November 20, 2023 - 6:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

10 887 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners November 20 , 2023 6 00 pm The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday , November 20 , 2023 at 6 00 pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room , Johnston County Courthouse Annex , Smithfield , North Carolina The following members were present Present Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , Tony Braswell , Ted G Godwin , Fred J Smith , Jr , Richard D Braswell , and April Stephens Absent None Also Present County Manager Rick J Hester , Finance Officer and Deputy County Manager J Chad McLamb , County Attorney Jennifer J Slusser , Clerk to the Board Dana Cuddington , and Executive Assistant Deputy Clerk Susie Reeves Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr called the meeting to order at 6 00 pm Commissioner April Stephens opened the meeting with a prayer Commissioner Ted G Godwin led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag Chairman Lawter reminded everyone of the Board’s six priorities including Public Safety , Infrastructure , County Employees , Financial Stewardship , Educational Funding , and Land Use and the Board’s continuing efforts to keep these priorities in mind when working through the agenda 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the agenda as presented 2 Consent Agenda Items Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the consent agenda items as follows A Approval of Minutes – October 16 , 2023 – 6 00 pm B Department of Transportation – Additions to System The Board concurred with the Department of Transportation’s recommendation to add the following roads to the State Maintained System Merrimar Court , Gray Ghost Street , Stonewall Drive , Stuart Drive and Marse Robert Street – Patriots Point – Pleasant Grove Township Reese Drive and Dolores Court – Reese Ridge – Pleasant Grove Township C Emergency Services – 2023 Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement North Carolina Emergency Management has updated the North Carolina Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement to provide additional flexibility for adopting jurisdictions when there is a need to share resources across jurisdictional boundaries The agreement will allow for resource sharing without the requirement of a local State of Emergency declaration The Board approved the agreement as presented in the agenda packet and designated Rick J Hester , County Manager , as the signatory authority for the agreement D Johnston County Comprehensive Transportation Plan Contract The Board approved a contract with John R McAdams Company as the consultant for professional comprehensive transportation planning services in an amount not to exceed 200,000 for the development of a new Comprehensive Transportation Plan E Budget Revisions , approved as follows Page888 November 20 , 2023 – 6 00 pm Continued Finance REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 84 85381800 Construction 135,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 135,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 84 853837925 135,00000 Transfer from SDF Reserve Fund for Capital Project Costs TOTAL NET REVENUE 135,00000 Social Services REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 61001400 Travel 20000 10 61001900 General Assistance 1,37196 10 61004515 Program Expense 4,71264 10 61101917 LIEAP Program 29789 10 61106217 Low Income Household Water Assistance 1,42070 10 61401902 State County General Assistance 12,68938 10 61401906 State Foster Care 3,43975 10 61451906 State Foster Care 3,43973 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 27,57205 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 610034123 Social Services Administration 27,57205 TOTAL NET REVENUE 27,57205 3 Public Comment None 4 Health Department – Opioid Settlement Funds Plan Update and Approval of Year Two Plan Health Director Dr Marilyn Pearson presented an update to the Board on the Opioid Settlement Funds Plan She noted the Board approved the preliminary plan in August of 2022 Dr Pearson recalled that North Carolina received over 26 billion from the opioid settlements and Johnston County was initially allotted 8,055,921 over an eighteen - year period She stated in wave two , Johnston County was allotted an additional 6 million Dr Pearson stated the funding is through fiscal year 2038 - 2039 and is a total of 14,619,174 She noted that in August 2022 when the Board approved the preliminary plan to expend funds to address the Opioid epidemic , the Board approved 309,50511 for the cost of preliminary strategies , which included the following six strategies • Collaborative strategic planning that included hiring a coordinator and continuing the Task Force meetings • Evidence based addiction treatment that includes partnering with facilities to provide treatment and training to provide treatment • Recovery support services training that includes hiring a Peer Support Specialist • Early intervention providing opioid prevention education with the County’s partner , The Poe Center • Drugs Uncovered and Narcan trainings that includes Naloxone distribution and distributing Narcan to partners in the community and a Post Overdose Response Team assessing the need for a team in partnering with Emergency Management to evaluate the program Dr Pearson stated staff was able complete the above activities in year one and spent 100,66525 She reported a coordinator was hired and quarterly community task force meetings began She stated training for staff on evidence - based addiction treatment was held , and six Peer Support Specialist training scholarships were awarded with four Peer Support Specialists completing the training She stated three Drugs Uncovered trainings and one Narcan training were successful with 3,709 doses of Narcan distributed to partners and communityPage889 November 20 , 2023 – 6 00 pm Continued members She stated staff met with Emergency Management multiple times and assessed the need for a Post Overdose Response Team Dr Pearson continued that partnering with facilities to provide treatment and employing a Peer Support Specialist has been moved to the year two plan She stated the proposal cost for year two is 1,441,483 She indicated that a few of the strategies are continuations of the year one plan including continuation of the Task Force meetings on a quarterly basis , community education , early intervention programs , and the Naloxone