Smithfield
Town Council report from June 2 session |
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Council members present:
Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, John Dunn, Marlon Lee, David Stevens, Roger Wood
Absent: Steve Rabil, Travis Scott
Everyone who attended Tuesday evening's Town Council session --- councilmen, staff, and citizens --- wore coronavirus-protective face masks as requested. This was the first meeting of the council open for attendance in person since early March.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ADOPTED 2020-21 BUDGET
At the outset of Tuesday evening's public hearing on the town's budget for the new fiscal year that starts July 1, Town Manager Mike Scott went over key elements of the plan resulting from several council sessions held over the past month or so:
• Property-tax rate unchanged at 57 cents per $100 valuation.
• Electric rates unchanged for another year.
• Water rates up 3.4%, sewer rates up 6.5% as recommended by a recent rate study.
• Debt service accounts for 6% of the General Fund. "Our debt is minimal compared to other communities," Mr. Scott noted.
• Only loan in the new budget is $800,000 to expand police headquarters.
• General Fund balance (money held in reserve) remains strong at $13 million.
Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic:
• State street-resurfacing money expected to be $211,590 instead of $260,000.
• Sales-tax revenue expected to be about $2 million instead of $2.6 million.
• Property-tax revenue expected to be about $6.5 million instead of $6.7 million.
• General Fund budgeted at $14,736,722, down from just over $15 million this year.
Following the hearing, the council adopted the new budget without a dissenting vote.
WATER PLANT EXPANSION PUT ON HOLD
Winding up last Thursday's budget session, the council voted to table a proposed water-plant expansion project for now, in effect redirecting $350,000 set aside in the new budget for maintenance and repair expenses at the existing water plant instead. In response to questions from the council, Public Utilities Director Ted Credle said postponement of the expansion project would not jeopardize permits being issued by various agencies for the new construction that's proposed. Councilman Travis Scott asked for the delay to give the town more time to negotiate with the County of Johnston regarding bulk sales from the town's plant to meet future needs of county water customers.
PERMIT
ISSUED FOR FREEDMEN'S SCHOOL HOUSE
Following a public hearing Monday evening that drew no opposition, the council approved a special-use permit for the Historic Smithfield Foundation to operate "as a public use" the historic Freedmen's Bureau school house currently under restoration on North Fourth Street. Planning Director Stephen Wensman said use of the building as an historic site open to visitors normally would require off-street parking that can't be provided on the small residential lot. However, he continued, nearby First Missionary Baptist Church has offered its parking lot for that purpose, thereby satisfying the town's requirement. The historic structure was used as a school for African-American children after the Civil War that freed Southern slaves.
SMALLER LOTS OK'd FOR GALILEE ROAD SUBDIVISION
The council approved a special-use permit allowing smaller-than-usual building lots for Twin Creeks Subdivision Phase II, a proposed project of 28 single-family houses beside Galilee Road just south of West Smithfield Elementary School. Planning Director Wensman said the lot-size exception is allowed under "cluster" provisions of the town's Unified Development Ordinance because the plan sets aside almost three acres of open space within the project's 11.6 acres. Christopher Pettit, a neighboring property owner, voiced alarm about increased drainage from the development that could undermine his pasture land where livestock is kept. The project's developer promised to meet with him on site to address his concerns.
WAREHOUSING OPERATION NOW IN COMPLIANCE
Following a public hearing Monday evening that drew no opposition, the council approved a special-use permit for the Historic Smithfield Foundation to operate "as a public use" the historic Freedmen's Bureau school house currently under restoration on North Fourth Street. Planning Director Stephen Wensman said use of the building as an historic site open to visitors normally would require off-street parking that can't be provided on the small residential lot. However, he continued, nearby First Missionary Baptist Church has offered its parking lot for that purpose, thereby satisfying the town's requirement. The historic structure was used as a school for African-American children after the Civil War that freed Southern slaves.
SMALLER LOTS OK'd FOR GALILEE ROAD SUBDIVISION
The council approved a special-use permit allowing smaller-than-usual building lots for Twin Creeks Subdivision Phase II, a proposed project of 28 single-family houses beside Galilee Road just south of West Smithfield Elementary School. Planning Director Wensman said the lot-size exception is allowed under "cluster" provisions of the town's Unified Development Ordinance because the plan sets aside almost three acres of open space within the project's 11.6 acres. Christopher Pettit, a neighboring property owner, voiced alarm about increased drainage from the development that could undermine his pasture land where livestock is kept. The project's developer promised to meet with him on site to address his concerns.
WAREHOUSING OPERATION NOW IN COMPLIANCE
The council approved a
special-use permit that allows an existing storage
warehouse off Bright Leaf Boulevard south of Underwood
Avenue to be operated by Jordan Investment Properties,
LLC in compliance with the town's rules that only allow
warehousing in B-3 highway-business zones as a special
use. Planning Director Wensman said it's likely previous
operations there commenced before current zoning rules
were in place. In granting the permit, the council
approved a requirement that parking areas to be
regularly used must be paved.
ANNUAL
AUDIT CONTRACT
RENEWEDThe council renewed a contract with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Company of Whiteville to audit the town's financial records for the current fiscal year that ends June 30. The $22,750 annual fee for the service remains unchanged.
UPCOMING OUTDOOR EVENTS ISSUED PERMITS
The council approved two permits for upcoming outdoor events:
• Artistry in Motion plans five days of "mini dance recitals" with amplified sound at the Neuse River Amphitheater from 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 8-12 (next Monday-Friday).
• Mucho Mexico Restaurant on East Market Street plans to host a live band from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.
POLICE ACTIVITY WAS DOWN IN APRIL
Not surprising in light of coronavirus shutdowns, the town's Police Department reported a reduction in calls for service during April from 6,524 a year ago to 5,931 this year (a drop of 593). Citations issued during the month were down from 694 to 521. Accident reports decreased from 283 to 210, while arrest reports declined less dramatically --- from 359 to 340.
A telecast of Tuesday's meeting is archived on the town's YouTube channel>