Smithfield
Town Council report from February 5 session |
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When construction
begins later this year to expand Smithfield's
water-treatment plant, this portion of North Second
Street will be closed permanently.
Water-plant expansion
issues addressed
The Smithfield Town Council got an update at Tuesday night's monthly meeting about a $12-million project to expand capacity at the Smithfield Water Plant. Ted Credle, the town's director of public utilities, covered several points of concern raised recently by nearby residents and other citizens:
• The Buffalo Creek Greenway will undergo a relatively modest re-routing with enlargement of the large reservoir behind the plant's buildings. Mr. Credle said the trail will be closed through the water-plant property for about 20 months during construction.
• North Second Street will be closed permanently without access to the water plant. The N.C. Department of Transportation will allow the town to use Hospital Road west of Buffalo Road as the entrance to the plant, Mr. Credle reported.
• All new construction will be north and east of the existing buildings, which means no part of the plant will be closer to residences than what's there now. Even so, buffers in the form of new fencing and vegetation will be added, he said.
• Raising water rates to pay for the plant's expansion is "not acceptable," Mr. Credle emphasized. The town is counting on a 20-year loan from the state, at an interest rate of 1.82 percent, to finance the project, he said.
The project is on schedule, with construction to begin by the end of the year for completion in May 2021, Mr. Credle concluded.
Citizens complain about
water rates, debt
During the "Public Comments" segment of the council's meeting Monday night, residents of the neighborhood closest to the water plant voiced concerns about the town's water rates and questioned the need for expanding the plant.
Emma Gemmell said rates for Smithfield's water customers are on track to rise 31.6 since 2016, "and we haven't been told how the town will pay for the water-plant expansion without the water rates to continue being increased."
Pam Lampe said the town has sufficient water supply to serve its residents "for decades to come" and doesn't need to expand the treatment plant and thereby increase the town's indebtedness. Even when out-of-town customers served through the county's pipelines are added, she said, the existing Smithfield plant will use just 23 percent of its capacity during 2018-19.
Meanwhile, "town customers are subsidizing the county," Ms. Lampe asserted.
Guy Lampe said Smithfield's older, galvanized pipelines "are probably losing more water than we're using" as he raised a point about unforeseen expenses to maintain the town's aging water-distribution system.
A plea for higher pay for
police
Tony Nixon of Cedar Drive, Smithfield urged the council to raise pay and benefits for Smithfield's police. He noted that starting pay for a patrolman here, at $35,887, is below starting pay in the towns of Selma ($37,500), Benson ($37,500), and Clayton ($36,801). He pointed out that police in Benson and Clayton are provided "take-home" vehicles; and he pressed for guaranteed annual pay raises, better insurance, and longevity pay for Smithfield's police.
Airport building may exceed
40-foot limit
The council granted a special-use permit to Blue Line Aviation so the company may construct a three-story training center at Johnston Regional Airport that exceeds the town's 40-foot limit for structures there. Blue Line's building will reach a height of 51 feet, 11 inches.
Zoning switched from county
to town
Following a decision last month to annex the site of a proposed residential subdivision near West Smithfield Elementary School, the council approved R-20 residential zoning for the tract in place of a similar zoning category under the county's previous jurisdiction. Chris Hinnant, who lives adjacent to the site, expressed concerns about water runoff from the proposed subdivision that would jeopardize grounds where he keeps pigs and goats. He was assured his concerns would be addressed as detailed plans for the subdivision are brought before town officials for review and approval.
Rezoning for furniture
plant to expand
The council approved B-3 (Highway Entrance Business) zoning for a small tract of land directly behind the furniture-assembly plant of Teknion North America LLC on Highway 70 Business northwest of town (the company is also known as Studio TK). Dan Simmons, speaking for the company, said the rezoning was requested to allow the industry to expand its facilities.
Expenditures for library,
new vehicles
The council's "consent agenda," which was unanimously approved without comment, included several expenditures:
• $88,500 from a loan to purchase a dump truck for the Parks and Recreation Department and an SUV for the Fire Department. First Citizens Bank (low bidder) is financing the loan at 3.11% for 59 months.
• $11,600 to help pay for various repairs to the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield. The County of Johnston will contribute $17,400 to the project.
• $28,612.81 to purchase a Ford F-250 pickup truck from Asheville Ford (low bidder through the N.C. Sheriff's Association) for the Public Works Department. This expenditure is covered by the department's current budget.
• $132,990 to purchase six Dodge Chargers from Deacon Jones of Smithfield (low bidder) for the Police Department. Expense is covered by the department's budget.