June 3, 2024 - 10:00 AM - Board of Commissioners Regular Highlights

10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING JUNE 3 , 2024 - 10 00 AM Videos of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meetings may be viewed at the following https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc American Legion Post 132 Smithfield led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag Chairman RS " Butch " Lawter , Jr mentioned the passing of Deputy County Attorney Jennifer O'Connor and asked everyone to remember her family in their prayers 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda - Agenda approved 2 Consent Agenda Items - Consent Agenda approved removing Item D for discussion and remove Johnston Community College Board of Trustees Appointment under Item H to the July 15th meeting A Approval of Minutes - May 6 , 2024 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 Wolf Ridge Court - Wolf Ridge - Pleasant Grove Township Courrone Court - Jackson Springs - Pleasant Grove Township Winter Red Way - Holly Brook - Pleasant Grove Township Aylebury Ridge and Anstridge Lane - Arbor Plantation - O'Neals Township C Finance - Approval of Audit Contract for Year Ending June 30 , 2024 The County's current auditors , Thompson , Price , Scott , Adams & Co , have submitted a proposed contract to audit the records of Johnston County for the year ending June 30 , 2024 Their fee is proposed at 86,500 Staff is requesting the Board to approve entering into the contract with Thompson , Price , Scott , Adams & Co to audit the records of Johnston County for year ending June 30 , 2024 D Exercise Option to Purchase - Removed from consent for discussion under Manager Comment On February 19 , 2024 , the Board of Commissioners entered into a Memorandum of Option Agreement and Option to Purchase for property identified as Parcel ID Number 15L11014A Since that time due diligence has been completed The option is set to expire June 30 , 2024 If the option is exercised and the terms and conditions of the sale are met , the transaction is required to close on or before August 30 , 2024 Staff requests the Board's approval to exercise the Option to Purchase E Celebrate Cleveland Committee - Request for Temporary Road Closure The Celebrate Cleveland Committee is requesting the Board's approval to temporarily close Cleveland Road on July 4 , 2024 from 10 00 am until approximately 10 45 am for the annualPageCleveland July 4th Parade route The Celebrate Cleveland Committee is working with the NC Department of Transportation , the Johnston County Sheriff's Office , and the North Carolina Highway Patrol concerning the temporary closure and will be obtaining all required permits and a liability insurance policy for the event The NC Department of Transportation requires the approval by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners as part of the permit process F Minutes Transcription Services Contract Extension In October 2021 , the Board approved a contract for minutes transcription services Staff requests the Board to approve an extension of the contract through June 30 , 2025 There are no changes to the terms of the contract as approved in October 2021 G Budget Revisions • Finance - 983,00000 Motor Vehicle Tax and 5,501,00000 Tax Districts - To budget additional tax revenues • Heritage Center - 26,83200 - To budget monies with the department to cover ordinary business expenses • Jail - 1,35598 - To move revenues into appropriate expenditure line items • Sheriff - 26,00996 - To move revenues into appropriate expenditure line items H Appointments • Johnston Community College Board of Trustees - 1 position ; 4 year terms Randall Randy A Davis has applied for appointment Moved to the July 15th agenda • Board of Equalization and Review - 2 positions ; 4 year terms One position representing each of the following County Commissioner Districts - District 6 and District 7 Joseph Warta has applied for appointment representing District 7 • Local Emergency Planning Commission - 14 positions 2 and 1 year terms to create staggered terms 8 positions ; 2 year terms Applicants must represent one of the following areas of interest Law Enforcement City , County or State ; Emergency Medical Services EMT , Field Person ; Emergency Management ; Fire Captain or above ; Transportation Trucking Industry , School , Railroad , Evacuation or DOT ; Facilities Covered Facility , Private Sector and or Public Sector ; and Agriculture In Extension Service indicates the need for a waiver in the length of service policy Emergency Medical Services EMT , Field Person 1 position available - Joshua Holloman has applied for reappointment Fire Captain or above 1 position available - Paul Whitehurst has applied for reappointment Transportation Trucking Industry , School , Railroad , Evacuation of DOT 1 position available - William Gerald Fowler has applied for reappointment 6 positions ; 1 year term Applicants must represent one of the following areas of interest Health Public , local or state government ; Environmental Professional , local or state government or other Environmental Official ; Hospital Administrator ; Media ; CommunityPageGroups Citizen Group or Private Community Group ; and Other indicates the need for a waiver in the length of service policy Health Public , local or state government 1 position available - Steve Strickland has applied for reappointment Media 1 position available - Beth Stewart has applied for reappointment Other 1 position available - Stephen Brinchek has applied for reappointment • Veteran's Services Advisory Board - 1 position ; 3 year terms John