July 21, 2025 - 10:00 AM - Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

10 371 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners July 21 , 2025 10 00 am The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday , July 21 , 2025 , 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 G Cuddington , and Executive Assistant Deputy Clerk Susie Reeves Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr called the meeting to order at 10 00 am Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris opened the meeting with an invocation The American Legion Post 109 of Benson 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 1 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 with the following changes table Item No 5 - Public Utilities – Buffalo Road Parallel Force Main to the August 4 , 2025 Board of Commissioners ’ meeting and move Item No 7 - Johnston County Boys and Girls Club – YouthVoice 2025 to be heard after Public Comments 2 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 , as follows A Approval of Minutes – June 2 , 2025 10 00 am and 6 00 pm ; June 9 , 2025 6 00 pm and June 16 , 2025 6 00 pm B Department of Transportation – Additions to System The Board concurred with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s recommendation to add the following roads to the State Maintained System Abby Meadows Court – Abby Meadows – Clayton Township Tractor Place , Bushel Lane , and Disc Drive – Willow Ridge South – Pleasant Grove Township Olde Place Drive , Battlemoore Lane , Olde Sams Way , and Robertson Stable Lane – Olde Place – O’Neals Township Agriculture Street , Sweet Tater Lane , Jerome Street , and Tiller Drive – J and S Farms East and West – Elevation Township C Sheriff’s Office – Request to Surplus Vehicles and Schedule Public Auction Per the request of Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell , the Board declared the following vehicles surplus and approved for them to be sold at public auction by Wester Auction Company on Saturday , September 13 , 2025 at 10 00 am at the Johnston County Sheriff’s Fleet Services building located at 60 Shelter Way in Smithfield Page372 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Year Make Model VIN Mileage 1 2016 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT3GH303660 129,169 2 2016 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT7GH146943 130,209 3 2018 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT5JH210758 128,716 4 2018 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT3JH210760 130,210 5 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT6KH568310 119,580 6 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXATXKH568312 111,725 7 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT9KH568317 130,877 8 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT0KH568318 136,410 9 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT2KH568319 131,051 10 2019 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXATXKH593579 130,427 11 2020 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXKT4LH171629 130,005 12 2020 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXKT6LH186990 119,825 13 2021 DODGE CHARGER 2C3CDXAT3MH527992 134,417 14 2015 POLARIS RANGER CREW UTV 3NSRUE877FG896133 NOTES Item # 14 was purchased with Federal forfeiture funds and proceeds from the sale of this item must be credited back to the appropriate revenue line item in the Sheriff’s Office budget 10 - 51007418 D Town of Selma – Reappointment to Selma Board of Adjustment Per a request by the Town of Selma , the Board reappointed the following individual to the Selma Board of Adjustment representing the ETJ area of the Town Jennifer Edwards , 165 Brown Wall Road , Selma term expiring 6 30 2028 E Town of Smithfield – Appointment to Smithfield Board of Adjustment Per a request by the Town of Smithfield , the Board appointed the following individual to the Smithfield Board of Adjustment representing the ETJ area of the Town Gregory Evans , 1090 North Lakeside Drive , Smithfield term expiring 5 5 2028 F Budget Revisions , approved as follows Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 Health REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 59257400 Capital Outlay 235,41299 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 235,41299 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 592534195 Case Management Medicaid 235,41299 TOTAL NET REVENUE 235,41299 Health REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 59207400 Capital Outlay 45,68155 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 45,68155 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 592034154 Medicaid 45,68155Page373 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued TOTAL NET REVENUE 45,68155 LEO Separation REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 27 51100200 Salaries & Wages 113,70000 27 51100501 Social Security 7,85000 27 51100600 Health Insurance 3,87000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 125,42000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 27 511033990 Fund Balance Appropriated 52,42000 27 511037900 Investment Income 73,00000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 125,42000 Sheriff REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 51001700 Vehicles 17,42143 10 51003350 Supplies – Special – Sheriff 5000 10 51007414 Capital Outlay – Sheriff 24437 10 51007418 Capital Outlay – Drug Seizure 5,95754 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 23,67334 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 510032106 Controlled Substance Tax 24437 10 510032509 Insurance Recovery 2,26862 10 510033099 Miscellaneous Revenue 15,20281 10 510035160 Federal Equitable Sharing 5,95754 TOTAL NET REVENUE 23,67334 Social Services REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 28 61656155 Trust Disbursements 20,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 20,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 28 616533990 Fund Balance Appropriated 20,00000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 20,00000 Social Services REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 61001410 Employee Training 2,77200 10 61001900 General Assistance 8498 10 61004515 Program Expense 1,09756 10 61101909 Crisis 1,28967 10 61101917 LIEAP 6,06342 10 61401902 State County General Assistance 8,20203 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 19,50966Page374 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 610034123 Social Services Administration 19,50966 TOTAL NET REVENUE 19,50966 Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 Finance REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 16 63261003 Cleveland Elementary School 7,000,00000 16 63261039 East Clayton Elementary School 1,500,00000 16 63261067 School Fire Panel Projects 1,500,00000 16 63261011 Four Oaks Elementary School 14,000,00000 16 63261060 School HVAC Projects 1,500,00000 16 63261068 McGee’s Crossroads Elementary School 2,000,00000 16 63261017 North Johnston High School 1,200,00000 16 63261031 South Smithfield Elementary School 2,500,00000 16 63261063 Thanksgiving Elementary School 2,500,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 33,700,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 16 632632507 Transfer from General Fund 33,700,00000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 33,700,00000 Finance REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 16 63261012 Princeton Middle High School 500,00000 16 63261018 Cooper Elementary School 3,500,00000 16 63261065 New Wilson’s Mills Area High School 40,000,00000 16 63261066 New Swift Creek Area Elementary School 3,000,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 47,000,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 16 632632507 Transfer from General Fund 47,000,00000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 