September 15, 2025 - 6:00 PM - Board of Commissioners Highlights

10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING SEPTEMBER 15 , 2025 - 6 00 PM Videos of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meetings may be viewed at the following https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda - Agenda approved 2 Consent Agenda Items - Consent agenda approved A Approval of Minutes – August 18 , 2025 6 00 pm B Town of Benson – Appointment to Benson Board of Adjustments The Town of Benson is requesting the Board to make the following appointment to the Benson Board of Adjustments representing the ETJ area of the Town Brian Whitman , 806 W Main Street , Benson term expiring December 31 , 2027 C Appointment to Hospital Authority Board of Commissioners – 1 position ; 3 year term At the September 2 , 2025 Board Meeting , Brad Oakes was nominated for the position on the Hospital Authority The Hospital Authority met on September 4 , 2025 and concurred with the nomination Pursuant to General Statutes , Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr will make the final appointment D Building and Grounds – Request to Proceed with Design Services for Courtroom upfit Building and Grounds requests approval to proceed with the design process for the Annex Courtroom project After reviewing the project dynamics staff is recommending Moseley for design services for the Annex Courtroom upfit project The redesign and upfit of Courtrooms 1 , 2 and 3 utilizing technology and design upgrades will facilitate their continued use for many years Funds have been appropriated in the current Building and Grounds budget for these services E 911 Communications – Request to Move Funds From Emergency Telephone System Fund Johnston County 911 Communications is requesting approval from the Board to move funds in the amount of 120,00000 from the Emergency Telephone System Fund ETSF balance to the Emergency Telephone System Fund Operating Budget Currently Johnston County has 4,052,00000 in the ETSF Fund Balance to cover this item These funds may only be used for approved items 1 To cover the cost of NC 911 Board approved 911 Infrastructure Server Refresh at our main facility and back up facility The current servers also fall into the NC 911 Boards recommended replacement schedule Staff respectfully request the Board’s approval to move funds in the amount of 120,00000 from the Emergency Telephone System Fund ETSF Page3 Visit from Miss North Carolina Teen Kate Ward 2025 Miss North Carolina Teen Kate Ward visited with the Board and briefly spoke on her platform 4 Public Comments The following individuals addressed the Board during Public Comment • County Manager Rick Hester recognized Public Information Office for receiving the National Savvy Award for their video Honoring Our Heroes Stories of Service and Sacrifice and Johnston County Building Inspections Department for Earning the Statewide Barry Gupton Award for Hurricane Helene Response • Public Information Director Adam Carroll • Inspections Director Shane Hudson Note Full comments can be viewed in the video from the meeting at the following link https wwwyoutubecom watch v c2HYHC3kOzk 5 Proposal for Cost of Community Services Study and Economic Impact Modeling Informational Item Crystal Morphis with Creative Economic Consulting , LLC will provide a proposal to the Board for the cost of community services study and economic impact modeling 6 Public Hearing – Proposed Naming of Newly Constructed Road After the public hearing , the Board approved the new road name of Polecat Branch Road The purpose of the public hearing is to allow for public comment on the proposed naming of a newly constructed road As part of the US 70 Bus bridge replacement over I - 95 , a new road has been created connecting US 70 Business and Mallard Road This road is in the ETJ area of Smithfield and requires a name which must be approved by the Board of County Commissioners The statutory authority regarding naming new roads outside of municipal limits is NCGS 153A - 2391 The proposed name from the Town of Smithfield is Polecat Branch Road 7 Public Hearing Rezoning Conditional Use Request Tabled from 9 - 2 - 25 Meeting After the rezoning case is heard , which is a legislative public hearing , the hearing will be recessed and the Board will render a decision CASE 25 - 04 Request Denied REZONING PETITION - Petition to rezone 948 acres of a 157 acre parcel located at 477 Hatcher Rd , in the Micro Township from Agricultural Residential AR to General Business - Conditional Zoning GB - CZ Tax ID 10N07005E Owner Cassandra & Jarred Bridges Applicant Cassandra Bridges Conditional Zoning Request Animal Boarding Facility The Planning Board recommends DENIAL of the Rezoning request and submits to the Board of Commissioners a proposed Statement of Consistency for denial 8 JCATS - Quick Ride Update Executive Director Josh Jenssen updated the Board on the Quick Ride Program 9 Parks & Open Space – Open Space Fund Grant Cycle Request approved PageThe Open Space Fund currently has 2,000,000 available for grants Staff request the Board’s approval to open the cycle to receive applications from October 1 through October 31 with the anticipation of making awards in December Further staff would like to change the match from 5 to 25 to encourage more robust projects 10 Parks & Open Space – Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Request approved Johnston County Parks and Open Space Program has been awarded a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund LWCF for the Johnston County Regional Park Phase I construction project in the amount of 500,000 with a local match of 500,000 Said funds will be expended for the project after October 1 , 2025 Staff requests the Board to accept