May 3, 2021 - 6:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Rezoning)

10 139 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners May 3 , 2021 6 00 pm The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday , May 3 , 2021 at 6 00 pm in the Auditorium of the Johnston County Agricultural Center located at 2736 NC Highway 210 in Smithfield , North Carolina The following members were present Present Chairman Chad M Stewart , Vice Chairman Larry Wood , Tony Braswell , Ted G Godwin , Patrick E Harris , RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , and Fred J Smith , Jr Absent None Also Present County Manager Rick J Hester , County Attorney Jennifer J Slusser , Clerk to the Board Paula Woodard , and Paralegal Deputy Clerk to the Board Dana Cuddington Chairman Chad M Stewart called the meeting to order at 6 00 pm and the following business was transacted 1 Public Comment A Citizen Concern – James Godwin Citizen James Godwin explained to the Commissioners that he applied for a special use permit for property he owns Case 20 - 22 , which was denied late last year Mr Godwin acknowledged that the property in question was in violation at that time ; however , he has since cleaned up the site Mr Godwin stated he is a farmer and would like to put a farm building on the property but has been unable to work with the County staff on the necessary approval Mr Godwin indicated that because he is a farmer and the building would be for farm use , he should be exempt from zoning and asked for clarification on the matter At the inquiry of the Commissioners , Planning Director Braston Newton explained that pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes , in order for Mr Godwin to be exempt from zoning and or building inspections for a farm building he must provide one of the following four exhibits 1 a farm sales tax exemption certificate from the NC Department of Revenue ; 2 a copy of the property tax listing showing that the property is eligible for participation in the present use value program ; 3 a copy of the farm owner’s or operator’s Schedule F from the most recent federal income tax return ; or 4 a copy of a forest management plan Mr Newton stated to date , staff has not received any of the necessary documentation under the statute Mr Newton noted that a USDA farm number , as of 2017 pursuant to the statutes , no longer qualifies as accepted documentation or proof of the operation of a farm The Board discussed the matter with Mr Godwin who stated he believes he has submitted the proper documentation County Attorney Jennifer Slusser noted that any appeal of staff’s judgement in the matter would go before the Board of Adjustment and not the Board of Commissioners Chairman Chad M Stewart asked Mr Godwin to work with Planning Director Braston Newton and look at the documentation submitted again Chairman Stewart stated staff would also look into the penalty matter and provide more information to the Board 2 Juvenile Crime Prevention Council – Proposed Budget for FY 2021 - 2022 The Honorable Judge Addie Rawls , Juvenile Crime Prevention Council JCPC Chair , presented the Council’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2021 – 2022 and requested its approval She noted that the COVID - 19 Pandemic has impacted the various programs that serve the children of the County who are at risk or are in need of intervention Judge Rawls stated the State’s allocation for Fiscal Year 2021 – 2022 is anticipated to be 393,380 , and the JCPC is requesting 112,000 from the County for the upcoming year Judge Rawls presented the following to the Board We are mandated by statute to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners funding for dispositional alternatives for sentencing juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent or undisciplined Currently , it costs each individual county 12200 per day for a juvenile that is held in detention and the State 126,401 per year for each juvenile that is committed to a Youth Development Center , formerly known as training school Currently Johnston County has at least 1 committed in training school There are three levels of sanctions Level 1 includes community service , restitution , emergency home shelter and community - based programs that target changing the negative behavior of delinquent youth Level 2 sanctions include community service andPage140 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued restitution , structured day and other out of home placements Level 3 is commitment to training school We recommend funding for the following programs Johnston County Youth Services This program has several components The Structured Day Program is used for juveniles who have been short and long term suspended from school and are on juvenile probation This a Level 2 sanction and is frequently used by the Court to prevent further delinquent behavior of youth suspended from the school system The actual cash money requested from the County is used to pay for the instructor