Smithfield
Town Council report from August 4 session |
 |
Council members present:
Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, Marlon Lee, Steve Rabil, Travis Scott, David Stevens, Roger Wood
Absent: John Dunn
Council revises utility-payment policy
to allow extra 10 days before penalties
On a recommendation from Town Manager Mike Scott and Finance Director Greg Siler, the council approved a new policy that allows utility customers an extra 10 days to pay their bills before a 5% penalty is added.
"This will have a huge impact on helping those on fixed incomes pay their bills," said Councilman Travis Scott (who's not related to the town manager).
Smithfield utility customers of water, sewer, and electrical services are divided into two groups: one with bills due by the 5th of the month, the other by the 20th. The new policy means the first group may now pay without penalty as late as the 15th of the month and the second group as late as the 30th.
The new policy also extends the time before services are disconnected for customers who fail to pay.
Town Manager Scott said the idea was considered several years ago by the council but tabled because of financial shortfalls the town was facing at the time. Now that fund balances are healthy, delays in collecting utility payments can be sustained without jeopardizing cash flows, he noted.
Mr. Scott said the town normally collects about $200,000 a year in late-payment penalties --- $125,000 from electric customers and $75,000 from water and sewer accounts.
OLD HOTEL PROPERTY IS "UNDER CONTRACT"
Downtown Development Director Sarah Edwards reported to the council that the former Hotel Gabriel Johnston is "under contract" after more than 20 years on the market.
Neither the buyer nor the
selling price is public record at this time. The
deal's closing awaits results of a "due diligence"
process by the parties involved.Opened as a hotel in 1937, the structure served as the Smithfield Municipal Building from the early 1960s through 1999, when the new Town Hall was finished and the property was sold to a local group of investors.
Vacant since then, it has fallen into a dilapidated state.
News of the pending sale was part of an annual report from Ms. Edwards citing accomplishments of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation (DSDC), a non-profit organization underwritten by a special property-tax levy on Downtown real estate as well as appropriations from Town Government.
She said private investment in Downtown Smithfield this past year amounted to $2,746,375. Included in that were three building renovations and three facade upgrades.
While four businesses closed this past year, five new ones opened and two others expanded operations, Ms. Edwards reported. Along with that, 11 new full-time jobs were created.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, DSDC set up a relief fund that has provided grants totaling $15,000 to five businesses, she noted. A second round of funding is under consideration, she added.
DSDC recently published a collection of 11 walking routes to entice more folks to visit the central business district and the nearby greenway, river, parks, and historic neighborhoods, Ms. Edwards reported.
APPEARANCE COMMISSION'S ANNUAL REPORT
The council received an annual report from the town's Appearance Commission, delivered by its chair, Peggy Scott (the town manager's wife). The commission received donations from individuals of 11 trees this past year, and that enabled the planting of 15 trees along Front, Second, and Johnston streets where the Ham & Yam Festival and other events are held, Ms. Scott noted.
A
major project
begun this
past year are
improvements
to the Town
Commons area
near the boat
ramp, she
said. A shade
shelter with
picnic tables
has been
installed (pictured
here), and
new
landscaping is
to be added
this fall,
including
wider steps in
two places
from the
parking lot
down to the
Neuse
Riverwalk. Lighting and landscaping of the town's new wayfinding signs was another significant achievement this past year, Ms. Scott said. Restoration of the historic Grantham Pump was also accomplished with the help of a donation from a member of the Grantham family, she noted (see story in the Sun of January 30).
OVERGROWN WEEDS BESIDE OLD GOLDSBORO ROAD
During the meeting's time for citizens' comments, Omar McKnight complained about a lack of enforcement of the town's rules on overgrown lots near the residence of his mother on Old Goldsboro Road. He said he has complained to town officials numerous times about weeds and grasses more than 12 inches high within 50 feet of his mother's residence in violation of a town ordinance. Town Manager Scott said the offending property owner has been contacted with "multiple correspondence," adding that the town has gone out and cut the grass on occasion (a procedure that results in a bill to the property owner). Councilman Marlon Lee interjected that "we don't enforce everybody the same" as he called for employment of additional personnel to carry out code enforcement.
