Tropical Storm Debby could impact North Carolina's coast by late Monday. The Town of Sims is closely following the Wilson County Emergency Management for updates. Keep checking the town website and Facebook page for information and or instructions regarding inclement weather. Weather | Ready NC is a great source for updated information.
A warm welcome for Mykalia Steele
We would like to welcome Mykalia Steele to the team. She is a recent graduate of UNC Greensboro and is starting her fellowship with Lead for NC.
Lead for North Carolina (LFNC) recruits, trains, and places promising young leaders in paid, full-time local government fellowships. This program is part of the UNC School of Government and is an official AmeriCorps program, sponsored by the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.
During her time at UNCG, Mykalia held numerous leadership roles, including President of The Legal Professions Association, and was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, The National Political Science Honor Society. Mykalia ' s vision for her community is centered on expanding resources, enhancing accessibility, and fostering informed decision-making. She aims to prioritize transparency to propel the community forward, ensuring growth that includes reaching new individuals while meeting the needs of current constituents. Mykalia hopes the Town of Sims will reflect on its progress, recognize the perseverance invested, and continue to strive for ongoing improvement and excellence.
She will be with the Town of Sims for the next year. Please stop by Town Hall and say hello and wish her luck on this new endeavor.
Update Your Customer Contact Information
You should have recently received a form in the mail requesting that all residents update their customer contact information. It is important that we have the correct contact information for residents in case of an emergency or for important updates regarding water bills, water outages, road work or trash pickup, etc. Please return the form by mail, email, or drop it off at Town Hall. If you have not received a form, please click here.
We are in the process of implementing a new text alert service. Be sure to use a current cell number and check the box marked yes on the update form if you would like to subscribe to this service. You can opt out at any time. For more information click the textmygov link below.
The Town of Sims Says Goodbye to Commissioner Sealy
It is with great sadness we share the news of the passing of Michael Sealy, one of our longstanding residents, Commissioner and committee member, and most importantly, our friend. Michael served the Town of Sims in multiple capacities over the years, as a member of various committees: the Land Use Plan Committee, Land Use Regulation Committee, Multimodal Planning/ Steering Committee, Planning Board and Board of Adjustment, and most recently, the Board of Commissioners. Michael also served as a court appointed Guardian AD Litem for Wilson County was an active volunteer for the American Heart Association as well as his men’s group at church and groups for the elderly. In recent years, Michael was self-employed at his family business, Sealy Properties LLC., as a trusted and knowledgeable real estate managing broker. Due to his sense of community and genuine desire to help others, Michael was always eager to assist any friend, neighbor or community member. He was a bright light in all our lives, loved the Town of Sims and its residents, and leaves a great void for us all. He will be truly missed by everyone. The Town sends our sincerest condolences to his family and all who loved him. Obituary
Holiday Garbage Pickup **Update**
The garbage pickup schedule will remain the same during the July 4th holiday. So please put your cans out Wednesday night to ensure you are not missed on the route. The trucks could come extremely early on Thursday July 4th. Have a safe and happy holiday!
*****Update****
The Town is aware that trash was not picked up on July 4th as planned. However, the trucks have been seen in town picking it up today, Friday July 5. So please leave your cans at the street as they seem to be running late. Please contact Town Hall with any further questions.
STREET REPAIRS IN PROGRESS
The Town of Sims is having some street repairs done this week. On Tuesday, June 25th, the two potholes on Sassafras Ct. are being filled. Residents should still be able to access the street both coming and going with very little inconvenience. Repairs will be going on at Broad St and Wall St as well as Broad St at the Community Center.
Starting Tuesday, June 25th, the parking lot for the Community Park will be closed off so that it can be paved. The park will remain open during this time. Visitors may park across the street at the church.
Please practice caution while driving in these areas.
4th Annual Park Day Celebration Event
Save the date! The Town of Sims presents our 4th Annual Park Day Celebration Event on October 12 from 10am-4pm. There will be food trucks, vendors, activities for the kids, live music and much more. Vendor applications are now available on the website in the Special Events section and at Town Hall. We look forward to sharing the day with the community.
Make a Difference in your community today!
The Town of Sims is offering several enjoyable volunteer experiences. Do you need community service hours? Are you a scout? Do you want to beautify and enhance your community? Sims now has several different committees and events for which volunteers will be greatly appreciated. If you interested, please fill out the volunteer form and return it to Town Hall via email, the front or rear drop box, or stop in during normal business hours.
