June 16, 2025 - 6:00 PM - Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

10 340 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners June 16 , 2025 6 00 pm The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday , June 16 , 2025 at 6 00 pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room , Johnston County Courthouse Annex , Smithfield , North Carolina The following members were present Present Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , 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 G Cuddington , and Executive Assistant Deputy Clerk Susie Reeves Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr called the meeting to order at 6 00 pm Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis opened the meeting with an invocation Commissioner Ted G Godwin led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag Chairman Lawter reminded everyone of the Board’s six priorities including Public Safety , Infrastructure , County Employees , Financial Stewardship , Educational Funding , and Land Use and the Board’s continuing efforts to keep these priorities in mind when working through the agenda and especially during the budget process 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis , and carried unanimously , the Board approved the agenda adding Northside Fire and Rescue - Request to Purchase Land after Agenda Item No 4 Brightspeed Update 2 Consent Agenda Items Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the consent agenda items as follows A Approval of Minutes – May 19 , 2025 6 00 pm B Planning and Zoning – Proposed Road Name Change Ordinance The Board adopted the following ordinance for the new service road naming located on the south side of US Hwy 70 from its intersection with Wilsons Mills Road , southeast for approximately 052 mile , the extension of Sadisco Road southeast approximately 25 miles , the extension of Wilsons Mills Road from its intersection with Gordon Road northwest approximately 1 mile , and Wilsons Mills Road Extension on the north side of US Hwy 70 southeast approximately 14 miles , in the unincorporated area of Johnston County ORDINANCE NAMING MULTIPLE SERVICE ROADS AND EXTENSIONS OF ROADS LOCATED ON EITHER SIDE OF US70 HWY IN THE WILSON’S MILLS AREA FROM THE US 70 BUS & US 70 BYPASS INTERCHANGE TO THE NEUSE RIVER WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF JOHNSTON COUNTY WHEREAS , the current US 70 HWY will be renamed as a result of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Interstate 42 conversion project ; WHEREAS , the project required the creation of new service roads and the extension of existing roads along the US 70 corridor in the Wilson’s Mills area ; WHEREAS , road names are needed to enhance safety and emergency response , and the service roads within the unincorporated area of Johnston County are to be named Sadisco Road , Wilson’s Mills Road , Wilson’s Mills Road Extension and Middle Branch Road , see attached Exhibit A ; WHEREAS , the proposed road names do not pose any address range or road name duplication issues ; andPage341 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued WHEREAS , pursuant to the provisions of NCGS § 153A - 2391 , and Chapter 18 – Section 18 - 52 of the Johnston County Code of Ordinances , at least ten 10 days prior to conducting the public hearing to name the said road segments , Johnston County caused a notice of the time , place , and subject matter of the hearing on this proposed road naming to be prominently posted at the Johnston County Courthouse and in at least two public places in the township where the road is located , and to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Johnston County ; WHEREAS , a public hearing was held on Monday , May 19 , 2025 at 6 00 pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room , Johnston County Courthouse , 207 E Johnston Street , Smithfield , NC 27577 ; NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT ORDAINED , by the Johnston County Board of County Commissioners , after providing notice and conducting a public hearing as required by law , that the road segments as described herein , within the unincorporated area of Johnston County , as further identified on the attached map are hereby named Sadisco Road , Wilson’s Mills Road , Wilson’s Mills Road Extension and Middle Branch Road BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED , that after naming these road segments , Johnston County shall cause notice of this action to be given to the local Postmaster with jurisdiction over said roads , to the NC Board of Transportation , and to any municipality within five miles of the said roads as required by law ; and BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED , that this Ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption th Adopted this the 16 day of June , 2025 C Call for Public Hearing – Johnston County Water and Wastewater System Development Fee Study In accordance with North Carolina General Statutes , Chapter 162A , Article 8 , Johnston County contracted with Willdan Financial Services to perform a Water and Wastewater System Development Fee Study for Fiscal Year 2026 The study is currently available for public review on the Johnston County Public Utilities website In accordance with the NCGS , the Board of Commissioners scheduled a public hearing to allow for public comment on this topic to be held during the Board’s regular July 21 , 2025 at 10 00 am meeting Page342 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued D Call for Public Hearing – Johnston County Land Development Code Stormwater Management Ordinance Staff has hosted stakeholders ’ meetings and worked with the Legal Department for proposed revisions to the County’s Stormwater Management Ordinance The proposed revisions have been made available for public review on the Public Utilities website Per the request of staff , the Board scheduled a public hearing to allow for public comment on proposed modifications to Article VII – Stormwater Management of the “ Johnston County Land Development Code ” to be held during the Board’s regular meeting on August 4 , 2025 at 10 00 am E Building and Grounds – Asset Management Software In March of 2025 , one of the Board’s work session priorities was to develop a facilities asset inventory and management plan In furtherance of this plan , staff reviewed various service and platform options Staff recommends Brightly Software , Inc , through Omnia Partners a cooperative group purchasing organization Contract Number R210702 , for facilities management software and solutions The total initial investment for these services is 151,69488 , with additional yearly cloud and managed services subscription expenses Funds are available in the current budget for this acquisition Per the request of staff , the Board approved the acquisition of facilities management software and solutions from Brightly Software , Inc in the amount of 151,69488 , with additional yearly cloud and managed services subscription expenses F Budget Revisions , approved as follows Health REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 59207400 Capital Outlay 30,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 30,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 592034154 Medicaid 30,00000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 30,00000 Jail REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 52000411 Professional Service Hospital 46405 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 46405 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 520033099 Miscellaneous Revenue 46405 46405 TOTAL NET REVENUE Social Services REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 28 61656155 Trust Disbursements 60,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 60,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 28 616533990 Fund Balance Appropriated 60,00000 60,00000 TOTAL NET REVENUE