May 18, 1987 - 7:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Recessed)

The Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business wastransacted1 PUBLIC HEARING - Annexation of the West Johnston Fire District to Five MilesThe Chairman opened the Public Hearing on the annexation of the West JohnstonFire District There was no one present to address the board on the proposedannexation of the West Johnston Fire District to a five mile districtThe County Manager presented the petition signed by property owners in thenew area proposed forannexation and theverificationMay18, 1987petitionThe JohnstonCountyBoard ofCommissioners reconvened in regular sessionown realMonday, May 18, 1987,at 7oclock pm,Commissioners Room, Johnston County Court-verification from the taxhouse, Smithfield, NorthCarolina, with thefollowing members presentall propertyNorman C Denning,Chairman,Frank B Holding, Vice Chairman, James WCash, Howard Benton andJohnM Booker,DVMiMembers AbentNoneAlso presentRichard B Self,County Manager, and Eleanor N Creech, Clerkto the BoardThe Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business wastransacted1 PUBLIC HEARING - Annexation of the West Johnston Fire District to Five MilesThe Chairman opened the Public Hearing on the annexation of the West JohnstonFire District There was no one present to address the board on the proposedannexation of the West Johnston Fire District to a five mile districtThe County Manager presented the petition signed by property owners in thenew area proposed forannexation and theverificationreport from the TaxAdministrators Office Thispetitionhad thirty -twosignatures;tax records show onlyeighteen of the thirty -twoown realestate in thenew area; fourteen petitioners couldnot be found on the tax records asowning real estate Thisverification from the taxoffice reveals only 56; GS69 -2511requires 23 ofall propertyowners in new areaThe board instructed the County Manager to notify the Fire Marshal; theChairman agreed to get in touch with officials of the fire department to advise that thepetition is not in orderThe Chairman declared the Public Hearing on the Annexation of the WestJohnston Fire District closedNo action was taken at this time2 PUBLIC HEARING - Community Development Block Grant Application for GraytownAreaThe Chairman opened the Public Hearing on the Graytown Community DevelopmentBlock Grant ApplicationGraytown citizens present; Annette Dublin, Thelma Dublin, Pauline Sanders,Dahlia Penny, Margaret Smith, Avis E Dodd, Frederick D Dodd, Henry Barfield,Jr, Della Barfield, Dollie Brewington, Helen R Holt, Ina W Parker, Lawrence Williams,Perry Gupton, Jr, Mamie Williams, Theatrice Snead, Quessie Sanders, Bennie Lee,Della Bridges, Overa S Stevens, Mary B White, Mae S Jones, Angela J Jones, ShirleyJones, Leamon Sanders, Irene Stevens and Florence Sanders1?May 18, 1987 ContinuedLula Sanders reviewed the completed application summary; with a projectboundary map; summary of activities to be addressed; project budget and a schedule ofactivities The project application addresses relocation and real property acquisitionrehabilitation of 28 houses; street improvements; paving two streets, with curb andgutter; drainage and tile to correct flooding conditions; total of project application600,000 from North Carolina Department of Natural resources and Community Developmentand county funds of 40,000 Mrs Sanders continued that hopefully the county will knowif the Graytown application is approved by early AugustTwenty -seven residents of the Graytown Community appeared in support ofthe Graytown Community Development Block Grant applicationThere was no opp®siti -on from citizens to the Graytown Community DevelopmentBlock Grant applicationFrederick Dobb, Overa Stevens, Dahlia Penny and Della Bridges of the GraytownCommunity addressed the board favoring the Graytown application; saying that help isgreatly needed, improvements are long ,over -due, homes need repairs, but residents notfinancially able; and they are waiting with anticipation and gratfulnessUpon a motion by Commissioner Howard Benton, duly seconded by CommissionerFrank B Holding and carried by unanimous vote, the following resolution was adoptedA RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR FUNDS UNDER THE NORTHCAROLINA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAMAND ADOPTING A PROGRAM THEREFOREWHEREAS, the County of Johnston is interested in making itself an excellentplace for living and working for all its citizens and is anxious and dedicated toworking for the removal of all factors that make the accomplishments of such a goaldifficult, including any cause and evidences of blight and deterioration; andWHEREAS, the North Carol ina Community Development Block Grant Programauthorized under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended in1981 offers incentives to local governments to develop viable communities by providingdecent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunitiesprincipally for persons of low and moderate income; andWHEREAS, the County of Johnston agrees, that there is a need to continue a{comprehensive and coordinated plan and program in order to meet its communitydevelopment needs- in the most effective manner; jNOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Countyof Johnston that the Community Development Application for the Graytown Target Area andthe contents there in including all understandings and assurances are hereby