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In addition to receiving a very positive audit of its 2024 finances, the Albemarle City Council saw its Parks and Recreation Department, its former city manager and the city as a whole receive awards for excellence from the Centralina Regional Council of Governments at its Dec. 16 meeting.
Mayor Ronnie Michael announced the awards at the beginning of the Monday night meeting.
“The city has been recognized in three award categories by the Centralina Regional Council,” the mayor said in opening. “First, our retired city manager, Michael Ferris, was the sole recipient of the James D. Prosser Award for Excellence in Government Leadership. The award is given to an individual who exemplifies and promotes excellence in governmental leadership and high ethical standards.”
Ferris, who retired in February 2024, expressed his appreciation of the award.
“This award means a lot because it’s a recognition not only of what we’ve done and what we’ve accomplished, but also that what we do in local government has meaning,” he said.
Next, Michael announced the Local Government Innovation Award, which was presented to the City of Albemarle in recognition of the city’s strategic plan.
“The plan was developed based on input from the community, city staff, and city council, and outlines the city’s goals and the strategies to achieve them,” he said.
The Albemarle Parks and Recreation Department received honors from both the Centralina Regional Council and the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association for Project Next Step.
“This initiative was a collaboration between Albemarle Parks and Recreation and Stanly County Schools,” stated Michael. “The project provided academic enrichment and real world experiences to help set a foundation for success for students at Albemarle Middle School.”
Project Next Step garnered the Cross-Community Collaboration Award from Centralina, and the annual Innovative Program Award from the NC Recreation and Parks Association.
Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Kiser recognized four staff members who were key to the program.
“Billy McRae and Brent Kervin were unable to attend the meeting,” said Kiser, who also introduced Danielle Dobbs-Jackson and Luz Bernal, who were in attendance.
“We are super excited,” said Kiser. “The (Innovative Program) award is a statewide honor from NCRPA.”
Earlier in the meeting, City Finance Director Jacob Weavil and Jill Vang of Martin and Starnes Associates CPAs, presented the annual audit for the 2024 fiscal year.
“We have issued an unmodified opinion,” Vang stated in opening the presentation. “That’s the best and cleanest opinion you can get, and means that the financial statements are fairly presented and are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.”
Vang noted six positive performance indicators including timely audit submission, available general fund balance, enterprise fund ratios, stable property tax valuation and collection rate, and net income and cash ratios in both the water and sewer and electrical funds.
Only one negative indicator was noted, which was in relation to the city’s water and sewer capital assets condition ratio.
In other matters:
• A public hearing on annexation of 84 acres at the intersection of N.C. Highway 24-27 and St. Martin Road was set for the Jan. 21 meeting.
• Council representatives to various boards and commissions were announced.
• Scott Glines, leader of Cub Scout Pack 82 and Scout Troops 82 and 482, updated council on Scouting activities.
• Council members discussed the recent Albemarle Christmas Parade, Albemarle Downtown Christmas and future scheduling of the events.
The next meeting of Albemarle City Council will take place on Jan. 6, 2025.