January 5, 1981 - 10:00 AM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

Meeting of Board of Commissioners for the County of JohnstonJanuary 5, 1981The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday, January5, 1981, at 10 oclock am in the Commissioners Room of the Johnston County Courthouse,Smithfield, North Carolina, with the following members presentNorman C Denning, Chairman, Frank B Holding, Vice Chairman, John M-Booker, DVM,James W Cash and Howard BentonMembers Absent NoneThe Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business was transacted1 Minutes - ApprovedThe board reviewed the minutes of the December 1, 1980, and December 11, 1980, boardmeetingsCommissioner Howard Benton moved that the minutes of the December lst and December11th board meetings be approved as recordedCommissioner James W Cash seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote2 Transportation for BlindMrs Joe Dixon met with the board representing a group of visually handicappedcitizens in the Benson and surrounding area Mrs Dixon advised that this group of citizensis being denied public services they are entitled to and are not advised of available servicesMrs Dixon also requested that the county fund transportation in the amount of 1500 for theblind in this area of the county, as they would like to continue the special training classesin BensonBen Niblock, Director, Department of Social Services, explained the federal eligibilitguidelines for receiving public assistance for low income familiesThe Board of Commissioners showed much concern regarding Mrs Dixons request forthe visually handicapped and advised Mrs Dixon and her group to meet with the Social ServicesBoard with her problem as this board should deal with her request first3 Secondary Road # 1108 - PetitionI jThe board received a petition requesting paving of Secondary Road # 1108 in BannerTownshipCommissioner Howard Benton moved that the petition be approved and forwarded to theNorth Carolina Department of Transportation for considerationCommissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote4 ReportsThe following reports were filed with the board Agricultural Extension, ElectricalInspector, Planning Department, Dog Warden the Tax Collector advised the board that he wasunable to make a report at this time because of the backlog of mail that had not been processed 5 Tax Supervisor Refunds and ReleasesJohnnie Stott, Tax Supervisor, presented the following requests for refunds andreleases1 Jasper Strickland of Beulah Township requests a release for 1980 and a refundfor 1979 based on his dissatisfaction of valuation placed on his lot The lot is239 acres in size and has his residence built on it, Mr Strickland contends that1 acre should be set aside as a building lot @ 2,000; the other 139 acres shouldbe valued at wasteland rates He feels that 700 is entirely too much for thatportion of his lotRecommendation Since it is not a practice of appraisers to breakout portions oflots of this size 239,acres, it is felt that the value is in line, It isrecommended that there be no change madeAfter discussion, Commissioner Howard Benton moved that the Tax Supervisorsrecommendation be acceptedCommissioner James W Cash seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote2 Wilbert C Fitzgerald of Route # 1, Kenly, N C, Beulah Township requests arefund in the amount of 61048; for overpayment of 1979 and 1980 taxes Thisrequest is based on the fact that the house was double listed on two lots that MrFitzgerald owns Records show that the same house was assessed twice during therevaluation11 Recommendation That the refund be approvedkJanuary 5th ContinuedCommissioner James W Cash moved that the Tax Supervisors recommendation be approvedand that Wilbert C Fitzgerald be refunded in the amount of 61048Commissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote6 Health Board - AppointmentsCommissioner Howard Benton moved that E S Simpson, John Dail, Dr William H Oliverand Heber Johnson be reappointed to the Johnston County Board of Health for-four 4 year termseffective December 31, 1980 should read three 3 year termstypographical errorrecorded correctly elsewhereCommissioner James W Cash seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote7 Resolution - Princeton Community Development Block GrantUpon a motion by Commissioner Howard Benton, duly seconded by Commissioner John MBooker and carried by unanimous vote, the following resolution was adoptedRESOLUTIONWHEREAS, the Johnston County Board of Commissioners feel that it is in the bestinterest of Johnston County to assist low- and moderate- income families in obtaining standardhousing; andWHEREAS, housing assistance is available through the Community Development BlockGrant program administered by the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development; andWHEREAS, the citizens of the Princeton Community expressed interest and need forimproved housing and public facilities at two public hearings held in September, 1980;NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners that1 The Johnston County Board of Commissioners endorses the Johnston CountyCommunity Development Program proposed for the Target Area adjacent to the Town ofPrinceton; and2 The Johnston County Board of Commissioners authorizes the Chairman of the Boardof Commissioners to sign and submit a preapplication for the Community DevelopmentBlock Grant3 All deteriorating dwelling units in the Target Area will be rehabilitated, owner-as well as renter - occupied unitsS Princeton Planning Board - AppointmentCommissioner James W Cash moved that Butler Holt be appoilnted to replace GuyLangston on the Princeton Planning BoardICommissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote9 Johnston County Citizens Advisory CouncilCommissioner Howard Benton moved that Va]ma Gough and Walter Bryant be appointed tothe Johnston County Citizens Advisory Council to replace Myrtle Pearce and Decouris AtkinsonCommissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote10 Emergency Medical Services - CertificationPaul Langdon, President, Johnston County Rescue Squad Association, met with theboard to advise that the county volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians, in order to berecertified by the State, according to new state guidelines, will have to be tested atregional testing sites rather than in the county, Mr Langdon told the board that the countyassociation intends to fight this decision as it is very inconvenient and time consuming totake time off from work to travel to a regional testing site, especially since JohnstonCountys technicians are volunteersThe board assured Mr Langdon that they will support the associations decision11 Secondary Roads - Paving Right of WaysPaul Anderson, District Engineer, North Carolina Department of Transportation, metwith the board and reported that the State Highway Commission has been unable to secure rightof way agreements for paving of Secondary Roads # 2313 Boon Hill Township and # 2161 BeulahTownship Mr Anderson stated that unless five property owners can be convinced to signthe right of way agreements, these two roads will be skipped -over for paving12 Pine Level Fire Station - Drive -way PavingUpon a motion by Commissioner John M Booker, duly seconded by Commissioner James WCash and carried by unanimous vote, the Johnston County Board of Commissioners instructed PaulAnderson, District Highway Engineer, North Carolina Department of Transportation, to seek stateaccess funds to pave the entrance to the new Pine Level Fire Station, and further if thesefunds are not available the board gave their approval to use county secondary road fundsJanuary 5, 1981 Continued13 Sewer Use OrdinanceTim Broome, Ragsdale Engineers, met with the board again regarding the Sewer UseOrdinance The board had asked Billy Britt, County Attorney, to review this ordinance for alegal opinion Mr Britt advised that he had discussed and reviewed the ordinance with theCounty Planner and he had made several recommendations that they are working on at this timeMr Broome advised the board that the ordinance needed to be adopted in the very near future14 Subdivision - Quail Acres - Section TwoHarold Blizzard, County Planner, presented to the board for consideration the QuailAcres Subdivision, Section Two, which consists of lots Of these ten lots, two lots wouldhave access to an existing state maintained road and the remaining eight lots would have accessto a proposed private roadMr Blizzard explained that the developer was requesting a variance to SubdivisionRegulations, Paragraph 80301 which states one criteria for allowing a private road in plattedsubdivisions which is as follows; Private road provides access to seven or less lots and isless than 2 of a mile long In this case, the private road is less than 2 of a mile long;however, it will provide access to eight lots, one lot more than the maximum number allowedThe board discussed this subdivision variance request at length, however, afterdiscussion, Commissioner Howard Benton moved that this variance request be denied, for thereason that it would violate the intent of Paragraph 80301 of the County SubdivisionRegulations, and thereby set a precedent which might encourage similar situations in the future-KCommissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote15 Subdivision - Duane PooleUpon the reconvendation of Harold Blizzard, County Planner, Commissioner James WCash moved that the Duane Poole Subdivision, Clayton Township, five lots be approved and theChairman authorized to execute the platCommissioner Howard Benton seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous voteh,16 Subdivision - Lillian McGirtUpon the recommendation of Harold Blizzard, County Planner, Commissioner James W ACash moved that the Lillian McGirt Subdivision, Clayton Township, four lots be approved and theChairman authorized to execute the platCommissioner Howard Benton seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote17 Landfill - Budget Amendment - ContainersCommissioner James W Cash moved that the