in this program The State funds will not pay for an instructor and this program cannot exist without an instructor The next component is New Directions , which is a Guided Growth Program with a male group that meets twice a week and a female group that meets twice a week This program will address the needs of juveniles by providing mentors and counselors to deal with anger management , conflict resolution and problem solving The third component is Restoration Alternatives , a program that provides community service and restitution It is one of our most used programs and it provides restitution to victims of crimes The juveniles perform contract work for the citizens of Johnston County and the money paid is applied towards that juvenile’s court obligations The program coordinator of this program works on site with the juveniles and has limited part - time help Recommended Funding 225,056 , plus anticipated 65,494 in county funds for instructor and maintaining raise the age standards Healthy Choices This program will provide an environment for at - risk juveniles to become receptive to exploring their dysfunctional behavior and initiate change The means through which services are provided include group intervention , group activities , case management , and coordination with families , schools , social service agencies , and the courts A Nationally recognized curriculum is presented in a group setting focusing on a variety of possible deficits , including but not limited to , conflict resolution , anger management , social skills training , assertiveness training , and substance abuse Healthy Choices currently accepts children from all youth serving agencies in the County Recommended Funding 45,241 , plus anticipated 759 in county funds to maintain operations Preparing To Soar Teen Court Teen Court provides an alternative to prosecution of youth between the ages of 11 - 17 Youth are sanctioned with constructive sentences by a jury of their peers This program trains volunteers as courtroom clerks , bailiffs , jurors , defense , and prosecuting attorneys Recommended Funding 75,000 , plus anticipated 37,980 in county funds to maintain operations st The 21 Century Village Passport to Success The Passport to Success Program is designed to equip students with the interpersonal skills necessary to interact positively with others The program focuses on helping youth deal with behavioral issues that may hinder successful school performance The program begins with targeting students needs , creating goals to translate needs into effective social behaviors , and ends with behavioral outcomes that improve their personal and academic growth Groups will meet 2 days per week for 16 weeks Recommended Funding 37,145 , plus anticipated 2,767 in county funds to maintain operations The Black and Brown Cultural Exchange To mentor , educate and empower minority students through culture awareness , education , and self - esteem enrichment We desire to develop youth who will have the tools necessary to successfully navigate their current environment and succeed educationally We will provide college tours , classroom shadowing sessions , parent advocate sessions , workshops on social and educational topics and community service opportunities Recommended Funding 5,000 , plus anticipated 5,000 in county funds to maintain operations Administrative Budget These are funds set aside to cover the expenses of the committee which includes salary of the administrative assistant , mail , and other administrative costs As a committee , we must advertise the availability of funds and meet at the very least on a monthly basis We currently have at least ten meetings per year and minutes are taken at these meetings Additionally , we provide for communityPage141 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued awareness through conferences , yearly achievement recognitions of juveniles in our programs , training , and expenses of the board members The State allows us to set aside up to 15,000 , but we only allocate a minimum amount Any overage is usually allocated back to our programs Recommended Funding 5,938 Total Anticipated Amount from State 393,380 Total Anticipated Requested from County 112,000 Judge Rawls noted they are asking for an increase in the County allocation and stated they are hopeful those funds will allow them to fund the programs and help them maintain consistency as they readjust from COVID - 19 Judge Rawls stated she has been the Chair of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council for nearly 20 years and she feels compelled to serve the youth of this County Judge Rawls also spoke on the programs and expressed her appreciation for all they do Chairman Chad M Stewart stated the Board of Commissioners always appreciates everything Judge Rawls and the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council does for the County Commissioner Fred J Smith , Jr expressed his appreciation to Judge Rawls and moved the Board approve