adopted;and, the County of Johnston will work diligently to implement the proposed program ifthese requested grant funds are awarded; andBE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Richard B Self is authorized to _act as theofficial representative of the County of Johnston in connection with this application andfor provide such additional information as may be required by the North CarolinaDepartment of Natural Resources and Community DevelopmentThis the 18th day of May, 1987Ms Sanders advised the board if this application is approved funds wouldprobably be released within three to six months, work could start about January, 1988There being no further business to be addressed at this Public Hearing, theChairman thanked the citizens for their participation and declared the Public Hearing onthe Graytown Community Development Block Grant closedUpon a motion by Commissioner Howard Benton, duly seconded by CommissionerJames W Cash and carried the board recessed regular session until Tuesday, May- 26,1987, at 7 oclock pm It was further moved the Board of Commissioners sit as a Boardof Equalization and ReviewBOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW HEARINGS1 William S Ragsdale III Smithfield Township; value 79,050; warehouseREASON too h i h- condition? g ; building 10 years old, needs repairs, a metal building,•metal roof, roof leaks no loading docks, ,concrete floor, floor cracking; 1 acre of landvalued at 3,000; limitations of what building can be used for; mainly storage; thinksvalue should be arouncl 55,000 to 60,000;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request107May 18, 1987 Continued2 2 John Sullivan Oneal s Township; value 17,470, 59A ; 32,360, 4090 acres;REASON above market value, does not want to apply for farm use; house on 59acre; house in poor condition; tin roof leaks; structural defects, to costly to repair,house should be torn down; thinks value should be around 5,000;4090 acre tract; limited access to majority of land, across pond dam; have togo across other property to get to 33 acres; 77 acres cleared; about 4 tendable acres;eroded bad; wasteland; needs diking and ditching, but to costly; thinks value shouldbe around 200 an acre;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request3 Ms Ina Parker Meadow Township; REASON complaint on value of twobuilding sites at 5,000 each; is getting farm use on two farm tracts; 1 acre eachsite; two old frame houses; total old values 31,500; to 83,000 new values; farm usevalue reduced to 44,019;The Board of E R agreed to consider the two bu i-I d i ng sites at 5,000 each4 Charlie Keith Byrd Banner Township; value 57,130; house and lot; REASONtoo high; neighbors values less and bigger house and more land; his lot 63 acre;thinks 50,000 would be a fair value;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request5 Florene P Williams Ingrams Township; value 41,790; house and lot inForest Hills Subdivision; REASON dissatisfied with revaluation; property doubledin value; has done no work on house in 14 years; no streets no curb; brick houseabout 1,300 sq ft heated area; purchased new 1973; lot valued at 5,000; thinksfair value would be around 36,000;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request6 Eunice Barefoot Jackson Meadow Township; value 24,170; houseREASON too high; built 1963 -64; needs repairs; lot 75 x 150; small houseft no farm land; not insulated, gas heat; windows and house deteriorating;caused much damage;The Board of E R agreed to consider this requestand lot;960 sqmoisture7 Charles R Wellons Micro Township; value 5,000; 1 acre; REASON toohigh; less than an acre cannot build on; 1 -95 took all of front of acre; think fairvalue would be around 3,000;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request8 M Garvis Yarborough Banner Township; value 50,330; house and lot;REASON too high; main complaint - general run -down neighborhood; built 1954;property in this neighborhood depreciated;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request9 Robert E Norris I ngrams Township; value 12,860; 144 acres; REASONtoo high, not eligible for farm use; last year valued at 3,800; 613 cleared, restwoodland and in creek wet and ; 32 acres wasteland; land not tended in four yearsor more; no tobacco allotment; cleared land value about 3,000 to 4,000;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request10 James Abbott, Jr Pleasant Grove Township; value 99,700; house andlot; REASON above market value; 54,000 last year; built 1975; 24 acres; 1,700sq ft; full basement not finished; central heat and air; would be satisfied withvalue of 82,500;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request11 Mary Lee Williams Pleasant Grove Township; value 15,230; approximately9? acres; REASON too high; can not develop 100 foot road frontage; all cleared;washes at end of property; thinks fair value would be around 1,500 an acre;The Board of E R agreed to consider this request•May 18, 1987 ,Conti nued,12 Marvin Haddock Boon Hi I I Township; 7,250 lots 15 and 16; 9,000 _lots 16A, 16B, 16C; REASON too high; stated lots wasteland; people , dump trash onthis property; near Wayne Country Tine; old Massey farm; bank lots; very wetlandhad filled in; think worth 7,250 lots about 1,500; 9,000 lots 2,000;The board agreed to consider this request13 Pauline Warren Banner Township; 20,310 house and lot; REASON house-is on very small lot and in need of repair; last years value 11,640; windows needreplacing; ceiling