the award and execute the grant contract 11 Exercise Option to Purchase Agreement The Board approved exercising the Option to Purchase On May 5 , 2025 , the Board of Commissioners entered into an Option to Purchase Agreement for property identified as Parcel ID Number 15024070 and owned by Courthouse Associates , LLC Since that time due diligence has been completed The option is set to expire September 30 , 2025 If the option is exercised and the terms and conditions of the sale are met , the transaction is required to close on or before December 30 , 2025 Staff requests the Boards approval to exercise the Option to Purchase 12 Approval of Option to Purchase Agreement – Johnson Estate Road , Clayton The Board approved the Option to Purchase Agreement for Tax Parcel IDs 05F02032 and 05F02032L Johnston County has been working with Johnston Community College to identify sites that may be appropriate for future community college expansion in western Johnston County Johnston Community College has identified and Johnston County has an interest in purchasing a 5035 + - tract identified as Tax Parcel 05F02032L and a 13 acre tract identified as Tax Parcel 05F02032L on Johnson Estate Road in Clayton Any purchase will be contingent upon satisfactory due diligence and suitable access Staff seeks authority from the Board of Commissioners to enter into and execute an option to purchase contract for the property at a price of 125,000 per acre not materially inconsistent with the foregoing The decision to exercise an option under the contract would come back to the Board of Commissioners for approval 13 Isaiah 117 House Memorandum of Understanding The Board approved the Memorandum of Understanding On October 21 , 2024 , the Johnston County Board of Commissioners approved a letter supporting the expansion efforts of Isaiah 117 House in Johnston County , North Carolina Isaiah 117 House has taken steps to open a location in Johnston County that serves as a temporary , transitional space for Department of Social Services employees to serve custodial children awaiting foster care placement in a safe , child - friendly environment Isaiah 117 House also offers space at its locations for Department of Social Services supervised visitation between children and their families The home is near completion and ready for use Staff respectfully requests approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between Isaiah 117 House and Johnston County that guides the relationship between Isaiah 117 House and Johnston County The Johnston County Social Services Director and the Johnston County Social Services Board support this request 14 Comprehensive Transportation Plan The Board approved the proposed Comprehensive Transportation Plan The Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on September 2 , 2025 for the proposed Comprehensive Transportation Plan Staff presented an overview of the plan and addressed questions from the Board and received public comments Staff respectfully request the Board to approve the proposed Comprehensive Transportation Plan Page15 Manager Reports and Comments County Attorney Jennifer Slusser presented a resolution to the Board for consideration regarding Opioid settlements The Board approved the request 16 Board Reports and Comments Commissioner Ted G Godwin said he attended the ribbon cutting in Micro for their newly renovated community building and it was well attended Commissioner Godwin stated he also attended the Behavioral Health Resource Fair last Friday and there was a lot participation and Isaiah 117 House was also in attendance He encouraged those who need services to reach out for those resources Commissioner Godwin also reported on Cycle NC group that travel from the mountains to the coast each year He said this year they will be traveling through Bentonville on October 6th and they are in need of volunteers Commissioner Bill Stovall said the Town of Selma has invited the Commissioners to attend a Double Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on October 3rd at 10 00 am for the Mitchener Station Relocation and 10 30 am for the Public Works Building Grand Opening Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis said she attended Clayton Chamber’s First Responders appreciation breakfast and it was a nice event to honor our first responders and recognize them for what they do Commissioner Davis also said there were other 9 11 events held in the county and appreciated all involved that recognized everything that happened that day Commissioner Mike Rose said he attended a Prayer for America event that was held in front of the courthouse Commissioner Rose spoke on the tragedies that occurred last week along with the 24th Anniversary of 9 11 Commissioner Rose said it is his hope that everyone can find voices to lead them or make them a better person as Charlie Kirk mentioned quite often that you should love everyone Commissioner Rose stated he hopes last week’s events will make everyone in Johnston County and America be willing to talk to each other a little bit more Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris said he also attended the Behavioral Health Fair last Friday and it was well attended He mentioned many things available to those in need like the Isaiah 117 House He also mentioned a behavioral health urgent care that is moving forward to be available to the citizens Vice Chairman Harris said he is thankful for everyone’s diligent work on these projects Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr mentioned the Public Information Office and Inspections Department that were recognized tonight and thanked all county employees for all that they do 17 Closed Session – NCGS 14331811 a 3 – Attorney Client Privilege No action was taken Page