the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council’s state budget allocation and direct the County staff to work with the JCPC to account for the local allocation requested in the upcoming FY 2021 - 2022 budget Commissioner Ted G Godwin seconded the motion which carried by unanimous vote 3 Public Hearing Rezoning and Special Use Requests Advertised – The News & Observer Friday Zone Edition – April 23 and April 30 , 2021 ; The Johnstonian News and The News in Review – April 21 and 28 , 2021 Certified letters were mailed to adjoining property owners on April 19 , 2021 Notices were posted at the locations on March 2 , 2021 for Cases 21 - 05 , 21 - 06 , and 21 - 07 The Chairman opened the Rezoning Hearing for Case 21 - 05 Case 21 - 05 Petition to rezone a 1531 acre tract located in the 12000 Block of NC Highway 210 in Pleasant Grove Township from Agricultural Residential AR to Resort Residential RR Tax ID 13E05007D Owner Daniel - Lan Development Inc Applicant The Turner Group Inc Planning Director Braston Newton stated the petition is to rezone a 1531 acre tract located in the 12000 Block of NC Highway 210 in Pleasant Grove Township from Agricultural Residential to Resort Residential Mr Newton stated the site is currently zoned Agricultural Residential with an Interstate Highway Interchange overlay and used for agricultural and residential purposes The surrounding land uses are zoned Agricultural Residential with an Interstate Highway Interchange overlay and used for residential and agricultural purposes along with an elementary and middle school , gas stations , restaurants , etc and General Business for a pharmacy , gas station restaurant , and several small businesses The area is located within a designated “ Primary Growth Area ” on the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan , which denotes areas in which high levels of growth pressures already exist or are anticipated near term The area is situated between a regional center activity node and a community center activity node Mr Newton stated the traffic count for this portion of NC Hwy 210 is 15,500 vehicles per day and appears on the Comprehensive Transportation Plan as a boulevard needing improvement Mr Newton noted that staff recommended denial and stated typically , the intent of Resort Residential is to ensure that the principal use of land is for low and medium density seasonal residential for recreational purposes Adam Ashbaugh , Certified Planner and Engineer with ESP Associates , representing the applicant , addressed the Board Mr Ashbaugh stated he has reviewed the issues that were raised at the Planning Board and he presented the following information to the Board Page142 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm ContinuedPagePage pageNumber5143 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm ContinuedPagePage pageNumber6144 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm ContinuedPagePage pageNumber7145 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm ContinuedPagePage pageNumber8146 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued Bill Turner , speaking on behalf of The Turner Group , Inc , the applicant , informed the Board that he has been in the real estate business for 40 years and he spoke on some of his other projects Mr Turner stated he reached out to some of the adjoining property owners including Lanny Clifton , Joe McGee , Pamela Langdon , and the Nall Family and so far he has not received any negative comments on the proposal Mr Turner stated he has been a partner in another RV park for approximately 30 years in Wake County He stated over the last 30 years they have seen a transition from mobile home parks to RV parks Mr Turner stated one of his competitors currently has two RV parks located in Johnston County Mr Turner stated they provide the ability for trades people to come in and work while having somewhere to stay during that time Mr Turner stated they also provide a downsized lifestyle for travelers Mr Turner stated they have not seen any evidence of negative impacts to property values that surround RV parks in Wake or Johnston Counties Chairman Chad M Stewart questioned the definition of “ resort ” and stated there are several different types of parks Chairman Stewart noted some parks , like those at the beach , are occupied by tenants for 10 years and beyond while other parks are more for transit users while some are a mix of both Mr Turner responded the proposed park would allow for both types of users Commissioner Tony Braswell noted that Mr Turner spoke on a transition from mobile home parks to recreational vehicles and asked would any of the occupants be permanent residents Mr Turner responded they have found that 55 to 60 of customers stay in their sites fulltime for anywhere from two to four years ; however , they leave open a certain number of spaces for transit users PagePage pageNumber9147 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued At the inquiry of Commissioner Ted G Godwin , Mr