April 24, 1973 - 7:30 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Recessed)

April 24, 1973 - Recessed1 2Fit widthimMeeting of Board of Commissioners for County of JohnstonApril 24, 1973The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in special session in the Commissioners Roomof the Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield, North Carolina, April 24; 1973, at 730 pm, with thefollowing members presentNorman C Denning, Chairman, Frank B Holding, Freddie Adams, Howard Benton and Hoyt CastleberryiMembers Absent None jCommissioner Hoyt Castleberry opened the meeting with prayeriThe following bus ines s was transacted1 Dr John Tart - Johnston Technical InstituteDr John Tart, Johnston Technical Institute, appeared before the Board of Commissioners andasked that the Board request the State Highway Commission to build an access road at the new proposedcampus site The Board discussed this at length and expressed feelings` that they would hesitate toask the State Highway Commission to build a road at this time when a definite decision had not beenreached on this site Note The Board of Commissioners gave tentative approval of this site Smithproperty back in December provided that soil test borings and other preliminary measures provedfeasibleW R Britt, Chairman of the Technical Institute Board of Trustees, reported that a soil analysishad been completed and there was a drainage problem, but according to Ezra Meyers, Engineering Consultant• again voted unanimously inits one that can be corrected rMr Britt funeweted that the trusteesfavor of this site Smith propertycampusThe Board of County Commissioners still hesitatt and uncertain about this site voted by motionof Commissioner Frank B Holding and seconded by Commissioner Howard Benton and carried, to hold apublic hearing before making a final decision on a site for the new campus of Johnston TechnicalInstitute The,hearing to be held May 7, 1973, at 730 pm, in the County Commissioners Room,Courthouse, Smithfield, North Carolina2 Kenly Water Project DelayedTom Moore reported no activity on the Kenly project and suggested that bid opening on the waterand sewer lines be deferred until June 4, 1973, the Board of Commissioners agreed3 Renewed Request from Board of Education - Revenue Sharing FundsThe Johnston County Board of Education along with Mr E S Simpson, Superintendent, appearedagain before the Board of County Commissioners requesting revenue sharing funds for school constructionprojectsMr Simpson and the Board ofEducation asked the Board for 235,000 to help finance theC completion of classrooms of three projects now under contract at Clayton Primary, Princeton High andNorth Johnston Mr Simpson further asked the Board of Commissioners for 165,000 of reveite sharingmoney to up -grade the lighting in ten or twelve schools in the County Mr Simpson stated that thelighting in these schools done in the late 40s is quite sub - standard todayThe Board of Education and Mr Simpson expressed appreciation for any consideration that; theBoard of Commissioners might give, these requestsThe Board of Commissioners expressed a willingness to grant the Board of Education 235,000on these various projects now underway and asked W R Britt, County Attorney, to have legal commitmentsfor the disbursement of revenue sharing funds in order by May 7, 1973, regular monthly meeting date4 Citizens Interested in Revenue Sharing Funds AppearFrank Penny of Smithfield and Rev Robert Atkinson of Princeton and other black citizensinterested in revenue sharing money and what the County Commissioners intend to use it for met with theBoard Mr Penny and Mr Atkinson discussed many projects that they thought were very worthwhile andexpressed strong feelings about revenue sharing funds and asked for local governments feelings towardanti - poverty programs, it seemed that these citizens were especially interested in the continuation ofthese programsCommissioner Holding stated that many programs needed to be continued, however, the Board ofCounty Commissionersmade no commitments regarding any anti - poverty programs, but assured the delegationthat they would be making a definite decision on revenue sharing money soon5 Transportation Program_- Out -of- County to Medical ClinicsPaul Keller, Director, Johnston County Community Action, appeared before the Board requestingfunds to assist in the continuation of Johnston Countys Community Action Out-of- County TransportationProgram Mr Keller stated that this program is primarily used by the very poor in the county thathave no other possible way to get to the special medical clinics at Chapel Hill and Durham which hasproved a life saver for many people, this is a valuable service in Johnston County at low cost andmost economical way to help the poor Mr Keller further advised that an old station wagon that isworn out and has about 98,000 miles on it is presently making about 20 trips a month to the Chapel Hilland Durham clinicsi`ii 1447April 24, 1973 ContMr Keller asked for an appropriation from revenue sharing funds to purchase a new van -type busand funds to help continue this out -of- county transportation programThe Board asked Commissioner Howard Benton to review the transportation program with theDepartment of Social Services Board to see if it can be continued through Social Services, but took nofurther action at this time on this matterPaul Keller also reminded the Board of Commissioners of the request for financial assistanceof 109000 for Johnston County Community Action for the next fiscal year6 County Recreation Program DiscussedCommissioner Howard Benton stated to the Board of Commissioners that he felt revenue sharingfunds should be allocated to help the towns in Johnston County with their recreation programsCommissioner Benton further stated that it is his idea to match appropriationsmade by the towns fornew programs in recreation - he thinks it would be money well spent and that the development of newrecreation programs in our county needs much consideration7 Meeting Time of Board of Commissioners DiscussedMr Frank Penny asked the Board of County Commissioners to consider the possibility of holdingmore of their meetings at a time that wouldbe more convenient for the average working man to attendMr Penny explained that a man could not very easily leave his job in the morning or afternoon toattend a board meetingChairman Denning recognized Mr Pennys suggestion and stated that perhaps night meetings,maybe in?the middle of the month, would be good and give the citizens the opportunity to appear if theyso desired8 Report on PAC MeetingCommissioner Hoyt Castleberry reported on the activities of the PAC Political Action Committeemeeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, which he attended representing the Johnston County Board ofCommiss ioners 9 Radio Equipment - Sheriff s DepartmentIt was called to the attention of the Board that the radio equipment that the SheriffsDepartment has now is in better condition than what most of the fire departments and rescue squads havein operation now Since the Sheriffs Department is getting new equipment it was suggested that the oldradio equipment from the Sheriffs Department be `sold- to the fire departments and rescue squadsCommissioner Frank B Holding moved that Frankie Flowers with Southern Communications andElectronics, Goldsboro, North Carolina, place a value on each unit and that M J Oliver, Fire Marshall,be in charge of the used radio equipment Commissioner Holding further moved that Chairman Denningbe authorized to work with Mr Oliver in placing surplus radio equioment to the various fire departmentsand rescue squadsCommissioner Howard Benton seconded the motion which was carried10 Falls of Neuse Dam Project - DiscussedThe Board of Commissioners discussed briefly the Falls of Neuse Dam Project It was suggestedthat the Johnston County Planning Board study this projectUpon a motion by Commissioner Frank B Holding, duly seconded by Commissioner Freddie Adamsand carried the Board adjournedNorman C Denning, Chairmanleanor N Creec Clerk