October 6, 1969 - 11:00 AM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

1 5Fit widthMeeting of Board of Commiss ioners f or the County of JohnstonOctober 6, 1969s ?The Johnston County Boardof Commissioners met in regular session in the CommissionersRoom of the Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield, N C, October 6, 1969, at 11 oclock am, withthe following members presentJ Dobbin Bailey, Chairman, Norman C Denning, Frank B Holding, Adam J Whitley, Jr andFreddie AdamsMembers Absent NoneThe following business was transacted1 Letter from C Stanton CoatsThe following letter was received from Mr C Stanton Coats;October 5, 1969The Honorables J Dobbin Bailey, Chairman, and Gentlemen of theJohnston County Board of CommissionersSmithfield, North CarolinaSirsIn the absence of that which I am about to ask you for, I take this method ofcommunicating to your attention, in my own behalf, and on behalf of several other paraplegics,confined to wheelchairs, our desire for a ramp to be constructed, into the basement ourCounty Courthouse, so that we may be able to get into the elevator and thence to the severalfloors to conduct our necessary public business with the several departments of our countyGovernment But, more especially so that we may get into the three polling places heretoforeestablished in the lobby thereofIn addition to myself, I know of at least five other eligible voters in SmithfieldTownship alone, who are confined to wheelchairs There are others in other areas, of thecounty, including three in the Benson area, who would, if they only could, might like toattend to business with our County Government, and to attend public meetings from time totime Wheelchair life is not a bed of roses, neither is it something to be ashamed ofAs for myself, I do not wish to forfeit my right of franchise to vote in our general andspecial electionsAlso, I have another deep interest for getting into our courthouse And that isfor research into our public and historical records, with the hope that I may make somecontribution to compiling an authentic history of our great county, and City of SmithfieldJohnston, established in 1745, is among the older counties of the State that does not havea history, to grace the shelves of our own Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield,as well as our State and other public librariesA ramp from the driveway, at the northwest corner, taking place of the present steps,would not cost very much, and could be used as a walkway also And, in your generosity, ifyou do look favorable upon this proposition, it should be constructed with not more thanone inch rise to every twelve inches in lengthWith best wishes and kindest personal regards, I am,Respectfully,C Stanton CoatsVoter and TaxpayerAfter a discussion, Commissioner Adam J Whitley was appointed by the Chairman to look intothe matter as to the feasibility and cost, and report back to the Board at its next meetingW H Britt, Clerk to the Board, was authorized to acknowledge the letter from Mr Coatsand advise the action of the Board2Hugh Parrish, Ed Crawford and E J Corbett from the Smithfield -Selma School AdvisoryCommittee and Charles Crone, member of the Clayton School Advisory Committee, appeared before the Boardand requested that the Board of County Commissioners go on record as endorsing the one cent 1? salestax referendum to be held on November 4, 1969, and to issue a statement as to just what percent of thesales tax would be allocated to the schools should the election carryAfter quite a bit of discussion, the Board members individually expressed themselves as notbeing in favor of such an endorsement, but issued the following statement as to the allocation of fundsshould the election carry, which was adopted upon a motion of Commissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr, andseconded by Commissioner Norman C Denningi5bOctober 6, 1969 ContThe Board of Commissioners re- iterates its recently stated position of leaving the questionof how to vote to each individual citizen in the forthcoming special one per cent sales tax electionNumerous citizens have asked the Board how the tax money would be spent, if there is afavorable vote on the tax Most of these citizens have been specifically concerned about the publicschoolsThe Board of Commissioners endorsed and supported the school bond issue which was passed in1966 This bond money has been used to pay for the most recent school building program In addition,the Board has generously provided each year for the operational budget of the schools For example,5444 per cent of the 1969 county tax funds goes to the three public school funds These are theGeneral School Fund, the Vocational School Fund, and the Special School Fund There was a 5504per cent, distribution to the schools in 1968, a 5504 per cent distribution in 1967, a 5369 per centdistribution in 1966, and a 5570 per cent distribution in 1965The Board of Commissioners, by law, can budget tax money only a year at a time As to the1970 -1971 budget, we pledge to distribute to the