June 3, 2019 - 10:00 AM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

10 798 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners June 3 , 2019 10 00 am The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday , June 3 , 2019 at 10 00 am in the Commissioners Meeting Room , Johnston County Courthouse Annex , Smithfield , North Carolina The following members were present Present Chairman Ted G Godwin , Vice Chairman Chad M Stewart , Jeffrey P Carver , Larry Wood , Tony Braswell , Patrick E Harris , and RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr Absent None Also Present County Manager Rick J Hester , Clerk to the Board Paula G Woodard , Finance Officer and Assistant County Manager J Chad McLamb , County Attorney Jennifer J Slusser , and Paralegal Deputy Clerk to the Board Dana Cuddington Chairman Ted G Godwin called the meeting to order at 10 00 am Commissioner Butch Lawter opened the meeting with a prayer American Legion Post 132 Smithfield led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda Upon a motion by Commissioner Chad M Stewart , seconded by Commissioner Patrick E Harris , 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 Commissioner Chad M Stewart , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the consent agenda items as follows A Approval of Minutes – May 6 , 2019 10 00 am and 6 00 pm B Tax Releases & Refunds – 04 15 2019 – 05 15 2019 Real Personal Property Releases TRANS DATE TIME USER YR BILL # ACCT # TAXPAYER NAME AMOUNT 4 17 2019 9 41 12 AM cfutch 2018 - 82703 2000185498 RMB AUDIO INC 30637 4 26 2019 12 15 08 PM dwoodward2 2019 - 203592 2000168471 JONES , BARBARA 12775 4 26 2019 12 16 37 PM dwoodward2 2019 - 203591 2000168471 JONES , BARBARA 12775 4 26 2019 12 18 03 PM dwoodward2 2019 - 203590 2000168471 JONES , BARBARA 12775 5 3 2019 11 30 53 AM ALassiter 2018 - 6501 2000172416 BAIRES LLC 10472 5 10 2019 11 22 46 AM dwoodward2 2018 - 108991 2000204206 ABREO , CLAUDIA TERESITA 29615 5 13 2019 12 52 37 PM ALassiter 2018 - 6501 2000172416 BAIRES LLC 15008 5 14 2019 11 05 31 AM ALassiter 2018 - 48225 2000181308 J P OMAR LLC 13455 5 14 2019 4 01 41 PM dwoodward2 2018 - 92705 2000082004 STOKES , JOE 69980 5 15 2019 9 08 57 AM cfutch 2018 - 18938 2000205846 JOHNSTON HEALTH ENTERPRISES , 5,94960 INC Real Personal Property Refunds TRANS DATE TIME USER YR BILL # ACCT # TAXPAYER NAME AMOUNT 4 17 2019 9 41 40 AM cfutch 2018 - 82703 2000185498 RMB AUDIO INC 30637 4 22 2019 12 04 00 PM jmorrow 2018 - 53699 2000197514 KEELE , LISA 1,41763 4 29 2019 2 35 21 PM DMalarchik 2018 - 49481 2000185294 JESUS SANCHEZ TRUCKING 40669 5 1 2019 11 51 41 AM jmorrow 2018 - 18089 2000147465 CAPPS , TRAVIS B 51000 5 2 2019 2 31 07 PM jevans 2018 - 100739 2000174893 WATERMARK HOMES INC 1,66370 5 3 2019 2 31 56 PM DMalarchik 2018 - 33059 2000038586 FAIRCLOTH , AMY GODWIN 26538 5 3 2019 2 57 07 PM DMalarchik 2018 - 88013 2000188251 SINGLETARY , DEBORAH CHAPIN 29520 5 6 2019 10 56 45 AM ajsoutherland 2018 - 36387 32005960 GARNER , ROY FRANKLIN 76069Page799 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued 5 6 2019 11 27 37 AM ajsoutherland 2018 - 36387 32005960 GARNER , ROY FRANKLIN 72319 5 8 2019 2 56 18 PM LOCKBOX 2018 - 66177 60236920 MERCER , JAMES H 1,15449 5 9 2019 11 25 08 AM DMalarchik 2018 - 6487 2000123883 BAIN , LOUIS FOX 24948 5 9 2019 11 31 53 AM DMalarchik 2018 - 2497 2000025479 ALLEN , RICHARD WAYNE JR 13323 5 13 2019 12 18 37 PM DMalarchik 2018 - 2497 2000025479 ALLEN , RICHARD WAYNE JR 13323 5 13 2019 12 49 40 PM DMalarchik 2018 - 33059 2000038586 FAIRCLOTH , AMY GODWIN 12673 5 13 2019 2 50 56 PM DMalarchik 2018 - 49562 2000173541 JLJ DRYWALL & PAINT 1,17966 5 13 2019 3 03 50 PM DMalarchik 2018 - 103973 2000197186 WILLIAMS , DENNIS M SR 18337 5 14 2019 3 08 18 PM ajsoutherland 2018 - 1708 2000198496 GEMCOM , INC 1,03434 5 15 2019 9 09 23 AM cfutch 2018 - 18938 2000205846 JOHNSTON HEALTH 6,06860 ENTERPRISES , INC North Carolina Vehicle Tax System - Pending Refund Report – April 2019 100 + Transaction Payee Name Bill # Refund Total # Reason Change BARNES , 0047055033 207361128 Situs error 000 AYONNA 22808 CHIPHY 2401 7603 28010 KIRKMAN , 0047055005 207361152 Situs error 000 MARY 11548 ELIZABETH 1469 3849 13928 MCMILLEN , 0040049804 103680978 Adjustment 6916 JAMES 5054 CARL 11970 RANDHAWA , 0046495850 104255782 Military 9657 JESSICA 897 ROSE 10554 VALLE , 0047593591 210459800 Situs error 000 ANTHONY 15025 1911 5008 18122 VARGAS DE 0042157322 105229556 Mileage 8396 JIMINIAN , 5813 DULCE 14209 MARIA May 21 , 2019 This is to certify that , as authorized by the Board of Commissioners on December 11 , 2000 , I have approved the following tax releases and refunds under 100 , as recommended by the County Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews A complete record of this information is on file in the County Finance Office Totals from 04 15 19 to 05 15 19 Tax refunds - Personal Real Property 61140 Tax releases - Personal Real Property 1,84866 Recommended by Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews Approved by Finance Director J Chad McLamb 3 Public Comments A Celebrate Cleveland Committee – Request for Temporary Road Closure Cleveland Fire Chief Chris Ellington reported the Celebrate Cleveland Committee will be holding their th July 4 event at the old Cleveland School campus JCC Cleveland campus area which is located at 9046 Cleveland Road Chief Ellington stated they have requested permission from the North Carolina Department ofPage800 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued th Transportation to temporarily close a portion of Cleveland Road for approximately an hour to hold a July 4 parade He stated part of the permit process by the Department of Transportation requires written acknowledgment and approval from the local government of jurisdiction where the event is being held Chief th Ellington requested the Board’s approval to temporarily close the road for the July 4 parade Chief Ellington stated they will work with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Highway Patrol on the closure At the inquiry of Chairman Ted G Godwin , Chief Ellington stated they have worked out an alternate route and detour options for motorists to utilize during the temporary closure Upon a motion by Commissioner Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Butch Lawter , and carried unanimously , the Board voted to approve the request by the Celebrate Cleveland Committee for the temporary road closure B Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board Chair Cheryl Oliver Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board Chair Cheryl Oliver addressed the Board and presented a list of recommended priorities that the Economic Development Advisory Board would like to see the Commissioners consider , as follows PROPOSED JOHNSTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY LIST June 3 , 2019 1 Economic Development Funding ? Direct all Atlantic Coast Pipeline proceeds to be used for Economic Development initiatives 2 Build Warehouse Inventory ? Support initiatives that increase warehouse buildings for Advanced Manufacturing and Distribution Note Johnston County Economic Development has documented and begun sharing the most requested specifications for warehouses in order to assist developers in creating highly desired spaces 3 Public Relations ? Support the hiring of a Johnston County Public Information Officer 4 Increase Vocational Training Opportunities ? Support expansion of vocational programs via additional funding for vocational training in our High Schools and Johnston Community College as well as recruitment of privately owned vocational training centers 5 Transportation ? Share vision with Johnston County Commissioners regarding the need for Commuter Rail by 2030 from Johnston County to Wake and Durham Counties via the existing NC Rail Road line ? Improve existing JCATS services to include a regular public service route through appropriate high volume areas as well as supporting priority industries with service to under - served communities and their workforce 6 Enhance Technology Infrastructure ? Formulate a “ Smart County ” Initiative that propels Johnston County years ahead of current technology 7 Create a Triangle East Industrial Collaborative that meets quarterly to network with our Industry Partners and Businesses and that provides Johnston County Economic Development with ongoing feedback on other related industries perhaps customers and suppliers of existing industries that should be actively recruited to Johnston County The Board thanked Ms Oliver for sharing the recommendations and expressed their appreciation for the service of all the members on the Economic Development Advisory Board C ReEntry – Request for Funding for Upcoming Budget Year ReEntry Executive Director Dot Ehlers addressed the Board and requested funding for the Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 budget year Ms Ehlers stated ReEntry is a small non - profit that provides services related to domestic violence prevention , substance abuse , and programs for at - risk youth She reported their funding comes from sources such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families TANF funds through the Department of Social Services , the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council , grant funding from the Governor’s Crime Commission , and some self - pay by clients Ms Ehlers stated the funding from the Governor’s Crime Commission is being cut and she requested the Board to consider allocating 20,000 to offset those funds The Board thanked Ms Ehlers for the information and took the request under advisement Page801 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued 4 Public Hearing – Proposed Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 County Budget Advertised – The News & Observer Friday Zone Edition – May 24 , 2019 ; The Johnstonian News and The News in Review – May 22 , 2019 The Chairman opened