October 6, 2025 - 10:00 AM - Board of Commissioners Highlights

10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING October 6 , 2025 - 10 00 AM Videos of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meetings may be viewed at the following https wwwyoutubecom jocogovnc VFW Post 5955 Selma led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda - Agenda approved 2 Veterans Services Office – Resolution Supporting Operation Green Light for Veterans Resolution Adopted Veterans Services Office requests the Board to adopt a resolution supporting Operation Green Light for Veterans from October through Veterans Day , November 11 , 2025 The Veterans Services Officer Robert Boyette will present the resolution to the Board for consideration 3 Consent Agenda Items - Consent Agenda approved A Approval of Minutes – September 2 , 2025 - 10 00 am and 6 00 pm B Department of Transportation – Additions to System NC DOT is requesting the Board to concur with their recommendation to add the following roads to the State Maintained System Wilson Farm Lane , Old Pine Court , Blalock Court , Wheat Straw Court , Mockingbird Way and Back Gate Court - Wilson Farm – Clayton Township Thunder Ridge Drive , Diamond Hill Court , Look Drive , Crown Point Drive , Starwood Drive , Cliffview Drive , Tradewind Court , Capewood Court , Clear Creek Circle , Dove Valley Circle , Tall Timber Court , Hidden Grove Court , Mountain View Drive , Trail Point Circle , Tang Circle , Lockhaven Drive , Good Morning Lane , Morning Star Lane , and Son - Lan Parkway - River Oaks – Cleveland Township C Animal Cruelty Officers Reappointment Request Animal Services Director Chad Massengill is requesting the Board to reappoint Bryan Bryant and Chad Massengill as the Animal Cruelty Officers to serve Johnston County for one year terms This is an annual administrative action and does not require any additional funding D Appointments – indicates the need for a waiver in the length of service policy Child Fatality Prevention Team – 2 positions ; 3 year terms One position representing law enforcement and one position representing emergency medical services provider or firefighter Brandon Allen has applied for reappointment representing law enforcement Travis C Johnson has applied for appointment representing emergency medical services provider or firefighter PageFirefighter’s Relief Fund Board of Trustees – 2 year terms except where noted in order to create staggered terms One 1 position representing each of the following fire districts Beulah – Douglas R Whitley has applied for reappointment and would require a waiver in the length of service policy Corinth - Holders – Carol Woodard has applied for reappointment and would require a wavier in the length of service policy Wynn – Randy Earl Allen has applied for reappointment Johnston County Heritage Commission – 8 positions ; 2 year terms Pearl Blackmon , Carolyn G Ennis , Vicky Temple - Rains , Lettie Inez Best , James Dana Carter , II , Catherine Rusher Gutierrez , and Gary Underwood have applied for reappointment Dr Shiquita Blue has applied for appointment Moccasin Creek Service District Board – 2 positions ; 2 year term Applicants must reside or own real property in the District and be a resident of Johnston County 1 position represents the Rural Area of the District and one position represents the Town of Pine Level Pine Level applicants will be forwarded to the Pine Level Town Council for recommendation Jeff Holt representing the Town of Pine Level has applied for reappointment and would require a waiver in the length of service policy Debra Heuertz has applied for reappointment Nursing Home Adult Care Home Community Advisory Board – 15 positions ; 1 year term for new appointees or 3 year term for reappointed members “ No person or immediate family member of a person with a financial interest in a home served by a committee , or an employee or governing board member of a home served by a committee , or immediate family member of a patient in a home served by a committee may be a member of a committee ” Keisha Godwin has applied for appointment E Budget Revisions Library - 29,27900 – To budget funds into appropriate expenditure line items Sheriff – 16,70699 – To move revenues Miscellaneous Revenue and Sale of Assets into appropriate expenditure line items F Tax Releases & Refunds – 08 16 2025 – 09 15 2025 4 Public Comments - There were no public comments 5 Proclamation - Employee Appreciation Week – October 20 - 24 , 2025 Proclamation adopted Staff requests the Board to adopt a proclamation declaring the week of October 20 - 24 , 2025 as Employee Appreciation Week 6 Johnston County Cooperative Extension - Proclamation – National 4 - H Week Proclamation adopted Johnston County Cooperative Extension requests the Board to adopt a proclamation declaring the week of October 5 - 11 , 2025 as 4 - H Week Page7 Harbor - Proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation adopted Harbor is requesting the Board to adopt a