Final NCDOT details subject to council's approval

The Smithfield Town Council received without objection Tuesday evening the N.C. Department of Transportation's recommended plan for removing all parking along Downtown's Market Street to be replaced by one-way pairing of side streets with angled parking spaces.

To compensate for some of Market Street's lost spaces, the state wants two blocks of Third Street – from Johnston to Bridge – one-way northbound with angled parking only on the west side and two blocks of South Second – from Bridge to Johnston – one-way southbound with angled parking on the east side beside the Courthouse.

In addition, Johnston Street would be one-way eastbound for a single block – from Second to Third streets with angled parking on the north side behind the Courthouse. Four-way stop signs would be installed at Johnston and Second where there's no traffic signal now.

Addison Gainey, NCDOT's Division 4 engineer, said the town would have a choice of upgrading its traffic signals at the North Second-Bridge Street intersection and also at the South Third-Johnston Street intersection or else replacing the signals with less expensive four-way stops signs.

Mr. Gainey said NCDOT would pay for upgrades to vehicular and pedestrian signals at all other intersections, installation of "high visibility" crosswalks at all Market Street intersections, milling and repaving of Market with wider travel lanes (11 feet) with a 4-5-foot cross-hatched buffer marked between the travel lanes and sidewalks.

He said the state also would also pay for a raised concrete island in the middle of Market between Front and Second streets "to help calm traffic entering downtown" from the Neuse River bridge and add "emergency preemption" for the traffic signals at Market and Fourth to provide safer egress by emergency vehicles from the fire and rescue stations on South Fourth.

NCDOT promises to re-time all the Market Street traffic signals, primarily to give pedestrians safer crossings, Mr. Gainey told the council.

Final plans for the recommended improvements will come back to the Town Council for approval, including a breakdown of cost sharing by the town and NCDOT. "We're going to try to cover as much as we possibly can with state dollars," Mr. Gainey pledged, "and help the town secure outside (federal) funds" to complete construction, which he said could be done in 6-8 months once contracts are awarded by the state.

Construction would be done "very intermittently," he said, and all work near the Courthouse would be done at night. Furthermore, no streets will have to be completely closed during construction, he added.

Council adopts budget with no further changes

By unanimous vote of members present, the Town Council adopted Smithfield's budget for 2026-27, maintaining the past year's property-tax rate and leaving all monthly utility fees unchanged for the time being.

There was little discussion among council members, who had worked out the budget's details with Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett over the past couple of months (Travis Scott was the only councilor absent from Tuesday's meeting.)

Ms. PIckett reviewed highlights of the new budget at the outset of a public hearing that drew no comments from citizens. Here are some key items: 
• Property-tax rate remains at 45$ per $100 valuation (Downtown rate still 16¢).
• Full-time employees are eligible for merit-pay increases up to 2%.
• Property, liability, and medical insurance premiums are all up 6%.
• Police Department – $140,000 for 2 new patrol vehicles.
• Fire Department – restructuring to include 3 battalion chiefs; $625,000 to cover half the cost of replacing a fire engine; $200,000 for a future station site.
• Public Works – $940,000 for resurfacing streets.
• Parks & Recreation – one additional facility maintenance employee.
• Water & Sewer Fund – $325,000 for East Smithfield water improvements; $800,000 for water-plant intake upgrades; $350,000 for removing PFAS chemical contamination from the town's water supply; $200,000 for a West Smithfield water tank; $250,000 for reducing storm-water infiltration of sewer lines; $200,000 for fire-hydrant upkeep.
• Electric Fund – $500,000 for an ongoing voltage-conversion project.
• Debt-service payments – ladder fire truck $75,697; police-station expansion $61,520; Public Works knuckleboom truck $35,500; Smithfield Crossing roadways $157,411; water plant expansion $722,880; electrical substation $342,586.

Increases in monthly charges for electric and sewer services may go up based on pending rate adjustments by ElectriCities and the County of Johnston, the interim manager noted.