and porches need repairs; thinks worth about 15,000The board agreed to consider this requestDiscussion Board of Equalization and Review1 William Ragsdale III consider 62,5002 John Sullivan House and lot consider 15,000; 4090 acres consideraround 500 an acre;3 Ms Ina Parkerconsider home sites at 2,000 each lot;4 Charlie Keith Byrd consider 52,0005 Florene P Williams consider 38,5006 Eunice Barefoot Jackson board considers 195007 Charles R Wellonsboard considers 3,0008 M Gary i s Yarborough consideration of 45,0009Margaret Clifton for Gladys Adamsconsideration of 36,00010Robert E Norris consideration ofvalue at approximately 5,75011James Abbott,Jr consideration ofvalue at approximately 84,50012Lucy DeLaine consideration ofvalue at about 21,000 see appointmenttime 840 51887 Clayton Township; value 25,650; 1137 acres; toohighMs DeLaine did not appear, Commissioner Cash spoke for her;13,Mary Lee Williams considerationof 8 acres at 1,500; 1 acre at250;total 9 acres at 12, 25014Marvin Haddock considerationof value at approximately 7,500;,15 16 3,000; 16A, 16B, 16C 4,50015 Pauline Warren consideration of value at approximately 18,000Reports to Board of E R1 Robert K Creech report from County Appraiser; recommends house valuebe reduced by 750 to 36,410; board agreed with this recommendation;orryy house2 J L Higgins Recommend s functional depreciation of 35 20, 570 to 13,3703 Myrtle Parker Parrish Reccormmends functional depreciation of 15 on house?0, 480 1 ousE 491 acres recommended at 8;300 04 Lee Morris Best Recommends?2 20 functional depreciation on house 16,240to 12,9905678Avery Alien Lee ?Rer- ormmen;ds functional depreciation of 20 on house 67,410to 53,93-0-Andrew Peterson Recommendation of functional depreciation of 20 37,910to 30, 330 on houseJanice P ShirleyRobert StaffordRecommendation of 12,000 for house and 4,000 for lot;Recommendation of 30 depreciation on house 15,580 to 10,910I4iII109May 18, •1987` Continued`There being no further business to come before the Board of Equalizationand Review at this time, and upon motion by Commissioner Frank B Holding, dulyseconded by Commissioner John M Booker and carried, - the Board of Equalization andReview recessed until Tuesday, May 26, 1987, at 730 pmREGULAR SESSION EXECUTIVE SESSIONUpon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded by CommissionerHoward Benton and carried, it was moved that regular session be recessed and thatthe board go into Executive Session to discuss the acquisition of property and toconsult with an attorney regarding a legal matterUpon a motion by Commissioner James W Cash it was moved the board goout of Executive Session and that regular session be resumedCommissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which carried by unanimousvoteREGULAR SESSION1 Resolution of Support One - Percent State Sales Tax House Bill 307Upon a motion by Commissioner Frank B Holding, duly seconded by Com-missioner James W Cash and carried by unanimous vote, the following resolutionwas adoptedRESOLUTION OF SUPPORTONE- PERCENT STATE SALES TAXHOUSE BILL 307WHEREAS, Johnston County has needs for its public school facilities of over30,000,000 in order to assure a quality education for our countys children; andWHEREAS, the funds for our public schoolsto provide adequate facilities for classrooms, forto provide for the growth in our population; andWHEREAS, to raise over 30,000,000substantial increase in our present tax ratethrough a local bond issue, or through anywith interest; andare needed before 1993 in ordercompliance with State laws, andin Johnston County would require aif these school facilities are fundedtype of State loan requiring repaymentWHEREAS, Johnston County is dependent upon agriculture as,;one of its, majorindustries, and at thistime that economy is suffering due to thepoor agricultureeconomy and the seriousfinancial problems faced by farmers; andWHEREAS, thecitizens of Johnston County cannot afford- the substantialad valorem tax increase that would be required to finance thefacility needs farquality education for ourchildren; andWHEREAS, because of the steady shifting of current expense from the Stateto the county over thepast fifty years, that Johnston County nowappropriates over5,000,000 per year toprovide teachers, improve salaries, andto provide otheroperating expenses whenthese funds could have been appropriated toprovide facilities;an dWHEREAS, a sales tax is more equitable in the distribution of the tax burdenthan the ad valorem property tax while providing funding for public schools constructionat a lower cost than borrowing through a bond issue that would require repaymentwith interest; andWHEREAS, House Bill 307 contains a sunset provision which repeals thetax at the end of four years, thus addressing the needs of education and not ageneral taxNOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of JohnstonCounty that they do hereby support an additional one - percent State Sales and UseTax with revenues to be provided for public school facility needs as introducedin the 1987 General Assembly by Representative Watkins under House Bill 307, andfurther does hereby encourage and support the passage of this legislation by the1987 General Assembly yThis the 18th day of May, 1987110May 18, 1987 Con t i,n ued Upon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded by CommissionerFrank B Holding and carried the board recessed until Tuesday, May 26, 1987, at7 oclock pmEleanor N CreechClerk to the Board