April 19, 1961 - 9:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Special)

April 19, 19611 3Fit widthMeeting of Board of Commissioners for the County of JohnstonApril 19, 1961The Board of Commissioners of Johnston County reconvened in special session onApril 19, 1961, at 2100 P M, for the purpose of reviewing proposed changes in thefees of the different departments of the CountyThe following members were present H M Johnson, Chairman, J D Bailey,R G Gurley, Floyd C Price, Sr and Frank B HoldingAbsent NoneThe following business was trasacted1 Dr Robert D Phillips, recently appointed Health Director for Johnston County,^formally met the members of the Board and gave each member a copy of The NorthCarolina Local Health Service Budget for the Fiscal Year 1960 -61 and other pertinentinformation on Local Health DepartmentsHe stated that the department had at this time only one Sanitarian and the need »,existed for two, and understood that the budget would provide for an additbnalSanitarian for the remainder of the year2 Kessrs Donnie Stephenson and Glenn Pleasant, representing the Building Committwes of the Pleasant Grove Community Building, reported that the building was pract-ically completed, and requested that the County insure the building in an amount of0700000 for at least a short whileCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that the Pleasant Grove Community Buildingbe insured for 700000 and that the insurance premium on same be paid by the Countyfor a period of one year, a portion of said premium to come from any remaining fundsin the Pleasant Grove Community Building accountCommissioner Floyd C Price, Sr seconded the motion, which was carried3 C S Coats, Constable Smithfield Township, recommended that the Board recommen4to the members of the General Assembly that the capture cost of liquor stills be02500, as he theorized that the cost of everything else had advanced and this amountwould be in keeping with present conditions He also asked for an explanation of whyno arrest fee was allowed an officer in the Magistrates Court when the prisoner wasconvicted and sentenced to the roads, whereas in the District and Superior Courtthere was allowed such a feeA discussion ensued between Mr Coats and the Commissioners, but no action wastaken in the matter4- The following resolution from the Board of Trustees of the Public Library wasordered incorporated in the minutesR E S O L U T I O NWHEREAS the following conclusions have been reached by the Johnston CountyLibrary Board of Trustees, after careful study and exploration of the feasibilityof devising cooperative plans of facilities and services with the Trustees of theSmithfield LibraryIT IS RESOLVED1 While we feel very definitely that the idea of consolidation to the extentof united effort and planning, has much merit and will ultimately prove advantageous,from an economic and progressive standpoint, conditions are not presently conduciveto an amicable consummation of any such project and we, therefore, recommend thatat this time no further steps should be taken in this direction2 Whereas we realize that our respnnsibility is to all the people in JohnstonCounty and it has, in most instances, been the policy of Johnston County to limitexpenditures for library buildings to the minimum necessary to house the bookmobileoperation, it is the part of wisdom to continue the existing policy on libmrybuildings3 If and when the Town of Smithfield elects to consbuct anew library build-ing, we recommend that the proper officials appraise the feasibility of requestingthe inclusion of suitable quarters for the bookmobile operation with the Countyputting into the building only the specific amount of funds required for the spaceactually occupied by the County facilitiesL} In the course of our investigation and deliberations, we have obtained thecounsel of W R Britt, County Attorney, and we strongly concur in his recommendat-ion that proper legal steps be immediately taken to bring into current conditionthe title to property which was donated by Miss Virginia Williamson for the use ofthe Johnston County Library465April 19, 1961 Cont5 Whereas our investigation of this proposal has forcefully brought to ourattention the splendid spirit of cooperation which has always existed between theSmithfield Library and the Johnston County Library systems, wehereby express ourgratitude and complete confidence that such spirit will continue to prevail5 In view of Item # 4 in resolution adopted by the Trustees of the Johnston CountLibrary on April 10, 1961, Commissioner R G Gurley moved that W R Britt, CountyAttorney, be directed to take immediate legal steps to place the property devisedby Miss Virginia Williamson in her will for library purposes in the name of the Cour4yCommissioner J D Bailey seconded the motion, which was carried6 W R Britt, County Attorney, reported that he had discussed with Mrs Nora FSoutherland, Clerk of the Superior Court, the disposition of undistributed Courtfunds in the Clerk of the Superior Courts office as reported in the audit ofDaniel G Matthews, as dfMay 7, 1959 covering the tenure of office of the latD H V I;Rose, Clerk of the Superior CourtMr Britt reported that there was two ways of disposing of the funds, one, casei-by case basis, which would require a lot of time, additional help and legal advice,the other being to recommend to the members of the General Assembly the passage of alegislative act to disburse the money on a percentage basis and in his opinion afair distribution would be for the county to receive 23 and the Board of Education13 He favored the latter courseiMr Britt recommended that