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For one fine day in May...

Market Street was "pedestrian friendly"!

NCDOT favors eliminating Market's parking spaces

Speaking of making Market Street "pedestrian friendly," division leaders of the N.C. Department of Transportation offered their staff's recommendations to the Smithfield Town Council Tuesday evening.

No. 1 on their list is removal of parking along both sides of Market Street in the heart of Downtown. Deputy Division 4 Engineer Sam Lawhorn said NCDOT is alarmed that 514 "crashes" involving vehicles have been reported along Market over the past five years. That, he said, is 3.5 times the "critical rate" for this type of roadway.

Many of those incidents are mirrors knocked off parked cars by passing vehicles, Mr. Lawhorn noted. Another dangerous condition, he pointed out, is the restricted visibility presented by parked cars as pedestrians attempt to cross the street.

Removing the parking spaces along Market would not only address those issues but would also enable the travel lanes to be wider, and possibly the sidewalks as well, he told the council.

To provide additional street-side parking away from Market Street, Mr. Lawhorn recommended the town consider making Second and Third streets one-way in opposite directions with angled parking on one side of each street. That would be a decision to be made by the Town Council, not NCDOT, he emphasized, yet it's a move that could qualify for state funding as part of NCDOT's Market Street proposal.

Council members voiced reluctance to endorse NCDOT's recommendations, and Mayor Andy Moore insisted a better alternative would be to keep the parking on Market while converting it into a two-lane thoroughfare with a turn lane in the middle.

Division Engineer Andy Brown said that option was studied years ago and "it crashed." He said NCDOT can't restrict traffic on a major route such as U.S. 70 through Smithfield "and hope people will go another way."

Mayor Moore countered that motorists did find "a different route" several years back when the Neuse River bridge was out of service several months for reconstruction.

Councilman Travis Scott said he had talked with constituents about one-way streets Downtown and found "that is not popular." He asked the engineers if Market would work better with four travel lanes and a center turn lane if the parking spaces are gone. "No," Mr. Lawhorn replied.

Summing up Tuesday's discussion, the deputy engineer said "we can't continue to allow things as they are." Added Councilman David Barbour: "I hate driving through Downtown Smithfield.... It's just not safe!"

Outlet Center Drive repaving less costly than expected

The council approved the S.T. Wooten Company's low bid of $875,511 to repair and repave 1.1 miles of Outlet Center Drive between Equity Drive and the Selma town limits. "That's a really great price," exclaimed Public Works Director Lawrence Davis.

The town had expected to spend a million dollars for the work, but only one of four bidders on the project quoted prices above that mark. Town Manager Mike Scott said Wooten's quote will be covered by an appropriation from the town's unassigned General Fund Balance, which rose to an unprecedented $17,629,230 this past year, according to the annual audit report presented to the council Tuesday.

Originally a state-maintained road named Industrial Park Drive, Outlet Center Drive was added to the town's street system as part of an agreement with NCDOT related to the Smithfield Crossings road configuration that was done a decade ago.

Director Davis said the reconstruction should be completed in June, before the end of the town's current fiscal year. Next up is unveiling of a plan to step up the town's resurfacing of streets by dipping further into that General Fund surplus.

West Smithfield Elementary School's annexation approved

The council without dissent approved Johnston County Schools' request for voluntary satellite annexation of the 28-acre campus at Galilee Road near NC 210. The tract is adjacent to a large new subdivision previously annexed to town. Both properties are beyond Smithfield's borders but within the town's planning jurisdiction.

Annexation will make West Smithfield Elementary eligible for a school resource officer (SRO) employed by the town's Police Department (and mostly funded by the school system). It will also enable Smithfield police to keep an eye on the school property 24/7.

Councilman Marlon Lee said he's pleased to see the town's police force looking after that school since a number of its students reside in East Smithfield.

Council makes appointments to three advisory boards

Approved as part of Tuesday's Consent Agenda were the following appointments:
• To the town's Board of Adjustment – Gregory Evans and Jason Evans (both new).
• To the Appearance Commission – Pamela Yelle (new).
• To Downtown Development's Board of Directors – Julia Narron (former member).
Current board vacancies subject to the council's approval include 3 on the Appearance Commission, 3 on the Board of Adjustment, 2 on the Historic Properties Commission, and 4 on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.

