Council awards Zoo CEO Simmons Key to the City

ASHEBORO — Leadership for the North Carolina Zoo accepted the Key to the City and the Pride in Asheboro Award for the Zoo’s CEO and director Patricia Simmons. Though she was unable to attend the city council meeting on June 5 due to health issues, she was recognized for a decade of work expanding the Zoo and its reach.

Deputy Director Diane Villa spoke about Simmons’ work before accepting the award on her behalf. She talked about how she built relationships with city and county leaders. 

“Pat’s goal has always been to make or leave the Zoo better than she found it, and I believe she has certainly done so,” Villa said.

Simmons became director in 2015. The Zoo is expanding with a new Asia continent under construction, to be followed by an Australia section. It was named “America’s Best Zoo” in Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

Mayor Pro Tem Walker Moffitt, who is also the Zoo Council chair, presented the plaque. 

“[Simmons] very quickly brought on a different level of recognition to the Zoo,” he said. “It’s a world-renowned facility. She brought more to the people, for everyone to enjoy at every level.”

Other City Council business

During the meeting, the city council passed the General Fund budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year before moving on to the rest of the June agenda:

■ The Recreation Services Director presented changes to the schedule of deposits and fees for the golf course. Council members agreed to raise fees for memberships and set a new rate for holding events there. The fee for ballfield rentals will also increase.

■ The council approved a rezoning request from Bible Baptist Church of Asheboro. Their property on 619 Albemarle Road was split into residential and business zoning. Pastor Thomas Cochran requested it all be zoned B2-General Business in order to expand ministry work.

■ They voted for an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway. It will allow the Department of Transportation to install an eight-inch DIP Sanitary sewer line on Pineview Street.

■ Water Resources Director Michael Rhoney brought forward next steps in projects at the Lake Lucas Dam and the Wolfspeed water line. The State Legislature is allocating $4,170,500 that can be used to replace the dam’s intake. City council approved that along with Wolfspeed’s next amendment to the design-build contract for $15,253,529.15.

■ Finance Officer Deborah Reaves presented an installment financing agreement with Pinnacle Bank to purchase vehicles. The city regularly puts financing out for bid this time each year.