Information You Can Use
SPRING 2021
Adopt-A-Stream Program
COVID-19 Updates
In this Issue:
City Council
From the Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Manager’s Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2021 Recycling & Bulky Waste Calendar . . . . 4 Alex Burris Named Electric Department Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Bob Pate Retires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Concord 101 Graduates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 COVID-19 Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Andy Langford District 1
Brian King District 2
Ella Mae Small District 3
JC McKenzie District 4
Save the Date - Neighborhood Matching Grant Deadline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 City to Open Non-Profit Center . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Lindsay Manson Named Public Affairs and Project Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Adopt-A-Stream Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Jessica Jones Named Concord’s New Finance Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 High 5 Performers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Jennifer H. Parsley District 6
Terry L. Crawford District 5
John A. Sweat, Jr. District 7 Mayor Pro Tem
Important Phone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Get Connected:
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Get connected with Concord through Facebook and Twitter! Simply scan the QR code with your smartphone or go to facebook.com/concordnc and twitter.com/concordncgov.
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Council Districts
concordnc.gov Visit our City’s website where you’ll find a wealth of information. Pay bills online, access government and City departments, and discover what’s going on in Concord.
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District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7
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The Concord City Circular is produced quarterly by the City Manager’s Office to provide Concord citizens with information about current activities of the City of Concord. It contains items that will help make it easier for you to do business with the City. Your comments and questions are welcomed. Please send them to: Concord City Circular P.O. Box 308, Concord, NC 28026 or call 704-920-5210 or e-mail mansonl@concordnc.gov. designed by
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2 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2021 • concordnc.gov
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From the Mayor
Manager’s Notes
William “Bill” Dusch
Lloyd Wm. Payne, Jr. Concord City Manager
Keeping Concord Beautiful
Expanding Affordable Housing
Last year, Money magazine named Concord the 24th Best Place to Live in our country. In addition, WalletHub tagged us the fastest growing city in North Carolina, and seventh fastest growing small city in the United States. We all know what a wonderful place this is to live, and can see the impacts, both good and not so good, from our rapid growth. Today, I want to discuss something troubling that requires all of us to resolve — the growing amounts of litter along our roadways. While litter has always been an issue, we have seen an increase during COVID. For example, as I drove on George W. Liles Boulevard recently, I saw litter along much of the roadway. On other roads, I saw the same thing. It is clear that we need to change our behavior. Litter is created in a number of ways. It can be a careless toss of used materials out the window of a moving car; a trash truck with unsecured materials; or someone dumping their unwanted items on the side of the road. While our city staff, Adopt-A-Street volunteers, and neighborhood organizations work hard to pick up trash, the pandemic has reduced the number of these cleanups. Since last March, most volunteer pickups have been canceled. From a personal level, my running club’s adopted streets are typically picked up 3 or 4 times a year, but due to the pandemic, we have not held a pick-up event since last February. Also, due to decreased funding by the NC Department of Transportation, the state has been forced to reduce their roadside cleanups. The solution to this problem is a combination of education, enforcement, and money. Educating our citizens on the causes of the litter problem to change these careless behaviors is a good start. Please talk with your friends and neighbors about this issue, and ask them to spread the word. When you are able to do so again, volunteer to help with a neighborhood or street cleanup. When you see a litter outbreak, do not hesitate to call the city or NCDOT to report the litter location. Also, we will be reviewing our ordinances to see what we can do to further “encourage” right behavior. To keep this in front of everyone, we will also increase information and signage about the penalties. Lastly, our City Staff will be looking at how to effectively use our city team members in our litter cleanup efforts. Please keep in mind that these efforts are not free so the more we educate and prevent litter, the less we will have to spend on other projects. Thank you for your efforts, and I know that, working together, we can Keep Concord Beautiful. •
Hello, Concord. I want to provide you with an update on the City’s efforts to expand access to affordable housing through the recently-created Concord Family Enrichment Association (CFEA). Creating new rental and homeownership opportunities for some of our lowest income workers and families is an important goal for the CFEA. Working together, it is our mission to ensure affordable housing options are available to all Concord residents. In Concord and the surrounding area, workforce housing is a tremendous need. For many young Concord professionals, a 2-year or 4-year college degree does not equate to a large salary in an entry-level position. Many of these young professionals grew up in Concord, left for college, and have now returned to begin their careers. Unfortunately, housing affordability is an issue for these workers, not only in our city but also across the region. The recent median list price of homes in Concord was around $270,000, putting homeownership out of reach for too many. While our young professionals do have options, like getting a roommate in an