Town joins list of local governments against N.C. legislation

The council adopted a resolution stating the Town of Smithfield's opposition to House Bill 765 because it contains "numerous provisions that would significantly undermine the authority of local governments to manage land use within their jurisdictions." Town Manager Scott said the N.C. League of Municipalities has asked cities and towns to unite in opposition to the bill. Johnston's County Commissioners have also adopted a resolution opposing H.B. 765.

She's first candidate to announce for 2025 council election

Elizabeth Anne Temple stood before the Town Council Tuesday to state her intention to file in July as a candidate for the District 2 (South Smithfield) seat presently held by Councilman Sloan Stevens (it's one of four district seats as well as the mayor's chair up for election this November). Ms. Temple objected to the council's recent approval of the Hotel Gabriel Johnston's renovation, the alcohol-permitting Social District with its "Pint of No Return" signage, and removal of the Bradford Pear street trees as examples of "wasteful spending" by the town; and she called Ham & Yam "a cash cow benefiting the few" that "does not attract diverse crowds." She also said "we need to build a parking garage" Downtown.

Town Council to resume budget deliberations Monday

The council recessed Tuesday's meeting until 6:30 p.m. Monday at Town Hall to continue looking over funding requests for inclusion in the town's 2025-26 budget, which must be adopted by July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

NOTE: Smithfield's Town Hall will close at noon Friday (tomorrow) for an Employment Appreciation Event.
 

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Opened in 1957 behind the Johnston County Courthouse as the Gaskin Building, for many years now the structure has been the home of the Mast Law Firm.

County to buy law firm's property for courtrooms

Johnston's County Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved an option to purchase for exactly $1 million property behind the Courthouse for new "judicial facilities" identified as a high priority during the board's recent planning retreat.

Built in 1957 by W.M. Gaskin as what The Smithfield Herald described as a "modern" building including 15 two-room office suites plus some first-floor "warehouse space," the red-brick structure stood on a lot that was offset behind the original Courthouse. Over the years Courthouse expansions with off-street parking have practically surrounded the structure.

The need for more courtrooms in a separate new building was identified during the commissioners' recent retreat when they were informed that the present Courthouse complex cannot be reconfigured to accommodate additional courtrooms because of structural limitations.

Instead, portions of the Courthouse recently vacated by removal of most of the jail as well as offices for the Sheriff's Department and magistrates, Emergency Management and 9-1-1 Communications are to be renovated for offices needed by Johnston's expanding judicial system. The relocated jail and those related departmental services have been moved into the new Detention and Public Safety centers beside US 70 Business east of I-95.

That acreage is slated for the commissioners' top building priority – a new home for Social Services – with quarters for other county administrative offices to follow.

Incentive payments approved for Clayton industrial building

Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to guarantee up to two years' rent for a proposed "Class A speculative building" suitable for manufacturing on a site off US 70 near its interchange with Interstate 42 on the Smithfield side of Clayton.

Chris Johnson, the county economic-development director, said the facility is urgently needed as Johnston has lost 25 industrial prospects looking for immediately available buildings since the first of this year.

The agreement approved Monday guarantees Illinois-based Wylie Capital monthly rental payments of $25,000 for no more than 24 months once construction of the "spec" building is finished. Those payments will be canceled if Wylie Capital is able to lease or sell the building in the meantime.

The county also agrees to refund 50% of property-tax payments over five years once at least $55 million has been invested in the proposed three-building industrial park to be known as Clayton Commerce Center and at least 25 full-time workers are employed there with an average salary of $74,000.

Mr. Johnson emphasized that the county's incentives are crucial to help stem the flow of Johnstonians leaving the county daily to work elsewhere. Commissioners were told at their recent planning retreat that 77% of the county's residents are now doing that. "That was shocking to me," said Mr. Johnson as he noted his office's goal of cutting that to 30% by the year 2030.

READ more details about the Clayton project in the county's announcement>

Board urged to proclaim "Gun Violence Awareness Day"

Speaking during the Public Comments segment of Monday's evening session, Shannon Halbur told commissioners she was "disappointed and sad" they had not approved a request from the local branch of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to proclaim June 6 as "Gun Violence Awareness Day," a nationwide observance. She said gun violence is the No. 1 cause of death among children in the state and nation. She asked the board to "please reconsider" the group's request. "Let's start the conversation and work together so that no more proclamations are needed,"  she concluded.

