Trash will be picked up on Thursday, December 26th and Thursday, January 2nd.
Please put the cans out on Wednesday night.
Town Hall will be closed on Tuesday December 24th and Wednesday, December 25th, and Wednesday, January 1st.
Happy Holidays!
BOIL WATER ADVISORY HAS BEEN LIFTED AS OF 12/19/24 4:21 PM
There is no need to continue boiling water for cooking and drinking. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience. Happy Holidays!
WATER PRESSURE ADVISORY
Wilson County Water System Maintenance
Wilson County will perform necessary improvements to the water system this coming Wednesday, December 18, 2024, from 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. The Town of Sims is currently on Wilson County’s water system while undergoing our own necessary improvements. Due to this, Town of Sims customers will experience an interruption of water service including the loss of water pressure during this time. Following the service interruption and once water services have been restored, all customers are advised to boil their water. Please act in accordance with the following guidelines until you’re notified that the low-pressure advisory has been lifted.
Water System ID NO. 04-98-045
System Pressure Advisory!
The water consumers of Wilson County’s Southwest Water District, in Wilson County will experience periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to scheduled system maintenance. Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system.
Therefore, when water service is restored, consumers are advised to boil all water used for human consumption (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation) or use bottled water.
Vigorous boiling for one (1) minute should kill any disease-causing organisms that may be present in the water.
Water customers are strongly urged to conserve water whenever possible.
This advisory will remain in effect until further written notification is issued.
Issue date: December 16, 2024
Wilson County Water Services Director Ronald Ford
Office Phone M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – (252) 399-2749
After Hours Emergency Phone – (252) 265-8017
Town of Sims- (252) 237-4226
10th Annual Tree Lighting
The 10th Annual Tree Lighting was Saturday, December 7th at Town Hall. It was a magical night with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. To begin the festivities, Mayor Boykin presented the year in review, highlighting town events, current affairs, and accomplishments. After the lighting of the luminaries, there was caroling, cookies and cocoa, and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The Town of Sims says thank you to everyone who braved the cold to join us for this event. We would also like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers who helped throughout the year to make Sims a wonderful place to live.
To see more photos please visit 10th Annual Tree Lighting — Town Of Sims -credit Lynda Nielsen Photography
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
TOWN OF SIMS LOSES BELOVED RESIDENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEE
It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the loss of a long time resident and town employee. Don served the Town of Sims in various capacities over the years. Don volunteered for numerous boards and committees and served as Chairman of the Planning Board/ Board of Adjustment, Special Event Committee, and Land Use Plan Committee. He was also the town maintenance worker and meter reader.
Don was a proud veteran and every holiday, he displayed the American Flags in town. He would lower the flag at Town Hall to half'-staff for all Federal and State Orders. He was truly a town treasure and will be greatly missed. The Town of Sims offers our deepest condolences to his family.
For full obituary follow the link: Donald Edward Payne Obituary 2024 - Joyners Funeral Home & Crematory
TRASH PICKUP FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Trash pickup is scheduled to be on its usual day, Thursday, Nov 28th, Thanksgiving Day. Don’t forget to put it out Wednesday, the night before, as we do not know what time they will be in town. If you have any questions, please contact Town Hall during normal business hours.
UCPCOG LAUCHES INNOVATIVE AI VIRTUAL CARGIVING ASSISTANT
This week, Upper Coastal Plain Council of Government, shared some exciting news.
The groundbreaking generative artificial assistant, Ask Ashleigh, is officially live and available to support caregivers across our region.
Ask Ashleigh is not just another chatbot; it’s a virtual caregiving assistant designed to provide immediate, practical guidance tailored to the unique challenges of caregiving, particularly for those supporting loved ones with dementia. Built from the expertise of our aging professionals and infused with local knowledge, Ask Ashleigh delivers:
Tailored Support: From answering late-night questions to connecting caregivers with local resources, Ask Ashleigh provides personalized guidance when it’s needed most.
Privacy and Safety: Conversations are private, anonymous, and never stored. It’s like having a trusted friend who forgets the conversation once it ends.
Actionable Advice: Whether interpreting caregiving challenges through photos or directing users to medical or community services, Ask Ashleigh bridges the gap between immediate needs and long-term solutions.
This innovative tool reflects our commitment to leveraging technology responsibly and meaningfully to improve lives. Operating under the UCPCOG AI Governance Policy, Ask Ashleigh prioritizes privacy, safety, and ethical AI practices while ensuring continuous quality improvements based on user feedback
Ask Ashleigh has the potential to transform the caregiving journey in our community, making vital resources more accessible and alleviating the emotional and logistical challenges caregivers face daily.
