[{"_1":2,"_120":-5,"_121":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,96,108],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6670992,"mediaKeyId","2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe","parentId",2171677,"title","Community group offers Gates County 'chat bench' concept and $2,000 seed gift for mental wellness pilot","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1220000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe&start=1220&end=1220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe/thumbnail_1220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6670992/Gates-County/North-Carolina/Community-group-offers-Gates-County-chat-bench-concept-and-2000-seed-gift-for-mental-wellness-pilot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670992-969105f53bd54d9ebfc29fc3d8e3a753/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201078&Signature=j3FWRSerNzAbje7KO6kKttjDLteOBx2FUuD-cHLBG1xKZPAl9WTfxHgn9wxYSUWHgorWOGm2LS3l8hqkB5WFZIuPJNJZsQavYQOulRYeIOOW~uze5TrJaPy9BBp8c1XAHCejYW8psPF3nNLWuWQ~cbrJ15mjLKnG6buhboGldK1PP~FFdFku~4seCge2UTCadZSkJRvmCYiP03qNiWgWLBmm5TUgbIG0fQRrL7y0eVgE1Zmc02vFpmQJvI0DL4kNZsc7H28Btc9Gt~53Pb2wb3tp0YowlADvaTvniKra6tkBEIK5vDpF~-oa-DYRos61hNFl9wwkfjbgDUj0-SIVcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gates County","date","2025-01-01T05:10:35.127Z","article","Sandra Jordan Branch, a board member of Gates County Community Partnership, presented a proposal at the Dec. 2 meeting asking the board to consider a \"community chat bench\" pilot to promote informal conversations and mental-health awareness.

Branch said the Partnership received a $2,000 donation from the Overseas Healthcare Foundation earmarked for mental-wellness activities and proposed placing a marked bench by the community center playground as the pilot site. She said the Chat Bench initiative seeks to provide accessible, inclusive spaces where neighbors are encouraged to sit and talk to reduce social isolation and generate local referrals to services where needed.

Branch said the group was not seeking an immediate decision from the commissioners but wanted to present the concept and supply copies of its proposal. Commissioners thanked the presenter and said staff would review the request and advise whether any formal approvals, liability considerations, site permissions or maintenance arrangements were required before a bench could be installed.

The board did not take formal action on the request at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","12-2-2024 GC Board of Commissioners 6pm Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Gates County Community Partnership proposed placing a designated \"chat bench\" at the community center playground to encourage conversations and reduce social isolation; the group said it has a $2,000 donation from the Overseas Healthcare Foundation to seed a pilot.","taxTitle","Gates County, North Carolina","taxId",73548,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6670996,"Newly sworn Gates County commissioners elect Emily Truman chair; board approves regular meeting schedule",97,774000,871000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe&start=774&end=871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe/thumbnail_774000.jpg","/articles/6670996/Gates-County/North-Carolina/Newly-sworn-Gates-County-commissioners-elect-Emily-Truman-chair-board-approves-regular-meeting-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670996-c4ee293a05e3b2c825eedb2b736bb7a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201078&Signature=ZUQh54NU5ZLrSBQdxlRj63du-3GaAfbTu-3owQw5u38CXutHsaHRuuhgz2hilVqNTKR5uI0sIbQkllX0kvg~YcsGMWhJJriz1ez0c0Y6aLfMWgV-GeJWKtFzf88IxBqjaf2Kgxne0RmbDT~9Wwq~h79Mu2gEhumQpA8VgtBn4JIpJhxACGUBeelEcPqDE5zFGx8BD9x7oTtOQaHKGEkqtTNNXFFY0r0uJpglNwV8TmfEhzQ6zHIavRqy6oIVcdxdcXx3TSiGHjI0Hn~FuqTusY74ShejSKgnFWFdhhUubo~7HO6IxEt7ahJUGcMgNViW-pFm8Aq5z6uRoK2SUunW8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gates County Board of Commissioners held its organizational meeting on Dec. 2 and elected Commissioner Emily Truman to serve as chair for the 2024-2025 term, followed by the election of a vice chair by a majority show-of-hands vote.