Welcome our new Town Planning Board Members
The Town of Sims is pleased to introduce two new members to the Town Planning Board. Commissioner Mike Sealy has taken a seat as an in-town member, and Robert Wilson will be taking over as the in-town alternate.
The general purpose of the Planning Board is to provide for and guide the orderly growth and development of the community. The Planning Board is responsible for providing recommendations on key amendments to the zoning and the code of ordinances including text amendments, rezoning, and conditional zoning districts. The Board's recommendation directly informs the Town Board of Commissioners to make decisions on these types of applications.
We would like to thank all of the members of the Planning Board for their continued service to the community. The next meeting has been scheduled for June 25 at 6pm at the Community Center.
Fire Hydrant Testing
The Sims Volunteer Fire Department will be flow testing the hydrants in our area Wednesday May 29 through Friday May 31.
Hydrant flow testing and flushing is an important preventative maintenance activity that:
verifies proper operation of the hydrant
evaluates the available flow and pressure to the hydrant
allows utilities to deliver the highest quality water possible to their customers
removes mineral and sediment build up from the water mains
Prior to local hydrants being tested, you may want to obtain water (in pitchers prior to flushing) for your everyday use including drinking, cooking, etc. and avoid using water during these times.
When the testing is taking place, water quality may temporarily be reduced. Using water for tasks such as dishwashing, laundry, or showering may result in the discoloration of your clothes or household items, and should be avoided. Plan ahead and be sure your laundry and dishes are done before the testing process begins! Despite the discoloration, your water is safe to drink.
Once the hydrants in your area have been tested and flushed, it won’t be long until your water is ready for normal use again. In most cases, water should run clear with just a few minutes of faucet flow. Turn your faucets on cold and let the water run for 5 minutes or so. If you are still seeing discolored water or sediments in the water, continue running cold water on all your faucets and flush your toilets until it is clear.
If you have any questions, please call us at 252-237-4226. Thank you and we appreciate your cooperation!
Please exercise extra caution when driving in the area during this time to help keep our firefighters safe!
SIMS COMMUNITY YARD SALE
Good news! The Town of Sims has extended the application deadline for participation in the First Sims Community Yard Sale. Please invite friends from all over our community as participation is open to all. The application fee is $10 if you would like to have a space to set up for selling. Stop by Town Hall today to fill out an application today. As always, call or email with any questions.
Water has been restored to Town
The leak has been temporarily repaired so we can get water back on tonight while we come up with a more permanent plan for a long-term repair. The water has been restored to town. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience while we were working on this issue.
You may experience some discoloration of your water when you first use it. Please let the cold water run for a bit until it clears up.
Before we address a long-term repair of this issue, we will post information on our website to give our residents and business owners as much notice as possible.
Thank you!
Temporary Water Outage
The town is experiencing a water leak and may be temporarily shutting off the water supply. The water will be turned back on as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we would like to express our sincerest gratitude for your patience during this time.
Town Water Tank and Well Maintenance
The Town of Sims will be preforming routine maintenance of the water tank and well for the town. Starting Wednesday, May 15, 2024, we will be getting water from Wilson County until maintenance is completed. You may notice water quality and pressure temporarily reduced. If you do notice discoloration of water, turn your faucets to cold and let the water run for 5 minutes or until water runs clear again. During this time the restrooms at the park may be out of service until maintenance is completed. Sims will be back to using town water in just a few days. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time. If you have any further questions, please contact Town Hall at 252-237-4226.
No Soliciting in Sims
Sims Town Hall recently received reports of a door-to-door salesman targeting homes in Sims attempting to sell pest control contracts/products in the late evening hours. We would like to remind everyone that Sims has a town ordinance prohibiting door-to-door sales. Violations of this ordinance may result in serious penalties.
If you are visited by an uninvited solicitor, please practice caution when signing documents. Safely take note of any identifying plate numbers, badge ID’s, business cards or company logos that may help authorities track down the offenders if needed. Please report these instances to Wilson County Sheriff’s Department and Town Hall. We can be reached by phone at (252)-237-4226 or by emailing info@townofsimsnc.com and as usual, you can visit us during normal business hours (Mon-Thur 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-6pm, closed for lunch 1pm-2pm daily).
Heidelberg Rock Quarry Tour
The Town of Sims’ Board of Commissioners, Planning Board/ Board of Adjustment members, committee members and town employees were recently invited on a tour of the Heidelberg Materials Rock Quarry. Tour guides included Rickey Davis, Chubby Horton, Harvey Gunnels and Mary Ann Hoerle.
