Man drowns at Jordan Lake over the weekend

By Chuck Thompson Chatham News & Record

ON SUNDAY August 6, 2023, The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of Donald Semler, 73, of San Antonio, Texas.

Semler, who was visiting family in Holly Springs, was swimming in the area of Poe’s Bridge Boat Ramp, when those with him lost sight of the victim.

Multiple agencies responded to the call, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- neers, Chatham County emergency Management, Moncure Fire Department, Lee County Emergency Services, and The N.C. Wildlife Commission, and ultimately the recovery effort of Selmer’s body.

No signs of foul play were detected due to the death of Semler.

In a statement to The Chatham News & Record, The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said it expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Donald Semler during this difficult time.

County residents updated on 2025 reappraisal process

Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — Chatham County government officials recently sent an update to residents regarding the upcoming 2025 reappraisal process.

Reappraisal data collectors have been are canvassing various areas throughout the county to collect accurate property information. These data collectors began their work in January 2023 and their work will continue into 2024.

“Residents should be aware that data collectors wear neon vests with the Chatham County logo, carry county-issued identification badges, and drive vehicles with magnetic county logo signs. A typical data collector visit will always include door knocking, reason for the visit, an overview of what will be done while on the property, as well as a few brief questions,” part of a statement released by

SILER CITY from page 1 count in 2022, you can’t get your water reestablished,”

Dameron said to the commissioners, “and homeowners are not getting notified of this.”

The lights in the courthouse flicked, and the wind increased, hitting against the windows as she spoke. The loud claps of thunder and the flashes of lightning only added to the feel of the meeting.

Dameron continued, “If it’s a vacant building, how long do you have before you lose that right (to utilities) again?” she asked, “to find out I can’t get my water and sewer reestablished in these empty buildings –how am I supposed to sell these buildings?

She inquired to the commissioners about how to get approval and asked for guidance and organization on the matter, saying, “It’s hard to sell when the buyers, sellers, and agents can’t get a hard definitive answer to a process to get water back on.”

Dameron concluded by stating she wanted some concrete information to give to investors that will be accurate “without egg on my face,” as she put it.

While an answer wasn’t given at that moment, the council moved on to other items, as the rain and wind clapped against the windows of two exposed walls, that almost drowned out the voices speaking at any given time for their part of the commissioners meeting.

A public hearing for conditional rezoning R23-0602 for Village Lake Drive was held, with Courtney McQueen of Quinty Engineering presenting the request to rezone four parcels from Office Institutional / Conditional (O-I-C) neighborhood Business / Conditional (B-1-C).

The zoning amendment for Village Lake Drive was approved unanimously with a motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Bill Haiges.

A public hearing was held officials said. “Data collectors never enter residences. All work is done on the exterior of the house and includes measuring and photographing all structures on the property.” for the conditional rezoning for a tract of land at Loves Creek Church Rd, presented by Windsor Development Group IV, LLC, which requested to rezone eight parcels of land from Agricultural Residential (AR) and Residential 6 (R ^) to Residential 3 / Conditional (R-3-C).

Reappraisal is a process in which all real property (including land and the improvements on it) in the county is appraised at its current market value as of a particular date. Reappraisal distributes the overall property tax burden equitably across the county based on current market values.

State law requires all counties to conduct a reappraisal at least once every eight years. Chatham County elected to do a four-year reappraisal cycle. The last reappraisal in Chatham County occurred in 2021.

Residents who would like additional information about the reappraisal process may contact the Chatham County Tax Office at 919-542-8211.

Windsor Development Group IV, LLC announced a pledge of a six-figure donation to the local Habitat for Humanity to be given at a later unspecified date. Chatham County Habitat for Humanity Development and Finance Director Anna Tuell spoke in support of Windsor Development Group’s amendment request, which was approved unanimously, with the motion made by Commissioner Curtis Brown and seconded by Haiges.

Due to a recording error from the regular scheduled July 17, 2023 meeting, a vote on the budget restructuring was supposed to be a ‘nay’ from Commissioner Albert Alston, but it was not recorded as such due to an error, so the commissioners voted to change the record to reflect the actual vote, although it would not change the outcome of the overall vote, and thus the agenda passed regardless.

Before the close of the meeting, Mayor Thomas K. Price III suggested, to Town Manager Hank Raper, that there needs to be a meeting among themselves and realtors in the area to get on the same page about the water process of having utilities reestablished, to which Raper agreed.

“Somewhere information is not correctly being assimilated, put something together – somewhere, we need to do something.” Mayor Price added, speaking to Raper, thus concluding the meeting.

The Chatham County Commissioners meet every first and third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m., in the Siler City Courtroom.

Teachers, are you looking for new opportunities to fund projects for your classroom? Central Electric is awarding up to $15,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to local educators in K-12 classrooms for the 2023-2024 school year.

The final deadline for all grant applications is Sept. 15. Scan the QR code or visit NCBrightIdeas.com for more information or to apply!