Along a mile of South Third Street...

And the large parking lots at JCC...

All of the main lots beside College Road at Johnston Community College are being completely rebuilt with new drainage systems, curbs and gutters, and sidewalks. JCC's President Vern Linquist credits State Representative Larry Strickland with securing state funding to cover the bulk of the $5,115,896 cost.

"This project is utilizing a highly efficient full-depth reclamation method that pulverizes the existing asphalt and blends it with cement to produce a superior, concrete-like sub-grade," Dr. Linquist noted. "This innovative approach eliminates the need for costly removal of the existing asphalt and sub-grade while providing a durable foundation for new pavement."

In addition, the Town of Smithfield at its expense is installing new LED lighting. The goal is to have all the work completed by the opening of JCC's fall-semester classes in mid-August. (Photos illustrate the project's status earlier this week.)

Johnston County's Superintendent of Schools David Pearce has named Joy Bryant, Smithfield-Selma High School's principal for less than a year, as interim principal of Wilson's Mills High School, which is scheduled to open a year from now.

In her place, Dr. Pearce has assigned Ryan Ewell to take over as principal at Smithfield-Selma. He has served as Cleveland Elementary School's principal the past four years. Dr. Ewell earned his Doctor of Education degree from East Carolina University in 2021. He previously earned a master's degree from N.C. State University and a bachelor of science degree from N.C. A&T State University.

Meanwhile, former SSS principal David Allen has been named principal of North Johnston High School. Since he left Smithfield-Selma two years ago, Mr. Allen has held several administrative positions in the school system's Central Office, most recently as executive director of certified and support personnel in the Human Resources office.

Ms. Bryant took over as SSS principal last November 1, succeeding Crystal Gregory who resigned in the middle of last year's fall semester. Ms. Gregory had succeeded Mr. Allen as Smithfield-Selma High's principal in 2023.

The principals' new assignments were announced at a special personnel session of the Johnston County Board of Education Monday morning. The board also approved contracts for Igor Gorbatovski as the new principal at Cleveland Elementary School, Patrick Holmes principal at Cleveland Middle School, and Shannon Pawlak principal at Riverwood Elementary School.

Fall-semester classes begin Monday, August 25 in Johnston's traditional public schools. Meanwhile, classes begin sooner at local charter schools: this coming Monday (August 4) at American Leadership Academy Johnston and the following Monday (August 11) at Neuse Charter School.
 

How do our new property-tax rates stack up?
Smithfield holds onto Johnston's lowest electric rates

Here's a comparison of property-tax rates adopted by Johnston County's municipalities this summer in the wake of countywide real-estate revaluation, which dramatically increased the values assigned to most residential properties because of recent jumps in housing-market prices throughout the county:

Here's a comparison of residential electric rates charged by the four municipalities that operate their own power systems and by Duke Energy, which serves the bulk of Johnston's residences outside the four towns:

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Johnston Visitors Bureau names its new CEO
Successor to Donna Bailey-Taylor, leader for almost 30 years

Aaron Mullins is the new president and CEO of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, succeeding long-time tourism leader Donna Bailey-Taylor, who has retired after nearly three decades of service.

Chosen for the job by the Johnston County Tourism Authority, Mr. Mullins will oversee all aspects of the Visitors Bureau’s work, including marketing, design, sales, and partnership development.

For the past year and a half he has worked as a communications strategist with Zartico, a company based in Salt Lake City "that uses data science and AI to create stragetic planning and optimization solutions for destination leaders," according to his career posting on Linkedin.

From January 2019 through December 2022 Mr. Mullins was director of communications and marketing for Visit Bentonville in Arkansas. That's the home base of Walmart, where Mr. Mullins worked as senior manager for corporate communications from September 2014 until January 2019. Before that he was employed for a year with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

He operated media-consulting businesses in Washington, D.C. for several years after serving as legislative aide for North Carolina's U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2002-2008. He previously served as a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Don Nickles of Oklahoma.

Established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1987, the Johnston County Visitors Bureau is funded by a 3% occupancy tax paid by visitors staying in accommodations throughout the county. An additional 2% tax is collected in Smithfield for projects and programs boosting tourism within the town.

Smithfield's tourism budget this year: $461,411

The Town of Smithfield's recently adopted budget for fiscal 2025-26 includes an appendix with the year's plan for spending Smithfield's allocation of revenues from a local 2% tax on hotel stays. It's an appendix because the plan is outside the town's General Fund budget and is overseen by the Johnston County Tourism Authority.

This year's plan adds up to $461,411. Two newly added items relieve the town from expenditures of $80,000 for administration of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation and $60,000 for staffing of the Ava Gardner Museum.

Other major items in the tourism budget for Smithfield are $70,995 for digital advertising, $65,796 for billboards, $39,120 for print advertising, $50,000 to help pay for a redesign of the courtyard at the Public Library, and $50,000 for planning a soccer park on property the town has purchased off NC 210 in West Smithfield.

Town Manager Mike Scott told the Town Council during recent budget deliberations that Smithfield's tourism fund has built up a surplus, primarily to help pay for the proposed soccer park. The council subsequently agreed to use part of that to make a $150,000 contribution toward purchase and renovation of the Howell Theatre.

