June 25, 1987 - 2:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Recessed)

Meeting of Johnston County Board of CommissionersJune 25, 1987The Johnston County Board of Commissioners reconvened in regular sessionThursday, June 25, 1987, at 2 oclock pm, Commissioners Room, Johnston CountyCourthouse, Smithfield, North Carolina, with the following members presentNorman C Denning, Chairman, Frank 3 Holding, Vice Chairman, James WCash, Howard Benton, and John M Booker, DVIMembers Absent NoneAlso present Richard B Self, County Manager and Eleanor N Creech, Clerkto the BoardThe Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business wastransacted1 Budget Amendments ApprovedUpon a motion by Commissioner James W Cash, duly seconded by CommissionerFrank B Holding and carried by unanimous vote, the following budget amendments wereapprovedGENERAL FUND - ExpendituresJail - increase 13,33100; Coroner - decrease 1,02400; Sheriff Decrease12,30700; Legal Cost - increase 6,03100; Non - Departmental - decrease 8,981; TaxAdministration - increase 2,95000;REVALUATION FUND Revenues - increase 40,000; Expenditures increase40, 000;MENTAL HEALTH Expenditures - increase 97,634; Revenues increase 97,634;2 Recreation Grant Extensions - ApprovedUpon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded by CommissionerHoward Benton and carried by unanimous vote, the following recreation grant extensionrequests were granteda Johnston County Extension 4 -H, 30 day extension; b North JohnstonPTA and North Johnston Panther Club, 60 day extensions; c South Johnston BoosterClub and South Johnston High School, 60 day extensions3 Budget Work Sessiona Health Department The Acting Health Director again met with theboardsupporting salary increaes, cost of living, merit and dental insurance forcountyemployees She stated; over the years a system has been established that willallowagency supervisors and directors to reward those persons whose performance isabovethe average Reducing the proposal presented by the County Manager wi I Icreateproblems at the hiring entry level and with long term employees No incentives,ie -monetary compensation encourages poor performance, low morale and dissatisfaction Ourbeginning salary is 9-12 lower than our sister counties of Wilson and WayneThisentices employees with longevity to consider a move Your positive considerationof theproposal - 35 cost -of- living, merit pay and dental insurance will allow you andus tohire and retain qualified employeesLeon Powell, Environmental Health Supervisor, agreed with the Health Directorsendorsement of the benefit package for county employees and ask the board to supportthese recommendationsThe Chairman responded, this board appreciates your endorsements of theCounty Managers recommendation and will give consideration to this request4 Sheriffs Department BudgetThe County Manager presented a revised budget request for the SheriffsDepartment The new request to reduce the number of new cars from eleven to eight; toadd two additional detectives to the drug and narcotics divisionThe board addressed the drug enforcement issue as related to additional drugofficers and special service funds requested The board agreed the drug problem hereand elsewhere is a major problem to deal with, one that will take the cooperation of thehome, community, and all agencies, and that this board has to make an effort on acounty level to do all it can to fight this problem and deal with it as best it cani127June 25, 1987 ContinuedThe board reviewed other areas of the Sheriffs Budget The Sheriff urgeboard to look at these recommendations as these amounts are greatly neededwhat we need to doCommissioner John M Booker reminded the board that citizens are urgingthe board try to hold the tax rate as low as possibleThe board discussed and reviewed the following budgetsd theto dothat1 Health Department bulk of increase in Home Health, no tax dollarsinHome Health Budget; 2 Schools utility increases; mostly, funded by the county;fundsschools can come back to Commissioners if funding runs short; 3 Board of Electionsbeheavy election year; 4 Industrial Development increase mainly in advertisingandmore active recruitment; 5 Emergency Management new department 50 funded bytheState ; 6 Planning new planner and equipment; about 85 of PlanningandInspections Budget covered by fees; Inspections new building inspector and vehicles;atSanitation one driver, need to pick up seven days a week; need to split routes;inplanning and inspections the building activity and subdivision activity has increasedcovertremendously in the past two years; averaging 10 inspections per day, per inspector;14subdivisions averaging 15 to 18 a month; fee structure adjustment on new dwellings;7Fire and Rescue budgeted for three ambulances this year; 8 Soil Conservationon aneed for new program for soil protection; one soil conservationist; _9T SpecialAppro-priations this budget shows a decrease; shifted some projects; reservoir, andwaterline to tie to Harnett County shifted to later part