special things under Eddie Wright, especially the zoning” of the County. “I think we’ve made some progress over the years providing county services and providing leadership. What I really want to do is continue what we’ve been doing.”
“I have a few goals as Chair. First: Jobs, jobs, jobs for our citizens. I plan to support and collaborate with the Economic Development Commission, Triangle North Business Park, and the Research Triangle Partnership” to bring jobs to the area, “support and collaborate with Vance County Schools and Vance Granville Community College to train our citizens for the jobs that will come, and support out Sheriff and the Henderson Police Department to serve and protect our citizens.”
Other goals outlined by Garrison include laying pipe for public water service to the Sandy Creek Township area, to facilitate active use of all vacant property in Vance County by their owners, maintain good working relations with all the municipalities in Vance County, especially Henderson, and to continue to support city departments to ensure good quality services to all citizens.