Sheriff REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE Page343 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued 10 51003350 Supplies – Special – Sheriff 5000 10 51007400 Capital Outlay 30,40965 10 51007414 Capital Outlay – Sheriff 2813 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 30,48778 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 510032106 Controlled Substance Tax 2813 10 510032509 Insurance Recovery 30,40965 10 510033099 Miscellaneous Revenue 5000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 30,48778 3 Public Comments A Citizen Comments – Ben Chapman Ben Chapman , Clayton , addressed the Board and shared copies of a proclamation adopted by the Town of Clayton for the month of June Mr Chapman read from the following statement B Citizen Comments – Crystal Britton – Down Home North Carolina Crystal Britton , Selma , representing Down Home North Carolina – Johnston County Chapter , addressed the Board Ms Britton stated many low - income families and seniors are facing barriers to accessing fresh and affordable food in Johnston County She stated in 2002 approximately 29,000 individuals , or about 11 of the Countys population was affected Ms Britton stated Johnston County Public Schools Nutrition Services th launched their first summer feeding program on June 5 at Smithfield Middle School and over 33,500 meals were served within six hours She noted the registration for meals is now closed and many families in need have missed these meals due to a lack of transportation , awareness , or a lack of County assistance PagePage pageNumber5344 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Ms Britton continued that one out of five children in North Carolina do not know where their next meal th will come from She stated as of 2021 , North Carolina ranks 10 in the nation for food insecurity which is defined as being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food She stated currently there are no farmers markets in Johnston County that accept SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits Ms Britton stated changes can occur by bringing the necessary equipment and programming to one of the markets and implementing the Double Bucks programs by the end of the year She stated this initiative doubles the purchasing power of SNAP dollars at farms or farmers markets through a dollar - to - dollar match , helping families afford more fresh food while supporting local farms and boosting the Countys economy Ms Britton stated Down Home North Carolina has held several meetings with Commissioners to address these issues and to gauge interest in this campaign She stated their request for funding has been denied and they believe it is crucial to again ask for inclusion in the upcoming budget Ms Britton spoke on the importance of their request stating no one should face hunger 4 Brightspeed – Update to the Board Steve Brewer , Director of Governmental Affairs for Brightspeed , addressed the Board to provide an update on the progress of fiber builds in the County Mr Brewer reviewed information with the Board regarding fiber that Brightspeed has built or is currently in the process of building He noted this information does not include the fiber locations acquired when Brightspeed assumed control of assets in October 2022 , nor the remaining eligible locations in the County He stated the term remaining eligible refers to locations that are still grant - eligible He stated the following map of Johnston County represents Brightspeeds footprint within the County , which has been served for decades by the acquired assets He stated Brightspeed is now looking to expand service outside of this footprint and plans to do so in the near future He noted the white swath running north to south in the center of the County may also be covered soon Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr asked if the white swath area is currently covered by another provider Mr Brewer stated there is another provider , likely AT & T , currently serving that area He stated the large tan area in the center and southeast of the map indicates low grounds where Brightspeed does not have fiber assets Mr Brewer stated each dot on the map has a distinct meaning He stated there are 3,925 green dots that represent locations served by Brightspeed through the GREAT Grant , a program funded by the American Rescue Plan and administered by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology He stated as of right now , 574 of these locations are open for sale , with the remaining locations coming online by year - end or early next quarter He noted that quarterly updates are provided to the County Manager’s office through Brightspeed’s internal broadband office PagePage pageNumber6345 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Mr Brewer continued that CAB 20 , administered by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology , lists 1,439 locations , as of recent announcements yellow dots , and an additional award of approximately 200 locations for another provider within the last seven to ten days , concluding these awards He stated these locations are projected to be online by the end of 2026 with construction expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2026 Mr Brewer explained the red dots indicate locations that will be receiving fiber through private investment funds , totaling just over 35,000 He noted there are no grant awards associated with these locations and within the 35,000 , approximately 17,714 are already open for sale Mr Brewer reported there are two statuses not represented on the map ; one being the fiber acquired when assets were purchased and the other are the remaining eligible locations He stated as of the last CAB 20 grant awards for Johnston County , approximately 4,300 locations remain eligible for broadband grants and eligibility is determined by the lack of service of 100 by 20 , meaning 100 megabits per second incoming and 20 megabits per second outgoing He stated the fiber being built will serve all the dots shown and is able to provide up to 2,000 megabits per second in both directions due to its symmetrical nature Mr Brewer stated these remaining 4,300 locations will be eligible for the Broadband Equity , Access , and Deployment BEAD program Mr Brewer reported that recently , the National Telecommunications and Information Administration NTIA , an agency within the US Department of Commerce that administers the Federal grant programs , issued a compressed schedule He noted the program is carried out by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology for North Carolina which is currently in the process of publishing a map that will include all eligible areas in North Carolina He noted that specifically , a Johnston County map will be released , detailing approximately 4,300 locations that remain eligible for the grant program and once this mapping is completed , the process will be opened to all providers He stated Brightspeed anticipates grant announcements will be made th sometime around September 4 of this year Mr Brewer stated after the North Carolina Department of Information Technology issues these preliminary awards , approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will be required and they have committed to providing those approvals or requesting revisions by the end of the year Mr Brewer stated the goal is to establish a plan that promises universal service , meaning every eligible location will get access to a minimum service level of 100 Mbps download by 20 Mbps upload by the end of this year He stated it is expected that the BEAD program will involve an approximate 24 - month buildout period for the remaining locations once contracts are signed He stated the 4,300 eligible locations may be awarded to multiple providers and could include various technologies He noted as part of the BEAD program they anticipate some locations will be