December 2, 2024 - 10:00 AM - Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

10 1542 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners December 2 , 2024 10 00 am The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday , December 2 , 2024 , at 10 00 am 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 , Ted G Godwin , April Stephens , Bill Stovall , Michelle Pace Davis and Mike Rose 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 10 00 am Commissioner Ted G Godwin opened the meeting with an invocation Marine Corps League Detachment 1236 of Johnston County 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 Chairman Lawter noted the Board would be reviewing these priorities at the upcoming Strategic Planning Session scheduled for February 20 and 21 , 2025 Chairman Lawter welcomed new Commissioners Michelle Pace Davis and Mike Rose to the Board 1 Organization of the Board Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris called on County Manager Rick Hester to conduct the nominations for Chairman of the Board Chairman of the Board County Manager Rick Hester called for nominations for Chairman of the Board Commissioner Ted G Godwin nominated Commissioner RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , seconded by Commissioner Patrick E Harris , to serve as Chairman There being no further nominations , the County Manager closed the nominations , and Commissioner Lawter was elected by acclamation to serve as Chairman for a one - year term Vice Chairman of the Board Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr called for nominations for Vice Chairman of the Board Commissioner Ted G Godwin nominated Commissioner Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner April Stephens , to serve as Vice Chairman There being no further nominations , the Chairman closed the nominations , and Commissioner Harris was elected by acclamation to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board for a one - year term 2 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 3 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 , including waivers in the length of service policy for appointments , as follows A Approval of Minutes – November 4 , 2024 - 10 00 am and 6 00 pm B Department of Transportation – Additions to SystemPage1543 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued The Board concurred with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s recommendation to add the following roads to the State Maintained System Shady Oaks Drive , Spruce Point Drive , Maddox Cove and Teakwood Circle – Spring Branch – Elevation Township Renaissance Drive , Monalisa Court , Fresco Drive and Davinci Drive – Popular Estates – O’Neals Township C Adoption of Regular Board Meetings for 2025 , as follows JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 2025 REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS Meeting Place - Johnston County Courthouse Commissioners Meeting Room 207 E Johnston Street , Smithfield , North Carolina January Monday , January 6 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Tuesday , January 21 , 2025 – 6 00 pm February Monday , February 3 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , February 17 , 2025 – 6 00 pm March Monday , March 3 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , March 17 , 2025 – 6 00 pm April Monday , April 7 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , April 21 , 2025 – 6 00 pm May Monday , May 5 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , May 19 , 2025 – 6 00 pm June Monday , June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm July Monday , July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm August Monday , August 4 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , August 18 , 2025 – 6 00 pm September Tuesday , September 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , September 15 , 2025 – 6 00 pm October Monday , October 6 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , October 20 , 2025 – 6 00 pm November Monday , November 3 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Monday , November 17 , 2025 – 6 00 pm December Monday , December 1 , 2025 – 10 00 am & 6 00 pm Page1544 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued D Approval of Public Officials ’ Bonds for the County , as follows Amount of Policy Position Official Name Bond Number Effective Dates 11 20 2018 - Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews 50,00000 107011815 Indefinite Social Services Director Christine Dowdell 55,00000 106950126 7 2 24 - 7 2 25 Sheriff Steve Bizzell 60,00000 3548642 12 07 22 - 12 07 26 Register of Deeds Craig Olive 60,00000 LSF220061 12 02 24 - 12 02 25 Blanket Bond All employees 50,00000 105806221 7 01 24 - 7 01 25 County Manager Rick J Hester 500,00000 105806221 7 01 24 - 7 01 25 Clerk to the Board Dana Cuddington 500,00000 105806221 12 01 24 - 12 01 25 Finance Officer J Chad McLamb 1,000,00000 105806221 7 01 24 - 7 01 25 Asst Finance Officer Tyson Radford 500,00000 105806221 7 01 24 - 7 01 25 Asst Finance Officer Martha Lasater 500,00000 105806221 12 01 24 - 12 01 25 Economic Dev Director Chris Johnson 100,00000 105806221 7 01 24 - 7 01 25 E Town of Kenly – Appointment to Kenly Planning Board Per a request by the Town of Kenly , the Board made the following appointment to the Kenly Planning Board representing the ETJ area of the Town Kristen Kirby , 1982 NC 222 E , Kenly term expiring on 2 28 2026 F Sheriff’s Office – Request to Surplus Vehicles and Equipment and Schedule Public Auction Per the request of Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell , the Board declared the following vehicles and equipment surplus and approved for them to be auctioned online to the public by Wester Auction Company Wester Auction Company has agreed to conduct this live online auction beginning at 6 00 pm on Sunday , January 12 , 2025 Year Make Model VIN Mileage 1 2016 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT3GH303674 130,486 2 2016 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT3GH303657 131,762 3 2018 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT1JH210742 129,913 4 2018 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT8JH210754 131,153 5 2018 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT2JH210748 130,201 6 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT5KH568315 117,833 7 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXATXKH568309 131,948 8 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT4KH568306 130,253 9 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT8KH568308 130,161 10 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT5KH568301 133,128 11 2016 Grasshopper Lawn Mower SN 6611930 12 2012 Honda 4 - Wheeler SN 1HFTE38H1C4003308 13 2012 Honda 4 - Wheeler SN 1HFTE38H0C4003252 NOTES Item # 11 was purchased with funds received from the NC Department of Revenue , and proceeds from the sale of this equipment must be credited back to the appropriate revenue line item in the Sheriff’s Office budget 1051007414 Items # 12 and # 13 were purchased with federal forfeiture funds , and proceeds from the sale of these items must be credited back to the appropriate revenue line item in the Sheriff’s Office budget 1051007418 G Approval of Contract Amendment - Rebranding Phase 2 - ImplementationPage1545 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued The Board approved a contract amendment with Engine , Inc for Phase 2 of the rebranding process at a cost of 59,500 The contractor will assist with a variety of design , marketing , print , production , and writing jobs that will be critical in accurately establishing the brand across departments H Confirm Designation of Child Fatality Prevention Team Community Child Protection