20-LOT SUBDIVISION ADDITION APPROVED
The council approved the preliminary plat for a 20-lot addition to the Twin Oaks Subdivision at the ends of Ray Drive and Will Drive off Yelverton Grove Road. JYMCO Development Inc. plans to construct both single-family and duplex houses on 8.62-acres now vacant, noted Planning Director Stephen Wensman. Final approval will be dependent on acceptance of streets by the N.C. Department of Transportation for ongoing maintenance, Mr. Wensman said. Councilman David Barbour asked why sidewalks are not being required for this project while they are required for other new subdivisons. Mr. Wensman said his department uses its discretion not to require them in rural subdivisions like Twin Oaks already mostly built without sidewalks and remotely located away from walk-able destinations.
The council approved a special-use permit allowing Cash Auto Rental to continue operating in a small building with just two parking spots on West Market Street just east of the NC 210 intersection. Planning Director Wensman said the business recently learned that a special-use permit is required for car-rental operations in a B-3 business zoning district and requested a permit now to be in compliance. Randall Mattson said the local office is a satellite for the firm's main operations in Raleigh and therefore generates little traffic. Councilman Barbour thanked him for cooperating with the Planning Department to make things right. No one spoke in opposition to the permit during a public hearing at Monday's meeting.
BUFFALO ROAD BUSINESS REZONING POSTPONED
At the petitioner's request, a public hearing was postponed on Frank Lee's application for B-3 business zoning for 7.45 acres on the southeast corner of Buffalo Road and Durwood Stephenson Parkway. The property is currently zoned PUD (Planned Unit Development) and R-20A (Residential-Agricultural). Planning Director Wensman told the Sun Mr. Lee wants more time to gather information in support of his petition.
NEW POLICE OFFICER FILLS ONE OF SEVERAL VACANCIES
Chandler Stone Koesler took the oath of office administered by Mayor Moore to become the newest member of the understaffed Smithfield Police Department. He has been assigned to the department's Patrol Division. This is his first job as a policeman.
TWO SPECIAL EVENTS AT AMPHITHEATER ALLOWED
The council approved permits for two upcoming events at the Neuse River Amphiteater: (1) Community Worship Night hosted by Grace Community Church from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 30; (2) Theater in the Park hosted by Cista Lueeeze's Brunch House Theatre, Inc. from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 24. Both events will have amplified sound.
A NEW "KNUCKLEBOOM" TRUCK FOR PUBLIC WORKS
The council approved purchase of a 2021 Freightliner "Knuckleboom" loader truck for the Public Works Department from Amick Equipment at a price of $146,546 --- within the current budget's $160,000 allocated for the purchase but not the lowest bid received. Public Works Director Lenny Branch recommended Amick's bid over a lower $144,000 bid because "our history with the Pac Mac Loader Carolina Environmental proposed has not been great."
WATER PLANT'S JANITORIAL CONTRACT AWARDED
The council awarded a $5,040 contract to low-bidder Environmental Service Systems of Raleigh to provide janitorial services at the town's Water Treatment Plant this fiscal year.
WATER-PLANT EXPANSION DEBATE REKINDLED
When the council was asked to sign a letter to the N.C. Local Government Commission regarding a loan application for expansion of the town's Water Treatment Plant, Councilman Travis Scott questioned the move in light of a recent council directive he championed to put the project on hold. Town Manager Mike Scott said the application is part of administrative paperwork that needs to be in place if the council decides to move forward with the water plant's expansion. At first, Councilman Scott moved to adopt another resolution reaffirming a hold on the project, but in the end voted to submit the letter to the state as requested by staff. Councilman Lee cast the only vote against that. Before the discussion subsided, Councilman David Stevens suggested the council take up the water-plant issue at next month's meeting to decide once and for all whether the expansion project will move forward or not. In question is Smithfield's need for more water-treatment capacity alongside the County of Johnston's need for more water from Smithfield's plant to serve its customers in rapidly growing rural areas.