served by fixed wireless or satellite solutions He stated as a fiber provider , Brightspeed aims to serve as many of these locations as possible with fiber , given their belief in the advantages of fiber technology Commissioner Mike Rose noted the award letter stated the average cost per location is 2,234 for each customer connection He asked if this fully covers the cost or if Brightspeed contributes additional funds Mr Brewer responded that Brightspeed does contribute additional funds as part of the grant programs , and the amounts vary from grant to grant He stated all broadband grant providers contribute based on a funding formula , which can cause the percentage to vary by grant and county He explained the BEAD program requires a minimum 25 investment by the provider He stated the upcoming program for the remaining 4,300 locations will require at least a 25 investment He stated there will be some exceptions because some areas have extremely high costs , defined as locations where grant funds can cover a higher percentage He reported in North Carolina , some areas could cost as much as 50,000 to 100,000 to install fiber and in such cases , alternative technologies may be the most efficient use of funds Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked for clarification on whether fiber will be available by the end of this year in specific areas or across the entire County Commissioner Godwin noted some areas , like his community , have been without for a while and he asked if there is a way to provide feedback or input about how areas have been consistently overlooked to ensure they are not missed in the future Mr Brewer stated by the end of this year , there should be an approved award for all locations within the County He stated this means that either these areas are already served by fiber or there is funding in place to provide fiber to them Mr Brewer stated assuming the BEAD program includes a 24 - month build requirement , universal coverage could be achieved by the end of 2026 Mr Brewer stated the BEAD program aims to achieve universal coverage , so theoretically , communities like Commissioner Godwin’s area should be included in this program He stated the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has established a th compressed schedule requiring states to announce awards by September 4 ; therefore , the North Carolina Department of Information Technology needs to make awards by this date , so his location should be included Mr Brewer noted that there may be locations in the State where providers choose not to bid and in those casesPagePage pageNumber7346 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued the North Carolina Department of Information Technology has the ability to negotiate with providers to address these gaps He stated if certain locations are overlooked , they can negotiate with the provider deemed most suitable to serve these areas Mr Brewer noted that fixed wireless and satellite will play a role , although he is not an expert in those areas He stated Brightspeed is solely a fiber company , so he cannot detail how they will serve high - cost locations , but some areas will need alternative technologies to fiber He stated by the end of this year there should be a plan for universal coverage in Johnston County Upon a question by Chairman Lawter , Mr Brewer stated about 35,000 locations funded by private investment will come online this year He stated the GREAT Grant program , shown as green dots on the map , will be mostly delivered by year - end or early next year and the yellow dots indicate areas with a completion deadline of year - end 2026 Commissioner April Stephens asked how homeowners would know when broadband is coming to their area Mr Brewer stated homeowners can check if fiber is available in their area via the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s broadband status map website He stated homeowners can enter their address to learn if they are already served , meet the federal definition of broadband at 100 by 20 Mbps , or if there has been a grant award for service Chairman Lawter asked the Public Information Office staff to get the word out to citizens regarding the broadband status map website Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis asked for an explanation of the fiber service provider being different from the telephone service provider Mr Brewer explained that Brightspeed has acquired existing assets that date back to the days of Carolina Telephone , essentially making Brightspeed the local telephone company in some areas He stated most landline phones today use the old copper network He stated as Brightspeed builds out the 35,000 locations , they will start offering what they call “ plain old telephone service ” POTS while transitioning the current landline customers to a more reliable product He stated with new technology , Brightspeed will be able to detect issues before customers notice them , and eventually the old copper network will be retired Commissioner Davis commented there have been issues where some Brightspeed customers have been unable to dial 911 due to disrupted landline services and she hopes this will be improved soon Mr Brewer stated Brightspeed is working on new and improved phone lines as the fiber network is expanded He stated as construction progresses Brightspeed will start transitioning customers Commissioner Stephens referenced an email she received from a citizen in Benson where the internet has been out for over a week in their community She stated since Brightspeed is one of the main providers , these citizens are concerned Mr Brewer asked for Commissioner Stephens to provide the address of the internet outage to County Manager Rick Hester so he can forward that information to him for investigation Chairman Lawter thanked Mr Brewer for the update and stated additional updates would be scheduled in the next three to four months 5 North Side Fire and Rescue – Request to Purchase Land Emergency Services Director Ryan Parker explained that North Side Fire and Rescue was established in 2022 when the Archer Lodge and Thanksgiving Fire Departments successfully merged He stated shortly thereafter , North Side Chief Phillip Driver approached him about the need to evaluate locations for future fire stations as planning for the future continues Mr Parker reported several sites were evaluated during this process in 2023 He stated they have identified a 96 - acre tract of land that is being subdivided and North Side Fire and Rescue would like to purchase a 22 acre lot from that site He stated the tract is being divided into four different sub - tracts , with the 22 - acre lot being ready for building , including sewer and water , for a new fire station if approved by the Board He shared an aerial of the site with the Board , as follows PagePage pageNumber8347 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Mr Parker shared the following map with the Board showing population densities based on NFDA 1720 which is the deployment of fire suppression operations to the public by volunteer fire departments He stated this data aids staff in visualizing effective response forces and has been utilized by the Fire Commission He noted the map highlights the area around the Flowers Crossroads where North Side plans to serve with a future fire station He stated the Archer Lodge and Thanksgiving Stations as well as Clayton Fire Station # 2 are around this area ; however , this is one of Johnston Countys most densely populated areas and is approximately 50 built out according to approved housing plans He stated as the population density increases the area will become even more congested Mr Parker stated Chief Driver asked the Emergency Services staff to evaluate multiple potential fire station locations in 2023 , as marked by red dots on the map PagePage pageNumber9348 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Mr Parker