public schools at least 55 per cent of the moneycollected from the special sales tax and received by the County, if the tax is voted in by the citizensof Johnston County The Board members, individually and collectively, will try to meet theirresponsibility to theschools in all future years as they have tried to do in the past3 Employment - Agriculture Extension AgentC W Tarlton, Extension Chairman in making his report, introduced to the Board Mr LeonAllen and recommended that he be employed to replace Edwin Yancey, who resigned sometime ago MrAllens appointment to be effective February 1, 1970Commissioner Norman C Denning moved that Mr Allen be employed by the Extension Serviceeffective February 1, 1970 at a salary of 43375 per monthThe motion was seconded by Commissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr, and was carried4 Disposition of Seats in CourtroomCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that James C Woodard, Clerk of Superior Court, with theassistance of Commissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr, be authorized to dispose of the old seats in theCourtroom using their own discretion as to the best way to do soCommissioner Freddie Adams seconded the motion which was carried5 Payment to Britt and Ashley - West Smithfield Sanitary District MatterCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that the law firm of Britt and Ashley be paid 20864for professional services rendered in the West Smithfield Sanitary District MatterCommissioner Freddie Adams seconded the motion which was carried6 Release of Taxes - Uncollected - West Smithfield Sanitary DistrictCommissioner Freddie Adams moved that W H Britt, Auditor be authorized and directed torelease all uncollected taxes levied for the West Smithfield Sanitary District and charged to theCounty Tax CollectorCommissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr seconded the motion which was carried7 Refunds to Taxpayers - West Smithfield Sanitary DistrictCommissioner Freddie Adams moved that W H Britt, Auditor and J Narvin Creech, Treasurerbe authorized and directed to refund to individual taxpayers monies collected as West SmithfieldSanitary District Special Levy in accordance with a Court Order signed by Judge Henry A McKinnonCommissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr seconded the motion which was carried8 Road Petition - # 2546Mrs Leon Hill and several others who were interested in S R # 2546, appearedbefore theBoard and requested the Board of County Commissioners to use its influence with the State HighwayCommission in securing improvement of their roadAfter much discussion, Commissioner Frank B Holding moved that the State Highway Commissionbe requested to check this road and put it in number one conditionCommissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr seconded the motion which was carried9 W H Pridgen - State Highway CommissionMr W H Pridgen, District Engineer and Mr Paul Anderson with the State Highway Commissionwere present and made their bimonthly reportIiG351October 6, 1969 Cont10 Telephone System__- Department of Social ServicesMrs Edith Park, Director, Department of Social Services advised the Board that there wasneed for additional telephone lines in the Department buildingCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that Mrs Park be instructed to have one additionalline and one local link installedThe motion was seconded by Commissioner Norman C Denning and carried11 Resignation - Carolina Heizer, Social Worker IIMrs Park, Director, Department of Social Services advised the Board that Caroline Heizer,Social Worker II, with the local department, had submitted her resignation effective October 7, 1969The Board of County Commissioners expressed its regrets12 Reaffirmation of Intent - Sel -Field Area Development CorporationCommissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr moved that Chairman J Dobbin Bailey be authorized toissue a letter to Floyd C Price, President of Sel -Field Area DevelopmentCorporation reaffirmingthe Boards intention to pay the remaining 10,00000 to First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, plussix 6 percent simple interestThe motion was seconded by Commissioner Freddie Adams and was carried13 Fire Escape - Social Services BuildingCommissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr advised the Board that the Social Services Board hadpassed an order approving the construction of a temporary fire escape on the back of the buildingwhich is occupied by the Department of Social ServicesCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that Adam J Whitley, Jr be authorized to use hisown discretion in having a fire escape constructed at the rear of the Social Services DepartmentbuildingCommissioner Freddie Adams seconded the motion which was carried14 Mr Ed Haney - Director - Health DepartmentMr Edsel Haney, Local Health Director, reported to the Board that he and CommissionerWhitley, as directed, made a trip to the State Health Department and requested some additional