FRONT PAGE

NASHVILLE - The newly revised Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for Nash County - which contains some entirely new sections on Conservation Subdivisions, 'Granny Pods' and Data Centers- has been hashed through by county commissioners and the county planning board.
The next steps will be to have a shorter public presentation, with public input allowed, later this month followed by official adoption by both the planning board and board of commissioners. Public hearings will be held at both of those meetings.

NASHVILLE - Nash County has two new department heads; Angela Manning, Public Health Director, and Ashley Howell, Animal Services Director.
Manning and Howell both began their jobs June 1st, the same day they were introduced to county commissioners.
Manning, who recently served as Deputy Director of the Pitt County Health Department, has 22 years' experience in public health. Manning also worked as Environmental Health Director for Pitt and Wilson Counties and has served in numerous statewide leadership roles,

NASHVILLE - A second attempt by the town of Spring Hope to have Nash County approve the expansion of its extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) by up to one mile past its current ETJ border has been denied again by commissioner vote, this time unanimously.
A previous ETJ expansion request made April 6th was also voted down, with the condition imposed that a public hearing be held prior to the matter being reconsidered.

NASHVILLE - Just prior to Nash County's FY 27 budget hearing June 1st - with the budget scheduled for adoption June 15th - 7 new line-item additions, most coming from the Sheriff's Office- got thrown in the pot. Each was heavily debated by commissioners with individual consensus votes taken.
After Monday's action, another $1.3 million was added, bringing the total county budget to $162,037,492.

NASHVILLE - Move over, snowflakes and poinsettias: Nashville's Christmas decorations may be getting ready to make a big jump into diversification after members of the Downtown Strong Advisory Board chose three different new designs to invest in, subject to town council approval.
Meeting May 26th, an abbreviated DSAB (which was missing five of its members) met with Sam Hardwick of Mosca Designs, the company that made the town's current Christmas lights, and picked out three totally different designs they'd like to see added to the town's décor: a pair of entwined candy canes, a green wreath with red bow, and a triple poinsettia light.

NASHVILLE - A public hearing held on Nashville's FY27 budget, passed Tuesday night, garnered no inherent criticism except for shared frustration from utility rate increases passed down from Rocky Mount.
The balanced budget totals $17,440,217, which is up 4% from last year's. It has a two-cent increase in the town's property tax rate from 59 to 61 cents, per $100 assessed value, the same as it was two years ago.

NASHVILLE - The combination of Nashville sports venues and Nash County-produced sports team activity has produced talk about potential economic benefits from a hotel built in Nashville.
Thomas Gillespie, Nash County Parks and Recreation Director, made a presentation May 20th to Nashville town council members. Gillespie said he was there to provide information about revenue that county programs bring into Nashville.

SPRING HOPE - The town of Spring Hope has officially adopted its FY 2027 budget, with commissioners voting unanimously to pass it at their June 1st meeting after a public hearing attracted no comment.
The town budget balances at $3,143,390, with about $2.1 million in the General Fund and a little over $1 million in the Water and Sewer fund. Its tax rate will remain the same at 67 cents per $100 valuation.