Team and Future Local Team The NC Child Fatality Prevention System is a statewide multi - disciplinary system that was developed in the 1990 s consisting of the North Carolina Child Fatality Prevention Team , North Carolina Child Fatality Task force and local teams CFPTs and CCPTs Passed in 2023 , changes to the law via the 2023 Appropriations Act now requires all Board of County Commissioners to determine if the local team proceeds as a single or multi - county team Per the request of staff , the Board confirmed and approved Johnston Countys continuation and designation as a single county team , and adopted the following resolution confirming the designation of Child Fatality Prevention Team Community Child Protection Team CFPT CCPT and Future Local Team as a single county team RESOLUTION OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CONFIRMING SINGLE COUNTY TEAMS WHEREAS , the NC Child Fatality Prevention System is a statewide multi - disciplinary system that was developed in the 1990 ’ s consisting of the North Carolina Child Fatality Prevention Team , North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force and local teams CFPTs and CCPTs ; and WHEREAS , NCGS 7B Article 14 defines the membership composition of CCPTs and CFPTs , statutorily required to represent disciplines among the community , as well as the responsibilities and duties of the local CFPT to review resident county child fatalities , assess potential gaps in systems and policies that may have contributed to the deaths , and make recommendations to policy makers to improve local and statewide systems to better protect children and prevent future deaths ; and WHEREAS , passed in 2023 , changes to the law via the 2023 Appropriations Act [ Section 9H 15 of Session Law 2023 - 124 ] now require all Boards of County Commissioners to determine if the local team proceeds as a single or multicounty team ; and WHEREAS , the Health Director of Johnston County Public Health and the DSS Director recommend that Johnston County continue as a single county team NOW THEREFORE , the Johnston County Board of Commissioners hereby declares that Johnston County should continue under the single county team model and confirms and approves that Johnston County shall continue under the single county team operational model nd Adopted this the 2 day of December , 2024 I Appointments , approved as follows with waivers in the length of service policy where needed Livestock Arena Management Board – Gracie Wells Chamblee , Ron Hughes , Sammy Wayne Lee and Leslie Averill were reappointed for two year terms to expire on December 31 , 2026 and all received a waiver in the length of service policy Art Pittman was appointed for a two year term to expire on December 31 , 2026 Moccasin Creek Service District Board – Debra Heuertz was appointed to fill an unexpired term ending October 31 , 2025 and representing the rural area of the district Nursing Home Adult Care Home Community Advisory Board – Glenda Apple , Florence Burrell , Renee Zais , Elena Marie Dodson and Catherine McCormick were appointed for three year terms to expire on December 31 , 2027 PagePage pageNumber51546 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Research and Training Zone Advisory Committee – Brian Stoker was reappointed for a three year term to expire on December 31 , 2027 J Budget Revisions , approved as follows Social Services REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 61001400 Travel 4249 10 61001900 General Assistance 3,71705 10 61004515 Program Expense 2,91752 10 61006380 LINKS 10900 10 61054500 Contract Services 3534 10 61101909 Crisis 31456 10 61401902 State County General Assistance 7,37700 10 61401906 State Foster Care 1,75000 10 61451906 State Foster Care 1,75000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 18,01296 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 610034123 Social Services Administration 18,01296 TOTAL NET REVENUE 18,01296 Jail REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 52000411 Professional Service Hospital 43202 10 52003205 Food & Provisions 65957 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 1,09159 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 520033099 Miscellaneous Revenue 1,09159 TOTAL NET REVENUE 1,09159 Sheriff REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 51001700 Vehicles 10,07887 10 51004300 Special Services 15500 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 10,23387 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 510032509 Insurance Recovery 9,62632 10 510033099 Miscellaneous Revenue 59755 10 510035104 Sheriff Fees 1000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 10,23387 K Tax Releases & Refunds – 10 16 2024 – 11 15 2024 Real Personal Property Releases TRANS DATE TIME USER YR BILL # ACCT # TAXPAYER NAME AMOUNT 10 17 2024 7 51 14 AM ALassiter 2024 - 200645 2000272535 RISK ASSUMPTION LLC 5,30145 10 17 2024 7 55 43 AM ALassiter 2024 - 200644 2000272529 R & G AVIATION LLC 12,91950 10 17 2024 7 57 34 AM ALassiter 2024 - 200858 2000274283 PADRON , JUAN 30642PagePage pageNumber61547 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued 10 21 2024 9 44 01 AM dwoodward2 2024 - 132457 2000234406 STRICKLAND HINTON , LLC 56700 11 8 2024 9 41 56 AM ALassiter 2024 - 132630 2000266602 FARMER , KENNETH EDWARD 11486 11 8 2024 9 57 05 AM ALassiter 2024 - 97462 2000196564 SAVAGE , JERRY LEE 41343 11 8 2024 9 58 25 AM ALassiter 2024 - 131623 2000260853 KNIGHT , TAYLOR ALEXANDRIA 34261 11 8 2024 10 33 16 AM ALassiter 2024 - 130940 2000264286 ALTAGRACIA , JUAN CARLOS 15930 LORENZO 11 8 2024 10 57 14 AM ALassiter 2024 - 65010 2000097435 LCNC JOHNSTON COUNTY 4,65352 11 12 2024 12 38 49 PM ALassiter 2024 - 800117 2000167825 NEUROLOGY & PAIN MGMT 13,60250 CENTER 11 12 2024 12 41 16 PM ALassiter 2024 - 800118 2000167825 NEUROLOGY & PAIN MGMT 4,02827 CENTER 11 12 2024 12 43 55 PM ALassiter 2024 - 800119 2000167825 NEUROLOGY & PAIN MGMT 3,48812 CENTER 11 12 2024 12 45 22 PM ALassiter 2024 - 800120 2000167825 NEUROLOGY & PAIN MGMT 3,43211 CENTER 11 12 2024 12 46 47 PM ALassiter 2024 - 800121 2000167825 NEUROLOGY & PAIN MGMT 6,08210 CENTER 11 14 2024 3 54 10 PM ALassiter 2024 - 800141 2000203895 ISA CONSTRUCTION INC 97976 11 14 2024 3 55 58 PM ALassiter 2024 - 800140 2000203895 ISA CONSTRUCTION INC 1,42836 Real Personal Property Refunds TRANS DATE TIME USER YR BILL # ACCT # TAXPAYER NAME AMOUNT 10 16 2024 3 11 32 PM awstancil 2024 - 119505 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 51452 10 16 2024 3 13 12 PM awstancil 2024 - 119636 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 14 36 PM awstancil 2024 - 119640 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 15 52 PM awstancil 2024 - 119643 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 17 02 PM awstancil 2024 - 119696 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 18 22 PM awstancil 2024 - 119697 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 19 28 PM awstancil 2024 - 119699 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 20 35 PM awstancil 2024 - 119700 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 21 48 PM awstancil 2024 - 119712 2000207147 C & B DEVELOPMENT , LLC 35550 10 16 2024 3 22 56 PM awstancil 2024 - 119770 2000254039 BANKS , KATHRYN IUELE 35550 10 16 2024 3 24 01 PM awstancil 2024 - 120557 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 44550 10 16 2024 3 25 02 PM awstancil 2024 - 123748 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 17253 10 16 2024 3 26 05 PM awstancil 2024 - 123749 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 44550 10 16 2024 3 27 14 PM awstancil 2024 - 123751 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 42671 10 16 2024 3 28 22 PM awstancil 2024 - 129293 