Elissa Yount: PO’d (Plenty Owed) at the P.O.
Remember that old song from the 50’s that went: “I put a letter in the mail box and sent it Special D. Bright and early next morning, it came right back to me.”
Well, that tune and those Norman Rockwell images could only have happened in the 50’s when Henderson had Post Master Rogers and a post office that stayed open for the benefit of the customers and businesses. The operational hours today are most inadequate. If I were still teaching, there would be very few days that I could even get to the post office for window service. The hours are 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in the morning, then 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. In addition, Henderson’s post office is completely closed on Saturday. How is it that Oxford can have their post office open from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday? Even Kittrell, Middleburg, and Townsville have Saturday hours, and most of those open before 9:00 a.m. You can check out the hours at this site.
If this isn’t enough to stick in your craw, just take a look at the facility.
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The parking and traffic patterns are dangerous, the building is shabby, and the lobby is often dirty and very uninviting. The garden club’s flowers are the only attractive thing about this facility.
Here’s the clincher:
According to the Vance County Tax Office, as of October 26, 2009, the taxes on the post office property have not been paid for 2008 or 2009. For the 905 South Garnett Street address, $22,811.54 in taxes is owed. That is right. Over $22,000 in taxes is due on this property. Why is the federal government not paying this property tax? Well, the federal government may be paying, but the local government may not be collecting.
Here is a little historical background. In October of 1966, the J.W. Jenkins family sold this property. The names of the corporations have changed over the years, but the owner of record has continued to be Ernest W. Miller. He leased the building to the US Post Office for an average of around $21,650 annually for 20 years. The government held an option for 30 years to purchase the property for $300,000.
There was a tax clause rider in the original lease that stated that the lessor (Miller) present the tax bills to the Government and the Government would then “pay as additional rent the net amount of taxes by check made payable to the lessor and the taxing authority issuing said tax bill. The lessor shall thereafter promptly endorse (sic) said check and deliver the same to said taxing authority.”
In June of 1981, there was a lease amendment that changed the maintenance rider, but did not change the original tax rider. The lease also shows that from 2007 to 2012, the annual rent paid by the government to Miller for the post office is to be $19,360, and from 2012 to 2017 the rent is to be $18,438.
There are many filings over the years in Ernest W. Miller’s name that show activity on this property. Here are a few of the latest:
According to documents at the Vance County Register of Deeds, on December 29, 2004, Ernest W. Miller and wife deeded the property to Henderson P.O., LLC. A Google search provides information on Ernest W. Miller. This address is the same address the Secretary of State has for Henderson P.O. LLC. So, it would appear he transferred the property to a limited liability corporation which he still manages.
On March 31, 2005 and August 25, 2006, according to public documents obtained at the Vance County Register of Deeds, the land was mortgaged along with a large tract in Lee County in two notes for a total of $650,000.
After digesting all this, what should we say to Mr. Miller and his Henderson Post Office Limited Liability Corporation?
First, pay the taxes you owe on this property. Then, continue to pay them on time in the future. It is unacceptable that over $22,000 is owed to our local governments by the owner of our post office, especially when the deed infers that you are paid this money as additional rent. (It is also unacceptable that our tax office has not gone after this money if the check is also made out to them, but that is another story.)
Next, maintain the building so that the people of Henderson will not be ashamed of their post office. This is a public building and should be maintained at the highest standards and with the best accessibility. The structure is deteriorating, the overhead vents are filthy, and public areas are most unattractive, dingy, and worn.
Third, don’t be surprised when the people of Henderson start communicating with the Postmaster General that the terms of the lease need close attention. It is, after all, our federal tax dollars that are paying for the lease. We can judge if we are getting our money’s worth, or if Henderson is getting the short end of the stick.
Ms. Yount……… this is Henderson, Vance County, North Carolina you know. That’s the way we do business here. Good luck in changing things.
Comment by mudball — October 28, 2009 @ 12:16 am
seen in pictures..it does look pretty bad.
most of the people who work there are nice..but the parking is terrible, especially for disabled folks..
IMO..the location is not convenient either.
who is this Ernest Miller?
Comment by ziggy — October 28, 2009 @ 12:37 am
That is the beginning of the story, the rest of the story is why the post office cut service hours. This is not customer friendly. Will they extend their hours during the holidays like retail stores? The Fed. Government shoudl be advised.
