June 16, 1997 - 7:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Recessed)

June 16, 1997The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in recessed regular session Monday, June 16,1997, at 700 oclock pm in the Commissioners Room, Johnston County Courthouse Annex,Smithfield, North Carolina, with the following membersPresent Norman C Denning, Chairman, James W Cash, Vice Chairman, Jerry F Wood,DDS, Eleanor N Creech, Cookie Pope, Thomas M Moore and James H Langdon, JrAbsent NoneAlso Present Richard B Self, County Manager, and Joyce H Ennis, Clerk to the BoardThe Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business was transacted1 Emergency Medical Services Study - PresentationDrexdal Pratt, Regional Supervisor with the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services, presentedthe results of a study they have completed for Johnston County The focus of this Study, done at therequest of the Commissioners, was on the resources of the local emergency services and ways to enhancethe EMS systemMr Pratt apologized for not having the report for the Commissioners to read prior to the meeting,but stated the final copy was just completed earlier in the day He noted the study looked at six areas ofthe EMS system and found that Johnston County has some very positive strengths, as well as some areasthat need to be improved Recognizing the Board will need some time to read and study the report, heasked Donnie Sides, Regional Coordinator, to briefly go over the highlights of the study, and stated theywould be available to answer questions and discuss the report in greater detail after everyone has had timeto read the informationMr Sides went over the six sections of the report and outlined several recommendations? Restructure the EMS office - appoint EMS Coordinator? Clarify the role of EMS Advisory Committee and establish bylaws? Coordinate the dispatching throughout the County? Require annual audit on any agency that receives County funds? Work toward a consistent level of care throughout the County? Identify the needs of each component of the systemHe and Mr Pratt recommended the Board involve the advisory committee and rescue squads in theprocess of evaluating the reportChairman Norman Denning thanked Mr Pratt and Mr Sides for the presentationCounty Manager, Richard Self, referenced a letter from Dr John Guha, EMS Medical Advisor andER Director, who was unable to attend the meeting because he was on duty at the hospital Dr Guhasletter expressed his concerns about EMS in Johnston CountyDewayne Tant, EMT with the Selma Rescue Squad, spoke of a recent proposal from the RescueSquad Association concerning possible ways the County might provide additional funding He stated hewould support a rescue tax as long as all squads have the same level of service, and membership fees andbilling are eliminated He also pointed out that not all citizens of Johnston County are served by Countyrescue squads, and questioned how a tax would be fair to themDale Johnson with the Rescue Association thanked the Board for asking the State to conduct theStudy, and stated he was looking forward to reading the report and seeing the recommendationsDewayne West, Johnston County Emergency Management Director, suggested the EMS AdvisoryCommittee might need to be restructured so it can be an effective tool in future planning for EMS in theCounty He commented on the short term and long term needs, especially for rescue squads, and noted heneeds additional help in his office in order to answer some of those needs563Donald Holland, Captain of the Micro Rescue Squad, reminded the Board that many of the squadsare struggling to stay active, and something needs to be done as quickly as possibleChairman Denning stated the Board would review the Study and discuss what needs to be done assoon as possible to address the short term crisis and the long term solution2 Board of Education — Request for Relocation of GravesThe Board of Education has requested approval to proceed with the necessary steps to move gravesfrom a family cemetery on the McGees Crossroads school site In accordance with NC General Statute6513, the family members have been contacted, and there were no objections to re- interment at anotherlocationMark Valsame, descendant of the Langdon Family, stated he and his relatives have no objection tothe graves being moved, but asked that they be placed at Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church cemeteryJo Anne McGee, representing the McGee family who are also descendants of the Langdons, stated theytoo would prefer the graves be moved to Fellowship Church cemeteryFollowing discussion, Commissioner Thomas M Moore moved the Board grant permission for theBoard of Education to proceed with the required notices and provisions required in NCGS § 6513 tomove graves from the proposed McGees Crossroads School site to Fellowship Primitive Baptist Churchcemetery, as requested by the family, with the understanding the County Health Director will supervisethe disinterment, removal and re- interment of the graves Commissioner Jerry F Wood seconded themotion, which carried by the following voteYea Norman C Denning, James W Cash, Jerry F Wood, Eleanor N Creech, Thomas M MooreNo NoneAbstaining Cookie Pope, James H Langdon3 Board of Education - Approval of Purchase of PropertyAt the request of the Board of Education, Commissioner James H Langdon, Jr moved the Boardapprove the purchase price of 50,000 for a house and lot located across