distribution Dr Pearson stated there are multiple position requests in year two to help support these efforts that include a full - time Human Services Planner , a part - time Business Officer to assist with managing financials , auditing and reporting , one full - time and one part - time contract Peer Support Specialist , and four full - time community paramedics for the Post Overdose Response Team which may be implemented in year two or three Dr Pearson stated staff would like to partner with facilities to provide evidence - based addiction treatment and continue the early intervention strategies and the Naloxone distribution She stated the largest portion of the year two request is for 450,000 to allow community partners to submit proposals through a Request for Proposals RFP process that will meet the abatement strategies She stated it is anticipated the release of the RFP will be next year sometime in the spring and will vary in the amounts distributed based on the proposals received Dr Pearson requested the Board’s approval for the year two plan and authorization to expend funds with the abatement strategies Dr Pearson recognized County Attorney Jennifer Slusser for her support , work , and attendance at the task force meetings Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked if there had been any shortcomings in providing treatment Dr Pearson responded there is a gap in resources in Johnston County for treatment for opioids and addiction , but there is a desire to move forward and get something in place In response to Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , Dr Pearson confirmed that the community paramedics would be part of Johnston County EMS and assigned to this initiative Commissioner Godwin noted that several nonprofits have come before the Board about gaining support for various related issues related to this subject and he asked if they participate in the planning and quarterly meetings Dr Pearson responded the nonprofit groups are part of the Opioid Task Force and this is the reason for the RFP process She noted they are doing great work in the community , so they will be provided with the opportunity to apply for the funding Dr Pearson stated the next meeting of the task force is January 9 , 2024 at the Johnston County Agricultural Building and Board members have been provided additional information Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner April Stephens , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the year two plan and expense of the settlement funds as requested by staff 5 Parks , Greenways & Open Space – 2023 PARTF Contract Agreement Parks and Open Space Grant Coordinator Austin Cross updated the Board on a matching grant awarded to Johnston County in the amount of 500,000 from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund that will be used for the Johnston County Regional Park – Phase 1 project He stated staff came before the Board in April to obtain approval for the grant and he reminded the Board that it is a one - to - one match He stated there was an over - match of 14 million to cover the cost of recreational facilities to assist with site preparations , utilities , and scoring and they have three years to spend the funding Mr Cross stated staff respectfully requests the Board to accept the award and approve the contract agreement Commissioner Richard D Braswell asked about the County’s score Mr Cross responded that Johnston County scored second in the State Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board accepted the grant award and approved the grant contract agreement as presented by staff Page890 November 20 , 2023 – 6 00 pm Continued 6 Parks , Greenways & Open Space – NC Land and Water Grant NCLWF Parks and Open Space Grant Coordinator Austin Cross updated the Board on an award letter received for grant funds in the amount of 1,113,900 for the Kat Property - Neuse River Project He stated that property surrounds the Wilson’s Mills High School Middle School property and he recalled that staff received approval from the Board to pursue the purchase of the remaining 212 acres and a proposed contract is expected in the December - January time frame Mr Cross stated 10,000 needs to be allocated towards stewardship monitoring for 25 years , and the remainder can go back into the account with no strings attached He stated staff proposes using this funding towards the regional park to help cover the match so the County does not have to allocate any funding out of pocket He stated staff will continue to update the Board on the next steps of the project Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the request to move forward with the application process for the NC Land and Water Grant funds in the amount of 1,113,900 7 Parks , Greenways & Open Space – Land and Water Conservation Fund LWCF Grant Parks and Open Space Grant Coordinator Austin Cross requested approval to apply for a Land and Water Conservation Fund LWCF Grant in the amount of 500,000 for the Johnston County Regional Park - Phase One He stated the match is a one - to - one with a 1,000,000 maximum Mr Cross stated staff requests the Board’s approval to apply for the grant and noted it will go towards recreational facilities and site preparation He stated this grant would be awarded on top of the PARTF grant and any Land and Water Grant funds that may be awarded He stated the application is due January 5 , 2024 and staff should receive a response by May of 2024 Mr Cross requested the Board’s approval to move forward with the application process Upon a motion by Commissioner Richard D Braswell , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved staff’s request to apply for the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant in the amount of 500,000 8 Public Utilities – Corinth Holders Elementary School Pump Station and Force Main – Proposed Project Budget County Manager Rick Hester explained the existing Corinth Holders Elementary School 3976 NC Hwy 231 , Zebulon receives public water from Johnston County but utilizes an on - site sewer treatment system , which includes an effluent treated water discharge into the Little River Johnston County Public Schools JCPS desires to abandon the existing on - site treatment system and connect to the County’s public sewer system Furthermore , JCPS budgeted a capital improvements project to design and construct the required sewer infrastructure The new facilities will require a wastewater pump station at the school and approximately 