$44,500 contract awarded for greenway repairs
The council awarded the contract to low-bidder Jose Manuel Munoz Solis to make repairs to two bridges and a boardwalk on the Buffalo Creek Greenway. A County of Johnston Parks and Open Space Grant of $30,000 coupled with a $14,500 match from the town will cover the cost.

Rick Childrey reappointed to Public Library board
The council reappointed him to a three-year term on the 12-member Board of Trustees of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield (half the members are appointed by the town; half by the county).
 

County receives plan for future fire stations
Two more recommended for sites in Smithfield

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners Monday morning received a plan for locating future fire stations that Robert Finn of Matrix Consulting Group said is "based on what's on the books and what's coming" in this fast-growing county.

The plan identifies sites for 48 new, expanded, or renovated stations that may be needed over the next 15 years, including two sites for new stations within the Town of Smithfield. Johnston County presently has 23 fire departments housed in 36 stations, noted Ryan Parker, the county's director of Emergency Services.

A number of those stations also serve as bases for the county's rescue squads – an arrangement that will continue as new stations are added.

The two sites identified for new Smithfield stations are a vacant lot on East Peedin Road at Wolfpack Lane beside Malphrus & Lampe Lumber Company and a vacant lot at the corner of South Bright Leaf Boulevard and Huntley Street. (The Town of Smithfield is already planning for the North Smithfield location.)

Mr. Finn, the consultant, said a dozen stations are envisioned in the first phase of the project, the others to follow in two less-urgent phases. Among locations identified in latter phases are sites on Little Creek Church Road and Smith Road west of Smithfield and on US 70 and Brogden Road east of town.  No cost estimates were given for constructing stations or renovating existing facilities.

Matrix Consulting Group – based at San Mateo, California – over the past 21 years has planned for more than 400 fire and rescue stations in 42 states.

Commissioners hear non-profits' budget requests

The only persons who spoke during Monday's morning and evening public hearings on the proposed 2026-27 county budget were representatives of agencies seeking appropriations for their operations:

Harbor Inc., Johnston's domestic-violence shelter, received $325,000 this year and wants $425,000 for the year ahead. Board member Melissa Oliver said Johnston County ranks fourth in the state in number domestic-violence victims served (3,165 this past year) yet has seen a cut in federal funding for its efforts from $1.7 million to $1.4 million this year.

Isaiah 117 House, a newly established program offering interim foster care for children awaiting placement, got $20,000 from the county this past year and wants $50,000 in the year ahead. Location leader Randa Gay told commissioners the program has hosted 19 children since its opened its doors here in February while assisting more than 40 families willing to provide foster homes. Isaiah 117 – based in Elizabethton, Tennessee – is a national network of foster-card facilities.

Bright Mind Behavioral Health is a new program targeting mental-health issues facing youngsters under age 18. Founder Tatum Godwin said it's "in the final stages before opening" at 515 North Eighth Street near the Smithfield hospital. Bright Mind is requesting $10,000 from the county for its first year of operation.

Boys & Girls Club of Johnston County received $100,000 from the county his past year and wants $200,000 for the year ahead as its continues to expand its programming. That includes shared use of the Town of Smithfield's Sarah Yard Center to expand the club's hours of operation here (up now the club was limited to after-school hours at South Smithfield Elementary). Its principal services are based in its new headquarters building next to Selma Elementary School.

Another budget request commissioners heard Monday came from the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, which asked for half of $66,500 to purchase a "location analytics program" that identifies where visitors are coming from, what attractions they are visiting, and what they're spending.

Commissioners made no commitments Monday on any of the requests they received. They are looking to adopt the final 2026-27 budget at their regularly scheduled session at 6 p.m. Monday, May 15.

School leaders make their case for increased county aid

Chair Lyn Andrews presented the Johnston County Board of Education's case for an increase in county funding for Johnston's public schools – from $110 million to $116.3 million for operations plus $5,478,000 for capital expenditures, up from $3.5 million this past year.

She presented a table showing more than $3.6 million of the requested $6.3 million for operations is for salary and supplement increases for teachers and support personnel based on anticipated state raises. "We're trying to stay competitive," she said. Another $1.5 million of the requested increase from the county is for this summer's opening of the new Wilson's Mills High School.