from the Micro Pine LevelSchool, which will be used for future expansion of that school campus Commissioner Cookie Popeseconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote4 Resolution to Incorporate Proiects for State School Bond ProceedsUpon a motion by Commissioner Cookie Pope, seconded by Commissioner James W Cash andcarried by unanimous vote, the Board adopted the following resolutionRESOLUTIONWHEREAS, The Citizens of the State of North Carolina approved the issuance of School Bonds to fundthe construction of Schools throughout the State; andWHEREAS, Johnston County is eligible to receive 39,333,083 in bond proceeds which will be used forthe following projects Meadow 5,000,000, Micro -Pine Level 3,500,000, New Benson Elementary9,000,000, South Smithfield Primary 1,500,000, Four Oaks Elementary 750,000, New ClevelandMiddle School 3,000,000 partial funding, Benson Middle 500,000, Princeton 1,500,000, SelmaElementary 4,000,000 Four Oaks Middle 2,500,000, Smithfield -Selma High School 2,100,000,and Smithfield Middle 1,203,083; andWHEREAS, the need for these school construction projects are well documented and justified, and willtake place of a period greater than one fiscal yearNOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, these specific projects are incorporated in a projectordinance which will continue until the projects are completed with the specific notation that the fundingfor all of the projects enumerated are being funded solely from State Bond proceeds and will not beutilizing or committing appropriations from the Johnston County Board of Commissioners from sourcesother than the State Bond fundsAdopted this 16th day of June, 19975645 Budget Requests - Board of EducationDeVan Barbour, Chairman ofthe Board of Education, presented the request for FY 1997 -98 schoolfunding He stated the School Board is requesting 14,803,983 in local funding for current expenses a2 1 1 increase over lastyear, and 4,481,657 a 32 increase for capital outlay This represents atotalrequest of 19,285,640, which represents an overall increase in appropriations of 235 Concerning the current expense request, he explained that 61 of the increase represented growthrelated expenses based on State projections This would include the Countys portion of salary increases,utilities, telephone bills as well as maintenance and additional staff needed for the new schools Inaddition, the Board of Education would like to increase supplements for teachers by 1 in order to keepcompetitive with the current work market, and add an additional 10 per student for instructional suppliesIncreased supplements for administrators, band directors and coaches were also requestedConcerning the Capital Outlay requested increase, Board of Education member, Kay Carroll,pointed out that much of the annual capital outlay allocation is being used for debt service on theCertificates of Participation loans Additional funding is need to make sure both the old and new facilitiesare properly maintained He asked the Board to be as aggressive as possible in providing school funds forthe coming yearBoard of Education member, Bob Dickins, thanked the Commissioners for what they have done inthe past He noted the County is in the process of solving facility needs, and now the focus must be ontaking care of those facilities and helping employeesCommissioner Thomas M Moore stated he has been impressed with the responsible spendingrecently by the School Board for new facilities He noted he is pleased to be a part of the new procedureof building standard design buildings that are less expensive and that will be easier to maintain OtherBoard members agreedFollowing further discussion, Chairman Denning thanked the School Board for their presentationHe pointed out the budget is liberal, but with the new buildings and growth in the County, educationspending is going to increase annuallyCommissioner James W Cash commented that this budget certainly attests to the urgent need foradditional revenue sources for funding schools, other than ad valorem taxes6 Solid Waste Ten Year Comprehensive Plan - Draft Proposal ApprovedCounty Manager, Richard Self, requested the Board approve the draft Ten Year Solid Waste Planwhich was sent to them earlier in the day He noted this is a collaborate effort of the County and all tentowns A public meeting on the plan has been scheduled for June 19, 1997, after which a final draft willbe brought back before the Board for final adoptionUpon a motion by Commissioner Jerry F Wood, seconded by Commissioner James W Cash andcarried by unanimous vote, the Board adopted the following resolutionRESOLUTIONWHEREAS, better planning for solid waste will help protect public health and the environment,provide for an improved solid waste management system, better utilize our natural resources, control thecost of solid waste management; and,WHEREAS, NC General Statute 130A- 30909Ab requires each unit of local-government, eitherindividually or in cooperation with other units of local government, to develop a 10 -year comprehensivesolid waste management plan; and,WHEREAS, Johnston County was adequately represented on the Johnston County 10 -YearComprehensive Waste Plan Committee and has been actively involved in the planning process; and,WHEREAS, the committee has finished a draft of the plan and is awaiting public comment on theplan from a public meeting to be held June 19, 1997NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Commissioners of Johnston Countyhereby