Turner stated they are planning for a minimum of 30 and possibly a maximum of 50 spaces Upon questions by Commissioner Butch Lawter , Mr Turner stated the proposed use would have very little impact on school capacities because very few families travel and stay in one area for long periods of time Mr Turner stated the water usage for a recreational vehicle is typically 40 to 50 gallons per unit per day He noted stoplights are being installed directly across from the subject site on NC Hwy 210 at Daniel Farms Subdivision and there are widening projects in the area Mr Turner stated the Traffic Impact Analysis has indicated there will be no or little impact on traffic There being no further public comments , the Chairman closed the public comment portion of the hearing Mr Newton reported the Planning Board recommended denial of the rezoning and adoption of a Resolution for the Statement of Consistency as submitted in the agenda packet At the inquiry of Commissioner Larry Wood , Mr Newton stated the intent of Resort Residential is for seasonal or recreational occupancy and there is no further clarification on the definition for “ seasonal ” Upon a question by Commissioner Lawter , Mr Newton stated Resort Residential is the only zoning classification that allows for recreational vehicles in Johnston County Mr Newton noted the other parks in the County are located within municipal jurisdictions The Board discussed the different types of recreational vehicle users and what is considered recreational activities There being no further comments , the Chairman recessed the Rezoning Hearing for Case 21 - 05 Commissioner Butch Lawter stated he struggles with the term “ resort ” because resort to him means a beach destination or other tourist destination and he does not feel the proposed use in that area meets that definition Commissioner Lawter stated from what he understands , the proposed use would be for someone who has a job that would require them to be in the area for six months or longer and he is unsure if that use fits the zoning classification “ Resort Residential ” Commissioner Lawter continued that he has family and coworkers that travel in recreational vehicles , so he is aware that there is a need for this type of use Commissioner Ted G Godwin stated he has studied the proposal in depth and at times he has been for it and other times against it Commissioner Godwin stated he has received some emails against the request , but he has looked at the site along with the surrounding area and he feels that because of the site being located off the road and down in the wooded area with minimal traffic , he does not see the proposal as a negative Decision on Rezoning Case 21 - 05 Case 21 - 05 Petition to rezone a 1531 acre tract located in the 12000 Block of NC Highway 210 in Pleasant Grove Township from Agricultural Residential AR to Resort Residential RR Tax ID 13E05007D Owner Daniel - Lan Development Inc Applicant The Turner Group Inc Commissioner Ted G Godwin moved the Board approve the rezoning request for Case 21 - 05 based on the use being low to medium for seasonal residential - recreational purposes , that it is reasonable and in the public interest , and is consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Commissioner Tony Braswell seconded the motion Discussion Chairman Chad M Stewart stated the Board has listened to and been sensitive to the needs of the residents in the McGee’s Crossroads area regarding their concerns over apartments and housing and now it seems they are against an RV park ; however , at some point the Board must allow landowners to do what they want to with their land Chairman Stewart spoke on the subject site being near the interstate noting that is where RV parks are typically located Chairman Stewart acknowledged that some will use the park for longer periods , but the main use is for transit users Page0148 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued At the inquiry of Commissioner Larry Wood , Mr Newton stated there is no way to regulate the condition of the recreational vehicles or the amount of time someone stays in the park Commissioner Patrick E Harris stated his concern is that there is nothing that makes this a “ resort ” area and he is unsure what will differentiate the proposed use from a mobile home park Commissioner Harris also expressed concerns that there is nothing in the ordinance to regulate the appearance of the recreational vehicles Vote The motion carried by the following vote Ayes Commissioners Chad M Stewart , Tony Braswell , Ted G Godwin , Butch Lawter , and Fred J Smith , Jr Nays Commissioners Larry Wood and Patrick E Harris The Chairman reopened the Rezoning Hearing for Case 21 - 06 Case 21 - 06 Petition to rezone 617 acres located at 9939 NC Hwy 210 and 4065 Lassiter Road in Elevation Township from Agricultural Residential AR to General Business GB Tax ID 07F06029S & 07F06029R Owner Paganello - Nunziato Family LLC Applicant John Nunziato Planning Director Braston Newton stated