Virtual Pop-Up Town Hall on the Garner 2020-2021 Budget

Staff May 30, 2020

Town staff are holding a virtual Pop-Up Town Hall on Tuesday, June 2 at 2 p.m. The topic is the Town of Garner’s FY 2020-21 Recommended Annual Operating Budget. We’ll be live streaming the event on our Facebook page.

Following a brief presentation offering an overview of the proposed budget, staff will be taking and answering questions. You can email questions in advance to Budget and Special Projects Manager Mike Franks at mfranks@garnernc.gov. We’ll also take questions submitted as Facebook comments during the virtual town hall.

Garner Cancels In-Person Independence Day Celebration: TV Program Planned; Fireworks May Be Rescheduled

Staff May 21, 2020

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as uncertainties about future directives from the Governor’s Office concerning the phased reopening of the state, the Town of Garner has decided to cancel its traditional July 3rd Independence Day Celebration. The Town is hoping to reschedule the fireworks portion of the celebration for later in the year, but no final decision has been made.

Town Publishes FY 2020-21 Recommended Annual Operating Budget

Staff May 17, 2020

The Town Manager’s Office has published the Recommended Annual Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.

The budget will be presented at the May 19, 2020 Town Council Regular Meeting. and The Town Council will hold Budget Work Session on May 20, 2020 from 9am to 5pm at Town Hall.

Garner Police Department Co-Hosting Blood Drive on May 13

Staff May 3, 2020

The Blood Connection is teaming up with the Garner Police Department to host a blood drive during the 2020 National Law Enforcement Week. The drive will be held on Wednesday, May 13 from 2-7 p.m.

Garner Town Council Meeting Expected to Be Held Remotely

Staff April 11, 2020

the April 21 Town Council meeting is still scheduled to be held, but we expect it to happen remotely. We will have details soon about how the public can view the meeting and submit public comments in advance of it.

Unprepared Trash and Yard Waste Collection to Resume on April 27

Staff April 11, 2020

The Town's spring unprepared trash and yard waste collection, which was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume April 27. Here are the routes remaining to be collected: Thursday (Purple and Yellow), Friday (Brown and Blue) and Tuesday (Green, Gold and Tan). It may take several weeks to cover these remaining routes. We appreciate your patience as crews work to provide this special service.

Garner UDO Re-Write Virtual Meeting Scheduled for April 15

Staff April 6, 2020

The Town of Garner is updating its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which governs land use and development regulations in the Town’s jurisdiction. The UDO update will be guided by the Garner Forward Comprehensive Plan.

Public input is an important part of the UDO update, and members of the public are invited to attend a first public meeting--an online forum--to learn about the update process and timeline. This virtual meeting will be hosted by our consulting team from Stewart, Inc., and will be held on April 15 at 2 p.m.

Census 2020: In 2 Minutes Learn About the 2020 Census & Why it Matters to Garner.

Staff March 7, 2020

For the first time, in 2020 the U.S. Census Bureau will accept responses online. The process will be quick and secure.

You can respond to the census in less time than it takes to finish your morning coffee. You’ll still be able to respond by mail.

Jones Sausage Road Construction Under Way

Staff March 7, 2020

A big part of the Amazon fulfillment center project on Jones Sausage Road is road improvements at the I-40 interchange, in front of the Amazon facility and at the intersection of Jones Sausage and East Garner Roads. Roadwork has begun and will continue for several months. Motorists should expect delays and avoid Jones Sausage north of East Garner Road when possible.

Governor’s Task Force Encourages North Carolinians to Increase Preparedness Measures for COVID-19

Staff February 27, 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE

THIS RELEASE IS FROM 2/26/2020 AND IS OUTDATED. PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION.

Wake County

Bus Rapid Transit is coming! What is Bus Rapid Transit? Find out March 3rd.

Margaret Damghani February 26, 2020

The Wake BRT: Southern Corridor Kickoff Meeting on March 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Garner Senior Center.

The Southern Corridor of the Wake Bus Rapid Transit Plan will connect Garner to improved public transport as one of four new routes that will radiate out of downtown Raleigh.

February 19, 2020 Garner Update

Staff February 23, 2020

We're heading over to the senior center for their Black History Month Celebration in this edition of Garner Update. We'll also check in at town hall where Garner Magnet High and South Garner High students visited and took part in a mock town council meeting through their leadership academy. And learn how you can view the Wake Transit draft plan for 2021 and see how Garner fits into the bigger picture of local transit.

Garner Parks and Recreation & Cultural Resources Unveils Ten Year Comprehensive Plan

Margaret Damghani February 12, 2020

The Town of Garner unanimously approved the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department’s Comprehensive Plan in January.

January 22, 2020 Garner Update

Staff January 24, 2020

The first edition of Garner Update in 2020 takes a look at our annual celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We'll also preview Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources popular Groundhog Day event at White Deer Park and don't forget to purchase your tickets now to the next Broadway Voices show coming to the Garner Performing Arts Center next month..