apartment; moving in with family or friends; seeking housing in a neighboring town or county; or even moving to a location outside of our region that is more “affordable;” none of these options are desirable. Building workforce housing and creating more options will allow our young professionals to have a place of their own in Concord, and possibly begin to build equity if they purchase a home. For some, purchasing or renting an affordable townhome may be an option as well. Whatever the choice, our City needs to be an inviting place for young professionals to live, work, and play. Having affordable housing options is a crucial component to providing our youth, who grew up in Concord, the opportunity to return (or stay) and raise their families here. Developing these affordable housing options is the focus of the CFEA, and it is important to note that these efforts are different than the Federal Section 8 housing programs the City oversees. The monies from Section 8 programs come from the Federal government and the City administers the “subsidized” housing for very-low income families by ensuring Federal guideline eligibility. In contrast, the CFEA is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that will be able to access funding opportunities not otherwise available to the City through federal housing programs. (continued on page 13) concordnc.gov • SPRING 2021 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 3
2021 Recycling & Bulky Waste Calendar Recycling & Bulky Waste is collected every-other-week on your regularly scheduled garbage day. If you are a City of Concord resident, recycling roll-out carts are free. Call 704.920.5555. For 2021, WastePro will collect garbage, recycling, and bulky waste on a normal schedule through each of the City’s observed holidays, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
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ü Know your Collection Day ü Sign up for FREE Reminders ü Find out how to dispose of items To verify your collection schedule or to find full holiday collection details, visit concordnc.gov/whatsmyday or download our CARTology mobile app. To download the mobile app, search for CARTology in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Put these items in your recycling cart Empty Aerosol Cans
Glass Bottles & Jars
(no paint cans)
Spiral Paper Cans
Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars (no Styrofoam, bags, or wrap)
Milk & Juice Cartons, & Juice Boxes Aluminum Cans, Steel Cans, & their Lids
(with plastic lids detached)
Clean pizza boxes
Large Cardboard Boxes (flattened, cut to 3ft x 3ft sections, placed inside cart for collection)
Paperback Books (without grease or food residue) Mixed Paper, Newspapers Cereal & Food Boxes with Inserts, & Junk Mail Magazines & Phonebooks Gift Wrapping Paper Gift Boxes, Shoe Boxes, & (without foil backing) Small Cardboard Boxes (flattened and placed into cart)
4 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2021 • concordnc.gov
Twice per year, for special occasions, parties and family reunions, the City will collect a small amount of extra bags. Please call to schedule all special occasion collections. Those who consistently have more garbage than the green roll-out cart can hold may call to reserve an extra brown garbage cart for a monthly fee.
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Bulky waste is anything that won’t fit inside and isn’t allowed in your garbage cart like furniture, construction and demolition debris, tires, scrap metal (including lawn equipment, bicycles, etc.) electronics and appliances.
Recycle cardboard the right way! All cardboard must be flattened and cut down to 3ft x 3 ft sections or smaller for collection. A MAXIMUM of 2 or 3 flattened cardboard boxes can be placed between the top of the cart and the lid. Additional flattened boxes should be stacked neatly beside your recycle cart. Place cart out between 5:00 p.m. day before and 6:00 a.m. day of collection. Retrieve cart by 9:00 p.m. collection day. Place carts for collection with wheels facing your home. Keep carts 2 feet from one another and 2 feet from parked cars, mailboxes, etc. Do not block sidewalks with carts. Please bag your garbage, but do not bag your recyclables. Place them in the cart loose. Register to receive collection schedule changes and other important updates via phone, text, or email at concordnc.gov/whatsmyday. For more information on Solid Waste Services:
concordnc.gov 704.920.5555
Alex Burris C Named Electric Department Director
ity Management has named Michael “Alex” Burris as the next City of Concord Electric Department Director. Alex currently serves as the City’s Electrical Underground Coordinator II and has spent over 20 years in service to City of Concord Electric Customers. “Alex has worked in various areas of increasing responsibility in the City’s Electric Department for over 20 years. His knowledge of our system and personnel, coupled with his expertise, makes him an ideal leader for the City. He will continue to accomplish great things for Team Concord,” said Lloyd Payne, Concord City Manager. “Burris has a wealth of knowledge about Electric System Operations that qualifies him to lead the department into the future. He will be a tremendous asset as we continue efforts to explore innovative ways to meet the challenges and capitalize on opportunities in the electric power industry. I am confident that his experience and commitment to excellent customer service have prepared him for this opportunity. He will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said Assistant City Manager LeDerick Blackburn. “I am truly humbled and honored to be chosen to be the next Director of the City of Concord Electric Department,” stated Burris. “As not only an employee of the City but a lifelong community member providing safe and affordable electric services to our customers is essential to me.” A Concord native, Alex began his career with the City of Concord Electric Department in 2000 as a groundsman on the overhead line crew. He has spent the last five years as the Electric Underground Coordinator II. Alex became interim director on January 25, 2021, working alongside the current director, Bob Pate. On April 1, 2021, Burris will assume the position in full capacity upon Pate’s retirement. Alex graduated from Concord High and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Catawba College. He has also completed the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government course in Municipal Administration, and he is a certified residential energy auditor through the North Carolina Association of Energy Engineers. Alex resides in Concord with his three girls, twins Emma and Ella, and eldest daughter Mary. When not spending time with loved ones, Alex finds enjoyment in camping and working on vintage Volkswagens. •
