January 6, 2024 - 10:00 AM - Board of Commissioners Highlights

10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING JANUARY 6 , 2025 - 10 00 AM Videos of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meetings may be viewed at the following https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc American Legion Post 518 Clayton led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda - Agenda approved 2 Consent Agenda Items - Consent agenda approved A Approval of Minutes – November 18 , 2024 6 00 pm ; December 2 , 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 Haystack Lane , Huntsbridge Drive SR 1803 and Silo Street – Avery Farm – Clayton Township Buckstone Place and Woodbard Cove – Barclay Farm – Pleasant Grove Township Weathervane Drive , Henhouse Court and Seedling Court – Harvest Creek – Phase 1 – O’Neals Township C Town of Benson – Appointments to Benson Planning Board and Board of Adjustment The Town of Benson is requesting the Board to make the following appointments to the Benson Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment representing the ETJ area of the Town Planning Board Kristy Southerland , 2615 NC Highway 242 North , Benson term expiring 12 31 2026 Mary Mlock , 109 Sunnybrook Circle , Benson term expiring 12 31 2026 Board of Adjustment Andrew Hughes , Jr , 193 Tarheel Landing Drive , Benson term expiring 12 31 2026 D Town of Clayton – Appointment to Clayton Planning Board and Board of Adjustment The Town of Clayton is requesting the Board to make the following appointments to the Clayton Planning Board and Board of Adjustment representing the ETJ area of the Town Planning Board Talmage Mark Hall , 100 Dove Court , Clayton term expiring 12 31 2027 Board of AdjustmentPageKaren Spicer , 1163 Brookhill Drive , Clayton term expiring 12 31 2027 E Human Resources – Sole Source Procurement The Human Resources Department currently utilizes NEOGOV software for job posting and recruitment activities The software platform offers additional features that will support the department in achieving a long - term objective of enhancing engagement between management and staff , as well as promoting process improvements This request meets the sole source criteria , as NEOGOV is the exclusive provider of this enterprise - wide software system , which is fully compatible with our current platform The proposed scope of work and quote have been negotiated and reviewed by IT staff , and funds are available within the budget for this procurement Staff request the Board’s approval of a sole source procurement with NEOGOV , a software management company This approval will facilitate a more efficient and streamlined process across recruitment , onboarding and performance management systems The total cost of the five - year subscription contract is 287,95060 F Budget Revisions Finance - 300,00000 – To appropriate the award and expenditure of a 300,000 NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Sciences StreamFlow Rehabilitation Program Grant awarded to the Johnston Soil & Water Conservation District for work in the Moccasin Creek Drainage District Health - 51,92500 – To budget Medicaid Cost Study Settlement Funds for FY 23 for Family Planning Library - 9,67000 – To budget Grant Funds to book and salary accounts to finish out the year Sheriff - 30,45284 – To budget revenue Insurance Recovery , Miscellaneous Revenue into appropriate expenditure line items G Tax Releases & Refunds – 11 16 2024 thru 12 15 2024 3 Public Comments The following individuals addressed the Board during Public Comment • Human Resources Director , Paulette Williams – recognized retiring employees Angela Yarbourough Human Resources and Brett Renfrow 911 • Ken Starling introduced new Airport Director , Dave Harris Tax Revaluation • Tax Administrator , Jocelyn Andrews • Mike Munden • John Long • James Peedin • James Kopp • Ricky Pope • Teresa Jernigan • Nick KerleyPage• Larry Wood • James Brown • Trina Parker • Maria Hubert Note Full comments can be viewed in the video from the meeting at the following link https wwwyoutubecom watch v TIIEkxmC7Pw 4 Finance – Budget Revision – Johnston County Public School Capital Projects 2022 Referendum Budget Revision Approved 30,000,00000 – To appropriate additional funds from the General Fund for Johnston County Public School capital projects 2022 referendum pending sale of general obligation school bonds in March 2025 These funds will be reimbursed to the General Fund at closing of the bonds to be sold in March 2025 5 Health Department – Resolution to Direct Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds Request approved The State of North Carolina requires that Countys governing body approve each year how Opioid Settlement funds will be spent ; with the organization coordinating such activities to be specific about the Strategies Programs that will be offered in the county and classifying how funds will be used for each program In the current fiscal year the Opioid Strategies Programs was approved with other budgets from Public Health to