proclamation for October 2025 as domestic violence awareness month 8 Smithfield Ballpark Project Update Informational item – Continued discussion will be held at the 6pm meeting Smithfield Town Manager Mike Scott will provide an update to the Board on the Smithfield Ballpark Project 9 Emergency Services – Fire Commission Presentation of Budget Submittal Policy and Apparatus Replacement Policy - Request approved The Johnston County Fire Commission will present a proposed Budget Submittal Policy and an Apparatus Replacement Policy to the Board for approval Both policies have been reviewed and formally approved by the Fire Commission 10 Emergency Services – Request for Positions to Staff EMS Wilson’s Mills Fire Station # 3 Request approved Johnston County Emergency Services respectfully request the Board to consider approval of eight additional positions within the EMS Division for staffing EMS 16 , which will be located at Wilson’s Mills Fire Station # 3 Johnston County Emergency Services anticipates placing EMS 16 in service concurrently with Wilson’s Mills Fire Station # 3 opening upon completion Funding for these eight requested positions , along with associated equipment , has been included within the Emergency Services FY 25 - 26 budget 11 Emergency Services – Request to Approve Contracts with Assistant Medical Directors Request approved Johnston County Emergency Services request the Board to consider the proposed contracts with Dr Andrew Mealin and Dr John Wooten to fill the roles of Assistant Medical Director Dr Andrew Mealin and Dr John Wooten would provide support to Dr Rodney McCaskill , current Medical Director with Johnston County Emergency Services EMS Division Both Dr Mealin and Dr Wooten come highly recommended by Dr McCaskill and Johnston County Emergency Services staff 12 Public Utilities – Neuse River Wastewater Pump Station Improvements Request approved The County received three 3 bids on August 18 , 2025 for the Neuse River Wastewater Pump Station Replacement project The project is included in the County’s Water and Sewer CIP and will replace the existing Neuse River WWPS located on US 301 at the Neuse River with a larger station located outside of the flood hazard areas A bid tabulation and recommendation of award from the engineer are attached Sanford Contractors , Inc of Sanford , NC submitted the lowest responsive bid in the amount of 4,581,44410 Sanford Contractors is properly licensed and experienced in the type of construction involved and appears to have the financial , labor , equipment and resources required to complete the construction within the stipulated contract completion time The County received a funding offer from NCDEQ – DWI for an SRF Loan in the amount of 8,960,000 204 for 20 years for the Neuse River WWPS and Force Main projects SRF - W - 0015 The WWPS Improvements project is considered Contract 1 for the project , and the remainder of the loan will be appropriated to the Force Main Project Contract 2 Staff proposes a revised project budget , as follows Expense Existing Proposed Technical Design Services 953,00000 953,00000 Easement Acquisition 112,20000 96,00000 Construction 000 4,581,44410 Contingency 000 229,07190 Loan Closing 000 179,20000PageTotal Revenue 1,065,20000 6,038,71600 Fund 68 Balance 948,00000 263,00000 Sewer SDF Reserve Funds 105,00000 000 NCDOT Payment 12,20000 12,20000 SRF Loan 204 for 20 Years 000 5,763,51600 Total 1,065,20000 6,038,71600 Staff recommends acceptance of the funding offer from DEQ – DWI including approval of the resolution to accept funding offer , award of the Neuse River Wastewater Pump Station Replacement project to Sanford Contractors , Inc in the amount of 4,581,44410 contingent upon DEQ – DWI approval including approval of the resolution to award , approval of the revised project budget and approval of the capital project ordinance 13 Parks and Open Space – Request for Additional Funding – Phase I Johnston Co Regional Park Request approved Parks and Open Space request approval for additional funding in the amount of 850,00000 to start and complete Phase I of the Johnston County Regional Park This funding will allow the project to begin and meet all deadlines required for other grants being used to fund this project Staff respectfully request approval for the additional funding and approval of the capital project ordinance 14 Parks and Open Space – Request to Approve Contract for Neuse River Trail – Wilson’s Mills Greenway - Request approved The Parks and Open Space Department has begun working on the Neuse River Trail - Wilsons Mills Segment project , a 15 - mile greenway alignment that is located behind the future Wilsons Mills High School , connecting schools , parks , and neighborhoods Funding for the project comes from the Carbon Reduction Program and the Complete the Trails Program , with a local match from county open space funds , totaling 42 million In working with NCDOT to select a preliminary engineering and design firm , we have chosen John R