Comment by live it — October 28, 2009 @ 2:55 am
If the big economic dev. summit wanted to do something, they could start with this. Just look at the image the Post Office gives of our community. That shows just how low standards have slipped around here. I thought the head-hunters were scared off by the terrible neighborhoods but this picture is even worse. Oh to see ourselves as others see us! How do you contact the Post Master General?
Comment by Other Eyes — October 28, 2009 @ 7:03 am
Google postmaster general. The very first thing that comes up gives his name, executive committee, anything that you might need. There are lots of different places on there afteryou google. Good luck!
Comment by Interesting — October 28, 2009 @ 7:14 am
Could the City Council and the County Commissioners at least agree to put the pressure on our Legislators to get this mess cleaned up? What a terrible image of our community.
Comment by Come Together — October 28, 2009 @ 7:17 am
Unfortunately, when you come down Garnett going North, you see the run-down Post Office on the right, and yet the bank building on the left on Belle Street is beautiful. Something is wrong with that picture.
Comment by Interesting — October 28, 2009 @ 7:40 am
There is a lot wrong with the picture in Henderson. City pride is at an all time low. Littered streets, empty buildings left to rot, unpaved city streets, inadequate storm drains, gangs of youth walking in the middle of major streets, not to mention the neighborhoods, all add to the sorry ass image. It takes everyone who lives here to change this, not just a committee or the small group of elected officials who are more interested in their little interests than the public they represent.
Comment by Relic — October 28, 2009 @ 8:05 am
Thanks for looking into this situation. Bottom line, if you work during the day, you can’t get to the post office.
Comment by super spy — October 28, 2009 @ 11:35 am
Interesting,
I respectfully disagree with you regarding the Bank of America on Belle & Garnett.
Whenever I visit North Raleigh or Cameron Village in Raleigh, I get disgusted with our local banks. Apparently, Henderson customers do not get seasonal flowers and landscape with our branches whereas the same bank branches in Raleigh are gorgeous displays of color. Are our bank managers just plain lazy or cheap?
Comment by Beautiful Dreamer — October 28, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
Someone has some left over white paint and a brush? I got some spare time if you need a painter.
Comment by rleonidash — October 28, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Good job for court community service.
Comment by rleonidash — October 28, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
Postmaster do you like your Job?
Comment by rleonidash — October 28, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
At least the Post Office flies the US and NC flags. City Hall does not even do that.
Comment by Bert — October 28, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
Smart people do not pay taxes in Vance County because they do not have to.
Comment by Old West Ender — October 28, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
The columns on the Belle St. side leak and look they are about to cave in.
It has never been graded properly for walking and or parking.
Comment by north star — October 28, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
you’re right north star…the parking lot is the pits..
it was never properly prepped or well thought out from the beginning.
Relic..it’s true, there are too many people in Henderson and Vance County who just don’t give a flip. Too many people who have nothing, own nothing, and don’t have respect for public or private property, and no consideration for others. Where does this attitude come from?
The government can only do so much..it can’t make people civil without laws on top of laws to make them act civil.
Do we want Marshall law? Do we want the National Guard patrolling our streets? because that’s what it’s coming to if we don’t get on a handle on it.
This is a job for adults, schools and churches to instill a little civility in people..get out and do some clean up in your neighborhoods. Teach the kids that it’s not uncool to pick up some trash when they see it as they’re walking ..and stop throwing trash out of car windows.
and how long are we going to keep talking about derelict buildings? when will there be less talk and more action?
Why are we always stuck in neutral?
The Post Office? not open to accommodate working people? think about that..
and Interesting made an interesting observation..the run down post office building vs. the beautiful and well kept bank building..government and private business..
which one cares about public image and service to customers?
Comment by ziggy — October 28, 2009 @ 2:10 pm
Bert…great point about the flags…
what say you council people and commissioners?
we can’t afford flags?
maybe people would be willing to donate for some flags, or have a community car wash and bake sale that would pay for some.
course, someone would have to be informed on proper handling of flags…and willing to tend them.
(sigh) whatever.
Comment by ziggy — October 28, 2009 @ 2:16 pm
Now that explains why dvw & db alston haven’t paid their taxes. They can’t get to the Post Office to get a $$$Order. Now it all makes sense!! LOL!! Has anyone heard how his new profession is going? Sure would hate to think my children were in his class!
Comment by April 15, 2thousand&never — October 28, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
There is no acceptable excuse why those boneheads in city government can’t make a respectful gesture of honoring our country and our state. If they need someone to handle the flag they can get one of the fireman from the firehouse at Garnett & Church to come over every morning and evening to tak care of it.