47,000,00000 Health REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 59101400 Travel 3,50000 10 59101410 Employee Training 5,00000 10 59103300 Departmental supplies 18,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 26,50000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 591034155 State Grant 26,50000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 26,50000 Health REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE PagePage pageNumber5375 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued 10 59157050 Non - Major Capital Assets 10,79309 10 59207050 Non - Major Capital Assets 55,61226 10 59257050 Non - Major Capital Assets 71,99926 10 59457050 Non - Major Capital Assets 185,12939 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 323,53400 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 591534154 Medicaid 10,79309 10 592034154 Medicaid 55,61226 10 592534154 Medicaid 71,99926 10 594534154 Medicaid 185,12939 TOTAL NET REVENUE 323,53400 G Appointments , approved as follows • Nursing Home Adult Care Home Community Advisory Board – Teresa Matthews was appointed for a one year initial term to expire on August 31 , 2026 H Tax Releases & Refunds – 05 16 2025 – 06 15 2025 Real Personal Property Releases TRANS DATE TIME USER YR BILL # ACCT # TAXPAYER NAME AMOUNT 5 20 2025 3 25 38 PM cfutch 2023 - 57912 2000158636 INSIGHT INVESTMENTS LLC 16190 ADDIE AUSTIN WALLACE REV TRUST 6 3 2025 12 20 38 PM dwoodward2 2025 - 201441 2000172621 96135 ADDIE AUSTIN WALLACE REV TRUST 6 3 2025 12 21 14 PM dwoodward2 2025 - 201442 2000172621 91611 ADDIE AUSTIN WALLACE REV TRUST 6 3 2025 12 21 44 PM dwoodward2 2025 - 201443 2000172621 91611 ADDIE AUSTIN WALLACE REV TRUST 6 3 2025 12 23 08 PM dwoodward2 2025 - 201437 2000172621 60369 ADDIE AUSTIN WALLACE REV TRUST 6 3 2025 12 24 11 PM dwoodward2 2025 - 201436 2000172621 60370 ADDIE AUSTIN WALLACE REV TRUST 6 3 2025 12 26 17 PM dwoodward2 2025 - 201435 2000172621 63351 Real Personal Property Refunds TRANS DATE TIME USER YR BILL # ACCT # TAXPAYER NAME AMOUNT 5 19 2025 8 46 11 AM awstancil 2024 - 19966 2000261905 WILLIFORD , CAMERON M 32716 5 20 2025 12 09 14 PM awstancil 2024 - 131151 2000264631 ESCALANTE PAVON , ADA 14773 JANETH 5 20 2025 12 12 38 PM awstancil 2024 - 75744 2000167349 PEREZ , MARTHA L 21749 5 20 2025 3 27 55 PM cfutch 2023 - 57912 2000158636 INSIGHT INVESTMENTS LLC 16190 5 23 2025 10 28 54 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 26177 2000210640 DAVIS , GRACE ALLEN LIFE 12500 ESTATE 5 23 2025 12 08 07 PM awstancil 2024 - 56643 2000215461 LASSITER , DAVID WAYNE 29115 5 23 2025 3 00 26 PM awestbrook 2025 - 400006 2000280366 FIELDS , SHARON FAY 20787 5 27 2025 12 47 19 PM awstancil 2024 - 99585 2000181837 VANNOSTRAND , ROBERT 12953 MERVIN JR 6 2 2025 2 21 00 PM awstancil 2024 - 16452 2000205136 BRADSHAW , TRAVIS SNOW 14420 6 3 2025 12 07 02 PM awstancil 2024 - 28441 2000238813 ORELLANA , SANDRA 11165 6 3 2025 12 49 52 PM awstancil 2024 - 104359 2000250885 ROBERTS , CHARLES 14288 6 3 2025 12 55 32 PM awstancil 2024 - 44221 2000078947 GOSZEWSKI , NATALIE ANNE 21488 6 3 2025 1 21 31 PM awstancil 2024 - 75744 2000167349 PEREZ , MARTHA L 18846 6 5 2025 10 47 53 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 8442 2000156424 BEACH , RALPH P 70006 6 5 2025 11 11 49 AM tmeacomes 2025 - 201473 2000096841 BROADAWAY , DIANNE BAILEY 62206 6 6 2025 10 40 42 AM awstancil 2024 - 56643 2000215461 LASSITER , DAVID WAYNE 29115 6 9 2025 11 26 57 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 83103 2000205236 ROBERTS , CAROLE K 15102 6 10 2025 10 46 25 PM PayIt 2024 - 62413 2000210055 MASSENGILL , KENNETH LEWIS 10000 North Carolina Vehicle Tax System - Pending Refund Report – May 2025 100 + Payee Name Bill # Transaction Refund Total Change # ReasonPagePage pageNumber6376 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued CHEM - PRO OF 0084428027 454419896 Situs error 000 JOHNSTON 10773 COUNTY INC 2646 3591 11718 FLEMING , 0082358036 341619420 Mileage 5196 RANDALL 5141 DEAN 000 10237 LAVENTS , 0083824972 452489916 Situs error 000 CHRISTOPHER 19808 STEVEN 4865 6603 21546 PULCIFER , 0084656174 455297436 Situs error 000 CAMERON 42556 BRUCE 10452 14185 46289 WALKER , 0084615943 341021787 Situs error 000 BRIANNE 11793 PERRY 3931 15724 WALSH , 0084412578 227127436 Adjustment 10172 MICHAEL 2125 PATRICK 12297 WHYTE , 0072312613 341321883 Military 000 RAMONE 14191 SHANE 13767 3000 30958 3 Public Comments A Recognition of Retiring County Employees Human Resources Director Paulette Williams recognized the following retiring County employees that will be retiring in August 2025 Rodney Byrd – Sheriff’s Office Marcus Pilkington – Sheriff’s Office LuAnne Killebrew – Health Department A photo of the retirees present was taken with the Board of Commissioners 4 Johnston County Boys and Girls Club - YouthVoice 2025 Johnston County Boys and Girls Club member Kaylin Gonzalez spoke about how the Boys and Girls Club has positively impacted her life by providing support , a safe environment , and opportunities for personal growth Miss Gonzalez stated she will represent YouthVoice at the upcoming North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Conference She highlighted activities like swimming , kayaking , field trips , and leadership training offered by the Boys and Girls Club Miss Gonzalez emphasized that the Club is essential for local youth offering friendship , academic help , and leadership development , especially for those who may not have supportive home environments She expressed her appreciation for the Boys and Girls Club stating every youth should have the opportunity to experience what they have to offer The Board praised Miss Gonzalez for her remarks and for being involved in leadership training A photo was taken with Miss Gonzalez , her family , and the Board of Commissioners PagePage pageNumber7377 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued 5 Public Hearing – Johnston County Water and Wastewater System Development Fee Study Advertised – The Johnstonian News and The News in Review – July 9 , 2025 and July 16 , 2025 Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr opened the public hearing with respect to the Johnston County Water and Wastewater System Development Fee Study Public Utilities Director Chandra Farmer , PE , presented information about the Johnston County Water and Wastewater System Development Fee Study Ms Farmer reviewed the following with the Board Ms Farmer emphasized that System Development Fees recover capital costs incurred for adding capacity for new system users , which allows growth to pay for growth Ms Farmer stated the County uses the Combined Cost Method which is based on a blended value of both existing and proposed expansions to system capacity PagePage pageNumber8378 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer stated the County has retained Willdan Financial Services to conduct this analysis She explained a major part of the analysis involves the department’s Capital Improvement Plan CIP , which can be considered over a period ranging from five to twenty years She stated for this analysis the department utilized its 20 - year Capital Improvements Plan PagePage pageNumber9379 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer stated the analysis examines the Countys existing water and wastewater assets , followed by an assessment of planned assets outlined in the CIP , which primarily includes capacity expansion projects such as treatment plant upgrades , acquisition of additional capacity from neighboring jurisdictions , and transmission system enhancements She stated there is also consideration for construction work - in - progress which are projects not currently listed on the CIP but already under construction She reviewed the following planned assets under the 20 - year CIP She explained that the red column in the chart assigns