budget be amended and a transfer of fundsbe made in the following mannerFrom Contingency Fund 9,955004099980To Landfill1058072 New Bulk Site 5,299001058074 Equipment 4,65600Commissioner Howard Benton seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous vote18 Light Traffic Road Ordinance - Department of Transportation Container Site RoutesHarold Blizzard, County Planner, advised the board that the North CarolinaDepartment of Transportation, had placed weight limits on some secondary roads north of Bensonprohibiting the operation of vehicles with an axle weight exceeding 13,000 pounds Mr Blizzardr ks weighed 34 000 pounds , andalso advised that the countys front end loader garbage t uc g , po emptyloaded about 50,000 or approximately 16,000 per axle Mr Blizzard indicated that he hadtalked with the District Highway Engineer and learned that the purpose of the restrictions is tolkeep heavy trucks from damaging the roads during construction of the new super highway I -40from Benson to WilmingtonMr Blizzard told the board that he plans to meet with the State Highway officialsto see if they can reach some agreement with regard to county garbage trucks, which exceeds theaxle weight limits, servicing the rural dumpster sites in this areaI?a]January 5, Continued19 Employment Security Commission - Office SpaceMr Bob Faulk, District Supervisor, North Carolina Employment Security Commissionl,met with the board requesting the County to provide a large building for office space for theESC branch office located in Smithfield Mr Faulk told the board the State plans to add twomore employees to help with theincreased workload and the space they are now occupying is overcrowded Mr Faulk also advised that the State will reimburse the County in the amount of25000 for utilities and janitorial services and they would like to act on moving from thepresent location on Bridge Street as soon as possible Mr Faulk further advised the Boardof Commissioners that there is a strong possibility that Smithfield could become a full serviceoffice operated and maintained by the StateThe board discussed this request at length with Mr Faulk and asked Johnnie Stottto check on new office space for the Employment Security Office20 Adult Protation - Office Space ProvidedIvey Pittman, Unit Supervisor, Johnston County Adult Probation and Parole, thankedthe Board of Commissioners for additional office space provided for this agency21 Jail Windows - Replacement DiscussedBuck McLamb, Maintenance Supervisor, talked with the board about replacing some ofthe deteriorated windows in the county jail The board asked Mr McLamb to get some firmprices on replacing these windows22 Sasser Property Trees on County PropertyBuck McLamb, Maintenance Supervisor, advised the board that he had cut limbs backfrom the trees near the Sasser building and removed the leaves from the roof of the buildingCommissioner Booker indicated that he felt the County had done what it needed to doCommissioner James W Cash asked if maybe there were more limbs that needed to be trimmed23 Tax Matter - Jasper Strickland - Beulah TownshipMr Jasper Strickland Beulah Township appeared before the board regarding hisrequest that the Tax Supervisor had presented to the board earlier in the day, which was todivide 239 acres of land and set aside 1 acre as a building lot and the other 139 acres aswasteland Mr Strickland contended that the 139 tract was very low and wetThe board discussed this matter again and instructed the Tax Supervisor to have theCounty Appraiser to take a look at this property and the board would reconsider at the timethey sit as a Board of Equalization and Review24 Safe Assigned to Clerk of Superior CourtCommissioner James W Cash moved that an old safe owned by the County of Johnston,but not used, be assigned to the Clerk of Superior Court, and further that the safe be openedin the presence of the Clerk of Superior Court and County OfficialsCommissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous voteEXECUTIVE SESSIONUpon a motion by Commissioner Howard Benton, duly seconded by Commissioner John MBooker and carried by unanimous vote, the board went into Executive Session to discusspersonnel mattersREGULAR SESSIONUpon motion by Commissioner James W Cash, duly seconded by Commissioner HowardBenton and carried by unanimous vote, the board resumed regular session25 Budget Amendment - General FundCommissioner Howard Benton moved that the budget be amended and a transfer of fundsbe made in the following mannerFrom Administration and FinanceSalaries - 1042002 35000To Register of DeedsSalaries - 1048002 35000Commissioner John M Booker seconded the motion which was carried by unanimous voteUpon a motion by Commissioner Howard Benton, duly seconded by Commissioner James WCash and carried by unanimous vote, the board recessed until January 23, 1981, at 730 pmNorman C Denning, ChairmanEleanor N Creec1h, ClerkDetailsAnnotationsEntry PropertiesModified11192013 10142 PMCreated4222003 91649 AMTemplateMinutesFieldsMinutes - TypeRegularMinutes - Date151981Book17