Caswell County News

 

Caswell Board of Commissioners Releases Closed Session Minutes on George Daniel Delinquent Tax Matter

January 7, 2025

 

In an effort to correct the public record, the Caswell County Board of Commissioners voted last night to release closed session minutes from November 18, 2024.

 

During that meeting, the board by unanimous consent directed the County Attorney to retain outside counsel to:

• Advise Mr. Daniel to withdraw as counsel from the civil action he filed on behalf of Caswell County against himself because of a conflict of interest, and

• Proceed with collecting Mr. Daniel’s delinquent taxes.

 

Mr. Daniel represented Caswell County for a number of years in collecting delinquent taxes. On November 22, 2023, his law firm filed a lawsuit against Mr. Daniel and other defendants for recovery of delinquent taxes. As the attorney of record, it is up to Mr. Daniel to pursue the collection. Since filing the lawsuit, he has taken no other action to collect the taxes.

 

As of November 1, 2024, Mr. Daniel owed a total of $22,854.61 for two parcels of land that he and his wife own jointly with Michael D. Willis and Lucindy Willis. The delinquent taxes on one tract date back to 2013 and on the other tract to 2016. Following execution of a payment agreement with the Caswell Tax Office in November 2024, Mr. Daniel has made three $1,400 payments to date.

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County Offices Operating on a Three-Hour Delay on January 7

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County Offices Operating on a Two-Hour Delay on January 6

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County Hires Finance Officer

January 2, 2025

 

After several months without a permanent Finance Officer, the Caswell County Manager announced today that she has hired Justin Thacker as Caswell County’s next Finance Officer. He will begin work January 27. Mr. Thacker is currently the Deputy Finance Officer in Rockingham County, a position he has held for five years.

 

“Mr. Thacker brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help ensure excellent financial management for the county going forward,” said Interim County Manager Renee Paschal. “His knowledge of county government is another benefit to Caswell.”

 

Mr. Thacker holds masters and bachelors degrees in accounting. He started in the Rockingham Finance Office as an accounting technician and was promoted to an accounting specialist. He was later promoted to Deputy Finance Officer in 2019. He is also a Certified NC Local Government Finance Officer and a Certified NC Budget Officer.

 

“I am excited to become part of the Caswell County government team and look forward to bringing my skills and knowledge to help the county improve its financial management,” Mr. Thacker said.

 

Ms. Paschal would like to thank Melissa Miller for her great work as Interim Finance Officer. “Melissa has helped ensure the day-to-day operations of the Finance Office, as well as worked with our consultant to resolve the county’s financial issues.”

 

Information on Flood Map Changes

December 30, 2024

On December 4, 2024, North Carolina Emergency Management Hazard Mitigation Section contacted Caswell
County to advise of the upcoming Flood Insurance Rate Map appeal period.

On October 28, 2022 the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) provided Caswell County with Preliminary copies of the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood
Insurance Study (FIS) report. FEMA has posted digital copies of these FIRM and FIS report materials to the
following website: https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload/.

In addition the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program (NCFMP) has also posted digital copies of these
revised FIRM and FIS report materials to the Flood Risk Information (FRIS) website which can be found at
http://fris.nc.gov/fris/. The preliminary and FIRM and FIS report include proposed flood hazard information for
certain locations in Caswell County. Community meetings were held in Milton, North Carolina. The proposed
flood hazard information may include the addition or modification of Special Flood Hazard Areas.

Before any new or modified flood hazard information is effective for flood management purposes, FEMA will
provide community officials and citizens an opportunity to appeal the proposed flood hazard information.
Caswell County has begun its 90-day appeal period. Fortunately, the flood hazard areas in Caswell County
have not changed drastically since the last adoption in 2017.

Anyone wishing to see maps of their property may contact the Planning Department Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at
336-694-9731, Option 3, to set up an appointment.

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Cherokee Tobacco announces plans to invest $14 million in Caswell County

December 17, 2024

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PELHAM—The Caswell County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that a new business is locating in the county’s Pelham Business Park.

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Cherokee Tobacco Company plans to invest $14 million to build a 65,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Caswell, as well as create 39 new jobs.

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According to the Department of Commerce website, “Cherokee Tobacco Company is a family-owned business that has manufactured and sold its own brand of cigarettes, cigars, and pipe products for more than two decades. Cherokee is a sister company of JEB International, a tobacco processing company that serves the industry throughout the global market. The new build-to-suit facility will provide a clean manufacturing space to add new, next-generation product lines. The company will consolidate their existing operations, along with JEB International, into one 65,000-square-foot location in Pelham.”

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“We are thrilled to have this industry locating in our county and bringing jobs for our residents. Cherokee Tobacco Company is building on a long tradition of tobacco as an important driver for Caswell’s economy,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Tim Yarborough.

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According to the NC Department of Commerce, the annual average wage will be $65,154, which is significantly higher than county’s current average wage of $43,046. The new jobs could have a potential annual payroll of $2.5 million.

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The Caswell Board of Commissioners unanimously approved awarding the bid for the sale of property to the developer during its December 16, 2024 meeting. The developer will pay $100,000 for 12.5 acres in the business park.

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This project will be across the street from Piedmont Community College’s Center for Educational and Agricultural Development (CEAD) is located. According to PCC President Dr. Pamela Senegal, whose team has worked with Cherokee Tobacco for the last year, CEAD's proximity was a major factor in the site choice.