City of Wilson :: News

Spring Cleanup Week will be April 26-30

3/18/2010

Wilson residents planning to clear out their homes, yards or garages should mark the week of April 26-30 on their calendars.

Spring Cleanup Week is that time each year when the city’s environmental services workers pick up items they usually cannot. These include:

Furniture and other bulky items that can be carried by two people (chair, table, etc.)
Appliances and other white goods such as stoves, water heaters, etc.
Compost and yard waste (please put in a container and cut limbs to four feet or less)
Tires
Junk

During that week, residents can place these items behind the curb and keep them at least three feet away from mailboxes, parked automobiles, utility poles and other obstacles. Items must be kept out of storm drains, gutters and off sidewalks.

Environmental Services Manager Tim Farmer asked the public be patient and allow city crews time to work throughout the entire city. Workers will be the special pickups in addition to normal operations.

People with large amounts of debris may rent a large trailer container, about the size of a dumpster, from the city for either two days or a weekend. City staff will deliver the container to a home and pick it up afterwards. This is only available for residential use only, no contractors, and construction material cannot be thrown out.

Call 399-2485 for more information.

Register now for Down East Senior Games

3/18/2010

Wilson County residents ages 55 and up should enter now to take part in the Down East Senior Games.

Entry forms are now available at the Wilson Parks and Recreation Department. Deadline for submission is Thursday, April 1. Contact Lesia Davis at 399-2286 for more information.

The Down East Senior Games, part of the North Carolina Senior Games, include participants from five counties (Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson) and rotate each year between three sites.

This year’s events will be May 3-14 in Rocky Mount. A schedule is included with entry forms.

Sporting events include archery, badminton, basketball tournament, basketball shooting, billiards, bocce, bowling, croquet, cycling, field events, football throw, golf, horseshoes, racquetball, shuffleboard, softball throw, softball tournament, spin casting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and track events.

Individuals compete for awards in categories broken down by sex and age (in five-year increments).

There are also competitions in visual, literary and performing arts, as well as a number of crafting and heritage arts.

Major sponsors for the Senior Games are Interim Health Care, Upper Coastal Plains Area Agency on Aging and N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services.

Comprehensive plan nears completion; open house Monday

3/17/2010

For more than a year, Wilson residents have shared their thoughts on how they want to live, work, travel and play.

The City will hold an open house on “Wilson Growing Together: the 2030 Comprehensive Plan” on Monday, March 22, at the Charles W. Pittman III Operations Center, 1800 Herring Ave.

The drop-in event will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. Short presentations are planned at 6 and 7:30 p.m. to give an overview of the plan.

The open house will be the last chance to weigh in on the plan before it goes to the City Council in April.

Rodger Lentz, the city’s director of planning and developmental services, said he has been pleased by how the public has contributed so far.

“The plan being presented March 22 really reflects the issues we heard during the past 16 months,” Lentz said. “When implemented, the recommended policies and initiatives will truly help us reach the ‘One Wilson’ vision we heard so much about.”

The comprehensive plan sets out 51 goals for Wilson, including a revitalized downtown; stronger neighborhoods; an enhanced transportation system; and improved partnerships between the City and Wilson County, Barton College, Wilson Community College and Wilson 20/20.

The plan includes more than 100 policies and 90 actions for the city to enact to reach those goals.

For example, the plan includes the goal of Wilson having a multi-modal transportation system, meaning residents would have many options for getting around. A policy that supports that is encouraging all new roads and road improvements to consider access to pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit, in addition to cars. An actionable step would be for the City staff to work with County and State officials to approve a new countywide transportation plan.

Since December 2008, the city has held several focus groups, workshops and charrettes on various parts of the comprehensive plan. Details can be seen on the Web site, www.wilsonnc.org.

The entire plan should be posted on the city’s site by Friday, March 19. Copies will also be available then at the Wilson County Public Library (in the reserve section) and in the Planning and Development Services Department at City Hall.

2010 Census forms begin to arrive in Wilson

3/15/2010

Census forms are showing up in Wilson this week. The City of Wilson encourages you to fill out the short form – a procedure that should take about 10 minutes or less– and mail it back by April 1, the official date of the 2010 Census.

An estimated $400 billion in federal funding, including money for schools, roads, health care and other critical programs, is distributed annually to local governments based on population figures.