approve the draft Johnston County comprehensive solid waste management planAdopted by the Board of Commissioners this 16th day of June, 19975657 Fire Hydrant Escrow Fees for Community Water SystemsThe Board adopted a policy on April 7, 1997 requiring that community water systems be built tothe Countys standards, and provide the necessary stub -outs for future fire hydrants, which would beinstalled when public water is available The adopted policy also required the developer to place in escrowa fee sufficient to cover the cost of the fire hydrantsAt the recommendation of Public Utilities Director, Haywood Phthisic, Commissioner Thomas MMoore moved the Board establish a uniform fire hydrant escrow fee of 700hydrant to be chargeddevelopers at the time they build a community water system, with the understanding this fee will bereviewed yearly and adjusted if necessary Commissioner James H Langdon, Jr seconded the motion,which carried by unanimous vote8 Motion of Appointment RescindedThe County Manager reported that in further checking the exact boundaries of Smithfieldsextraterritorial jurisdiction area, it has been determined that T Ruffin Johnson, who was appointed onJune 9, 1997 to serve as ETJ member of the Smithfield Board of Adjustment, lives just beyondSmithfields ETJUpon a motion by Commissioner Thomas M Moore, seconded by Commissioner Jerry F Woodand carried by unanimous vote, the Board rescinded the motion made on June 9, 1997, to appointed TRuffin Johnson as ETJ member of the Smithfield Board of Adjustment9 Courtroom Security - DiscussionIn reference to the request by Judge Knox Jenkins to have a courtroom security study done by RiskManagement Associates in the amount of 10,000, the County Manager stated the County may be ableto get this done at no cost As a part of a grant project to determine statewide security standards, the StateAdministrative Office of Courts will be choosing five counties to have a security survey done at no chargeSince Johnston County has shown an interest and meets the demographics for the study, there is a goodchance of its being selected as one of the five The selected counties will be announced by July 1, 1997Another option the County might consider is having the US Marshalls office conduct the studyThey also offer this service at no cost, however they are more strict in their requirements Herecommended the County wait to see if we are selected as one of the five counties for the grant projectBoard members agreed to wait on making a decision until after the test counties are announced10 Tax Office Personnel Receive CertificationCommissioner Eleanor N Creech recognized and commended Tax Administrator, Sterling Hancock,and several of his staff members for their recent certification11 Budget RequestsA Health DepartmentIn the absence of Health Director, L S Woodall, who was attending another meeting, SteveStrickland, Assistant Director, spoke concerning the Health Departments budget requests He went overthe new requested positions, and included a physician extender with bi- lingual ability He noted thisposition has been in past budgets, but was not recommended for funding for next year because of thedifficulty the department has experienced in finding a suitable applicant Someone has now been locatedwho would be qualified, and he requested the funding be put back in the budget He pointed out theposition generates enough revenue to cover the costSeveral of the requested positions would be for the last quarter of the year when the HealthDepartment will move into its new facility He noted these positions are needed now, however, there is noplace to put them in the current facility566B Cooperative ExtensionKen Bateman asked the Board for a horticulturist position for his department He noted that sinceHurricane Fran, there has been an increased number of requests from homeowners for assistance in re-landscaping Over 50 of the calls his department receives are related to this subject, and the one personin this position can not meet the needs He pointed out that lending institutions are placing more emphasison landscaping, and more focus is being put on water quality and other environmental concernsC Sheriffs DepartmentSheriff Freddy Narron again stressed the need for salary increases in order to keep the qualified andtrained personnel we have He noted his bi- lingual deputy is leaving the County and will work either withthe Raleigh Police Department or the SBI, both of which pay higher salaries He requested the Board notonly approve the COA increase, but also consider salary adjustments where needed12 Budget DiscussionThe Board discussed the impact that growth has had on all County agencies and how it is affectingthe FY 1997 -98 budget It was pointed out that all the new requests seem justified, however the taxdollars are limited They considered the one page summary of expansion budget items and agreed toindividually consider these requests and come back Monday evening to begin discussion They also setaside both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, June 24, 25, 1997 to work on the budget if neededFollowing further discussion, Commissioner Cookie Pope moved the Board recess until 700 pmon June 23, 1997 Commissioner Thomas M Moore seconded the motion, which carried by unanimousvoteNorman C Denning, ChairmanJoyce K Ennis, ClerkDetailsAnnotationsEntry PropertiesModified11192013 14920 PMCreated3282003 65537 AMTemplateMinutesFieldsMinutes - TypeRecessedMinutes - Date6161997Book20