February 21, 2022 - 6:00 pm - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

10 604 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners February 21 , 2022 6 00 pm The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday , February 21 , 2022 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 , Tony Braswell , Ted G Godwin , Larry Wood , Fred J Smith , Jr , and Richard D Braswell Absent None Also Present County Manager Rick J Hester , County Attorney Jennifer J Slusser , Clerk to the Board Paula Woodard , and Paralegal Deputy Clerk Dana Cuddington Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr called the meeting to order at 6 00 pm Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris opened the meeting with a prayer Commissioner Tony Braswell led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner Richard D Braswell , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the agenda as presented 2 Consent Agenda Items Upon a motion by Commissioner Tony Braswell , 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 – January 18 , 2022 B Budget Revisions , approved as follows Library REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 18 44503324 LSTA Grant 20,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 20,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 18 445033424 LSTA Grant 20,00000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 20,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 18 44503200 Office Supplies 1,49900 18 44503305 Main Books 2,01000 18 44503316 AV 2,50000 18 44503326 Books – YA 2,00000 18 44505810 Endowments to Audiobooks 3,00000 18 44505817 Occupational Training 1,60000 18 44506005 Gifts 67000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 13,27900 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 18 445033424 LSTA Grant 3,49900 18 445036138 Book Sales 67000 18 445037900 Investment Income 9,11000Page605 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued TOTAL NET REVENUE 13,27900 Soil Conservation REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 57 66751611 Maintenance 12,25000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 12,25000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 57 667533990 Fund Balance Appropriated 12,25000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 12,25000 Tourism REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 15 84000200 Salaries & Wages 10,20000 15 84000201 Longevity Pay 10000 15 84000501 Social Security 1,00000 15 84000700 Retirement 9,00000 15 84000400 Legal & Professional Fees 30000 15 84001110 Postage 4,00000 15 84002600 Advertising 30,00000 15 84004605 Special Events 50000 15 84004606 Matching Marketing Grants 5,00000 15 84004619 JoCo Grows Agriculture Expenses 20,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 80,10000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 15 840032104 Johnston County 5 3,00500 15 840032105 Tourism Authority 95 57,09500 15 840032300 JoCo Grows Funds 20,00000 TOTAL NET REVENUE 80,10000 C Appointments , approved as follows Johnston County Board of Health – Appointed Dr Charles Williams , MD representing the licensed physician position for a three - year term to expire on February 28 , 2025 3 State of the County Address by Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr The 2022 State of the County Address by Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr was delivered via video Following is a transcript of the speech by Chairman Lawter Hello Johnston County residents , businesses and everyone else that calls Johnston County home I am Butch Lawter , Chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners I’d like to thank you for joining me for the annual State of the County Address Johnston County continues to position itself as a leader in our region through tremendous economic growth , a continued investment in infrastructure , diligently planning for the future and our historic dedication to provide responsive and innovative services to every resident in the County The biggest challenge we faced head - on this year was the continued impacts of COVID - 19 The Johnston County Public Health Department played a vital role in helping make vaccines and testing available to every resident in the County We thank them for their hard work , dedication and for being a guiding light throughout the pandemic Page606 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued The County made a substantial investment in public safety in 2020 with the groundbreaking of the new Johnston County Detention Center Today we’re only a few months away from that state - of - the - art facility becoming fully operational In December , crews broke ground on phase two of the project , which will be a long - overdue Public Safety Center that will house the Sheriff’s Department , Emergency Services and 911 Communications The latest census numbers proved what most of us already knew , that Johnston County is a very desirable place to live , work and play We continue to see steady , shared growth occurring across the County , some of the highlights include the construction of a new Amazon distribution facility in Smithfield , AdvanceTEC and Copper District’s major investment near Clayton , EastField in Selma , Berry Global’s production facility expansion in Benson and Bartlett Milling expanding its operation in Wilson’s Mills For over 200 years our historic agricultural industry has been a leader in the state and the backbone of our local economy With a shift in some agricultural business models to accommodate tourism , our agriculture economy continues to thrive To continue fostering sustained growth in Johnston County we must be diligent