Local leaders need an accurate count both to plan and pay for services. If Wilson officially passes 50,000 in population, the community would become eligible for some federal grants and other benefits.

If every household in the U.S. returned the forms quickly, taxpayers would save an estimated $1.5 billion in the expense of sending Census workers door-to-door.

“It's a lot less expensive to get responses back by mail than it is to send census takers to knock on doors of households that failed to respond,” Census Bureau Director Robert M. Groves said Monday. “It costs the government just 42 cents for a postage paid envelope when a household mails back the form. It costs $57 to send a census taker door-to-door to follow up with each household that fails to respond.”

This year’s Census form is the shortest in a lifetime, Groves said.

The federal government had mandated a Census every decade since 1790. It was begun as a way to ensure that Congress is fairly reapportioned every 10 years between the states. Census counts are also used to redraw state and local legislative boundaries so that political representation is fairly distributed across their changing populations.

All U.S. residents are required to participate in the Census. All census responses are confidential; they are protected by law and not shared with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment of up to five years or both.

Energy Help for Low-Income Houses Available Through March at Customer Service Center

3/11/2010

Consumption is the single largest factor in your energy bill. Martin County Community Action Inititiative is a non-profit group that uses federal money to weatherize low income homes. The improvements are permanent.

Due to January's and February's unusually cold weather, the MCCAI now has a representative on duty at the City's customer service center (Nash Street near the library). Customers may stop by the office Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 5pm through the month of March.

New Citizens Police Academy Starts Soon

3/11/2010

The 13th session of the Wilson Citizens Police Academy will begin later this month. There are still 19 seats left, but they won't last long.

Monday evening class sessions will be held at the City of Wilson Operations Center (1800 Herring Ave) from 6pm – 9pm. Must be ages 16 and older living in Wilson County. Most of our past students have been between ages 45-75.

To get an application, call Officer Kolly Burritt at 252.399.2350 or download it here.

Here's a look at what you'll cover:

Introduction/Orientation
This short presentation will provide background related to the development of the Citizens Police Academy and will acquaint class members with the academy’s major goals and objectives. Course booklets will be distributed along with other materials. In particular, the procedures to be followed regarding general and elective class attendance will be covered.

Overview: The Community Oriented Philosophy of the Wilson Police Dept.
This class will provide a brief overview of the Wilson Police Department, including its position and role in city government. The Department’s mission and philosophy will be discussed from the dual perspectives of community service and ethical law enforcement.

Internal Affairs
This class will familiarize participants with the duties and responsibilities of the Internal Affairs Commander. The Captain will talk about the process and procedure of an internal affairs investigation. Procedures will be explained about suspension with or without pay. The law will be addressed as it relates to information that can be retrieved about an officer’s disciplinary actions. Participants will become familiar with types of incidences that require an internal affairs investigation.

Citizen Complaints
This class will familiarize participants with the process of making a citizen complaint. The class will also present insightful information on the process of what happens when a complaint is presented. The instructor will discuss the Wilson Police Department policy in regards to complaints made by citizens. Participants will gain an understanding of the duties required by an officer when a complaint is presented. Follow-up procedures will also be discussed.

9-1-1 Communications Center
The citizen’s vital link to emergency police service is the tele-communicator answering incoming calls in the Communications Center. This class will familiarize course participants with the work of the tele-communicator and will explain what happens when a 9-1-1 call comes in to the center. Citizens will learn how and why certain calls for service are channeled to the Department’s Telephone Response Unit rather than to an officer on patrol. The concept of differential police response will be explained as well as the computer technology that makes this possible.
Note: This class includes an inside tour of the Communications Center.

Patrol Procedures
Participants will learn what a patrol officer’s responsibilities are during an individual work shift and work tour. Participants will learn what the WPD expects of a patrol officer working in this City.

Law Enforcement Accreditation
Participants will be introduced to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the role of CALEA at the Wilson Police Department. Participants will have the opportunity to understand how being an accredited law enforcement agency positively affects the citizens of Wilson.

Recruiting/Hiring/Training
Participants will be introduced to the WPD’s regulations and procedures governing recruiting, hiring, and training (pre-hire and post-hire) of police officers and the educational and demographic makeup of the WPD.

Use of Force and Laws of Arrest, Search, and Seizure
Participants will become familiar with the tests of reasonable suspicion and probable cause which officers apply to determine whether an arrest, search, or seizure is justified. Participants will learn about officer’s use of force options and considerations before using force.