the public hearing for the purposes of allowing public comment on the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 County budget The proposed budget and budget message have been completed and copies made available for distribution County Manager’s Budget Message County Manager Rick Hester requested the budget message be inserted into the minutes Mr Hester also asked the Board , when they adopt the budget later this month , to allocate an additional 95,000 for Community & Senior Services that he inadvertently left out of the proposed budget Johnston County Fiscal Year 2019 – 2020 Budget Summary Dear Board Members , th For the 17 consecutive year , the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 General Fund budget is presented at the current 78 cents property tax rate The proposed 2415 million budget is 5 higher than the current General Fund budget Based on the April 30 , 2019 financial analysis and projections , the June 30 , 2020 fund balance percentage is expected to be comparable to other North Carolina counties with similar strong bond ratings Thanks to Chad McLamb , Paula Woodard , Dana Cuddington , Jeannetta Edwards , and the Department Heads for their work on the proposed budget Local Funding Support for Education Partners The County appreciates and enjoys our great working relationship with Johnston County Public Schools JCPS and Johnston Community College JCC In fact , since 2016 , Johnston County has planned for and or appropriated to JCPS and JCC current expense , capital outlay , capital improvements project loan , and bond referendum program the following amounts Johnston County Public Schools since 2016 2736 million Johnston Community College since 2016 297 million Total since 2016 3033 million th The most recent North Carolina Public School Forum newsletter ranks Johnston County 5 in the State of North Carolina in the “ relative effort ” category for school current expense funding Relative effort combines a County’s ability to pay with their effort Debt service is budgeted for the first payment of the initial 20 million bond proceeds from the November 2018 bond referendum A sincere thank you goes to the voters that have passed six bond referendums in the last twenty years Please note that bond referendum funds are generally sold over a three or four year period for affordability to stay within the scope of the County’s financial model After this budget has been adopted , the County will immediately start the process of updating the capital improvements plan model for County Government , JCPS and JCC needs It is my opinion that to continue meeting the many capital needs in our County , we need to stay aggressive , while staying within our financial model Highlights ? The proposed budget includes a 39 increase above the adopted Fiscal Year 2018 - 2019 budgeted funds for Johnston County Public Schools JCPS and Johnston Community College JCC for current expense and capital outlay as noted below PagePage pageNumber5802 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued Current Expense Capital Outlay Total JCPS 64,945,918 1,096,924 66,042,842 JCC 4,728,931 566,255 5,295,186 Local matching funds are included in the proposed budget for the previously approved seven 7 School Resource Officer positions in the middle schools that are currently served by a local municipality ? The proposed budget includes a 21 pay adjustment in July and a potential performance pay adjustment in October of up to 14 Funds are also included for the second phase of the Mercer review , third phase of the restructured longevity plan , and the wage compression program ? There are a total of 28 new positions requested in the General Fund Many of those are related to public safety in some form The Department of Social Services and Child Support positions include some federal reimbursements Seven positions are requested in the self - supporting Public Utilities Enterprise Fund General Fund - 28 Emergency Medical Services 8 Department of Social Services 7 Sheriff’s Department 7 Child Support 1 Register of Deeds 1 Planning Department 1 Animal Services 1 Veterans Service Office 1 Parks , Greenways and Open Space Coordinator 1 Public Utilities Self - Supporting Enterprise Fund – 7 Public Utilities – Please see the April 30 , 2019 memorandum from Utilities Director Chandra Farmer in the Supporting Documentation section of the budget Proposed Fee Increases The Department of Public Utilities is proposing a comprehensive list of fee increases that support the previously adopted 20 - year Capital Improvements Plan The list of fees is included in the April 30 , 2019 memorandum from Utilities Director Chandra Farmer in the Supporting Documentation section of the budget I look forward to discussing the proposed budget at the upcoming budget meetings Please let me know if you have any questions Thank you Sincerely , Rick J Hester County Manager The Chairman called for any others that wished to speak on the budget to come forward