stated staff focused on areas closest to the Hwy 42 corridor He stated last year , permission was granted to North Side Fire and Rescue to purchase land for a future fire station , highlighting the need , despite parcel limitations at the time He stated Emergency Services has identified the need for a fire station in this area based on call volume Mr Parker explained the map highlights key areas , as follows - the pink indicates where a fire truck can travel within 15 miles from existing stations , showing engine company deployment Engine companies are crucial due to their higher call volume and varied use , requiring more engines for effective fire suppression The yellow areas represent service company coverage within 25 miles , which is optimal according to the ISO rating schedule He stated this helps in deploying resources and personnel effectively Mr Parker stated current fire stations do not adequately cover some of the densely populated areas within the North Side district Page0349 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued At the request of Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Mr Parker pointed to Buffalo Road , the Portofino Subdivision area , and the Tuscany development to the east along with the San Marino development to the north He stated Highway 96 is where the other property was purchased and Highway 39 is right at the edge of the area Mr Parker stated the red parcel on the map is within the Portofino subdivision He stated the purple area is the engine company , within one and a half miles of the proposed parcel and the blue represents the service company , covering more territory than with just two fire stations He stated Station One and Station Two’s service company deployment are situated in the most heavily populated commercial area within their district Mr Parker stated this positioning significantly benefits the citizens and supports North Sides deployment model He stated the provided ISO map illustrates coverage with three fire stations , enabling a greater area to be served by staffed units Mr Parker stated he and Chief Driver have discussed the expectation of staffing these units fully when the time comes to build the new station and Chief Driver is in agreement with this plan Mr Parker shared a heat map showing the number of calls operated by North Side Fire and Rescue from January 1 , 2022 , when it integrated into North Side , until approximately August 2024 He noted that during this period , staff transitioned to a new records management systems , allowing staff to access heat mapping data from the earlier system He stated the trend depicted remains consistent , illustrating approximately 4,650 incidents over the mentioned 18 - month period Mr Parker noted that increased activity is visible in the Portofino , Tuscany , San Marino , and Magnolia Village areas He stated this high population density naturally increases the demandPage1350 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued for services , particularly fire and rescue He stated commercial areas will also see an increase in service requirements due to their population density and this section of the fire district contains some of the most densely populated residential areas Mr Parker stated in summary , Emergency Services reviewed this area in the spring of 2023 and recommended support for a future fire station He stated now , two years later , with increased population density and increased call volume , staff maintains this recommendation Commissioner Bill Stovall commented that the need for this fire station is driven by the high density of residential development in this area He asked if there is any other area in the County with a similar or higher density Mr Parker stated the McLemore area , served by the Cleveland Fire Department , is comparable to this area and it already has three stations He stated the 50 - 210 area has the potential to reach similar densities in the future and they are also currently served by three stations Page2351 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Commissioner Stovall noted that none of these areas are incorporated even though they have town - level densities Commissioner Stovall expressed concern that many areas in the County , which have higher densities than some towns , lack a town taxing structure to pay for necessary services He stated this results in all of the Countys taxpayers shouldering the cost of added emergency services He stated this issue creates an undue burden on the County due to the lack of incorporation and appropriate taxation in these densely populated regions At the request of the Chairman , North Side Chief Phillip Driver addressed the Board and stated he is requesting significant resources , which he understands is a substantial ask He reported that seven potential locations were evaluated before settling on the current site He noted the other sites considered were either already taken or not available for sale Chief Driver stated the site currently being considered consists of 22 acres with access to water and sewer services , priced at 550,000 per acre He stated it is important to note that this price includes the value of having access to water and sewer as well as site development costs He offered to answer any questions Commissioner Mike Rose asked if there is a number associated with the site work Chief Driver stated currently no site work has been completed ; however , it is estimated that costs for site work and infrastructure installation would amount to roughly 500,000 Chief Driver stated he has submitted details of land for sale in the surrounding area for the Board’s review and he noted that in this area , only two lots were available He stated in addition to the current site , the other option was a 2 - acre site behind the Publix ; however , it is priced at 2 million , which is beyond budget constraints Commissioner Ted G Godwin noted the station being proposed is a satellite station which is typically smaller than the usual size and he asked if this could be done on one acre at the identified site instead of 22 acres Chief Driver responded that the issue is the entire tract is being divided into four lots and he has been told that they will not break the sites up further Chief Driver provided the Board with response time information stating in the Portofino area , a 9 00 am call results in an 8 - minute response time , which is reasonable given the distance However , at 5 00 pm that response time increases to 13 minutes and 5 seconds He stated in the Tuscany area , a 7 00 am call gets a 9 - minute response time and a midnight call results in an 8 - minute response time He noted that traffic significantly impacts response times Chief Driver stated on the 96 acre site there are plans for a two - story mini storage facility , the fire station , a Valvoline Oil Change Service , and a Spuds Car Wash He stated this area is designated for commercial development , which avoids disrupting residential subdivisions nearby He stated previous locations raised concerns due to proximities to neighborhoods , where residents were worried about potential noise from a fire station At the inquiry of Chairman Lawter , Chief Driver reviewed the access point areas and discussed traffic signalization He stated the Department of Transportation would not provide specific information regarding traffic signalization because they do not own the site yet ; however , he was told that provisions could be made for medians and other improvements once more specific plans are available Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris explained that finding a fire station location is not as simple as it sounds He stated in times of crisis , response times are critical ; therefore , putting a station in a high density area makes good sense Commissioner April Stephens stated her main concern is ingress and egress in such a heavily traveled and highly