Smithfield takes the heat with a little outdoor relief

In the midst of a week-long heat wave that peaked on the Fourth of July, about the only place to find some relief outdoors was East Smithfield's Eva Ennis Splash Park where refreshing waters sprayed freely – in contrast to the empty "hot seats" at the Partnership for Children playground at Community Park.

And yet, the official weather observatory at Johnston Regional Airport recorded a temperature above 100 just once over the past week – at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, July 4 with a high mark of 100.4 degrees. Of course, the "heat index" (temperature plus humidity) surpassed 100 several times over the long weekend, with the highest reading recorded mid-afternoon Friday, July 3 at 105.


Downtown Smithfield's Fourth of July celebration took place July 3 at the Neuse River Amphitheater, capped off with a "pops" concert by a regional Big Band based at Campbell University accompanying the fireworks "air show" above the river. This time, no rain (and no lightning) to disturb the festivities.

Some relief from the heat arrived Monday and again Tuesday and Wednesday as scattered thundershowers rolled through the region. We surely needed that!

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The Smithfield Town Council Tuesday evening amended its ongoing contract with Tyler Technologies to add software designed to "improve the accuracy and efficiency of payroll processing, strengthen compliance with town policies and labor regulations, reduce manual data entry, and provide employees and supervisors with streamlined tools for recording and approving time worked."

One-time set-up fees amount to $49,686; recurring annual fees amount to $26,856. Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett proposed the expanded computer service during recent budget deliberations by the council. The funding was subsequently included in the town's 2026-27 budget.

Also budgeted, and authorized by the council Tuesday, is an amendment to the Tyler contract to automate the town's Accounts Payable system to reduce "manual data entry and paper-based processes." The cost of that added service is $11,752.

Continuing with the move to automate information and eliminate paperwork, the council authorized an agreement with BoardBook Premier to provide "agenda management" software for council meetings at an "implementation cost" not to exceed $4,750 and an annual maintenance expense of $4,000. That's also covered by the new town budget.

Another contract approved Tuesday as a result of earlier budget deliberations will provide iWorQ Systems software to streamline management of permits and inspections handled by the town's Fire and Planning departments. Total cost is $32,500 for both departments the first year and $19,500 for each year to follow.

Council approves GPS tracking for Public Utilities
A $43,274 contract with Samara Inc. will provide "location devices" for trucks operated by the Public Works Department. Lawrence Davis, the department's director, said in a memo to the council that the tracking system "will collect data to better serve our residents and keep our employees safe while operating vehicles."

Older electric substation to get upgraded transformers
The council accepted a $5.28-million bid from GE Waukesha to install new 115kv transformers at the town's primary electric substation near Hospital and Buffalo roads. Public Utilities Director Ted Credle said the replacements "will modernize the receiving end of the transmission of power from Duke Energy and create a sister station" to the town's newer substation off Brogden Road. The purchase of transformers will be made with a loan to the town's Electric Fund that's subject to approval by the N.C. Local Government Commission.

Police to get three used vehicles in cost-saving move 
The council approved Police Chief Pete Hedrick's recommendation to purchase and upfit three used Dodge Durango cruisers with $140,000 budgeted for purchasing two new police vehicles this fiscal year. The second-hand cars are coming from Asia Motors Inc. – an Illinois dealer that specializes in resales of such vehicles.

Lee Smith appointed to DSDC Board Directors
The council confirmed the appointment of Lee Smith that was recommended by the board of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation. Mr. Lee is CEO of Tarva Group, LLC – a Downtown-based firm that "helps businesses and non-profits build intentional strategies and navigate digital marketing and branding landscapes," he notes in his application for the DSDC position.

Proclamations salute retailers, parks and recreation
Mayor Andy Moore read two proclamations that were adopted by the council. One declares the month of July as "Independent Retailers Month"; the other recognizes July as "Parks and Recreation Month." No details were provided about specifics of the observances.

Tuesday's Council meeting lasted just 13 minutes
That's all the time it took as many of the items reported above were approved as part of a Consent Agenda without any discussion by council members (Travis Scott and Roger Wood were not in attendance Tuesday; Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett was on vacation).