Comment by bert — October 28, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
If they are going to ask for grants they had better begin acting like US Citizens–get those flags!
Comment by north star — October 28, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
Have any of you read the last day or so of Letters To The Editor? Priceless!
Comment by north star — October 28, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
Oh, poor sentence structure–I know better. Please excuse me.
Comment by north star — October 28, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
#22 – what a joke. DVW at her best!!
I say….good riddance to her.
Comment by Interesting — October 28, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
Believe it or not, one of the few things that I do not tire of is telling Ms. Yount “Thank You ” for all the time, intellect and interest in making Henderson a better place for all of us to live that she contributes.
What I do tire of is discovering that EVERY TIME someone turns over a rock in Henderson, something slimy crawls away! Vance County, and by delegation of responsibility, Henderson can not even collect property tax from the U. S. Government???? Surely, this has got to be the most ludicrous (sp?) reports we have ever been offered.
I guess the “Old Boys” were eager to get Ms. Yount out of City Government. The problem with trying to discredit and ridicule Ms. Yount is that no one has yet to prove her statements inaccurate or without merit.
What I do find alarming is that nothing seems to be done properly when fiscal responsibility by our City Government is reviewed. Another significant “fubar” that Ms. Yount has tried unsucessfully to “shine light onto” is the Kerr Lake Regional Water System.
As I pointed out in my campaign for the Ward Two Seat, citizens of Henderson are cautioned to watch the developing proposal to privatization of the sanitation service in Henderson.
The recent election results made it obvious that the majority of the citizens of Henderson, that voted, feel that our government is acceptable. Apparently, it falls to those of us that can see beyound the “somke and mirrors” to raise the alarm.
Has anyone notice the last bid for the Southerland Mill Property? I venture that it is a bit more than the first offer that was “almost accepted”.
Remember, we deserve what we are willing to accept
Comment by Lewis H. Edwards — October 28, 2009 @ 6:04 pm
If you think these letters show poor form you should have seen what they looked like ten weeks ago. I volunteer, to grade papers, one day a week at the Learning Center. These children have come a long long way.
I’m proud of them, their parents are proud of them and you should be as well. Some of those children live lives I wouldn’t wish on my worse enemy. Yet, they come to school everyday. That Center instills hope. With hope anything is possible.
Keep hope alive!
Comment by Catherine — October 28, 2009 @ 6:08 pm
Give me a break, Catherine.
DVW is a joke, the students didn’t write those letters, and everybody knows it.
You are being fooled if you think she is any kind of mentor/teacher.
Comment by Interesting — October 28, 2009 @ 7:11 pm
Interesting-
The children write an essay every day. They have homework every day including Saturday and Sunday. You should read some of their work. It’ll make you stop dead in your tracks. I volunteer every Thursday 8am to 12noon. Why don’t you stop by. I’d love to show you some of their work.
I’ll also introduce you to one of the retired public school teachers. Most come Monday through Wednesday. Thursday is a review day. Every Friday tests are given to determine if the children move forward or stay on the same lessons.
I’ll show you around and introduce you to whomever is on hand.
Cat
Comment by Catherine — October 28, 2009 @ 7:33 pm
For a second there, I was hoping the referenced Letter to the Editor was DVW saying goodbye before she went to Philly. Oh well, guess we can’t win ‘em all!
Comment by heelshouse — October 28, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
Am I wrong in assuming that the kids in the Learning Center were kicked out of public school for disciplinary reasons and not academic?
Is Ms. VonWilliams preparing the children social skills that will allow their eventual return to public school? Can she show any progress in areas that will allow their eventual return? Surely this is the end goal is it not?
Comment by Pete S. — October 28, 2009 @ 8:02 pm
Like I said, good riddance to DVW.
Catherine, if you are fooled by her, too bad.
Comment by Interesting — October 28, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
BTW, Catherine, maybe YOU can tell us what credentials DVW has to teach in a school, must less HEAD a school.
Thank you for your answer. I have asked this question before and the answer has been silent.
Tests are given? Where do the tests come from? Who gets the results? Do the results go to the State? How do the children progress if the results don’t go to the proper place.
Catherine, hate to tell you – this school and DVW is a JOKE – pure and simple. The only thing DVW cares about is money in her pocket.