For more details or to experience Ask Ashleigh yourself, visit www.ucpcog.org/askashleigh
RESIDENTS BEWARE OF RECENT FRAUDULENT MAILING
Public Notice: Solicitation Alert for Sims Residents
The Town of Sims wishes to inform residents about a letter being distributed soliciting donations and support for a petition. This letter claims to be from the “Sims City Council” and inaccurately suggests that residents have previously expressed support for this cause.
Important Information:
No Affiliation: The Town of Sims has no connection to this organization, or the solicitation being made. We have not endorsed or initiated any fundraising activities related to this petition.
Independent Donations: Any donations made in response to this solicitation are done so independently and will not be affiliated with the Town of Sims.
Verification: If you receive such notices and are uncertain about their authenticity or affiliation with the Town, please contact the Sims Town Hall for clarification.
Legal Reminder
According to North Carolina General Statute § 131F‑20, it is prohibited to make misrepresentations or misleading statements suggesting that a person or organization sponsors, endorses, or is connected with a solicitation without their written consent.
We encourage residents to exercise caution and verify any solicitations they may receive. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
WELCOME OUR NEWEST TOWN COMMISSIONER
Please welcome Heather Burke to the Town of Sims Board of Commissioners. Heather was appointed to the vacant seat at the Tuesday, November 12, 2024 meeting. She is a 16 year resident of Sims, moving to Magnolia Place in 2008.
Heather is currently a member of the Sims/NCDOT Bike/Ped Steering Committee and the Sims Special Event Committee. She worked as a volunteer at the 4th Annual Community Park Day Celebration. Heather is also a huge community advocate and volunteers for several projects with Wilson County every year.
Some of Heather’s hobbies include running, gardening and raising chickens. Heather is an animal lover and a devoted mom to two teenagers. We are so pleased to have her join the Board of Commissioners and we are certain she will absolutely serve in the best interest of the community.
Town of Sims Welcomes New Planning Board/Board of Adjustment Members
We are pleased to welcome Daniel Johnson and Sara Gonzales, our newest Planning Board/Board of Adjustment members. Daniel has been kind enough to offer his time and attention to the Town of Sims by serving as an in-town member and Sara will serve 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 recommendations directly inform the Town Board of Commissioners to make decisions on these types of applications. The Board of Adjustment is responsible for hearing and deciding appeals related to zoning issues, including requests for variances and special use permits.
Please take the time to wish these new members luck with their first Planning Board meeting scheduled for December 3, 2024.
We would like to give special thanks to all of our Board members for their service to the community.
Jason Pipkin - Planning Board Chairman
Danny Howell - Board of Adjustment Chairman
Robert Wilson - In-Town Member
Daniel Johnson - In-Town Member
Sara Gonzales - In-Town Alt
Donnie Sherrod - ETJ
Scott Matthews - ETJ Alternate
N.E.W. Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan
A virtual public meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 30th at 5pm to learn about the plan update process, review the identified hazards, and provide your input to the planning team. Click here to register for the public meeting.
Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson Counties and incorporated communities are updating the N.E.W Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. This plan update is required for all communities to maintain eligibility for pre- and post-disaster mitigation funding from FEMA. This effort will also help the counties and communities to identify hazard risks, understand vulnerability, and develop ways to proactively mitigate risk. Public input is vital to understanding local risks and mitigation opportunities. On this website you can find information about past and upcoming planning meetings, draft documents, and a survey on hazard risks and vulnerabilities, as well as a way to provide comments to the planning team. Feel free to check back for updates and new information throughout the planning process.
Town of Sims has several representatives on this planning committee, including the Mayor/Town Administrator. However, it is crucial that local business owners and residents give their input. Wilson Co is our first point of contact in a disaster situation. If you cannot attend the meeting, please take this survey. click here
PUBLIC MEETING
The Town of Sims is working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Integrated Mobility Division (NCDOT IMD) to create a Project Acceleration Plan. The Project Acceleration Plan is a plan that focuses on bicycle, pedestrian, and multimodal project identification and implementation. The Acceleration Plan will identify projects, programs, and policies to make the Town of Sims a safer, more connected place.
We need your help in making the Town of Sims a more walkable and bikeable community!
The Town of Sims is hosting a public meeting. Please drop in to take a brief survey and ask any questions you may have.