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 29 27 PM awstancil 2024 - 129294 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 35550 10 16 2024 3 30 38 PM awstancil 2024 - 129295 2000207147 C & B DEVELOPMENT , LLC 35550 10 16 2024 3 32 29 PM awstancil 2024 - 54274 2000262241 GREAT SOUTHERN HOMES , INC 1,03267 10 22 2024 2 41 17 PM LOCKBOX 2024 - 38770 2000253967 BARWICK , YOGI GROFF 2,07478 10 23 2024 2 47 19 PM LOCKBOX 2024 - 32 2000120792 1953 COMPANY LLC 1,33070 10 23 2024 2 47 19 PM LOCKBOX 2024 - 15127 2000028732 BUZZELL , DAVID ALAN 2,05749 11 1 2024 10 41 08 AM awstancil 2023 - 34022 2000247901 DNB AUTOMOTIVE INC 20222 11 1 2024 11 33 10 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 115448 2000188932 GOLDEN PROPERTIES AND 48600 DEVELOPMENT , INC 11 5 2024 11 40 41 AM LRTA 2024 - 111895 2000185748 ALVAR NC LLC 1,85344 11 5 2024 11 40 41 AM LRTA 2024 - 2492 2000186723 ALVARNC LLC 1,89718 11 7 2024 2 01 40 PM jmorrow 2024 - 33486 2000200349 FLORES - PRADO , URIEL 40000 11 7 2024 2 04 46 PM jmorrow 2024 - 60598 2000218266 ACOSTA , GUSTAVO SAUCEDO 2,09288 11 8 2024 2 06 36 PM tmeacomes 2024 - 18315 2000259687 BUCHANAN , THOMAS GENE JR 18687 11 12 2024 2 36 06 PM ajsoutherland 2024 - 49729 2000162304 JOHNSON , ELSIE M LIFE ESTATE 15700 11 15 2024 11 11 12 AM LRTA 2024 - 34032 2000229098 RHODES , AMY 1,20552 11 15 2024 2 56 19 PM LOCKBOX 2024 - 87353 2000194270 SHARHAN , JAMIL M 1,30070 North Carolina Vehicle Tax System - Pending Refund Report – October 2024 100 + Payee Name Bill # Transaction Refund Total Change # Reason BOYETTE , 0080696082 431710732 Situs error 000 TIFFANY 35089 8618 38167 LEE , LETITIA 0080396662 428905520 Situs error 000 DELANO 14136 2976 4712 15872PagePage pageNumber71548 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued MASSENGILL , 0080615465 215386752 Adjustment THOMAS 14449 EARL JR 3020 17469 ORMOND , 0080146180 429580344 Situs error 000 BENJAMIN 19041 EARL 4677 6347 20711 PENNY , 0080271247 214975680 Adjustment 32965 ERNEST 6888 DURWOOD JR 39853 SHERMAN , 0080438252 429165168 Situs error 000 BRYAN 9274 PHILLIP 2278 3091 10087 STEVENS , 0078357945 215386404 Adjustment 9477 KENT 1304 10781 SWANN , 0080549617 431171872 Situs error 000 AMAYA 9492 RENEE 2498 3164 10158 WADE , 0080407905 429049704 Situs error 000 MADISON 9234 ELIZABETH 1620 3078 10692 4 Public Comments A Recognition of Retiring County Employees Human Resources Benefits Manager Taylor Ingersoll recognized the following retiring County employees Deborah Sharp , EMS Bernadett Elliott , DSS B Email Received – Archie and Pamela Roberts Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr recognized an email received from Archie and Pamela Roberts commending the Board of Commissioners for their commitment to Johnston County and for continuing to place the citizens , businesses , and schools as a priority 5 Johnston County 911 Communications – Public Safety Paging Project County Manager Rick Hester commended the Board for acknowledging the six priorities before every meeting as it is important to the work of the County He stated this agenda item falls into the Public Safety priority He noted this project has been discussed in the past and if the Board chooses to approve the request , there are some existing funds that can be allocated to the project 911 Communications Director Brett Renfrow requested the Board to consider allocating funds for the immediate upgrade of the County’s emergency paging system used for notifying first responders of emergency calls in the County Mr Renfrow explained that the purpose is to increase efficiency in the notification of emergency personnel to calls with a significantly lower notification timeframe , eliminate tone mixing accidental activations , and allow responders to have the ability to monitor channels on the P25 800mhz radioPagePage pageNumber81549 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued system Mr Renfrow stated when the new Public Safety Center was constructed , staff was able to go ahead and install the necessary infrastructure through grant funds from the North Carolina 911 Board He stated now the first responders in the field need different equipment in order to complete the upgrade Mr Renfrow stated currently Johnston County maintains two radio systems , one being a VHF system which is a one - way notification to the first responders in the field and incorporates all of the fire services , EMS , Forestry , and other responders He stated that system is running on VHF paging technology which is a one - way conversation and it is now time to begin moving away from this outdated technology to the new 800mhz radio system which is a two - way system He also reported that over 150,000 would be saved each year with the new technology Mr Renfrow continued that the current notification system is 30 seconds versus 5 seconds with the new equipment and it would also eliminate tone mixing or accidental activations which are a liability Mr Renfrow stated the standard is P25 800mhz and this would put Johnston County in a very good position for the future This project meets the Florida Sheriff’s Association Purchasing Contract that has been used on past projects for competitive pricing and purchasing guidelines Staff reported the total request for the Board’s consideration is a not to exceed amount of 917,11188 to cover the cost of the entire project , as follows Actual projected cost 917,11188 911 Budgeted FY Funds 150,00000 Project costs minus budgeted funds 767,11188 Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris noted there were discussions about this project during the budget preparations ; however , the technology was not quite ready at that time to move forward Vice Chairman Harris expressed his support for the project stating it would really improve the notification capabilities for all of the public safety services and he applauded Mr Renfrow and his staff’s efforts Upon a question by Commissioner Mike Rose , Mr Renfrow stated this project would not affect the law enforcement side at all He stated every fire department and the EMS system will be issued new equipment because the County is changing the method of how those agencies are being notified so the equipment must change with that implementation Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr noted this item also aligns with the Financial Stewardship priority of the Board He stated it is another example of how the departments and employees look for opportunities to save money Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked if everyone in Public Safety was familiar with the change Mr Renfrow responded this project was a group effort and included participation by Emergency Services Director Kevin Hubbard and the Fire Marshal’s Division Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the request to allocate funds not to exceed the amount of 917,11188 for the cost of upgrading the emergency paging system 6 Cooperative Extension – NC Tobacco Trust Fund Grants – “ Adding Value to Feeder Cattle ” and “ JoCo Grows Ag Literacy ” Cooperative Extension Director Bryant Spivey stated he and his staff look forward to working with the new Board Mr Spivey requested the Board to accept two grants from the Tobacco Trust Fund , the first being a grant in the amount of 31,10696 to purchase portable cattle handling equipment The equipment will be available to area cattle producers at low rental cost and use of this equipment will improve the health and efficiency of beef cattle herds while adding value to feeder calves and ensuring the safety of workers engaged in the management of beef cattle Cooperative Extension will additionally implement a feeder calf preconditioning program to provide technical assistance , training , and records assistance to producers of