the Smithfield Weekly Sun Vol. 8 No. 19

County Manager Rick Hester told Johnston's County Commissioners Monday he is a preparing a proposed budget for the coming year that's balanced with the past year's property-tax rate of 52 cents per $100 valuation.

Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett told the Smithfield Town Council at last Thursday's budget session that her "draft" budget keeps the town's property-tax rate at 45 cents.

Both rates were set in the wake of last year's countywide real-estate revaluation and were reductions from previous rates, although neither met the definition of "revenue neutral" after revaluation.

Mr. Hester plans to present his proposed budget for fiscal 2026-27 to commissioners next week. Ms. Pickett last week presented her tentative budget. Both the county board and the town council plan to meet several times before adopting final budgets for the new year that begins July 1. (It would not be surprising if either, or both, produced cuts in their tax rates before then.)

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners on Monday favorably received a proposal to establish county-backed urgent care for mental-health cases.

Lauren Morrell, founder and CEO of New York-based Willow Health, told the board she has been working with Johnston's health-care community to set up a program of urgent care that's a combination of clinical space and "virtual care" via the Internet. The purpose is to reduce reliance on hospital emergency rooms caring for persons undergoing mental-health trauma.

Ms. Morrell said her firm plans to start the virtual component of its program here in June and is currently looking with county officials for clinical space near UNC Health Johnston's hospital in Smithfield.

Willow Health has contracts with several major health insurers and is working to add more to its network, she said. While the initial focus is on persons at least 18 years old, she said Willow hopes to expand services to adolescents by the end of this year.

County Attorney Jennifer Slusser said funding is included in the current county budget to help underwrite such mental-health initiatives as Willow's proposal.

County UDO adoption won't come before October

At Monday's evening session, commissioners got a revised schedule for adoption of a new Unified Development Ordinance from County Planner Braston Newton:

• Public hearing August 18 before Johnston's Planning Board on revisions prompted by complaints from citizens at recent board meetings that are still under review by the planning staff and a "stakeholders group."

• Public hearings September 8 and possibly September 21 before the County Commissioners on the final draft of the new land-use rules.

• Adoption October 8 of the finished document by the Board of Commissioners.

Mr. Newton also said a "drop-in session" for the public to view revisions currently in the making is being set up for July 16. That would be similar to the public forum held March 23 at the Agricultural Center that drew considerable opposition to rules in the new UDO as initially proposed.

Several citizens complained to commissioners Monday that they haven't seen UDO changes promised as a result of that March forum. Mr. Newton said changes will be posted on the county's website following additional meetings of the stakeholders group between now and early June.

Mr. Newton did confirm that regulations regarding animals on non-farm properties have been removed from the proposed UDO. Unresolved at this point, he said, are sizes of "Agriculture Compatibility" buffers between farms and new subdivisions, building setbacks and minimum lot sizes, whether development density should be based on gross acreage or on net usable land, and other concerns.

Commissioners approve lease of Downtown building

The board without dissent authorized county staff to firm up a four-year lease of the former Tucker Furniture building at Market and Fifth streets for several offices presently crammed into the nearby Land-Use Center (next to the Public Library).

County Manager Rick Hester had requested leasing and renovating the 17,903 square feet since construction of new office space for county departments appears to be years away. The plan is to move components of Public Utilities and Technology Services into the renovated quarters.

The lease is for $12 a square foot, which works out to $214,836 annually, and can be renewed after four years if the space is still needed. Renovation estimates add up to $80,000-$100,000, commissioners were told.

With a short agenda for Tuesday's meeting, the Smithfield Town Council finished up the evening with an abbreviated budget session that focused on the Police Department. Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett said she has included funding in her "draft" budget to add two police officers to the force.

Police Chief Pete Hedrick noted that 43 of 44 currently authorized positions are filled. Adding two more would cost an estimated $347,000, Ms. Pickett noted. That includes starting pay of $60,000 for each officer, with the balance required for health insurance, retirement benefits, vehicles, and other law-enforcement devices.

At the council's initial budget session last Thursday, Manager Pickett said she has budgeted for a new risk and safety manager's position in Human Resources to relieve HR Director Shannan Parrish of some of her numerous pressing duties.

Ms. Pickett also proposed moving toward a paperless payroll and accounting operation that will require upgraded software.

The council so far has made no decisions on the proposed budget. They recessed Tuesday's session until 6:30 p.m. today (Thursday) to begin reviewing departmental budgets for Fire, Public Works, and Recreation. The final budget for fiscal 2026-27 must be adopted before July 1.

Landscaping maintenance yearly contract renewed
At Tuesday's meeting, the Town Council approved another year's contract with Lane Landscaping & Greenhouse of Smithfield for grounds maintenance along state highways and municipal rights-of-way and outside the town's buildings. Lane was low bidder for the contract at $55,985.