the petition is to rezone 617 acres located at 9939 NC Hwy 210 and 4065 Lassiter Road in Elevation Township from Agricultural Residential to General Business Mr Newton stated existing land use is for agricultural and residential purposes The surrounding land uses are zoned Agricultural Residential and used for agricultural and residential purposes ; General Business and used for a storage facility , gas station convenience store , and Dollar General ; and Community Business and used as a local business office The area is located within a designated “ Secondary Growth Area ” on the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan Mr Newton stated the traffic count for this portion of NC Hwy 210 is 8,500 vehicles per day and Lassiter Road is 2,900 vehicles per day Mr Newton stated NC Hwy 210 appears on the Comprehensive Transportation Plan as a boulevard needing improvement Applicant John Nunziato addressed the Board and stated he owns five businesses in Johnston County and has been in the County for 19 years with no citations on any of his businesses Mr Nunziato stated they plan to put a mini - storage facility on the subject site and noted he owns another similar type business Mr Nunziato shared pictures of his other operation with the Board pictures were not left with the Clerk He stated the community is growing and people have no storage for boats and recreational vehicles Mr Nunziato stated they have been a good service for the community and with the amount of building in the area , people need more space for storage He stated the mini - storage facility would be low impact with minimal traffic and minimal wastewater needs Mr Nunziato shared drawings with the Board of the proposed use drawings were not left with the Clerk At the inquiry of Commissioner Patrick E Harris , Mr Nunziato stated the outside storage area would be used for parking and they would follow all regulations for stormwater Mr Nunziato stated there may have been some concerns with lighting ; however , the proposed lighting would be low impact John Parker , 4030 Lassiter Road , stated he has lived in the area for 14 years and resides just to the south and east from the subject site Mr Parker referenced the existing mini - storage operation near his property and stated the lighting from that use has presented some challenges in the evenings Mr Parker stated while he is not directly across the road from the existing mini - storage business , as this type of use comes closer to his home , he believes it will cause even more challenges Mr Parker commented that the existing mini - storage operation has been good neighbors in that they have kept the site well maintained and he has never had to worry about issues with crime , but he does question the straight General Business zoning classification for the subject site Mr Parker asked what else would be allowed under General Business if applicant does not build the mini - storage operation Mr Parker stated he would not oppose the mini - storage use if the lighting were installed in such a way as to be nonintrusive Mr Newton stated if the request is approved for straight General Business , any use that is allowed under the County’s ordinance for General Business would be eligible for the subject site Page1149 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued Chairman Chad M Stewart asked if the applicant knows he wants to build a mini - storage operation on the site then why would the request not be for General Business – Special Use District to specifically allow for mini - storage only Mr Newton responded that during the Planning Board meeting , discussion was held with the applicant concerning the zoning classification requested and why a special use permit application was not submitted Mr Newton stated the applicant was given the opportunity at the meeting to explain why he preferred a straight General Business zoning classification versus a special use , and the applicant chose to move forward with the straight rezoning request There being no further public comments , the Chairman closed the public comment portion of the hearing Mr Newton reported the Planning Board recommended denial of the rezoning and adoption of a Resolution for the Statement of Consistency as submitted in the agenda packet At the inquiry of Commissioner Larry Wood , Mr Newton stated under the straight General Business zoning classification , there is no limit on the hours of operation There being no further comments , the Chairman closed the Rezoning Hearing for Case 21 - 06 Commissioner Ted G Godwin stated in looking back at the Planning Board minutes , the open - ended aspect of the straight zoning classification seemed to be the problem and he concurs with that concern Decision on Rezoning Case 21 - 06 Case 21 - 06 Petition to rezone 617 acres located at 9939 NC Hwy 210 and 4065 Lassiter Road in Elevation Township from Agricultural Residential AR to General Business GB Tax ID 07F06029S & 07F06029R Owner Paganello - Nunziato Family LLC