Johnston County
Board
of Commissioners report from Dec. 2 sessions |
 |
Commissioners present:
Chairman Ted Godwin, Tony Braswell (absent from
morning session),
Jeff Carver, Patrick Harris, Butch Lawter, Chad
Stewart, Larry Wood
The commissioners re-elected without opposition Ted Godwin as the board's chairman for another year and Chad Stewart as vice chairman. The board is required to choose its leaders at the December meeting each year.
FIRST BAPTIST THANKED FOR SHELTER FROM STORMS
The county's Emergency Services Department presented a "Partners in Protection" award to Smithfield's First Baptist Church for allowing use of its facilities as a place of refuge during hazardous weather and other emergencies. On hand for the presentation (pictured above, left to right): in front --- Mike Carroll and David Lasater of First Baptist's Board of Deacons along with Sandy Wood and Kevin Hubbard of Emergency Services; in back --- County Commissioners Tony Braswell, Chad Stewart, Ted Godwin, Jeff Carver, Bruce Lawter, Larry Wood, and Patrick Harris.
NO DECISION ON CARBON-TAX RESOLUTION
Last month, commissioners were asked by the Johnston County Chapter of a nationwide organization known as the Citizens Climate Lobby 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. Donald Addu, Southeast director for the Climate Lobby, appeared before the board on Monday to answer any questions commissioners may have about the proposal. No questions were asked, no comments were made, and the board moved on to other matters.
APPLICATION TIME IS NEAR FOR "OPEN SPACE" GRANTS
Commissioners approved a plan for accepting applications for Open Space Fund grants early in the new year. State law allows counties to collect Open Space assessments on real-estate developments and then disperse that money in areas of collection. Current funds available for local recreation projects within high-school attendance districts are: Clayton, $56,995; Cleveland, $33,045; Corinth Holders, $216,061; North Johnston, $47,645; Princeton, $41,494; Smithfield-Selma, $20,793; South Johnston, $56,928; and West Johnston, $364,421. Another $503,269 is being held in a Future County-Wide Project Fund. The application period for organizations seeking grants opens January 2 and closes February 17. Each applicant must provide matching funds equal to 5% of a project's total cost.
APPOINTMENTS MADE TO TWO ADVISORY BOARDS
The commissioners approved the following appointments:
• Veterans Service Advisory Board --- Mark A. Peterson reappointed, Bradley C. Palmer and Thomas S. Humphrey III newly appointed to three-year terms.
• Economic Development Advisory Board --- O. Hampton Whittington as Town of Benson representative, Vic Medlin as Town of Four Oaks representative, Mike Fleming as Town of Smithfield representative, and Steve Hargis as an at-large member reappointed; Edwin L. Aldridge Jr. newly appointed at-large. All the terms are for two years.
$84,342 CONTRACT FOR SOFTWARE UPGRADE
Commissioners awarded a contract for $84,342 to Instrulogic, LLC of Winchester, Virginia to update the operating software for computer systems used by the county's Department of Public Utilities. Chandra Farmer, the department's director, said the current software in use operates with Windows 7, which Microsoft will not support after January 14. "It appears that the best option is to update the existing Wizcon software," Ms. Farmer noted. Commissioners authorized the "sole source" purchase without competing bids because Instrulogic "is the authorized distributor for Wizcon software in our area," she explained.
REZONINGS APPROVED IN PLEASANT GROVE, O'NEALS
During their Monday evening session following public hearings, commissioners approved two petitions for land-use rezoning:
• Clearwater Investment Properties, Inc. sought and received a "downzoning" from Agricultural-Residential Special Use District to Agricultural-Residential of a 1.53-acre tract on Josie Drive in Pleasant Grove Township. The tract was originally set aside for a swimming pool that was never built; now it's available for use as a residence.
• Judith E. Pate sought and received General Business Special Use District zoning for 0.877 of an acre previously zoned Agricultural-Residential behind her residence on Creech Church Road in O'Neals Township. The tract is being used to park vehicles owned by Pate Trucking, a long-time U.S. Postal Service contractor, and was out of compliance before Monday's rezoning was approved.
COST RISES FOR SWIFT CREEK SEWER LINE
Commissioners added more than $1.3 million to the budget for the Swift Creek Interceptor Project after Chandra Farmer, the county public utilities director, reported cost overruns related to wetlands adjacent to the creek near NC. 42 and Cornwallis Road west of Clayton. Problems include "extremely wet conditions" in what's an "environmentally sensitive area" protected by federal regulations, she noted. The project's original budget was $3,469,361. The revised budget is $4,775,560. The project's cost will be covered by monthly fees charged users of county utilities, not General Fund appropriations.
SOLID-WASTE DECAL REPLACEMENT STILL UNRESOLVED
Commissioners are still not in agreement on a plan to replace the county's vehicle-decal system permitting rural residents to dump household wastes at the county's "convenience centers." During Monday evening's discussion, the board agreed to get more information about an alternative being used in nearby Cumberland County, which charges all homeowners in the county a $56 fee added to their annual property-tax bills. That fee allows them to use the county's landfill, compost facility, container sites, and household hazardous-waste center free of charge for dumping up to four cubic yards of waste per week.
4-H TARGET SPORTS CLUB SPOTLIGHTED
Commissioners recognized members of the Johnston County 4-H Target Sports Club for their achievements during the recent N.C. State 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament. Jonathan Stovall is the club's leader.