McAdams Company McAdams to complete this portion of the project We have negotiated and finalized a contract in the amount 287,20331 and respectfully request the Board of Commissioners to accept and execute the contract and approve the capital project ordinance 15 Triangle Land Conservancy – Conservation Easement - Little River Forest Property Informational item Triangle Land Conservancy will provide an update to the Board on the conservation easement acquired for the Little River Forest Property 16 Cost of Community Services Economic Model Proposal - Request approved On September 15 , 2025 Creative Economic Consulting , LLC provided a proposal to the Board for the cost of community services study and economic impact modeling The fee for the Cost of Community Services Project is 22,605 plus travel expenses The Local Fiscal Impact Model will be developed in two phases The fee for Phase 1 will be 18,000 - 25,000 depending upon the range of variables and data points included The fee for Phase 2 will be 20,000 - 26,000 depending upon the complexity of the model The total not to exceed for fees and expenses for both projects is 73,905 These projects will be initiated in October 2025 and completed by February 2026 Staff respectfully request the Board to approve moving forward with these two projects 17 Appointments Alcoholic Beverage Control Board – 1 position ; 3 year term Callie Collins Rhynes was appointed PagePage pageNumber5Child Fatality Prevention Team – 2 positions ; 3 year terms one position representing a parent of a child that died before reaching their 18th birthday ; and one position representing a county agency or the community at - large Matt Thompson was reappointed representing community at - large Fire Protection Service District Commission – 3 positions ; 2 year term Kendall Hocutt , Jeremey B Daughtry and Chadwick B Ward were reappointed Johnston County Planning Board – 1 position to fill an unexpired term ending February 8 , 2028 Robinson W Williams was appointed Tourism Authority – 1 position ; 3 year term Applicants must not own or operate a hotel , motel , or other taxable tourist accommodation Alicia Whitehurst was appointed 18 Delinquent Tax Collection Report - Informational item 19 Manager Reports and Comments 20 Board Reports and Comments Commissioner Ted G Godwin reminded everyone to display a green light supporting Veterans now through Veterans Day Commissioner Bill Stovall thanked Solid Waste Director Brian Beasley , Andrew Braswell and other landfill employees for their support in expanding the archery range at the landfill to include firearms for the 4 - H Shooting Sports Program Commissioner Stovall also thanked the Board for approving to expand the program that will benefit the 4 - H program of Johnston County Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis stated she had the opportunity to attend the ribbon cutting for the Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Four Oaks along with the entire Board Commissioner Davis said while touring the facility they were able to see the opportunities for students at Johnston Community College Commissioner April Stephens said she attended a meeting last week where they talked about collaborating with legislators and elected officials within the county Commissioner Stephens said it is great to hear about all the things the Board has been able to accomplish in such a short period of time Commissioner Stephens stated they also received encouraging statistics from the school board on how they are outperforming other counties in North Carolina Commissioner Mike Rose stated he had the opportunity to participate in the Benson Mule Days Parade and the Selma Railroad Days parade where he was able to meet many people Commissioner Rose said he wants the citizens to put a face with who represents them Commissioner Rose said he has heard good things on collaboration and as the Board works through regionalization projects for water and sewer he looks forward to working with and forming partnerships Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris said many good things are happening in Johnston County Vice Chairman Harris stated he is proud of the collaboration and when the Fire Service adopted their vision statement it was for the citizens of Johnston County Vice Chairman Harris said this board must plant trees that they will never sit under the shade of , but generations to come will Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr mentioned the words visionary and empowering that represent Johnston County employees as well as the citizens of Johnston County Chairman Lawter said Emergency Services and Fire Services had a vision and now other counties are reaching out wanting to know what Johnston County is doing Chairman Lawter said the discussions on the 4 - H program is empowering as it helps develop amazing adults He said many have testified today that they were part of 4 - H and the success it helped them achieve throughout their adult life Page