Jan 2025 - Vol. 4
DSS and Forsyth Tech Offer New Certification Course
Forsyth County Department of Social Services and Forsyth Tech are collaborating to offer NC Fast Certification.
This is a statewide certification offered through community colleges for Eligibility Specialists, who are social services professionals who complete eligibility applications and recertification for clients seeking and receiving public assistance. The course will begin on Feb. 4, 2025, and will be taught by Forsyth DSS Eligibility Supervisor Dolores Hill on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Eligibility Specialist is an in-demand position at Social Services departments across the state, including Forsyth.
This is the first time Forsyth DSS and Forsyth Tech have collaborated to offer this opportunity. The course is open to anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent education. Scholarships are available through Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC for those who need help paying for the course.
To register, visit the Forsyth Tech website or call Forsyth Tech at 336-734-7718 on Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Forsyth County Increases Sustainability Efforts
Forsyth County Government is taking steps to make itself more sustainable, which will save taxpayers’ money and reduce pollution.
Electric Landscaping Equipment
This summer, Forsyth County General Services and Parks and Recreation departments replaced landscape maintenance equipment that ran on gasoline or diesel fuel with zero-emission equipment powered by rechargeable batteries. This included backpack and handheld blowers, string trimmers, two utility vehicles, a zero-turn commercial riding mower, a hedge trimmer, a chainsaw and a pole saw.
The cost of using the electric riding mower for 6 hours is less than the cost of using a gas- or diesel-powered mower for an hour. Along with significant cost savings and pollution reduction, the new equipment is also much quieter.
LED Lighting
The County has replaced older, less efficient lighting with more than 3,000 new high-efficiency LED lights and fixtures at facilities like the Forsyth County Animal Shelter, Automotive Services Facility, Government Center Parking Deck and Annex 1 building.
At Reynolda Manor Branch Library alone, the new lighting reduced the energy needed to light the building by 62 percent with an average savings of more than $2 an hour. Duke Energy incentives covered 62 percent of the cost of the LED lighting components at the Reynolda Library.
Solar Power
This summer, 144 solar panels were installed on the rooftop of the Tanglewood Park maintenance building. In October, the solar panels generated enough electricity to save the County about $1,300 while reducing carbon emissions by 18,900 pounds.
This is in addition to 30 solar panels on top of the Forsyth County Municipal Parking Deck in downtown Winston-Salem, which were installed in 2020. In October, they saved the County approximately $170 and reduced carbon emissions by approximately 2,400 lbs.
Electric Vehicles
The Government Center Parking Deck and the Health and Human Services employee parking lot will both receive two dual electric car charging stations for County vehicles along with the infrastructure to have up to 12 charging ports per location in the future. The County plans to initially purchase eight zero-emission light duty passenger electric vehicles for the County's motor pool fleet. The average cost of operating the electric cars is about $10 for every 300-400 miles driven, which saves money and greatly reduces polluting emissions.
County Manager
County Manager Shontell Robinson discusses the updated schedule for County Commissioner meetings and invites you to attend.
In This Issue
County Commissioner Update
New Meeting Schedule Adopted
Commissioners will have a new meeting schedule in 2025! During a Special Meeting on Dec 12, the Commissioners approved a new schedule that will start with their first 2025 Briefing on Monday, Jan 13. Briefings will be on Mondays at 2 p.m., followed by 2 p.m. meetings on Thursdays, twice per month, with the exception of one quarterly evening meeting held at 6 p.m. (beginning March 13). After three months, commissioners will assess the new schedule to see if they want to make changes. You can view the meeting schedule here.
All meetings are streamed live in their entirety on Forsyth County YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo accounts as well as the Forsyth County website. Meetings are also broadcasted live in their entirety on WSTV13 on Spectrum Cable.
Also, during meetings in December, Forsyth County Commissioners Richard Linville and Gloria Whisenhunt renewed their oath for another term after being reelected. Gray Wilson, who was appointed to the seat formerly held by retired County Commissioner Dave Plyler earlier this year, was sworn in after he successfully won a four-year term for that seat in November. Don Martin was again chosen as chair and Whisenhunt as vice-chair by their fellow commissioners.
Commissioners also held a reception for the volunteer members of their appointed citizen boards and committees in December to thank them for their invaluable work. For more information about County committees, visit https://forsyth.cc/commissioners/volunteer_boards.aspx.
(L to R) Jackie Copeland (JCPC), Brent Rockett (EAP Board), County Commissioner Don Martin, Minor Barnette (EAP Director) & Lei Zhang (Forsyth County Agricultural Advisory Board ).
(L to R) County Commissioner Gloria Whisenhunt, Chris Parker(Utility Commission Chair), and Heather Parker(HHS Board Chair).
Farm City Week Banquet
N.C. Cooperative Extension Forsyth County Center recently hosted the annual Farm City Week Banquet during Farm City Week. Sponsored by the Forsyth County Farm Bureau Office, the event provided networking opportunities for the farm community and a family-style meal with elements coming from North Carolina-based farms cooked by local chefs from Project Short Street in Kernersville.
The event celebrated the relationship between producers and end users as well as those contributors from rural and urban communities.
Even though Farm City Week has passed, you can still learn about ways you can be a part of the National Farm City Week movement here.
Winter Weather Training Workshop
Emergency Management facilitates local first responders and non-profits in learning about the National Weather Services’ website functions and how to find critical info.
Be winter weather ready. www.readyforsyth.org
Bystander CPR Saves Forsyth County Resident
Denise Newell is alive today thanks to her husband, Clemmons Fire Department, Forsyth County EMS and 911. See the reunion of the Newells and first responders.
Commissioners Make Year-End Remarks
In their annual tradition, the Forsyth County Commissioners made year-end remarks during a special meeting last month. Items of note included appointing a new manager, breaking ground on a new agricultural center, hiring a new Social Services director and the retirements of Commissioner Dave Plyler and County Manager Dudley Watts. You can hear about other key notes in this video.
County Commissioners Attend Parades
County Commissioners and staff participated in three festive parades in early December. Board members and the Manager’s Office rode in the Winston-Salem Ambassador’s Holiday Parade on Saturday evening, December 7, and in both the Kernersville and the Lewisville Christmas parades on Sunday afternoon, December 8.
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