beef cattle He introduced Extension Agents Dan Wells and Nicole Youngblood for more information Mr Wells reported there are 327 farms in the County that have beef cattle , and 275 of those have less than 50 heads He stated with the smaller farms especially , it can be cumbersome for them to afford the equipment that is necessary to administer health protocols to the calves that increase their value He stated there are approximately 6,200 brood cows in the County that would potentially have a calf each year and it would greatly improve the market by providing this equipment at a low cost to cow producers PagePage pageNumber91550 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked about additional cattle equipment that may be available Mr Wells indicated that Soil and Water Conservation also provides some cattle equipment He stated Cooperative Extension previously had equipment , but this grant would provide more cost effective equipment Ms Youngblood addressed the Board regarding the JoCo Grows Ag Literacy Program She explained the goal of the program is to reach 10,000 youth in grades K – 5 , through the JoCo Grows Junior Extension Agent Adventure Guide She stated this is similar to the Junior Ranger Program through the National Parks Service and it is important for youth to be aware of where their food comes from and to understand the importance of agriculture Ms Youngblood stated teachers can use the curriculum if they choose and there are STEM activities associated with the program that already align with some of their lessons She spoke about Temple Grandin who is a Livestock Professor with autism that teaches students they can accomplish anything they are determined to do Ms Youngblood stated less than 2 of the population are actively farming , so it is important to educate the public about agriculture and farming Ms Youngblood continued that the original work on the application was for 79,900 , and it is expected that a grant will be received for 40,000 She stated although the program would not be fully funded in the beginning , there would be enough to get started with printing and distributing booklets along with supplies to classrooms as well as individual families outside of the classroom Ms Youngblood requested the Board to accept a grant in the amount of 40,000 for the project and offered to answer any questions She noted staff is trying to find other sources to make up the cost difference At the inquiry of Commissioner Godwin , Ms Youngblood stated the booklets will include segments about agriculture , food and nutrition , and 4H Youth Development She stated Johnston County has a strong 4H program , middle and high school agriculture curriculums , and several FFA chapters She stated this is a great way to introduce agriculture to K - 5 students At the inquiry of Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Ms Youngblood stated staff submitted an application for 79,900 , but was approved for 40,000 She stated staff is working to try and find other ways to come up with the difference Ms Youngblood stated the next round of available funding would be December 2025 Chairman Lawter stated it is a Board decision ; however , he would not have an issue with providing the difference so the project would be fully funded Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris commended the staff’s efforts noting the targeted age group is a pivotal age Vice Chairman Harris stated he also supports funding the difference for program Chairman Lawter spoke on the importance of not only preserving farmland but also educating others for the future of farming Chairman Lawter noted Johnston County Cooperative Extension ranks at the top in North Carolina and he thanked Mr Spivey and his staff for all their work Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board moved to accept the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Grants in the amount of 31,10696 for the “ Adding Value to Feeder Cattle ” and 40,00000 for the “ JoCo Grows Ag Literacy ” program and to allocate funds to make up the difference to complete the 79,900 needed for the literacy program Mr Spivey thanked the Board for their support Mr Spivey commended Mr Wells and Ms Youngblood for their work 7 Johnston County Fire Marshal – Johnston County Fire Service Apparatus Policy Request Johnston County Fire Marshal Ryan Parker introduced Cleveland Fire Department Chief Chris Ellington who is also the Chairman of the Johnston County Fire Commission to provide a background of a draft policy as it relates to the purchase of fire apparatus Mr Parker also noted that Deputy Fire Marshal Jordan Piper was available for questions as he has been instrumental in the workings of the Fire Commission Chief Ellington explained the goal of the Fire Service Apparatus Policy is for it to be a replacement plan for the County’s fire services ; however , there first needs to be a good foundation He stated as it is now , fire departments come forward with purchases on an at - will basis and the Fire Commission wanted to create somePage01551 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued kind of order to that process Chief Ellington stated fire departments will submit information and allow for time to review that information , the needs , and financing He stated the draft policy outlines that process and going forward requests will be made on a quarterly basis instead of throughout the year Chief Ellington stated the Commissioners were sent a copy of the draft policy and he highlighted various points , as follows Page11552 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Chief Ellington offered to answer any questions by the Board Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris commended the Fire Commission and the Fire Marshal’s Office stating there has been a lot of effort placed into this process Vice Chairman Harris stated having worked in the firePage21553 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued service industry for over thirty years , he has watched this evolve into a fantastic process and he believes Johnston County is making history Vice Chairman Harris stated once the evolution is complete , he believes the process will become data driven so that things are being done in accordance with what is in the citizens ’ best interest Chief Ellington stated other counties are looking at what Johnston County is doing with the tax district , policies , and the way business is being conducted He noted Johnston County has also been meeting with Forsyth County regarding their processes to share information Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr recognized Deputy Fire Marshal Jordan Piper for all his work with the Fire Commission and the various committees Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the Johnston County Fire Service Apparatus Policy as presented 8 Parks , Greenways & Open Space - East Coast Greenway Feasibility Study Parks , Greenways , and Open Space Director Adrian O’Neal explained there are two State trails going through Johnston County with one being the East Coast Greenway which is a State and national trail Mr O’Neal stated a feasibility study was done previously that went from the Wake County line to Smithfield which was for both the East Coast Greenway and the Mountains to Sea Trail He stated today’s feasibility study presentation will cover the area from Smithfield to the Harnett County line He stated the McAdams Company will be presenting that information today He introduced Joel Strickland and Zach Hallock with McAdams for today’s presentation Mr O’Neal stated staff will eventually ask for the Board to adopt the study because once it has been adopted , for any Department of Transportation projects that occur in an area that includes part of