Johnston Community College Johnston Community College President Dr David Johnson addressed the Board regarding additional funding for Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 Dr Johnson thanked County Manager Rick Hester for his recommended funding in the proposed budget Dr Johnson requested the Board to consider allocating an additional 490,000 on top of the County Manager’s recommendation for the College Dr Johnson explained the additional funding is needed to cover costs associated with hiring a Safety Range Manager for Howell Woods , improving the parking lot for the Child Development Center , and the construction of a storage building Dr Johnson stated the parking lot for the Child Development Center is the last remaining gravel lot on campus and they would like to bring it into compliance with the Town of Smithfield He stated the storage building is needed to free up space in the Britt Building so they can train more students in the technology programs Dr Johnson reported theirPagePage pageNumber6803 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued enrollment continues to increase at a faster pace than their FTE funding and the employers in the County are conveying their need for more trained employees to enter the workforce Johnston Regional Airport Johnston County Airport Authority Chairman and Johnston Regional Airport Director Phil Lanier addressed the Board to request additional funding to be used as matches for grant funding the Airport will be receiving in Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 Mr Lanier stated at the direction Mr Starling , he has undertaken an aggressive capital program at the Airport and he anticipates receiving approximately 58 million in grant funding next fiscal year Mr Lanier asked the Board to consider allocating an additional 175,000 in the upcoming budget , which is needed for matching funds Mr Lanier spoke on the growth at the Airport and stated they are in demand and at capacity North Carolina Railroad Company North Carolina Railroad Company President Scott Saylor reported that over the last ten years , studies regarding commuter rail have been done by various groups and in various ways Mr Saylor reported the North Carolina Railroad Company is now actively participating with Wake County , Durham County , Orange County , the Research Triangle Foundation , as well as Norfolk Southern Railroad and CSX Railroad to study the feasibility of a commuter rail program in more detail Mr Saylor requested the Board to consider appropriating 75,000 towards the study Mr Saylor stated their goal is to collaborate on a commuter rail plan to see if a cost effective alternative can be determined He also stated their goal is to protect the freight railroad and its purpose for economic development Mr Saylor stated they would appreciate Johnston County participating in the study and becoming a part of the conversation Mr Saylor stated the study will include various frequency alternatives and where approximately the stations should be located within a range Mr Saylor stated they plan to look from Selma into the Clayton area and further into Wake , Durham , and Orange Counties Commissioner Butch Lawter asked if the Metropolitan Planning Organization and or the Rural Planning Organization is involved in the collaboration Commissioner Lawter also asked if any consideration could be given to extending the service further east towards the Princeton area Mr Saylor responded that GoTriangle is the project sponsor for the initiative and those organizations have been involved in the collaboration meetings Mr Saylor stated they looked into extending the service further east in 2012 and it appears that , at least in the initial phase , the service would fall somewhere between Mebane and Selma , and he believes that the framework is somewhat set ; however , that does not mean that broadening the service could not be studied at a later time Commissioner Tony Braswell stated there has always been a concern as to how riders would be disbursed once they reach the destination and how workers would reach their individual workplaces in such a large area as Raleigh and the triangle Mr Saylor stated the topic of how riders would reach their individual places of work is very important and would be looked at within the overall cost picture to see what makes the system efficient GoTriangle President & CEO Jeff Mann agreed that the issue is very important and he spoke on transit options and how they are working to improve connectivity for riders Mr Mann stated they will be working with JCATS as well regarding connectivity At the inquiry of Chairman Ted G Godwin , JCATS Executive Director Neal Davis stated they are also involved in the discussions and are currently working on a software that riders can utilize for a JCATS connecting transport after their train stop Citizen Bart Bloom Mr Bart Bloom , 304 Parkridge Drive , Clayton , addressed the Board and spoke on an article that appeared