Forsyth County Commissioners Move Up July 27 Briefing Session — Here's What's on the Agenda

At 2 p.m. on July 27, residents who follow Forsyth County government could already have missed the opening of the Board of Commissioners' briefing. The session will begin at 1 p.m., an hour earlier than previously scheduled, for those planning to attend, address commissioners, or watch from home.

The briefing comes as Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities asks customers to voluntarily cut back on water use amid increasingly dry conditions. The utility began Stage 1 voluntary water conservation measures effective July 7, 2026. North Carolina is facing its worst drought in 18 years as of July 2026. All of Central North Carolina is in at least Severe Drought, or D2, with many areas, including the north-central Piedmont that encompasses Forsyth County, in Extreme D3 or Exceptional D4 drought. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities is monitoring water supply conditions, including drought indicators, demand, reservoir levels, and Yadkin River flows.

Stage 1 voluntary water conservation measures have no fines or legal penalties for non-compliance but strongly encourage residents to reduce water use to avoid future mandatory restrictions. Under Stage 1, residents are asked to limit lawn watering to no more than one hour per day, only before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. They are also asked to keep showers to five minutes or less, turn off faucets while shaving, brushing teeth, or rinsing dishes, and run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads. Other measures include fixing leaks promptly, limiting vehicle washing and pressure washing, and delaying filling swimming or wading pools unless necessary.

Reservoir levels are at 75 percent. The next stage of water restrictions is triggered at 60 percent. "We're nowhere near hitting either of those triggers," Gale Ketteler, Public Information Officer for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities, said. "Even so, it's better to put these voluntary measures in now so they won't become mandatory."

"We're continuing to monitor our water supply and those of neighboring water utilities," Gale Ketteler, Public Information Officer for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities, said. "Hopefully, this week's predicted thunderstorms will help recharge the watershed. Until then, we encourage customers to be mindful of their water use and employ conservation tips that help keep the water supply higher and water bills lower." Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities has never issued a mandatory water restriction in its 50-year history.

Don Martin is scheduled to retire from the Board of Commissioners on July 31, 2026, after nearly 12 years of service. A retirement reception for Martin will be held outside the commissioners' chambers immediately after the July 27 briefing. Forsyth County commissioners approved a $600 million FY 2026-2027 budget in July 2026.

The July 27, 2026, briefing session will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Commissioners' Meeting Room on the 5th floor of the Forsyth County Government Center at 201 North Chestnut Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Commissioners' meetings and briefings are open to the public and streamed live via the Forsyth County YouTube channel, Facebook page, the county website at forsyth.cc, and WSTV13 on Spectrum cable.

To speak at a commissioners' meeting in person, residents must fill out a speaker card and return it to the Clerk to the Board before the meeting begins. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes each. For remote public comment, residents can call 336-422-1200, and callers will be placed on hold and recognized in the order received.