The county clerk opened the floor for nominations for chair. Commissioners nominated Emily Truman, Nathan Berryman and Dave Forsyth; Truman won the chair position by a voice/show-of-hands vote. The board then opened nominations for vice chair and, after nominations and a show-of-hands, selected Jonathan Craddock as vice chair.

The board approved the presented meeting agenda and consent agenda by voice vote. Commissioners debated whether the county should return to two regular meetings per month to increase opportunities for public comment and departmental hearings. Some commissioners argued the first-and-third schedule would let the public address the board more often and create space for departmental budget work; others noted operational and scheduling constraints and the ease of cancelling unused meetings with 48-hour notice.

After discussion, the board voted to adopt the proposed 2025 regular meeting schedule as presented. Commissioners asked county staff to return with clarifications and said committee assignments would be finalized at the Dec. 11 meeting after staff checks about mandatory chair representation on certain boards (for example the Gates County Personnel Board). Proposed committee rosters were circulated to commissioners for review.

The board recessed to reconvene Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. for follow-up items including the workshop on revaluation values, committee assignments and any appeals presented to the board.","At its organizational meeting, the Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner Emily Truman as chair, elected a vice chair, approved the annual meeting calendar as presented, and discussed adding a second monthly meeting option; committee assignments were proposed for later finalization.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":42,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6671001,"Gates County moves to adopt IT acceptable use policy to meet new state law deadline",3350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe&start=3350&end=3350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe/thumbnail_3350000.jpg","/articles/6671001/Gates-County/North-Carolina/Gates-County-moves-to-adopt-IT-acceptable-use-policy-to-meet-new-state-law-deadline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671001-c784274219acede56367634913e531b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201078&Signature=TN29XU2EMmf6Rcvm5IvskFNR8WYXg477XCdSlwXC08qeM8FxIjwkuHPyIt3nE94sRwZORrOpKCyZy20-6We37rxsBmnnaFL3yZ88XCcWulJ4AHamSTgbmqQWMcAcaxzq2xXAzH~sqOASkO45hGaRXl8Nbm2rZx2iTeaBuZ4wpfg5tBPi0rvPgdstg6wY9VphflZT-4bjyFBvoax1w0Zd8tAI55JlWdgQ6xPTdyDW8SEnY1i64c9nrTsI6wXjbDIYeVEi0n1zvuY4iJ~dSgcw-WRTyYHGTpeAS~tHGnH1kKxy2nj1nbF3AC3SmvrrsUFWsyL-396mEEgNh-Ru3428LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Manager Scott Sauer told the Gates County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 2 that the North Carolina General Assembly adopted legislation this year (referred to in the meeting as \"State Law 2024-26\") requiring public agencies to prohibit employees, elected officials and appointees from viewing sexually explicit material on devices owned, leased or controlled by public agencies.

Sauer presented a proposed information technology systems acceptable-use policy prepared by county staff and counsel. He said the statute's compliance date is Jan. 1, 2025, and the board had the option to take additional time to review the policy before final adoption; several commissioners said they preferred to move forward immediately so Gates County can meet the state deadline.

Commissioner discussion focused on timing and the complexity of the policy language. One commissioner noted that the board is scheduled to meet again Dec. 11 and that the board could take action then. Sauer and other commissioners agreed the county had time to act on Dec. 11 but the board ultimately voted on Dec. 2 to advance the policy (first reading/proceed to adopt) so staff could finalize implementation before the statutory deadline.