a percentage to identify whether this is a capacity building project or not Page0380 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage1381 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer noted that the project percentage colored in blue means that this project is being constructed and funded by a private developer , and the County has no financial involvement Ms Farmer stated after identifying all recoverable costs , including those associated with the County’s existing assets and the 20 - year CIP , staff aggregates these figures to conduct a comprehensive analysis of combined recoverable costs , as follows Page2382 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer explained that the next step involves reviewing the debt service She stated a debt service credit is incorporated into the analysis to ensure new customers are not charged for the same debt twice , specifically that they should not pay both a System Development Fee on an asset and then incur debt service charges for that same asset through monthly user rates Page3383 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer stated debt service applies credits to the recoverable asset values which then determines the system capacity component Ms Farmer reiterated that the intent of the System Development Fee is to ensure that new customers pay a proportionate share toward the cost of the system capacity , whether it has already been constructed or is planned for future development She stated the fee is calculated based on the unit cost of providing system capacity and the analysis involves several key steps She explained that staff 1 identifies the capacity of both treatment and transmission facilities ; 2 quantifies the non - revenue water for example , in the retail water system there is water that is unaccounted for which includes water resulting from system flushing , pipeline breaks , and leaks and it must be paid for in some manner ; therefore , a factor is applied to the capacity to recoup those costs ; 3 on the wastewater side , staff quantifies inflow and infiltration ; and 4 determines an appropriate level of service Ms Farmer stated for residential development , fees are typically calculated per Equivalent Residential Unit ERU , based on anticipated usage measured in gallons , to determine the corresponding ERU cost Ms Farmer reviewed the following capacity calculations with the Board Page4384 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer stated one notable difference from the analysis posted on the website versus this presentation relates to the City of Raleigh capacity She stated currently the County is purchasing up to 25 million gallons per day under a short - term contract with Raleigh and is negotiating for an additional 2 million gallons per day She reported the City of Raleigh seems amenable to this increase and extending a short - term contract for a total of 10 years Ms Farmer stated this additional capacity from Raleigh will be exhausted before the conclusion of the 20 - year planning period ; therefore , it is not included in the total available capacity for this analysis calculation At the inquiry of Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Ms Farmer stated if something changes and the capacity from Raleigh becomes available at the end of 20 years , then it could be included in the calculation Page5385 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer stated when evaluating all the total costs and the total available capacity , a rate of 3970 per gallon is calculated She stated considering an average usage of 230 gallons per day per Equivalent Residential Unit ERU , this results in a maximum permissible charge of 8,980 per ERU Ms Farmer reviewed the sewer system analysis with the Board as follows Ms Farmer explained the analysis is based on the availability of 20 million gallons per day at the end of the 20 - year planning period She stated adjustments were made for inflow and infiltration and notably , there has been a statutory update She stated previously , the analysis used 80 gallons per day per bedroom , consistent with County permitting practices ; however , the updated statute standard is now 75 gallons per day per bedroom , based on an average of 35 bedrooms per unit She stated this reduction in assumed daily gallons results in a lower calculated ERU for sewer , thereby lowering the associated fee She stated the current cost is 1484 per gallon , with a corresponding ERU cost of 3,890 , a slight decrease compared to prior years due to the revised calculation Ms Farmer summarized the following information highlighting a proposed schedule for going from the existing rate to the proposed rates based on the calculations Page6386 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer stated staff will update this analysis again prior to Fiscal Year 2027 - 2028 ; therefore , staff recommends considering that update before setting the rate She noted there could be significant changes between fiscal years 2025 - 2026 and 2026 - 2027 , and staff can update the analysis again if that occurs Ms Farmer stated while staff’s focus has been on residential rates , it is important to note that these rates also impact the non - residential customers Commissioner Bill Stovall asked if the maximum allowed fee is based on actual calculations or the limit set by the enabling legislation Ms Farmer responded the rate is the maximum allowed as was determined by staff’s calculations conducted under the enabling legislation She stated the calculation reflects the actual cost of the system’s development including all projects and assets Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis asked for water for new residential construction in Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 , if a subdivision has 20 lots , would each lot owe 6,000 and who typically pays that fee Ms Farmer confirmed that each lot would pay the 6,000 fee , and typically that is paid by the developer or builder at the time of application for service which must be done before obtaining a building permit Chairman Lawter stated he would like to see a breakdown of the projected total revenue collected from System Development Fees for Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 under both the proposed and maximum rates , based on historical trends and anticipated growth Ms Farmer responded that staff can provide that information She stated staff has been using a 3 annual growth rate for the next few years , using a customer base of 49,000 Ms Farmer continued the presentation by reviewing information related to the bulk customers She stated these fees , determined by a formula similar to System Development Fee Analysis , are one - time charges for new flow requests from bulk users She stated bulk water customers purchase capacity according to their specific interlocal agreements or the County’s Capital Capacity Charge Policy adopted in 1997 , while bulk wastewater customers , specifically Smithfield , Selma , Pine Level , and Four Oaks , follow user - specific agreements She stated any other bulk customers require specific interlocal agreements to buy capacity Page7387 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued At the inquiry of Chairman Lawter , Ms Farmer stated Aqua NC and Carolina Water Service , private companies , both routinely purchase bulk water capacity and have formal interlocal agreements outlining the terms of their purchases She stated their water rates are consistent with those of other customers Ms Farmer stated Aqua serves the Flowers Plantation area while Carolina Water Service covers White Oak existing service and Winston currently under development Ms Farmer stated this year staff is proposing a change to the rate structure for Water Capacity Fees for bulk customers by evaluating these fees based on hydraulic zones She stated the County operates