July 20, 1989 - 12;00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Special)

Meeting of the Johnston County Board of CommissionersJuly 20, 1989The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in special called session Thursday,July 20, 1989, at 12 oclock noon in the Commissioners Room, Johnston County CourthouseAnnex, Smithfield, North Carolina, with the following members presentDVMNorman C Denning, Chairman, James W Cash, Jerry F Wood, and John M Booker,Members Absent Frank B HoldingAlso present Richard B Self, County Manager, Eleanor N Creech, Clerk to theBoard, and W R Britt, County AttorneyThe Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business was transacted1 Public Hearing - 47 Million School Bond IssueOn July 20, 1989, at 1200 am, the Chairman convened a public hearing withrespect to the Bond Order introduced before this Board on July Il, 1989, concerning theissuance of 47,000,000 School Bonds, of Johnston County, North Carolina pursuant theretoThe Chairman announced that a public hearing with respect to the Bond Orderintroduced before this Board on July 11, 1989, concerning the possible issuance of 2,000,000Water Bonds, of Johnston County, North Carolina would not be held since this Board wasconsidering other methods of financing such costsThe following persons spoke concerning the 47,000,000 Bond Issue1 Dwight Castle - Clayton spoke favoring the School Bond Order, saying, I am thefather of three children, education is of the up -most importance to me and my family2 Allen Jeffreys — Corinth Holder spoke against the 47,000,000 School Bond Issue,because he feels the plan has too many inadequacies, and there is unnecessary busing whichthe Corinth Holder community feels is a real problem for the children in this area of theCounty3 Larry Strickland -Pine Levelstated hebelieves in the School Boards plan andsupports the 47,000,000 BondIssue Hebelievesit is a fair progressiveplan as itaddresses the needs for up- dating schoolfacilities,and Mr Strickland urgedboth boards Board of Education and Boardof Commissioners tocome together and get abottom linefigure on what it will cost thetaxpayersin Johnston County, continuing thatit is time toput education as the number onepriority inJohnstonCounty4 Chris McAdams Clayton congratulated the Board of Education on their longrange plan He spoke in favor of the School Bond Issue because the schools have a back -logof needs, and asked the Board of Commissioners to publicly support the 47,000,000 SchoolBond Issue and to look for existing revenues, other than increasing taxes, to see if thisBond can be passed without an additional tax increase Mr McAdams said the pay -as- you -goplan will not handle the educational needs in Johnston County5 June Carroll Corinth Holder emphasized she is very much in favor ofeducation, however, as much as she favors education, she opposes the bond referendum MsCarroll said it is totally unfair to some areas of the County because of long routes forbusing students, and if this issue addressed all school children fairly, she would supportthe Bond Issue6 Ben Strifert, Principal, North Johnston High School is concerned about airconditioning in schools; a main concern is that citizens want to see new schools because ofthe great needs; however, taxpayers need to know how much it is going to cost, andfurther, he would like to see the Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners gettogether on the cost to the taxpayers7 Ray Earp - ONeals Township stated he is an avid proponent of the SchoolBond Issue and an advocate of frugal spending and that he thinks on the bond referendumas economic and thrifty spending Mr Earp continued that he understands the Board ofCommissioners position and respects it; however, he feels the bond issue will pass8 David Wells - Cleveland,speaking asa concerned citizen,said the School Boardis avoiding the real issue of whatthe County isfaced with relatingto good teachers toteach the children, saying that school buildingswill not make ourchildren smarter, andJohnston County may need a bondissue to entice good teachersto come to JohnstonCounty Mr Wells expressed concernof the costand the pay backof a 47,000,000 bondF it451July 20, 1989 Continuedissue, saying over a 20 year period the County could save a great deal of money for apay -as- you -go plan Further concern was the length of time it has taken the School Board totake bids on the Four Oaks School project Mr Wells said he intends to work against theSchool Bond Referendum9 John Tuttle - Clayton spoke with concern of our our children needing a goodeducation He is concerned about the future of children in Johnston County; mobileclassrooms are not a good environment for children to learn in; Johnston County needs thisbond