Board of Commissioners Meeting Highlights - March 7, 2022 - 10:00 am

10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MARCH 7 , 2022 - 10 00 AM Videos of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meetings may be viewed at the following https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc American Legion Post 141 of Selma led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda - Agenda approved 2 Consent Agenda Items - Consent agenda approved A Approval of Minutes - February 7 , 2022 10 00 am and 6 00 pm B Order to Advertise Tax Liens Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews is requesting the Board to adopt an order authorizing the advertisement of the tax liens for delinquent 2021 tax bills C Town of Princeton - Adoption of Revised Resolution On January 18 , 2022 , per a request by the Town of Princeton , the Board adopted a " Resolution Supporting the Town of Princeton's Request to the NC Department of Transportation to Accelerate Construction for the US 70 I42 Goldsboro Bypass To Princeton Project " Following feedback received by the Town from the NC Department of Transportation , the Town of Princeton is requesting the Board to adopt a revised resolution in support of their request D Solid Waste Services - Surplus of Truck The Department of Solid Waste Services is requesting the Board to declare the following truck surplus that was involved in an accident and declared a total loss by the insurance carrier 2003 Mack RD 680 S Roll - Off Truck 1M2P264C34M034671 Asset # 18127 E Budget Revisions ? Airport Authority - 90,00000 - To transfer funds from the Airport's fund balance to cover costs associated with legal fees this budget revision was approved by the Airport Authority at their January 24 , 2022 ? Finance - 290,00000 - To budget a State Capital & Infrastructure Grant to be used to st replace four air - handling units and a cooling tower as reported to the Board on February 21 ? Sheriff - 27,05695 - To budget revenue Controlled Substance Tax , Insurance Recovery , Miscellaneous Revenue , and Sheriff Fees into appropriate expenditure line items F Tax Releases & Refunds - 01 15 2022 - 02 15 2022Page3 COVID - 19 & Emergency Rental Assistance Program Updates - Health Director Dr Marilyn Pearson shared the following statistics with the Board and provided an update on the Covid - 19 response PageFinance Director and Deputy County Manager Chad McLamb provided an update to the Board on the Emergency Rental Assistance ERA Program Funds Mr McLamb reported that to date , almost 83 million in ERA assistance has gone out serving almost 1,800 households He stated all of the ERA 1 allocation has been paid out and almost 40 of the ERA 2 allocation has been paid out Mr McLamb stated Johnston County is one of the last counties still administering the program and he anticipates sending out over 11 million in total assistance when finished Mr McLamb stated because the funds are quickly being used , he recommended the Board set a cutoff date of March 31 , 2022 to receive applications , or when the funds run out from ERA 2 He stated it is possible that the ERA 2 funds may run out by the end of this week and once finished , he estimates that approximately 2,000 households will have received assistance The Board voted to set the cutoff date for applications for the ERA Program as March 31 , 2022 or whenever the ERA 2 funds run out Mr McLamb also reported that of the 900,000 in CDBG funds for mortgage assistance , 571,000 has been sent out to date and that program will end , per the CDBG guidelines , on September 30 , 2022 4 Public Comments The following individuals addressed the Board during Public Comment ? Kendall Parker Note Full comments can be viewed in the video from the meeting at the following link https wwwyoutubecom watch v rgxW94T3WfQ 5 Public Hearing - Economic Development Incentive Grant Following the public hearing , the Board adopted a resolution approving the Economic Development Incentive Grant agreement with EV Benson Land , LLC Edgewater Ventures The purpose of the public hearing is to receive public comment on an Economic Development Incentive Grant A company proposes to develop and build a 500,000 + - square foot expandable Class A speculative industrial logistics facility in the Banner Township of Johnston County The company has proposed the development in Johnston County in exchange for certain economic incentives in the form of annual cash grants paid from general County funds over a five - year period beginning after required investments have been made The facility will be used to entice new business to come to Johnston County or to expand existing business in Johnston County The project will increase the tax base , stimulate the local economy , cause the creation of new jobs , encourage business and industry to locate in the County , and will promote business in the County The Board of Commissioners will solicit public comment on the proposed incentives at the public hearing The Board of Commissioners will consider approval of incentives to the company in exchange for the company's commitments to 1 plan , develop and build the facilities ; 2 cause to create new , permanent full - time jobs ; and 3 invest in taxable business personal property additions , all of which will return property tax revenues substantially in excess of the County's investment The cash grants are contingent upon , among other things , the company's entry into a local economic development agreement with the County containing the obligations and agreements of the company and the County The company must achieve its capital investment and job creation goals plus be current on all Johnston County tax obligations to receive the proposed grant funding , which is subject to adjustment for partial performance 6 North Side Fire & Rescue - Approval of Tax Exempt Loan Status - Resolution adopted North Side Fire & Rescue , Inc is requesting the Board to adopt a resolution approving tax exempt loan status so they can borrow up to 308,50000 from KS Bank to refinance a 2017 Pierce Engine at an interest rate of 175 with a 5 year term Financing proposals were requested with four received by the fire department Finance Director Chad McLamb has reviewed the proposals and recommends financing with KS Bank Page7 911 - Communications - Update on Advance Purchasing for New Public Safety Center Equipment and Budget Revision - Budget revision approved Staff would like to update the Board on advance purchasing for new equipment necessary for the new Public Safety Center construction project Staff further requests approval of a budget revision for anticipated 911 Board grant funds to cover the