Comment by Interesting — October 28, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
The letters were poorly written. I applaud the school if the children showed growth. However, the job of a teacher is to not only to guide students in grammar but to review their sentence form and the information they are delivering. I am sorry but either the teacher does not know how to write “letters” or “essays” or they are too lazy to correct, also a job of a teacher.
When my sudents want to write letters to the editor, there are steps that I take so the letters are appropriate and clear. I am very proud of my students and have high expectations for all. Sometimes waiting a little longer teaches a better lesson:working hard, learning from your mistakes and communicating clearly should be the goal, not putting out letters to show the grown ups are doing something.
Comment by ghost writer — October 28, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
Bert (post 14) I thought I was the only person who had noticed that the mis-directed’s city hall was without an American Flag on display.
Where do you put the flag pole? Not in front of the building, power lines block that option. Not on the roof, a grocery store was not built with a roof that would support the weight and forces of nature.
Maybe the absence of our country’s flag in front or atop the city hall is just a symbol of the city’s decline; as much as the closure of post office in the county seat indicates decline.
Comment by Out in Left Field — October 28, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
just another example of poor planning.
Comment by ziggy — October 29, 2009 @ 3:06 am
Interesting-
I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. I was surfacing on Sodahead and Politico last night.
WOW you have a lot of questions. I’ve only been at the center for seven or eight months. But, I’ll tell you what I know. I saw a bio on DVW once. Looks like she has about two years of study at a university in New York, wrote a self published book at age nine, bought her first piece of rental property at seventeen, wrote television news for over four years.
Comment by Catherine — October 29, 2009 @ 6:31 am
Interesting-
The tests are bought from some testing service out of California. They’re administered at the end of the fourth
quarter and sent back to be scored. 30% of classwork, 20% of homework, 30% from weekly tests and 20% of the year end test determines final grades.
Literature says no child is passed unless they have mastered a majority of components listed in the NC Standard Course of Study.
I’ve overheard some spirited conversations with parents.
So, I know DVW takes herself and what is done here quite seriously.
But, I’m not the person you should be talking to. This is my first attempt at explaining what is done here. You really need to come in and talk with one of the volunteers.
Comment by Catherine — October 29, 2009 @ 6:38 am
Ghost Writer-
I think you miss the point. The plan here is to take children who have lost their way in life and lift them up.
If that can be done by walking them to the newspaper office with samples of their work what’s the harm? We may not have an editor or teacher in the entire bunch. But, self esteem will carry you a long way. It’s hard to help you see and understand something beyond your grasp of reasoning. Haven’t you ever praised a funny looking picture drawn by a child? Sure, you could critique it to the point of embarrassment. But, would you hurt someone who is already hurt?
Comment by Catherine — October 29, 2009 @ 6:47 am
Okay folks got to go. They got a new student in yesterday. Another is set to arrive today. The first days are always a battle of wits.
The child is determined to impress classmates and show he/she is in control. DVW handles the newbies. She is too tough. I want to be like her when I grow up.
She’s cutting one minute and the next the child is calling her mom. I see why public school is having such a hard time. These children need so much of everything. You have to be one strong somebody to deal with them.
Comment by Catherine — October 29, 2009 @ 6:56 am
2 years of study does not qualify one to teach, much less head a school. A master’s degree in education is the minimum that she should have. But, that’s ok. I knew she wasn’t qualified and so does everybody else.
If you want to support her, go right ahead.
Saw she put another editorial in the paper today about the State Fair. Little late, don’t you think. The fair has been gone a week! Guess it takes those kids a while to write an article.
DVW is nothing but a troublemaker. Ask the people at the library if you don’t believe me.
Comment by Interesting — October 29, 2009 @ 7:11 am
PS Catherine, are her taxes current on her rental property that she owns? Bet not.
Comment by Interesting — October 29, 2009 @ 7:12 am
OMG, I literally just laughed out loud… a self-published book at age 9? Seriously? I self-published lots of books as a child… you know the kind made out of construction paper with masking tape as the binding.
Comment by heelshouse — October 29, 2009 @ 8:11 am
Catherine I think what you are doing is wonderful. I have corrected my students and my own children in a caring loving way without destroying their self-esteem, ego. Learning is all about making mistakes, being creative and seeking new ideas. I didn’t suggest you should you should cruelly show them their mistakes. It’s ok to make mistakes that in itself is a good lesson. It’s also important to support and assure children they can learn from that.
Comment by ghost writer — October 30, 2009 @ 2:02 pm