City, town and county leaders work each day to serve and protect

Burke County’s nearly 90,000 residents live in a region divided up into seven different towns, along with unincorporated areas.

The towns are governed by elected officials who vote on everything from tax rates to downtown developments and countywide infrastructure.

The Burke County Board of Commissioners is made up of five members who hold bimonthlymeetings at the Burke County Services Building in Morganton. The board makes decisions that affect about 25 county agencies and departments.

Some of these agencies and departments fall under the jurisdiction of the Burke County Sheriff ’s Office, Department of Social Services and Emergency Medical Services.

EMS has five stations in the county staffed 24 hours a day located in Rutherford College, Hildebran, Glen Alpine, Jonas Ridge and Morganton.

Morganton, the county seat, is the largest city in the county, with a population of more than 17,000. The Morganton Department of Public Safety is one of the few remaining in the state that provides both police and fire services to city residents.

Morganton also operates its own water, cable, electric and public works systems. For those services, city residents pay 50 cents per $100 of real property value. Downtown businesses and residents pay an additional downtown tax rate.

“Obviously, we’re a full-service municipality.We offer all the water, sewer, power and cable, along with highspeed Internet,” said Sally Sandy, Morganton city manager. “I really think it would be a mistake not to mention our recreational opportunities because that is something we offer that defines us as a community.”

The city of Morganton is in the process of constructing a baseball complex adjacent to the Catawba River Greenway that officials are hoping will attract visitors from around the state and Southeast.

Valdese is the next largest town in the county, with a population of about 4,600 residents and a tax rate of 40 cents per $100 of property value. The town has its own fire and police departments, and it offers services such as garbage pickup, curbside recycling, water and sewer and yard waste collection.

The town offers a year-round swimming and fitness center through its recreation department as well as youth and adult league recreation programs.

“We pride ourselves on providing quality services to our citizens,” said Jeff Morse, town manager of Valdese. “We want to make sure we provide the best quality of life to all our citizens.”

Glen Alpine,with a population of a little more than 1,000, is led by a mayor and a board of aldermen. The town has its own police and fire departments and a tax rate of 27 cents per $100 of property value.

Other towns include Connelly Springs, with a population of nearly 2,000, Rutherford College, with a population of 1,303 and Hildebran, with a population of 1,755.

The Burke County Sheriff ’s Office, located in Morganton, also has satellite offices in Hildebran, Rutherford College, Connelly Springs, Jonas Ridge and the Lake James area. The offices are equipped with community officers who work together with residents to make Burke County a safe place to live.

“I’m very proud of the sheriff ’s office and the employees we have,” said Sheriff John T. McDevitt. “They all go the extra mile to do their best. We strive to provide the best law enforcement services possible.”

Volunteer fire departments protect the residents in these towns from fire emergencies.

Burke residents of all ages can enjoy the latest in books and technology through the Burke County Public Library and its branches in Morganton, Valdese and Hildebran.

The county’s senior citizens can participate in several activities such as pottery, dance classes and exercise at the two senior centers in Morganton and Hildebran.

Within its 513.1 square miles, Burke County residents can live and raise their families in comfort and safety under the umbrella of its government and leaders.

— SHARON MCBRAYER AND KERRI L. MCFALLS