the trail , the Department of Transportation will then build that portion of the trail which is a cost savings to the County Mr Joel Strickland , McAdams Transportation Planning Practice Lead , stated the Feasibility Study looked at the Smithfield to Benson route for completing that segment of the East Coast Greenway He stated the East Coast Greenway is a 3,000 mile trail network stretching from Main to Florida and it is important for Johnston County to be involved Mr Strickland presented the following information to the Board Page31554 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage41555 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Mr Zachary Hallock , McAdams Transportation Planner Engineer , reviewed the following information with the Board Page51556 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage61557 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage71558 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage81559 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Mr Strickland outlined the community engagement plan , as follows Page91560 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Mr Strickland reviewed the schedule of community and stakeholders meetings with the Board that included municipal partners , the North Carolina Department of Transportation , Johnston County Public Schools , the North Carolina Rail Division , and all of the trail partners He stated public meetings were held within the three municipalities involved for this route which include Benson , Four Oaks , and Smithfield He noted a lot of good feedback was received at these meetings Mr Strickland also shared information with the Board as to their online engagement through surveys He stated a lot of feedback was received from people who moved to Johnston County from up north and would like to see more amenities within this area Mr Hallock shared the evaluation criteria with the Board , as follows Page01561 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage11562 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Mr Hallock shared design guidance , design plans , and examples of signage , lighting , and branding Mr Hallock also shared cost information with the Board , as follows Mr Strickland shared funding resources with the Board and he noted that working with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Upper Coastal Plains Rural Planning Organization will be instrumental in getting the trail built Page21563 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage31564 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Mr Strickland concluded the presentation by sharing a suggested action plan as well as maintenance recommendations for the Board to consider Upon a question by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , Mr Hallock stated conveyance of property would be determined on a case - by - case basis in accordance with what the property owner prefers He stated the area is large and it is difficult to determine at this point , but willing property owners would be optimal He stated the majority of the landowners did not want the route to come through their property so they had to tweak the route Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr stated he is pleased that this project is moving forward in conjunction with the County’s update of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan He thanked the team for all their work Mr O’Neal stated imminent domain cannot be used for any of the trail because it is a State trail He explained that for the trail to be identified and designated as a State trail , imminent domain cannot be used Mr O’Neal spoke on the importance of listening to the landowners and the intent for their properties Mr O’Neal stated a news release on trails has been discussed and he hopes it will be released soon that would share the positives of a trail He stated the next step would be to present this plan to the three affected towns over the next couple of months Mr O’Neal stated he would like the Board to consider what has been presented and stated the intent is to have something adopted that will help secure grants He indicated Johnston County is uniquely situated to be one of the last places to be a part of the trail and the State is very interested in Johnston County for the East Coast Greenway as well as the Mountains to Sea Trail so he believes there is a good chance of grant funding Mr O’Neal stated feedback from the Board would be welcomed and adoption of the plan by the end of January would be helpful Chairman Lawter commented that since there are new Board members , it would be helpful to allow them to review this information before a decision Commissioner Bill Stovall asked if there was a consistent reason by landowners as to why they do not want trails on their lands Mr O’Neal responded that the perception of crime and perception of private property laws were concerns of landowners Mr O’Neal stated in their research across the nation , they do not see these issues as being consistent Chairman Lawter thanked Mr O’Neal and the McAdams Company and indicated this item would be placed on the first meeting in January for further consideration 9 Public Utilities – Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility CJCRWWTF Preliminary Treatment Facility Improvements Project Utilities Director Chandra Farmer , PE , stated her next three items relate to the American Rescue Plan Act funding that was designated for water and sewer projects She stated these funds are required to be encumbered by the end of 2024 and staff wants to make sure those funds are fully utilized Page41565 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer reported in February 2024 , the Board awarded the construction contract for the Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility CJCRWWTF Preliminary Treatment Facility Improvements Project to Dellinger , Inc and adopted a capital project budget She stated in August 2024 , staff identified a necessary emergency repair to the main influent line to the plant The failure required piping and manhole replacement on the influent main In order to make extensive repairs , bypass pumping was required to send influent into the plant and prevent sewer overflows Ms Farmer stated staff proposes revisions to the existing Capital Project Budget to fund the necessary repairs , as follows Existing Proposed Expense Construction Phase – Technical Services 766,80000 150,00000 Construction Dellinger , Inc 9,741,09200 9,741,09200 Emergency Repair and By - Pass Pumping Influent 000 950,00000 Contingency 487,10800 187,10800 Total 10,995,00000 11,028,20000 Revenue County ARPA Funding 3,500,00000 3,533,20000 2023 State Appropriations Funding 7,495,00000 7,495,00000 Total 10,995,00000 11,028,20000 Ms Farmer stated staff recommends approval of the revised capital project budget and capital project ordinance Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the revised capital project budget as presented and adopted the capital project ordinance as follows CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE FOR THE CENTRAL JOHNSTON COUNTY REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY PRELIMINARY TREATMENT FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners the “ Board ” of the County of Johnston , North Carolina the “ County ” , that pursuant to Section 132 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina , the following capital project ordinance is hereby adopted Section 1 The project authorized is the Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Preliminary Treatment Facility Improvements Project the “ Project ” The Project includes replacement of fine screens in the influent structure , new screenings conveyor , new screenings compactor , replacement of slide gates in the screenings wetwell , new grit removal facility with classifier and relocation of electrical and process piping in the vicinity of the new grit removal facility The Project is to be financed by a portion of the County’s Water & Wastewater Directed Funding through the 2023 State of NC Appropriations Act the “ 2023 State Appropriations Act Funding ” , and an appropriation from the County’s American Rescue Plan Act – Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds “ ARPA ” Section 2 The officers of the County are hereby directed to proceed with the capital Project within the terms of the 2023 State Appropriations Act Funding and the ARPA , applicable State and federal regulations and the budget contained herein Section 3 The following amounts are appropriated for the Project Technical Services 150,000 Construction 10,691,092 Contingency 187,108 Total 11,028,200 Section 4 The following revenues are anticipated to be available to complete this Project Page51566 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued 2023 State Appropriations Act Funding 7,495,000 ARPA Funds 3,533,200 Total 11,028,200 Section 5 The Director of Finance is hereby directed to maintain within the Capital Project Fund sufficient specific detailed accounting records to satisfy State and federal regulations , and the terms of the 2023 State Appropriations Act Funding and the ARPA Funds shall be met Section 6 Funds may be advanced from Fund 68 for the purpose of making payments as due Reimbursement requests from the 2023 State Appropriations Act Funding and from ARPA Funds will be requested in an orderly and timely manner Section 7 The Director of Finance is hereby directed to report annually on the financial status of each Project element in Section 3 and the total revenue received Section 8 Copies of this capital project ordinance shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners , the Budget Officer and the Director of Finance for direction in carrying out this Project Amended this 2nd day of December , 2024 10 Public Utilities – 210 WWTF Diversion Projects – Proposed Capital Project Budget Revision Utilities Director Chandra Farmer , PE , reported the Board of Commissioners previously approved a capital project budget ordinance for the 210 Wastewater Treatment Facility Diversion Projects She stated this capital fund includes several projects to facilitate flow diversion to the 210 Wastewater Treatment Facility WWTF The project includes a leachate diversion force main , diversion of flow from Whitley Heights WWPS to Swift Creek Road , a gravity sewer main diversion to abandon Cleveland K - 5 WWPS and the Eastfield Wastewater Facilities Reimbursement Agreement diverts flow from Selma and Pine Level Ms Farmer stated staff proposes a budget revision to fund a portion of the project Landfill Leachate Diversion with remaining ARPA funds and include the Girsberger Diversion Project in the capital fund She presented the proposed revised project budget , as follows Existing Proposed Construction 1,803,35718 2,410,35718 Cleveland K - 5 WWPS Abandonment 66,52148 66,52148 Landfill Leachate Diversion Project 871,13000 871,13000 Whitley Heights Diversion Project 865,70570 865,70570 Girsberger Diversion Project Future 000 607,00000 Developer Reimbursement Eastfield Agreement 4,028,43900 4,028,43900 Reimbursement for Flow Diversion of Selma PS # 3 262,33600 262,33600 Technical Services 16,00000 16,00000 Easements 10,00000 10,00000 Contingency 87,00000 87,00000 Cost of Revenue Bond Issuance 49,52338 49,52338 Total Project Cost 6,256,65556 6,863,65556 Funding for the proposed project is as follows Sewer SDF Reserve Fund 500,00000 235,87000 ARPA Funds 000 871,13000 Water Sewer Revenue Bonds 5,653,58956 5,653,58956 Private Development Contribution for Whitley Heights Upsize 103,06600 103,06600 Total Project Funds 6,256,65556 6,863,65556 Ms Farmer stated staff recommends approval of the revised capital project budget and adoption of the capital project ordinance Upon a motion by Commissioner April Stephens , seconded by Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the revised capital project budget as presented and adopted the following capital project ordinance Page61567 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE FOR THE 210 WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIVERSION PROJECTS BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners the “ Board ” of the County of Johnston , North Carolina the “ County ” , that pursuant to Section 132 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina , the following capital project ordinance is hereby adopted Section 1 The project authorized is the 210 Wastewater Treatment Facility Diversion Projects the “ Project ” The Project will facilitate flow diversion to the 210 Wastewater Treatment Facility and includes a force main to divert Johnston County Landfill leachate , diversion of flow from Whitley Heights Wastewater Pump Station to Swift Creek Road , a gravity sewer main to abandon the Cleveland K - 5 Wastewater Pump Station , and the Eastfield Wastewater Facilities Reimbursement Agreement which includes flow diversion The Project is to be financed by a portion of the County’s Water and Sewer System Revenue Bonds , Series 2023 the “ 2023 Revenue Bonds , an appropriation from the Wastewater System Development Fees Reserve Fund , a private development contribution , and an appropriation from the County’s American Rescue Plan Act – Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds “ ARPA ” Section 2 The officers of the County are hereby directed to proceed with the capital Project within the terms of the Revenue Bond Order , the Master Trust Indenture and the Second Supplemental Trust Agreement authorizing and securing the 2023 Revenue Bonds collectively the “ Revenue Bond Documents , the ARPA , applicable State and federal regulations and the budget contained herein Section 3 The following amounts are appropriated for the Project Technical Services 16,00000 Construction 2,410,35718 Easements 10,00000 Contingency 87,00000 Reimbursement for Selma Regional WWPS & Force Main 4,028,43900 Reimbursement for Flow Diversion of Selma PS # 3 262,33600 Costs of Issuance 49,52338 Total 6,863,65556 Section 4 The following revenues are anticipated to be available to complete this Project 2023 Revenue Bonds 5,653,58956 Private Development Contribution 103,06600 ARPA Funds 871,13000 Wastewater SDF Reserve Fund 235,87000 Total 6,863,65556 Section 5 The Director of Finance is hereby directed to maintain within the Capital Project Fund sufficient specific detailed accounting records to satisfy State and federal regulations and the terms of the Revenue Bond Documents and the ARPA shall be met Section 6 Funds may be advanced from Fund 68 for the purpose of making payments as due Reimbursement requests from the 2023 Revenue Bonds trustee and invested 2023 Revenue Bonds proceeds and ARPA funds will be requested in an orderly and timely manner Section 7 The Director of Finance is hereby directed to report annually on the financial status of each Project element in Section 3 and the total revenue received Section 8 Copies of this capital project ordinance shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners , the Budget Officer and the Director of Finance for direction in carrying out this Project Amended this 2nd day of December , 2024 Page71568 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued 11 Public Utilities – Lower Neuse Water Supply – Proposed Capital Project Budget Revision Utilities Director Chandra Farmer , PE , stated in June 2024 the Board of Commissioners adopted a Capital Project Budget for the Lower Neuse Water Supply project , which includes 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 