populated area Vice Chairman Harris noted there is technology available that allows fire stations to signal the stop lights to turn red and halt all traffic if needed He stated the Town of Clayton uses this technology which is very beneficial in high traffic areas At the inquiry of Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis , Chief Driver reported there has been a 28 increase in the call volume over the last four years He stated last year the total call volume was 1,871 for North Side Fire and Rescue He stated it is noteworthy that , despite not having city limits or highways such as I - 40 and I - 95 within their jurisdiction , the area ranks fourth in the County for residential calls Page3352 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Commissioner Godwin commended the Emergency Services team and Chief Driver for their dedication to this effort ; however , he expressed concerns about the lack of representation from key stakeholders in the Flowers , Portofino , and Tuscany areas He stated these communities have a vested interest in the need for services and should be present to voice their support or concerns Commissioner Davis shared an incident with the Board stating it highlights the importance of rapid response times Commissioner Davis reported two weeks ago , there was an accident on Buffalo Road near her home , which is situated between Station One and Station Two She stated the incident occurred at 6 30 pm in the evening when traffic was already heavily congested , resulting in significant delays and she noted it took her one hour to get home She stated additionally , she has family living less than two miles from Station One on Covered Bridge Road and if they had experienced a medical emergency or fire during this same time as the traffic accident , Station Two would have needed to respond , which would have resulted in a longer response time Commissioner Davis stated this is a concerning issue that requires attention and action She indicated there are frequent wrecks in this area and response times are impacted Commissioner Davis voiced support for a third station in this area Chief Driver responded to Commissioner Godwin’s previous comment and stated someone from the Flowers area was willing to attend regarding the issue , but he did not notify them because he was unsure if the request would be heard at this meeting He noted there are plans to include space for an EMS unit in the new station , if approved Commissioner Godwin stated he supports the fire services , but he has concerns over the cost of the land Commissioner Stovall commented that the need has been demonstrated yet concerns remain regarding the cost of the land He stated the development policy has led to this situation where significant amounts of money are required to provide services in these highly populated areas Commissioner Stovall stated the absence of a municipal taxing structure to help offset this cost is placing a significant burden on the citizens He stated the total price for the site is 11 million and asked if there is an appraisal that validates this amount Chief Driver stated based on recent sales in the vicinity , every piece of land has sold at approximately 1,000,000 per acre for commercial properties ; however , there has not been a formal appraisal conducted specifically for this parcel Commissioner Stovall stated he concurs with Commissioner Godwin that the proposed 11 million purchase price for this site is difficult to consider and he would prefer to have a formal appraisal before spending public money Commissioner Stovall spoke on the importance of having evidence to show that the price is reasonable and realistic Chief Driver stated he does not have a formal appraisal , but he is concerned that if they do not take advantage of the opportunity now , there are additional interested parties waiting in line Commissioner Stovall stated he has reviewed some of the financial information from the past year and noticed a land purchase by North Side He asked if that was for another fire station site Chief Driver responded yes , stating that site is on Highway 96 and Dunn Road He stated that site was purchased last year to avoid being in a situation where there is no land available when needed Chief Driver stated that station is planned to be built long after this one Chairman Lawter asked if this fire station would be prioritized in the Fire Station Location Study currently in the works Mr Parker responded yes , stating he expects this need to be highlighted in the Fire Station Location Study He stated North Side Fire and Rescue has done a tremendous job prioritizing staffing and deploying units to manage high call volumes within their existing service He stated North Side has done everything they can to combat the high call volume they are facing He stated while it is easy to show the need for another unit , staff must ensure it is placed in the correct location to avoid creating further issues He stated as additional subdivisions are constructed in this area , travel times will be impacted even more because it becomes a density issue not only for the area in general , but within the subdivision itself Commissioner Davis noted that speed bumps and entrance gates in the subdivisions are also challenging Page4353 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Mr Parker agreed and stated the Fire Marshals Office has undertaken substantial efforts to address these obstacles by ensuring that entrances are equipped with siren activation , Knox Box backups , and other measures to provide rapid care to residents Commissioner Stovall reported there is legislation progressing through the North Carolina General Assembly that poses significant concerns He stated initially introduced as House Bill 765 , the legislation sought to remove zoning authority from local governments , mandating that they permit up to six units per acre without exception He stated despite opposition from nearly every local government , the Bill has resurfaced as Senate Bill 205 He stated originally intended to regulate swimming pools ; Senate Bill 205 has been expanded by a Committee in the House to include 17 additional pages with provisions identical to those rejected in House Bill 765 Commissioner Stovall stated this legislative maneuver aims to bypass previous objections and enforce the same requirements , which would be detrimental to local governments He stated if enacted , it would compel local governments to accommodate five to six units per acre universally , without discretion Chairman Lawter noted that the Planned Unit Development PUD in this area was approved over 20 years ago , which means that any decisions made by the County at that time were finalized Commissioner Davis pointed out that many lots currently being developed today did not require Planning Board approval as they were already considered part of the existing PUD approved over 20 years ago Commissioner Davis stated when considering all the new lots approved in District 1 , which total over a thousand in the past four years , it is important to note that these do not include lots added by the Flowers PUD Commissioner Stovall commented the County is now experiencing the results of decisions made three decades ago Vice Chairman Harris noted that Chief Driver did not approve any of these developments , yet he is charged with ensuring their safety Commissioner Stovall asked if there had been any other communication with other potential landowners for a site Chief Driver stated there is no other land along Hwy 42 that meets their needs , except for the identified parcel and the parcel behind the Publix that he previously mentioned At the inquiry of Vice Chairman Harris , Chief Driver stated so far this year there have been 121 overlapping calls , meaning crews are often busy when another call comes in Vice Chairman Harris stated this highlights the issue mentioned by Commissioner