WHEN: THURS OCT 24TH 5PM - 7PM
WHERE: TOWN OF SIMS COMMUNITY CENTER, 6402 US HWY 264 ALT W SIMS, NC 27880
If you cannot attend in person, please follow the link to take the survey online. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Town-of-Sims
Town of Sims Newsletter
The Town of Sims is excited to introduce our new quarterly newsletter, packed with all the latest happenings, events, and fun stuff around town! The first issue is available for residents to read and published on the website.
You can check it out on our website in the "About" tab. Want it delivered straight to your inbox? Just click the sign-up link to subscribe!
Stay in the loop and let’s keep our community connected!
THE TOWN OF SIMS WELCOMES NEW COMMISSIONER
Mayor Boykin issues the oath of office to Eddie Henderson
The Town of Sims welcomes Eddie Henderson to the Board of Commissioners. Eddie has lived in Sims with his wife and son for over two years. He is a regular volunteer and helped with cleaning up trash along Wall St and Wall Rd, installing a new protective cover on the playground fence, spreading mulch at the playground, and installing rubber mats for the slides and swings.
Eddie has worked in local government parks and recreation for almost 8 years. Some of his accomplishments include being awarded $220,000 for an amphitheater renovation, holding Public Operator Pesticide License, being a certified Plant Professional and is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector. Eddie has over 10 years of experience speaking Spanish conversationally.
Mr. Henderson has experience organizing parks and recs advisory board meetings and reviewing development applications to ensure compliance with Town greenway and bike plans. He currently supervises and coordinates maintenance and custodial work for all parkland and park facilities.
Eddie is going to be a wonderful addition to the Board of Commissioners. Please stop and say hello at our next monthly meeting scheduled for October 14th at 6:30pm.
TOWN OF SIMS' PLANNING BOARD TO FILL TWO EMPTY SEATS
The Town of Sims currently has two openings on the Town Planning Board/Board of Adjustment. We plan to fill these vacancies as soon as possible.
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.
The Board of Adjustment is a “quasi-judicial” administrative body that operates on a level between the enforcement officers and the courts through interpretation of the zoning ordinance. The responsibility of the board is to interpret the meaning of parts of the ordinance that are unclear, apply the ordinance to particular factual situations and correct any misinterpretations the Zoning Administrator may have made in administering the ordinance.
If you are someone you know is interested in joining this board, please reach out to Town Hall at 252-237-4226. Or please attend the next meeting, October 1st, at 6pm at the Community Center, 6402 US Hwy 264 Alt, Sims, NC 27880
You must live within the Town limits of Sims to be eligible to fill these seats. The Board typically meets once a month, and the meeting date is usually chosen by the member’s availability.
NEW RADIO READ METER INSTALLATION TO BEGIN
The Town of Sims is scheduled to begin the replacement of resident’s current water meters with new radio read meters starting Monday, Sept 9th. During this time, you may each experience a very brief water outage while the meter at your particular location is being switched. If you are experiencing discolored water after the installation is complete, please let your cold water run for several minutes until it runs clear again. Due to Federal Regulation, it is required that the service line on the resident's side be inspected. This may require some very slight digging near the meter box. The installation company is taking precaution as to not to disturb your lawn any more than is required. If you have questions about this process, please see the door hanger left at your residence. There you will find a contact number and more information. Below you will find frequently asked questions about the new meters.
Is there a charge for this service?
No. The meters are being replaced at no charge to the customer. However, these new meters will have a transmitter coming from the meter box. If the transmitter is ever damaged during lawn maintenance or negligence on the resident’s behalf, the cost to repair or replace it will be billed to the resident or business owner.
Why do I need a new meter?
Reading the old meters was very labor intensive and time consuming. The new meters will more accurately report consumption and provide the Town and its residents with a more accurate usage report.
How does the new meter reading system work?
The new meters are fitted with a radio device that transmits readings and data using drive-by technology.
Will my water bill go up?
Older meters tend to run slower and therefore do not measure all the water going through them. The new water meter will accurately measure even the smallest amounts of water that the old meters were not capable of registering. All new meters are tested at the factory to ensure that they register properly. If you see a higher bill, it is not because your new meter is reading too high; it is because the old meter was running slow. The Town will not back bill customers because their old meter was running slow, but all customers with new meters will now pay for their actual usage.
Will the timing of my water bills change?