The initial budget includes preliminary planning for the project with the Owner’s Advisor and funding to support a United States Geological Survey USGS gauge on the Neuse River at Richardson Bridge Road She explained the Owner’s Advisor will assist the County with issuing Requests for Proposals and negotiating the guaranteed maximum price GMP for the design - build portions of the project Ms Farmer stated staff proposes an updated project budget to include the Owner’s Advisor services through the GMP negotiation and further design , planning and permitting Furthermore , the staff proposes funding a portion of the project with remaining ARPA funds She indicated the memorandum with the Town of Clayton was for Stage One through the end of a preliminary phase that had an obligation of 500,000 She stated this assumes that the Town of Clayton would have additional stages and contribute additional funding ; however , if they fail to do so , then the County would pay that through the County’s System Development Fees Ms Farmer presented the following proposed revised project budget Existing Proposed Technical Services 850,00000 5,217,00000 Total Project Cost 850,00000 5,217,00000 Funding for the proposed project is as follows ARPA Funds 000 1,503,00000 Town of Clayton 000 2,608,50000 Water System Development Fees 850,00000 1,105,50000 Total Project Funds 850,00000 5,217,00000 Previously approved MOA with Town of Clayton commits approximately 500,000 If the Town does not commit to additional stages of the project , the County will fund the 2,108,500 with water system development fees Ms Farmer stated staff recommends approval of the proposed revised capital project budget and adoption of the capital project budget ordinance Commissioner April Stephens asked about the time frame for the Town of Clayton for Phase 2 Ms Farmer stated the negotiation for the next phase of the agreement would begin in early 2025 Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner April Stephens , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the revised project budget as presented and adopted the following capital project ordinance CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE FOR THE LOWER NEUSE WATER SUPPLY PROJECT BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners the “ Board ” of the County of Johnston , North Carolina the “ County ” , that pursuant to Section 132 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina , the following capital project ordinance is hereby adopted Section 1 The project authorized is the Lower Neuse Water Supply Project the “ Project ” The Project includes a new intake on the Neuse River Richardson Bridge Road , a new 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 The Project is to be financed by a contribution from the Town of Clayton , an appropriation from the County’s American Rescue Plan Act – Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds “ ARPA ” , and an appropriation from the Water System Development Fees Capital Reserve Fund the “ Water SDF Reserve Fund ” Section 2 The officers of the County are hereby directed to proceed with the capital Project within the terms of the ARPA , applicable State and federal regulations and the budget contained herein Section 3 The following amounts are appropriated for the Project Page81569 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Technical Services 5,217,000 Section 4 The following revenues are anticipated to be available to complete this Project ARPA Funds 1,503,000 Town of Clayton 2,608,500 Water SDF Reserve Funds 1,105,500 Total 5,217,000 Section 5 The Director of Finance is hereby directed to maintain within the Capital Project Fund sufficient specific detailed accounting records to satisfy State and federal regulations , and the terms of the ARPA shall be met Section 6 Funds may be advanced from Fund 67 for the purpose of making payments as due Reimbursement requests from the ARPA Funds will be requested in an orderly and timely manner Section 7 The Director of Finance is hereby directed to report annually on the financial status of each Project element in Section 3 and the total revenue received Section 8 Copies of this capital project ordinance shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners , the Budget Officer and the Director of Finance for direction in carrying out this Project Adopted this 2nd day of December , 2024 12 Public Utilities – Proposed Amendment No 1 to Memorandum of Understanding Between NCDOT , USFWS , and Johnston County Utilities Director Chandra Farmer , PE , explained that Johnston County entered into a Memorandum of Understanding MOU with the North Carolina Department of Transportation NCDOT and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service USFWS in 2005 She reported the 2005 MOU expanded the previously established Environmentally Sensitive Area ESA and contained additional provisions to ensure the implementation of environmental protection measures for development within the ESA The ESA includes the Little Creek , Swift Creek , White Oak Creek and portions of the Little River watersheds She stated the requirements within these watersheds are intended to protect the endangered species in these areas , in accordance with the Endangered Species Act Ms Farmer stated staff is proposing revisions to the County Stormwater Management Ordinance , which will address common concerns for stormwater management associated with new development and include revisions to meet the updated Neuse Rules She stated the proposed modifications are somewhat inconsistent with the existing MOU ; therefore , County staff consulted with USFWS and NCDOT to propose an amendment to the original MOU Ms Farmer presented the following proposed amendments to the MOU • New residential developments not served by public sewer shall be designed with a minimum impervious area of 6,000 square feet per lot • In the ESA , new residential development shall attenuate stormwater runoff for all potential storm events between the 1 year through 100 - year storm events • For the Middle Creek watershed , new residential development shall attenuate stormwater runoff for all potential storm events between the 1 year through 100 - year storm events • Elimination of the Land Dedication Program Ms Farmer stated these measures would protect the environment and meet the original intent of the agreement by requiring more strenuous attenuation measures for development She stated currently the County’s Stormwater Ordinance requires attenuation of a one - year 24 - hour storm , which is a minimal requirement when considering new development and so much impervious area being added throughout the County She stated in this agreement in those environmentally sensitive areas and in the Middle Creek watershed , it would require attenuation through a 100 year storm event She stated the payments under the Land Dedication Program would be eliminated , but measures would be implemented and put in place on the ground at the development stage attenuation that would handle the additional impervious area Ms Farmer stated it is important to note that this would protect the current and future citizens from downstream flooding issues from new development Ms Farmer stated this would improve measures for building and improving property and staff expects thePage91570 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Stormwater Management Ordinance to be brought back to the Board in early 2025 Ms Farmer noted one stakeholder’s meeting has been held and another will be held with the development community in January 2025 Commissioner Ted G Godwin noted that in recent years FEMA has changed their flood maps and he asked if this has impacts on the designated ESA Ms Farmer responded it