partial cost of the equipment 8 Johnston County Schools - Request for Grant Matching Funds The Board approved providing the 15 local matching funds for any grant amount awarded Johnston County Schools will be applying for State grant funding in the amount of 150,480,000 to fund various renovations and additions at some of the local school facilities A local match of 15 is required for any grant amount awarded If the entire amount is awarded , local matching funds in the amount of 22,572,000 15 would be required Johnston County Schools is requesting assistance with the local matching funds 9 Cooperative Extension - Update and North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund JoCo Grows Funding - Informational item Johnston County Cooperative Extension would like to update the Board on their program successes for 2021 as well as plans for funding received for JoCo Grows from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission in the amount of 111,900 The funds will be used to expand the marketing campaign for JoCo Grows Agriculture and it will establish several projects to improve the connection between commercial farms , roadside stands , farmers markets , agritourism and the local community at large 10 Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield - Update to the Board Upcoming Projects - Informational item Representatives from the Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield would like to provide an update to the Board and discuss plans for some upcoming projects 11 Health Department - Funding for Nutritionist and Medial Office Assistant Positions - Request approved The Johnston County WIC division has been at 107 of its current base caseload of 4,431 clients over the last seven months of the fiscal year , which entitles the Health Department to an increase of state funds in the amount of 49,736 to be used during the current State Public Health fiscal year An additional 132,966 in FY 22 23 is also anticipated The Health Department recommends using the funds for an additional Nutritionist II position for which they would like to fund two part - time hourly nutritionists without benefits and a full time medical office assistant lab tech position with benefits The medical office assistant was previously funded ; however , in 2017 due to a decrease in funding , the position was removed from the budget Staff anticipates a significant influx of clients for lab work in the coming year due to the exemption of lab work during COVID Staff reports that the hourly nutritionist is a cost effective way to manage the increase in case load with the flexibility of scaling back such hours if needed Staff requests the Board's approval to utilize the funding for the positions so long as it is available 12 Solid Waste Services - Phase 4A Municipal Solid Waste Landfill and Area 2 Construction & Demolition Landfill Closure Capital Project Budget Request - Request approved The Phase 4A Municipal Solid Waste MSW Landfill and the Area 2 Construction & Demolition C & D Landfill have met permitted capacity and both units are ready to be closed The EPA requires the owner to close a landfill by installing a cover system that will minimize infiltration of liquids and preventPagePage pageNumber5exterior soil erosion Staff recommends a landfill closure construction project that will cover approximately 45 acres of finished landfill area Following are the anticipated costs associated with the closure project ? Landfill Closure Construction 7,950,000 ? Engineering Services & Construction Management 451,000 ? 5 Contingency 420,050 Total Estimated Costs 8,821,050 Staff requests approval of a capital budget in the amount of 8,821,050 to cover the costs associated with this landfill closure construction project Funding for the project would come from the Solid Waste Services Department Fund 66 Reserves 13 Public Utilities - Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Nitrogen Offset Credits - Agreement approved In July 2021 , the Board of Commissioners approved a capital project budget for the acquisition of nitrogen offset credits for future wastewater treatment expansion projects County staff negotiated with a private mitigation bank Restoration Systems , LLC and worked with NC NPDES staff to ensure future credits obtained are acceptable as allocation to be added to the County's wastewater treatment facilities NDPES permit The proposed " Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Nitrogen Offset Credits " between Johnston County and Restoration Systems , LLC requires Restoration Systems to complete 181 acres of riparian buffer restoration to generate 13,699lbs per year of nitrogen reduction nitrogen offset credits in the Neuse River Estuary The agreement requires the County to purchase the nutrient offset credits for 5,400,000 These credits combined with the County's existing allocation are sufficient for the County to complete wastewater treatment plant expansions for the maximum flow allowed pursuant to the existing NPDES permit 135 MGD In accordance with the NCDEQ process , Restoration Systems will release nutrient offset credits incrementally after project implementation The agreement outlines a payment and credit release schedule with 200,000 due prior to credit release for land acquisition Staff recommends approval of the proposed " Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Nitrogen Offset Credits " between Johnston County and Restoration Systems , LLC 14 Delinquent Tax Collection Report - Informational item 15 Manager Reports and Comments County Manager Rick Hester stated staff is beginning to work on a draft Fiscal Year 2022 - 2023 budget and he hopes to have that ready for the Board by mid - May Mr Hester stated the Board usually has one or two special meetings in June prior to adoption 16 Board Reports and Comments Commissioner Richard D Braswell stated he is looking forward to the upcoming Strategic Planning Session Chairman RS " Butch " Lawter , Jr agreed with Commissioner RD Braswell and stated the Board will be having their Strategic Planning Session on March 17 and 18 , 2022 at Campbell University in the Marshbanks Alumni Hall Chairman Lawter stated he is hopeful the Commissioners can establish a roadmapPagePage pageNumber6for not only the Board , but for staff and the residents so they will know what the priorities are as well as goals and objectives Chairman Lawter stated the session will be facilitated by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and will be livestreamed on the County's YouTube channel at https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc 17 Closed Session If Requested A closed session was not requested Page