of fiscal year to see what waterandsewer money available from General Assembly; hopefully to find some Grant money;10Recreation Grants 10,000 budget, board would like to see more budgeted for recreationtenance costlygrants; says this has been a good program; 11 Jail three new jailors needed;ountyis actively working on a satellite jail site;official action at this meetingThe board discussed Revenue Sharing funds; Johnston Technical Auditoriumcarry over money, committed in the 1986 -87 budget - 150,000 hospital indigentfundsrequest of 150,000; Commissioner Howard Benton recommends hospital indigent requestbereduced to 100,000; Commissioner Cash responded that the hospital is requestingenought compensate for Mental Health patients that do not payPlanning P and Inspections Department reference # 6 discussion oftrucksrequested for the inspectors - 41,395; upkeep and maintenance -, 4,500; the boardatthis time is not in favor of purchasing trucks for the Planning and InspctionsDepartment; 12 Landfill Gate Keeper gate fee at landfill proposed; fees tocovercost of gate keeper; 13 Governing Body basically the same last year;14Administration a new position; up -grade data processing computer and programming;15 Tax Administration funds for annual revaluation; cost much less when doneon ayearly basis; appropriation of 20,000 requested; 16 Le al and ProfessionalDeedsincrease because of pending litigation and indirect cost study; 11,7 Register ofvery little change; maintenance and repairs all budgeted in one line item;18Public Buildings increase cost for Courthouse improvement of roof and joints; CapitalOutlay 12 ton pick -up truck replacement of 1977 GMC; lawnlmower; elevatormain-tenance costlyThe board discussed the 1987 -1988 Proposed Budget at length, however, tok noofficial action at this meetingUpon a motion by Commissioner James W Cash, duly seconded by CommissionerJohn M Booker and carried, the board recessed until 7 oclock pim to reconvenEas aBoard of Equalization and Review 62587 Norman C Denning, Chairman vlEleanor N Creech, Clerk to the Board128June 25, 1 -987 ContinuedThe Johnston CountyBoard ofCommissioners reconvened as a Board of Equal-the board that he was extremelyization and Review, Thursday,June 25,1987,at 7 oclock pm, Commissioners Room,have been very pleasantJohnston County Courthouse,Smithfield,NorthCarolina, with the following membersyou have done a finepresentl have heard many favorablecomments about you and yourstaff The Chairman and theboard also complimentedNorman C Denning,Chairman,FrankB Holding, Vice Chairman, James Whe agreedCash, Howard Benton and John M Booker,DVMMembers Absent NoneAlso present RichardB Self,CountyManager, and Eleanor N Creech, Clerkto the BoardJohnnie Stott,TaxAdministrator, stated tothe board that he was extremelypleased and proud of the way his employees in the TaxOffice have conducted themselvesduring this revaluation,theyhave been very pleasantand helpful to the taxpayerThe Chairmanstated; I congratulate youand your staff, this board feelsyou have done a finejob,l have heard many favorablecomments about you and yourstaff The Chairman and theboard also complimentedthe appraisal firm on a job well doneBOARD OF E R HEARINGS1 Hallie V StricklandSmithfieldTownship; value 65,850 99acres- Oliver;629170 88 acres house ; REASON toohigh; , feels farm land toohigh;on 88 acretract, 37 acres cleared; on 99acre tract,48 acres cleared; howeverthis isconsideredone farm; timber has been soldoff; has somewetland;problem washinglot, caused by town; water from canal the town dug drainsConsidering the farmuse valueon Mr Stri ckl ands farmland,he agreedwith tax vlaues;2• Wayne Evans Micro Township; value 30,590 house lot; 15,590 house lot; REASON too high; the 15,590 house; a frame house built in 1920, not insulated;thinks worth about 10,000; the 30,590 house; built in 1953, added on in 63 and73; 3 bedrooms; 1 bath; 1,200 sq ft; thinks worth at the most 25,000;3 Roy Lee and wife Lindaa ONeals Township; value 5,000; 8 acre tract;b value 128,500; 562 acre tract with house; c value 100,800; house and farmland; REASON too high; ?a open land, joins farm, but valued as a building lot;b about 31_ acres cleared; 25 wood land; poor drainage; 28 to 29 acresin low land; 2 transmission lines on this land;c barns and out - buildings removed; except one out- building and house;18 acres cleared; woodland slopped and bottom;Mr Lee applying for farm use value agreed with tax value4Al SimmonsBeulah Township; value85,010, house and lot; REASON toohigh;inherited housein 1969, about 85 yearsold, bricked and remodeled 1010 yearsago;thinks worth about50,000;5Raul Etheridge,Jr Beulah Township;value 90,410; house and lot; REASONwaterproblem washinglot, caused by town; water from canal the town dug drainson his lot; area so wet has caused house tomold and mildew; roof leaks; when itrainswater stands under house; private appraisalof 85,0006 Jerry G Williams Smithfield Township; value 161,680 10 acres and offices;18,060 602 acre tract; REASON complaint on land