County staffers recognized for various achievements

During Monday's morning session, commissioners saluted county employees recently honored by regional, state, or national associations:

• The staff of the Human Resources Department won an award "For Excellence in Organizational Development and Leadership" from the N.C. Public Sector Human Resources Association. Paulette Williams heads the county's department.
• Steve Strickland, deputy director and finance officer with the county's Health Department where he has worked for 36 years, received an "Outstanding Individual Achievement Award" from the Eastern District of the N.C. Public Health Association.
• Christine Dowdell, director of Social Services, has been appointed to the Leadership Council of the American Public Human Services Association.

It was announced at the evening session that the Public Information Office received several awards at the recent N.C. City & County Communicators Conference: first place for photography (sample shown below in screenshot from Monday's meeting), first place for videography for productions on employee recruitment and county employees who are military veterans, and second place for the county's recent "re-branding" project including a new logo. Adam Carroll is the county's PIO director; Ben Armstrong is principal photographer and videographer.


PIO Director Carroll said this award-winning photograph was one of several highlighting "unsung heroes" involved in tobacco farming in Johnston County.
 

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 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Spring Book Sale at the Library now through Saturday

The Friends of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield are hosting their Spring Book Sale Wednesday through Saturday of this week. The sale in the library's second-floor meeting room continues till 7 p.m. today, 9-5 Friday, and 9-12:30 Saturday, which is billed as "$15 bag of books shopping day."

Free movie "Grease" at Neuse Amphitheater Friday night

"Grease is the word!" for this Friday's free movie at the Neuse River Amphitheater below Front Street. Show time is 8:30 p.m. "Bring a chair and popcorn to enjoy the show," advises Smithfield Parks & Recreation, host of the summertime series.

"Poocha Palooza" at Second Street Dog Park Saturday

Hosted by the Smithfield Parks & Recreation Department from 10 a.m. till noon, the "dog party" will include costume and best-trick contests. The town's dog park is located at the corner of Second and Holding streets. Off-street parking is available off Hood Street beside the Civitan Baseball Park.
 

Board of Education expected to OK budget request Tuesday

Johnston's board is expected to adopt its 2025-26 county budget request during its regular monthly meeting which begins at 4 p.m. at the school system's headquarters on US 70 Business East. Superintendent Eric Bracy's recommended budget seeks an additional $10 million in operating funds from the county. Tuesday's meeting usually opens with a closed session on personnel and other matters followed by the open business session around 5 p.m. VIEW the complete agenda once it's posted>
 

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 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

End of county incentives for "cross dock" facilities

With Monday's announcement about the county's financial incentives for a "speculative building" at Clayton that will be designed to attract manufacturing, Economic Development Director Chris Johnson said his office and its advisory board have agreed to no longer offer these deals for what he described as "cross dock" warehouse-like distribution centers.

Instead, the county's focus going forward will be on recruiting manufacturing concerns that pay higher wages, Mr. Johnson explained. Those are prospects he said are being lost to other counties that offer readily available buildings.

He didn't mention Amazon, but its "fulfillment center" in West Smithfield is one of those "cross dock" facilities where goods and brought in and sorted before going out for delivery. When Amazon announced its coming back in May 2021, the company made it a big deal that it would offer wages starting at $15 an hour. By the time it officially opened its facility here a year ago, Amazon had raised that to $17 an hour.

Those are now "minimum wages" here as elsewhere across the nation, and Johnston's leaders apparently believe we can do much better in choosing which companies and operations are enticed to locate here.

Back to the county's history with "speculative buildings":

Mr. Johnson noted four such projects underwritten by the county's lease guarantees prior to this week's announcement. He said two of those "never got off the ground." Of the other two, one of them – on a site between Smithfield and Clayton – is "completely occupied by clean-room space provider AdvanceTec," he noted.

The other is that huge structure at the Brogden Road interchange with I-95 (shown below in an aerial shot from the county). A prospect for that site didn't pan out, Mr. Johnson said, but the building is now under lease for storage by pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, which continues to expand its operations at Clayton.

Want more "controlled growth" for Johnston County? The county's revised strategy for recruiting new industry is one example of how that can be addressed.

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