Gangs
Instructors will present a brief history of gangs in the United States. They will discuss current local trends in gang activity in Wilson and address why our kids are joining gangs. Prevention efforts by the WPD will be also discussed.

Crime Scene Investigations & Searches
This class will familiarize the participants with Crime Scene Investigation and related Forensic Sciences. We will be learning about the correct procedures and techniques used in processing a crime scene. We will discuss the term “CSI Effect.” We will also show some of the services the Wilson Police Department Forensic Unit has to offer. If time allows, participants will be able to participate in some mock evidence collection.

This Week on Around Town...

3/10/2010

After an icy winter, the pot holes have arrived. We'll show you what the city is doing to address them. The Parks and Recreation Department has its own Face Book and Twitter accounts to keep you up to date and identity theft continues to be a problem. We'll show you what the Wilson Police Department says you can do to help protect yourself.

To view click on link:

www.vimeo.com/10095811

Public invited to Chief's ceremony

3/9/2010

Thomas P. Hopkins will formally take the oath of office as Wilson's Police Chief at a ceremony Tuesday, March 23.

The public is invited to the ceremony, which will begin at 4 p.m. at the Charles W. Pittman III Operations Center, 1800 Herring Ave. A reception will follow.

Hopkins, a 15-year veteran of the Wilson Police Department, was named the department’s new Chief in February, replacing Harry Tyson who had been promoted to deputy city manager in January.

A Beddingfield High School graduate, Hopkins joined the Wilson Police Department in 1995 as a Patrol officer. In 1996, he became a Detective in the Vice & Narcotics division. In 1999, he was named the department’s Hiring and Recruitment Coordinator. In 2003, he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to the Uniformed Patrol division where he supervised a patrol team. In February 2006, he was promoted to Lieutenant and South District commander.

Hopkins serves on the department's Special Response Team and Honor Guard.
Hopkins holds bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Justice Studies from NC Wesleyan College and a master’s degree in Criminology with a concentration in Law from Indiana State University. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Learning and Adult Education from Walden University.

He is a NC general and specialized instructor in physical fitness, firearms, and first responder. He also serves as an adjunct instructor with NC Wesleyan College, Shaw University and Wilson Community College.

Hopkins enjoys riding his motorcycle (“Busa”) on sunny days and spending time with his family. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and has worked on numerous fraternity projects, such as tutoring kids after school, the Charles R Drew Blood Drive, the Talent Hunt, and Scholarship Program.

He is married and has three children.

Dispose of drugs safely in April

3/9/2010

Local law enforcement officers hope to conduct a spring cleaning in April that will get potentially dangerous and addictive drugs out of medicine cabinets and off the streets.

The Wilson Police Department is teaming with other agencies to hold a Drug Drop-Off Day, which will be Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During that time, residents may bring any unused or out-of-date prescription drugs, as well as any illegal drugs, to four locations:

Contentnea Volunteer Fire Department, 4146 N.C. 42 West.
Wal-Mart, 2500 Forest Hills Road.
Food Lion, 3711 Peppermill Road.
Food Lion, 2021 Lipscomb Road.

Any drug can be surrendered with no fear of penalty during this event.

A drug collection day in October 2009 gathered more than 15,000 doses of a variety of prescription medications.

Officials say it is not wise to flush drugs or putting them down the drain because they then might affect water treatment centers. Items brought to the drop-off sites will be disposed of in a safe manner.

Other sponsors include the Wilson County Substance Abuse Coaltion, Wilson County Sheriff's Office, DEA, Wilson County EMS and volunteer fire departments.

Census jobs available in Eastern NC

3/9/2010

More than a thousand Census jobs are still available through the Rocky Mount Local Census Office (LCO). There is a particular need in Wayne, Halifax, Gates and Currituck counties.

The U.S. Census Bureau began hiring in January and continues to hire as the Census process progresses. Job seekers can find application information at www.2010censusjobs.gov, by calling 1-866-861-2010, or by contacting the LCO:

Rocky Mount LCO
252-544-9060
130 S. Fairview Rd.
Rocky Mount, NC 27801

The Rocky Mount LCO covers Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Edgecombe, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne and Wilson counties.

“Census jobs are a great opportunity for thousands of North Carolinians who are looking for work,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “At the same time, these workers will help our state achieve a complete count of our population and access the more than $400 billion in federal funds to be distributed each year based on the census count.”

