NCDOT finishes Downtown traffic & parking plan 
Construction contract to be awarded in December

The Smithfield Town Council Tuesday night got the final version of the state's plan and unanimously approved an agreement for maintenance of the finished product.

Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett said the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) plans to let a construction contract December 8, with work to begin after the year-end holidays and completion "maybe by June." Street traffic will not be shut down during construction, and major work near the Courthouse will be done at night, Ms. Pickett told the council.

Key elements of the plan:
• Alternating one-way street pairing for Second and Third between Bridge and Johnston streets, one-way traffic for one block of Johnston below the Courthouse.
• Angled parking on one side of all the one-way streets; no parallel parking on Market Street in the heart of town.
• A raised median in the center of Market between Front and Second streets.
• All-way stop signs at Second and Bridge, Third and Johnston – which may be temporary if the town decides to pay for modifications to existing signals. All-way stop signs will control traffic at Second and Johnston; a traffic signal will remain in place at Third and Bridge.
• Pre-emption of green lights at Market and Fourth to give immediate clearance for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles stationed in and around Fire Station No. 1.
• Controlled crosswalks at the intersection of Market and Bright Leaf Boulevard.
• Wider travel lanes for vehicles passing through town on Market Street along with timing adjustments for signals at all the intersections.

The agreement approved Tuesday requires the state to continue maintaining Market Street through town (as US 70 Business) as well as North Third Street (part of the state's secondary road system). That includes traffic signals. The Town of Smithfield will maintain roadway improvements on Second, Third, and Johnston streets and remain responsible for "maintenance and liability associated with all sidewalk infrastructure" along both state and town streets.

New rules for approval of data centers, foster homes

The Town Council adopted changes in its Unified Development Ordinance to require special-use hearings for data centers while simplifying the process for foster homes.

No data centers have been requested for Smithfield sites so far. Planning Director Brent Reck and Town Attorney Bob Spence recommended a change in the rules to make sure the Town Council has final approval if any data-center sites come up.

Until now, such a facility could have been approved in an industrial zoning district after staff review. Going forward, a special-use permit will have to be sought, requiring approval by staff and the town's Planning Board before moving on to the council for approval or denial following a quasi-judicial hearing.

Data centers have drawn local opposition nationwide over issues involving electricity demands and water consumption.

Regarding foster homes, up to now such facilities have gone through the process required for special-use permits. That was changed to allow staff review and approval so long as state and federal standards are met.

The two changes were combined in one resolution that was unanimously approved by the Town Council.

Speeding and noisy vehicles disturbing North Smithfield

Town Councilor Travis Scott, who represents North Smithfield, said residents in his district have complained about "excessive speeding" and "loud vehicles" on Durwood Stephenson Parkway and Booker Dairy Road. He got assurance from Police Chief Pete Hedrick that his officers would step up enforcement of violations.

Baseball stadium's construction moving along

There was no mention of the controversial project at Tuesday's Town Council session as construction continues at the site of the stadium being built for the Smithfield Tobs collegiate-level baseball franchise coming here next spring. Clearing of a swath of forest next to the temporarily closed Community Park exercise walk is visible beyond a soccer field near Smithfield-Selma High School's baseball stadium.
 

The 20-year-old driver of a pickup truck that struck and fatally injured 78-year-old Tucker Lyon of Smithfield on September 19 was found guilty of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in District Court last week.

Selvin Adelso Vasquez-Perez of Wayne County was sentenced to 24 days in jail but got credit for time served before the trial. He remains bound by a federal immigration detainer which alleges he's in the country illegally, The News & Observer reported.

The driver was making a left turn from North Second onto Market Street in front of the Courthouse when his vehicle struck Ms. Lyon. Investigators determined that no alcohol, drugs, or excessive speed contributed to the crash, the N&O noted. 

Also last week, the executor of Ms. Lyon's estate, Davie John Smith III, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Johnston Superior Court against the young driver and his father who owns the truck his son was driving. The lawsuit accuses the father of allowing his son to drive without a valid driver's license.
 