within three hydraulic zones 323 , 385 , and 492 She stated the County’s existing water treatment plant is located in the 385 hydraulic zone and all of the water comes out of that plant She stated water is either pumped to the higher 492 zone or directed through a control valve to reduce pressure and allow gravity flow to the lower 323 zone Page8388 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer stated the zone that currently has the highest demand within the system and needs additional pumps and pipelines to ensure reliable service is the 492 zone Page9389 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer reported in the 385 zone projects marked in blue have been identified as unnecessary for this area and therefore removed She stated a similar process applies to the 323 zone , as follows Page0390 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer shared the data by hydraulic zone to illustrate the transmission to each area She stated the cost per gallon was provided as a combined figure encompassing both treatment and transmission She stated in this instance , since staff is proposing to assess the fee by hydraulic zones , the breakdown between treatment and transmission can be clearly delineated Ms Farmer stated with regards to the bulk capacity fee recommendation , staff proposes transitioning to an assessment based on hydraulic zones She stated as previously discussed it is acknowledged that the current available capacity for sale is limited She stated some water districts and towns have excess capacity but staff aims to prevent scenarios where an entity attempts to acquire all remaining water capacity at the lowest possible rate immediately She stated staff’s proposal is to limit ongoing sales of capacity to those that need the capacity until a new and significant supply becomes available She stated during this interim period , capacity would only be sold to entities with a demonstrated need , either those without excess capacity or those holding contractual obligations She stated additionally , with bulk customers , it will be essential to negotiate and implement new water supply agreements to meet evolving needs and ensure sustainable operations She stated the bottom row of the above chart outlines the projected rates for the next three years Ms Farmer stated she would like to apply an approach consistent with the System Development Fee , and return next month with a formal recommendation after considering any feedback received today She stated additionally , staff proposes to implement the Bulk Capacity Fees on November 1 rather than October 1 in fairnessPage1391 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued to the bulk customers , as staff has always committed to providing them with a 90 - day notice period Ms Farmer stated since she has not yet provided these projected figures to the bulk customers , she intends to share this information with them within the week , ensuring they have the full 90 days for review Commissioner Stovall asked whether it is possible that after calculating and charging the fee , if future developments decrease the capacity development costs , could refunds be permitted under the current regulations Ms Farmer responded that to her knowledge , the authority for refunds for System Development Fees is not provided ; however , staff consistently updates the analysis , reflecting project changes She stated unless the maximum number is reached immediately , adjustments can continue as the Capital Improvements Plan CIP evolves until the full build - out of large water supply projects Ms Farmer stated the statute specifies that customers shall pay the applicable rate at the time the plat is recorded Commissioner Mike Rose asked for clarification if a bulk customer requests additional capacity due to anticipated future rate increases but cannot demonstrate a current need or already has surplus capacity , would the request be denied Ms Farmer confirmed that request would be denied if the need cannot be demonstrated She stated further details will be provided next month regarding the parameters used to set these numbers She stated according to State requirements , all local water supply plans should target around 80 utilization Upon a question by Commissioner Davis , Ms Farmer stated bulk customers are utilities with interlocal agreements that buy water from the County and then resell it to their own customers Upon questions by Commissioner Stovall , Ms Farmer stated large non - residential users who are retail customers pay System Development Fees based on meter size She stated if a user’s meter size does not reflect actual demand , for example a church with a large meter but low usage , charges are based on the estimated daily cost per gallon instead She stated for meters 3 inches or larger , there is a default to assessing the cost per gallon rate , especially for large industries needing larger meters Ms Farmer stated if a larger meter is installed and the smaller meter is removed , a credit can be given for the System Development Fee related to the smaller meter size , as the larger meter represents a higher potential demand on the system Ms Farmer reviewed the following with the Board Page2392 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer stated all treatment projects are included for bulk customers She stated for transmission projects , only those specific to retail customers , such as projects at 40 42 , where wastewater must be moved from that site back to the treatment plant , are excluded from the calculation as these do not impact core bulk sewer customers such as Smithfield , Selma , Pine Level , and Four Oaks She stated the methodology for calculating the bulk capacity fee closely resembles that of the System Development Fee She reported the bulk capacity fee increases slightly per gallon per day , primarily due to rising project costs outlined in the Capital Improvements Plan , which accounts for inflation and other adjustments She stated the current rate for bulk customers is 1068 per gallon per day , with a proposed rate of 1101 per gallon per day and these rates apply only to the four core customers She stated if another bulk customer outside this service area requires more costly transmission facilities , staff would negotiate a different rate and specific agreement , separate from the published schedule Page3393 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Farmer concluded her presentation stating the steps ahead include today’s public hearing for receiving feedback and she plans to return in August with final rate recommendations for System Development and Bulk st Capacity Fees She stated the proposed effective dates are October 1 for System Development Fees and st November 1 for Bulk Capacity Fees Ms Farmer offered to answer any further questions Commissioner Stovall stated the County utilizes a consultant that provides a professional engineer seal on the documents and ensures the calculations meet statutory intent He asked if there is an audit process for compliance with the statute regarding overcharging Ms Farmer stated the County’s financial consultant used for this analysis does quite a bit of this work in North Carolina She stated while staff has consulted with outside counsel on similar matters , she is not aware of an external audit process for these rates Commissioner Rose asked for the County’s bulk water customers , as they become informed about these rates , how they could provide feedback Ms Farmer stated following this meeting comprehensive details will be sent out to the bulk customers based on what has been presented today to allow them an opportunity to provide feedback Ms Farmer stated she feels there was general awareness by the bulk customers that adjustments were forthcoming Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked about the pros and cons of the