June 17, 2024 - 10:00 AM - Board of Commissioners Regular Highlights

10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING JUNE 17 , 2024 - 6 00 PM Videos of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meetings may be viewed at the following https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc Chairman RS " Butch " Lawter , Jr announced Commissioner Fred J Smith , Jr would be joining the meeting via zoom 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda - Agenda approved moving Item No 11 Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 County Budget Discussion and Adoption after Public Comment 2 Consent Agenda Items - Consent agenda approved A Approval of Minutes - May 20 , 2024 6 00 pm B Johnston County Public Safety Facility - 179 - D Allocation C The federal government makes certain tax deductions available to designers of government buildings that incorporate energy efficient design strategies Moseley Architects is eligible for such benefits for the Public Safety Facility Per Moseley's request , the Board authorized the County Manager to sign a Government Building Primary Designer Acknowledgement form for Moseley Architects for the Johnston County Public Safety Facility project D Sole Source Procurement for 2024 Chevrolet Double Cab Truck Staff requests approval of a sole source procurement for a 2024 Chevrolet Double Cab Truck in the amount of approximately 51,00000 from Deacon Jones , Smithfield to serve fleet services and emergency rescue teams Requests for proposals were solicited and only one vendor was able to provide the truck within the year and this equipment is necessary for current operations The purchase price was negotiated to assure competitive pricing , budgeted funds are available , and no new appropriation is required for this procurement E Budget Revisions • Finance - 229,21000 - To appropriate an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant " EECBG " in the amount of 229,210 for which the County received approval from the US Department of Energy on May 29 , 2024 The grant funds will be used to replace two 28 - year old boilers in the Courthouse Annex • Jail - 22,72400 - To move revenues into appropriate expenditure line items • Sheriff - 11,66071 - To move revenues into appropriate expenditure line items F Appointments • Voluntary Agricultural District Advisory Board - 2 positions ; 3 year terms Jeremy Smith has applied for reappointment 3 Public CommentsPageThe following individuals addressed the Board during Public Comment • Debra Hooker , Down Home North Carolina • Liz Lynn , Down Home North Carolina Note Full comments can be viewed in the video from the meeting at the following link https wwwyoutubecom watch v pAw7jp09OhI & t 1575s 4 Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 County Budget Discussion and Adoption The Board adopted the County Manager's proposed budget with the following revisions Reduce the county property tax rate by 2 cents to 67 cents per 100 value Set the countywide fire tax rate at 14 cents per 100 value A 3 pay adjustment in July for county employees with the possibility of up to a 2 performance pay increase in October In addition , funding is included for the alternate year pay review Adjust salaries for elected officials and board appointees as noted below Clerk to the Board - 90,000 County Attorney - 225,000 County Manager - 275,000 Tax Administrator - 150,000 Sheriff - 190,000 Register of Deeds - 132,000 Additional duties All elected officials and board appointees also eligible for July and October adjustments Allocate 104,000,000 for Johnston County Public Schools for current expense funding and 3,500,000 for capital outlay Approve RTZ tax rate at 8 cents 100 valuation Approve the Moccasin Creek Service District tax rate at 3 cents 100 valuation Delete 285,000 workforce development center debt payment from the general fund Allocate an additional 275,000 for the JCATs Quick Ride Program Allocate an additional 225,000 to Harbor Allocate 24,000 for the Smithfield Rescue Mission Allocate an additional 75,000 to Clayton Civitan Club Allocate 250,000 local match for state grant on Moccasin Creek project Allocate an additional 9,788 to North Carolina Forest Service 5 Emergency Services - Fire Insurance District Line Changes Resolutions adopted PageIn order to optimize insurance district coverage of two newly constructed fire stations Cleveland Fire Station # 3 and Princeton Fire Station # 2 , staff requests adoption of resolutions to relocate the Beulah , the Boon Hill , and the McLemore Fire Insurance District Boundaries per NCGS 153A - 233 This request will not affect the Johnston County Fire Protection Service District boundary or rate 6 Public Utilities - Lower Neuse Water Supply Proposed Preliminary Project Budget Request approved The County's previously adopted " 2024 Water and Sewer Capital Improvements Plan " includes a new water supply project The proposed Lower Neuse Supply will include a new intake on the Neuse Richardson Bridge Road , a water treatment plant located on County - owned property , utilization of the existing County - owned " abandoned " quarry and finished water mains from the new plant to the transmission system Furthermore , the County has received approval from NCDEQ - Division of Water Resources for the proposed withdrawal In order to proceed with preliminary planning for the project , staff issued a Request for Proposals for an Owner's Advisor for the project Stage 1 of the Owner's Advisor agreement will include project administration , permitting management , a project delivery plan , funding application support , preliminary engineering treatability study , site planning , reservoir modeling , routing alignment , basis of design report and preliminary