does to some extent She stated in the ESA , the County’s ordinance prohibits any development in a 100 - year flood plain Commissioner Bill Stovall questioned the first bullet stating “ New residential developments not served by public sewer shall be designed with a minimum impervious area of 6,000 square feet per lot ” and asked how the term “ minimum ” applies Ms Farmer responded this is the criteria staff is looking at in trying to ensure future property owners have sufficient impervious area to develop their property Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr stated there are exceptions for things such as when the homeowner would like to extend their driveway or build a swimming pool Ms Farmer stated many times new homes take all the allocated impervious area to build the actual home on the property and this restricts the homeowner when they decide to improve the home in future years Chairman Lawter asked for a description of the Middle Creek Watershed Ms Farmer responded the Middle Creek Watershed would be the central western portion of the County such as the McGees Crossroads and Highway 210 area back towards Smithfield Ms Farmer stated the Little Creek , Little River , and Swift Creek watersheds are already in the ESA along with Middle Creek Commissioner April Stephens asked Ms Farmer to expand on the Land Dedication Program and asked what would happen if the funds go away Ms Farmer explained for commercial and residential development there is a certain percentage that if exceeded , the developer then has to pay to the County a certain amount based on how much they exceed their percentage of actual impervious area She stated the purchase is based on a per acre fee that the developer pays to the County Land Dedication Fund Ms Farmer reported the County has used these funds for some of the Triangle Land Conservancy projects She noted there have been developers that have attempted their own conservation easements Ms Farmer stated nearly 200,000 from the Land Dedication Fund has been spent since the program was put in place in the late 1990s when the original Stormwater Ordinance was established Upon a question by Commissioner Stephens , Ms Farmer stated this would not go into effect until there is follow up with the stormwater ordinance adoption Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the Amendment No 1 to the “ Memorandum of Understanding Between the North Carolina Department of Transportation , The United States Fish and Wildlife Service , and the County of Johnston , North Carolina Commissioner Stovall stated when the stormwater retention and runoff characteristics are modified , there is a cost impact that will drive up the cost of individual family homes He stated that is counterintuitive to the General Assembly discussion about revoking the zoning authority from all 100 counties and forcing low - cost housing in areas that local governments have indicated are not appropriate He stated the homebuilders ’ lobby is strong in North Carolina , and there may be pushback on this rule change , but he hopes the Board will stand strong because this change needed Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated he has lived on the Neuse River for over 20 years and much of what occurs in Smithfield is the result of what happens in Wake County in that when water is released out of the dams , Smithfield and those downstream see the outcome He asked if there is a regional approach to addressing some of these issues with surrounding counties Ms Farmer responded the State and the US Army Corp of Engineers along with FEMA have looked at several flood studies on a regional basis when looking at the basin as a whole , particularly the Neuse RiverPage01571 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Basin , although she does not know if any regional projects have been identified Ms Farmer stated she feels this action is the best thing Johnston County can do for now in the short - term to protect the citizens here Chairman Lawter commented that this is an issue he could bring up to the Central Pines Regional Council 13 Brightspeed Broadband Update Brightspeed Director of State Government Affairs Steve Brewer shared the following map with the Board Mr Brewer stated the blue dots are part of the GREAT Grant Award and there were 3,925 that were awarded He stated those have a contractual completion date of December 31 , 2025 He stated a small number are open for sale today , and approximately 3,200 are in the design stage Mr Brewer stated the design stage is the stage where all of the addresses are identified and the appropriate fiber route is determined He stated once that is completed it is then handed off to a local engineer who is familiar with the area to validate all of the work that has been done and commence with ordering equipment necessary to complete the project He stated in early 2025 this will be turned over to the construction team Mr Brewer continued that the service being delivered is a fiber based product that will take fiber to the home or business , and customers will be able to immediately subscribe to speeds of at least one gigabyte He stated it would be symmetrical in that the same speed could be obtained going in and out of the home He noted the speed coming into the home allows for consumption of more products and more smart products on the home network Mr Brewer stated Corning , based in North Carolina , is the fiber provider and they have advised that the network is capable of carrying up to 10 gigabytes symmetrical He stated a future proof product is being constructed and it should be completed at the end of next year Mr Brewer stated the yellow dots on the map are locations that are eligible for future grant projects He stated those are locations throughout the County that do not currently have access to the Federal Government’s definition of broadband services He reported the State of North Carolina just opened the Completing Access to Broadband grants with upwards of 280 million in grants that will be awarded in the first quarter of 2025 He stated the North Carolina Department of Information Technology will begin administering the program referred to as BEAD that is a federally funded grant program He stated there are 15 billion in funds available in the BEAD program Mr Brewer stated Johnston County should be able to obtain universal coverage through all this grant funding Page11572 December 2 , 2024 – 10 00 am Continued Commissioner Bill Stovall stated he does not have Brightspeed service , but he knows customers with that service and he has learned that the maintenance of the network is inferior to those customers He spoke of a specific situation where a customer has applied for upgrades twice and was denied Commissioner Stovall asked what is being done to maintain the existing network for those customers He stated there should be a discounted rate for inadequate service Mr Brewer responded this is most likely a situation where the customer is a significant distance away from the serving equipment He stated the grant programs are designed to enable providers to be able to invest in fiber and the ultimate solution is to exclusively transition to fiber He stated fiber is actively being built in the cities and rural areas largely by using broadband grants He noted the State’s 17 billion programs will allow fiber coverage to be extended to areas that otherwise it would be uneconomical to extend to He stated there are instances where the companies manufacturing the old copper network are no longer manufacturing and this is why it is so important to transition to fiber as quickly as possible Mr Brewer acknowledged that it can be frustrating for the customers that are experiencing slower service Commissioner Stovall asked if