Johnston County
Board
of Commissioners report from May 6 sessions |
 |
Commissioners present: Chairman
Ted Godwin, Tony Braswell, Jeff Carver,
Patrick Harris, Butch Lawter, Chad Stewart,
Larry Wood
Absent: None
County Commissioners urged to help
ensure 2020 Census count is
complete
Bernadette Richards of the Atlanta regional office of the U.S. Census Bureau asked for and received a commitment from Johnston's County Commissioners on Monday to back efforts to get an accurate population count when the 2020 Census is taken next April 1.
Specifically, the commissioners endorsed creation of a local "Complete Count Committee" under the direction of County Manager Rick Hester to improve Johnston's Census participation. Ms. Richards said Johnston's "response rate" was 70% in 2000 and 78% in 2010.
"You need to engage and educate residents about how important Census data is to them," Ms. Richards told commissioners.
North Carolina, she noted, is in line to gain a 14th seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after 2020, based on current population estimates. Official Census tallies recorded next year will be used for state and local as well as federal redistricting for representation in legislative bodies.
In addition, the 2020 Census will determine amounts of federal funds distributed to state and local governments for a multitude of public projects and services during the decade ahead.
Next year's Census, Ms. Richards disclosed, will rely heavily on collection of data from telephone and Internet connections. Realizing that won't work for everyone, she said, arrangements will be made for person-to-person contacts.
"Target populations" identified by the Census Bureau as the focus of local Complete Count committees include children under 5 years of age, veterans, persons with disabilities, the homeless, rural residents, low-income and "underserved" persons, senior citizens, migrant farm workers, immigrants, persons "with limited English proficiency," and renters.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S SERVICE FEES TO RISE
The commissioners approved a lengthy schedule of fees the county's Health Department will charge for services in the year ahead. Those fees cover three areas of service: preventive health, behavioral health, and environmental health. Steve Strickland, the department's assistant director, said many of the fees for specific services are rising to $250 from $200 and will be "in line with what other counties are charging." Commissioner Larry Wood asked if the fees cover the cost of delivering services. "I'd like to say so," Mr. Strickland replied, "but they actually cover about half the cost." Commissioner Patrick Harris, who serves on the county's Board of Health, said the revised fee schedule won unanimous endorsement from that board.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT
Dr. Marilyn Pearson, director of the county's Health Department, gave the board copies of the agency's annual report for 2018. It shows that the department's 145 employees served the following numbers of patients: behavioral health --- 2,466; child health --- 1,798; epidemiology --- 3,036; family planning --- 1,408; maternal health --- 356; primary care --- 2,270; and the county's Employee Wellness Center --- 733. Commissioners' Chairman Ted Godwin asked how immunizations are faring in Johnston in light of recent publicity about resistance in some parts of the country. "We're doing great," Dr. Pearson replied.
View the Health Department's annual report in full>
STATE CUTS IN MENTAL-HEALTH FUNDING DECRIED
The commissioners gave their approval to a resolution calling out the N.C. General Assembly for recent cutbacks in state funding for "behavioral health services" in a four-county region that includes Johnston. The resolution notes that the Legislature over the past four years has cut funding by more than $458 million for services statewide, including more than $67 million in this region, while requiring local agencies to continue offering the same level of state-mandated services as before. Johnston County is a member of Alliance Health, a "managed care organization" that also serves Wake, Durham, and Cumberland counties.
WATER & SEWER DEVELOPMENT FEES REVISED
Chandra Farmer, the county's director of public utilities, informed the board that modifications to the county's water and sewer System Development Fee schedule are being posted on the county's website for public comment prior to adoption. The changes are based on a recently completed analysis of costs by Willdan Financial Services of Orlando, Florida. Commissioners scheduled a public hearing on the new fee schedule at 6 p.m. Monday, June 3.
View proposed rates in the water and sewer fee study>
HERITAGE & SMITHFIELD FIRE DISTRICT APPOINTMENTS
The commissioners appointed Royce Lambert of Pleasant Grove Township to the Johnston County Heritage Commission. They reappointed Mark Lane to the Smithfield Fire Tax District's board.
TAX-FORECLOSURE FEES PAID ATTORNEYS MODIFIED
Commissioners approved revisions to the county's Tax Foreclosure Policy that sets fees for attorneys retained by the county as follows: $750 for the first parcel owned by a delinquent taxpayer and $250 for each additional parcel owned by the same taxpayer. Such attorneys employed for this work will receive a 5% commission on properties sold for foreclosure.
TAX COLLECTIONS AND REVALUATION APPEALS
County Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews reported that 98.84% of property taxes due for 2018 had been collected through the month of March. She also reported that the county's Board of Equalization and Review is dealing with 694 appeals of real-estate valuations following the issuance of countywide revaluation notices at the beginning of 2019. She said her office hopes to have all appeals resolved by early June. The County Commissioners are required to set the property-tax rate for 2019 by the first of July.
NUMEROUS OBSERVANCES PROCLAIMED
Commissioners approved proclamations for:
• Children's Mental Health Awareness Day May 9.
• National Hospital Week May 12-18.
• Emergency Medical Services Week May 19-25.
• Memorial Day May 27.
• Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15.
ANNUAL AUDIT CONTRACT RENEWED
Commissioners approved a contract with the county's current auditors --- Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co. of Whiteville --- to audit the county's financial records for the fiscal year ending this June 30. The fee of $71,000 has remained the same in recent years. (This is the same firm that audits the books for the Town of Smithfield.)
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER NAMED FOR JAIL PROJECT
County Manager Rick Hester sought and received permission from commissioners to employ Jimmy Boykin of Stephenson General Contractors of Smithfield as construction manager for the county's new "detention center" about to be built beside US 70 Business East near Smithfield. Mr. Hester recommended a three-year contract for the supervisory service at a cost not to exceed $265,000. "That's six-tenths of a percent of the project's cost... and well worth it," he said. Construction contracts for the project have not yet been awarded.
INCENTIVE-GRANT HEARING POSTPONED
A public hearing to grant tax relief to an unnamed industrial prospect was postponed without explanation at Monday evening's session. Notice of the hearing said an incentive grant would be offered to "a company (that) proposes to develop, build, and equip a warehouse/distribution center in an underdeveloped area of the county." The county's policy is to offer property-tax rebates to prospective employers if they meet specified goals of capital investments made and jobs created. No date for a rescheduled hearing was set at Monday's session.
READ MORE about it on today's OPINIONS page>