April 4, 1960 - 11:00 AM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

April 4, 19603 5Fit width383Meeting of Board of Commissioners for the County of JohnstonApril 4, 196oThe Board of County Commissioners of Johnston County sitting as a Board ofEqualization and Review and in their capacity as the governing body of Johnston County met in the County Commissioners Room April 4, 1960, at 1100 A M, with thefollowing members present fH M Johnson, Chairman, R G Gurley, Floyd C Price, Sr, J D Bailey andFrank B HoldingAbsent NoneThe following business was transacted1 No action was taken on the request of A A Creech for the improvement of acertain road in Selma Township, as it was deemed a legal matter between the partieswhose property the road went through2 Henry Cross, of R #2, Selma, NC, accompanied by Paul E Dunn, Jr, of R #1Selma, N C, representing the Johnston County Livestock Mutual Association request -•ed an amount of approximately 180000 to enable the Association to make an additionto the Livestock arena to enable the Association to hold a barrow show and sale inthe Eastern North Carolina area to be held in March of 1961, which would be spon-sored by the State College Extension Service, and would attract exhibitors fromthroughout the southeastern states, with the idea of making it an annual eventMr Cross stated that several adjoining counties were interested in holdingthis show, but that if accomodations could be made that Johnston County was assured rof getting this event He stated further that the labor on the addition could befurnished by the members of the Johnston County Livestock Mutual AssociationThe commissioners assured Mr Cross and Mr Dunn of their interest and advisedthem that the necessary funds would be allocatted for that purpose in the 1960 -61budget2 The request of H F Palmer for a new stove and refrigerator for the coloredHome Demonstration Department was deferred pending the County Agent securing def-inite prices and committments on this equipment3 W G Massey, Clerk, was directed to distribute booklets purchased by the iiCounty from Alex McMahon, General Counsel, North Carolina Association of CountyCommissioners, to the various officials in the courthouse and officials connectedwith the County4 Commissioner J D Bailey moved that the bond of Roger W Strickland succeed-ing Hughes Lamm, of Selma, as Deputy Sheriff of Johnston County in the amount of200000; and the faithful performance blanket bond covering employees in theClerk of the Superior Courtis office in the amount of 410,000 in the name of Nora PSoutherland, Clerk Superior Court of Johnston County, North Carolina, as obligeeand insured, be approvedCommissioner Floyd C Price, Sr seconded the motion, which was unanimouslyadopted5 Commissioner J D Bailey moved that the rider of the Fund -Insurance Companiesreducing the amount of indemnity from x50,000 as shown in BondNo403605 of Nora PSoutherland, Clerk of the Superior Court, to X25,000, effective January 5, 1960,be approvedCommissioner Floyd C Price, Sr seconded the motion, which was unanimouslyadopted6 Commissioner J D Bailey moved that H M Johnson, Chairman, be directed to 1execute cancellation notice and release to the National Surety Corporation covering jBond No 030861 effective 12 -1 -58 of Nora P Southerland, bookkeeper, terminatingon May 15, 1959, Bond No 4023575 effective 2 -15 -58 of Marian W Lassiter, DeputyClerk of the Superior Court, terminating May 15, 1959; and Bond No 4022942 effect-ive 1 -13 -58 of Doris C Lambert, Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court, terminatingMay 15, 1959•Commissioner Floyd C Price,Sr seconded the motion, which was unanimouslyadoptedCommissioner J D Bailey moved that the following resolution be adoptedRESOLUTIONNorth CarolinaJohnston CountyWhereas, on April 15, 1955, the Town of Benson and the County of Johnstonconveyed by deed to the State of Itrth Carolina, for use as an armory site a parcelof land situate in the Town of Benson as will appear by reference to Book 35}, page384April 4, 1960 font322 of the Johnston County Registry; and Whereas, said lot or parcel of laridhasbecome unsuitable as an armory site and, whereas, the Town of Benson has procureda new and satisfactory site, approved by the North Carolina Armory Commission,which new site has been duly conveyed by the Town of Benson to the State of NorthCarolina, upon which is to be constructed an armory, and whereas, the State ofNorth Carolina has submitted a deed, approved for disposition by the Director ofAdministration and as to form by the Attorney General of North Carolina, reconvey-ing the property described in the deed to the State of North Carolina, bearingdate of April 15, 1955, and recorded as aforesaid;NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the County ofJohnston that the proposed deed in form submitted reconveying said lot describedin Book 354, Page 322, Registry for Johnston County by the State of North Carolinato the Town of Benson and the County of Johnston, be and the same is hereby acceptedin form and in contentCommissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion, which was unanimouslyadopted7• Judge W I Godwin reported that effort had begun on the collection of un-collected bills of cost that had accumulated in cases of the Johnston County Re -corders Court, and that the Sheriff and the Clerk of the Court were rendering whatassistance they could in the matter He illustrated what difficulties they were upagainst by citing that in some cases the parties had moved from the county and inother cases the parties had died He further reported that some money had beencollected, but very littleAfter a discussion, it was the concensus of the Board, concurred in by JudgeGodwin, that he proceed with the collection of each