What is the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) Program? . . . .

The purpose of the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) Program is to encourage the voluntary preservation and protection of farmland from non-farm development. This is in recognition of the
importance of agriculture to the economic and cultural life of the country. The General Assembly of the State of North Carolina authorized counties to undertake a series of programs to encourage the preservation of farmland. This statutory authority is found in Chapter 106, Article 61, of the North Carolina General Statutes. The Duplin County Voluntary Agricultural Districts will be governed by an Agricultural Board composed of one member from each of the six County Commissioner districts. These members will be appointed by the Duplin County Board of Commissioners. In addition, the County Extension Director and County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Director will serve as members of the Board. The Agricultural Board will be responsible for approving applications for membership in an agricultural district.

Requirements
To be qualified as farmland, a farm shall contain a minimum of 10 contiguous acres of farmland.

1. The farm shall be participating in the “Farm Present-Use-Value Taxation Program”.
2. The property shall be certified by the Cooperative Extension Service and NRCS as being a farm on which at least two-thirds of the land is composed of soils that are:
   1. favorable for major crops common to the County; or
   2. soils on which at least two-thirds of the land has been actively utilized for agricultural,horticultural, forestry, livestock, or wildlife production.
3. Property is the subject of a Conservation Agreement between the County and the owner of such land that prohibits non-farm use or the development of such.

What will joining the VAD Program do for me?

1. This program will help increase the identity awareness and pride in the agricultural community and its way of life.
2. Members will have increased protection from nuisance law suits and other negative impacts affecting participating farms.

What is the cost of this program?

There will be a one-time fee of $60.00 to join this program. This fee will cover a portion of the cost of a sign which designates a farm’s membership and the charges involved in filing the document with the Duplin County Register of Deeds Office.

For more information contact

Duplin County Cooperative Extension Service
165 Agricultural Drive
P. O. Box 949
Kenansville,N. C. 28349

Phone: (910) 296-2143

Download the Pre Application form for VAD here

Complete the form and mail it to the address above or email it to: wanda_hargrove@ncsu.edu or amanda_hatcher@ncsu.edu

Income Tax Assistance

AARP Tax-Aide is a volunteer tax assistance and preparation service provided by certified trained volunteers. There is no age restrictions for this service, and you do not have to be an AARP member to take advantage of the program. This service is available during the month of February – through April 15th of each year.

Operation Fan Heat Relief

During the summer months fans is provided to older adults who do not have fans or air conditioners in their home.

Special Events

The senior center plans special events during the year. In an effort to not miss any of these festivities, seniors may sign up for the “Duplin Senior News” agency newsletter or follow us on Facebook.

Senior Trips

Click here for information on the coming Senior Trip 2023.

The agency plans a variety of trips for the seniors. Recommendations for future trips can be submitted to the senior planning committee.

Purpose:
To create a positive economic development environment by improving access to global technology, resources, and markets that attracts and retains quality businesses to provide the citizens of Duplin County with quality jobs.

General Services Provided:
Assist the growth of existing business and recruit new business to Duplin County to increase employment opportunities and grow the tax base in Duplin County.

Related information:

Economic Development Commission Board Meeting Schedule

Excerpt From Site Selection Magazine, July 2019

Click here for the Online Payment Portal
Please do not make a payment on the Payment Portal until you have been invoiced

Not sure who to contact? View Staff Members for a more detailed description.

Helpful Links:
How to Schedule a Fire Inspection
How to Submit Fire Permit Plans/Drawings for Review
How to Submit Nursing & Long-Term Care Emergency Plans for Review
Permit Application for Fire Prevention Inspections of All Types
Online Payment Portal (Please do not make a payment until you have been invoiced)
Fire Prevention Fee Schedule
Hazardous/Unsafe Workplace Anonymous Report
Annual Workplace Safety Self-Inspection Form
Vulnerable Population Registry
Fire Department Information

Duplin County Fire & Emergency Management Facebook Page

Click Here to Sign Up for Emergency Alerts in Duplin County

Duplin County Services for the Aged began operating as a County Department in July, 1974, and the Nutrition Program began in September, 1975.  These two programs consolidated into one department in January, 1979.  In May, 2007, Duplin County Services for the Aged and Duplin County Public Transportation were consolidated into one department. In October, 2015, the combined departments were separated to operate as independent departments.  June 8, 2023, the department name was renamed to Duplin County Senior Services.

