Don Davis for NC Senate - Wayne Pitt Greene Counties

THE STATE OF THE TOWN ADDRESS

February 11, 2008

Mayor Delivers State of the Town Address
The Mayor’s State of the Town Address
Snow Hill Town Hall
Snow Hill, North Carolina

7:30 P.M. EST

THE MAYOR: What a wonderful day to come together in the Snow Hill. I am so honored to present the members of the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners-Mayor Pro Tem Lorrine Washington, Commissioner Percy Edwards, Commissioner Geraldene Shackleford, Commissioner James Bizzell, and Commissioner Dennis Liles.

In November of last year, there was an election. We thank Phyllis Burruss and Allison Thomas for their service to Snow Hill. Tonight, we recognize our newest members. I am very pleased to welcome on the Board Commissioners Bizzell and Liles. Thank you for your willingness to serve Snow Hill.

With James’s integrity and Dennis’ business acumen joining already a skilled Board, the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners and the state of the town is very, very strong. This very well may be the strongest leadership in the town’s history.

Our enormous strength also comes from a dedicated staff. I ask for the staff to be recognized. We are also delighted to welcome on board Gerald Beaman, Linda Bryant, Karen Pazzaglia, and Michelle Grant.

We have a wonderful family of employees and leaders who are very capable of getting the job done.

For over 10 years, Mrs. Mauren Baker served the residents of Snow Hill. She started part-time and worked herself through the ranks to serve as the revenue collector and town clerk. Ren enjoyed working with the residents. However, she retired this past year. Even though she has retired, Ren still finds time to drop off M&Ms. Thank you, Ren. Let us recognize Ren for her dedicated service to this great community.

I am all so pleased to recognize our town administrator; Mr. Robert Clark or simply, Bob. We must also recognize our department heads-Public Works and Utilities Director Dana Hill and Interim Town Clerk Michelle Strickland.

With this staff, you have a whole lot of passion, energy, love, and dedication. These are the right ingredients for success.

Another ingredient for success is a loving wife and children. Joining us tonight is my wife, Yuvonka, Ryan and Justin. I am so glad that they share this deep passion for Snow Hill and helping me to represent our community to the best of our ability.

To our residents, you are the greatest strength. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement over the years.

While we must work to make life better, there is someone who really helped to pull this community together. We must remember her tonight. I believe there is an angel who is watching over us, and that angel is Lacey Jones. Let us remember Lacey!

Lacey was very courageous and special to us. She became a part of all of our households and churches. Lacey brought our community together. She brought us together in so many ways including through prayer, and sharing the best of ourselves with her. Lacey’s life was truly a vessel of hope.

Although cancer took her from us at such a young age, she will always be a part of our lives.

Clearly, it is the people of our community who make us strong. Snow Hill is composed of caring, committed, and passionate residents. Our residents are tough, bold, engaged, and resilient. This is why I am glad to call Snow Hill my home.

We know about working to make our community better. We continue to come closer and closer. Through unity, we have continued to improve. More and more, we are a community of people made up of residents from different backgrounds, who come from different walks of life. We come together tonight because we care about making life better here in Snow Hill.

We believe in making good things happen for ordinary people. Here the news:

Even in the midst of a potential economic recession, our local economy remains strong. Small business development continues to soar. Over the course of this last year, YamCo, Taylor Shopping Center including Serve Well Meats and Wiz Computer Services & Movie Rentals, Sticks and More, Security Mini-Storage, Subway, Chris’ Barbershop, Advance Auto Parts, Corrine’s Care Management, and Beauty Expressions Nail Salon have or are near opening here in Snow Hill.

We are strong!

Small business expansion is also important to us. The following businesses have expanded: Snow Hill Barber Shop, Diener Law Office, Greenridge Tennis & Swim Club, and Victoria Rose.

Our businesses are not just businesses, but cutting edge businesses. Anyone who may have watched the US Open this past year; I am glad to share with you that the tennis balls going across the court on our televisions were imprinted right here in Snow Hill. YamCo is the result of research that has been taking place at North Carolina State University. Professors constructed a new microwave system, which is used for processing sweet potatoes. People from all over the world have visited North Carolina to examine this prototype. I report to you that the first operational facility will be right here in Snow Hill.

Community activities continue to expand. Within our faith community, the Seventh Day Adventist Church and New World Outreach Center are pursuing new places of worship. The Pentecostal Holiness Church converted their former parsonage into an after school/day care center.