To qualify for temporary Census employment, you must be:

Able to read, write, and speak English;
A U.S. citizen;
A legal permanent resident, or non-citizen with an appropriate work visa, and you possess a bilingual skill for which there are no available qualified U.S. citizens;
At least 18 years old;
Have a valid Social Security number;
Pass a written test of basic skills (view practice test here);
Have a valid driver's license;
Pass a background check; and
Commit to four days of training. You will be paid for training days. Training can be held either during daytime hours or during evening and weekend hours.

Job seekers can find additional information at the Employment Security Commission or JobsNOW.nc.gov.

Census forms will be mailed from March 15-17. An accurate count is critical as recent estimates indicate the state will receive approximately $15,000 in federal funding per person counted over the next 10 years.

Barton star expects warm greeting in Raleigh

3/5/2010

Former Barton College star Anthony "Ant" Atkinson returns to an area basketball court tonight.

Atkinson, a Wilson native and point guard on Barton’s 2007 Division 2 championship team, will perform tonight as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. game range from $20-$127; call 919-861-2323.

Atkinson told The News & Observer of Raleigh that he expects to have more than 100 family members and friends at the game, his second in Raleigh as a Globetrotter.

"It's a game I have circled on the calendar," Atkinson said. "I can't forget about this game because I'm constantly reminded about it."

Atkinson will always be remembered in Wilson and by basketball fans across the country as the star of Barrton’s championship team. In the final game, Atkinson scored 10 points in the last 39 seconds, including a buzzer beater.

Anyone who wants to relive those moments can do so here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFYnersg2Us

Council directs staff to standardize utility billing cycles

3/4/2010

The Wilson City Council took a step Thursday to prevent another round of unusually large utility bills, such as Wilson Energy customers experienced in January.

During a work session at City Hall, Council approved City Manager Grant Goings’ plan to standardize the Wilson Energy’s billing cycles to between 29-33 days.

That means the city’s Meter Readers will record electric, gas and water usage as close to the same date each month as possible. With five full-time and two part-time readers, it’s impossible to say with certainty that the number of days will always be the same, but that’s the goal, Goings said.

The city’s holiday schedules led some meters to be read earlier than usual. The average billing cycle for November electric usage, billed in December, was 28 days.
But then unusually cold and wet weather, including snow coverage that slowed some water meter reading, caused the next billing cycle to average 35 days. Some customers were billed for up to 38 days.

Even if there hadn’t been record cold weather in late December and early January, bills would have risen 25 percent or more because of the difference in days recorded.
“That’s unacceptable. It’s not going to happen again,” Goings told Council.

Goings told Council that staff should be able to standardize the cycles without adding new employees.

Council had already taken steps to help the affected Wilson Energy customers, including waiving all late payments in January and February; extending Wilson Energy customer service hours; and allowing contract payment plans to be repaid over six months, up from four months.

Council waives late payment fees, adds customer service hours to help with high demand

2/23/2010

Wilson City Council has directed staff to make some temporary changes that should help utility customers this winter.

Customers who are having trouble paying their January or February utility bills will be able to arrange contracts to pay those bills over six months. Typically the payment plans have been restricted to four months, but the City Council agreed to allow the longer schedules because of unusually high demand this winter.

There are no additional fees or interest attached to the longer payment plans.
Also, Council has agreed to waive late payment fees for January and February, a move that should save customers nearly $150,000.

Wilson Energy understands residents are experiencing atypically large bills due to heating costs this winter, said Gregg Owens, business office manager. “We will work with customers as much as possible,” Owens said. Typically, Wilson Energy will have 300-400 customers on payment plans per winter.

Through March 31, Wilson Energy representatives are available to work one-on-one with customers at two locations:
• Customer Service Center, 208 Nash St NE, Monday-Friday, 8:30am –5pm.
• City Hall at the Mall, 1501 Ward Blvd, Suite 222, Monday-Friday, 5-8 pm and Saturdays, 10am-2pm.

Payment plans are different from the city’s budget bill plans. Customers with good payment records can arrange to have their bills averaged over a year and then pay a standard amount per month. This eliminates extremely high bills in the winter or summer and makes budgeting easier. About 1,100 customers are now enrolled in budget billing programs.

For more information about Customer Credit plans, call (252) 399-2756.

For Budget Billing information, call (252) 399-2170.