T Blake has applied for appointment representing at - large position • Voluntary Agricultural District Advisory Board - 3 positions ; 3 year terms Cookie Pope has applied for reappointment I Tax Releases & Refunds - 4 16 2024 - 05 15 2024 3 Public Comments The following individuals addressed the Board during Public Comment • John Jarecki - Down Home North Carolina • Kelly Blanchard - Latinos Activate JOCO Note Full comments can be viewed in the video from the meeting at the following link https wwwyoutubecom watch v 4cS - 0 - 91Stw 4 Public Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 Johnston County Proposed Budget The County Manager requested the Budget Message to be included in the minutes for the record The following individuals groups addressed the Board for the public hearing JCATS , NC Forest Service , and Clayton Civitan Club Following the public hearing , the Chairman announced the meetings to discuss and consider adoption of the Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 County Budget as follows ? Monday , June 10 , 2024 at 6 00 pm Special Meeting for budget discussions ? Monday , June 17 , 2024 at 6 00 pm Regular mid - month meeting to include anticipated budget adoption as part of the agenda Meetings to be held in the Commissioners Meeting Room at the Johnston County Courthouse in Smithfield Pursuant to NCGS § 159 - 12 , the Johnston County Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on the proposed 2024 - 2025 County Budget The purpose of the Public Hearing is for the County Manager to present the proposed budget and solicit public comment A copy of the proposed budget has been submitted to the Board and is available in the Office of the Clerk to the Board for public inspection The Office of the Clerk to the Board is located at the Johnston County Courthouse , 207 E Johnston Street , Smithfield , North Carolina 27577 , Room B - 206 The proposed budget can also be downloaded at the following link https wwwjohnstonnccom files board FY24 - 25_completeproposedbudgetpdf 5 Department of Social Services - Proclamation for Elder Abuse Awareness Day Proclamation Adopted The Department of Social Services requests the Board to adopt a proclamation for Elder Abuse Awareness Day as June 15 , 2024 Page6 Finance - Resolutions for 2024 General Obligation Bond Referendum The Board discussed the 2024 General Obligation Bond Referendum at the 6 00 pm meeting Staff requests the Board to adopt two sets of resolutions four resolutions total relating to the proposed General Obligation School Bond and General Obligation Community College Bond referenda For each bond purpose there is 1 a resolution authorizing staff to proceed with the filing of an application with the NC Local Government Commission , authorizing publication of a Notice of Intent to file the application , and making certain findings related to the bonds ; and 2 a resolution declaring official intent to reimburse expenditures with proceeds of debt , which is a US Department of Treasury regulation if expenditures made prior to the referenda need to be reimbursed later from the proceeds The Board will need to discuss and consider the amounts of the resolutions 7 Appointments • Library Board of Trustees - 1 position ; 3 year terms Sherri Yerk - Zwickl and Amy Stanley have applied for appointment Amy Stanley was appointed • Local Emergency Planning Commission - 1 position ; 1 year term to create staggered terms Environmental Professional , local or state government or other Environmental Official 1 position available Todd Ramsey and John Phillips have applied for reappointment Todd Ramsey was reappointed Community Groups Citizen Group or Private Community Group 1 position available Adam Stanley and Marie Rogers have applied for reappointment Marie Rogers was reappointed 8 Delinquent Tax Collection Report - Informational Item 9 Manager Reports and Comments County Attorney Jennifer Slusser brought to the Board for consideration an Exercise of an Option to Purchase agreement for property referred to as the Massey Tract which is adjacent and across the street from the Public Safety Center and Detention Center Ms Slusser stated this parcel is approximately 8622 acres with a purchase price of 49,500 per acre and the deadline to exercise the option is June 30 , 2024 After concerns from Commissioner Ted G Godwin regarding the Option to Purchase , the Board approved the request 10 Board Reports and Comments Commissioner Richard D Braswell commended the employees and staff of Johnston County and the excellent job of the County Manager PagePage pageNumber5Commissioner Ted G Godwin mentioned the ribbon cutting at Cleveland Fire Department Station No 3 Commissioner Godwin said it was dedicated to Rudolph Wells and commended Cleveland in all they are doing Commissioner Bill Stovall stated he agreed in principle with Commissioner Godwin's comments on the Massey Tract land purchase , but recognizes the County needs that land and he would like to see a little more due diligence in the future Commissioner Stovall said he also attended the dedication ceremony for the Cleveland Firehouse and it is a very nice facility and a good standard to meet the needs of the County moving forward Commissioner April Stephens agreed with Commissioner Stovall's comments on the Cleveland Fire Station and said she is glad to see that area grow and be protected Chairman RS " Butch " Lawter , Jr stated the Cleveland ceremony was a great community event that was well attended 11 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 NCGS 14331811 a 6 - Personnel was postponed to the 6pm meeting No action was taken Page