concordnc.gov • SPRING 2021 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 5
A Fond Farewell to Retiring Electric Department Director Bob Pate
A
fter 37 years of service to the citizens of Concord, Electric Department Director Bob Pate is retiring at the end of March. During his distinguished career with the City of Concord, Bob helped the community through some of the region’s worst natural disasters, and turned around the City’s financially struggling electric system into one with some of the lowest rates in the state and exceptional customer service. Born and raised in Concord, Bob attended Tusculum College in Tennessee before returning home. As a recent college graduate entering the workforce during one of the world’s most severe economic recessions, Bob took a job as a meter reader with the City of Concord in 1984. He spent five years in the job and enjoyed the opportunity it provided to be outside and work at his own pace, but he had greater aspirations. So, when an opportunity came to join the overhead construction crew, Bob took it. Not long into his new role, Hurricane Hugo hit North Carolina. At the time, it was the strongest hurricane to make landfall on the continental United States in two decades. For most residents in Concord and the surrounding region, it was the first time experiencing a major storm. The cleanup and recovery efforts were extensive. The city’s electric systems were roughly 98% shut down due to the storm. Bob remembers working 18-hour shifts, and it took nearly two weeks before power was restored to many, and a full six months before the area was fully repaired and all the damage from Hugo was remediated. Despite the long hours, the hard work Bob put in to help the community recover and rebuild after the devastation is one of his most rewarding experiences. He fondly recalls the genuine gratitude he received from citizens for the work he was doing, and the community’s jubilation when the power was restored.
While working on the overhead crew, Bob started going back to school and took advantage of a new career development program offered through the City. Because of this opportunity, Bob was able to get an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Central Piedmont Community College, which opened new doors and helped to advance his career. He spent time working in Metering, and with the Security Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Department, before becoming the Overhead Construction Supervisor overseeing all the line crews and tree crews. In 2009, Bob was appointed Director of the Electric Department. Upon becoming Director, Bob inherited a department that was in serious financial trouble, so much so that the city was considering selling the department. Bob 6 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2021 • concordnc.gov
believed, however, that they had something special to offer the community, they just needed a good business model, so he and his team dug in and went to work. The first few years were challenging as the City had to implement rate increases. Today, however, thanks to his leadership and the efforts of his team, the Electric Department is financially secure with some of the lowest rates in the state. Reflecting upon his career, this is one of Bob’s proudest achievements – maintaining local control by keeping the Department, building on it, and offering a high-level of customer service to citizens. As he looks forward to retirement, Bob does so with a peace of mind that the department is in good shape and has talented co-workers to take on challenges for the future . He is proud of what he has accomplished and his contributions to the community he grew up in. He is ready to let the next Director grab the reins and take the Department to the next level. It is the people he will miss most when he leaves. Bob hopes to do some traveling, but he won’t be “retired” for long, as he plans to go back to work. From everyone at Team Concord, thank you Bob for your 37 years of service, leadership, and dedication to the community. You will be greatly missed! •
Citizens Complete Virtual Concord 101 Program The Concord 101 class of 2020 was recognized during a virtual graduation ceremony on November 24. This year’s class included 65 active community members who met together online in a virtual classroom for 14 consecutive weeks. Participants were thanked at the ceremony by Mayor Bill Dusch for their involvement in the program. “On behalf of City Council, thank you for caring enough to devote your time and attention to learning how your government works. You decided to participate in Concord 101 during a time of many challenges in our community. It is good see a diverse group of citizens with vested interest in the City and a shared commitment to its well-being. Citizens and their neighborhoods are the backbone of our community & this program is a vital component of our work towards fulfilling our mission to partner with the community to deliver excellent service and enhancing the quality of life in Concord. I am proud to live in and serve as the Mayor of a City whose residents care so much and who work to do their part towards fostering a better tomorrow in our wonderful City and beyond,” stated Mayor Dusch. Concord 101 is designed to inform citizens about their local government. Participants met online on Tuesday evenings and learned about what it takes to run City services such as solid waste and recycling, public utilities, police, fire, parks and recreation, and more. The course also included special sessions about Concord’s history, economic development, and tourism. The free 14-week course began in August. The class was first offered in 2002, and alumni are a diverse representation of the community. Some are now serving in leadership roles in their neighborhoods or on City boards and commissions. Council Members Jennifer Parsley and John Sweat are both graduates of the program.