The motion to move forward with the IT acceptable-use policy passed by voice vote. Staff said they will finalize the written policy, circulate it to commissioners, and prepare for required implementation on or before Jan. 1, 2025.","The board agreed to proceed with a first reading of an information technology acceptable-use policy required by new state legislation that bans viewing explicit material on county-controlled devices, with a Jan. 1, 2025 implementation deadline.",{"_33":97,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":98,"_41":99,"_43":100,"_45":101,"_46":102,"_48":103,"_50":104,"_52":105,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":106,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":107,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6671006,"Gates County accepts state funding package to address failing Honeypot Road wastewater plant",1015,4030000,5045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe&start=4030&end=5045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe/thumbnail_4030000.jpg","/articles/6671006/Gates-County/North-Carolina/Gates-County-accepts-state-funding-package-to-address-failing-Honeypot-Road-wastewater-plant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671006-968669c48e79b8cb06c4a3e558b56d57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201078&Signature=CSjr83VHe3cNNafuNUqpAi7baANDzyeZVHdv0Yf51htv6AelVQQHo408EeRLNBcOXkP3rtaj~Mujrx3~udKqcw5WtqRUMzoovvMpNJeKqREWTTVpF-1vQ~yxjxb~~2uHmPnuwiK0U9W3Cz9G5RZ9KS75YwAUA19FiySRoQvY-uNCEicPFjN2wj5xSNMVczPFbZ5xFeD2Swv5ia-2dS6mmw2fV-r8bJ2Dl7ZSumTd7nb5UgBaKp6L7WzzEklucbToh1HPtAai2Qw1sxmE4jJgZ2Bdnu~ZJ0rs6TPriiKUgVnGAK5A40Iz8RcTNEkLNGjxYpFBPJYCSY1wfARoI3vX6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gates County Board of Commissioners voted on Dec. 2 to accept a state funding package to finance rehabilitation work on the wastewater treatment plant on Honeypot Road, a facility the county acquired alongside a former state prison property.

County Manager Scott Sauer summarized the offer from the state's revolving fund: a $2.2 million package that includes $1.5 million in principal forgiveness and a $717,816 loan amortized over 20 years at 0% interest. The county's package also includes a $250,000 grant for soils remediation work moved out of the loan portion.

Why it matters: the older plant has been the subject of notices of violation in previous years, is currently not accepting additional flow, and the county has already brought a newer treatment facility online. Commissioners discussed whether it is more cost-effective to rehabilitate the older plant or rely on regionalization and conveyance to the newer, larger plant.

Several commissioners pressed staff and outside engineers on capacity and alternatives. Commissioner David Forsyth asked whether the county had evaluated pumping wastewater to the newer Cotton Gin Road plant rather than rehabilitating the older permitted facility; engineers and staff said the projects are different but that upgrades to the older plant provide redundancy and intermediate capacity (the older plant is rated about 15,000 gallons per day; the newer plant about 40,000 per day). County staff noted expected enterprise fund balance of roughly $3 million at June 30, 2024 and said the loan obligation would not begin until construction is finished, leaving time to seek additional grants or to accelerate payments from enterprise reserves.

The funding acceptance and a revised project ordinance reducing engineering costs were moved and approved in a single action. Commissioners discussed potential cost overruns and options including reducing project scope, supplementing with county funds, or seeking other state/federal grants. Staff said design and bid outcomes could reduce borrowing needs if competitive bids come in lower than estimates.

The board also discussed ongoing and planned sewer connections — including force mains to Buckland Elementary and T.S. Cooper Elementary — that would increase flow into the county's wastewater system and eventually bring other customers such as Merchants Mill Pond into the system. County staff said rates charged to the schools and future customers have not yet been set and will be determined as part of forthcoming rate studies for water and sewer.