issue to pass to build new schools10 Ruth Jeffreys - Corinth Holder stated to the Board that the Corinth HolderCommunity needs immediate consideration; children in the community deserve the sameconsideration as others, busing is of main concern She voiced opposition to the Bond Issuebecause the Corinth Holder Community feels the money will not be distributed fairly11 Mary Atkinson - Corinth Holder feels schools in northern Johnston County havebeen forgotten, saying they are lacking many things Johnston County needs a bond issue,but not like the School Board has planned to spend the money Ms Atkinson said in heropinion the School Board needs to rethink the present plan12 Jiles Harrell - Clayton challenges the Board of Commissioners to be leaders andtake a stand on the Bond Issue, emphasizing that education is very important Mr Harrellsaid there are lots of ways money can be raised without a tax increase, and asked the Boardof Commissioners to take a closer look at the county budget using education as a priority13 Chairman Denning, in responding to these comments and opinions, stated to thepeople the Board of Commissioners desire that children in Johnston County have as good aneducation as the County can afford The main question seems to be, will this Bond Issuecause a tax increase or not Continuing, the Chairman affirmed he wants every citizen torealize the Commissioners are willing to hear each person and appreciate participation fromboth sides of the issue He commented the two boards Board of Education and Board ofCommissioners do not disagree on school needs in the County, and he believes the rightthing for the County school system will happen in this issueThe Chairman also expressed to the audience that the Board of Commissioners can tellthem what the County school system is receiving from the tax base, but can not tell them,at this point, what the 47,000,000 Bond Issue will cost the taxpayers; when this can bedetermined, the citizens of Johnston County will be informed14 Ben Strifert said he has worked with the Board of Commissioners and knowsthey are for education, and again urged the boards and citizens to work together from astandpoint of considering school needs in the County15 Dr Dicky Parrish remarked he was encouraged about the School Bond Issueafter meeting with the Local Government Commission He feels reassured that Johnston Countyis sound and the 47,000,000 Bond Issue will not jeopardize the Countys financial status Heexpressed appreciation to the people at the meeting who spoke in favor of the Bond Issue,and encouraged all citizens to visit the schools to see the needs16 June Carroll stated, we doneedsomething done,and anyonewhowishes tovisit the Corinth Holder school will realizehowbad the CorinthHolder needsare;the issuehere is that the School Boards proposal isnotfair and equal toall children intheCountyThe Chairman asked if anyone else in the audience wished to address the Board onthe School Bond Referendum There being no further response, the Chairman declared thePublic Hearing closed at 1240 pm2 Adoption of 47,000,000 School Bond OrderAfter consideration of the public hearing, Commissioner James W Cash moved theadoption of the Bond Order entitled BOND ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERALOBLIGATION BONDS OF JOHNSTON COUNTY IN THE MAXIMUM AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNTOF 47,000,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING, IN PART, THE ACQUISITION,CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOL FACILITIES IN JOHNSTON COUNTYwithout amendment from the form introduced on July 11, 1989, and Commissioner Jerry FWood seconded the motion and the Bond Order was passed and adopted by the following voteAyes James W Cash, Jerry F Wood, John M Booker, DVM a d Norman C DenningNays NoneNot Voting None452July 20, 1989 ContinuedThe following resolution was then introduced and its title was readRESOLUTION CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM ON47,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL BONDS,PROVIDING FOR NOTICES OF SUCH REFERENDUM, FORM OFBALLOT AND PUBLICATION OF BOND ORDER AS ADOPTEDCWHEREAS The Board of Commissioners of Johnston County has adopteda Bond Order entitled BOND ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERALOBLIGATION BONDS OF JOHNSTON COUNTY IN THE MAXIMUM AGGREGATEPRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 47,000,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING, INPART, THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION AND EQUIPPING OFSCHOOL FACILITIES IN JOHNSTON COUNTY ; andWHEREAS GS Section 159 -58 provides for publication of the BondOrder as adopted and GS Section 159 -61 requires this Board to fix the dateof the referendum