There will be no change to your monthly billing period at this time. Your first bill after the new meter is installed will reflect charges for the consumption on your old meter to the point it was removed and the new meter starting at zero to whatever it reads when we read for your billing cycle. Subsequent months will, as in the past, show usage on your bill card.
How do I know that you have my reading and not someone else’s?
Each radio frequency device has a unique identification number, which is transmitted along with the meter reading. The unique identification number is compared to your account record to ensure that there is a match.
Why are we going to a new system?
To provide a more accurate recording of water consumption and a more cost effective way of transmitting that consumption data. In addition, this program will be more efficient and accurate as meter readers will no longer manually read each meter to get consumption data and will increase our ability to respond to customer inquiries. Also, leaks in the water system or in individual homes or businesses will be identified very quickly, and overall billing will become more efficient as well as monthly reporting.
How long with the meter installation take?
Under normal circumstances, the installation will take about 30 minutes. The water will need to be turned off at the meter during the exchange. Please be advised that there may be some trapped air or slight discoloration in the water line that may result from the change out. This will clear up after running your water for a few minutes. You may hear some noise as the air exits spigots and fixtures. This is normal.
How will I know your installer works for you?
All installers will be in clearly marked vehicles. Both their cars and clothing will be marked AMI.
TEXT MY GOV
The Town of Sims has recently launched a texting service for residents. This service allows the town to send general notifications as well as water updates and billing reminders, town event information and emergency alerts. Residents can also send the town messages and pictures regarding water outages, garbage issues, potholes, etc., and to make general inquiries. When a citizen sends a text it will be answered with a computer-generated response, and a message will be sent to Town Hall. The chat feature allows the Town Staff to communicate with residents during normal business hours. All after-hours messages will be responded to the next business day. If there is an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Please save the following numbers (252-281-2520) and (91896) in your phone so that you do not miss a text from Sims.
For more information, please visit our webpage TextMyGov — Town Of Sims (townofsimsnc.com)
Town Hall is open Mon-Thur 9am - 5pm and Fri 9am - 6pm, closed for lunch from 1pm-2pm daily. Please call 252-237-4226 or email info@townofsimsnc.com.
Interested in Local Government?
The Town of Sims currently has an open seat on the Board of Commissioners and we’re looking for residents who may be interested in filling this position. Commissioners must live within the town limits to serve on the Board.
If interested, please notify us at Town Hall by calling 252-237-4226 or emailing info@townofsimsnc.com before Friday, September 6, 2024, by 6pm.
For more information or to indicate interest in filling the position, please contact us at Town Hall. Thank you!
State of Emergency issued by Governor Cooper for the entire state of NC
“Debby is expected to produce potentially historical rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches, with maximum amounts of 25 inches, bringing areas of catastrophic flooding across portions of southeast Georgia, the eastern half of South Carolina, and southeast North Carolina through Friday," the Miami-based center said. "From northern North Carolina through portions of the Mid-Atlantic States, 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with local amounts to 12 inches, are expected through Sunday morning. This rainfall will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with river flooding possible." -CBS News
If you live in a low-lying flood-prone area, stay alert and follow the latest updates and warnings. Never attempt to drive through a flooded stretch of road or around barriers that signal a road closure.
Governor Roy Cooper has issued a State of Emergency for the entire State of North Carolina.
*update Wilson County has issued a county wide State of Emergency.
Below are some tips to help you stay prepared for severe weather conditions.
Plan
Every household needs an emergency plan in case of evacuation. Keeping a record of all important documents and contacts can be helpful in the event of an emergency.
Be sure to have copies of:
● Birth certificate/adoption certificates
● Social security cards
● Insurance Policies (home, auto, life, health, etc.)
● Contact info for family members
Prepare
Having an emergency kit together before a disaster is key. Most of the items in an emergency kit can be found in your house.
Items to put in an emergency kit:
● Hand sanitizer
● Sanitizing wipes
● Water - 1 gallon per person per day for 3 to 7 days
● Food – non-perishable and canned food supply for 3 to 7 days
● Radio
● Cell phone with charger
● First aid kit
● Flashlight and extra batteries
● Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, feminine supplies
● Cash and change
Stay Informed
Emergency messages are sent by state and local governments and the National Weather Service via television, radio, weather radios, social media and alerts on cellular phones. For more weather updates regarding Wilson County, click the link below:
Emergency Management | Wilson County (wilsoncountync.gov)
Plan. Prepare. Stay Informed. | Ready NC is a great source for emergency information.
There is an app you can download. Please follow the link below for either Android or Iphone
Tropical Storm Debby
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.