14,500 LF of 4 ” force main from Corinth Holders Elementary School to Corinth Holders High School Mr Hester stated in order to proceed with the project , JCPS asked the County to assist with contracting for the project , as has been done with other past utility projects to serve public schools within the County He stated this process will require the County to adopt a capital project budget and JCPS to reimburse the County for all project expenses He stated staff recommends proceeding with the project design phase at this time and will recommend future budget revisions prior to construction The proposed budget follows Expenses Technical Services 443,00000 Easements 7,00000 Total 450,00000 Revenues Reimbursement from JCPS 450,00000 Total 450,00000 Upon a motion by Commissioner Richard D Braswell , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the proposed project budget as presented to allow staff to proceed with the project design phase PagePage pageNumber5891 November 20 , 2023 – 6 00 pm Continued 9 Manager Reports and Comments County Attorney Jennifer Slusser explained that since 2014 the County has provided sedimentation and erosion control programming services to the Towns of Pine Level , Archer Lodge , Wilsons Mills , and Benson pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding MOU She continued that in evaluating programming and the services that are provided , staff is recommending termination of the Countys enforcement of the sedimentation and erosion control programs for the towns She stated if the County terminates these MOUs , the authority would return to the State unless the towns chose to enforce their own programs or contract with a third party She reported that Utilities Director Chandra Farmer has discussed this proposal with each of the four towns through the town representatives , managers , and with the Mayor of Pine Level and there were no objections Ms Slusser stated staff is working with each of the towns to develop a coordinated date for the terminations so everything occurs at one time and it will be easier for everyone to manage She stated staff would like the effective date to be April 1 , 2024 , which provides a 4 - month notice period , which is required under the MOU She stated there is a one - year automatic renewal , so unless the Board takes action to terminate , it will automatically renew Ms Slusser stated the request is for the Board to move forward with taking formal action to terminate the MOU with the Town of Benson and the Town of Wilsons Mills She stated following this , it will terminate Archer Lodge and Pine Level by joint consent at a different meeting because their dates were different , and the notice period has been missed She stated the towns are in agreement to move forward Ms Slusser stated she understands that the town officials are sharing this information with their respective councils and other town officials , and staff will work to make sure this is a coordinated process and that all citizens are served Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked if there have been any preliminary reactions by the towns Ms Slusser stated the reactions thus far were positive and this would also provide the towns with some additional ownership in the programming She stated there would be no additional expense to them unless they chose to do the program internally , but she noted the State can implement the enforcement for towns Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner Richard D Braswell , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the request to terminate the Joint Resolutions for Erosion and Sediment Control Enforcement with the Towns of Benson and Wilson’s Mills with a termination effective date of April 1 , 2024 pursuant to the terms of the April 1 , 2014 resolutions and instructed staff to provide written notification to the towns as required by the resolutions 10 Board Reports and Comments Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris reported the Health Department and the Board of Health has recently moved forward with a lot of great programs He further stated there are many positive things happening at the Department of Social Services under the Interim Director and he is happy to report these departments are doing an extraordinary job for the citizens Vice Chairman Harris stated he is very thankful for their dedication and hard work Commissioner Ted G Godwin mentioned the Department of Social Services was recognized by the State recently with a good report card and he commended the employees in that department He also mentioned this week is Thanksgiving and he is thankful for his fellow Commissioners and staff Commissioner Richard D Braswell commented that he is always thankful for County employees Commissioner Tony Braswell acknowledged the recent passing of 50 - 210 Fire Chief Nathan Burgess who was also a Raleigh Fire Department Captain Commissioner T Braswell stated the service for Chief Burgess held by the City of Raleigh was one of the best services he has ever attended Commissioner T Braswell extended the Board’s deepest sympathies to the family of Chief Burgess Commissioner April Stephens commented that the display in front of the 50 - 210 Fire Department for Chief Burgess is amazing 11 Closed Session – NCGS 14331811 a 3 – Attorney - Client Privilege and NCGS 14331811 a 5 – Acquisition of Property Upon a motion by Commissioner Fred J Smith , Jr , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board recessed regular session to sit in closed session for the purposes of consulting with an attorney employed by the Board in order to preserve the attorney - client privilege pursuant toPagePage pageNumber6892 November 20 , 2023 – 6 00 pm Continued North Carolina General Statute 143 - 31811 a 3 and to establish or instruct staff concerning the negotiation of the price and terms of a contract concerning the acquisition of real property pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143 - 31811 a 5 No action was taken by the Board Commissioner Ted G Godwin moved the Board adjourn closed session and resume regular session Commissioner April Stephens seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote There being no further business , Commissioner Ted G Godwin moved the Board adjourn Commissioner April Stephens seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote The meeting adjourned at 7 00 pm RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Chairman Dana G Cuddington , Clerk to the BoardPage