Smithfield
Town Council report from
April 30 session
|
 |
Council members present: Emery Ashley, David Barbour, John Dunn, Stephen Rabil,
Travis Scott, David Stevens, and Mayor Andy Moore
Absent: Marlon Lee
How
non-profits and schools plan
to use
appropriations from the town
Representatives of seven non-profit agencies and six public schools made their pitches for funding at Tuesday's evening budget session of the Smithfield Town Council. Their requests, for the most part, were in line with current appropriations from the town.
The Annie D. Jones Child Enrichment Fund is a non-profit organization that offers financial support in behalf of underprivileged children ages 6-8 who reside in East Smithfield. Activities supported include summer camp, sports, gymnastics, dance, drama, and swimming. Renewal of a $3,000 annual grant from the town was submitted by Kay McDuffie, whose late grandmother is the fund's namesake.
The Ava Gardner Museum seeks an increase in the town's support from $22,000 this fiscal year to $25,000 in the year ahead. Lynell Seabold, the museum's executive director, said the additional funding is sought to raise her salary, which is partially paid by the town.
Community & Senior Services of Johnston County seeks renewal of a $3,500 annual grant from the town. Jimmy Parker, chairman of the agency's board of directors, said the town's money helps pay for "Home Delivered Meals" in Smithfield. Presently, the agency provides, on average, 219 meals daily to local residents but has a waiting list of 106, Mr. Parker noted.
The Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation (DSDC) wants continuation of a $55,000 grant from the town's General Fund to support its economic-development work as well as its promotion of the town's central business district. An extra 19-cent property-tax levy within that district provides an estimated $87,500 annually --- the largest source of revenue for DSDC, which raises another $55,000 through sponsorships to pay for the Ham & Yam Festival. Sarah Edwards is DSDC's executive director.
Harbor, Inc. is a non-profit agency that serves persons impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Executive Director Katrusia (Kay) Johnson noted that renewal of the town's $2,500 annual grant will help Harbor provide matching funds to secure federal grants for its services.
The Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield is seeking an increase in financial aid from the town this year --- from $250,000 to $270,747. The library is also asking for an increase from the County of Johnston --- from $476,000 to $507,121. The library expects to receive another $192,000 from the State of North Carolina, depending on levels of support from the town and the county. Separate town and county libraries based in Smithfield were merged in the 1960s. Executive Director Margaret Marshall said today's combined library "networks" with local libraries in Kenly, Selma, Four Oaks, Benson, and Princeton.
The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Smithfield-Selma Chamber) wants the town to renew its $4,000 annual appropriation to support economic-development activities. President Mike Mancuso said the funds are being used primarily to maintain the standing of local "certified" industrial sites and to market those sites to prospective developers and employers.
Six local schools are asking the town for grants in the fiscal year ahead:
The Innovation Academy at South Campus seeks $3,500 --- the first time it has requested town funds. Principal Kelley Johnson said the school, which opened in 2017, targets "first generation" college-student prospects with "a focus on the I-95 corridor." The town's grant would support a "robotics" program as well as a "virtual reality" laboratory, she said.
Neuse Charter School seeks renewal of a $1,000 grant from the town. In her written request to the council, Executive Director Susan Pulliam said the money would be used to purchase a second set of classroom "graphing calculators" --- the first set purchased with the current year's grant.
Smithfield-Selma High School wants $1,000 once again for a variety of individual needs of students at the school, said Principal David Allen. These are mostly "small amounts of aid" related to students' health and well-being, he noted. The money also helps the school with observances like "Teacher Appreciation Week" now going on, he added.
Smithfield Middle School seeks renewal of its $1,000 grant for a particular project. Principal Heather Anders said the past year's money paid for wall padding inside the gymnasium. This year's grant, she said, would go to purchase "student agenda books" that will also serve as "hall passes" at the school.
South Smithfield Elementary School wants continuation of the $1,000 annual grant to help build up a fund for new playground equipment that is "accessible to all children," said Hadley Lee, the school's family and community engagement liaison. The project could cost as much as $100,000 "and we're about one-fifth of the way there," she told the council.
West Smithfield Elementary School seeks renewal of its $1,000 town grant to help the school set up a soccer field for its older students, said Principal Sharon Bryant. The past year's grant was spent on playground equipment, she noted.
Following the presentations from the agencies and the schools, the council discussed several other items impacting the new year's budget, which must be adopted before July 1:
• A motion was approved without dissent to move ahead with a project to improve Equity Drive off Outlet Center Drive --- a street badly in need of repair. Town staff was instructed to get separate cost estimates on paving, curb and gutters, and sidewalks to help the council decide how far it wants to go with funding various elements of the project. Councilman Barbour, who represents West Smithfield, once again voiced his displeasure with funding sidewalk construction along Equity Drive ahead of adding sidewalks to Wilson's Mills Road, which he said is "more dangerous" for pedestrians than streets around the Outlet Center beside I-95. "Somebody's going to die and sue the town for millions of dollars!" he exclaimed.
• Gary Johnson, director of Parks and Recreation, gave the council a rundown on what will be required to construct a "splash pad" at Smith-Collins Park at an estimated cost of $125,000. During follow-up discussion, the council instructed the town manager to restore funding in his proposed budget for several other improvements at Smith-Collins, including new dugout covers at the baseball field.
• The session ended with a muted discussion about a proposed replacement of the Town Commons amphitheater with a more substantial structure than the current wooden stage, which is in need of repair. Mr. Johnson said the Johnston County Visitors Bureau is pushing the project, which would be funded in part by money collected from a 2% occupancy tax at Smithfield's hotels and motels. Council members expressed reservations about long-term financing of the project, but a decision on whether to proceed with it was deferred until another budget session yet to be scheduled.
RETURN TO THE SMITHFIELD WEEKLY SUN FRONT PAGE