The Johnston County Board of Education, by unanimous vote at last week's meeting, extended the contract of Superintendent David Pearce by one year – through June 30, 2030. The extension increases his local salary supplement to $264,400.

Dr. Pearce was promoted to superintendent July 1 of last year under a four-year contract, which set his salary at $235,000 plus annual increases dependent on state adjustments and 4% more based on his annual performance evaluation.

Dr. Pearce previously held the title of Assistant Superintendent of Administrative and Auxiliary Services under Superintendent Eric Bracy, who resigned last year to accept the position of Superintendent of Cumberland County schools.

The school board last week also extended the contracts of several of Dr. Pearce's "Cabinet" officials by one year – also through June 30, 2030:
• Stephen Britt, Chief Financial Officer.
• Kendrick Byrd, Assistant Superintendent of School Performance.
• Richard Carr, Chief of Communications and Family Engagement.
• Linda Edmundson, Chief of Human Resources.
• Ashley Radford, Chief Academic Officer.
• William Weaver, Chief of Student Services.
• Leigh White, Assistant Superintendent of School Performance.
• Patty Whittington, Associate Superintendent of School Performance.

Weston Hockaday was named Construction and Capital Projects Officer, succeeding Billy Massengill; Marlon Watson was given a contract as Chief Operations Officer.
 

 

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Here's a rundown of highlights from Monday's meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners:

• Annette Adams of the Johnston Soil & Water Conservaton District reported that the agency has secured farmland-preservation easements on almost 227 acres since 2023, with another 362 acres fully funded and ready to close and another 446 expected to close next year. "We have a steady stream of landowners talking with us," Ms. Adams noted. The County of Johnston has put up $1.1 million over the past two years for the program – matched by $11 million from federal and state grants.

• Commissioners voted to accept a $12,117 state grant to expand the Cooperative Extension Service's pesticide-container recycling program which presently grinds up discarded containers at seven of the county's refuse-collection sites including the landfill. Tim Britton of Cooperative Extension said more than 300,000 pounds of plastic from the containers have been recycled since the program started in 1998.

•The board gave the North Side fire department permission to build a third station, this one in the Flowers Plantation community east of Clayton. Chief Phillip Driver said he expects the 12,500-square-foot facility to cost about $4 million. He said the department has about $2 million "on hand" for the project but needs the balance to come from a county appropriation. The facility may include a rescue component with an EMS crew and ambulance if a study determines the need, the chief noted.

• The board authorized staff to negotiate with Bordeaux Construction Company of Morrisville to manage design and construction of a new Social Services headquarters building on county property beside US 70 Business east of Smithfield. The firm was chosen following interviews with several companies and avoids an open-bidding process for awarding a construction contract.

• The board heard complaints from several neighbors about "a lot of lawlessness" associated with an annual Hispanic event held off Fellowship Church Road north of Princeton last weekend. "It's getting out of hand" and "we're afraid," said Margaret Bass. Similar complaints were voiced following last year's edition of the horse and truck show known as "Caballos & Trokas." The Sheriff's Department was called out to investigate numerous incidents, commissioners were told.
 

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 WHAT'S COMING UP 

UDO public hearing by county's Planning Board Monday
The Johnston County Planning Board will continue this week's public hearing on proposed changes to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) at 6 p.m. Monday at the Courthouse. The County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2 at the Courthouse. Commissioners may adopt the UDO at their 6 p.m. meeting on Nov. 16. An updated draft of the proposed UDO is posted online>

Hocus Pocus: free"Reels On The Neuse" movie Saturday
  Downtown Smithfield Development and bookstore Once Upon A Crime are teaming up for an evening of family-friendly entertainment with a "Reels On The River" outdoor movie night featuring the 1993 Disney favorite Hocus Pocus. Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the legendary Sanderson Sisters, Hocus Pocus follows a curious youngster who accidentally awakens a trio of 17th Century witches. The show starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Neuse River Amphitheater. Admission is free of charge. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and cozy blankets. For more information about the event or upcoming community programs, visit www.downtownsmithfield.com/events>

Free Big Band outdoor concert on South Third Tuesday
Downtown Development is bringing the BC Big Band based at Campbell University to the Courthouse lawn on South Third Street for a free concert of Swing Music from 6 till 8 p.m. next Tuesday. Among members of the ensemble is pianist Jess Pittard of Smithfield, a retired family physician. Others will local ties are vocalist Debbie Dunn, guitarist and vocalist Rick McDuffie, and trumpeter and vocalist David Johnson, a former president of Johnston Community College.

