Board Of Commissioners Meeting Recap for November 3, 2025
Morning Session
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 3 heard a $129 million request from the Board of Education to rebuild Clayton High School on its existing campus between Fayetteville and Robertson streets.
A plan the school board endorsed on Oct. 28 would keep Clayton High students on campus throughout the build, attending classes in the old building while the new one is under construction,
Commissioners will formally vote on the borrowing at their Nov. 17 meeting. In the meantime, County staff will run the financing plan by the state’s Local Government Commission, which approves all county and town borrowing in North Carolina.
At least temporarily, the board will no longer require residential lots outside of subdivisions to tap onto the county’s water system.
Decades ago, as Johnston brought public water to rural residents, the County required any home within 350 feet of a water line to tap onto the system. The aim was to ensure Johnston had enough customers to pay the debt incurred to build the water system.
But with residential growth soaking up capacity, commissioners agreed on Monday to temporarily suspend that policy. Again, the change applies only to lots outside of subdivisions. Those homes will be able to dig wells if they choose.
Commissioners proclaimed Nov. 11 as Veterans Day in Johnston.
For decades, their proclamation notes, America has paused on Nov. 11, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. The country does so in “grateful recognition of the hardships and sacrifices by the millions of men and women who have defended our land in war and in peace.”
“The freedoms we enjoy today have been purchased and maintained at a high price,” the proclamation adds, thankful that “Americans have been willing, throughout our history, to fight and die to preserve their individual rights as guaranteed in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.”
Americans owe a great debt to all who have served in defense of this nation, the proclamation states. “Their sacrifices, often resulting in permanent injury or death, have preserved … our freedoms and promise of liberty as an example for oppressed persons of the world.”
“In honor of these dedicated men and women, we pledge our continued defense of our nation so that their sacrifice will stand before the entire world as a tribute to the spirit and determination of a people dedicated to the principle of freedom and democracy,” the proclamation concludes.
Commissioners urged their fellow Johnstonians to pause on Nov. 11 to honor this country’s veterans.
The board proclaimed Nov. 21-27 as Farm-City Week in Johnston County.
The proclamation celebrates the relationship between farmers and the businesses that help get their products into the homes of consumers.
“Agriculture employs a substantial number of workers in Johnston County, including farmers, shippers, processors, marketers, retailers, truck drivers, inspectors and others,” the proclamation notes. Together, they “annually contribute more than $723 million in value-added income in Johnston County.”
As “we gather with family and friends around the Thanksgiving table, it is fitting that we count among our blessings the vital farm-city partnerships that have done so much to improve
the quality of our lives,” the proclamation adds. “Rural and non-rural communities working together have made the most of
our rich agricultural resources, and they continue to contribute to the health and well-being of our people and to the strength of our economy.”
Commissioners said they would reimburse the County the $6.5 million they are spending to buy land near Clayton for Johnston Community College.
Commissioners are taking money from savings to buy the land, where JCC plans a campus for its many health care training programs.
When commissioners eventually borrow money to build that campus, they’ll return that upfront money to County coffers.
Commissioners OK’d a water and sewer agreement with the Town of Clayton.
Under the agreement, Clayton will provide retail water and sewer service to land slated for development along Cornwallis Road at Veterans Parkway. The County will provide bulk water and sewer service.
Also on Monday, commissioners:
Took no action after a closed session on an industrial recruitment matter.
Endorsed a request from the Celebrate Cleveland Committee to close a portion of Cleveland Road from 7 to 7:45 p.m. Dec. 2 for the community’s Christmas parade. The N.C. Department of Transportation grants road-closure requests but requires approval from the affected county. For a list of Christmas events in Johnston County, go to https://bit.ly/3XaPOYp.
Granted Sheriff Steve Bizzell’s request to surplus 71 handguns that a federal law enforcement agency donated to Johnston County. Bizzell’s office will sell the handguns to a federally licensed law enforcement firearms dealer through a sealed-bid process. The sheriff will use the proceeds to purchase ammunition for firearms training.
Appointed Greg Johnson to the Pine Level Planning Board. He will represent areas outside the town but within Pine Level’s Planning jurisdiction. Johnson, of Rains Crossroads Road, will serve a three-year term.
Appointed Dr. Brian T. Naig, an optometrist, to the Johnston County Board of Health. He will serve a three-year term.
Appointed Traynham Dorn, head of the Johnston County Public Defender’s Office, to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. She will serve a two-year term.
OK’d a request from the Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield to take $9,519 from savings to purchase furniture and supplies.
Accepted $168,653 in Medicaid funds. The Johnston County Public Health Department will use the money for epidemiology, adult health, maternal health, child health and family planning.
OK’d a request from the Johnston County Visitors Bureau to take $26,840 from savings to pay for a strategic planning project.
Accepted $2,902.96 in insurance proceeds and miscellaneous revenue forthe Sheriff’s Office.
Evening Session
At their evening meeting on Nov. 3, the Johnston County Board of Commissioners:
- Denied a request to rezone 6.69 acres on Raleigh Road near West Johnston High School for business use. Landowner Kurtis Farrell wanted to lease the parcel to a scaffolding company. With few deliveries and shipments a week, the business would have little impact on traffic, said Bob Spence Jr., an attorney for Farrell. But a stream of residential neighbors told commissioners that their rural two-lane road was ill-suited for business. In particular, they feared that traffic cresting a nearby hill might not have time to react to slow-moving traffic-trailer rigs. Commissioners sided with the neighbors, and their vote to deny the rezoning was unanimous.
- Awarded a $3.62 million contract to build a sewage pump station and force main to serve Corinth-Holders Elementary School. The Corinth-Holders Fire Department will contribute $142,105 to the project. Commissioners agreed to seek reimbursement for the rest from the Johnston County Board of Education. Only Commissioner Patrick Harris voted against that plan. He said that whether the money came from school or County coffers, it would still come from Johnston taxpayers.
- Heard from Planning Director Braston Newton, who suggested a schedule for adopting a new Unified Development Ordinance. In short, a UDO combines zoning, land-use and subdivision rules into one code that guides growth, building design and development standards. Johnston has been writing a new one after adopting its comprehensive land-use plan. Here’s the schedule Newton laid out:
Nov. 18 — planning staff presents final draft of UDO to the Johnston County Planning Board.
Nov. 19-Jan. 31, 2026 — County accepts public comment on draft.
Dec. 1 — Commissioners schedule public hearing on the UDO.
Dec. 16 — Planning Board makes its recommendation on final draft.
Jan. 20 — Commissioners receive final draft and hold public hearing.
Feb. 2 — Commissioner adopt UDO.
Page last updated on: November 14, 2025