Granite Falls town manager retires after 14 years
Apr. 12—GRANITE FALLS — Jerry Church, town manager of Granite Falls for more than 14 years, retired from his position effective March 31.
Church has left his duties to interim manager Ashley Presnell, with Daniel Cobb to step into the roll on Monday, April 15. After a long and impactful career, Church is finally ready to step away and pass the torch on to his successor.
Church has a long history in Caldwell County, growing up in the Valmead area and graduating from Hibriten High School. He went onto start community college and finished his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Appalachian State University. Church got a job with Broyhill Furniture in inventory control, and over the next 28 years moved into accounting before finally acting as vice president of operations.
When the Lenoir plant shut down in the mid-2000s, Church was asked by Granite Falls Mayor Barry Hayes to apply for the town manager position. The best of 70 applicants for the position, according to Mayor Caryl Burns, Church eventually occupied his new role in December 2009. Over the past 14 years, Church has overseen a wide variety of projects and changes to the town. Among his proudest accomplishments is a new safety program. Under Church's oversight, every town department received a gold rating in safety from the NC Department of Labor for the past six years.
Church worked very closely with the parks and recreation department, specifically on the recreation center, citing it as the town's most used facility. Some of the changes he oversaw include the addition of a new parking lot, renovations to sports fields and equipment, new equipment for fitness rooms, and a new splash pad to be finished soon. Church also helped build the center's veteran's monument.
Presnell, finance assistant as well as interim town manager, revealed that Church had a strong sense for funding, able to track down grant opportunities and take every advantage available to him. Projects that Church oversaw were often fully or partially funded with grant money. Church has been able to secure grants to fund updates to the rec center, for public works projects to replace water and sewer lines, new electric and water meters and ADA-accessible facilities. Many of the projects are ongoing, and will be picked up by his successor in mid-April.
In interview with the News-Topic, Church revealed that he decided to step down simply because it was time to retire. Church is confident in the capabilities and qualifications of both town leadership and staff. "I would put our employees against any team in the state," Church said. "They're in good shape. Everything's going to be just fine. The town is in good shape for years to come." He is also confident in Cobb's ability to start strong in his new role.
However, Jerry Church was clear to point out that he is not, in fact, retiring from life. Church is deeply involved in Caldwell communities, and at present intends to remain so. He either currently serves or has served on committees and boards for: CCC&TI, the North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees, Members Credit Union, UNC Health Caldwell and the Caldwell County Hospice Foundation. He has coached youth baseball, soccer, and basketball. He is a longtime member of First Baptist church, where he serves as a deacon and sits on a number of other committees. Church enjoys golf, travel, and is a notorious App. State fan. He hopes his retirement will give him the chance to spend more time with his 11 month old grandson.
