Board Of Commissioners Meeting Preview for November 17, 2025

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at the courthouse in Smithfield.

Commissioners will likely decide whether to borrow $129 million to build a new Clayton High School on the existing campus. Commissioners heard the funding request earlier this month but wanted time to run the borrowing by the state’s Local Government Commission.

Also on Monday, the board will hear from the Johnston County Cooperative Extension Service, which wants to study the feasibility of replacing the county’s Livestock Arena. The 50-year-old building, home to the annual Youth Livestock Show and Sale, has served the county well, says Bryant Spivey, director of Cooperative Extension. But the arena, located on County Home Road, is showing its age and finds itself next door to Johnston’s new sewage treatment plant and the county’s expanding landfill.

The Johnston Soil & Water Conservation District will ask Commissioners for $783,985. The district would pair that money with $2.1 million in grants to purchase two conservation easements. One easement would protect 108 acres of farmland near Selma; the other would protect 95 acres in northern Johnston.

Commissioners will also recognize Johnston County 4-H Target Sports, winners of medals at recent regional and state competitions.

Page last updated on:  November 18, 2025