April 11, 1988 - 7:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Special)

Meeting of Johnston CountvApril H, 1988The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in special session Monday, April 11,1988, at 700 pm in the Commissioners Room, Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield,North Carolina, with the following members presentNorman C Denning, Chairman, Frank B Holding, Vice- Chairman, James W Cash,Howard Benton and John M Booker, DVMAlso present Richard B Self, County Manager, W R Britt, County Attorney, andJoyce H Ennis, Acting Clerk, in the absence of Eleanor N Creech, Clerk to the BoardThe Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business was transactedThe meeting was moved to the Superior Courtroom due to the number present for thePublic Hearing on the proposed road closing of portions of SR 1703 and SR 17041 Public Hearing - Abandonment of Portions of SR 1703 SR 1704Advertised March 11, March 18, March 25, and April 1, 1988 Time of Public Hearing700 pmPurpose To provide the public an opportunity to address the Board of Commissionerson the proposed closing of portions of SR 1703 Murphy Road and SR 1704 Motorcycle RoadThe Chairman opened the Public Hearing welcoming the many concerned citizenspresent Chairman Denning assured the public the Board would hear everyone who wished tospeakA citizen asked for an explanation of exactly what was being proposed ChairmanDenning called on Bob Spence, Jr, attorney, representing Rebecca Flowers Finch and KellyFinch Mr Spence was asked to give a brief explanationMr Spence explained that the Finches primary concern is to develop their propertyin such a way as to hopefully increase land values for the whole area Mr Mrs Finchplan to develop 1600 acres into a planned residential development including a thirty -six holegolf course They are requesting the dirt roads be closed as State maintained roads in orderto limit and control traffic that would go through the middle of their golf courseMr Spence assured the public that the road would remain and be well maintained,but would be private and have guard stations to provide security and prevent undesirabletraffic He further assured those present that adjacent landowners and their families wouldbe allowed access to the roadChairman Denning called for public commentsThe following citizens stated their specific reasons for opposing the closing of theroadsJerryMurphy - Doesntsee why roads needto be closed in order for land to bedevelopedSue Murphy - Presenteda petition signed bycitizens opposed to closing roads Shefeels there isstill a need for theroad to remain openLarryHarding - Feelsthat closing roadswould be at the expense of thecommunityJohnSkinner - The road is a Landmark Its a good dirt road, its kept up, wedlove to see itstay thereAvon Barham - feels that people depend on these roads - well maintained Shequestions whether development is good for the community if it means closing roadsDonnie Flowers - Owns land on the road Land can be developed without closing theroadsKenneth Hinton, Attorney, representing Mrs Gladys Flowers and Family - Closing theroads would depreciate the value of her land by eliminating road frontage She has a farm inArcher Lodge and uses the road to get farm equipment from Highway 42 She feels that thedevelopment can be done to provide people with an access She would need to know moreabout the plans of development before she could support it242April 11, 1988 ContinuedJanice Crumpler Dandridge - She uses the road She feels that closing the roadmight prevent other landowners from developing their land to advantage in the futureWilistine Flowers - Owns a farm on Murphy Road - she feels that closing road wouldbe - detrimental to our property valueBonnie Murphy States Murphy Road is close to 200 years old She uses the roadalmost dailyEvelyn Skinner - She plans to retire on adjacent farm and enjoys free use of theroadThe following citizens spoke in favor of closing the roadsDanny Honeycutt - Presented a petition supporting the development and the closingof the roads on behalf of the River Dell Chase Homeowners AssociationJim Rice - Presented a petition supporting the closing of the roads on behalf ofNeuse Colony Homeowners Association He supports planned, progressive growth in JohnstonCountyEd Briel - Mr Briel says he appreciates the security that guarded privately ownedroads provide Its not actually discrimination, its protecting the landownersJoe Austin - Owns joining property and thinks it the development with roadsclosed will be good for the communityKelly Finch - Presented a letter from property owners on the roads who support theclosings Mrs Nellie Mulhollem, Jean B Moore and Jimmy Driver Mr Finch expressed thedesire to create the type of development that will invite homeowners who want to make thecommunity their permanent home and who will support the community and help build andenhance the value of the property in this area He stated he wants to work with the localresidents in any way possible He feels the development as planned will benefit the entirecommunityGerald Finch - Sees development as planned as an advantage to all If it takesclosing the road to make a unique development - then I support itHazel Austin - Her property joins the Flowers land We feel that it would increasethe value of our property a great deal and if it does, it will help us, or maybe help ourchildren I know you cant have a golf course with through- traffic - not very easilyAdditional concerned citizens who spoke on the issueBarbara Whitley - She states she is not against the development that the Finchesplan, but questions whether possible future buyers of adjoining land would have access tothe private roadsLee Hudson - Owns a business in Clayton Neither for or against, but asked howoften the roads are traveled Supports positive growth for the communityLetters were received from the following citizens concerning the issue of closingportions of SR 1703 and SR 1704 James E Rice, Laura J Kroeschell, Tim Upchurch, Al andKathleen Orringer, H Earl Johnson, Brenda Anderson - Levin, Mark Levin, Jeff Barnes, Chiefof Archer Lodge Volunteer Fire DepartmentChairman Denning thanked everyone for coming to the hearing He explained that theCommissioners would take the situation under advisement Action was deferred until a latermeetingThe Chairman declared the Public Hearing closedThe Board continued their regular meeting in the Commissioners Room, JohnstonCounty Courthouse2 Harnett County to Join Capital Area Job - Training ConsortiumThe County Manager advised the Board that Harnett County is requesting to joinJohnston and Wake Counties in the Capital Area Job - Training Consortium Harnett County hasbeen paired with Sampson County in federal job- training services, but wishes to join withJohnston as they have similar labor forcesrIiGj`II243April 11, 1988 ContinuedThe County Manager reported that he has talked with Sampson County and they donot wish to be included along with Harnett at this time, as their labor forces are differentand the move would be of no benefit to themThe Board was also advised that Wake County has already approved Harnett CountysrequestCommissioner John M Booker favored this action as it will accommodate ourneighboring county Commissioner Booker moved that Johnston County approve the inclusionof Harnett County in the Capital Area Job- Training ConsortiumCommissioner James W Cash seconded the motion which carried by unanimous voteExecutive SessionCommissioner Howard Benton moved that regular session be recessed and that theBoard go into Executive Session to discuss Attorney - Client litigation Commissioner James WCash seconded the motion which carried unanimouslyUpon a motion by Commissioner James W Cash, duly seconded by Commissioner JohnM Booker and carried by unanimous vote, it was moved that the Board go out of executivesession and that regular session be resumed3 Narron, OHale, Whittington Woodruff Law Firm EmployedUpon a motion by Commissioner Frank B Holding, duly seconded by CommissionerHoward Benton and carried by unanimous vote, it was moved that the County employ the lawfirm of Narron, OHale, Whittington Woodruff to assist County Attorney, W R Britt, inthe defense of a federal lawsuitUpon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded by CommissionerFrank B Holding and carried by unanimous vote, the Board adjournedYJo e Ennis, Acting ClerkEleanor N Creech, tMerkNorman C Denning, ChairmanDetailsAnnotationsEntry PropertiesModified11192013 113842 AMCreated492003 101332 AMTemplateMinutesFieldsMinutes - TypeSpecialMinutes - Date4111988Book18