in planning and preparing for the future After four steering committee meetings and nearly 2,500 online survey responses , the development of a new Comprehensive Land Use Plan is well underway The plan will help guide the growth and development of our community for years to come The Comprehensive Land Use Plan will be finalized later this year An even broader road map for the County is on the horizon , with County officials beginning discussions for a strategic plan that will set priorities and focus on County and education facilities , infrastructure including broadband , parks and greenways , open space preservation and overall growth Infrastructure planning will always be at the top of the County’s priority list A crucial countywide water and wastewater study will start soon This comes on the heels of a new water agreement with the City of Raleigh and a bid approval for a new wastewater treatment plant in the County In September , County Commissioners agreed to partially fund an extension of a natural gas line close to the Four Oaks Business Park This extension will also increase the opportunity for commercial development along the Interstate 95 corridor To better serve the public and local media , the Board of Commissioners enhanced the production quality of their live - streamed Board meetings and made them easier to access on the County’s YouTube channel , YouTubecom jocogovnc A new space needs study for County offices and facilities is underway and the approval of 55 million in general fund allocations for municipal infrastructure projects has been approved The Parks , Greenways and Open Space Office continues to be a trailblazer , literally and figuratively in our community They’re currently working with County planners and the Upper Coastal Plains RPO on a feasibility study for the Mountains to Sea Trail and East Coast Greenway to determine the optimum route through the County The office hopes to soon have a master plan for a two - site , County park complex in Cleveland that will become a cornerstone for recreation in that area for years to come These are only a few of the many accomplishments and achievements we’ve seen in 2021 I want to thank our residents for their continued support and I want to thank the Board of Commissioners for their service and dedication to the County None of this success would be possible without the hard work of our outstanding team of County employees as they continue providing quality services to everyone who calls Johnston County home Thank you and God bless Chairman Lawter thanked Adam Carroll and Ben Armstrong in the Public Information Office for their work on the video Chairman Lawter stated in the video message , he hopes that the citizens picked up on the amount of planning the Board is doing to prepare for the growth that is here as well as the growth that is to come He stated the Board is trying to be on the front end and be prepared for growth as much as possible Page607 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued 4 Public Comments A 2022 Emergency Preparedness Calendars Emergency Services Deputy Director Josh Holloman , Emergency Management Coordinator Sandy Wood , and Communications Specialist Logan Penny presented the 2022 Emergency Preparedness Calendars to the Board Mr Holloman stated the calendars are a part of the planning and preparedness that Emergency Services does for the citizens Ms Wood stated this year’s calendar highlights not only emergency preparedness , but also every town in Johnston County Ms Wood stated the calendars are available to the citizens and anyone interested in obtaining copies can contact their office She stated the calendar is a collaborative effort between EMS , Fire Services , and Emergency Management She stated the calendar highlights how citizens can receive Johnston County alerts , sign up for EMS subscriptions , and remind everyone to have their house numbers displayed on their businesses and homes She stated that partnerships have been made with Community and Senior Services , the Veterans Office , municipalities , and the Health Department in order to provide the information to as many citizens as possible She stated Logan Penny is the Social Media Coordinator for their office and assists with developing and completing project ideas Mr Penny stated in this year’s calendar , staff wanted to highlight the different towns in the County and include information about specific areas to make the process more personal He noted that integration will occur through the website to further inform citizens about seasonal preparedness The Board thanked staff for the calendars and their continued work for the citizens B Citizen Comments – Ken Taylor Mr Ken Taylor , Clayton , spoke about ammonium nitrate concerns and the recent emergency event in Winston Salem when a fertilizer plant in their area burned Mr Taylor stated ammonium nitrate is used in fertilizer for agriculture He stated Johnston County is the # 4 county in North Carolina for agriculture and he asked the Board to consult with Emergency Services to make sure necessary plans are in place in the event of a similar emergency here He stated provisions should be made for daycares , nursing homes , and hospitals Mr Taylor also expressed concerns regarding files placed on Google Drive He noted that Johnston County uses Google and he asked for staff to look at files that Google may be scanning for copyright purposes He stated with departments such as the County Attorney and Public Health , there might be confidentiality issues C Citizen Comments – Timothy Hodges Timothy Hodges , Clayton , stated he has attended several meetings of the Board in the past and he is aware that some