Smithfield
Town Council report from January 8 session |
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Council gives go-ahead for "wayfinding" signs around town
 Samples of signs to be erected in various places around town |
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That's the jargon used by promoters of tourism for signs directing motorists to key places of interest in a community.
Smithfield's Town Council approved Tuesday night a contract with ACSM, Inc. of Charlotte to erect 40 signs of various sizes at a cost of $182,270.
Funding for the project comes from a federal grant of $99,256 matched locally with $29,375 from the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation and $75,000 from the Johnston County Visitors Bureau's 2-percent tax on local hotel and motel occupants.
The project's total budget is $203,631, which allows for landscaping, lighting, surveying, and other expenses beyond the installation contract.
These signs are similar to those in place for several years now in Clayton, Benson, and many other cities and towns throughout the state and nation.
Town saluted for water and
sewer works
The N.C. American Water Works Association & Water Environment Federation presented not one, but two awards to the Town of Smithfield at Tuesday's council session: "Potable Water Distribution System of the Year" (one of three, based on system size) and "Sanitary Sewer Collection System of the Year" (tops among all systems in North Carolina). Both awards were announced at November's annual conference of N.C. AWWA-WEA.
Downtown Development
appointments
The council appointed Todd Johnson, Judson Patterson, Jeremy Pearce, and Cathie Shuler and reappointed Rick Childrey, Ruffin Johnson, and Billie Stevens to the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation's Board of Directors.
Daniel Evans was appointed to a seat on the Smithfield Housing Authority's board.
New vehicles for police,
fire departments
The council awarded a $133,644 contract to Performance Automotive Group of Clinton for six Dodge Chargers for the Police Department and a $36,960 contract to Deacon Jones of Smithfield for a 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV for the Fire Department.
Manhole rehabilitation
contract
The council awarded a $15,661 contract to Dun-Right Services, Inc. of Florence, S.C. to rebuild six sanitary sewer manholes identified by the town's "Asset Inventory & Assessment" initiative as among the town's worst. A list of locations was not provided with the contract memo.
Town manager gets a pay
raise
Following a closed session to complete his annual performance evaluation, the council awarded Town Manager Mike Scott a pay raise of $5,000, boosting his salary to $110,000 a year.