financialassistance in balancing the local Health BudgetIn his report it was noted that there was no assurance of any assistance at this time15 Rent — Trailer - Health DepartmentCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that the Health Department be allowed to rent the trailerthat is now stationed at the Health Department for another monthCommissioner Adam J Whitley, Jr seconded the motion which was carried16 Night Watchman - Dog PoundRubert C Barbour, Dog Warden reported that he had employed a night watchman for the DogPound at 150 per hour, and that hehad been working for several nightsAfter a discussion, the Board advised Mr Barbour, that instead of full time employment, tohave the watchman work a night now and then17 Miss Rhetta Martin - Tax AttorneyCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that Miss Rhetta Martin beemployed as Tax Attorneyfor the CountyThe motion was seconded by Commissioner Norman C Denning and was carried unanimously18 Payment # 2 - Associated Surveys CompanyW H Britt, Auditor, presented the Board with a statement from Associated Surveys Companyfor 5,40000, representing the second payment for work completed on the Revaluation contractCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that Associated Surveys be paid 5,40000 in accordancewith its statementThe motion was seconded by Commissioner Norman C Denning and carried unanimouslytag,October 6, 1969 Contt19 Road Petitions - Rose ManorThe following road petitions of the Rose Manor Development were presented to the Board fortheir recommendation that these roads be taken over and maintained by the State; Longview Drive,Hillside Drive, Woodcrest Avenue, Brookside Drive, Kathy Circle and Maple CircleCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that these petitions be approved and mailed to theState Highway Commission in Wilson, N C, with the Boards recommendation that the State grant thisrequestCommissioner Freddie Adams seconded the motion which was carried20 Road Petition Underwood DriveThe Board of Commissioners received a petition signed by property owners on Underwood Drive,requesting that this road be extended and taken over and maintained by the State Highway CommissionCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that this petition be approved and mailed to the StateHighway Commission in Wilson, N C, with the Boards recommendation that the State grant this requestCommissioner Freddie Adams seconded the motion which was carried21 ReportsThe following reports were filed with the BoardM W KnottElectrical InspectorHarper GodwinTax CollectorEleanor HooksLibrarianC W TarltonExtension ChairmanJiggs Br oadwellCivil DefenseEdith ParkSocial Services DirectorRubert BarbourDog Warden22 Notice of Intention to Apply for the Sale of Alcoholic BeverageCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that the Notice of Intention to Apply to the NorthCarolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for a permit to sell beer for Doug Parrish, Smithfield MobilService, 828 Truck Lane, Smithfield, N C, be approvedCommissioner Norman C Denning seconded the motion which was carried23 Notice of Intention to Apply for the Sale of Alcoholic BeverageCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that the Notice of Intention to Apply to the NorthCarolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for a permit to sell beer for Junius Moore, Third Street PureOil Service, Smithfield, N C, be approvedCommissioner Norman C Denning seconded the motion which was carried24 Membership Dues - 1969 -1970 - Institute of GovernmentCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that the Instituteof Government be paid 31468 formembership dues for the year 1969- -1970Commissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion which was carried25 Membership Dues 1969 - 1970 -Association of County CommissionersCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that the North Carolina Association of CountyCommissioners be paid 1,51000 for membership dues for the year 1969 -1970, and that the Associationbe requested to furnish the Board of County Commissioners with a copy of its latest audit reportCommissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion which was carried26 Amendment - County Electrical Inspection RegulationCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that, as requested by Mr M W Knott, the electricalinspection regulation be amended, effective November 1, 1969, as follows;The minimum fee for any one electrical inspection shall be 4001 Outlets and Wall SwitchesOutlets 1 -15 400Residential over 55 outlets 05 eachCommercial Building over 15 outlets 05 eachCommissioner Norman C Denning seconded the motion which was carried?sk1 j3153October 6, 1969 ContiCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that the Board recess to meet again October 15, 1969,at 8 15 PM in the Courtroom of the Johnston County Courthouse for a public hearing with StateHighway Commissioner, W S Williams, JrThe motion was seconded by Commissioner Frank B Holding and carriedCle