Garner Police File Charges on December 28th Home Invasion

Staff January 20, 2020

Garner Police investigators have filed charges in the December 28th reported home invasion at 108 Cedar Lane. Devon Christopher Reese, 23, of Apex, was charged with Felony Breaking and Entering with Intent to Terrorize or Injure, First Degree Kidnapping, and Attempted First Degree Rape.

Town of Garner 2019 Year in Review

Staff December 29, 2019

Garner certainly was on the move in 2019. Check out this terrific video and enjoy a look back at all the great things that happened in our dynamic town in 2019.

Town of Garner's 2019 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR)

Staff December 29, 2019

The Town of Garner's 2019 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, is now available.

December 23, 2019 Garner Update

Staff December 24, 2019

In the last Garner Update of 2019 we welcome our newly elected officials that were sworn into office this month. We'll also recap the historic depot move and tell you what the future plans are for the depot and caboose in downtown Garner. We hope everyone has a wonderful time celebrating with friends and family this holiday season.

New Garner Town Council Inducted in Midst of Christmas Parade Cancellation Disappointment and Frustration

Staff December 8, 2019

Town Officials and Public Discuss Christmas Parade

The cancellation of the Garner Christmas Parade which was scheduled for December 7th became the topic of the night at the Garner Town Council Meeting on Monday December 2. Members of the community gathered to share their concerns as new council members were sworn in.

After serving 12 years on the council, Ken Marshburn was sworn in as mayor. Also sworn in were new council members Demian Dellinger, Elmo Vance, and Phil Matthews.

Kathy Behringer was elected to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

Outgoing mayor Ronnie Williams and council member Buck Kennedy were recognized for their service.

Eight people made public comments and the meeting is available for viewing below.

The Parade

Councilmembers seated during the decision said the issue should have been discussed months before, spoke on the length of the parade route and the difficulty in securing an event that is not contained to one location, and said that law enforcement provided the information that led to the cancellation.

Possible litigation issues coupled with complaints from Garner residents about the inclusion of controversial groups were said to also be a part of the issues surrounding the parade while the safety of children seemed to be a unanimous and paramount concern of everyone involved in the decision, council and staff.

Credible threats gleaned through law enforcement monitoring of social media and online forums and websites weighed heavily; threats similar to those made against the Wake Forest Christmas parade which Wake Forest officials had initially signaled would continue in the aftermath of Garner’s cancellation.

However, Wake Forest officials announced the cancellation of their Christmas parade on December 4th, providing the following statement found here.

Public Comment

Public comments ranged from anger at cancellation of the parade and bowing threats by outsiders to condemnation of certain groups participating at all. Nearly all were deeply concerned with the precedent set by the cancellation and implications for the future of the parade and other town events.

Watch Public Comments in their entirety below.

Comments from Town Officials

With councilmembers and the mayor newly inducted and given the sensitive and passionate nature of the town’s decision to cancel the Christmas Parade, Mayor Mashburn suspended protocol and allowed each councilmembers to make a brief statement after the petitions and comments from the public. Selected are presented below comments below.

“I think people get misled because they think ‘oh they made some comments on facebook and twitter’. These groups, there are all kinds of chat rooms on the dark side of the internet that not only the Garner police monitor; SBI monitors, high patrol monitors. Chief Binns shared some information with us that you are not going to find on facebook and twitter...The difference in Pittsboro, in Chapel Hill, in Durham, and in Charlottesville is this: they were all adults. The parade involves kids, this is why I’m so upset…I wish we had discussed this months ago.”

𑁋Council member Gra Singleton

“To echo what’s already been said, it was a tough decision...It’s one that we have to look at in the future...We should be celebrating peace, we’re looking at frustration and anger right now...It’s imperative that a lesson has been learned, that we have to think things through, and make those hard decisions early on, and debate them out early on so that this will not happen again.”

𑁋Council member Elmo Vance

“I’d rather err on the side of personal safety for the good citizens of this town, rather than to be known as a town where a terrible tragedy occurred. I think if some of you visited the good people in Charlottesville today you would hear of the trauma that many are still undergoing as a result of the bad things that have happened in terms of their reputation...I do think that we will have an opportunity as a new council to discuss some of these very concerns that have been mentioned here this evening. I don’t personally believe that this is the end of our Christmas parade, and I will do all I can as mayor to either put together an organization or group that can basically study and look at this issue...This was not a flippant decision, it wasn’t based on skewed information, it was based on very solid information as far as I’m concerned and indicates that public safety is something that we can’t guarantee.”

𑁋 Mayor Ken Marshburn

Watch full Town Council Member statements below

The Garner News is continuing to gather verified information and will continue its coverage of the Christmas Parade issue as it continues in to 2020.

Town Announces Cancellation of Christmas Parade

Staff November 27, 2019

The Town of Garner has decided to cancel the 2019 Garner Christmas Parade, which was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, due to concern that the event could be targeted for disruption.