June 14, 1978 - 7:30 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

Meeting of Board of Commissioners for the County of JohnstonJune 14, 1978The Johnston County Board of Commissioners reconvened in regular sessionWednesday, June 14, 1978, at 730 pm in the Commissioners Room of the JohnstonCounty Courthouse, Smithfield, North Carolina, with the following members presentNorman C Denning, Chairman, Frank B Holding, Vice Chairman, Howard BentonJohn M Booker, DVM, and J E RogersonMembers Absent NoneThis meeting was originally set for Thursday night at 730 pm, June 15,1978, however, there was a conflict with members of the board committed toothermeetings, and the June 15th meeting was rescheduled for June 14thChairman Denning called the meeting to order and the following businesswas transacted1 Foam Tanker - Firemans AssociationSteve Dean, a fireman with the Selma Fire Department, and Curtis WhitehurstChairman, Foam Tanker Committee, met with the Board of Commissioners concerning thefoam fire tanker Mr Dean stressed that the Firemans Association has beenworking on the tanker for almost two years and it needs to be completed Mr Deantold the Board the tanker is parked out at M B Jones Garage near the oilterminal and about the only thing needed now is something to pull it with TheFiremans Association and the tanker project committee are negotiating with oil terminal officials in an effort to get help with the purchase of a tractor to pullthe tankerChairman Denning assured the board that this project is being worked onand oil company representatives are real interested in getting the tanker readyfor operation Chairman Denning further indicated that he believes they will helpand they will have an answer soonMr Whitehurst told the board this unit is not just for a flammable liquidfire as it also has a water tank and can be used at any fire Mr Whitehurst alsotold the board they needed funds to sand and paint the tankerAfter discussion, Commissioner Howard Benton moved that the county providefunds to sand and paint the foam tanker Estimated cost approximately 200Commissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which was carriedunanimously2 Secondary Road # 1583David Satterfield and Larry Wheeler met with the board regarding the pavingof Secondary Road # 1583 The board advised Mr Satterfield that the priority ofthis road is 101 and explained the State Secondary Road Priority Rating SystemThe board told Mr Satterfield they would be glad to forward a petition to theState Department of Transportation requesting consideration on this road, however,there would not be another priority rating survey until 1979 This board suggestedthat Mr Satterfield talk with Paul Anderson, District Engineer3 Budget Work SessionAs the board started its budget work, Commissioner Howard Benton stated,I am greatly concerned about the rate of our tax increase and I cant go alongwith the 15 cents Commissioner Benton told the board he would like for theentire board to get their heads together and get this tax rate increase downOther board members concurred with Commissioner Bentons comments andagreed to work on cutting the budget Commissioner Benton, who serves on theHospital Board of Trustees, suggested that the Hospital budget be cut, manyrequests have merit, but some can be delayedCommissioner John M Booker stated that maybe the county is in the positionwhere it could afford to cut the recreation grant appropriation, and also take alook at the sheriffs special deputies and the Health Departments requestsThe Board discussed possible budget cuts in order to balance the budgetwith an increase of maybe 10 or 120 They did not favor cutting Revenue Sharing- Recreation funding Kramer Jackson, County Administrator, said he could possiblyput mare revenue_in Wfupd- glance than he had anticipated, as the revenues aremore than estimated around- the `lst of May when he began the budget work, and there-fore felt he could balance the budget with a 12 cent tax increase474June 14, 1978 ContCommissioner John M Booker asked the board to take another look at theCapital Outlay Budget for the county school system Commissioner Booker saidwithout additional funds the Board of Education may not be able to complete onecapital outlay project The board again emphasized they wanted the Board ofEducation to start one Capital Outlay Project if it has to be completed in thenext fiscal year 1979- 1980budgetAfter further discussion and budget work the board agreed to cut theanticipated tax rate increase from 15 cents to 12 cents; to add an additional50,000 to the school appropriation for capital outlay, reduce the hospitalappropriation by 25,000, and appropriate 20,000 to the Airport Authority anddelete the requested 21,000 for a computer for the Tax Listing OfficeThe` Board -;o Comr i s194 Iis was reminded that Paul Keller requested that th;oQsd rec xn ti an ? ,X00 req°ue?stfor the Council on Aging- bKramer Jackson, County Administrator, told the board that the LibraryBoard wants to go ahead and order the Bookmobile and asked for the boardsconcurrence The Board of Commissioners concurred with this requestWingate Lassiter, Editor of The Smithfield Herald, asked the board ifthey would be calling for a Liquor -By- The -Drink Referendum in Johnston CountyThe Board of Commissioners indicated they had no interest in calling for areferendum at this time 4 Budget AmendmentCommissioner Frank B Holding,moved that the General Fund Budget beamended by increasing the Local Sales Tax Revenue 1034501 by 6,500 andsetting up a line item Capital Outlay - Gaskin Building and appropriating 6,500in this line item for payment on the Gaskin PropertyCommissioner J E Rogerson seconded the motion which was carriedunanimously5 Wastewater PermitCommissioner Howard Benton moved that the Chairman be authorized toexecute an Application for Permit to Discharge Wastewater from PretreatmentFacilities to Other Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Sewer Systems, Sewer SystemExtensions and Wastewater Treatment Facilities Not Discharging to the SurfaceWaters of the State Commissioner J E Rogerson seconded the motion which was carriedunanimously6 Meeting with Smithfield Town BoardThe Board of Commissioners was reminded of a meeting to be set with theSmithfield Town Council to discuss water lines The Board deferred this matterat this time7 Regional Human Resources RepresentativeChairman Denning reported to the board that he had met with Ms LindaJohnsen; a representative from the Regional Office of the State Department ofHuman Resources Ms Johnson was conducting a area survey Chairman Denningindicated he believes that communications with the Regional Office will bebetter in the future as they are working on this aspect8 Executive SessionAt this time, by motion of Commissioner Howard Benton, duly seconded byCommissioner J E Rogerson and carried unanimously, the Board of Commissionersrecessed into Executive Session to discuss the administeringof the VeteransOffice in regards to the Veterans Service Officers illness and Leave of AbsenceBy motion of Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded by CommissionerJ E Rogerson and carried unanimously, the board reconvened into regularsession9 Appointment - Acting Veterans Service OfficerCommissioner John M Booker moved that -Marie Creech, Assistant VeteransService Officer, be appointed as Acting Veterans Service Officer during theperiod of time that the Veterans Service Officer is on Leave of Absence becauseof health reasonsCommissioner J E Rogerson seconded the motion which was carriedunanimouslyi0iJune 14, 1978 Cont10 Recommendation to ChairmanCommissioner John M Booker recommended to the Chairman for considerationthat board members be rotated through county agencies so they can become familarand have a better understanding of overall county governmentThe Chairman took no action on this recommendation at this timeUpon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded by CommissionerJ E Rogerson and carried unanimously, the board adjournedEleanor N Creech, ClerkNorman C Denning, Chairman