of the Board’s agendas are large and the elected officials of Johnston County are busy Mr Hodges stated he would like to reiterate his previous requests of looking at how County Commissioners are elected in Johnston County as well as the districts Mr Hodges stated he understands it will take some time but he feels the need to remind the Board from time to time Mr Hodges also asked how many females had ever served as a County Commissioner , stating he is only aware of former Commissioner Cookie Pope D Citizen Comments – Gracie Wells Chamblee Gracie Wells Chamblee , Clayton , stated she has been a resident of Johnston County for 32 years and she ran for County Commissioner in 2018 Ms Chamblee echoed the comments by Timothy Hodges and asked the Board to consider his request so that the make - up of the Board will better represent the County Ms Chamblee stated she plans on running for County Commissioner again in the future and she would like to have the opportunity to win a seat on the Board 5 Economic Development – Approval of Grant Application Economic Development Director Chris Johnson explained that the County was contacted by Galot Motorsports regarding a grant opportunity from the North Carolina Department of Commerce , which requires the local government to be a pass - through for the grant funds Mr Johnson reported 40 million in State funding has been set aside for racetracks in North Carolina and Galot is eligible to receive the assistance Mr Johnson stated no matching funds are required , and there is no risk to the County He explained the funds would be received by Johnston County from the North Carolina Department of Commerce and then directly transferred to GalotPagePage pageNumber5608 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued Motorsports Mr Johnson requested the Board to approve the grant application opportunity with Galot Motorsports Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously , the Board approved the grant application submittal with Galot Motorsports In response to Commissioner Godwin , Mr Johnson stated the application is due by February 26 , 2022 He stated there is a 60 - day turn around with the process and an amendment in the budget will be needed when the funds are received from the Department of Commerce so they can be disbursed to Galot 6 Parks , Greenways , and Open Space Coordinator – Grant Opportunity Parks , Greenways , and Open Space Coordinator Adrian O’Neal requested the Board’s approval to apply for a State Parks & Recreation Grant in the amount of 142,500 to fund a countywide trails and greenways plan Mr O’Neal stated additional funds in the amount of 7,500 would be required for a total cost of 150,000 , and staff plans to seek other funding sources to offset the additional funds needed Mr O’Neal stated if other funding sources are not secured , he would request an allocation from the County’s open space fund Mr O’Neal stated he would be working with Mr James Salmons from the Upper Coastal Plains RPO on the grant opportunity and the deadline to apply is February 25 , 2022 Mr O’Neal clarified that he has learned that Johnston County would only be responsible for matching 7,500 instead of 30,000 as previously thought and reported in the agenda packet He stated the grant is a State Planning Research Grant through the North Carolina Department of Transportation He stated the plan would identify routes and connect them to existing trails , schools , nature trails and parks , and align with surrounding county trails He stated the plan will also identify potential funding sources and variable acquisition approaches that can be used and there is support from the State Parks , East Coast Greenway , and Triangle Trails Initiative Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked about the turnaround time after the funding is approved Mr O’Neal stated the previous approval of funds was not a good example of turnaround because of COVID , but the expectation is to have approval by the end of 2022 and have a completed plan by July 2023 Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr asked about highway projects and whether the County will be on the forefront of the planning process through the Department of Transportation when the plan is completed Mr O’Neal stated as he understands if the County has a project in the plan that aligns with a local highway project , then it must be accounted for as part of the Complete Streets Project Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously , the Board approved the grant application submittal to fund a countywide trails and greenways plan and for the matching funds in the amount of 7,500 to come from the County’s open space fund if it cannot be secured from other sources Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated he attended a recent event for Parks , Open Space , and Greenways and he was able to personally witness everyone’s excitement and he looks forward to the future plans 7 Nealon Planning – Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update Meg Nealon of Nealon Planning and Ben Hitchings of Green Heron Planning presented an update to the Board PagePage pageNumber6609 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued Ms Nealon shared the schedule with the Board and stated May is still the target for a first draft of the plan Ms Nealon stated the plan is currently at the midpoint for creating a vision for Johnston County Ms Nealon spoke on the role of the Steering Committee and stated they are providing important feedback throughout this process PagePage pageNumber7610 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued Ms Nealon stated the Board of Commissioners would be