in The News & Observer regarding the proposed Johnston County budget Mr Bloom stated in the article , the reporter stated Johnston County would have no tax increase under the proposed budget ; however , there was no mention in the article that even though the tax rate is not proposed to increase , taxes would be increasing substantially due to the revaluation Mr Bloom stated he feels the article was a disservice to citizens PagePage pageNumber7804 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued County Manager Rick Hester stated he also read the same article and he immediately reached out and provided correct information regarding a revenue neutral rate to the reporter in the hopes the newspaper would print a revised article , but he is unaware if a revised article was released Mr Bloom asked the Board to give strong consideration to needs instead of wants as they deliberate over the upcoming budget He also spoke on the revaluation process and expressed concern as to the methods that were used to determine new values of properties Mr Bloom stated he was ultimately satisfied with his appeal to the Board of Equalization & Review , but he wants to make sure all citizens are treated fairly The Board thanked Mr Bloom for his comments and concerns The Chairman briefly recessed the budget public hearing to allow the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Chair and Judge Addie Rawls to present the JCPC’s Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 budget to the Commissioners and request approval See Minute Item No 6 Following the JCPC item , the budget public hearing resumed Johnston County Schools Superintendent Dr Ross Renfrow addressed the Board and thanked the Commissioners for their working relationship with Johnston County Schools Dr Renfrow spoke on the needs of the public school system and commented that the workforce is getting younger and there is a large percentage of teachers who have fewer than three to five years of experience He stated it is crucial for those young teachers to have access to instructional resources for the curriculum in order to do their job optimally on a daily basis Dr Renfrow spoke on the need for more bus drivers and stated they would like to hire more full time bus drivers in an effort to avoid pulling instructional teacher assistants out of the classrooms He stated they would like to offer custodians the opportunity to drive buses , but additional funding would be needed to pay them overtime because they would need to finish their regular custodial duties in the evening after the bus routes are done for the day Dr Renfrow stated there is a 1 supplement increase included for teachers again this year , which is needed in order to remain competitive with other counties Dr Renfrow continued his remarks by speaking on the gap in State funding for the exceptional children’s program and noted that in Johnston County Schools , the exceptional children population is in excess of 16 , which has impacted their budget to the amount of 7 million He also noted the opening of a new charter school in Clayton has impacted their budget because they had to send back approximately 24 million to the State for those students that transferred to the charter school Dr Renfrow offered to answer any questions Upon a question by Commissioner Larry Wood , Dr Renfrow stated Johnston County Schools employs approximately 3,000 teachers , but has a total of approximately 5,000 employees At the inquiry of Commissioner Tony Braswell , Dr Renfrow explained that the money they receive from the State for a student follows that student regardless of where they are educated He stated if a student transfers to a charter school then that money goes with that student to the charter school Dr Renfrow stated often times that student transfers back to Johnston County Schools after their first nine weeks ; however , at that point , the funding remains at the charter school for that year He stated there is no provision for those funds to come back to the public school system Dr Renfrow stated it is all based on the 20 - day enrollment numbers Commissioner Chad M Stewart asked how many students were lost to charter schools in Johnston County Johnston County Schools Finance Director Art Stanley stated Johnston County Schools lost 691 students last year to charter schools which equated to 35 million Dr Renfrow noted that they do not anticipate losing as many students to charter schools next year and the number was as high as it was last year due to the opening of the new charter school in Clayton Commissioner Stewart asked Dr Renfrow how many full time bus drivers they would like to hire Dr Renfrow responded that they would like to add 60 full time bus drivers He stated they would drive an elementary , middle , and high school route both in the morning and in the afternoon , which would be a fullPagePage pageNumber8805 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued time job where they would