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As I prepare for my departure as your county manager, I want to thank those of you who welcomed me in Davie County. I would also like to thank the Board of County Commissioners for their support.

In my 3-1/2 years here, I have witnessed many positive things. Most recently, I was able to see the community come together to respond to COVID-19 and citizens impacted by it. Life has changed for all of us since March 2020.

Businesses, families, and individuals will all remember the impact for years to come. This may replace the, “I used to walk miles, uphill, in the snow, barefoot” conversations that many of us have heard from those older than us. Now we have our own stories to tell.

Our work at the county government level could not be accomplished without vital partners in the community, including, but not limited to, our churches, foundations, volunteers, schools, non-profits, and businesses.

Reflecting over the past few months, here are a few notable accomplishments:

I am especially grateful for our Davie County government staff, who have been willing to adjust to the changes made due to COVID-19 and who have continued to provide friendly and high quality service to our citizens.

We continue to align and drive our strategic planning efforts and staff are committed to continuous improvement efforts to move the county forward.

Efforts like Leadership Davie and Ignite Davie will help promote future leadership and workforce development that are critical for future success.

We are proud to roll out a new 911 Computer Aided Dispatch system to help replace a system that was at end-of-life.

The inspections team has rolled out an online permitting system to better service citizens.

We have made tremendous progress with upfitting our county facilities and programs, which will benefit the county for years to come.

The Board of Elections has had a busy year preparing for the upcoming election by testing and adding new voting equipment to replace old machines.

Emergency Services received the American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline Award Gold Plus recognition for outstanding cardiac care for the sixth straight year in a row.  In addition, we began providing convalescent care service for non-emergency transportation for citizens in need of this service.

Our public library is working on updating its strategic plan, and is looking forward to an expansion/renovation for a youth services area later this year.

The public utilities team will complete the Northeast Davie Sewer Project. The county and Town of Mocksville are partnering on a Joint Utility Study that will yield needed upgrades to service the remainder of the county. Together, because of good foresight, these two projects will meet the water and sewer demands of the county for 80 plus years.

Our Recreation and Parks team worked hard to get us to the grand opening of the new Davie County Community Park.

I want to thank all of the Davie County government staff for the difference they make in the lives of this community. You may or may not see the results of their work directly, but they are there when you need them. They are unsung heroes. Sometimes the small things help brighten up one’s day – a smile or kind word or an intentional generous action. Never underestimate the power of a simple “thank you” to those who serve daily.