CORRECTED list of 2020 participants: Victor Acosta, Martin Ardis, Willmarie Austin, Obafemi Balogun, Elizabeth Benton, Randy Berrier, Beth Boaz, Dennis Bost, Patrick Brown, James Buford, Marion (Tony) Caldwell, Manuel Campbell, Thomas (Scott) Carroll, Chris Cavanaugh, Joanne Chesley, Annmarie Collins, Courtney Currie, Mark Davis-McCrary, Tristin Deal, Rachael Donner, DiOnna Edmond, Brittany Evans, Kenyetta Graham, Larry Grubka, Linda Hanson, Ken Herzer, Wendy Herzer, Michelle Joshua, Suseel Kumar Kammara, Saumya Kothari, Carrie Kunder, Andy Langford, Germaine Lipscomb, Brian Little, Valerie Longstreet, John Lord, Kati McGinnis, MonaLisa Metellus, Harold Mills, Trudy Mills, Thomas Moore, Mark Murphy, Gillian Mvula, Safiya Nelson, Morrè Paul, Grant Phillips, Dorene Player, Emma Player, Andrea Prince, Alfonso Rattrovo, Vicky Reynolds, Genie Rivera, Jamala Sampson, Mary Sanders, Keshia Sandidge, Monique Sharpless, Matthew Sides, Natashia Stewart , Betty Stocks, Bernie Lee Thompson, Kasia Thompson, Christina Toscano, Danielle Velazco, Leah Wade, Dena Wike, Julie Williams, Leonard Williams, Nijah Wilson.
During the graduation event, City Manager Lloyd Payne encouraged the graduates to share feedback on City services and programs and to connect with the City online. “I know that our community has faced many challenges over the past 8 months, and many adjustments have been made. However, we felt that it was important to offer Concord 101, and I am glad that we were able to do so virtually. I hope that you learned a great deal throughout the program about TEAM Concord and its processes,” stated Lloyd Payne. The next class will begin in fall of 2021, with applications available in May. Learn more about Concord 101 at concordnc.gov/concord101. • concordnc.gov • SPRING 2021 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 7
Protec
t
From COVID -19.
Gettin g one m a COVID-19 va ore lay er of p ccine adds rotect ion.
I GO MY CO T VI -19 VACCIND E!
A safe a agains nd effective t v Learn COVID-19 is accine to p r more: n cdc.go ow availab otect le v/ofco Mayor Bill Dusch was excited to receive his first dose the roCOVIDnaviru . s/vacc 19 vaccine at Atrium Health Cabarrus and encourages all residents ines
YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov to get their shot when it’s their turn and continue to follow the 3 W’s: Wear a Mask, Wait 6 ft Apart, Wash Your Hands. 8 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2021 • concordnc.gov
concordnc.gov • SPRING 2021 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 9
20,000 Free Face Masks Handed Out to Residents Last summer, when North Carolina entered a statewide executive order mandating the use of face coverings in public, the City of Concord stepped up in a big way to help residents protect themselves and each other from COVID-19. Since last July, the City of Concord has hosted more than 30 drive-thru face mask distribution events across the community. At these events, staff distributed a maximum of two face coverings per person present. In total, the City gave out nearly 20,000 face masks to community members, completely free of charge. A special “thank you!” to the staff at the Parks and Recreation Department for working these events and helping ensure our residents have what they need to stay safe during the pandemic.