STREET RESURFACING BACK IN FULL SWING
After delays bought on by the contractor this spring, the milling and repaving of selected residential streets throughout town produced scenes like this along several blocks of Vermont and First south of Sanders Street this week. Coastline Contracting of Wilmington was awarded a $1,394,572 contract back in November to resurface portions of 23 streets. Streets in neighborhoods near Smith-Collins Park recently received new asphalt surfaces. More work elsewhere is yet to be done.
 

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Johnston Board of Education meets next Tuesday
The school board's regular monthly meeting is scheduled for the second Tuesday of the month at Johnston County Public Schools' headquarters on US 70 Business east of I-95. A starting time for next week's meeting along with the agenda should be posted on the school system's website by the end of this week>

Agendas for County Commissioners, Town Council
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, July 20. The agenda should be posted online by the end of next week>
The Smithfield Town Council will meet again at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 21.
The agenda should be posted online by the end of next week>
 

Flying under the radar this election year is a non-partisan contest for two seats on the Johnston Soil & Water Conservation District's Board of Supervisors. The two men seeking re-election to those seats are being opposed by seven candidates.

The filing period for candidates ended Monday – long after the filing period for candidates seeking election to numerous federal, state, and county offices in this November's General Election.

John Michael Langdon of Raleigh Road, Benson – chairman of Johnston's Board of Supervisors – is seeking re-election to a ninth term, having first won election in 1994. Dewitt Hardee of Johnson Chapel Road, Benson is running for a second term.

Opposing them are Joe David Austin of Freedom Road, Smithfield; Brad Alonza Barefoot of Eldridge Road, Newton Grove; Gracie Chamblee of Hemlock Circle, Clayton; Travis Allen Floyd of Vista Court, Clayton; Christine Livingston of Stephenson Road, Benson; Caitlyn Marsh of 185 Long Grass Drive, Smithfield; and Luke Smith, NC 231, Zebulon.

Other members of Johnston's Board of Supervisors are Jerry Dennis Durham Jr. of Jackson Road, Four Oaks; Donald Rogers of Dove Lane, Clayton; and Vice Chair Charles Hill of Wiggs Road, Selma.

And if you're wondering what the Soil & Water Conservation District is all about, here's an explanation posted on the Johnston County website:

Soil and Water Conservation Districts focus on natural resource problems and solutions. They are a sub-unit of state government where a five-member Board of Supervisors oversees programs that assist citizens with natural resource problems.

North Carolina was the first state in the US to found a Conservation District... in 1937. There are nearly 3,000 conservation districts across the United States. Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, 96 counties have a Soil and Water Conservation District.
 

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

FRANCES HATCHER STRICKLAND, 73 – died July 7

GIL ARMANDO (MANDO) VILCHIS, 43 – died July 5

RALPH MICHAEL BROWN, 80 – died July 2

BRENDA GAIL METZNER, 77 – died July 2
 

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 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

The Sun will take some vacation time to regroup

"Summertime, and the living is easy" goes the opening line of George Gershwin's famous tune. Wishing that to be the case, the Smithfield Weekly Sun will be published every other week the remainder of his month and next, returning to the normal weekly schedule in September.

In the meantime, we'll continue to monitor obituaries with Smithfield connections posted by funeral homes and publish all the links we find in the bi-weekly editions.

Of course, if "really big news" breaks this summer, we'll jump in with an "Extra" edition at any time to keep our readers in the know. We've done similar scheduling in summers past, but not every year....

HAS ANYONE SEEN "LADY"?
Andrea Johnson sent this photo to the Weekly Sun – a first for this publication's "lost and found department" (didn't know we had one till now)....

Here's the owner's plea:
"Lady is an 8-month-old reddish golden retriever mix that has been missing since July 3rd. She went missing from our home off Crescent Drive. She was last seen wearing her pink bone collar with identification tags. Our family is offering a $1,000 reward for her safe return, no questions asked. Please call 919-524-5771 if you see her. She is very loved and very missed!"
 

MISS A PREVIOUS EDITION?
You'll find it in the Weekly Sun archives>