making the final decisions after receiving recommendations from the Johnston County Planning Board Ms Nealon stated the discovery phase has been discussed and the various challenges and opportunities are being considered She stated the vision of future land use and a conservation map will be shared at the upcoming public forums at the end of the week She stated this is important in that the recommendations , policies , and strategies will follow to develop the draft and final plan PagePage pageNumber8611 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued Ms Nealon shared the refined goals that assist with crafting the vision Ms Nealon shared a map of possible future land use place - types and stated the colors represent activities in the County and areas of possibilities She stated the map is a graphic depiction of the future and direction the County is going based on the policies being chosen She stated the process provides the citizens with information about the plans 20 years into the future Ms Nealon stated the colors represent open space , employment centers , and industrial centers that include different character , scale , and purposes She asked the Board members to think about the priorities thatPagePage pageNumber9612 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued they have for the County and whether they align with the primary objectives for the County She stated similar questions would be asked at the upcoming public forums and in the next survey to gain public input Commissioner Ted G Godwin stated he was encouraged by the map a few weeks ago when Planning Director Braston Newton first presented it to the Board ; however , he expressed concerns about the plan restricting existing residents that have lived in the area for generations Ms Nealon clarified that interpretation of the map is critical She stated the map is a first draft and a graphic depiction of preferences , but not a zoning map Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr asked if the map was drafted by the Steering Committee Ms Nealon stated the map was introduced to the Steering Committee and would also be taken to the public forums She stated feedback and policy ideas are encouraged Commissioner Tony Braswell stated this process brings back the age - old question , “ which came first , the chicken or the egg ” He stated Johnston County is where it is because of growth and traffic concerns , especially in the western part of the County ; however , Johnston County is also where it is because of additional restaurants and other amenities that are desired by the residents Commissioner Braswell stated he hopes the land use plan will allow everyone to somehow meet in the middle Mr Hitchings stated it is known in local government there is a multi - objective environment in protecting job growth , the long - standing character , as well as providing opportunities for the citizens He stated those objectives are captured in the goals of the Board of Commissioners Chairman Lawter stated the Board has had 20 plus years to learn and plan for the future and that learning from the past will assist with challenges to provide improvement upon growth going forward Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris spoke on the need for balance in land development He stated the Board desires to conserve open space , but does not want to restrict what people can do with their land He stated that he struggles with overreaching on someone who has owned property for 100 years when the government imposes restrictions Ms Nealon stated these concerns are similar to all fast - growing counties and finding a balance and achieving what is best for the County is necessary Page0613 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued Ms Nealon shared the public forum schedule as follows She highlighted the questions that will be answered Ms Nealon shared the setup of the public forums and stated there will be ample space for those that have social distancing concerns due to COVID Ms Nealon stated community input will be significant and made a part of the appendices in the plan Page1614 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued Commissioner Godwin asked if the 2,400 respondents of the survey are a good representation of the County Chairman Lawter asked if there is a map showing the general location of the response area Ms Nealon stated COVID has brought about citizens realizing the convenience of the online option She stated the makeup of the responses age gender work area demographics were captured She stated there is a method for the online survey that captures the IP addresses that can map the location of citizens Mr Hitchings stated 95 of the respondents were County residents and there was good representation of the location of where citizens work Ms Nealon stated the first question on the next survey is “ where do you live ” She stated this would assist with capturing whether the individual lives in the incorporated or unincorporated areas of the County Commissioner Richard D Braswell stated Johnston County has always been accused of having two completely different economic districts in the County and the Board does not want to favor one with a policy that causes undue hardship on the other He stated it is important to know where the respondents to the survey are located Chairman Lawter agreed with Commissioner RD Braswell and noted that he looks at the public forums as an opportunity for the public to provide their feedback and make comments Chairman Lawter noted the Commissioners will have their own public hearing later in the process , but that the public forums are a good way to gather information from the public Mr