Community News

Mills River manager moving on

Daniel Cobb speaks to

By Bill Moss, Published: March 20, 2024

MILLS RIVER — Town Manager Daniel Cobb is moving on from Mills River to Granite Falls to lead that municipality.

“It’s very similar town in size, with 5,200 people, but it’s a full service community — police and fire, streets and sidewalks, utilities —so from a professional standpoint it’s just a good opportunity for me to grow and take on more challenges,” he said.

In the new job he will make $140,000 a year, up from $111,000 in Mills River.

Known for two natives — country music star Eric Church and Major League Baseball pitcher Madison Bumgarner — and the world’s largest collection of vintage soda vending machines, Granite Falls is in Caldwell County and just six miles from Hickory.

“I did want to ask about Eric in the interview but it was in the back of my mind,” said Cobb, 38.

Among the achievements he’s proud of during his five years in Mills River are park expansion and a capital reserve fund.

“We put a lot of time and energy into improving the parks since I’ve been here,” he said. “Nicole Sweat, our parks and recreation director, has been a big part of that, keeping projects moving. Even during the pandemic, when things were looking kind of bleak in the world, the town did not waver from its plans to keep the park moving and open.

“We kept town hall open during the pandemic, which is something I’m very proud of. We were able to coordinate schedules and keep a skeleton crew but it was always open during the pandemic.”

The next expansion will take place on farmland west of town hall that the town is buying from dairy farmer Bradley Johnston. It’s expected to be the site for the Mills River Farm Market, first in a parking lot and ultimately in a covered space. The town has applied for a state Parks & Recreation Trust Fund grant for the project.

The town council has hired Shannon Baldwin, the former Henderson County commissioner who retired as Lake Lure’s manager, to lead the municipality while council members search for Cobb’s replacement.