Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Wilkes County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
4 issues in schools
Wilkes Community College Heavy Equipment Program Land Use
The college will keep using county-owned land near Cub Creek for its heavy equipment program — the program that produced North Carolina's first SkillsUSA national champion — now under a three-year agreement at no cost.
School roofing projects funded
The county accepted $1.2 million in lottery Repair and Renovation funds for roofing at West Wilkes High, Millers Creek Elementary, and Mountain View Elementary.
Child Care Subsidy Funding Cut and Wait List
The state gave counties permission to use Smart Start allocations to serve kids on the child care subsidy waitlist, and Wilkes County has now worked through its entire waitlist. That's great news for families waiting on help and for local child care providers who rely on the funding — though the waitlist will likely return next fiscal year once the extra money is spent.
School Antennae Lease Ratification
A 2019 oversight left cell antennae at North Wilkes Middle and West Wilkes High without signed leases. All three parties ratified the deal, and Carolina West Wireless will pay back rent to the school board.