Hitchings stated that pursuant to general statutes , when a community develops a plan that follows the same process as a zoning text amendment , the plan must go before the Planning Board , followed by a public hearing process of the County Commissioners Chairman Lawter thanked Ms Nealon and Mr Hitchings along with all the members of the Steering Committee for their work Page2615 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued 8 Public Utilities – Timothy G Broome Water Treatment Plant Expansion - Owner’s Advisor Budget Utilities Director Chandra Farmer , PE , stated the County’s Timothy G Broome Water Treatment Plant has a treatment capacity of 140 MGD Ms Farmer explained the County’s existing Capital Improvements Plan includes a project to increase treatment capacity at the existing plant She stated in order to evaluate the best delivery method for an expedited project , staff recommends working with an Owner’s Advisor Ms Farmer stated the Owner’s Advisor will provide project administration , permitting management , delivery method selection , RFQ development , contract negotiations , funding application preparation and a basis of design report for the project She reported that staff completed the Request for Qualifications process and negotiated with a consultant for the project Ms Farmer presented the proposed project budget , as follows Technical Services 225,00000 Total Project Cost 225,00000 Funding for the proposed project is as follows Water System Development Fees 225,00000 Total Project Funds 225,00000 She stated staff recommends approval of the proposed capital project budget Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked if the County has used an Owner’s Advisor before Ms Farmer responded the County has not used an Owner’s Advisor before , but the County has also not completed a project of this magnitude under the new statute ; therefore , staff feels this is needed for better quality and options Commissioner Richard D Braswell asked if evaluation of treatment methods and equipment upgrades will be made Ms Farmer confirmed the treatment process will be evaluated She stated the Owner’s Advisor would follow the scope of what is presented to them and there would be an evaluation on a preliminary level She stated if the project moves into a design build project , then the design build team would handle the details Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner Richard D Braswell , and carried unanimously , the Board approved the capital project budget in the amount of 225,000 as requested by staff and approved the associated budget revision , as follows REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 82 85700406 Technical Services 225,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 225,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 82 857036270 Transfer from SDF Reserve Fund for Capital 225,00000 Project Costs TOTAL NET REVENUE 225,00000 9 Public Utilities – Wastewater Treatment Facilities NPDES Permit Expansion Budget Utilities Director Chandra Farmer , PE , stated Johnston County’s wastewater treatment facilities currently have a permitted discharge of 135 MGD with construction permits limiting treatment and discharge to 115 MGD She stated in order to prepare for future demands and facilitate additional future treated effluent discharge , the County should proceed with the process to evaluate and obtain an expanded discharge permit Ms Farmer stated the process to obtain an expanded National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NPDES permit includes ? Engineering Report ER ? Natural and Cultural Resources Report ? Environmental Information Document EID ? Finding of No Significant Impact FONSI Page3616 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued ? Field Investigations related to jurisdictional waters of the US ; rare , threatened and endangered species ; aquatic species ; cultural resources ; and water sampling ? Nutrient Management Planning ? Water Quality Modeling ? Engineering Alternatives Analysis EAA ? Speculative Limits Request to the Municipal Permitting Unit ? NPDES Permit Application Package Preparation Ms Farmer reported that staff completed the Request for Qualifications process and negotiated with a consultant for the project She presented the proposed project budget , as follows Technical Services 550,00000 Total Project Cost 550,00000 Funding for the proposed project is as follows Sewer System Development Fees 550,00000 Total Project Funds 550,00000 Ms Farmer stated staff recommends approval of the proposed capital project budget Commissioner Richard D Braswell asked about the timeframe and the goal for capacity Ms Farmer stated the process could take 18 to 24 months , depending on the water quality monitoring that the State requires She stated 24 MGD is the goal Commissioner RD Braswell stated the bigger problem is not treatment capacity , but transmission capacity and he asked if there is a study regarding this issue Ms Farmer stated there are projects included in the Capital Improvements Plan that the Board of Commissioners has approved , which includes flow and transmission capacity to the plant She stated an updated Capital Improvements Plan will come before the Board in March with approval consideration coming in May of 2022 Upon a motion by Commissioner Richard D Braswell , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously , the Board approved the capital project budget in the amount of 550,000 as requested by staff and approved the associated budget revision , as follows REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 83 85690406 Technical Services 550,00000 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 