Johnston County
Board
of Commissioners report from July 8 sessions |
 |
Commissioners present: Chairman
Ted Godwin, Tony Braswell, Jeff Carver,
Patrick Harris, Butch Lawter, Chad Stewart,
Larry Wood
Absent: None
County Commissioners
endorse efforts
to sell Johnston as a good
place to retire
Donna Bailey-Taylor, director of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, got backing from the County Commissioners on Monday to market Johnston as a North Carolina Certified Retirement Community.
To join the state's "Retire NC" program, the county will submit "a market strategy specifically for retiree attraction" and pay an annual fee of $3,000 to the state for at least five years.
Ms. Bailey-Taylor said this collaboration with the state will give Johnston County "much broader marketing" than the Visitors Bureau could do on its own.
One of the local projects, she noted, will be setting up a "Retire in JoCo" presence on the bureau's website. Another will be creation of a local "retiree attraction committee" to oversee the marketing campaign.
The commissioners voted without dissent to authorize their chairman, Ted Godwin, to sign the necessary agreements to move the project forward.
U.S. Census data show that 13.3% of Johnston's current population is age 65 and older. Statewide, that percentage is 16.3%. For Smithfield, it's 23.1%.
Visit the Retire NC website for a rundown of currently certified communities>
GARBAGE-DISPOSAL SITES OPEN TO ALL FREE OF CHARGE?
Continuing a discussion started during budget deliberations this spring, the board on Monday evening appeared to be leaning toward opening the county's rural garage "convenience centers" to all households without requiring purchase of a vehicle decal permitting entry. Currently, each household pays $100 annually for a decal. After that fee was raised from $65 a year ago, the number of households purchasing decals dropped from about 16,000 to 13,500, reported Rick Proctor, the county's director of solid-waste services. That's a matter of concern to commissioners, who fear that trend may mean more illegal roadside dumping of household trash. Before deciding on whether to revamp the system, commissioners want more "cost analysis" numbers from Mr. Proctor and his staff. One alternative under study is replacing the decal fee with a modest yearly assessment added to property-tax billings to rural residents.
WATER-PLANT EXPANSION TO COST $4.7 MILLlON
Commissioners awarded two contracts related to expansion of the county's water-treatment plant on the Neuse River at Wilson's Mills. Sanford Contractors Inc. will construct facilities expanding treatment capacity by 2-million gallons daily at a cost of $2,447,650. CP&I will install two "Claricone" devices as part of the project at a cost of $1,291,987. Director of Public Utilities Chandra Farmer recommended purchasing two of the "cones" even though just one is needed in the short term since CB&I has agreed to add the second device at a cost about $300,000 less than installing one now and the other later. The second "cone" will be needed in the not-too-distant future as Johnston County continues to grow, she noted. Total cost of the immediate water-plant upgrades is $4,694,450 including construction, technical services, contingency, and loan closing. The county will finance the work with a $3.3-million, 20-year low-interest loan from the state's Clean Water "revolving" fund. The balance as well as debt service on the loan will be covered by monthly usage charges paid by customers of the county's water system.
WILSON'S MILLS WATER LINE TO COST $5 MILLION
Commissioners awarded two contracts related to a water-line extension within the Wilson's Mills Water District. Sanford Contractors Inc. will install a 24-inch pipeline from the county's water plant to the elevated storage tank in Wilson's Mills at a cost of $2,575,605. J.S. Haren Company of Athens, Tennessee will construct a booster pump station at the water plant to serve the new Wilson's Mills pipeline at a cost of $1,677,000. Total cost of both projects is $5,020,150 including right-of-way easements, technical services, contingency, and loan closing. Before any of that work proceeds, approval must be received from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, including a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan to cover the expenditure. Such a loan will be repaid over time by customers of the Wilson's Mills Water District that was established by the county.
NO MORE WRITTEN PERMISSION TO HUNT OR FISH?
Charles Stewart of Joyner Bridge Road asked commissioners during Monday evening's "Public Comments" portion to eliminate a county rule requiring written permission from a landowner to allow hunting and fishing by visitors. He said Johnston is one of just 10 counties in the state with such a requirement, and he cited an instance where a game warden wrote a ticket carrying a fine while the hunter was on the phone with the landlord verifying he had gotten verbal permission. County Attorney Jennifer Slusser said eliminating the written-permission rule would require approval of a local bill by the N.C. General Assembly. After some discussion, commissioners took Mr. Stewart's request "under advisement" for further study.
DEAN BARBOUR HONORED AS "INSPECTOR OF THE YEAR"
The commissioners saluted Dean Barbour, the county's director of building inspections who was recently named "Inspector of the Year" by the N.C. Plumbing Inspectors Association. "For anything I've accomplished, my staff deserves all the credit," Mr. Barbour responded.
A BUNCH OF "SURPLUS VEHICLES" TO BE AUCTIONED
The board approved the sale of two sets of "surplus vehicles" at a public auction scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, August 10 at the Sheriff's Department Fleet Services facility off North Bright Leaf Boulevard in Smithfield. Seventeen of those vehicles are being "retired" by the Sheriff's Department, including seven Ford Crown Victoria sedans (2010 & 2011 models), seven Dodge Charger sedans (2014), two Chevrolet Caprices (2012 & 2013), and one Chevrolet Tahoe (2008). Three Ford Taurus sedans (2006 models) are being taken out of service by the Tax Department.
APPOINTMENTS MADE TO THREE ADVISORY BOARDS
The commissioners approved the following appointments:
• Juvenile Crime Prevention Council --- Lama Sinno (juvenile defense attorney) and Nakunda Everett (substance abuse professional) reappointed for two years. Five seats on the council remain vacant.
• Nursing Home / Adult Care Home Community Advisory Board --- Sherry Simms reappointed for three years. Seven seats on the board remain vacant.
• Voluntary Agricultural District Advisory Board --- John Suggs reappointed for three years. One other position remains unfilled.
O'NEALS TOWNSHIP REZONING REQUEST APPROVED
Following a public hearing that drew no objections, the board approved General Business Special Use District zoning for 7.35 acres on Creech Road in O'Neals Township. NC Golf Cars Plus will use the property for RV, vehicle, and boat storage along with mini-storage units. The rezoning will allow expansion of a similar commercial operation at that location.
ANOTHER VIEW OF PROPOSED DETENTION CENTER
Here's a "bird's eye" rendering by architects of the envisioned Johnston County Detention Center to be built off US 70 Business east of Smithfield (details about the project appear on today's front page).