Thomas Hopkins is Wilson's Next Police Chief

2/18/2010

Thomas P. Hopkins, a 15-year veteran of the Wilson Police Department, is the department’s new Chief, effective immediately.

City Manager Grant Goings announced Hopkins’ appointment during the Wilson City Council’s meeting Thursday evening. He was chosen from a field of five internal applicants.

“I’m extremely thankful to God for the opportunity to serve as Chief of Police for the City of Wilson,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins replaces Harry Tyson, who became Deputy City Manager in January and helped Goings in the selection of his successor.
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“It’s an honor and tremendously satisfying to be able promote someone from within the department,” Tyson said Thursday. “We were blessed to have so many qualified individuals compete and compete so well for this; it’s just unfortunate that we only have one office to fill. “

“Chief Hopkins knows this community and its people,” said Goings. “He is the right match for the department and our City, and he will continue to advance and improve the high standards that have not only brought national and international acclaim, but have made our City a safer place to live.”

Hopkins stood out for his long-record of service to the department and the community Tyson said. Hopkins is district commander of the City’s South District, during which he has worked closely with the Washington Carver Heights, Elvie Street, and Glenwood Hills & Valleydale neighborhood associations.

“I’m a strong advocate of community policing,” Hopkins said. “Community policing can be professionally stimulating by providing the officers with challenges, opportunities for innovation, and rewards for creative solutions.”

As Chief, his goal will be to listen to both employees and community members to understand their desires, expectations, and problems. “Listening should be an ongoing process, which includes providing feedback on these concerns,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins joined the Wilson Police Department in 1995 as a Patrol officer. In 1996, he became a Detective in the Vice & Narcotics division. In 1999, he was named the department’s Hiring and Recruitment Coordinator. In 2003, he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to the Uniformed Patrol division where he supervised a patrol team. In February 2006, he was promoted to Lieutenant and South District commander.

Hopkins serves on the department's Special Response Team and Honor Guard.
Hopkins holds bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Justice Studies from NC Wesleyan College and a master’s degree in Criminology with a concentration in Law from Indiana State University. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Learning and Adult Education from Walden University.

He is a NC general and specialized instructor in physical fitness, firearms, and first responder. He also serves as an adjunct instructor with NC Wesleyan College, Shaw University and Wilson Community College.

Hopkins enjoys riding his motorcycle (“Busa”) on sunny days and spending time with his family. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and has worked on numerous fraternity projects, such as tutoring kids after school, the Charles R Drew Blood Drive, the Talent Hunt, and Scholarship Program.

He is married and has three children.

Volunteer slots available for City boards and commissions

2/15/2010

Wilson has a job for anyone with a little time to spare and a sense of civic pride.

Wilson City Council plans in March to fill several vacancies on city boards and commissions, and the city needs residents to step up and volunteer.

The city has more than 20 citizen boards that make recommendations or decisions on matters from appearance to zoning, human relations to recreation, bike paths to airports, etc. Most boards meet no more than once a month.

Applications are now available on the city’s Web site, www.wilsonnc.org/government/boards; at the city clerk’s office in City Hall, 112 N. Goldsboro St.; at City Hall at the Mall, Wilson Mall; and in the city’s customer service center, 208 Nash St. NE, across from the BB&T Towers.

Call Becky Rose, city clerk, at 399-2302 for more information.

The application deadline for this round of appointments is Friday, March 5. Not all boards and commissions will be available next month, but all applications are kept on file for two years and reviewed as seats become open.

Snow on grassy areas only, streets look good in Wilson

2/13/2010

Friday night's snow dropped several inches onto local grassy areas, but streets and sidewalks were largely spared. Motorists are advised to take it slowly, but they shouldn't have significant trouble moving around town.

Saturday morning could be a little tricky if ice re-forms on the streets.

All transit services are running on normal schedule today.

Wilson prepares for second snowstorm in two weeks

2/12/2010

Snow is fairly uncommon in Wilson, but the winter of 2009 and 2010 has already proven itself to be pretty unusual.

Forecasts vary, but some are calling for up to four inches of snow in Wilson this weekend.

Wilson crews are ready to treat local roads and streets. Here's a typical timeline: supervisors will watch the weather radar to gauge the speed and severity of the storm. About an hour or so before it hits, salt crews will spread out across town, treating the most heavily travelled streets first. NC DOT trucks will also be working the main thoroughfares. Crews will work in shifts so no one works too long and is unable to work safely in harsh conditions.