methodology chosen by the County compared to others Ms Farmer stated the selected approach assesses the system as a whole rather than isolating only recent expansions She stated this choice reflects unique characteristics relevant to the County’s situation , such as evaluating capacity over a 20 - year period Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated it is important to note that the water and sewer funds operate as enterprise funds , which function similarly to independent businesses He stated these utilities must generate their own revenue to cover operational costs , transmission lines , capacities , and debt service , without support from property taxes He stated the debt incurred by these utilities must be self - sustaining through fees in addition to providing future capacity Vice Chairman Harris stated there is a lot of information to consider and it can be confusing ; however , Ms Farmer did a good job presenting the details Ms Farmer noted that System Development Fees are subject to restrictions pursuant to General Statutes and can only be used toward capacity - building projects or debt service directly related to those projects Chairman Lawter asked about the construction timeline for the planned Lower Neuse Water Treatment Facility Ms Farmer responded that according to the County’s current Capital Improvements Plan , that project is scheduled to come online in 2033 Page4394 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued The Chairman invited anyone in the audience that would like to comment during the public hearing to come forward He noted that Mr Eddie Rowe had previously communicated with the Board through email and asked him to speak first Eddie Rowe , Princeton , Boon Hill Township , stated he is here today to address a water supply issue he experienced approximately three weeks ago Mr Rowe explained that he operates a farm with 6,000 pigs and maintains five wells on his property He stated recently , these wells have been running dry and where they typically provide 30 gallons per minute , their current output has decreased to only 4 or 5 gallons per minute each He stated the wells are between 350 and 400 feet deep and at this time , it is unclear what has caused this drop in water levels He stated initially , he suspected that the nearby rock quarry might be affecting the local water table He stated as a contingency , twenty years ago he purchased a water tap from the County to ensure he would always have access to alternative water sources He stated when the wells began failing during a period of 100 - degree temperatures , his pigs , that require significant amounts of water due to their inability to sweat , began running out of water Mr Rowe stated he contacted Ms Farmers office and was advised that he could temporarily connect to a nearby fire hydrant , which he did for one day Mr Rowe stated this solution proved inadequate due to the limitations of his one - inch tap Mr Rowe continued that last month , he used approximately 507,000 gallons of water through this one - inch tap and he requires an upgrade to a two - inch tap Mr Rowe stated his overall annual water volume needs will not increase , but during the summer months of June , July , and August , greater capacity is needed to meet the hydration needs for the pigs He stated nearly all of the water consumed is for drinking , as there is no misting system or wash - down process involved Mr Rowe stated he respectfully requests approval to increase his water tap size to two inches to adequately support the welfare of his livestock during peak demand periods He stated he spoke with Ms Farmer and Mr Dan Wells Cooperative Extension about upgrading his farms water line from a one inch to a two inch tap , as his pigs need more water , especially during hot weather , which currently requires daily tanker deliveries Mr Rowe stated the issue is the 38,000 System Development Fee for this upgrade He stated after reviewing the County’s policy , everything references “ new ” growth and he believes there should be a grandfather clause or an agricultural exemption since he is not expanding but simply updating existing infrastructure Mr Rowe asked the Board to consider allowing Ms Farmer to waive or adjust this fee so he can resolve the water issue for his long - established farm and he feels he should not have to pay the 38,000 fee in this instance Mr Rowe stated he needs a resolution as soon as possible for this issue At the inquiry of Commissioner Stovall , Mr Rowe stated since 1997 , the State of North Carolina has enforced a moratorium prohibiting the construction of new or the expansion of existing hog farms He stated as a result , it is not legally possible to structurally expand his farm Commissioner Stovall commented that he noticed the same thing pointed out by Mr Rowe in that the policy references “ new ” customers and the question comes back to how new customers are defined He stated the definition of “ new ” customer becomes essential in that an increase in tap size could be interpreted as a new service Commissioner Stovall indicated that while there may not be additional charges for plant capacity , transmission and distribution costs factor in the calculation Mr Rowe stated for context , in February his water usage was 295,000 gallons He stated Ms Farmer advised by email that the average non - residential County user with a 2 - inch tap uses approximately 50,000 gallons per month He stated his consumption was 295,000 gallons in February , 375,000 in March , 430,000 in April , 397,000 in May , and 509,000 in June He stated projections indicate July usage could reach 700,000 gallons , all delivered through a 1 - inch tap Mr Rowe stated to accommodate these volumes effectively , a 2 - inch tap is required He stated according to guidance from a water and sewer expert , a 1 - inch tap can service two houses , whereas a 2 - inch tap can serve up to twenty houses , illustrating the significant difference in delivery capacity He stated given that his farm is 1,500 feet from the road , upgrading to a 2 - inch tap would facilitate more efficient water delivery Mr Rowe stated currently , he has installed both 3 - inch and 4 - inch lines , with additional lines planned to further support the farm’s needs He stated although installing the 3 - inch line provided a notable improvement , it still does not fully meet operational requirements , hence the need for a 2 - inch tap Commissioner Stovall stated from an engineering perspective , while total water volume remains consistent , a bottleneck exists due to the size of the current meter , which was initially sufficient but no longer meets demand as operations have evolved He stated it would seem that there should be an allowance made for agricultural operations , but although that is his opinion and he must defer to legal Mr Rowe stated he cannot currently afford the System Development Fee of 38,000 , and if the new rates are adopted , he has calculated that increase to 65,000 which he also cannot afford and needs this issue to be resolved within the next 30 days Page5395 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Vice Chairman Harris asked if Mr Rowe transitions to the 2 - inch tap would he still keep the 1 - inch tap Mr Rowe stated he was advised that he could receive a credit for the 1 - inch tap as he would not continue to use that 1 - inch tap , but he has not found any official documentation or statutes explaining the upgrade process or credit for existing customers Mr Rowe stated his livestock relies on him , and he urgently needs a solution to ensure their water supply through the summer Mr Rowe stated he is currently transporting water via a tanker truck and using the fire hydrant as a backup measure Upon a question by Commissioner Rose , Mr Rowe stated his current system involves pumping water into a 10,000 - gallon holding tank , which then uses a centrifugal pump to distribute the water throughout the entire operation which services eight buildings and 6,000 pigs He stated presently he is establishing infrastructure to direct the County water supply through an RPZ at the road , allowing the entire farm to operate simply by opening a valve , as opposed to the current improvised methods He stated while these temporary solutions are functional , they are not sustainable long - term He stated if a 2 - inch tap and a 4 - inch line running 1,500 feet were installed , it would allow for comprehensive service across the farm with minimal intervention Mr Rowe stated this July has been unusually hot and humid and yesterday the temperature reached 103 ° F at his farm He stated as a result , he has used more water than ever before He stated while this is part of farming , the cost is becoming unmanageable Mr Rowe stated many other counties offer special agriculture water rates which help farmers manage expenses He stated his concern is not the rate itself , but the 38,000 bill he cannot pay right now , which leaves him without water Mr Rowe stated while he understands the impact on the system , he believes there should be a way to address these unique agricultural needs Commissioner Godwin commented that it would seem there could be a way to address unique agricultural situations Chairman Lawter asked staff if the policy could be reviewed with respect to agriculture , particularly in comparison with policies from other jurisdictions Chairman Lawter stated he is aware of the limited water supply , but this is an issue that should receive consideration Commissioner Stovall commented that if other counties are doing this , then there may already be a legal precedent Mr Rowe asked if there are situations where policies can be legally waived At the request of the Chairman , County Attorney Jennifer Slusser advised that while policies can be amended , she would not recommend waiving a policy due to constitutional prohibitions against exclusive benefits for individuals She advised that instead , suggested actions could include examining how similar policies are structured elsewhere in other jurisdictions and consider possible amendments Ms Slusser stated she would like to have more time to study this issue Vice Chairman Harris stated the Board needs more time to allow the County Attorney to study the issue He noted that whatever the outcome is , everyone must keep in mind this is a resource that must be paid for and policy changes must comply with legal requirements to avoid imposing hardships on others He spoke on the importance of proceeding cautiously and seeking input from the County Attorney Mr Rowe asked for further clarification as to whether or not the policy states that upsizing results in the classification as a new customer Ms Farmer responded that each tap is considered a new service and the question is whether it is being replaced or not She stated each tap installation constitutes a separate service and the policy does not currently address upsizing Commissioner Stovall emphasized the importance of urgency as was communicated by Mr Rowe Mr Rowe asked about his next steps Chairman Lawter asked Mr Rowe to follow up next week with staff and check on the progress He thanked Mr Rowe for his input and engagement Chairman Lawter also recommended Mr Rowe contact Greg Walker at the Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation Office regarding their programs which may provide assistance Page6396 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued The Chairman asked if there were any other persons present that would like to speak There were no further public comments Chairman Lawter thanked Ms Farmer , Engineering Manager Kim Rineer , the staff , and the County’s consultants for their diligent work on this matter He stated the Board will continue to review the information and plans to include this topic as an agenda item for the Board’s upcoming meeting on August 4 , 2025 Commissioner Davis stated she is interested to learn how surrounding counties handle similar agricultural situations There being no further comments , the Chairman closed the public hearing 6 Public Utilities – Resolutions to Close - Out American Rescue Plan ARP Projects Public Utilities Engineering Manager Kim Rineer , PE , reviewed the following presentation with the Board as it relates to the asset management program Page7397 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Rineer highlighted the significance of asset management She stated to address increasing system demands , it is necessary to improve both efficiency and effectiveness and timely communication is essential ; for example , work orders should move quickly from management to field technicians Ms Rineer stated maintenance activities must be tracked and regular schedules established within a systematic framework that ensures ongoing operation She stated accountability is a key component and each asset receives a maintenance schedule , assigned to a technician , and completion can be verified She stated when customer complaints or system issues arise , the responsible employee and their response time is documented Ms Rineer stated data collected during daily operations is used in planning to assess staffing needs , operational budgets , and capital projects She stated the foundation of an Asset Management Improvement Program is a comprehensive inventory She reviewed the following timeline with the Board Ms Rineer stated the process actually began in 1998 with mapping the water and sewer systems using GIS and currently a dedicated staff member Sherry Edwards works with the GIS Department to keep the information current She stated in 2020 , further steps were taken to collect operational data to support a complete Asset Management System and after evaluating various software , Cityworks was selected and implemented with assistance from a consultant , HDR , building on the existing GIS system She stated this enables the analysis of asset maintenance requirements and conditions to inform decision - making Ms Rineer stated following the integration of the collection and distribution systems , efforts expanded to include the wastewater and water treatment plants Ms Rineer reported the North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure offered grants for projects of this nature She stated staff applied for and successfully secured funding to incorporate each of the relevant facilities into the County’s Cityworks program She stated staff began by building out the initial inventory and subsequently added all maintenance tasks associated with the items within these plants , and this represented an elevated level of complexity to bring the system online Ms Rineer stated staff completed the implementation at the end of last year and have been using it effectively since then She stated adjustments continue based on staff feedback and currently staff is incorporating the 210 Wastewater Treatment Facility , which commenced operations last summer She stated staff has collected all pertinent record drawings and manuals and are in the process of entering that information into the system , with the goal of launching before the years end Ms Rineer stated as a result , dedicated personnel are now responsible for maintaining this data She stated the platform has allowed staff to manage work orders efficiently , with over 2,800 logged thus far , demonstrating ongoing momentum toward full implementation Additionally , staff can generate detailed reports regarding the status of the systems , supporting informed decisions related to staffing , operations , maintenance ,Page8398 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued and budgeting Ms Rineer stated with these achievements in mind , staff respectfully recommends finalizing and closing out the two grant programs and