Applicant John Nunziato Commissioner Ted G Godwin moved the Board adopt the following Statement of Consistency Resolution and deny the rezoning request for Case 21 - 06 Commissioner Tony Braswell seconded the motion Discussion Commissioner Braswell stated his concern is that the zoning classification stays with the property and he would prefer to see a special use permit for the mini - storage operation so that conditions could be set for that specific use Vote The motion carried by the following vote Ayes Commissioners Chad M Stewart , Tony Braswell , Ted G Godwin , Patrick E Harris , Butch Lawter , and Fred J Smith , Jr Nays Commissioner Larry Wood RESOLUTION FOR CASE NUMBER 21 - 06 RESOLUTION APPROVING A ZONING AMENDMENT AND ADOPTING A STATEMENT OF CONSISTENCY REGARDING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS OF JOHNSTON COUNTY WHEREAS , pursuant to NC Gen Stat § 153A - 341 , prior to adopting or rejecting a zoning amendment , the governing board is required to adopt a statement approving or rejecting the zoning amendment and describe if the amendment is consistent or inconsistent with the comprehensive zoning plan and why the board considers the action taken to be reasonable and in the public interest ; WHEREAS , the County Planning Board has reviewed a proposed amendment to The Official Zoning Maps of Johnston County , for the parcels identified as tax Tag ID 07F06029S and 07F06029R located at 9939 NC Hwy 210 and 4065 Lassiter Road , Elevation Township , from Agricultural Residential to General Business WHEREAS , based on a review of the proposed amendment the Planning Board found that the proposed amendment is not consistent with the Johnston County Comprehensive Land Use Plan and updates and further recommended that the Board of Commissioners deny the proposed amendment ; andPage2150 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued WHEREAS , this Board has reviewed and considered the above written recommendation of the Planning Board and has held a public hearing on the proposed amendment , and this Board desires to deny the zoning amendment and adopt a statement describing why the adoption of the proposed amendment is not consistent with the Johnston County Comprehensive Land Use Plan and updates , and the Board considers the proposed amendment to not be reasonable and not in the public interest NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT ORDAINED BY THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT 1 This Board finds and determines that the adoption of the proposed amendment to the Official Zoning Maps of Johnston County is consistent with the Johnston County Land Use Plan and updates thereto because the Land Use Plan and updates indicate that a The amendment does not align with “ Goal 2 Reduce the possibility of incompatible land uses and mitigate them when they occur ” 2 This Board finds and determines that it is not reasonable and not in the public interest to approve the proposed amendment because a The General Business District zoning is not compatible with surrounding land uses 3 This Board denies the proposed zoning amendment from Agricultural Residential AR to General Business District GB rd Adopted this the 3 day of May , 2021 The Chairman reopened the Rezoning Hearing for Case 21 - 07 Case 21 - 07 Petition to rezone a 069 acre tract located at 8817 Cleveland Road in Cleveland Township from Agricultural Residential AR to General Business - Special Use District GB - SUD Tax ID 06F04004F Owner Charthouse Holdings LLC Applicant Profile Construction , Inc After determining that the applicant was not present for Case 21 - 07 , upon a motion by Commissioner Tony Braswell , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried unanimously , the Board tabled Case 21 - 07 until the June 7 , 2021 6 00 pm meeting 4 Chapter 160D – Draft Ordinance Amendments and Call for Public Hearing Planning Director Braston Newton stated as the Board is aware , in order to comply with NCGS Chapter 160D adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2019 , staff and the consultant has prepared proposed text amendments to the Land Development Code He submitted a summary of the proposed amendments and requested the Board to schedule a public hearing to allow for public comment Mr Newton advised that the summary of proposed text amendments as well as a complete redlined copy of the ordinance will be made available online for public inspection Mr Newton stated the Planning Board is also reviewing the proposed amendments and would submit a recommendation to the Board Mr Newton stated the proposed revisions are mandated by Chapter 160D and unfortunately , the County does not have much of a choice but to make the changes effective July 1 , 2021 At the request of Commissioner Larry Wood , Mr Newton highlighted some of the more significant changes for the Board At the inquiry of Commissioner Butch Lawter , Mr Newton reported staff will be arranging for training for the Commissioners and the Planning Board on the