a reserve fund be set up from these funds for theprotection of the County in case any claims were filed by any person with a statute kof limitations applying from Mr Roses death to a definite time IMr E S Simpson, who was present at the meeting, was asked his opinion ofthis proposed distribution but would not make a definite committment until he hadtime to study and understand the situation more fully, stating, however, that theschool needs were great but that he was sure his Board would be glad to cooperatein every way to arrive at a fair distributionMrs Nora P Southerland was also present when Mr Britt presented his planand concurred basically with Mr Brittsrecommendatinn for the distribution of thefunds, which amounted to 070,4837 In view of the above recommendation by the County Attorney, Commissioner R GGurley moved that W R Britt, County Attorney, proceed immediately to draft a billfor presentment to the representatives of Johnston County for enactment by theGeneral Assembly providing for the distribution of surplus Court funds in the Clerklof the Superior Courts officeCommissioner J D Bailey seconded the motion, which was carried8 W R Britt, County Attorney, presented revised fees of the Clerk of the Court,;which he and Mrs Nora P Southerland, Clerk of the Superior Court, by investigationand study deemed fair and practical for services rendered and recommended that theBoard give their approval9 W G Massey acting in accordance with a directive of the Board presentedproposed fees for services in the Register of Deeds OfficeThese proposed changes were discussed with the Board by Mr Britt and MrMassey and tentatively met the approval of the Board However, Commissioner R GGurley moved that W R Britt, County Attorney, proceed to draw up a bill providingfor the proposed service fees in the Clerk of the Superior Courts office and theRegister of Deeds Office for further study by the Board at their regular meetingon May 1, 1961 before definite recommendations are made to the members of theGeneral Assembly for legislative enactment10 Commissioner Floyd C Price, Sr brought to the attention of the Board proposedichanges in the pay of jurors After a discussion as to the amount to be recommended•for the pay of jurors, Commissioner J D Bailey moved that a recommendation be madeto the members of the General Assembly to pay the jurors serving in the SuperiorCourt mileage every day they serve at the rate of 5¢ per mileCommissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion, which was carried11 Commissioner J D Bailey moved that the State Highway Commission be requestedto hard- surface that certain road in Ingrams Township, described as followsBeginning at Olive Grove Church, runs thence to the residenceof Mrs Walter Jackson,being a distance of 1 milePetition enclosed with this order For reference see Millie W Olive, FourOaks, N CCommissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion, which was carriedMApril 19, 1961 Cont12 In view of repeated requests by citizens having business establishments on aportion of Road 1204 located south of Benson, Commissioner Frank B Holdingmovedthat VV G Massey, Clerk, be authorized and directed to request Mr John P Swain,Secondary Roads Officer, State Highway Commission, to designate and establish aportion of said road which lies between the ACL Railroad and secondary Road No1100 as a public service road, in order to serve the industrial establishmentsof the Benson Feed Mill, Gaines Lumber Company, and the Benson Veneer Company, IncFurther moved that a copy of said letter be sent to Mr E P Koonce, Division Engin-eer, Mr J I Lynch, District Engineer, Mr W Robert Denning, Jr, President,Benson Feed Mill, Mr G G Gaines, Gaines Lumber Company, and Mr Noel Auman,Benson Veneer Company, IncCommissioner R G Gurley seconded the motion, which was carried13 Commissioner R G Gurley moved that the funds in the Department of Healthbudget be reappropriated in an amount of 7500 for the purpose of paying to DurwardIStallings an additional amount in salary of 1500 per month, effective as ofFebruary 1961Commissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion, which was carried14 Commissioner R G Gurley moved that the funds in the Department of Healthbudget be reappropriated in an amount of 263327 for the purpose of paying toDr Robert D Phillips, recently appointed Health Director, a monthly salary of100000 per month, effective as of April 12, 1961Commissioner J D Bailey seconded the motion, which was carried15 W G Massey, Clerk, notified the Board that the Westinghouse Electric Corp-oration would submit a bid for the installation of self- service elevator, and alsoreported that he had received a letter from Owen G Dunn Company in connectionwith the installation of a permanent registration system16 Notices of formal appeal to the State Board of Allottments and Appeal by W AGregory, Benson, Lina W Gregory, Benson, Malissie Garner Parrish, Selma, and MableBarbour Flowers, Four Oaks were presented and axdered filed with W G Massey, Clerk17 Notice of a letter received from C W Lee, Chief Engineer, State HighwayCommission in connection with the cleaning of a ditch below 70 -A towards U S 7Owas reported to the Board18 The notice of Rosa Lee Watson, trading as Watson Grocery, Blount Street, Smith -field N C, to apply for a permit to sell beer was presented and approved19 Agreement and pplication for U S Department of Agriculture Donated Commodit-ies executed by H M Johnson on behalf of the Board for the period beginning April1, 1961 and continuing until terminated, was ordered filedThere being no further business, the meeting adjourned?L C rman