550,00000 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 83 856936270 Transfer from SDF Reserve Fund for Capital 550,00000 Project Costs TOTAL NET REVENUE 550,00000 10 Public Utilities – Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facilities Plant Improvements Budget Revision Utilities Director Chandra Farmer , PE , explained that the County’s previously approved Capital Improvements Plan includes improvements at the Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility CJCRWWTF to include grit removal and SCADA hardware and software system replacement She reported the State approved these project components in the Engineering Report and Environmental Information Document required as part of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund CWSRF program Ms Farmer stated staff recommends proceeding with the design of the proposed improvements at the existing plant and inclusion of those costs within the existing capital project budget She noted that since the State previously approved the ER EID , the project should be eligible for CWSRF for ARPA funding in a future application submittal Ms Farmer presented the previously approved and proposed project budget , as follows Page4617 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued Existing Proposed Construction 210 WWTF 68,754,00000 68,754,00000 Biosolids Facilities 25,097,00000 25,097,00000 Contingency 4,692,55000 4,692,55000 Tech Services Engineering Survey GeoTech Construct Admin 210 WWTF BioSolids 9,097,94800 9,097,94800 CJCRWWTF Improvements 000 830,00000 Easements 75,00000 75,00000 Loan Closing 1,833,73500 1,833,73500 Nitrogen Acquisition Phillips Plating 490,00000 490,00000 Total Project Cost 110,040,23300 110,870,23300 Funding for the proposed project is as follows Fund 68 Sewer Appropriation 1,543,00000 2,373,00000 State Clean Water Loan 11 , 20 years 91,686,69500 91,686,69500 ARPA Funding 16,029,80300 16,029,80300 Wastewater SDF Reserve Funds 780,73500 780,73500 Total Project Funds 110,040,23300 110,870,23300 Apply for ARPA funding through State program in Spring 2022 If not selected for ARPA funding through State program , County ARPA funds to be appropriated Ms Farmer stated staff recommends approval of the revised project budget and the revised Capital Project Ordinance in order to proceed with design of the necessary improvements at the CJCRWWTF Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner Richard D Braswell , and carried unanimously , the Board approved the revised project budget and adopted the following revised capital project ordinance as requested by staff CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE FOR THE JOHNSTON COUNTY 210 WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILILTY 40 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY EXPANSION PROJECT BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners the “ Board ” of the County of Johnston , North Carolina the “ County ” , that pursuant to Section 132 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina , the following capital project ordinance is hereby adopted , as amended Section 1 The project authorized is the Johnston County 210 Wastewater Treatment Facility 40 MGD Expansion Project , including the Existing Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project the “ Project ” The Project is to be financed by a Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan , an appropriation from the County Sewer Fund “ Fund 68 ” , an appropriation from the County’s Wastewater System Development Fees Capital Reserve Fund , and American Rescue Plan Act – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds “ ARPA ” funding through the State of NC’s program If the County is not awarded ARPA funding through the State of NC’s program , County ARPA funds will be appropriated for the Project Section 2 The officers of the County are hereby directed to proceed with the capital Project within the terms of the State Clean Water Revolving Fund Loan offer , the ARPA funding and the budget contained herein Section 3 The following amounts are appropriated for the Project Technical Services 9,097,948 Technical Services - Existing WWTP Improvements 830,000 Construction 210 WWTP 68,754,000 Biosolids Facilities 25,097,000 Easements 75,000 Nitrogen Acquisition 490,000 Contingency 4,692,550 Loan Closing 1,833,735 Total 110,870,233 Section 4 The following revenues are anticipated to be available to complete this Project State Clean Water Revolving Fund Loan 91,686,695 Fund 68 Appropriation 2,373,000 Wastewater SDF Reserve Funds 780,735 ARPA Funding State of NC 16,029,803 Total 110,870,233Page5618 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued The County will apply for ARPA funding through the State of NC’s program in the Spring of 2022 If not awarded ARPA funds through the State’s program , County ARPA funds will be appropriated Section 5 The Director of Finance is hereby directed to maintain within the Capital Project Fund sufficient specific detailed accounting records to satisfy the requirements of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality , and the terms of the State Clean Water Revolving Fund Loan and the ARPA funding shall be met Section 6 Funds may be advanced from Fund 68 for the purpose of making payments as due Reimbursement requests should be made to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in an orderly and timely manner Section 7 The Director of Finance is hereby directed to report annually on the financial status of each Project element in Section 3 and the total revenue received Section 8 Copies of this capital project ordinance shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners , the Budget Officer and the Director of Finance for direction in carrying out this Project Amended this 21st day of February , 2022 11 Register of Deeds – Refund of Excise Tax County Attorney Jennifer Slusser submitted the following request for refund of overpayment of revenue stamps to the Board Greg Hinshaw with Burns , Day & Presnell , PA , presented a request for refund of 83900 A Special Warranty Deed filed by the petitioner transferred a parcel of real estate lying in both Wake County and Johnston County Excise tax in the amount of 83900 was paid in both Wake County and Johnston County North Carolina General Statute requires that when instruments transfer a parcel of real estate lying in two or more counties , the tax must be paid to the register of deeds of the county in which the greater part of the real estate with respect to the value lies In this case , the greater part of the real estate lies in Wake County As a result , Burns , Day & Presnell , PA ’ s recording account was charged an additional 83900 for the Johnston County recording for this property Ms Slusser stated the request meets the statutory requirement for refund , and she recommended approval Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked where the recording should have taken place Ms Slusser responded the Warranty Deed should have been recorded in Wake County Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Commissioner Richard D Braswell and carried unanimously , the Board approved the refund in the amount of 83900 as presented by the County Attorney 12 Manager Reports and Comments A Allocation from the NC General Assembly County Manager Rick Hester reported the County received an allocation of funds in the amount of 290,000 from the North Carolina General Assembly and at the time of the allocation the County did not have an identified project Mr Hester noted there was a short deadline on the funds and in looking at ways to spend the allocation , he and Buildings & Grounds Director Daniel Clifton recommend using the funds to cover the cost of replacing four air - handling units and a cooling tower Mr Hester noted the replacements were already scheduled and if there were no objections by the Board , staff would like to use the funds for the project There were no objections by the Board 13 Board Reports and Comments A Comments from Commissioner Ted G Godwin Commissioner Ted G Godwin spoke on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update earlier in the meeting and noted that he asked about the location of those that had responded to the survey Commissioner Godwin stated he has since thought about his question and thinks that really the individuals that responded are those that would be interested in the subject of land , which would be developers , farmers , realtors , etc Page6619 February 21 , 2022 – 6 00 pm Continued Commissioner Godwin also commented that when Mr Timothy Hodges spoke during Public Comment he asked how many women had ever served as a Johnston County Commissioner Commissioner Godwin noted that he knows of two women that have served as a Commissioner in the past Eleanor Creech and Cookie Pope Commissioner Godwin encouraged anyone that has an interest in serving as a Commissioner to run for election B Commissioner Larry Wood – Resignation from the Board Commissioner Larry Wood announced that he would be resigning from the Johnston County Board of Commissioners effective February 28 , 2022 Commissioner Wood explained that he would be moving to another County Commissioner Wood thanked the citizens of Johnston County , the County staff , and his fellow Commissioners for all the support he has received over the years Commissioner Wood stated it has been a privilege to serve Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr thanked Commissioner Wood for his service Commissioner Ted G Godwin stated that he did not know Commissioner Wood when he first was elected to the Board ; however , he has come to know him and that Commissioner Wood has served the County well Commissioner Tony Braswell stated that he would miss Commissioner Wood Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated it has been an honor to serve with Commissioner Wood He stated Commissioner Wood has exemplified a passion and zealousness for the issues and a willingness to put forth an effort to make the right decisions and do the right things for the citizens of Johnston County Commissioner Richard D Braswell stated in his short time on the Board , he has found Commissioner Wood to be dedicated to Johnston County 14 Closed Session – NCGS 14331811 a 3 – Attorney - Client Privilege and NCGS 14331811 a 4 – Economic Development Upon a motion by Commissioner Tony Braswell , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board recessed regular session to sit in closed session for the purposes of consulting with an attorney employed by the Board in order to preserve the attorney - client privilege pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143 - 31811 a 3 and to discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area , pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143 - 31811 a 4 No action was taken by the Board Commissioner Tony Braswell moved the Board adjourn closed session and resume regular session Commissioner Patrick E Harris seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote There being no further business , Commissioner Tony Braswell moved the Board adjourn Commissioner Patrick E Harris seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote The meeting adjourned at 8 05 pm RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Chairman Paula G Woodard , Clerk to the BoardPage