Board of Commissioners Meeting Highlights - August 15, 2022 - 6:00 pm

10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AUGUST 15 , 2022 - 6 00 PM Videos of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meetings may be viewed at the following https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda – Agenda approved 2 Consent Agenda Items – Consent agenda approved A Department of Transportation – Additions to System NC DOT is requesting the Board to concur with their recommendation to add the following roads to the State Maintained System Regal Pond Drive – Regal Pond – Pleasant Grove Township B Appointments i Johnston County Board of Adjustments – 1 position remaining ; 3 year term Ernest R Allsbrook , Jr has applied for reappointment C CDBG - CV – Approval of Updated Exhibits The Board of Commissioners previously adopted a Fair Housing Plan Schedule , Language Access Plan , and Section 3 Plan for the Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus Virus Program CDBG - CV These funds are being used to provide mortgage assistance to those affected by the COVID - 19 pandemic The State is requiring the County to adopt an amended Fair Housing Plan Schedule to extend the schedule as well as an updated Language Access Plan and Section 3 Plan Staff requests the Board’s adoption of these amended and updated plans 3 Public Comments The following individuals addressed the Board during Public Comment ? Joey Marie Note Full comments can be viewed in the video from the meeting at the following link https wwwyoutubecom watch v - x_aWWHCL8Y & t 1s 4 Register of Deeds – Refund of Excise Tax - Request approved County Attorney Jennifer Slusser has reviewed a request for refund of overpayment of revenue stamps Pursuant to NCGS § 105 - 22837 , requests must be made within six 6 months after the date the tax was paid and must explain why the taxpayer believes a refund is due Trinity M Henderson with Henderson Law , presented a request for refund of 69400 A General Warranty Deed mistakenly recorded in Johnston County was intended to be recorded in Wayne County As a result , Henderson Law’s recording account was charged 69400 for this property This request meets the statutory requirements for refund and the County Attorney recommends the Board approve the refund in the amount of 69400 Page5 Legal Department – Resolution Authorizing the Finance Officer to Approve Refunds of Excise Tax - Resolution approved On July 7 , 2022 , North Carolina General Statute § 105 - 22837 was amended by Session Law 2022 - 50 to authorize either the County Manager or the County Finance Officer to grant timely filed requests for refunds of overpayment of excise taxes Staff requests the Board to adopt a resolution authorizing the Johnston County Finance Officer to approve such requests for Johnston County , upon review and recommendation by the Johnston County Register of Deeds Office 6 Public Utilities – ECIA US 70 16 ” Force Main – Contract Award and Revised Budget Request approved The County received bids on July 28 , 2022 for the East Clayton Industrial Area ECIA US 70 16 ” Force Main project The project includes a 16 ” force main from the existing ECIA wastewater pump station to the US 70 BUS US 70 interchange This is the joint project with the Town of Clayton for which we have a previously approved interlocal agreement and secured EDA Economic Development Administration grant funding on the basis of resiliency and redundancy for wastewater services to the ECIA The Town is the lead applicant with EDA , and their portion of the project includes improvements to the ECIA wastewater pump station and a 24 ” force main to their Neuse River 2 wastewater pump station The County received six 6 bids Please refer to the following summary tabulation of bids TA Loving Company of Goldsboro , NC submitted the lowest responsive bid in the amount of 2,735,50000 TA Loving is properly licensed and experienced in the type of construction involved Please see below the previously approved and proposed project budget Existing Proposed Expense Technical Design Admin Services 435,00000 435,00000 Easements 124,37500 124,37500 Construction 971,62500 2,735,50000 Contingency 000 136,77500 Total 1,531,00000 3,431,65000 Revenue Economic Development Administration Grant 840,45400 840,45400 Fund 68 Fund Balance 690,54600 2,591,19600 Total 1,531,00000 3,431,65000PageFunding proposed for the project is the EDA grant through the Town of Clayton and Fund 68 Balance Staff respectfully requests the Board to award the ECIA US 70 16 ” Force Main project to TA Loving Company of Goldsboro , NC in the amount of 2,735,50000 , approve the revised project budget and approve the associated capital project budget ordinance , contingent upon EDA approval 7 Public Utilities – Infrastructure Discussion Discussion item by the Board Staff was instructed to assemble additional information and draft suggested options and proposed policy revisions for the Board to consider in order to accomplish both short - term and long - term goals Discussion by the Board to include , but not limited to , the following points as it relates to water and wastewater infrastructure I Policy Making Issues as it relates to the Allocation of Sewer Users Time Frame II Regionalization III Wastewater Plant Expansion Plans IV Acquisition of Nitrogen Credits 8 Manager Reports and Comments A Municipal Proposals for Infrastructure Funds Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Chad McLamb reported the County received proposals from seven municipalities for the infrastructure funds set aside by the Board of Commissioners Mr McLamb stated staff is currently reviewing the proposals to make sure they meet the standards set within the Request for Proposals and would provide the information to the Board after that review B Facilities Operations Building Warehouse Space Request for Qualifications Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Chad McLamb stated the County received four responses to the Request for Qualifications for architectural and engineering services for design and construction services for the siting and construction of a new Facilities Operations Building and or Warehouse Space s on property adjacent to the new Detention Center site former Cox Property Mr McLamb stated once staff completes their review of the proposals to ensure they meet the standards within the RFQ , an update will be provided to the Board At the inquiry of Commissioner Tony Braswell , County Attorney Jennifer Slusser stated a Request for Proposals has been issued for removal of the vacant mobile homes and the abandoned house remaining on the former Cox Property She stated following conversations with Sheriff Steve Bizzell and Emergency Services Director Kevin Hubbard , it was determined to be in the surrounding citizens ’ best interest not to have a controlled burn of the abandoned house Ms Slusser stated responses to the RFP are expected later this week 9 Board Reports and Comments Commissioner Fred J Smith , Jr spoke on a matter involving the Board of Education requesting to transfer 8 million in Johnston County Schools current expense funds to their capital outlay fund and expressed concerns that the request had not been formally presented to the Commissioners in a Board meeting Commissioner Smith shared information with the Board from the School of Government and North Carolina General Statutes as it relates to such transfers and he asked Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Chad McLamb to request additional financial information from Johnston County Schools regarding their current expense funds , capital outlay funds , state funds , and fund balance Commissioner Smith stressed that any requests from Johnston County Schools regarding the transfer of funds should come before the Board of Commissioners for discussion and consideration in a regular open session meeting PageVice Chairman Patrick E Harris recalled that the Board of Commissioners did not allocate any capital outlay funding for Johnston County Schools in the Fiscal Year 2022 - 2023 budget , which is the reason Johnston County Schools is now requesting the 8 million transfer from current expense to capital outlay Vice Chairman Harris stated by approving the transfer it would allow Johnston County Schools to do some capital projects while decreasing their fund balance to a more reasonable level Vice Chairman Harris noted that Mr McLamb would be requesting a list of projects for which Johnston County Schools plans to use the funding The Board discussed the matter further and Mr McLamb stated he would be speaking with Johnston County Schools Superintendent Dr Eric Bracy this week and would request the information Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr commented that hopefully by starting the budget process earlier in the year , perhaps as early as March , it would help with some of these situations Commissioner April Stephens stated the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Conference was a great experience and she learned many things she planned to share with the Board at future meetings Commissioner Tony Braswell stated he would be presenting the Order of the Long Leaf Pine to retired Fire Marshal Adam Stanley on Thursday of this week at 6 00 pm at Johnston Community College Commissioner Braswell also commented on the earlier discussion regarding a transfer of funds for Johnston County Schools and stated that Johnston County Schools Finance Officer Stephen Britt has been very transparent Commissioner Ted G Godwin stated he also attended the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Conference and received some very good information from the sessions Commissioner Godwin noted that he will be out of town and unable to attend the Board’s September 6 , 2022 meetings He also spoke on an initiative called Operation Greenlight in support of Veterans and stated he would be working with the County Attorney and the Clerk to the Board to draft a resolution for the Board to consider for this initiative Commissioner Richard D Braswell expressed his appreciation to his fellow Commissioners for the discussion on water and wastewater during the meeting Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr reported in the recent monthly magazine from the North Carolina nd Association of County Commissioners , Johnston County ranks 42 in broadband access Chairman Lawter nd stated although 42 is not a good ranking to have on this issue , he looks forward to upcoming news from the State as it pertains to broadband expansion grant awards Chairman Lawter stated once the Board adopts the updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan , he would like to begin looking at a master plan for Public Utilities Chairman Lawter reported March 15 and 16 , 2023 has been suggested as possible dates for the Board’s next strategic planning session and he would like to confirm that soon so planning can begin Chairman Lawter , as the Commissioner representative for Johnston Community College , briefly updated the Board on activities at the College stating the search for a new President is underway and he appreciates Vice Chairman Harris serving on that committee Chairman Lawter noted the College had 200 high school applicants for the Commissioners Promise Scholarship Program and he hopes it will assist those students to get their degrees and ultimately find a job in Johnston County 10 Closed Session – NCGS 14331811 a 3 – Attorney - Client Privilege ; NCGS 14331811 a 4 – Economic Development ; NCGS 14331811 a 5 – Acquisition of Property ; and NCGS 14331811 a 6 – Personnel No action was taken Page