The motion to accept the state funding offer and the revised project ordinance carried on a voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.","The county approved a state funding offer that combines loan forgiveness and a low-interest loan to finance rehabilitation of an older wastewater treatment plant; commissioners discussed alternatives and long-term capacity implications for regional sewer projects.",{"_33":109,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":110,"_41":111,"_43":112,"_45":113,"_46":114,"_48":115,"_50":116,"_52":117,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":118,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":119,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6671012,"Gates County hears revaluation data indicating large market gains; residents warned notices will trigger appeals process",1355,1866000,3221000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe&start=1866&end=3221","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171677-a9adc54638eeef6425cb52dc98b096fe/thumbnail_1866000.jpg","/articles/6671012/Gates-County/North-Carolina/Gates-County-hears-revaluation-data-indicating-large-market-gains-residents-warned-notices-will-trigger-appeals-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671012-31931a8a6738f2437320a1051e8d5ecc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201078&Signature=WVqOJvewmozNpcME8w9E8oCH-18LzVCxDsG3MXYvP25xN3N2kVW~VmtJaWARe0alFvvVgr5l-nS7go6xbutCBmpVmhiYu0jBLaEH-pU-5A0Ur3msGc0agyvBjrmfeDGdA0Eov3zkANBnNGxwj21iGxZoMFNTJI9PCsQuTtquNjPXSGnB~zjY3JjlIdStGNzUuvpXI0l1Y0i5vuIWTG74HiqUZMoh-l6-fDmzfiaWJmncEw53ATzDxT6m23Lth96WJwnFBxF37Kg3tM9lurAGRHwMj9u87Q73UfIR092nJ8zPwFaF~QDyUAYrIuLRZzqbPUD~K73LancUQH8-V0xerg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Renee McGinnis of Pioneer Appraisal and Associates told the Gates County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 2 that recent county sales indicate market values since the 2017 revaluation have risen substantially and that the county will issue notices to property owners as part of the 2025 countywide reappraisal.

McGinnis, the consultant leading the revaluation, said the state requires an appraisal of real property every eight years under the North Carolina General Statutes and that smaller counties typically follow that schedule. She told commissioners she expects many properties to show double-digit increases compared with assessed values from 2017 and presented example sales where assessed values were 35% to more than 100% lower than recent transaction prices.

Why residents should care: the revaluation sets assessed values used to calculate property tax bills. County staff said the board will publish a revenue-neutral tax rate so the county's total levy would remain the same as the current budget unless the board decides otherwise, but individual taxpayers could see increases or decreases depending on their new assessments.

McGinnis explained the process and taxpayer options. The county will mail notices of value, and property owners may first file informal appeals with the tax office; after that step the Board of Equalization and Review will hear formal appeals. If the board approves final values and a taxpayer remains dissatisfied, the state is the next appellate level, McGinnis said.

County Manager Scott Sauer and other commissioners asked how the revenue-neutral rate is calculated and what a higher assessed base would mean for county revenue. Sauer noted dollar figures discussed during the hearing: the county's budget this year is roughly $16.9 million, and county staff indicated that, based on current calculations, each penny of the tax rate generates approximately $102,000 in revenue. County staff emphasized that the revenue-neutral rate calculation must be defensible and published in a legal advertisement after the revaluation is finalized.

Commissioners and staff stressed that not everyone will see a large increase and that the tax administrator and appraisal firm will research and, where warranted, remove atypical sales (for example sales including personal property or unusual bidding) from the valuation analysis. McGinnis said appraisers visit parcels and measure structures from the exterior and that taxpayers should review their property record cards on the county GIS and provide information if something appears incorrect.

The board opened and later closed a public hearing on the schedule and methodology for the 2025 revaluation; both procedural motions were approved by the board. Commissioners said the county will hold a workshop before notices go out so commissioners and staff can explain the records, the appeals process, and taxpayer relief programs.

The board did not approve final values on Dec. 2; commissioners were told final approval and any vote on a revenue-neutral rate will come at a later meeting after notices and appeals periods are set.","A Pioneer Appraisal representative told Gates County commissioners that recent sales data show property values well above the county's 2017 assessments, and officials outlined the revenue-neutral tax-rate process and appeal steps ahead of notices to taxpayers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Community group offers Gates County 'chat bench' concept and $2,000 seed gift for mental wellness pilot

Newly sworn Gates County commissioners elect Emily Truman chair; board approves regular meeting schedule

Gates County moves to adopt IT acceptable use policy to meet new state law deadline

Gates County accepts state funding package to address failing Honeypot Road wastewater plant

Gates County hears revaluation data indicating large market gains; residents warned notices will trigger appeals process