When we come together, bringing partners together and utilizing our strength, we are able to complete a nearly $500K enhancement to the Community Center, construct over a $1.2M multipurpose recreational complex, expand West Greene Elementary School, build the Greene County Health Care Administrative Conference Center, and design a new skateboard park out of a rundown tennis court.

Yes, I intend to live up to my promise. A reporter from a local television station asked me for comments about the skateboard park. It was a bad day I believe. I told them that I would get a skateboard and test it out. This year I report the skateboard park is on the way. Next year, there may be a report about a broken leg.

I am also very excited to have worked with three aspiring Eagle Scouts. These young men put a new face on a dilapidated park area. The Board has named this park-Scouts Park. Since taking office, there have been improvements to six parks in Snow Hill.

For runners and walkers, the town has certified a 5K course. I am also proud of working with students from our Early College program to locate a nature trail behind the new multi-recreational park area through a service-learning effort. I am proud of residents such as David Jones, who decided to help us start a walking club. He is planning to walk from Snow Hill to Raleigh. I hope to meet him there. If this is not enough, then please rent a kayak from the Extension Office and take a trip down the Contentnea Creek. This is also a new activity for family fun.

We have continued to expand our community activities. I was pleased to host the Thurgood Marshall Memorabilia exhibit here in Snow Hill. We have worked to create a culture of success. That is why we sponsored a back-to-school festival for our students. Our students are showing us their success all the time. We must be proud of our award winning RAM band, which performed in the Outback Bowl.  Â

The best of our community was truly revealed during our community clean up day. We waived the landfill and special waste pick fees so that we could clean out our homes. Well, it did not take us long before we discovered that some were picking up items from their neighbors. I guess, we are going to do this again so that we may trade items again.

Team Snow Hill has reached out to all ages and backgrounds allowing good things for great residents.

In terms of housing, the town has approved plans for residential development in four different subdivisions. There are five more houses in the Genesis Hills Subdivision. Meanwhile, we have nearly completed a $700K housing rehabilitation project, and have plans to move forward with a capacity building grant. This will help us to continue addressing community housing needs. I add that the alley has been cleaned up. If there is any doubt about whether or not that was the right decision, then go visit the site for yourself.

We should also be proud of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s roadside landscaping project, which new trees and shrubbery was planted. The Tree Board hosted a “Tree-Friendly Development” presentation. Snow Hill is now seeking its fifth consecutive Tree City USA Award and its fourth “Growth Award.”

I also commend the Board for approving the Cool Cities resolution. This was an effort recommitting ourselves to being aware of our need to protect our environment.

We have continued to expand our sidewalks. You can walk from Kingold Boulevard to Hull Road without getting your shoes muddy. I am also pleased that Snow Hill has continued to reach out to our institutions of higher education for service learning. Recently a geography class from East Carolina University conducted a sidewalk inventory of downtown Snow Hill.

Distinctive street signs have been unveiled throughout the Snow Hill National Register Historic District. We are also sponsoring a study anticipating an expansion of our historic district.Â

In terms of tourism, the Board supported a resolution in support of preserving the Tuscarora settlements and Fort Neoherooka. Snow Hill is positioned near the site of the last Tuscarorian strong hold. This is the site of one of the largest Native American mass graves in the nation.

Just look at what happens when great people work together. Great things happen! So, what is the importance of this?

It’s simple! We are giving our children positive things to do, creating jobs, stimulating our local economy, and improving lives.

Last year, I asked the Board to support my proposal for a 3-cent tax cut. They did! Our residents are paying less for increased services. It is possible! When we work together, then we can make great things happen. Last year, I reported that Snow Hill had the second lowest tax rate in this area including Wayne, Greene, Pitt, Lenoir, and Wilson Counties. Tonight, I report that we have the lowest tax rate of all of these counties.

It is possible! We can make our community better. It is possible to maintain a position of strength.Â

We can do this. All we have to do is continue allowing the best of our community to be shared. This is why last year I encouraged the Board to support a mixed beverage election. The people have spoken. I commend the Board for allowing the people to get involved on this issue. It was not about the outcome as much about the process. This is why I say, “It is possible!”

Snow Hill does not just belong to me, but The Hill belongs to all of us. There is a part of this community that belongs to everyone who is willing to help us become better.

I believe deep in my heart that good people will keep The Hill standing strong. Tonight, I dare you to take a part of The Hill with you everywhere you go. Then, share it with others.

As I believe that God is with us, I also believe that The Hill is in great hands.

Thank you and good night!