Leadership Academy to present Wizard of Oz at JCC
The Fine Arts Department at American Leadership Academy Johnston will present The Wizard of Oz in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium on the campus of Johnston Community College this weekend. Four performances are scheduled –  at 7 p.m. today (Thursday), Friday, and Saturday plus a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Saturday. You may purchase tickets here>
 

AUTHOR GARY RIDOUT & FAMILY OFFER 4 BOOKS FOR SALE

Each book is $10 except "From Rabbit Tobacco to Rolls Royces," which is $20.
They can be purchased by calling Gary Ridout at 919-915-1283 or ordering via Amazon with key words "Gary Ridout." A book signing at the Johnston County Arts Cooperative, 619 South Third Street, is set for Sunday, December 6.

 DEATHS AND FUNERALS 
Click on the name to read an obituary, usually posted by the funeral home:

 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Neuse a better water source than you might think

Johnston County's Public Utilities Engineer Kim Rineer gave the County Commissioners several good reasons this week for the Lower Neuse River Water Supply plan that's expected to cost $736 million.

After 20 years of studying future water-supply options for this fast-growing county, she said, "the experts agree it's the best plan moving forward."

Why do they come to that conclusion? For one thing, the Neuse River's drainage area above a proposed new intake near the Wayne County line is 40% larger than what's upstream from the county's present water plant at Wilson's Mills. Three major creeks feed the river's flow below Smithfield – Swift, Middle, and Black – plus other significant additions like Moccasin, Hannah's, and Mill creeks in southern Johnston.

Furthermore, the river's numerous sharp twists and turns between I-95 at Smithfield and Richardson's Bridge Road provide a natural filtering of pollutants and silt flowing from intensely developed areas to the northwest of us.

Back in the mid-1990s, Ms.Rineer admitted, the polluted Neuse River was "a national disgrace." But today it's "a national model for improving water quality," she said – because of environment-friendly actions by North Carolina's state and local governments.

As a result, she claimed, "Johnston County produces some of the best drinking water around," and has received awards for meeting if not exceeding federal and state standards "for more than 10 years."

"We are 100% confident" the Neuse will continue to produce an ample water supply for Johnston for years to come, she said – if the Lower Neuse plan is carried out.

The plan calls for 14 miles of pipeline to transport "raw water" from the Neuse at Richardson's Bridge to an abandoned rock quarry north of Princeton which the county purchased some years ago. From that quarry (and perhaps another to be abandoned by a nearby rock-mining operation in the future) the water will be pumped into a new treatment plant initially capable of producing 6-million gallons of clean water daily and eventually as much as 30-million.

The county's plant at Wilson's Mills is being expanded to treat 12-million gallons but likely won't get the state's approval for capacity beyond that, Ms. Rineer told commissioners.

Kim Rineer was recently elected chair of the Triangle Water Supply Partnership made up of local governments and water utilities working together to safeguard the region's long-term water supply by "forecasting future water demand, evaluating available water sources, studying how water systems could share supplies during shortages or emergencies, and planning for reliable water supplies during droughts." (Photo from County of Johnston)
 

Senator Sawrey explains his absence from forum

Responding to a story in last week's Sun about a forum for candidates hosted by the Johnston County Branch of the NAACP, State Senator Benton Sawrey defended his absence in a note to the editor:

"The NAACP did not reach out to me until Saturday, October 3 about a forum that was scheduled to take place less than a week later. I understand that other candidates were invited on September 8. I was out of state on October 9 during the conference and immediately e-mailed my regrets for not attending. I have no idea why I received the invitation late. I'll give the benefit of the doubt that it was an oversight or there was a typo on my e-mail. I have participated before and, schedule willing, I would have done so again."

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