proceeding with full implementation of these initiatives Ms Rineer offered to answer any questions Commissioner Bill Stovall asked about the generation of work orders for infrastructure management He stated there are typically two primary sources - scheduled work orders generated by the system according to user input , and reactive work orders submitted by staff as issues arise He asked about the percentage breakdown Ms Rineer responded that she can generate that information and provide it to the Board Commissioner Stovall stated ideally , as the system becomes fully operational , the number of system - generated work orders should eventually surpass the number of reactive ones , leading to a reduction in reactive orders Ms Rineer stated this aligns with standard facility management goals , decreasing reactive maintenance while increasing scheduled maintenance and replacements , thereby reducing service disruptions and minimizing equipment repair and replacement costs She stated by planning maintenance activities in advance , organizations gain time to source materials and arrange contracts , avoiding urgent and potentially costly interventions Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr stated Johnston County Public Schools has initiated a similar program He stated the County is preparing to implement a plan for the other departments Chairman Lawter concurred with Commissioner Stovall that it is better to proactively manage things than to spend more on unexpected repairs He commended staff for their work Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner Bill Stovall , and carried unanimously , the Board adopted the following resolutions to close out both projects Resolution by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners CMMS Initiation at Existing Central Regional WWTF Sewer AIA - D - ARP - 0157 Closeout WHEREAS , the American Rescue Plan ARP funded from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund was established in SL 2021 - 180 to assist eligible units of government with meeting their water wastewater infrastructure needs , and WHEREAS , the North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 159G has created Asset Inventory and Assessment grants to assist eligible units of government with meeting their water infrastructure needs , and WHEREAS , the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality provided American Rescue Plan grant funding in the amount of 200,000 to perform asset inventory and assessment work that has been successfully carried out and completed in accordance with the agreed scopes of work , andPage9399 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued WHEREAS , the completed Asset Management Plan and Implementation of Cityworks Computerized Maintenance Management System CMMS have been presented to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners on July 21 , 2025 , Now , therefore , be it resolved by the Board of Commissioners of Johnston County Johnston County does hereby give assurances to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality that the Conditions and Assurances contained in the award offers were adhered to in carrying out the projects ; The County intends to requisition the remaining grant funds and closeout the project with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality ; That the Board of Commissioners accepts the report as presented to the Board , and commits to utilizing the information in the ongoing management of its system st Adopted this 21 day of July , 2025 at Board of Commissioners meeting duly held in Smithfield , North Carolina Resolution by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners CMMS Initiation at Existing Timothy G Broome WTP Water AIA - D - ARP - 0158 Closeout WHEREAS , the American Rescue Plan ARP funded from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund was established in SL 2021 - 180 to assist eligible units of government with meeting their water wastewater infrastructure needs , and WHEREAS , the North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 159G has created Asset Inventory and Assessment grants to assist eligible units of government with meeting their water infrastructure needs , and WHEREAS , the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality provided American Rescue Plan grant funding in the amount of 200,000 to perform asset inventory and assessment work that has been successfully carried out and completed in accordance with the agreed scopes of work , and WHEREAS , the completed Asset Management Plan and Implementation of Cityworks Computerized Maintenance Management System CMMS have been presented to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners on July 21 , 2025 , Now , therefore , be it resolved by the Board of Commissioners of Johnston County Johnston County does hereby give assurances to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality that the Conditions and Assurances contained in the award offers were adhered to in carrying out the projects ; The County intends to requisition the remaining grant funds and closeout the project with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality ; That the Board of Commissioners accepts the report as presented to the Board , and commits to utilizing the information in the ongoing management of its system st Adopted this 21 day of July , 2025 at Board of Commissioners meeting duly held in Smithfield , North Carolina 7 Health Department – Resolution to Direct Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds Assistant Health Director Steve Strickland requested the Board to consider a resolution meeting the States requirement to specify the use of opioid funding every fiscal year He stated the funds in question total 1,382,24800 and were included in the budget approved in June for the 2025 - 2026 fiscal year Mr Strickland stated the current strategies are similar to last years with some modifications He noted the first strategy involves collaborative strategic planning , managed by the Health Department with support from one full - time coordinator and an additional part - time coordinator that will be hired soon He stated unlike many counties that chose not to have their Public Health Departments coordinate these efforts , Johnston County did so and this involved ongoing work and the participation of a task force consisting of over 100 individuals and organizations , meeting quarterly to assess progress and effectiveness of the plans Page0400 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Mr Strickland continued that the second strategy involves evidence - based addiction treatment , specifically medication - assisted treatment MAT He stated the organization is collaborating with CommWell Health , and its own behavioral health clinic in the local health department to provide MAT services , with a budget of 139,380 He explained that the third strategy focuses on recovery support services which includes hiring peer support specialists that are individuals who have experienced addiction and recovery to assist clients and connect them with necessary resources such as treatment He stated funding for this strategy totals 92,811 Mr Strickland stated the fourth strategy pertains to naloxone distribution and training He stated the program provides education to County organizations , police departments , and other interested groups on how to properly use naloxone and a total of 3,000 has been allocated for these training efforts Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked about the process for hiring and training peer support specialists Mr Strickland explained that current peer support specialists are knowledgeable about these resources and collaborate with coordinators to ensure appropriate referrals to treatment , including to private providers within the County or to outside facilities when