Details of the tourism spending plan is on page 160 of the town's 2025-26 budget>
 

Johnston County set another record for employment in June. According to the N.C. Department of Commerce, 124,811 Johnstonians held jobs last month – up from 124,049 in May and the previous monthly record of 124,452 in March. Even so, Johnston's unemployment rate rose from 3.1% in May to 3.4% in June, according to the state's latest estimate. That's because the number of Johnstonians filing for unemployment benefits rose from 3,941 in May to 4,360 in June. The state's report shows an increase in Johnston County's total labor force from 127,990 in May to 129,171 in June. VIEW the statewide county-by-county report for June
 

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Not only has it been hotter than usual around here this summer, we've had more than our normal share of rainfall. On top of 7.79 inches recorded in June, Cornell Cox measured 6.72 inches in July at his unofficial Backyard Weather Station in South Smithfield. His July measurement brings our year-to-date total to 31.25 inches – a couple of inches above Smithfield's average of 29.16 inches for the first seven months of the calendar year, according to U.S. Climate Data.
 

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Smithfield's annual "National Night Out" police event
This year's event, hosted by the Smithfield Police Department, will be held at Community Park off Durwood Stephenson Parkway from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. The "family-friendly experience" is open free of charge and will include K-9 demonstrations, police and fire emergency vehicles on display, crime-prevention and safety booths, as well as bounce houses and a petting zoo.

Another back-to-school "Stuff the Bus" event Friday
This time the organizer is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnston County. Two events are planned this weekend to collect school supplies for needy children: 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. Friday at Walmart in Smithfield, same time Saturday at Clayton's Walmart.

Free Athletic Camp for youth at the SRAC this Saturday
That's right: it's free of charge – open to youngsters 12-18 years of age who are enrolled in middle or high school for the upcoming school year. "Led by experienced athletes who care about our community," the camp is "all about building skills, confidence, and friendships," reads the announcement from the Smithfield Parks & Recreation Department. The camp lasts from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday at the Recreation & Aquatics Center (SRAC). Space is limited to 100 youth.

County Commissioners likely to raise development fees
On the agenda for the 10 a.m. session of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners Monday is a proposed new schedule of fees the county charges subdivision developers to cover costs of expanded water and sewer facilities related to growth. Also, a public hearing is scheduled on revisions to the county's storm-water ordinance. VIEW details in the complete agenda for the morning session>
On the agenda for Monday's 6 p.m. session are updates from Johnston's Cooperative Extension and Soil & Water Conservation programs and introduction of the state's C-Pace program, described as "a financing mechanism for commercial property owners to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, resiliency, and water conservation improvements." VIEW complete agenda for the evening session>

Town Council to reconsider Mallard Road housing plan 
The Smithfield Town Council will hold a public hearing on revisions to a subdivision plan for 491 acres along Mallard Road when it convenes at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall. The developer proposes to reduce the number of residential units to 1,327 – down from 2,005 units previously approved by the council. Also on Tuesday's agenda: approval of speed humps on Martin Luther King Drive at the splash pad and announcement of applicants for East Smithfield's vacant council seat.
VIEW the complete agenda for Tuesday's meeting>
 

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 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Is proposed county campus on wrong side of town?

There are pros and cons regarding the County of Johnston's move to develop acreage on US 70 Business east of I-95 for what would turn out to be an expansive administrative campus for most offices and services of County Government.

First, the pros:

• The 120 or so acres purchased by the county across US 70 Business East from the new Public Safety and Detention centers is a large assemblage of undeveloped property that's no longer available in the heart of Smithfield.

• The land there is mostly flat, relatively easy to develop, and it's away from densely populated neighborhoods that might not want that kind of project next door.

• And while it's a couple of miles away from the heart of town, the site is just "a hop, skip, and jump" away from the bustling interchange of I-95 and 70 Business where a variety of eateries and other services are offered for county employees as well as citizens coming to town for business with County Government.

• The proximity to I-95 certainly makes access to county offices an easy trip for many of Johnston's residents and business owners.

And yet, that last point brings up the No. 1 con:

• The proposed government complex is on the opposite side of Smithfield from a large majority of Johnston's populace. That means a tedious drive through the heart of town along an already overtaxed Market Street. Yes, there are ways to avoid our Downtown coming in from the west, but how many motorists are going to use those circuitous alternatives to reach the new government campus? Most will likely continue rushing as fast as they can through our central business district.

• Another negative is also related to traffic congestion: How many more vehicles can the east-way boulevard across I-95 safely handle with an additional influx of folks heading out to the county's offices? That interchange is mostly to serve patrons of the outlet center, numerous restaurants, and other visitor-related services already there (and more to come, most likely).

Fortunately, the proposed government complex isn't going to take shape overnight. Financing the $347-million project (at today's prices) will require construction to be done in phases, starting with the sorely needed headquarters for Social Services. That will buy time for the county's leaders, working with the N.C. Department of Transportation, to figure out how to get folks where they need to be with minimal inconvenience. No matter how you cut it, that's going to be costly for taxpayers.
 

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