Neighborhood Matching Grant Program
Save The Date Application Deadline: May 21, 2021
Maximum Grant Award $3,000 concordnc.gov/neighborhoodgrants
10 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2021 • concordnc.gov
he former City of Concord City Hall Annex building located at 66 Union St. S is currently under renovation, with a lower level dedicated to assisting local non-profits. The City expects the space to be ready for occupancy by early summer 2021. In August of 2019, the City of Concord sold the City Hall Annex building to RCG SE, LLC., who plan to redevelop the main level of the building as three commercial bays and the second level as professional office space. The City entered into a five-year lease with RCG for the lower level of the building to create non-profit office space downtown. "On behalf of Mayor Dusch and the City Council, I am excited about this new collaboration with our local non-profits, who invest in our community daily," said City Manager Lloyd Payne. "They are vital to delivering services and goods to our citizens and, as such, deserve an affordable office space for their administrative functions." The new addition to the City will feature office spaces ranging from 128 sq. ft. – 317 sq. ft., with all-inclusive lease rates, including the cost of utilities and Wi-Fi. Rates are dependent upon the square footage of each office, ranging from $285 - $710 per month. The non-profit center will feature new HVAC, carpet, paint, wiring, and lighting. Occupants will have access to a new elevator and common conference room.
City of Concord to Open Non-Profit Center
The City began receiving applications from interested non-profits in January. In reviewing applications, the City will give priority to Concordbased non-profits and second priority to Cabarrus County non-profits. Office spaces will initially be limited to three offices per non-profit applicant to provide more spaces for smaller and newer non-profits that need a space to get established. If spaces remain available following the first application period, the City will consider additional applications on a first-come, first-serve basis. The City's Planning & Neighborhood Development Department staff will review applications and negotiate leases based on the priorities and limits described above. • concordnc.gov • SPRING 2021 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 11
Lindsay Manson Named Public Affairs & Project Manager C oncord City Manager Lloyd Payne recently named Lindsay Manson as Concord’s next Public Affairs & Project Manager. Before joining the City of Concord, Lindsay served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) in Washington, DC. “I am pleased to announce the hiring of Lindsay Manson to the Public Affairs & Project Manager position for the City of Concord,” said Payne. “She brings a wealth of communications knowledge and experience to the City. Lindsay will be a tremendous asset to Team Concord as we continue to look for innovative ways to keep our citizens informed.” As Concord’s Public Affairs & Project Manager, Manson will serve as the chief spokesperson for the City and direct the City’s strategic communications efforts, including management of the City’s external communications and news media relations. “I am excited to welcome Lindsay to Team Concord. Her experience and knowledge will help us take our public communications to a new level for our citizens,” said Assistant City Manager Pam Hinson. Manson’s former employer, Congressman Dave Reichert, had the following comments regarding her position at Concord: “She is dedicated, compassionate, detailed, and a team player. She will be a great addition to the City. Her most important quality is her understanding of what it means to serve others; it is difficult to find that kind of heart in today’s world.” “During my congressional career, I had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of dedicated individuals committed to improving their communities through collaboration and communication,” said Lindsay. “I am truly honored and excited to join Team Concord and continue this work and help enhance the City’s already impressive record of service to its citizens.” Lindsay graduated from Hamilton College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, where she majored in government with a minor in economics. She brings over twelve years of government service and extensive communications experience to the City. Manson began her employment with the City on January 19, 2021. •
12 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2021 • concordnc.gov
CITY OF CONCORD WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Manager’s Notes (continued) To accomplish their goals, the CFEA Board of Directors have developed a 5-year business plan and will be launching a new website with additional information. This plan includes CFEA acquiring land and building housing (homes, apartments, and/or townhomes) as well as acquiring dilapidated structures to renovate and put back on the market. Providing resources that enable residents to enhance and enrich their personal and professional lives is also a key component of CFEA’s long-term plans. The goal is to not just accomplish this through our tax dollars but to also seek private monies, like other cities have done, to assist in this effort. Hiring an Executive Director, which is underway, will be important to implementing CFEA’s plan of work.
Clean-A-Creek The City of Concord’s Clean-A-Creek program gives community members the opportunity to clean a local stream segment of their choice — no long-term commitment, just one time!
