August 7, 1972 - 11:00 AM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

August 7, 1972 - Regular1 4Fit widthM895Meeting of Board of Commissioners County of JohnstonAugust 7, 1972The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session in the Commissioners Roomof the Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield, North Carolina, August 7, 1972, at 11 oclock am,with the following members presentJ Dobbin Bailey, Chairman, Norman C Denning, Frank B Holding, Freddie Adams and HowardBentonMembers Absent NoneThe following business was transacted1 Ramp - CourthouseMrs Judy Blankinship, daughter of C S Coats of Smithfield, appeared before the Board onbehalf of her father and other disabled veterans, regarding a ramp at theCourthouse Mrs Blankinshipstated that she feels a ramp is a necessity at the Courthouse and sincerely hopes the Board will seefit to have one installed in the near futureThe Board informed Mrs Blankinship that it had made several inquiries regarding the cost andinstallation of a ramp and also a lift, but had made no final decisionAfter further discussion, Chairman Bailey asked Commissioner Freddie Adams to get informationon the cost and installation of a ramp at the Courthouse2 Library Director - Public Library of Johnston County and SmithfieldMrs Jack Young,,, member, Board of Trustees, Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield,appeared befiore the Board of County Commissioners and reported that a Library Director had beenemployed and;ask the Board to appropriate 6,00000 that was to be made available when this positionwas filled Mrs Young- explained that this appropriation would be matched by 6,00000 from the Townof Smithfield, and also, State and Federal monies would be available Mrs Young further stated thatthere would be funds to employ a professional reference librarianAfter discussion and consultation with W H Britt, Auditor, Commissioner Howard Benton movedthat 6,00000 be transferred from the Contingent Fund and appropriated to the Library Fund to assistin the salary of a Library DirectorCommissioner Norman C Denning seconded the motion- 1h chnwas;;car`ricd3 ReportsThe following reports were filed with the BoardC W TarltonM W KnottRubert C BarbourHarper GodwinExtension ChairmanElectrical InspectorDog WardenTax CollectorMr Tarlton in making his report, advised the Board that some sidewalk work needed to be doneat the Agriculture Building, and also, there was some smoke damage from the boilerCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that Mr Tarlton work with Commissioner Norman C Denningon this matter, check with insurance about,, smoke damage and make arrangements to have buildingpaintedCommissioner Freddie Adams seconded the motion which was carried unanimously4 Tax Complaint - Henry DeLaine -_Clayton TownshipMr and Mrs Henry DeLaine, Route # 1, Clayton, North Carolina, appeared before the Board withthe complaint that their property taxes were to highThe Board asked Commissioner Norman C Denning to go by and see Mr DeLaine, to check on hisland and buildings, and report back to the BoardS Voting Delegate - County Commissioners ConventionCommissioner Freddie Adams moved that J Dobbin Bailey, Chairman, be designated as votingdelegate at the County Commissioners Convention in Pinehurst, August 10 -13, 1972Commissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion which was carried unanimously6 1 1972 - 1973 Membership Dues - Institute of GovernmentCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that the 1972 - 1973 membership dues to the Institute ofGovernment be paid in the amount of 30869Commissioner Howard Benton seconded the motion which was carried unanimouslyX96August 7, 1972 Cont7 1972 - 1973 Membership Dues - N C Association of County CommissionersCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that the 1972 - 1973 membership service fee to the NorthCarolina Association of County Commissioners be paid in the amount of 130000Commissioner Howard Benton seconded the motion which was carried unanimously8 Re- Advertisement - Fuel Oil BidsThere being only one 1 bid received by 12 oclock noon, August 7, 1972, for furnishing # 2fuel oil to the County, the Clerk was authorized and instructed to re- advertise The bids to be openedSeptember 5, 1972, at 12 oclock noon9 Road Petition - Edgebrook Sub - DivisionThe Board of Commissioners was presented with a petition from property owners of EdgebrookSub - Division,, one -half mile northeast of Princeton, requesting the State Highway Commission to add thisroad to the Secondary Road System for maintenanceCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that the petition be approved and mailed to the StateHighway Commission in Wilson, North Carolina, with the Boards recommendationsCommissioner Freddie Adams seconded the motion which was carried10 Road Petition - Birdneck Hollow - Quail RoadThe Board of Commissioners was presented with a petition from property owners of Quail Road,Birdneck Hollow Sub - Division, off N C Highway 1343, Ingrams Township,, requesting the State HighwayCommission to add this road to the Secondary Road System for maintenanceCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that the petition be approved and mailed to the StateHighway Commission in Wilson, North Carolina, with the Boards recommendationsCommissioner Howard Benton seconded the motion which was carried11 Xerox Machine - Register of Deeds OfficeThe Board of Commissioners discussed with Mr Massey the use of the Xerox Machine located inhis office, in regards to personnel using the machine Mr Massey stated that it was his feeling thatit was better that one person, or personnel from his office, be designated to use the machineAfter much discussion, the Board of Commissioners instructed Mr Massey to do his best tocooperate with the Veterans Office and other offices in the Courthouse regarding the use of the XeroxMachine12 Bids - Demolition and Paving of Courthouse Parking LotPursuant to an order of the Board of Commissioners and after due advertisement the followingbids were received and opened for the demolition and paving of the Johnston County Offices ParkingLota Barrus Construction CompanyP 0 Box 399, Kinston, North