Johnston County
Board
of Commissioners report from Feb. 3 sessions |
 |
Commissioners present for both
sessions:
Chairman Ted Godwin, Tony Braswell, Patrick Harris,
Chad Stewart, Larry Wood
Absent from both sessions: Jeff Carver &
Butch Lawter
A PLEDGE TO DEFEND SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
Before an overflow audience of gun rights' advocates at the outset of Monday evening's session, the commissioners adopted without dissent a resolution expressing the county board's "intent to stand unified in total support for Second Amendment rights and to oppose, within limits of the Constitutions of the United States and the State of North Carolina, any efforts to unconstitutionally restrict such rights, and to use such legal means at its disposal to protect the rights of the citizens to keep and bear arms." Darryl Mitchell, chairman of the Johnston County Republican Party, thanked commissioners for the resolution. "It's a sad day that we're even here," he said, referring to recent efforts to restrict gun rights in Virginia whose voters, he noted, have elected "a Democrat governor" and "a Democrat legislature." At that point Commissioners' Chairman Ted Godwin interjected: "Let me remind you we are non-partisan here." Even so, Mr. Mitchell concluded: "If you vote the right way this resolution (defending gun rights) wouldn't be needed." (EDITOR'S NOTE: Johnston's commissioners are elected by party affiliation. Currently, all seven board members are registered Republicans.)
Some editorial comment about this action on the OBSERVATIONS page>
AUDIT SHOWS FUND BALANCE UP TO $84.1 MILLION
The annual audit report presented to commissioners Monday morning shows that the county's General Fund balance has grown from $51.3 million in 2015 to just under $84.1 million at the end of fiscal 2018-19 June 30. Of that latest amount, just under $9.2 million is "committed or assigned" and therefore not available for immediate appropriation. The report shows that the county's General Fund balance this past year rose to 29.12% of General Fund expenditures --- a percentage that now exceeds the average for other North Carolina counties of Johnston's size. Commissioners in recent years have striven to maintain a healthy General Fund balance in their quest to raise the county's bond rating and thereby reduce the cost of debt service. Meanwhile, the county's property-tax collection rate --- at 99.89% --- continues to surpass the rates of other counties in Johnston's "group."
DETENTION CENTER PROJECT ON SCHEDULE
Jason Hopkins of Moseley Architects reported that planning for the new Detention Center to be built east of Smithfield remains on schedule toward completion in the spring of 2022. Construction cost estimates are "still on track" to come in around $48.5 million, he noted. Jimmy Boykin, employed by the county to oversee the project on the taxpayers' behalf, said plans put forth by the architects are "not a lot of frills, not a lot of fancy" but expensive because of what's now required of jail facilities across the state. "It will meet our needs for some time to come without being extravagant," Mr. Boykin said. Meanwhile, Sheriff Steve Bizzell said the Courthouse jail recently held 335 inmates --- well above its rated capacity of 191. That situation continues to force Johnston to ship inmates to other counties for safekeeping, he noted.
ROCK-QUARRY ISSUE STILL UNRESOLVED
Commissioners learned that Martin Marietta's request for permission to operate its quarry between Four Oaks and Benson around the clock has been put on hold for at least another month following a meeting of company officials with nearby residents last week. Donald Ernest, one of those residents, reported that "they've got a long way to go" in negotiations to restrict quarry operations during nighttime sleeping hours. Presently, Martin Marietta is required by a county-issued special-use permit to limit its operations to Monday through Saturday, dawn to dusk. The company wants that restriction lifted so it can deliver crushed stone to major highway projects "24/7" since much of that work nowadays is done at night as required by contracts with the N.C. Department of Transportation.
BENTONVILLE TOWNSHIP "SAND MINE" APPROVED
Commissioners approved a request from the S.T. Wooten Corporation to operate a "sand mine" on 45 acres at 3903 Richardson Bridge Road in Bentonville Township. The board was told that three other such quarries are presently in operation in that section of the county. The "life expectancy" of such operations is 10 years, commissioners were told.
DEVELOPER'S REQUEST FOR MORE APARTMENTS DENIED
By unanimous vote of those present, commissioners rejected a request from Aspen Point Property, LLC to increase the number of apartment units allowed under a previously approved county permit from 550 to 640. The proposed project involves 336 acres northeast of the highway interchange of I-40 and NC 42 in Cleveland Township. "I have heartburn increasing density where we already have a lot of people," said Commissioner Tony Braswell, who made the motion to deny the developer's request.
REQUEST FOR A DOG-BOARDING FACILITY DENIED
With one dissenting vote, the board rejected a request from Dawn Herron to allow a boarding facility for 50 dogs on her property at 1050 Freedom Road in Cleveland Township. Noting that Ms. Herron already keeps 22 dogs on her property, neighbor Pauline Williams Raynor said she's opposed to "more dogs" and "more noise," even though Ms. Herron said her proposed facility would keep dogs indoors most of the time. Commissioner Larry Wood voted against the motion to deny Ms. Herron's request.
UPDATED YEAR-END REPORT ON RURAL SUBDIVISIONS
Commissioners received a year-end report from the county's Planning Department that includes these numbers: 56 "major subdivisions" with 1,611 building lots approved in rural Johnston during 2019 --- compared to 48 "majors" with 2,064 lots in 2018. In addition, 2019 saw approval of 73 "minor" subdivisions with 138 building lots --- down from 205 "minors" with 363 lots in 2018. Developers of "major subdivisions" planned to set aside a total of 211.52 acres for "open space" in 2019 --- up from 173.95 acres in 2018. (EDITOR'S NOTE: A "Year-End Report" in the Sun's coverage of last month's Board of Commissioners meeting did not include numbers for December.)
MEDICAL EXAMINERS MOVING TO FUNERAL HOME
Commissioners approved leasing of space inside Smithfield's Underwood Funeral Home for work by three medical examiners employed by the Johnston County Public Health Department. Dr. Marilyn Pearson, the department's director, said facilities presently not in use at the funeral home would accommodate the examiners much better than cramped quarters on the Johnston Health campus. The county will pay $1,000 a month to lease the space at Underwood.
FOUR OAKS EMS TO GET "POWER LOAD" STRETCHER
Commissioners authorized purchase of a "power load stretcher system including a power load cot" for ambulances operated by Four Oaks EMS. A memo to commissioners noted that the purchase "would allow standardization of stretchers and is consistent with other loading systems in the Johnston County EMS System." The equipment's cost is $50,287, the board was told.
CITIZENS URGED TO "WEAR RED" THIS FRIDAY
Commissioners approved a resolution proclaiming February 7-14 as "All In Red Week" to bring attention to a "heart health awareness campaign" in Johnston. The resolution asks residents, business owners, and visitors to participate by "wearing RED" this Friday (Feb. 7).
APPOINTMENTS TO HEALTH, COMMUNITY ACTION BOARDS
Commissioners reappointed Kathleen Lane, representing nursing, and Ray Stott of the general public to the Johnston County Board of Health. They reappointed Robert W. Atkinson to the Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action Board.
COMMISSIONERS OKAY "ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES"
At the request of County Attorney Jennifer Slusser, the board approved a resolution authorizing "electronic signatures" on documents handled by county agencies. That will enable legal transactions to be completed via the Internet rather than in person or by "facsimile," or fax, machines. Ms. Slusser said guidelines set forth in North Carolina General Statutes will be followed in administering the new practice.