individual case and thosecases he deemed uncollectible that he file an order remitting the balance of theuncollected bill of cost8 In response to the request of James A Peedin, of Selma R#3 and W B Oliver,of Pine Level, N C, W G Massey, Clerk, was directed to write C W Lee of theState Highway Commission advising him that the property owners adjoining the canalwhich runs from an area adjoining Highway 95 and Shallcross area to U S HighwayNo 70 -A would be willing to clear the right of way provided the Highway Commissionwould ditch the canal and extend it to Highway No 709 Robert A Spence, Attorney, appeared before the Board of Commissioners on be-half of Fieldcrest Mills, Inc, and advised the Board that there was some indicat-ion of an abandoned cemetery or graveyard located on that tract of land purchasedby it from the Wellons heirs containing approximately 8 acres and located justSouth of Smithfield between Interstate Highway 95 and the Atlantic Coast LineRailroad and being shown on a map of the Fieldcrest 1,1ills Property as tte WellonsTract, said map being recorded in Plat Book 9, page 205, Johnston County RegistryMr Spence advised the Board that a search of the public records of Johnston Countyreveals no record of any conveyance of any cemetery lots from said tract of landand that from the physical evidence, there is no indication of a cemetery on saidland However, it appears that in the distant past there may have been an oldgraveyard or cemetery located on this tract of land, and under the provision ofG S 65 -15 relating to removal of a graveyard or cemetery after abandonment askedfor a ruling from the Board deeming it necessary and expedient in their opinionto remove said graves and Mr Spence further stated that notice of such would bepublished in The Smithfield Herald 30 days prior to the removal of the same accord-ing to the terms of e s atu e, ere being no record of any kin of any deceasedperson buried in said cemetery Whereupon, Commissioner R G Gurley moved theadoption of the following resolution, subject to the approval of J L George,County Attorney;That the County Board of Commissioners of the County of Johnston deem itnecessary and expedient in their opinion to remove said graves, if they can belocated and ascertained, after the giving of thirty days notice in The SmithfieldHerald as by law provided, from the property belonging to Field Crete s, nc,siTown on the specified map and purchased from the Wellons heirs, and that theCounty Health Officer be advised of such and supervise the removal of the same andthat since there was a conveyance of the land to Fieldcrest Mills, Inc, withoutreservation as to a cemetery or graveyard, that it in itself is evidence of abandon-ment according to the statuteCommissioner J D Bailey seconded the motion, which was carried10 W G Massey, Clerk, submitted copies of the appeal of Queen Ella Jones andJohn Olen Wilkes to the North Carolina State Board of Allottments and Appeal,which were ordered filed11 After a discussion of the request of Wilson Jiggs Broadwell for the old radio`equipment held by the Sheriff as to the manner it was to be disuosed of when newequipment was purchased for the Sheriff from the Motorola Corporation, in whichthere was a divergence of opinion as to said disposition of said old equipment,Commissioner R G Gurley moved that the Johnston County Council of Civil Defensebe allowed to re -work the old equipment and salvage parts which can be used by the,,3?5April 4, 1960 fontCivil Defense communication service to establish communications on the shamfrequency for emergency civil defense operation, enabling civil defense to havecontact with areas of the county not presently having radio communications jCommissioner J D Bailey seconded the motion, which was carried12, Lulu A Jolliff, Superintendent of the Welfare Department, reported that shehad been advised by the State Welfare Department that the county would participateon a basis of 428 on an amount of 435180 representing service and maintenancecost in lieu of rent, and in an amount of 14299 on the cost of the building,which would be reported for 170 months 13 Lulu A Jolliff, Superintendent of the Welfare Department, reported that shewould need approximately 912884 to meet her Public Assistance welfare committ-ments for lay and June and that after repeated requests to the State Welfare Depart -,ment she had not been able to secure a definite promise of helpAfter discussion, she was advised to again contact the State Welfare Depart-ment for assistance „14 No action was taken on the request of Lulu A Jolliff, Superintendent of the IWelfare Department for additional clerical help, which she stated she needed inher department, and which would amount to an expenditure of approximately 115500015 After a discussion with B A Henry, Sheriff, D R Clifton, Jailor, C CGeorge, Janitor, and W H Britt, Auditor, Commissioner Floyd C Price, Sr movedthat the following recommendations as submitted by Commissioner JD Bailey beapproved and accepted;In accordance with a directive of the Board of County Commissioners of JohnstonCourty, the following recommendations are submitted for the pxrpose of fixing theresponsibility for the preservation and care of the courthouse, courthouse annexformerly the Thornton Building and grounds and to assure the cleanliness andmaintenance of same1 That the jailor, with the approval of the Sheriff, shall be designatedas custodian of the courthouse, courthouse annex and grounds2 That the jailor, hereinafter referred to as custodian, shall be chargedwith the following responsibilities and duties;a The custodian shall have complete supervision of the janitor and jailtrustees assisting the janitor in the performance of his dutiesb He shall be required to provide thejanitor a schedule of