values only; formerly UnionCamp Lumber Company purchased 12 small parcels at 125,000; Mr Williams contentionis that purchase price should be value; `7, Mrs Wilson Lewis Smithfield Township; value 81,710; house and lot; REASONtoo high; comparatively thinks valued too high on sq ft and etc; built in 1953,2,166 sq ft heated area; 1986 value 49,770;8 Harold Richardson ONeals Township; value 15,750; 10 acre tract; REASON `says woodland not worth 550 per acre; 7L acres woodland, charged with 21 acres;Tax Office to correct acreage; I ITo apply for farm use value;P129June 25, 1981 Continued1 Dennis Massengill by Johnnie Stott Ingrams Township; value 17,910; convertedb rn on mothers land; REASON too high because using only on week -ends andd es not own land;14 Mrs S B Queen Lee Johnson by Norman C Denning porch 10 x 30;cement floor; no heat, no air, flower houseTo be valued as porch, not heated space;BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW DISCUSSIONS9 J J Enterprises Clayton Township; value 396,380; Spinning Plant andHal I ie V Strickland farm use value applied392 acres; REASON too high; purchased February, 1985 260,000; 1986 value 274,000;structures removed from property; construction of 2 loadi -ng docks; good portion ofWayne Evans House 15,590; consideration of 13,500; Housebuilding storage; concerned with sudden rise in valuation, an increase of 136,000;10 Roderick M Francis Kay Francis Clayton Township; value 74,920 houseof 27,000 or 28,000; lot; 8,110 lot; REASON too high; one home site; certified appraisal less thant Ix appraisal; mobile home development in area;Al Simmons Consideration of 65,000;11 Clayton Broadcasting Co Bill Kirby Clayton Township; value 50,880;411 acres and towers; REASON towers valued too high and land also based on comparableRoy Lee farm use value;sales; 600 ft off road; no road frontage, no access, mobile home park across road;towers insured value 6,000 to 7,000 each; 7 years of dy; metal depreciates stand-Paul Etheridge Consideration of 85,000;in g air; thinks both towers value 13,000; entire value should be around 25,000;,1 Evelyn Vinson by Commissioner James W Cash Clayton Township; valueJerry G Williams Consideration of land at 245,000;317507 524 acres; REASON land locked, no access; Barber M i l l Road; mobile homepark and housing development on each side, land grown -up dirt path closed;Mrs Wilson Lewis Consideration of 79,210;Commissioner Cash recommended value at 2,750; the board agreed1 Dennis Massengill by Johnnie Stott Ingrams Township; value 17,910; convertedb rn on mothers land; REASON too high because using only on week -ends andd es not own land;14 Mrs S B Queen Lee Johnson by Norman C Denning porch 10 x 30;cement floor; no heat, no air, flower houseTo be valued as porch, not heated space;BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW DISCUSSIONS13 Dennis Massengill Consideration of 15,140;BOARD OF E R unfinished business - discussions1 Carolina Cooperative Warehouse Consideration given on square footage basis5002 Dr Dicky Parrish No change in appraised value;3 Donald Hayes Tax Office to adjust; lot valued too high, 2 acre tract;4 Howard Hockaday Consideration of 2,500 off 3 houses; total 120,000; 2lots - no change;5 Charles Little 26 acres swamp land, except one acre; 500 lot;1Hal I ie V Strickland farm use value applied2Wayne Evans House 15,590; consideration of 13,500; House30,590 con-siderationof 27,000 or 28,000;3Al Simmons Consideration of 65,000;4Roy Lee farm use value;5Paul Etheridge Consideration of 85,000;6Jerry G Williams Consideration of land at 245,000;7Mrs Wilson Lewis Consideration of 79,210;8Harold Richardson Correct acreage and farm use value;9J J Enterprises Consideration of 300,000;10Roderick M Francis Kay Francis Consideration of house and lot78,120;11Clayton Broadcasting, Inc Consideration of land at 4,000 anacre; towersboth13, 000;12Evelyn Vinson Consideration of 2,750;13 Dennis Massengill Consideration of 15,140;BOARD OF E R unfinished business - discussions1 Carolina Cooperative Warehouse Consideration given on square footage basis5002 Dr Dicky Parrish No change in appraised value;3 Donald Hayes Tax Office to adjust; lot valued too high, 2 acre tract;4 Howard Hockaday Consideration of 2,500 off 3 houses; total 120,000; 2lots - no change;5 Charles Little 26 acres swamp land, except one acre; 500 lot;130June 25, 1987 Continuedb Danny Walton 250 an acre on land - locked tract;7 Mrs S B Queen Lee Johnson farm use value; to check on porch value;8 L E Johnson Johnson Produce functional depreciation; Commissioner Bentonrecommended value of 2001000;Upon a motion by Commissioner Frank B Holding, duly seconded by CommissionerJames W Cash and carried, the Board of Equalization and Review recessed until Tuesday,July 7, 1987Upon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded bye CommissionerFrank B Holding and carried, the Board of Commissioners resumed regular and recesseduntil Tuesday, June 30, 1987, at 130 pm1Norman C Denning, Chairman?jeanor N CreechClerk to the Board