Please give these big trucks room to move during and after the event. The more room they have to operate, the more efficiently they can do the job.

Gov. Perdue Honors Area Boy Scouts on their 100th Anniversary

2/12/2010

RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue honored Boy Scouts of the East Carolina Council this week on the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts organization. The milestone was celebrated around the country, including in Raleigh where Boy Scouts met with Gov. Perdue and First Gentleman Bob Eaves to present their community service plans for the coming year. Dwain Lathrop of Wilson was among those attending.

The East Carolina Council, which includes Beaufort, Bertie, Carteret, Craven, Edgecombe, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, and Wilson counties, committed to 20,000 hours of community service.

“Congratulations to the Boy Scouts on their 100th anniversary,” said Gov. Perdue. “I’m especially proud of their commitment to community service. During these tough times it’s more important than ever to give back to the community and the Boy Scouts are a shining example.”

The scouts who attended the Raleigh ceremony were:

Kenneth Peedin, Beaufort
Brandon Romero, Bertie
Nicholas Kinney, Carteret
Chris Harker, Craven
Ryan Jason Rogerson, Edgecombe
Jeffery Bubak, Greene
Jacob Hackenburg, Halifax
Evan Phillip Ferguson, Hertford
Matt Williamtis, Hyde
Hiott Walker, Jones
Demicko Cannon, Lenior
William Cody Humphreys, Martin
Dalton Barrett, Nash
Parker Willisms, Northampton
Alex Cox, Onslow
Andrew Pelletier, Pamlico
Johnthon Sherman, Pitt
Hunter Brickhouse, Tyrrell
Thomas Spruill, Washington
Dwain Lathrop, Wilson

More Wilson Families Can Save Energy Thanks to Federal Funds

2/11/2010

Dozens of Wilson homes can now benefit from a weatherization program that was already bringing warmer winters, cooler summers and lower electric bills to their neighbors.

Martin County Community Action Inc., a non-profit agency based in Williamston, has been working in Wilson County for more than a year. It has been using federal and state funds to improve housing of households making up to 200 percent of the poverty level.

But now some families earning more may also qualify.

The City of Wilson recently received a federal grant for $214,900 for weatherization assistance, according to Bob Arrington, Key Accounts Manager for Wilson Energy.

That money has been given to MCCAI to assist households making up to 250 percent of the poverty level. For example, a family of four has been eligible if they made less than $44,100 a year, but the new grant funds will increase the eligibility level to as much as $55,125 in a year.

The grant funds could help as many as 50 households that wouldn’t have qualified under MCCAI’s current standards, Arrington said. Services and repairs average $4,000-$5,000; up to $6,500.

Through MCCAI’s Weatherization Program, trained technicians evaluate the needs of each home by conducting and energy audit. They suggest the energy efficiency methods that are the most appropriate and cost-effective for each home, making it warm in the winter, cool in the summer and safe all year long.

Typical services include:
• Performing tune-ups and repairs to heating and cooling systems.
• • Sealing major air leaks
• Installing insulation in attics, walls, and floors
• Installing smart thermostats
• Replacing existing lighting with energy efficient bulbs
Once the energy audit is complete, a technician will explain how the work will be done. Clients are also informed of ways to conserve energy. The installation of energy efficiency measures in single family and mobile homes in the six county area served by MCCA results in average energy savings of approximately $700 per year over the life time of the measures which is normally expected to be 15 to 20 years.
Properties do not need to be owner-occupied, but rental property will only be served if tenants have a written agreement with landlords that rents will not be raised unduly after repairs are completed.

MCCAI’s Wilson office is at Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church, 571 E. Nash St. Call MCCAI at 252.206.0735 or go to www.mccai.org.

MCCAI has been designated by the North Carolina Energy Office in the N.C. Department of Commerce as the agency for administering the N.C. Weatherization Assistance Program in Wilson, Edgecombe and Nash counties. The statewide program’s funding includes $9.7 million annual funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and nearly $132 million from the federal Recovery Act.

Your Energy Bill

2/8/2010

Learn more about your energy bill, how to conserve and how to spend less. This video covers conservation, customer service and help for your future bills. You can also learn more about the NC Eastern Municipal Power Agency, which helps provide power to Wilson and dozens of other cities and towns.

To view click on link: