October 2, 2023 - 10:00 AM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Highlights

10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING October 2 , 2023 - 10 00 AM Videos of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meetings may be viewed at the following https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc VFW Post 5955 Selma led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr announced Commissioner April Stephens would not be attending the meeting 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda - Agenda approved moving Consent Agenda item C as regular agenda item No 4 and removal of Consent Agenda item I - iv Tourism Authority 2 Consent Agenda Items - Consent Agenda approved moving item C as regular agenda item No 4 A Approval of Minutes – August 21 , 2023 ; September 5 , 2023 - 10 00 am and 6 00 pm B 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 Eason Farm Drive - Eason Farm – Wilders Township C Proclamation - Employee Appreciation Week – October 23 - 27 , 2023 Moved to Agenda Item No 4 – Proclamation Adopted Staff requests the Board to adopt a proclamation declaring the week of October 23 - 27 , 2023 as Employee Appreciation Week D Town of Pine Level – Appointment to Pine Level Planning Board The Town of Pine Level is requesting the Board to make the following appointments to the Pine Level Planning Board representing the ETJ area of the Town Tonia Hill regular ETJ member - 368 East Gordon Rd , Selma term expiring October 31 , 2026 Shannan L Parrish regular ETJ member - 689 Davis Mill Rd , Selma term expiring October 31 , 2026 Jamie Shane Strickland ETJ alternate – 1785 Pine Level - Selma Rd , term expiring October 31 , 2026 E Town of Four Oaks – Appointment to Four Oaks Planning Board The Town of Four Oaks is requesting the Board to make the following appointment to the Four Oaks Planning Board representing the ETJ area of the Town Chad Stewart – 121 Dogwood Lane , Four OaksPageF Municipal Funding Agreement – Agreement between the Town of Smithfield and Johnston County for the Johnston County Municipal Grant Funding Program for water , wastewater or stormwater projects for the purchase of additional capacity allocation in the amount of 500,00000 G Economic Development Incentive Agreement Amendment Amazoncom Services LLC “ Amazon ” requests an amendment to the Economic Development Incentive Agreement , between Amazon and Johnston County , North Carolina , and dated May 10 , 2021 the ” Agreement ” The Agreement contemplates a Final Investment Milestone and a Final Employment Milestone , based on an assumed launch date of Fall 2022 The expected launch date has been delayed due to various macroeconomic issues such as industry - wide supply chain challenges and inflationary pressures that have impacted not only this site but Amazon’s entire network of facilities This facility is now tentatively set to launch in Spring 2024 Given these conditions , Amazon requests an 18 - month extension to the Final Investment Milestone and Final Employment Milestone to June 30 , 2024 and June 30 , 2025 , respectively , via an amendment to the Agreement While Amazon intends to launch the facility in Spring 2024 and hire more than 500 full - time employees as originally agreed upon , given ongoing economic uncertainty and to avoid future amendments , Amazon is requesting a longer extension than the projected completion timeline requires Amazon has currently invested much more than the 100MM minimum capital investment required in the agreement and is current on its tax liabilities to Johnston County This proposed amendment does not change the length of the grant period No grants have been paid under the Agreement at this time and grants will only be paid if all terms of the Agreement as amended are met H Appointments i Firefighter’s Relief Fund Board of Trustees – 2 year terms except where noted in order to create staggered terms One 1 position representing each of the following fire districts - indicates the need for a waiver in the length of service policy Bentonville – Wayne Langston has applied for reappointment Beulah – Douglas R Whitley has applied for reappointment Blackman’s Crossroads - no applications received Brogden - no applications received Corinth - Holder – Carol D Woodard has applied for reappointment Elevation - no applications received 50 - 210 - no applications received McLemore - no applications received Meadow - no applications received Micro - no applications received O’Neals - no applications received PI - LE - no applications received Shoeheel - no applications received Strickland Crossroads - no applications received Wilson’s Mills - no applications received Wynn - no applications received Pageii Fire Protection District Commissions One 1 position representing each of the following fire districts - indicates the need for a waiver in the length of service policy 2 year terms Banner - no applications received Beulah – Eric Boyette has applied for reappointment Corinth - Holder - no applications received Micro – no applications received Nahunta - no applications received Newton Grove – no applications received PI - LE - no applications received Smithfield - no applications received Two 2 positions representing each of the following fire districts - indicates the need for a waiver in the length of service policy 2 year terms Strickland’s Crossroads – no applications received iii Johnston County Heritage Commission – 10 positions ; 2 year term Lettie Inez Best and Ashley Webster have applied for reappointment Ms Webster has served 3 terms on this Board and would require a waiver in the length of service policy James Dana Carter , II has applied for appointment iv Tourism Authority – 4 positions ; 3 year term Applicants must be an owner or operator of a hotel , motel , or other taxable tourist accommodation This item will be on the November 6th 10am Agenda James H Jenkins , Jr , Robert Bob Richie and Kimberly Pickett have applied for appointment I Budget Revisions i Health – 38,71345 – To budget Medicaid cost settlement ii Jail – 33398 – To budget revenue into appropriate expenditure line items iii Library - 11,12000 – To move funds to cover expenses iv Sheriff – 35,36806 – To budget revenue Controlled Substance Tax , Miscellaneous Revenue , Sheriff Fees , and Federal Equitable Sharing into appropriate expenditure line items v Social Services - 149,31800 – To budget funds used to hire train staff and build technology infrastructure to prepare for Medicaid expansion while meeting the demands associated with the Continuous Coverage Unwinding CCU This funding is eligible for the Medicaid 75 or 50 federal match , supports only incremental work resulting from Continuous Coverage Unwinding & Medicaid Expansion implementation planning efforts and may not be used toPagesupplant historical county spending Funds were received June of 2023 and need to be carried forward into FY 23 24 vi Social Services - 476,36100 – To budget funds used to offset the FY 23 24 costs incurred by counties as a result of the changes to enhanced Medicaid claiming 75 25 for eligibility and enrollment Funds were received June 2023 and need to be carried forward into FY 23 24 J Tax Releases & Refunds – 08 16 2023 – 09 15 2023 3 Public Comments There were no public comments 4 Johnston County Cooperative Extension - Proclamation – National 4 - H Week Proclamation adopted Johnston County Cooperative Extension requests the Board to adopt a proclamation declaring the week of October 1 - 7 , 2023 as 4 - H Week 5 Harbor - Proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation adopted Harbor is requesting the Board to adopt a proclamation for October 2023 as domestic violence awareness month 6 Public Hearing – Ordinance Amendment – Chapter 10 EMS No action requested The purpose of the public hearing is to receive public comment on proposed amendments to Chapter 10 – Emergency Medical Services , of the Johnston County Code of Ordinances These amendments are necessary because of the transition of emergency medical services from contracted agencies to Johnston County and updates service provider information Staff respectfully requests the recommended amendments to Chapter 10 - Emergency Medical Services – of the Johnston County Code of Ordinances 7 Public Hearing – Residency Redistricting Project Angelique Legette and Dr Priscilla Rice - Members of Johnston County Branch , NAACP and Jean Casanave spoke during the hearing Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr also recognized two emails received from Jonathan Stovall and Jean Casanave No action was taken The Board voted on a district map at the 6 00 pm meeting The purpose of the public hearing is to receive public comment on the proposed plans of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners Residency Redistricting Project 8 Fire Chiefs Association – Fire Service Matrix Update Informational item Cleveland Fire Chief Chris Ellington will update the Board on the Fire Service Matrix 9 Sheriff’s Office – 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant Funds Request approved Sheriff Steve Bizzell would like to inform the Board regarding the 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant Funds in the amount of 13,01500 The Sheriff intends to apply for and use the grant funds toPagePage pageNumber5purchase weapon mounted illumination devices to enhance officer safety and firearms proficiency for deputy sheriffs 10 Public Utilities – Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Nitrogen Allocation Request approved In March 2022 , the Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with Restoration Systems , LLC for the acquisition of nitrogen offset credits for future wastewater treatment expansion projects In total , the approved agreement releases 27,398 lbs of nitrogen credits to the County over the next seven years Once the contractual amount of nitrogen is released , the County’s allocation will be sufficient to discharge at least 135 MGD , which is the maximum flow in the County’s existing NPDES permit However , the County is seeking approval to increase the NPDES discharge permit to 180 MGD in order to meet future growth demands We will continue to utilize technology to minimize nitrogen discharge to very low concentrations However , since nitrogen is measured on a mass limit lbs , additional allocation will be necessary in order to increase the volume of flow treated and discharged Our consultant for the expanded NPDES discharge permit Dewberry helped identify available nitrogen allocation for purchase and put County staff in contact with International Paper Company IP IP agreed to sell 10,000 lbs of estuary nitrogen allocation to the County at 500 lb The proposed purchase requires the County to purchase the allocation in two installments , as follows • First installment – 2,500,000 for 5,000 lbs upon NCDEQ approval of the transfer • Second installment - 2,500,000 for 5,000 lbs by June 30 , 2024 This allocation , combined with the County’s existing allocation and contracted credits , are sufficient to discharge up to 180 MGD Staff recommends the following revised capital project budget for nitrogen allocation which includes the prior Restoration Systems contract - 10,800,000 Existing Proposed Expenses Nitrogen Nutrient Credit Acquisition 10,800,00000 15,800,00000 Cost of 2021 Revenue Bond Issuance 127,83900 127,83900 Cost of Future Revenue Bond Issuance 127,83900 000 Total Project Cost 11,055,67800 15,927,83900 Funding for the proposed project is as follows 2021 Water Sewer Revenue Bonds 3,373,24000 6,500,00000 2023 Water Sewer Revenue Bonds 2,126,76000 000 FY 23 24 Appropriation from Sewer SDFs 000 2,500,00000 Fund 68 Balance Appropriation for FY 23 24 000 1,427,83900 Future Water Sewer Revenue Bonds 5,555,67800 000 Future SDFs or Fund 68 Balance 000 5,500,00000 Total Project Funds 11,055,67800 15,927,83900 All remaining unencumbered 2021 Water Sewer Revenue Bond proceeds will be budgeted to this project The proposed 6,500,000 includes an appropriation of 1,637,792 from the “ 16 ” Force Main to Buffalo WWPS ” Construction for “ 16 ” Force Main to Buffalo WWPS ” will be funded at a later date FY 23 24 Appropriation from Sewer SDFs will be reduced if additional remaining funds are available from 2021 Water Sewer Revenue Bond proceeds Staff recommends approval of the proposed “ Estuary Nitrogen Allocation Purchase and Sale Agreement ” between Johnston County and International Paper Company , approval of the revised capital project budget and revised capital project ordinance PagePage pageNumber611 Appointments i Alcoholic Beverage Control Board – 1 position ; 3 year terms Robert Bob Richie , Stephen C Woodard , Jr and D Lee Jackson have applied for appointment ii Moccasin Creek Service District Board – 2 positions ; 2 year terms Mayor Jeff Holt has applied for reappointment representing the Town of Pine Level Mayor Holt would require a waiver in the length of service policy Richard D Braswell has applied for reappointment representing the Rural Area of the District Mr Braswell would require a waiver in the length of service policy Debra T Heuertz has applied for appointment 12 Delinquent Tax Collection Report - Informational item 13 Manager Reports and Comments County Manager Rick Hester stated he and Finance Director and Deputy County Manager Chad McLamb would like to schedule individual meetings with the Board members to discuss where the County is financially and on capital planning 14 Board Reports and Comments Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris recognized interim Department of Social Services Director Ben Rose and Income Maintenance Administrator , II Renee Smith Vice Chairman Harris thanked them for all their hard work and dedication and mentioned many good things are happening at DSS Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr thanked staff for their work on the alternate delivery methods workshop held at the Agricultural Center Chairman Lawter mentioned the great panel consisting of Kim Rineer , Public Utilities Engineering Manager and Brooks Moore with Johnston County Schools Facilities He noted the workshop was very informative and will help the Board to make decisions on future delivery methods He stated a lot of positive feedback was received Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr asked the Board to look at possible dates for their Strategic Planning Session to be held in February of next year 15 Closed Session – NCGS 14331811 a 3 – Attorney - Client Privilege and NCGS 14331811 a 5 – Acquisition of Property No action was taken Page