Economic development success of Burke

1. 2011
Summary of
Accomplishments

2. Economic Development
New
Project Name New Jobs Grant Funds Type of Grant Funds Additional Benefit
Investment
Industrial Rehab Pump
Geiger/Herman Miller 64 $3.5 Million $500,000
Development Station
Rehab Pump
$512,500 NC Rural Center
Station
$100,000 One NC Grant
Ice River Springs
12 $7 Million
Expansion
Michelle’s Bakery 11 $500,000 $132,000 Building Rehab
Ekornes 56 $1.5 Million $480,000 NC Rural Center Building Rehab
$100,000 One NC Grant
Caterpillar 28 $23 Million
Case Farms 100 $8 Million $500,000 NC Rural center Building Rehab
American Roller Bearing 216 $22 Million $480,000 NC Rural Center Building Rehab
$2.6 Million NC Commerce Job Dev. Incentive

3. Totals
New Jobs 487
New Investments $65.5 Million
Grant Funds $5.4 Million
Annual Payroll for New Jobs $14.6 Million

4. Accomplishments
• 911 Communications Consolidation Grant and adoption of required Inter-
Local Agreement
• Added additional channels to the VIPER Radio System to improve emergency
communication
• Upgraded 911 Consoles to improve emergency communications
• Established Review and Authorization process for procurement of 911
Funded Equipment to insure eligibility
• Approved lease of county property to Community College for Emergency
Service Training Facility

5. • EMS Manager worked with billing company to reduce percentage of service
fee and received, without charge, computers for crews to use to record
patient services while in the field and reduce crew overtime cost
• Obtained special stretcher to serve patients over 300 pounds to improve
service and reduce potential employee injuries
• Completed appointment process for Steve Whisenant to become Sheriff upon
Sheriff McDevitt’s retirement
• Approved reorganization of Sheriff’s Dept. management structure and
reassigned 2 special operations deputies to patrol duties
• Utilized Special 911 Funds available for public safety uses to obtain Mobile
Data Terminals (MDTs) for patrol vehicles and the purchase of Metal Detectors
to improve Courthouse Security

6. • Adopted Resolution to authorize Sheriff to enter into Mutual Aid Agreements
with other law enforcement agencies
• Sheriff and Clerk of Superior Ct. revised process for Jury Notification to
eliminate provision of postage paid return envelopes
• Expanded service area of the original Taylor Ave. Waterline Project twice and
approximately doubled the number of people benefiting from the original
project
• Approved agreement with Town of Rhodhiss to provide Waste Water Treatment
Service
• Approved Wastewater Collection System Capital Improvement Plan submitted
by General Services

7. • Completed construction of the Glenwood Hills Housing Facility
• Completed activities to equip the Conference Center and established rental
rates and usage rules
• Completed replacement of original Courthouse windows with energy efficient
windows
• Undertook and completed activities to obtain Building Reuse Grant that helped
in the rehabilitation and leasing of the Wamsutta Building to a new economic
development client, Ekornes
• Relocated Veterans Service Office to the Senior Center
• Relocated General Services Office to the Burke County Services Building

8. • Identified and Contracted with Consultant for Staffing and Efficiency Study and
completed study with report in Jan. 2012
• Hired Human Resources (HR) Director
• HR Director took steps to restart Employee Safety Committee and Safety
Inspections, and Wellness Program to include Wellness News Letter for
employees
• HR took over responsibility for dispersion of mail to county departments
effective with the FY 2011-12 budget and use of contracted mail service to
replace full-time position
• Developed Employee Performance Evaluation instrument and implemented
evaluation process

9. • Revised Condition of Employment Policy to include requirement for employees
to pay financial obligations owed to the Co.
• Hired Information Technology (IT) Director
• IT Dir. worked with Tax Collector to eliminate the printing of 400 page monthly
report used by Finance Office and replaced with pdf file to reduce cost: paper,
ink and use of printer as well as staff time
• Undertook steps to make Sheriff’s Dept. CJIS compliant, to be completed in Jan.
2012
• Undertook steps to enable use of Mobile Data Terminals in Sheriff’s Patrol Cars
• Developed Life Cycle Policy for all county computers and related support
equipment to standardize IT services

10. • Established IT Helpdesk to assist employees with IT problems and a Service
Tracking System to record use of IT Staff
• Established Live Feed of Commissioners’ Meetings to internet viewers
• Tax Collector revised delinquent notice to include required notification
regarding use of Debt Setoff procedure to eliminate a separate mailing and cost
of postage, paper, envelopes and staff time
• Library Director obtained funding commitments of $200,000 from several
foundations and the Town of Valdese for Phase I of Cole House Renovation
Project
• Finance Officer revised office process for timely payment of bills and completed
provision of audit information on time

11. • Reduced County Budget by 3.98% or $2,801,226: FY 2010-11 was $70,376,291
and FY 2011-12 is $67,575,065
• Adopted 27 Resolutions and 77 Board Appointments
• Collaborated with Burke Co. Tourism Dev. Authority to place Tourism Website
Address on rear bumper of Co. Vehicles
• Completed marking of county vehicles with County Seal as required by NCGS
20-39.1
• Completed appointment process for Johnnie Carswell to fill vacant seat on
Burke County Board of County Commissioners
• Adopted Code of Ethics in compliance with NCGS 160A-86

12. 115 Wamsutta Mill Rd Facility
Before & After

13. Before

14. Before

15. After

16. After

18. Foothills Higher
Education Center

21. Glenwood Hills
Apartments