The primary objective of the agency is to serve as an advocate for persons sixty years of age and older to achieve a better quality of life.

Mission Statement: Improving the lives of Duplin County seniors through opportunities that encourage social interaction, enhance quality of life and support independence.

The Senior Center operates five congregate nutrition sites within the county in the following locations:

• Beulaville Nutrition Site (Beulaville Presbyterian Church) 205 East Main Street, Beulaville, N.C. (10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
• Faison Nutrition Site (Wellness & Recreation Center) 184 Park Circle Drive, Faison, N.C. (10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
• Kenansville Nutrition Site (Senior Center) 213 Seminary Street, Kenansville, N.C. (10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
• Wallace Nutrition Site (Campbell Center) 513 South East Railroad Street, Wallace, N.C.  (10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
• Warsaw Nutrition Site (Warsaw Community Center) 309 Memorial Drive, Warsaw, N.C. (10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

Services Available:

• Activity Calendar
• Age My Way Survey
• Aging Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
• Alzheimer’s/Caregiver Support Group
• Annual Events:  Senior Christmas Party; Senior Fun Day; Volunteer Recognition Event
• Centennial Program – Centennial flyer
• Congregate Nutrition Sites
• Ensure
• Family Caregiver/Respite
• Health Promotion Evidence Based programs
  • Arthritis Exercise Schedule
  • Exercise Class Description
• Home Delivered Meals
• Housing Home Improvement (primarily wheelchair ramps/rails)
• Income Tax Assistance
• Information & Referral
• In Home Aide Level 1
• Legal Services provided by Legal Aid of North Carolina
• Neuse River Senior Games /  Neuse River Senior Games Flyer
• Newsletter
• Menu
• Operation Fan-Heat Relief

  

• Outreach
• Seniors Health Insurance Information Program
• Senior Trips
• Telephone Reassurance
• Transportation
• Volunteer Opportunities

Aging Advisory Committee Meetings
9:00 a.m. Duplin County Senior Services
Quarterly meetings – 3^rd Wednesday of each quarter
January, April, July, October

Duplin County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners. The Board consists of five Commissioners elected in even-numbered years by district to four-year terms. Following the November election, the Board takes office at its first meeting in December. Each year the Board organizes itself by electing a chair and vice chair for a one-year term each.

Major responsibilities of the Board include:

• Adoption of an annual budget
• Establishment of the County property tax rate
• Appointment of County officials, board and commission members
• Enactment of ordinances
• Establishment of policies and procedures for the operation of programs

Duplin County has operated under the County Manager form of government since 1979. The County Manager hires the County staff, meets regularly with department and agency heads, and insures the Board’s goals and objectives are met. The County Manager serves at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners.

Regular meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month beginning at 6 p.m. in the Duplin County Administrative Building which is located at 224 Seminary Street in Kenansville, North Carolina.

Department Head: Jaime Carr, Clerk to the Board
Phone: (910) 296-2100
Email: jaimec@duplincountync.com
Physical Address:
Duplin County Administrative Building
224 Seminary Street
Kenansville, North Carolina 28349
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 910, Kenansville, North Carolina 28349

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 a.m – 5 p.m.

Board Meetings

• Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Calendar 2024
• Past Meetings (Archives)
• Meeting Procedures
• Rules for Public Comments
• Presentation Guidelines
• Clerk to the Board:
  
  

Click Here to  View the Commissioner’s Packet

County Commissioners

• District 1 – Elwood Garner, Vice-Chair
• District 2 – Dexter B. Edwards, Chair
• District 3 – Justin Edwards
• District 4 – Jesse L. Dowe, III
• District 5 – Wayne E. Branch
• BOCC Past & Present

 Click Here to View Commissioner Districts Old Map

Click Here to View Commissioner Districts Updated Map