new legislation Mr Newton noted that more detailed plans will be required with future applications under the new rules Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner Tony Braswell , and carried unanimously , the Board scheduled the public hearing for the June 7 , 2021 6 00 pm meeting 5 Planning Activity Report Planning Director Braston Newton stated the Planning Department is in the midst of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update He noted the Steering Committee will be meeting soon and it will be a virtual meeting Mr Newton stated the meeting will be recorded and made available on the County’s website Mr Newton explained that the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization CAMPO will be launching an update to their southeast study He stated a portion of Johnston County is located within CAMPO while the majority is located within the Upper Coastal Plain Rural Planning Organization RPO Mr Newton stated CAMPO has asked the RPO if they would be willing to contribute funds to the update since a portion of the RPO will benefit from the study Mr Newton stated the RPO is willing to put up to 25,000 towards thePage3151 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued study and they are looking to Johnston County to provide a local match of 20 or 5,000 Mr Newton stated he believes the money would be well spent and he recommends the Board approve that contribution County Manager Rick Hester stated he also recommends the Board consider allocating the funding It was the consensus of the Board for the County Manager to add 5,000 into the FY 2021 - 2022 budget to cover the County’s portion of a southeast study through the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization CAMPO 6 Manager Reports and Comments A Transportation Updates County Manager Rick Hester reported that several transportation related groups and representatives will be attending the July 19 , 2021 6 00 pm meeting to update the Board on various transportation matters B Future Office Space Needs Study County Manager Rick Hester reported the County requested and received proposals for a future office space needs study Mr Hester stated six firms responded to the Request for Qualifications Mr Hester stated staff plans to begin reviewing the proposals and possibly conducting interviews in the near future and he welcomes any Commissioner to be a part of that process Commissioners Patrick E Harris , Butch Lawter , and Fred J Smith , Jr agreed to be a part of the review process C Fiscal Year 2021 - 2022 Budget Meetings County Manager Rick Hester thanked the Board for scheduling the public hearing for the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 - 2022 County Budget to be held on June 7 , 2021 at the 10 00 am meeting Mr Hester asked the Board to consider scheduling an additional budget discussion meeting during June and a possible adoption date of June 21 , 2021 It was the consensus of the Board to schedule the additional budget discussion meeting to be held on June 14 , 2021 at 6 00 pm location to be determined and announced and consider final adoption of the budget at the June 21 , 2021 6 00 pm meeting 7 Board Reports and Comments A Conflict Waiver Requests Upon a motion by Commissioner Fred J Smith , Jr , seconded by Commissioner Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously , the Board authorized Jennifer Slusser , in her role as County Attorney , to consider and make decisions regarding county consent for outside counsel attorney conflict waiver requests , and that Ms Slusser may bring such matters to the Board of Commissioners for consideration as she believes is necessary and prudent B Water and Sewer Discussion Commissioner Butch Lawter reminded the Board that Mr Jeff Hudson , the current Chief Executive Officer of the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority ONWASA , will be attending the May 17 , 2021 6 00 pm meeting to speak to the Board about the creation of ONWASA as well as regional water and sewer matters Commissioner Lawter stated he hopes this will be the start of discussions as to what is best for the future of the County C Planning and Zoning Matters Commissioner Butch Lawter spoke on the decision making process for planning and zoning matters and stated he feels the Board of Commissioners should be the decision making authority for the larger development projects that impact the County rather than placing that burden on the Planning Board Commissioner Lawter stated perhaps during the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update process , he would like to look at possible changes to how decisions are made as it relates to major subdivisions and similar matters Page4152 May 3 , 2021 – 6 00 pm Continued There being no further business , Commissioner Larry Wood moved the Board adjourn Commissioner Tony Braswell seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote The meeting adjourned at 7 50 pm Chad M Stewart , Chairman Paula G Woodard , Clerk to the BoardPage