Johnston County
Board
of Commissioners report from Nov. 4 sessions |
 |
Commissioners present: Chairman Ted
Godwin, Tony Braswell, Jeff Carver, Patrick Harris,
Butch Lawter, Chad Stewart, Larry Wood
Absent: None
Commissioners asked to back U.S. bill
for carbon tax to combat
climate change
Deborah Hooker, speaking for the Johnston County Chapter of a nationwide organization known as the Citizens Climate Lobby, asked the board to endorse proposed federal legislation that would impose a tax on carbon emissions from power plants and other industries that scientists say are major contributors to global warming.
She said the proposal to create "a market-driven demand for cleaner energy" has bipartisan support from economists and politicians. A key factor behind that support, she said, is that the net revenue from the carbon tax would be returned to American households as "dividends" that would offset energy price increases resulting from the tax.
The commissioners had no response Monday to her request and took it "under advisement" for consideration at a subsequent meeting.
Later on during Monday's meeting, David McGowan, a Wilson's Mills town councilman, questioned the claim of bipartisan support for the measure in Congress. He noted that of the 62 co-sponsors of the legislation, only one of them is a Republican. "I would caution the commissioners" about endorsing the bill, he urged. Mr. McGowan, by the way, is a registered Republican although his Town Council position is nonpartisan.
GARBAGE & TRASH DECALS AREN'T REPLACED YET
The commissioners have yet to reach consensus on how to replace the vehicle-decal system of charging rural residents for garbage and trash disposal at the county's "convenience centers." Several citizens spoke in favor of replacing the decal system during a public hearing Monday evening, but they didn't call for any particular replacement plan. Under consideration is an annual fee as high as $80 that would be added to the tax bills of all residents outside Johnston's municipalities (which have their own or contracted garbage-collection services). A second alternative is a fee of $48 on rural residents plus a $20 fee charged to all of Johnston's residents to cover the county's expense of recycling. Rick Proctor, the county's director of solid-waste services, said Johnston County handles 3,000 tons of recyclables a year at a cost to taxpayers of $400,000. Commissioners agreed to put off a decision this month, although Board Chairman Ted Godwin urged: "Don't kick this can too far down the road."
COUNTY JOINS CAMPAIGN TO "CLEAN UP" RECYCLING
Mr. Proctor told commissioners that Johnston County is taking part in a statewide campaign to "clean up the recycling stream." He said 15 to 20% of items tossed into recycling bins here are materials that cannot be recycled, and that reduces revenue the county selling receives for recyclables to dealers. He pulled out examples out of a bag --- styrofoam cups, small plastic containers, bags for chips and other snacks. Other nations are getting stricter about accepting recycled materials from the United States, he said; China, for instance, requires shipments containing less than 1% non-recyclable items.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE AT GRIFOLS EXPANDED
Following a public hearing that drew no opposition, commissioners approved an expansion of the county's Economic Development & Training District east of Clayton to include property adjacent to Grifols Therapeutics that the company plans to use for expanding its operations. Property within the district is subject to a special tax that is collected to support the nearby Johnston County Workforce Development Center. By requesting the district's expansion, Grifols "will voluntarily participate in the cost of establishing and maintaining a viable, well-trained workforce," notes a narrative included with Monday's agenda.
NEW SEWAGE-TREATMENT PLANT GETS A NAME
At the request of Chandra Farmer, the county's director of public utilities, commissioners named the new sewage-treatment plan being planned for county property off N.C. Highway 210 adjacent to the landfill the "210 Wastewater Treatment Facility." The new plant on higher ground will replace the county's treatment facility beside the Neuse River below Smithfield that was temporarily put out of service by flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew three years ago.
APPOINTMENTS MADE TO SEVERAL BOARDS
The commissioners approved the following appointments:
• Nursing Home/Adult Care Home Community Advisory Board --- Nancy Washington reappointed.
• Moccasin Creek Service District Board --- Jeff Holt reappointed to represent the Town of Pine Level.
• O'Neals Firefighter's Relief Fund Board of Trustees --- Billy Hodge appointed.
• Pi-Le Firefighter's Relief Fund Board of Trustees --- Gregory Duane Johnson reappointed.
• Alcoholic Beverage Control Board --- Cathy Clayton reappointed.
EXPANSION OF QUARRY AT PRINCETON APPROVED
Following a public hearing that drew a number of citizens and technical experts --- all of them in favor --- commissioners rezoned more than 625 acres on Rains Mill Road near the Little River north of Princeton to allow for future expansion of the quarry operated by Hanson Aggregates Southeast since 1976. Calling Clayton "the pharmaceutical capital of Johnston County" (because of Grifols and Novo Nordisk), Princeton's Mayor Don Rains called his town "the aggregates capital of Johnston" as he endorsed the quarry's expansion. Commissioners were told that the additional land would allow the quarry to be productive for another 100 years.
REZONING FOR RURAL STORAGE UNITS DENIED
The commissioners denied a request to modify a General Business Special Use District on Covered Bridge Road in Wilders Township to allow mini-storage buildings as well as storage of boats and RVs. Ned Coleman, who operates a landscaping business on the property, petitioned for the change, which was approved by the County Planning Board. Matt Dean, who resides across the road from Mr. Coleman's property, said the zoning modification would be "inappropriate for the neighborhood" and would be "a drag on surrounding property values." The commissioners, by unanimous vote, agreed with Mr. Dean.
NATIONAL FARM-CITY WEEK TO BE OBSERVED HERE
At the request of Johnston's Cooperative Extension Service, commissioners adopted a resolution proclaiming November 22-29 as "Farm-City Week" --- part of a nationwide observance. "Our farmers rely on essential partnerships with non-rural communities to supply, sell, and deliver finished products across the country and around the world," the resolution reads, in part. It goes on to note that "agriculture employs a substantial number of workers in Johnston County including farmers, shippers, processors, marketers, retailers, truck drivers, inspectors, and others who annually contribute more than $3.8 billion in value-added income in Johnston County."
INNOVATION ACADEMY TEAM GETS $8,000 FOR TRIP
Commissioners approved an $8,000 gift to a team of students at the Innovation Academy at South Campus in Smithfield who've been invited to attend an international gathering of students in Rome later this month. The eight "Pioneers" and their teachers will be sharing their community-service projects at the "I Can Global Summit." To make the trip, they've raised $19,000 from donors and projects but need $27,000 to cover the expense, the commissioners were told. School Board Chairman Mike Wooten spoke in behalf of what he called "a diverse group of students" who will be serving as Johnston County's "ambassadors" at the Rome conference. The Innovation Academy is a "laboratory school" operated by Johnston County Public Schools for "learning in innovative and personalized ways." Its focus is on students from communities along the I-95 corridor who strive to be the first generation of their families to go to college.
NEW PARKS & OPEN SPACE COORDINATOR INTRODUCED
The commissioners welcomed Adrian O'Neal, the county's newly employed coordinator of parks, greenways, and open space. He's the first full-time county employee brought in specifically to work on countywide planning for parks and recreation facilities.
READ MORE about him on the SPORTS & RECREATION page>