his duties andmake a daily inspection of the buildings including offices, toilets, tc to seethat thejanitor has performed his duties in a commendable manner,c The custodian shall be on the alert for any replacements and repairs thatshould be made and report same to the Board of County Commissioners at their nextregular meeting; however, should an emergency arise that cannot be delayed untilthe meeting of the Board he shall consult with the Auditor concerning samed He shall file a written report to the Board of County Commissioners onthe first Monday of each month covering his supervision and activities and makesuch recommendations as he deems necessary, the report to be substantially in thefollowing form;1 Number of inspections made2 Minor repairs made3 Suggestions4 Recommendationse The custodian shall report to the Auditor the supplies that are neededfor the protection and maintenance of the buildings and grounds and same shall bepurchased by or with the approval of the Auditorf The custodian shall be required to keep an inventory of all janitorialsupplies and equipment and provide a safe place for their storageg During the absence of the custodian, the Assistant Janitor, who hascharge of the jail during the night, shall be responsible for the maintenance andcare of the buildings, especially seeing that no unnecessary lights are burning inthe buildings and no vandalism is being committedh The custodian shall exercise rigid discipline over the jail trustees,who are assigned to the staff of the janitor, and provide them with uniformssimilar to the uniforms furnished by the State Prison Department and require thesaid Trustees to present a clean and orderly appearance at all times, and provideis3€6April 4, 1960 -Conta post for them, in order that when they are not actually engaged in servicingthe buildings or grounds that their presencemay be accounted fori The custodian shall see that all doors in the basement and the firstfloor of the courthouse are locked by 700 P M and opened at a satisfactoryA M hour, with the exception of the rear door to the courthouse, which shallremain open at all times However, when the courtroom or Commissioners room isbeing used by the public or in an official capacity, the doors on the first floorshall remain open to accomodate the people during said meetingsAUDITORThe Auditor shall be charged with the responsibility of purchasing janitorialsupplies, equipment, and fuelJANITORThe janitor shall be employed by the Board of County Commissioners of JohnstonCounty and shall be charged with complying with the duties imposed upon him by thecustodianBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERSThe Commissioner charged with the supervision of the county home propertyand who serves in this capacity on a quarterly basis shall be required to makeduring this period intermittent inspections of the courthouse, courthouse annexand grounds in a consultative and advisory capacityCommissioner RGGurley seconded the motion, which was carried16 W H Britt, Auditor, and W G Massey, Clerk, were directed by the Board tofurnish the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners material relatingto Johnston County for the 1960 County Year Book17 By agreement, execution of a contract between the County and E J Wellonsand wife relative to the leasing of a suite of offices in the Thornton Buildingand the purchase from E J Wellons a lot adjoining the Gaskin Building wasdeferred upon the legal advise of J L George, County Attorney, until the nextfiscal year18 Floyd C Price, Sr, was appointed Supervisor of the Boarding Home and torepresent the Board of County Commissioners at meetings of the Trustees of theLibrary; and in a consultative and advisory capacity for the courthouse, courthouse;annex and grounds, for the months of April, May, and June19 The following reports were filed with the BoardT L Upchurch0 W TarltonH F PalmerL P CreechM W KnottLulu A JolliffD R CliftonRubert BarbourEvelyn BishopSarah Ann ButtsC D Stanley and G R BrittTax CollectorVerbal Agricultural AgentNegro Agricultural AgentVeterans Service OfficerElectrical InspectorSuperintendent Welfare DepartmentJailorDog WardenCounty LibrarianRome Demonstration AgentDeputy Tax Collectors, dailyreports February and March20 Commissioner J D Bailey moved that the State Highvay Commission be requestedto add to the Johnston County Road aystem and maintain that certain road in Smith-field Township, described as follows;Beginning on the south side of the Wilsons Mills Road, approximately1§ miles from the Town of Smithfield, and situated at the end of theHeavner Development, and is known as Shady Lane Street, and being astreet in the Henry HWhitley Development, which is recorded in PlatBook 10, page 15, Johnston County RegistryFor reference see Junius Phillips or Henry H Whitley, R #3e Smithfield, N CCommissioner Floyd C Price,gr seconded the motion, which was carriedThere being no further business, the meeting adjournedCh manClerI387April4, 196o ContBoard of Equalization and Review i1 After a review and investi ation of petitions submitted as are shown in the I?minutes of the Board on March IC 1960, Commissioner R G Gurley moved that therequests of the petitioners be denied as their claims did not meet the legalrequirements to effect a change in their valuationCommissioner J D Bailey seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted2 The request of Minnie Stancil, Cneais Township, for a reduction in valuationon account of House being burned in 1959 was referred to W H Britt, Tax Super -visor3 The request of Addie Parker, Benson, N C, R #2, for an equalization in valueon her share of her fathers estate was referred to Vl H Britt, Tax SupervisorThere being no further business, the meeting was adjourned sine dieC irmanIiClerk