Davis from the incident two weeks ago Commissioner Stovall indicated that the County’s development policies over the last two decades have not adequately considered future school or traffic capacities as well as services like fire protection Chairman Lawter stated the hope is to address future issues with the updated Land Use Plan and upcoming ordinance revisions Chairman Lawter clarified that this request requires Board approval to allow North Side to spend their own money for this purchase Chairman Lawter stated the Board would prefer an appraisal before proceeding He asked about a timeframe and if the Board needs to make a decision at this meeting Chief Driver stated closing on the site is proposed for the end of July County Manager Rick Hester expressed his appreciation to North Side for their assistance with EMS collocation efforts stating their support in these matters has been invaluable Commissioner Rose thanked Emergency Services and Chief Driver for assembling and providing the maps and data He stated coming from the eastern part of the County , it is remarkable how different conditions are from east to the west in Johnston County He stated the 11 million price tag for a two - acre parcel of land is surprising Commissioner Rose stated he finds one aspect of the comments concerning which was a reluctance to place fire service facilities near residential developments Commissioner Rose stated it is concerning to learn that the very residents the County aims to protect are hesitant to give up their land due to issues about noise disturbances Page5354 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Commissioner Davis thanked Chief Driver for being forward thinking and trying to secure a location to provide services to the citizens in the area Chairman Lawter asked has anyone conducted any due diligence on the site , such as a Phase One Environmental Assessment Chief Driver responded yes , stating there were no environmental hazards found Chief Driver stated all required documentation would be submitted to North Side prior to closing Chairman Lawter clarified that regarding the funding for this purchase , he wants to make it clear that the money came from the residents in that fire district and not from other parts of the County Commissioner Stovall commented that will not be the case going forward Chairman Lawter stated that is correct , as this was under the old system Motion Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis moved the Board approve for North Side Fire and Rescue to use their funds to purchase the 22 acre site as requested Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris seconded the motion Discussion Commissioner Bill Stovall thanked Chief Driver for his efforts He stated although the options are limited , it does not ease his concerns about the cost of the site or the lack of civic involvement from that area since development is what drives this need Commissioner Stovall stated he will vote to approve the motion even though the cost is concerning Commissioner Ted G Godwin spoke on his concerns and the difficulties of the request stating he appreciates Chief Driver’s efforts ; however , he cannot support anything above 500,000 for a site He stated civic engagement is necessary to make something like this happen , potentially by subdividing land to get a one - acre site Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr stated to be fair to those not present , the Board just added this item to the agenda at the start of this meeting He stated it is not the people’s fault that they were not informed earlier ; however , he believes that if he lived in this area , he would want as fast of a response time as possible during an emergency Commissioner Mike Rose reiterated earlier comments by the Chairman that the fire tax collected for this purchase is under the old system that was based on specific districts and not the new Countywide fire tax Chairman Lawter agreed with Commissioner Rose and stated this is the deciding factor for him , that this is being paid from locally collected dollars Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated all the Board members can agree that this is a significant amount of money to pay for property , but he does not see another option Vice Chairman Harris stated Chief Driver has the responsibility of providing protection for the people and it is not worth risking lives or property He stated in his career , during numerous emergency calls , no one ever complained about the cost of the equipment or trucks when assistance was needed to save a family member’s life Vice Chairman Harris stated North Side does an extraordinary job saving many lives and properties and he commends them for that service Commissioner April Stephens agreed that a dollar amount cannot be put on people’s lives and their safety Commissioner Stephens stated she also had concerns about the cost and conducted her own research within the real estate sector and at the end of the day , she found no other options available Commissioner Stephens stated although she shares concerns about the expense , she believes the residents would prioritize their safety over this expense Vice Chairman Harris noted this acquisition will benefit the community for fifty years or more Vote The motion carried by the following vote Page6355 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Ayes Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and Commissioners April Stephens , Bill Stovall , Michelle Pace Davis , and Mike Rose Nays Commissioner Ted G Godwin 6 Public Utilities – Water Supply Study Update Consultant JD Solomon presented an update to the Board on the County’s Water Supply Study Mr Solomon stated this project began approximately four months ago when it was approved to assess the affordability of a 700 million program He thanked the Public Utilities staff for their cooperation and also acknowledged the Towns of Clayton and Benson for their assistance He shared the following terminology for the presentation • Long - Term Water Supply Plan – the plan developed by Hazen • Lower Neuse Water Supply Program – the “ 700M ” capital program • Johnston County – Johnston County Public Utilities • Other Utilities referred to by the local government names • LGC – Local Government Commission Mr Solomon stated Johnston County Public Utilities has around 40,000 connections and the Town of Clayton has about 10,000 He clarified that utilities is an enterprise fund which is separate from the general fund for taxes Mr Solomon stated the Problem Statement of the study is to examine the 2030 business case for an intermediate approach , including wholesale agreements , financial impacts , existing infrastructure , and the potential for stranded costs if an intermediate approach is selected He stated in terms of time , an intermediate approach should span the 2030 to 2040 timeline , aiming to make everything more affordable and effective before the ultimate 2050 goal Mr Solomon stated there have been previously held meetings with the wholesale suppliers , including Clayton He stated the information presented in this update is gathered from those discussions and documents Mr Solomon stated the conclusion is a recommendation to acquire up to 6 MGD million gallons per day of wholesale capacity from the City of Raleigh and delay major capital expenditures for the proposed 700 million Lower Neuse Water Supply Program until around 2033 or 2035 He stated short - term wholesale agreements should provide sufficient capacity and more affordable solutions beyond 2033 instead of 2030 Mr Solomon shared the following map of the water supply intake to be located at Richardson Bridge Road Mr Solomon stated the water will travel from the intake a considerable distance to the quarry site situated north of Princeton He stated a new 12 MGD plant would be constructed at the edge of the quarry reservoir , which was acquired approximately 25 