Home > Aug. 3 Board of Commissioners meetings recap

Aug. 3 Board of Commissioners meetings recap

At its meetings on Aug. 3, the Johnston County Board of Commissioners:

  • Agreed to hold a work session on the proposed Unified Development Ordinance. Like the public, Commissioners are debating some UDO provisions, such as the buffer between farms and new homes, and they want to reach a consensus on those provisions before presenting a final draft to the public. The meeting won’t be a public hearing, but it will be open to the public and available on the County’s YouTube channel. The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17.  

  • Agreed to explore the extension of Johnston County Fire Protection Service District boundary. That district, supported by an additional property tax of 11.5 cents per $100 valuation, now encompasses unincorporated Johnston County and the Town of Wilson’s Mills. Other towns either have their own fire department or contract with a nearby rural department to provide fire protection. Whether municipal or contract, those towns devote some of their property tax dollars to pay for fire protection. Some of the towns that contract fire service have expressed an interest in joining the County Fire Protection Service District. If Commissioners approve the boundary extension, homes and businesses within towns that join the service district would pay the County fire tax.

  • Took under advisement proposed amendments to the Johnston County ordinance that governs mass gatherings. Most notably, the amendments would lower the threshold for obtaining a permit for a gathering. Currently, organizers need a permit for gatherings of 4,000 or more people. The amendments would lower that number to 2,500 or more. After a public hearing drew only opponents of the proposed changes, Commissioners said they wanted time to study the matters. Among other things, opponents said the changes were an unnecessary curb on the right to peacefully assemble. County staff said the goal of the proposed changes was to ensure public safety.

  • OK’d a request from Public Utilities to provide water and sewer to a proposed industrial project at 4800 U.S. 70 Business West between Smithfield and Clayton. A developer plans to build a spec warehouse and distribution facility of roughly 224,000 square feet. The County has both the water and sewer capacity to serve the project, though the developer might have to make some sewer improvements.

  • Heard a year-end report from Jocelyn Andrews, the County’s tax administrator. She noted that Johnston levied $214,085,777.56 in real and personal property taxes in 2025-26 and took in $213,511,570.39. That’s a collection rate of 99.73%. Andrews thanked Johnston residents and business owners for paying their taxes. She added that tax bills for 2026-27 were in the mail.

  • Gave the Finance Department permission to purchase new employee time and attendance software. First-year funding of $234,861 would pay for the software subscription, licenses, installation, maintenance, and training.

  • Adopted a resolution declaring the County's intent to reimburse itself for money spent on the Johnston Regional Airport control tower if Commissioners later decide to borrow the $4.5 million local match. 

  • Proclaimed September as Attendance Awareness Month. The proclamation notes that regular school attendance is essential to student achievement, well-being, and graduation. It also highlights the importance of schools, families and community partners working together to reduce chronic absenteeism through early intervention, supportive relationships and positive learning environments that encourage students to attend school every day. 

  • Endorsed an N.C. Department of Transportation request to add the following streets to the roster of state-maintained roads: Beverly Place, Glenfiddich Way, Fenella Drive, Grassy Ridge Court, Rigsby Avenue, Nonabell Lane, Barbour Farm Lane, Lynncrest Way, Ina Rose Lane, Tullamore Lane and Sheldrake Way in Beverly Place subdivision, Elevation Township; and Noramac Court in Talton Pointe subdivision, O’Neals Township.

  • Proclaimed August as Child Support Awareness Month in Johnston County to raise awareness of the child support program and the role it plays in helping children and families. The proclamation also recognizes the dedication of child support professionals and their community partners who work to ensure children receive the financial support they need. The annual observance encourages greater public understanding of the child support program and its positive impact on the well-being of families throughout Johnston County. 

  • Adopted budget revisions for the Public Health Department, an additional $70,573; and the Sheriff’s Office, an additional $1,034,634.34.

  • Made the following appointments: Jerry T. Allen to the Elevation Firefighters Relief Fund Board of Trustees; Nakunda Everett and Regina Manzanares, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; Teresa Matthews, Nursing Home/Adult Home Community Advisory Board; Vann Sauls, Library Board of Trustees; and Jonathan P. Hearn, Veterans Services Advisory Board. They also nominated Patricia Chisholm-Jones, William M. Massengill Jr. and Jeff Parlier as appointments to the Hospital Authority Board of Commissioners. 



Page last updated on:  August 6, 2026