Adopt-A-Stream The Adopt-A-Stream program gives community members the opportunity to clean a local stream segment of their choice each year! After two successful clean-ups, Concord Water Resources will place a sign by the stream denoting your group as stream adoptees. Boots, waders, trash-grabbers, safety vests, gloves, and trash bags are all available through the City’s Water Resources Department.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE Interested in beautifying and improving the water quality of our City’s streams? Signing up is easy, and can be done at:
concordnc.gov/streams Questions? Contact Juliana Lima at stormwater@concordnc.gov.
I want to thank Assistant City Manager Josh Smith who has spearheaded this effort along with Assistant City Manager Pam Hinson (in her former role as Finance Director), Planning Director Steve Osborne, Housing Director Angela Graham, and Assistant City Attorney Tinisha St. Brice. Concord City Council members JC McKenzie and Terry Crawford also sit on the CFEA Board of Directors and provide keen insight into the planned work. City Council, with the adoption of the 2020-2021 annual budget, set aside 1 penny of the property tax to be spent on affordable/workforce housing. The vision is this would continue to occur in future budget years. For the current year, this is approximately $1.4 million towards this effort. You will see more about the CFEA and its goals in the coming months. I trust you will be an advocate of their work. Stay safe, Concord, and let us know if we can be of assistance to you. •
concordnc.gov • SPRING 2021 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 13
Jessica Jones Named New Finance Director for the City of Concord
L
loyd Payne has named Jessica Jones as Finance Director for the City of Concord. Jessica brings over sixteen years of governmental finance experience to the role, which she began on February 22. “I am pleased to announce the promotion of Jessica Jones to Finance Director for the City of Concord,” said Lloyd Payne, City Manager. “Jessica has served the City of Concord for more than 13 years; I am confident she and her team will continue to keep the City of Concord fiscally strong and assist in planning for future projects to enhance the quality of life for Concord citizens. I am proud to stand beside Jessica on Team Concord.” Ms. Jones has served as Interim Finance Director since December 14, 2020, following the promotion of former Finance Director Pam Hinson to Assistant City Manager. Prior to this, Jones worked closely with Hinson as the City’s Deputy Finance Director since January 2015. “Jessica has done a wonderful job supporting me for many years,” said Pam Hinson, Assistant City Manager. “I am thrilled to see her advance to this position; her extensive experience and expertise will be a valuable addition to our leadership team.” “I am grateful for the opportunities that the City has given me to grow professionally and I am humbled to be selected as the next Finance Director,” said Jones. “Being able to serve the City I grew up in is special, and I look forward to continuing the success of the Finance Department to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.” A Certified Public Account since 2008, Jessica worked at a public accounting firm for two years before joining the City of Concord. Prior to Jones’ employment with the Finance Department, the City hired external auditors to prepare financial statements. Jessica brought her knowledge of governmental audits to the City and began preparing financial statements in-house, resulting in substantial cost savings to the City and a significantly smoother external audit process. Also, under her supervision the City of Concord’s 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Governmental Finance Officers Association. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition and its
14 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • SPRING 2021 • concordnc.gov
attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a governmental body and its management. Ms. Jones is a native of Concord, NC. She graduated from Concord High School, and received both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy degree from UNC Charlotte. She lives in Cabarrus County with her husband, Justin, and their daughter, Abby. •
HIGH FIVE!
Concern for the Individual • Customer Focus Fair and Equitable Service • Professional Service Effective Communication • Taking Ownership Timeliness • Teamwork • Great Service Recovery
High Five recognizes coworkers who make a difference.
Dallas Hurley Recently we received a new school resource officer at the Performance Learning Center, Officer Dallas Hurley. Saying he’s remarkable is an understatement. We are a small high school, and it’s critical that those who come to work her desire to build relationships with the students, We have a very small group of students attending school (at the moment), but these kids more than ever are seeking connection, acceptance, and a place to belong. Officer Hurley gets this. He is using him lunch time to set up chess games and teach/ play with the students, Ive been an educator and counselor for a long time, and Dallas is the first SRO I’ve seen interact with students in this way. Earlier this week one of our students was having a rough day. The student ended up in another room trying to get himself together. Officer Hurley remained by the student’s side until we were able to help the student cool down and think rationally. His support meant more to the student than you can imagine. I thought it was important for you to know what your “boots on the ground” are up to. Thanks for sending him our way. — SUBMITTED BY COUNSELOR AT PERFORMANCE LEARNING CENTER 2/11/2021
Each day City of Concord coworkers are focused on providing the services needed to keep our community moving forward. We believe that coworkers who are delivering excellent service deserve timely and effective recognition by their team members, managers, and the community. We invite you to help us recognize one or more of our coworkers who have provided excellent service.