years ago and the primary objective is to pump this water predominantly to the western part of the County He stated this initiative includes three significant projects 1 the main transmission line for raw water , extending from the intake to the quarry ; 2 the pipeline that would traverse the County ; and 3 the new 12 MGD plant He noted originally the goal was to have these componentsPage7356 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued operational by 2030 ; however , they recently paused to evaluate the financial implications of this project Mr Solomon stated he is authorized to present the Town of Clayton’s financial figures , although the County’s financial consultant is still refining the data ; therefore , this current information primarily reflects Claytons perspective He stated as of 2025 , Clayton’s combined water and sewer rates were approximately 134 a month on average He stated if the plan proceeded as originally intended and was completed by 2030 , that number would have increased by 216 to 290 per month on average for Clayton customers Mr Solomon stated because everyone realized that the original plan could not happen from an affordability standpoint , a modified plan is needed that will yield lower rate increases Upon a question by Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis , Mr Solomon stated the figures he is presenting in this update pertain specifically to Clayton customers He stated he currently has the Clayton data in hand , but it is important to note that the current rate has been deemed unacceptable , prompting efforts to explore these alternative solutions He stressed that it is crucial not to panic as they are actively working on alternatives Mr Solomon stated the majority of the action will happen in the Clayton area He stated from the water supply plan , the Clayton area needs water faster and faces the greatest level of uncertainty Mr Solomon stated in the west , the County is projected to grow by about 90,000 people by 2050 , which translates to roughly 30,000 to 35,000 new connections He stated as more residences are built , the cost per user is spread out Mr Solomon stated in contrast , the eastern part of the County is projected to grow by only 7,000 people within the same time frame Mr Solomon reviewed the following data with the Board Mr Solomon explained that the average daily demand was around 41 MGD during 2019 - 2020 and according to the forecast back then , demand would have required 2 MGD more by 2024 He stated because actual demand has not changed much , partly due to delayed industrial projects and other things , Claytons new projection now suggests that increased demand will not be needed until 2029 , a five - year delay Mr Solomon stated the previous slide contained Claytons purchase from the County , which is 61 MGD which translates to the maximum day demand , the worst day of the year for usage He stated it is challenging to design and build forPage8357 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued such a peak , but the system must be prepared despite limited storage He stated the gap is still about five years Mr Solomon stated theoretically more will probably be needed by 2030 although the plan probably cannot be implemented by 2030 Mr Solomon explained that what can be inferred from the information is that what was projected to happen did not occur as expected He stated more wholesale capacity buys time and helps mitigate uncertainties He stated based on past performance , every 1 MGD of wholesale capacity purchased could cover at least two years of new demand to allow for some breathing room Mr Solomon stated when talking to the City of Raleigh , the goal would be to acquire 2 MGD He stated in the short - term , adding 2 MGD is feasible with a capital cost of about 15 million and capacity fees at approximately 8 million He stated for 6 MGD from Raleigh , it will cost about 60 million in capital costs , with an additional 20 million in capacity fees , leading to a total of about 80 million He indicated that although this figure seems large , it becomes more reasonable when considering the larger context of a 700 million project and this could buy the County 10 to 12 years of time Mr Solomon stated there are benefits to having this excess capacity and without it , completing major projects by 2030 or 2033 poses challenges , especially with budget constraints , schedule adherence , and potential delays in obtaining necessary components He stated large scale projects require rigorous governance and State approvals He stated there is a 50 50 partnership with Clayton and they will take half of the capacity , but the Local Government Commission still needs to review all the design build plans and all the GMPs guaranteed maximum prices must be approved by all parties He stated if there are changes in Boards from either side , Clayton or County , there could be disagreements over additional costs or time required , which poses potential challenges Mr Solomon stated Davenport the County’s financial consultant has indicated that it would take approximately six to nine months for Local Government Commission approval He reiterated this project is significant , involving two independent parties working together , adding to the complexity of obtaining Local Government Commission approval Mr Solomon stated various alternatives were considered , including those from Raleigh , Wilson , Harnett County , Dunn , and Goldsboro with the Raleigh option emerging as the best option He stated Clayton had previously studied smaller reservoirs and considered building their own reservoir and plant if County - level cooperation failed He stated Johnston County Public Utilities also examined the option of building a reservoir near the Timothy G Broome Water Treatment Plant during the Master Plan review He stated although this could offer benefits , it would not be helpful within the 2030 - 2035 timeframe He stated other modifications to the long - term plan were not considered , such as reducing the planned 12 MGD plant capacity to 8 MGD He stated purchasing capacity from Dunn , Harnett County , Wilson , and Goldsboro was discussed and while helpful for regionalization efforts , these options fall outside the current scope and are more for long - term regionalization consideration Page9358 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Mr Solomon stated as it relates to net impacts of recommendation , he would like to emphasize the various softer aspects that assist with project delivery , local government collaboration , and resilience He stated another significant benefit is improvement in the discussions with neighboring utilities He stated these entities have experienced their own turnovers among elected officials and directors and this initiative has facilitated alignment between Clayton and Johnston County , allowing for face - to - face meetings with neighbors and understanding their current contexts He noted the transmission project also impacts Clayton as they may need additional capital projects to address certain planning gaps He stated these efforts have informed some of their decision - making processes since it affects their water and sewer Capital Improvement Plan He added that the economic development partners , other local governments , and elected officials have shown great interest , thereby fostering a collaborative environment He stated the extensive dialogue over the past several months has united many stakeholders who seek detailed information on how affordability can be optimized Mr Solomon stated he plans to provide more details in July ; however , he feels it is essential to proceed with discussions with Clayton and Raleigh immediately He stated Clayton is prepared to engage in more detailed discussions with Raleigh without delay At the inquiry of Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Mr Solomon stated the County Manager and Chairman