CarolinaDemol it ion 5,206-15Construction 10944055TOTAL 15,64670b S T Wooten Construction Company, IncStantonburg, North CarolinaDemolition 2970860Construction 8981550TOTAL 11952410C Shackelford Paving Company, IncP 0 Box 491Wilson, North CarolinaDemolition 49014,60Construction 10920065TOTAL 14921525After discussion and review of above bids, Commissioner Norman C Denning moved to accept thelow bid of S T Wooten Construction Company, Inc, Stantonsburg, North Carolina, provided minor detailscould be worked out regarding the design of certain itemsCommissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion which was carriedf 4•tii39IAugust 7, 1972 Cont13 Resolution - Farmland Tax PolicyUpon the request and recommendation of the Johnston County Farm-Bureau, Commissioner Norman CDenning moved that the following resolution be adoptedRESOLUTIONWHEREAS, the continuation of the policy of taxing farmland based on the value of its highestand best use or sales value will force the selling of productive farmland against the wishes of theowners, thereby accelerating the trend in the decline of the family farm, andWHEREAS, farm owners are not provided the incentive now and for the future to build, maintain,and improve buildings upon areas affected creating an undesirable countryside that portends rural andurban slums which, thereby, decreases the value of the tax base, andWHEREAS, the needs for food and fiber for the state and nation will not be met if this problemgoes unsolved, andWHEREAS, there is a need to provide open spaces for ecological and recreational purposes, andWHEREAS, the necessary-planning for future orderly development and use is critically neededin order that solid tax bases can be established and maintained,THEREFORE, BE TT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Johnston County requeststo whom it may concern that objective analysis be made of the classification, appraisal, valuation,assessment, and taxation of farmland in North Carolina and legislation enacted to prevent the forcedconversion of farmland to other uses, to protect the investments made by farm owners over a period ofyears, to provide for the production of food and fiber now and in the future in areas nearby the centersof need and to assure equity in taxation and soundness of tax revenues to better serve the needs of thecitizens of this countryCommissioner Howard Benton seconded the motion which was carried unanimously14 Benson Motel Group - Requesting County Financial Aid for Water and Sewer LinesA delegation from Benson, including Mayor Whitley Hood and Attorney Joe Levinson, appearedbefore the Board requesting the County to share the cost of new water and sewer lines to a 100 -unitmotel and restaurant planned east of Benson Mr Levinson asked the Board to consider paying for one -half the cost of the water and sewer line extension, the cost estimated at about 40,00000The Board stated, to participate in a motel project would be a change in County Governmentpolicy, since it had participated only in providing water and sewer lines to new industrial plantslocated outside municipalitiesCommissioner Benton suggested that possibly this project could be worked in with the Countywide water systemAfter much discussion, Commissioner Frank B Holding moved that Commissioner Howard Benton beappointed to work with the Benson officials to see if this project could be served by the long -rangeplans for a county -wide water system, and bring recommendations back to the BoardCommissioner Norman C Denning seconded the motion which was carried15 Triangle J Council of Governments - MeetingCommissioner Howard Benton reported that he had attended Triangle J Council of Governmentsmeeting representing Johnston County, and that he noted from reports that Johnston County needs toencourage industrial growth16 A A Hicks LienWhereas, the Board of Commissioners at the July, 1972, regular meeting authorized William RBritt, County Attorney, to release certain lands from the lien of A A Hicks upon payment of the amountof 1,66666, and whereas, there was a mathematical miscalculation and that the correct figure shouldbe 1,12222Now, Therefore, upon motion of Commissioner Norman C Denning and seconded by CommissionerHoward Benton, it was unanimously carried that William R Britt, County Attorney, release said landsuponpayment to the Treasurer of Johnston County in the sum of 1,12222 Litaker vs Stallings,200 NC page 6 17 John Twisdale, District Solicitor - Needs Office SpaceJohn Twisdale, District Solicitor, appeared before the Board and explained that he had twoassistants and a secretary and there was not enough office space for his staff Mr Twisdale remindedthe Board that there was storage space in the District Court Building that could be paneled and usedfor officesThe Board afterdiscussion with Mr Twisdale and James C Woodard, Clerk of Superior Court,instructed Mr Woodard and Mr Twisdale to check into the remodeling, to get cost estimates, and reportback to the Board3?gAugust 7, 1972, Cont18 Delinquent Tax — Moccasin Creek Drainage DistrictHarper Godwin, Tax Collector, advised the Board that there were several delinquent-tax accountson the Moccasin Creek Drainage District, and asked the Board what he should do about these delinquenttaxesChairmanBailey informed Mr Godwin that he would check into this matter19 Paul Keller - ReportMr Paul Keller, Executive Director, Johnston County Community Action, in making a report tothe Board, on this agencys progress, reminded the Board of Commissioners that the Johnston CountyHousing Advisory Committee still had not called a meeting The Johnston County Housing AdvisoryCommittee was created by the Board of County Commissioners to develop plans for rural housing inJohnston CountyMr Keller emphasized to the Board that he felt this committee should become active, but thatit would be time wasted if the Board of Commissioners were opposed to rural housing development inJohnston CountyThe Board discussed this matter with Mr Keller, but took no official action at this timeUpon a motion by Commissioner Norman C Denning and duly seconded by Commissioner HowardBenton the Boardrecessed to meet again Tuesday, August 15, 1972, at 8 oclock pmAJAd GV-Ie,-a,nor N Cree Clerk