be effective July 1 , 2024 ; however , that did not meet the criteria of spelling out what strategies programs were being offered and the funds used to carry out those strategies programs This resolution specifically states the 7 strategies that are being coordinated in Johnston County in the current fiscal year along with the costs There is more work to be done for Strategy 7 to determine if all of these funds will be used and if so , how they will be used Once the decision is made , staff will present Strategy 7 with more detail to the Commissioners for approval Staff request the Board to approve the resolution See Resolution 6 Parks , Greenways & Open Space - East Coast Greenway Feasibility Study Adoption Request approved On December 2 , 2024 , McAdams Company presented the East Coast Greenway Smithfield to Benson Feasibility Study for the Commissioners review The Parks and Greenway program recommended adoption of the study to take advantage of section construction and improvements that can be included in larger NCDOT projects and town projects These inclusions could provide the county with substantial savings in future design and construction cost It was the consensus of the Board to review the plan for consideration of adoption at the January 6 , 2025 meeting 7 Parks , Greenways & Open Space – Carter Farm Conservation Easement Request approved The Board also approved a Water Resources Development Grant in the amount of 145,500 for a boat ramp project near Clayton Triangle Land Conservancy would like to request that the funding allocated for 50 acre Spring Branch Farm Conservation Easement be reallocated for the 62 acre Carter Farm Conservation Easement The initial allocation was 40,000 and was for transaction cost only Only 30,000 is needed for the transaction cost related to the Carter Farm Easement The owners of the Spring Branch Tract have decided not to proceed with the conservation easement at this time Staff request the Board’s approval to reallocate funding for the Carter Farm Conservation Easement Page8 Central Pines Regional Council - Informational item Central Pines Regional Council will provide a digital inclusion update to the Board 9 Interlocal Agreement Between the County of Johnston and the Town of Clayton Request approved The Town provides necessary public services for properties annexed in the Johnston County Research Training Zone and the Town does not receive ad valorem tax revenue for the properties annexed in this economic development and training district This agreement would provide partial compensation to the Town for providing necessary public services to properties located within the District and address future additions to the District in the RTZ Service Area Staff requests approval of an Interlocal Agreement with the Town of Clayton 10 Delinquent Tax Collection Report - Informational item 11 Manager Reports and Comments - None 12 Board Reports and Comments Commissioner Mike Rose reminded everyone the notices received from the Tax Office were tax revaluations and not bills Commissioner Rose asked the citizens to trust the Board to do their job to meet the needs of the County Commissioner Ted G Godwin explained the process from past years where the Board develops a budget , looks at the tax valuations and sets a tax rate Commissioner Godwin said the Board has been able to lower the rate four times in the last six years Commissioner Godwin stated he understands citizens attended the meetings with raw emotions and he hoped the citizens would realize the Board is not doubling taxes Commissioner Godwin also mentioned the Town of Micro has been in contact with the Department of Transportation regarding naming a bridge on I95 after Dr James Batten Commissioner Godwin said he would like the Board to provide a letter of support or Resolution for this effort Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris expanded on Commissioner Godwin’s comments Vice Chairman Harris reminded everyone the Board has lowered the tax rate eleven cents in the last five years Vice Chairman Harris said the tax rate is based on the needs of the county , is never based on property values and this is the first step in the process Vice Chairman Harris asked everyone to allow the Board go through the process and do their job and the end result would be pleasing to everyone Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr reported Johnston County Soil & Water Conservation had their second conservation easement closing on the Langston family farm Chairman Lawter said that is a reason to celebrate and thanked all involved in making it happen Chairman Lawter mentioned the Board would be meeting on January 16 and 17 for the Essentials of County Government at the Craven County Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern and on February 20 and 21 at the Work Force Development Center for their Strategic Planning Session PagePage pageNumber513 Closed Session – NCGS 14331811 a 3 – Attorney - Client Privilege and NCGS 14331811 a 5 – Acquisition of Property No action was taken Page