These nine principles help us deliver a high level of quality services. There are three ways to submit your recognitions: 1 Call 704-920-6400 to submit your acknowledgment by phone. 2 Complete the online form at concordnc.gov/high5 3 Complete a paper form found one of the following public facilities: City Hall; Academy Recreation Center; Brown Operations Center; Concord Regional Airport; Fire Stations 3, 7, 8, and 9; Housing Department Office; Police Headquarters; Rider Transit Center.
Congratulations to the following coworkers who were selected as
Quarterly High Performers Aviation: Bill Sherrill, Topanga Allred Building & Grounds: Devin Edwards, Frank Acosta, Harold Morris, Joel White, Mike Brafford, Susan Sessler Cemeteries: Jackson Joseph City Manager’s Office: Allyson Summitt Economic Development: Joseph Beasley Fleet: Bryce Golden, David Booth Finance: Jillian Hilliard Parks & Recreation: Montana Maurer Police: Adam Culp, Amanda Mayberry, Bryan Phillips, Chrislynn Daugherty, Daquan Boyce, David Garcia, Hayward Martin, Kaleb Robinson, Lucas Manning, Miranda Daigle, Terrell Price, Philip Alterman, Sebastian Trzeciak, Spencer Ward, Timothy Mullins, Trey Brown Sewer: Jamie Campbell Transportation: Brian Taylor, Jason Porter, Randy Shue Water: Garrett Woodie High Performers were selected from among the high five nominations received from the past quarter (October – December 2019). These recognitions best demonstrate “going above and beyond” in providing excellent customer service or events that best embody one or more of the 9 Principles of Excellent Customer Service. The City of Concord is recognized for having dedicated employees who are committed to providing excellent service.
Thank you for helping us recognize our best! concordnc.gov • SPRING 2021 • CONCORD CITY CIRCULAR • 15
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City of Concord Important Phone Numbers Fire, Police, Medical Emergencies ....................................911
P.O. Box 308 Concord, NC 28026
Customer Care Center .......................................704-920-5555
Concord Mobile Care You can report pot holes, street light malfunctions, and many other non-emergency issues to the City using your smartphone. Visit concordnc.gov to learn about and download the Concord Mobile Care app for your android or iOS device, or access the web-version on any other device, including PC and laptop computers. •
Call the Customer Care Center for service requests and inquiries about any of the following: • Electric Outages/Services • Water/Sewer Emergencies • Dead Animal Pick-up • Drinking Water Inquiries • Garbage/Bulk Pick-up/Recycling • Utility Bills • Street/Traffic Light Issues • Right-of-Way Issues • Storm Water/Storm Drain/Flooding Problems • Yard Waste/Leaf Collection • Building Material Disposal • Bulk Metal Collection • Old Tire Collection • Vacant Lot Cleaning/Mowing You can also fax our Customer Care team at ...........704-920-6953 The primary phone numbers for the various City departments are: Main Switchboard ......................................................704-920-5200 Buildings & Grounds ..................................................704-920-5380 City Clerk .....................................................................704-920-5205 City Manager .............................................................. 704-920-5215 Communications ........................................................704-920-5580 Concord Regional Airport ...........................................704-920-5900 Electric Systems .........................................................704-920-5320 Engineering .................................................................704-920-5425 Finance .......................................................................704-920-5220 Fire Department Administration ............................... 704-920-5516 Fleet Services..............................................................704-920-5430 Housing........................................................................ 704-920-6100 Human Resources ...................................................... 704-920-5100 Meter Reading ............................................................ 704-920-5219 Parks & Recreation ....................................................704-920-5600 Planning & Neighborhood Development .................. 704-920-5152 Police (non-emergency) .............................................704-920-5000 Public Affairs .............................................................. 704-920-5210 Purchasing ..................................................................704-920-5440 Rider Transit ............................................................... 704-920-7433 Risk Management....................................................... 704-920-5111 Rocky River Golf Club .................................................704-455-1200 Solid Waste .................................................................704-920-5361 Tax Collector ............................................................... 704-920-5216 TTY/North Carolina Relay .............................................................711 Transportation ............................................................704-920-5338 Water Resources ........................................................704-920-5342 Zoning/Permits .......................................................... 704-920-5152
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