stakeholder communications In addition to Stage 1 of the Owner's Advisor agreement , the preliminary project budget should include funds for initial technical studies environmental studies , geotechnical , etc and funding to support a United States Geological Survey USGS gauge near the proposed withdrawal location Neuse River Bridge at Richardson Bridge Road The installation of this gauge is required in order for the County to proceed with withdrawal from this location The preliminary proposed project budget is as follows Technical Services 850,00000 Total Project Cost 850,00000 Funding for the proposed project is as follows Water System Development Fees 850,00000 Total Project Funds 850,00000 Staff recommends approval of the proposed capital budget 7 Finance - Resolution Approving the Execution and Delivery of Up to 75,000,000 Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds of the County - Resolutions adopted Staff requests the Board to adopt a resolution approving the execution and delivery of up to 75,000,000 water and sewer revenue bonds of the County , requesting the Local Government Commission to sell the revenue bonds , and authorizing the execution and delivery of related documents in connection with the revenue bonds 8 Finance - Resolutions for 120,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds - Resolutions adopted Staff requests the Board to adopt the following resolutions relating to the November 5 , 2024 referendum for 120,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds 1 a resolution introducing the official Bond Order which describes the purpose and nature of the bonds ; and 2 a resolution calling a public hearing on the Bond Order for July 15 , 2024 and acknowledging the filing of a Sworn Statement of Debt and Statement of Disclosures for public inspection with the Clerk 9 Finance - Resolutions for 30,000,000 General Obligation Community College Bonds Resolutions adopted Staff requests the Board to adopt the following resolutions relating to the November 5 , 2024 referendum for 30,000,000 General Obligation Community College Bonds 1 a resolution introducingPagethe official Bond Order which describes the purpose and nature of the bonds ; and 2 a resolution calling a public hearing on the Bond Order for July 15 , 2024 and acknowledging the filing of a Sworn Statement of Debt and Statement of Disclosures for public inspection with the Clerk 10 Parks , Greenways and Open Space - Water Resources Development Grant Request approved The Parks and Open Space Program request approval to apply for the Water Resources Development Grant , which is due June 30th The NCDEQ - Division of Water Resources administers the grant and the funding will be used to construct a boat ramp , fishing dock , and parking area along Castleberry Road and NC - 42 in East Clayton NC Wildlife Resources Commission has agreed to engineer and construct the facilities and the expected completion is FY2026 The total project cost is 283,600 and the grant is a 50 match , which requires a commitment of 138,100 from open space funds Staff request approval to move forward with the grant and application process and adoption of the resolution for the grant 11 Discussion item and potential action on Cleveland High School expansion appropriation The Board approved appropriation for the Cleveland High School expansion 12 Manager Reports and Comments County Manager Rick Hester updated the Board on a call with the Local Government Commission regarding the upcoming bond referendum in November Mr Hester stated it went very well and he appreciated everyone that attended the call County Attorney Jennifer Slusser reported to the Board that Johnston County Public Utilities put out for bid the 210 Wastewater Treatment Expansion Project Ms Slusser stated NC Statute 143 - 129 requires 3 bids and only 2 bids were received Ms Slusser said the statute authorizes the use of electronic bidding and request approval from the Board to readvertise the 210 Wastewater Treatment Expansion Project electronically The Board approved the request 13 Board Reports and Comments Commissioner Richard D Braswell complimented the Johnston County employees Commissioner Braswell appreciated the transparency from the Johnston County Schools during the budget process and thanked Chairman Lawter and Vice Chairman Harris for their hard work Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris thanked everyone involved in the budget process Vice Chairman Harris echoed Commissioner Godwin's comments in that there are some parts of the budget he does not care for but for the good of the whole , we have to adopt the budget and move forward Vice Chairman Harris said the County is growing dramatically and he is proud of everyone involved and the county staff Commissioner Ted G Godwin mentioned the Hwy 301 Yard Sale this past weekend and how it has been good for the County Commissioner Godwin stated in regards to the budget , the Board did their best in trying to get the County what it needs , moving forward and addressing the needs without going overboard and wasting money Commissioner Bill Stovall stated he had the opportunity along with other board members to attend the Stephenson Delbridge Family farmland preservation celebration that was held by Triangle Land Conservancy Commissioner Stovall said Triangle Land Conservancy is an excellent organization and they have already reached their goal to preserve 50,000 acres by 2025 in six counties Commissioner Stovall said it is a good day when we preserve farmland in this county Commissioner April Stephens echoed comments in regards to the budget process and thanked the Board of Education for the information they provided at the last meeting 14 Closed Session was not requestedPage