The request for an increase in capital funding is to take care of maintenance and repairs at Johnston's existing campus. "Our schools are aging," Ms. Andrews said. "Are we going to fix it, or are we going to run to die?" she asked, referring to $1.9 million sought for chiller replacements at just three of 52 school buildings still using outmoded refrigerant.

Reluctantly, county board OKs $160,000 to finish UDO work

The county signed a $263,000 contract with Kimley-Horn to assist commissioners and Johnston's planning staff finish revising the county's Unified Development Ordinance. The project appeared close to completion until a public hearing in January brought forth last-minute opposition to proposed changes.

That sent the work back to the proverbial drawing board, and now the county is getting the bill for Kimley-Horn's extended services.

Planning Director Braston Newton reported to commissioners Monday night that the firm wants an amendment adding $160,000 to its original contract. The county has paid Kimley-Horn $260,645 to date.

"Basically, the reason it's costing more money is the citizens asked for us to spend more time on it, and time costs money," observed Commissioner Mike Rose, who added he would like to see more details behind the extra expenses to be incurred.

"I don't see any need to jump off the horse in midstream," said Commissioner Bill Stovall. "We need to get this new UDO in place."

Despite reservations, the board voted without dissent to approve the amended contract. Mr. Newton pointed out that the extra expense will be paid on an "as needed" basis, up to $160,000.

Kimley-Horn is a Raleigh-based consulting firm for land-use planning. 
 

Cornell Cox recorded 4.59 inches of rainfall during May at his unofficial Backyard Weather Station in South Smithfield. That's slightly above our average of 4.23 inches for the month yet leaves total rainfall here since the first of January below what's normal. According to U.S. Climate Data, rainfall at Smithfield usually amounts to 18.78 inches January-May, but this year just 11.80 has been recorded by Mr. Cox.
 

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 WHAT'S COMING UP 

School board's monthly meeting next Tuesday afternoon
The Johnston County Board of Education is scheduled to convene at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the school system's headquarters on US 70 Business East. The open business session usually begins about an hour after a closed session at the start of the meeting. VIEW the agenda once it's posted online>

Annual Elder Abuse Awareness Walk next Thursday a.m.
Johnston County Social Services will host its 11th annual Elder Abuse Awareness Walk from 10 to  11 next Thursday (May 11) at the Social Services campus, located at 714 North Street in Smithfield. Participants will walk around the campus and receive educational materials focused on elder-abuse prevention and reporting. The event also provides an opportunity for attendees to show support for older adults, caregivers, advocates, and survivors. Participation in the walk is open to the public free of charge. For more information call Social Services at 919-989-5300.

Behind-the-scenes crew for NLT's "Odd Couple"

The Neuse Little Theatre's final show of its 51st season runs through this weekend. Sunday's final performance is sold out but tickets for Friday and Saturday evening performances remain on sale through the NLT website. Working behind the scenes to make it happen are (left to right): seated –Stephanie Chard, Abby White, Kathi Nixon (the show's director), Zoey Pridgen, Zen Kelly; standing – Mollie Brantley, Emily Brantley, Tabitha Vaughn, and Stephen Roberts. (NLT photo) 
 

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

ANNIE PARKER WEST, 77 – died June 2

ROGER DALE BARNES, 66 – died June 1

CAROLYN JEAN BAKER EDWARDS, 78 – died May 29

 

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 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

A history-making Johnston County commissioner

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners has seen just a handful of women among its members over the years: Eleanor Creech, Cookie Pope, and now two more – April Stephens and Michelle Pace Davis.

Associated with Pace Family Farms in the Archer Lodge community, Commissioner Davis joined the board in December 2024 after winning election in the Republican Primary that spring (she had no opposition in November's General Election).

Now she has made more history as the first Johnston County commissioner to give birth while in office. Her twin daughters arrived last month, and since then she has been understandably absent from board meetings.

"She's home taking care of her beautiful new twin daughters, and she's right where she needs to be," said Board Chairman Patrick Harris. "She'll be back in due time."

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