The tour began with a list of safety rules and procedures and guests were provided hard hats, safety glasses and visibility vests. The visitors were escorted to the bottom of the quarry via two passenger vans. Along the route, tour guides answered questions and pointed out equipment while explaining the various uses.
The Neverson Quarry has been a local resource since the late 1800’s. In 1910, Neverson W. Williams deeded 64.13 acres to the Norfolk and Southern Railroad. In 1918 the site was called the Neverson Granite Co., and in 1919 the Neverson Granite Quarry, Inc. In more recent times it was owned by Lehigh Hanson becoming Heidelberg Materials in 2023.
On the ride out of the quarry, guests stopped at the overlook for photos. Lunch was generously provided by the quarry for the entire group.
If your group would like to take a tour of the quarry, please contact their offices.
2023 Water Quality Report Now Available
The 2023 Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) is now available for the Town of Sims. The document can also be viewed under the “More/Documents” tab from our home page and is available at Town Hall. You may also view the document at https://www.townofsimsnc.com/s/2023-CCR.pdf
For more information, please call Town Hall at 252-237-4226. Thank you!
SIMS COMMUNITY YARD SALE
SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2024, SIMS COMMUNITY PARK 7AM - 12PM
Mark your calendars for the first community yard sale at Sims Community Park.
Are you Spring Cleaning? Or, are you hunting for furnishings for your new place? Maybe you enjoy searching for special treasure. Come on out and support your local community. Visit Town Hall to pick up an application by May 15, 2024.
Application fee is $10. Booth applications are limited to residents of the Town of Sims and its surrounding ETJ. Everyone else if free to come browse!
Call 252-237-4226 for more information.
Water System Flushing: April 16- 18 (Dates Changed)
**Due to a sudden conflict in scheduling, we are rescheduling the flushing of hydrants to a later date (and will no longer be flushing April 16-18). We will update the information once new dates have been set. We expect this to occur within the first few weeks of May. We apologize for any inconvenience!**
The Town of Sims will be completing the flushing of the hydrants in our area on Tuesday, April 16 through Thursday, April 18, during nighttime hours beginning at 10pm. (These dates differ from our original plans, due to possible inclement weather expected April 9-11.) We have picked this time schedule to avoid disruption of your usual water services as much as possible. The overhead water storage tank will be filled to accommodate for the extra water usage.
Hydrant flushing is an important preventative maintenance activity that:
verifies proper operation of the hydrant
evaluates the available flow and pressure to the hydrant
allows utilities to deliver the highest quality water possible to their customers
removes mineral and sediment build up from the water mains
Prior to local hydrants being tested, you may want to obtain water (in pitchers prior to flushing) for your everyday use including drinking, cooking, etc. and avoid using water during these times.
When the testing is taking place, water quality may temporarily be reduced. Using water for tasks such as dishwashing, laundry, or showering may result in the discoloration of your clothes or household items, and should be avoided. Plan ahead and be sure your laundry and dishes are done before the testing process begins! Despite the discoloration, your water is safe to drink.
Once the hydrants in your area have been tested and flushed, it won’t be long until your water is ready for normal use again. In most cases, water should run clear with just a few minutes of faucet flow. Turn your faucets on cold and let the water run for 5 minutes or so. If you are still seeing discolored water or sediments in the water, continue running cold water on all your faucets and flush your toilets until it is clear.
If you have any questions, please call us at 252-237-4226. Thank you and we appreciate your cooperation!
Please exercise extra caution when driving in the area during this time to help keep our town employees safe!
Hometown Strong Initiative
On March 13, 2024, Mayor Boykin and Commissioner Mike Sealy met with representatives from Governor Roy Cooper’s Hometown Strong Initiative to discuss the needs of our town. Hometown Strong is an initiative dedicated to supporting the rural counties of North Carolina. Their mission is to empower rural communities by providing resources and support to improve the quality of life for residents. They focus on economic development, education, healthcare, and community engagement.
Just a few of the topics covered were the need for broadband internet, a new community center, sidewalks and Bike Paths. The economic development and revitalization of Sims were also discussed, as well as the infrastructure of the town.
Through this initiative, the Town of Sims is now part of a network that allows for more support from surrounding communities and counties from across the state, making grants and special programs more accessible. Stay tuned for more updates about this exciting opportunity in months to come.