Lane has been maintaining the town's properties since 2012 and over the years has taken on more responsibilities including Smithfield's I-95 interchanges and rest stops at Selma. The company also has maintenance contracts with the cities of Raleigh and Fayetteville, the Town of Benson, and other facilities in the region.

Police officers promoted: 2 captains and a lieutenant
Taking their oaths of office at Tuesday's council session were David Tyndall and Jason Beyer, both newly promoted to captain, and David Johnson, promoted to lieutenant.

Proclamations lift up national observances during May
Mayor Andy Moore issued proclamations for three observances:
• Professional Municipal Clerk's Week May 3-9.
• National Police Week May 11-17.
• National Public Works Week May 17-23.
Manager Pickett also noted that this week is Drinking Water Week in recognition of professionals nationwide associated with the American Water Works Association.

UNC Health Johnston figures its 141 hospital, hospice, and chaplain volunteers gave 21,795.45 hours of their time valued at $758,263.71 during the past year. Four of those volunteers received special awards at a recent appreciation luncheon:

Georgia Pilkington and Linda McKeel received the Sue Archambault Award for
"exemplary volunteerism" at UNC's Smithfield and Clayton hospitals.

Sandi Gregory, a volunteer at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, received the Hospice Angel Award for "lifting spirits and touching lives" (shown here on the right with Lesley Richmond of the Johnston Health Foundation).

Roger Williams, a volunteer chaplain, received the Overa S. Stevens Award for "faithful service." He's a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. (Photo from UNC Health)

Our hospitals again graded "A" for quality and safety

Multiple hospitals affiliated with UNC Health across North Carolina received top scores for patient safety and quality from the Leapfrog Group on its Spring 2026 hospital report card. These UNC Health hospitals earned top “A” grades:

Leapfrog is an independent national non-profit watchdog focused on patient safety. To see any hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org>

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The N.C. Department of Commerce reports that 125,865 Johnstonians held jobs in February – up from 125,023 in January – while the number of Johnstonians unemployed dropped from 4,463 to 4,305. As a result, February's unemployment rate of 3.3% was slightly below January's 3.4%. North Carolina's rate held steady at 3.8% in February; the national rate rose slightly from 4.3% to 4.4%.

Poocha Palooza at Second Street Dog Park Saturday
It's a "dog party" hosted by Smithfield Parks & Recreation from 10 a.m. till noon at the town's dog park beside South Second Street. Activities include costume and best-trick contests plus music and vendors. Admission is free of charge. "Enjoy a doggone fun day after a ruff week!" reads the invitation for Parks & Recreation.

Board of Education's monthly meeting next Tuesday
The Johnston County Board of Education is scheduled to convene at 4 p.m. in the school system's headquarters on US 70 Business east of Smithfield. The board's open business session usually begins around 5 p.m. following a closed session.
VIEW the agenda once it's posted online (usually on Friday)>
Monthly board meetings live-streamed on the schools' YouTube channel>

DEATHS AND FUNERALS
Click on the name to read an obituary, usually posted by the funeral home:

ESTHER MAE PHILLIPS KENNEDY, 95 – died May 3

BEDFORD (BUD) ELIJAH WILLIAMS, 80 – died May 1

JAMES H. (J.H.) LANGDON JR., 88 – died April 30

COLLIS WILLIAM (BILL) DODSON JR., 74 – died April 27

A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR

Gas prices above $4 a gallon (not the first time)

The website gasbuddy.com showed the price of a gallon of regular gasoline ranged from $4.19 to 4.31 at Smithfield establishments Wednesday afternoon. GasBuddy's average for all of North Carolina was $4.21.

Coincidentally, the editor's personal gasoline log shows the price for a fill-up here exactly four years ago was also $4.19 – and a month later the price topped out at $4.69. It dropped significantly after that, and a year ago was down to $2.79.

When it comes to the price of gasoline, what goes up usually comes down according to the international marketplace, recently disrupted by warfare in the Middle East.

Speaking of moving about on our streets and highways, the Town of Smithfield now has two street sweepers in operation. The editor observed one of them thoroughly cleaning the cul-de-sac outside our residence this past week. The operator circled the curb and gutter several times to remove the grit that had built up in recent months.

Meanwhile, the town's major street-resurfacing program was to be resumed this week after an interruption due to the contractor's pulling his crew to finish up another big job elsewhere. A couple of streets here were refinished back in March. Another batch should get fresh asphalt by the end of June.

County, town managers see tax rates unchanged Commissioners, councilors will have the final say

Our hospitals again graded "A" for quality and safety

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County, town managers see tax rates unchanged
Commissioners, councilors will have the final say

Subscribe to the Smithfield Weekly Sun
(electronic online edition free of charge)