Home > Commissioners hear more about water supply, farmland conservation

Commissioners hear more about water supply, farmland conservation

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 19:

  • Learned how Johnston chose a spot on the lower Neuse River for a second County water-supply intake. The effort began 20 years ago with a series of studies, said County Engineer Kim Rineer. Those studies found that the lower Neuse could provide an ample, reliable supply of water, thanks in part to the many creeks that feed into the river there, Rineer said. State and federal regulators agree with those studies and have endorsed Johnston’s plans, she added. The County chose a spot on the Neuse near Richardson Bridge Road because it offers the easiest access to the river. Under the plan, Johnston would draw water from the lower Neuse so long as its flow exceeded 198 cubic feet per second. When it fell below that, the County would draw water from a quarry it owns nearby. The quarry can hold over 800 million gallons, far more than the County would need on a typical day. Rineer said the risk to neighboring wells would be minimal because the County would draw water only from the top of the quarry. Johnston is moving ahead with plans to build a water intake on the Neuse and a water plant near Princeton. The plant would initially produce 6 million gallons of water per day, with the capacity to expand to 30 million gallons daily. That expanded capacity should meet the County’s water needs for decades, Rineer said.
  • Heard a presentation from the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District, which recapped its efforts to preserve farmland through conservation easements. Since 2023, Soil and Water has secured easements on 226.95 acres. Another 362 acres in conservation easements are fully funded and ready to close; they’re just awaiting final state and federal review. Soil and Water expects another 445.9 acres to close in early 2027. Together, purchased easements and those fully funded but awaiting closing total roughly 1,100 acres. All of those acres will remain in farming in perpetuity. Finally, Soil and Water has submitted state and federal applications for 2026 covering another 398.39 acres. To date, the County has appropriated $1.1 million for conservation easements. Soil and Water has used that money to leverage another $11 million from the state and federal governments. 
  • Took under advisement a request to pay the cost of enlarging a water line to serve Vulcan Elements and other properties in an industrial park in Benson. The town cannot afford the project, but Vulcan, a maker of rare-earth magnets, needs greater water capacity for its production processes. Commissioner Bill Stovall wondered why Vulcan had not made the request last fall, when the company announced it was coming to Benson. Harold Keen, president of the I-95/I-40 Economic Development Alliance, explained that Vulcan was taking over and expanding a spec building in the industrial park. The park’s developer assumed the building would eventually sell to a distribution business, which would need little water. The money, as much as $1.7 million, would come from a state grant and the County’s Economic Development Office.
  • Heard from neighbors upset by the crowd at this year’s Caballos & Trokas, an annual horse and truck show near Princeton. Neighbors reported trespassing, public urination, cars blocking driveways, even a break-in that sent an 18-year-old running from her home in fear. One neighbor, the father of the 18-year-old, threatened to take matters into his own hands if the County didn’t rein in crowd behavior.
  • Agreed to enter into negotiations with Bordeaux Construction Co. to manage the design and construction of a new building for the Johnston County Department of Social Services. The decision followed interviews with several construction companies.
  • Gave North Side Fire Rescue permission to build a station at 4370 N.C. 42 East in the Flowers Plantation community near Clayton. Chief Phillip Driver said he expected the 12,500-square-foot station to cost about $4 million. It will have three drive-through bays and sleeping quarters for six firefighters. The station will have room for an EMS crew and ambulance if a study determines one is needed there.
  • Agreed to accept a grant of $12,117.34 from the North Carolina Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund administered by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The money will support the County’s Pesticide Container Recycling Program, which accepts thoroughly rinsed plastic pesticide containers at the landfill and six convenience sites, most of which are located in the County's farming communities. Specifically, Cooperative Extension will use the grant to replace one of the County’s older open-top recycling containers. Working with Johnston County Solid Waste, the program has helped Johnston County farmers and commercial applicators recycle more than 300,000 pounds of pesticide containers since 1998. That has saved more than $600,000 in landfill space.
  • Endorsed an N.C. Department of Transportation plan to add the following streets to its maintenance list: Pebberdam Street, Wilderness Trail and Rowsham Street in Avery Landing subdivision in Boon Hill Township; and Weatherford Drive, Clear Brook Court, Song Breeze Circle, Morningside Lane and Summer Rain Court in Weatherford subdivision, Pleasant Grove Township.
  • Surplused a 2015 GMC Sierra with 189,075 miles. The County will sell the pickup at public auction.
  • OK’d an agreement that will allow the County to access federal dollars for public transit in the Clayton area. The money for planning and operations will flow through the City of Raleigh to the Johnston County Area Transit System. JCATS isn’t currently structured to directly receive federal funds for urban transit.
  • Amended its agreement with M. Durwood Stephenson & Associates, which acts as the County’s adviser on construction projects. Because Johnston will contract with a construction manager on a new Department of Social Services building, it won’t need Stephenson & Associates to perform that role. The agreement change reflects that.
  • Granted the N.C. Department of Transportation a temporary easement on the County’s Rose Dairy Farm property. The easement will allow the DOT to install an 18-inch pipe under Interstate 95.
  • Proclaimed November Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness and Caregivers Month. More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and nearly 12 million family members and friends are serving as their unpaid caregivers.
  • Issued a formal written order reflecting the Board’s Oct. 5 decision to OK a cellphone tower at 435 Taylor Road in the Cleveland community.
  • OK’d three budget revisions. The Health Department has received a $7,394 state grant for maternal health services. The Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield is seeking permission to use $10,142 in investment income, fines and fees to purchase books. The Inspections Department wants to use $153,249 carried over from last year’s budget to purchase a software subscription.
  • Approved a request from the Town of Selma to appoint Gray Sasser to the Moccasin Creek Service District Board.
  • Took no action after a closed session on a real estate matter.

 

 




Page last updated on:  October 22, 2026