on the Bond Order, notify the board of elections thereofand provide for notices of the referendum to be published;NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Commissioners of Johnston County,meeting in special session at Smithfield, North Carolina, on July 20, 1989, dothe followingBE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF JOHNSTONCOUNTY1 The Clerk to this Board shall cause the Bond Order, with astatement appended in form described by GS Section 159-58, to be publishedin The Smithfield Herald2 This Board hereby calls for a referendum with respect to the BondOrder and fixes the date thereof as September 26, 19893 The form of the question on the ballot shall be as followsShall the order authorizing 47,000,000 generalobligation bonds of Johnston County for the purposeof financing, in part, the acquisition, construction,installation and equipping of school facilities in JohnstonCounty be approved[ ] YES[ ] NO4 The Clerk to this Board shall mail or deliver a copy of thisresolution to the Johnston County Board of Elections prior to July 23, 19895 The Clerk to this Board shall provide for publication of notices ofthe referendum as required by GS Section 159 -61c in The SmithfieldHerald6 This resolution shall take effect immediatelyCommissioner Jerry F Wood moved the passage of the foregoing resolution andCommissioner James W Cash seconded the motion, and the resolution was passed by thefollowing voteAyes Jerry F Wood, James W Cash, John M Booker, DVM and Norman C DenningNays NoneNot Voting None3 Further Discussion of School Bond OrderCommissioner John M Booker disclosed that he is aware of the school needs in theCounty and very much aware of the Corinth Holder needs, and also realizes the SchoolBoard has spent much time on their proposal; they have worked hard on a program theybelieve in and one that he thinks can be supported He explained the School Board camebefore the County Commissioners and asked that this program be implemented by way of abond issue; as far as he can recall, there was no prior meeting of the School Board withany committee or County Commissioners on how to pay for the needs of the County TheSchool Boards recommendation was presented to the County Commissioners for consideration{July 20, 1989 ContinuedContinuing, Commissioner Booker declared he and the Board of Commissioners arestrong supporters of schools, so they have called for a bond issue and are not againstwhat the School Board has asked He said the Commissioners, along with the School Board,have worked in an effort to find alternate ways for building schools, but nothing has workedout The question seems to be, how is the County going to pay for school constructionFirst, there will be a bond election; if this passes, the County will proceed in that manner;if not, the Board of Commissioners will proceed in trying to build schools as the Board hasindicated Commissioner Booker says he understands the public wanting to know what thebond issue will cost He asserted the meeting in Raleigh with the Local GovernmentCommission provided much helpful information and the Commissioners are waiting for a reporton the Bond Order Dr Booker reminded this group of the demands on County Governments,with no relief from the State and Federal Government, revenue demands will continue toincrease; borrowing 47,000,000 with interest almost as much as the principal with noquestion there will be a tax increaseCommissioner Booker set forth, The question is, can the County afford it or not;the voters will determine this He reassured the people that when the County receives theinformation on what the Bond Issue will cost, the public will be informed He also commentedthe two boards are not trying to fool the people, they certainly realize taxpayers have aninterest in this issue In closing, Commissioner Booker said he feels good about the figuresgiven to him, and that he supports the bond order resolutionTo inform the public, he stated the Bond Referendum date has been set forSeptember 26, 1989For information, William McBride, Bond Counsel, noted that August 26th will be thelast day for voter registration for the Bond Issue ReferendumThe Chairman thanked the audience for their attendance and participation in thishearing He also reassured them they will be notified when the information on the Bond Issuecost is received by the Board of CommissionersNorman C Denning, ChairmanEleanor N Creech, Clerk453UponmotionbyCommissioner JohnM Booker, duly seconded by Commissioner JerryF Wood andcarriedbyunanimous vote, theBoard adjournedNorman C Denning, ChairmanEleanor N Creech, Clerk453DetailsAnnotationsEntry PropertiesModified11192013 12437 PMCreated442003 121721 PMTemplateMinutesFieldsMinutes - TypeSpecialMinutes - Date7201989Book18