Lawter could potentially begin conversations as early as tomorrow to strategize the next steps with Raleigh He stated Claytons staff is committed to securing at least 2 MGD within their boundaries , having already engaged in preliminary discussions with Raleigh He also stated there are things going on with Harnett County , Dunn , and the I - 95 Alliance that needs discussion , but elected officials will need to drive those conversations Commissioner Bill Stovall commented that beginning these conversations may open up other options that were not previously available Commissioner Ted G Godwin stated the Board has great confidence in the staff and Mr Solomon Chairman Lawter stated the Board appreciates Mr Solomon’s work and explanations , especially with the information regarding Clayton’s rates Commissioner Mike Rose asked if there were any rate projections considering the Raleigh venture Mr Solomon responded not at this time , but work on that needs to begin next Chairman Lawter stated the County has regular meetings with elected officials from Harnett County and the I - 95 I - 40 Alliances He noted the County staff frequently discusses matters with Clayton and other municipalities and those discussions are progressing well , especially with elected officials who now show more willingness to collaborate than previously He stated the Board is actively looking for solutions to ensure users are not overburdened by costs for long - term plans Mr Solomon stated while Goldsboro does not fit for short - term plans , there is an eagerness from their Mayor and other elected officials to collaborate more with Johnston County , thus it is beneficial to continue these discussions with Goldsboro as well as Wilson Commissioner Stovall stated when he joined the Board a year ago , he was impressed by the long - range planning that had been done by the County’s staff He stated they had developed a viable plan that had been in place for several years ; however , the cost of water and sewer capacity has increased significantly in recent years and is unlikely to decrease He stated although there is a plan , it is currently unaffordable for the end users ; therefore , the Board is seeking options to mitigate these costs and spread them out over time to make them more manageable He stated ultimately , he believes the plan will be implemented , but steps need to be taken to mitigate costs now and buy some time Mr Solomon stated he appreciates everyones efforts and noted all the Commissioners have been active and engaged , which is crucial for finding solutions He thanked the Board for their support Page0359 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued Chairman Lawter asked staff if July is a reasonable time to expect the County’s Rate Study to be completed Utilities Director Chandra Farmer stated staff is close to finishing the latest version of the Rate Study She stated staff will share the final draft with the Board and the Town of Clayton , and there may be additional revisions as both review the studies together Ms Farmer stated she has been in contact with the City of Raleigh staff about the initial 2 MGD plan , which can proceed quickly She stated additionally , while discussions continue regarding Clayton’s growth and projections , it is important to also keep in mind the other towns and customers in the County She stated although the current planning model shows modest growth for those other areas , any new large projects could challenge the already stretched water supply until more resources are found The Board thanked Mr Solomon for the update 7 Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 County Budget Discussion and Adoption Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr recognized County Manager Rick Hester for comments Mr Hester thanked the Board of Commissioners for their work on the budget and stated it has many moving parts given this year’s revaluation as well as balancing all the needs Chairman Lawter recognized Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris for the Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 Budget information Motion to adopt the Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 County Budget Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated this motion is not any one Commissioner’s wishes but is the result of a group effort by all seven Board Members , the County Manager , the Finance Director , and other staff He stated it is a compromise in many areas and is the result of weeks of work Vice Chairman Harris moved the Board adopt the County Manager’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 with the following revisions ? Reduce the County property tax rate to 52 cents per 100 value , a 15 - cent reduction ? Reduce the Countywide fire tax rate to 115 cents per 100 value Also , at the request of the Johnston County Fire Commission , adopt the Fiscal Year 2026 fire funding matrix ? Allocate an amount not to exceed 500,000 for a new behavioral health urgent care ? Include a 3 pay adjustment effective July 1 for County employees with the possibility of up to a 2 performance pay increase in October ? Allocate 110 million for supplemental current expense and 35 million for capital outlay for Johnston County Public Schools ? Allocate 9,290,303 for supplemental current expense and 4,570,504 for capital outlay for Johnston Community College ? Allocate 325,000 for Harbor , Inc ? Per the recommendation of the Research Training Zone Board , approve a tax rate of 8 cents per 100 value for the RTZ ? Per the recommendation of the Moccasin Creek Service District Board , approve tax rate of 25 cents per 100 value for the district ? Allocate 100,000 for the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield site improvement project ? Allocate 1395 million to the Triangle Land Conservancy for the preservation of farm land and open space ? Allocate 100,000 for Johnston - Lee - Harnett Community Action Page1360 June 16 , 2025 – 6 00 pm Continued ? Allocate 100,000 for a transit - oriented development study TOD Commissioner Ted G Godwin seconded the motion Discussion Commissioner Ted G Godwin clarified that the allocation for Triangle Land Conservancy is typically used as matching funds Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris agreed and stated these funds often leverage ten times their amount , providing significant returns He stated this allocation supports farmland and open space preservation , which is important to the Board th Commissioner Godwin stated this is his 13 budget , and it has perhaps been the most difficult He stated the County is larger with many ongoing projects and there has been considerable feedback from citizens regarding the proposed tax rate by the County Manager Commissioner Godwin stated it is necessary to remind everyone that the County Manager has been tasked with forward - thinking initiatives and addressing neglected projects He noted that some of the projects will continue to be delayed ; however , given the extensive revaluation and its impact on citizens , he believes the Board is making the right decisions Commissioner Godwin commended the staff for their hard work , noting that some have been taking time during their vacations to manage projections and respond to emails He stated their efforts have been outstanding Commissioner Bill Stovall stated as Vice Chairman Harris indicated , not everyone got everything they wanted , but he believes this is a good budget He stated affordability for the citizens was the priority and the same approach is being applied to the utility plan ; revising the original plan to keep costs manageable Commissioner Stovall stated financial stability is crucial , especially with the significant capital needs and services demands due to residential development He stated past development practices have created unexpected consequences , such as rapid growth in areas like Flowers and Cleveland