necessary He stated transportation can also be arranged for clients as needed Mr Strickland stated the fifth strategy focuses on early intervention He noted that last year , 450,000 was made available through an RFP process , resulting in awards for two grantees the Johnston County Public School System and the Poe Center in Johnston County He stated the school system will start its program on August 1 with 100,000 to hire an intervention coordinator for at - risk students The Poe Center will provide education throughout the County on addiction and recovery He stated the sixth strategy is naloxone distribution He noted the County received 133,000 to purchase naloxone , ensuring every school , police department , fire department , and related organizations have access He stated citizens can obtain naloxone at health departments , where they are also trained on its use Ms Strickland stated the last strategy is a post - overdose response team , staffed by four community paramedics working around the clock , that has been effective in responding to opioid overdoses over the past year He stated beyond immediate response , the team connects individuals with peer support counselors and treatment options , ensuring they receive necessary care He stated due to this success , there are plans to possibly expand with an additional support team in the future Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated the Health Department has been commended for its excellent administration of this program , which is having a positive impact on the community Mr Strickland stated if there are any changes to strategies or funding , they will be brought back for further approval and public transparency Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried unanimously , the Board adopted the following resolution Page1401 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage2402 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued 8 Johnston County 911 Communications – Request to Move Funds 911 - Communications Director Morgan Harris requested the Board’s approval to transfer funds from the Emergency Telephone System Fund ETSF balance in the amount of 408,29242 Mr Harris explained thatPage3403 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued currently Johnston County has 5,047,0000 of the ETSF operating budget to cover two separate items He stated neither of these items were included in the submitted budget due to the last minute decision to move forward with Locution Paging as it will coincide with the current pager project being completed , and the service agreement increase was not sent out by the manufacturer until after the County’s budgets were turned in He stated these funds may only be used for approved items Mr Harris stated staff proposes to use the funds , as follows 1 Locution Voice Dispatch project Locution is an automated voice dispatching that saves telecommunicators time in the dispatch center further decreasing dispatch times and standardized way of call page outs , 243,23742 2 An increase that occurs approximately every 3 years passed down from our radio system manufacturer Harris LLC of 165,04400 Mr Harris requested the Board to approve the transfer of funds to cover the above referenced projects Mr Harris introduced Deputy Director Zack Alexander and Operations Manager Tina Parker accompanying him to the meeting Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated staff has been instrumental in implementing the new 800 MHz paging system , tackling challenges and achieving notable results and he thanked them for their teamwork Vice Chairman Harris stated Johnston County 911 continues to receive national and international recognition for excellence Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously , the Board approved the transfer of funds in the amount of 408,29242 from the Emergency Telephone System Fund ETSF to be used for the two projects as outlined by staff 9 Child Fatality Prevention Team Annual Report Johnston County Child Fatality Prevention Team Member Kathleen Lanc submitted and reviewed the following annual report with the Board Page4404 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage5405 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage6406 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Lanc reported the team is dedicated to improving the system , and major changes are coming in January as North Carolina will begin entering all child fatality data into a national database for the first time She stated this transition will be complex and require extra effort from everyone Ms Lanc expressed appreciation to the County Commissioners and the Johnson County Board of Health for their ongoing support Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked what is the definition of a child Ms Lanc explained that a child is defined as a person under the age of 18 Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris commended Ms Lanc for her work and acknowledged the continued dedication and contributions made to these efforts by the team The Board thanked Ms Lanc for the annual report 10 Johnston County ABC Board – Travel Policy Johnston County ABC Board General Manager Shannon Capps presented a request to the Board of Commissioners to adopt a travel policy for the ABC Board that conforms to the travel policy of Johnston County Ms Capps introduced ABC Board Members and former County Commissioners Jeffrey Carver and Lee Jackson Ms Capps stated the request is for permission for the ABC Travel Policy to align with the County’s policy so it can be used for employment purposes At the inquiry of Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Ms Capps stated the ABC Commission is requiring the permission of the local Board of County Commissioners Chairman Lawter stated the Board typically does not vote on items during the meeting where they are presented He suggested considering this request at the August 4 , 2025 10 00 am meeting Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked if there is a deadline from the Commission for this request Ms Capps stated the Commission has requested approval as soon as possible Commissioner Godwin stated he is aware that a precedent is important , but the Board has seen this policy before today in the agenda packet , so unless there is a reason not to , the Board could consider approval today Chairman Lawter stated that while the Board’s practice is to wait , the Board can make exceptions if needed Commissioner Godwin stated this is not unusual and it is consistent with the County’s current policy Chairman Lawter asked County Attorney Jennifer Slusser if she had reviewed the policy Ms Slusser stated if the Board of Commissioners does not approve this policy , the ABC Board will operate under the State’s policy Ms Slusser stated she has reviewed the policy and it does align with the County’s policy She pointed out that pursuant to the General Statute , in the event of disputes over what is acceptable for approval under the travel policy , it is the County Finance Officer that must make that determination which puts him in an interesting position Page7407 July 21 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued At the inquiry of Commissioner Godwin , Ms Slusser stated if approved , this would be the ABC Board’s Travel Policy which mirrors the County’s policy She stated the Finance Officers involvement is required by statute Chairman Lawter stated since the ABC Board passed their policy in late February , he does not see a need for urgency ; therefore , he suggested the Board of Commissioners stick to its current practice and add the item to the next consent agenda , and the Board agreed by consent Chairman Lawter announced this item will appear on the August 4 , 2025 10 00 am consent agenda and staff would keep Ms Capps updated 11 County Committee for America250NC Update Allison Elsie