receive benefits Dr Renfrow reiterated that the hope is to get away from pulling teacher assistants away from the classroom so often Harbor , Inc Harbor Executive Director Kay Johnson thanked the Board for their past support to Harbor Ms Johnson stated in 2017 - 2018 Harbor served 2,760 individuals and unfortunately not only are they seeing an increase in domestic violence , but they also beginning to see an increase in the number of sexual assault cases She stated in 2017 - 2018 there were over 1,200 crisis calls , 592 individuals participated in the support groups , 340 individuals were placed in the 24 - hour shelter , and they served over 651 individuals in the court advocate program Ms Johnson spoke on a new collaboration with Johnston Health and the Johnston County Health Department in order re - establish a sexual assault response project , which they hope will increase prosecution as it relates to sexual assaults in Johnston County Ms Johnson asked the Board to keep their current funding level at 25,000 stating it truly helps those in the community At the inquiry of Commissioner Patrick E Harris , Ms Johnson stated Harbor has a great relationship with Johnston Health and Johnston Health has had a representative at all their collaboration meetings Upon the question of Commissioner Tony Braswell , Ms Johnson stated Harbor contracts with the Johnston County Department of Social Services for support groups Citizen Ken Taylor Mr Ken Taylor , 1755 Gordon Road , Clayton , addressed the Commissioners and asked if the Board had looked at how much the budget is projected to increase per citizen or per household Mr Taylor also asked if the Board will be considering a tax rate decrease considering the increase in property values through revaluation Mr Taylor commented on the proposed rate increases for water and sewer and asked if those increases are a sign the County has neglected those services Mr Taylor also commented on the economic development incentive grant information contained within the proposed budget and spoke on the need to make sure the County is getting a return on its investment Chairman Ted G Godwin assured Mr Taylor that the County Manager and the Commissioners have been working closely with Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews on the budget in an effort to look at all angles Chairman Godwin stated final deliberations of the budget have not yet begun , but the Board is certainly sensitive to the taxpayers ’ money Chairman Godwin noted that when there is an eight year gap in the revaluation cycle , there is a tendency to fall behind and the County must try to catch up Chairman Godwin stated the proposed increase in water and sewer rates are not a sign of neglect , but a sign of the pressures of growth and the need to keep up with demand Citizen Brett McWhorter Mr Brett McWhorter , 328 Clayton Point Drive , Clayton , read the following statement PagePage pageNumber9806 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued Archer Lodge Veterans Memorial Committee Mike Gordon , representing the Archer Lodge Veterans Memorial Committee , requested the Board to consider allocating 35,000 to the Veterans Memorial project in Archer Lodge Mr Gordon stated they hope to finish the memorial by Veterans Day and have a special celebration in November Mr Gordon stated they are hoping the memorial will be a showcase in Johnston County and he appreciates any support from the Commissioners There being no further comments , the Chairman closed the public hearing The Chairman announced that the Board would hold additional special meetings to discuss the budget as follows ? Monday , June 10 , 2019 at 6 00 pm Special Meeting for budget discussions ? Monday , June 17 , 2019 at 6 00 pm Special Meeting for anticipated budget adoption 5 Johnston County Schools – Fiscal Year 2018 - 2019 Request for Funding Superintendent Dr Ross Renfrow stated conversations regarding the possibility of additional funds for Fiscal Year 2018 - 2019 began back in January due to State funding shortfalls in the exceptional children’s program and the reversion of funds for charter school students Dr Renfrow stated his team has been working since January to get that number down as much as possible ; however , it appears that heading into June and July , Johnston County Schools will need an additional 15 million to get through this fiscal year Dr Renfrow stated st if the Board sees fit to allocate the additional funding , anything not spent by August 1 would be returned to the County Commissioner Tony Braswell asked Dr Renfrow if he sees any help coming from the Legislature as to the funding formula for the exceptional children’s program Page0807 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued Dr Renfrow responded that he believes the issue is on the Legislators ’ radar , but he has seen no promises or pledges Upon a question by Commissioner Larry Wood , Dr Renfrow stated their total budget including state , local , and federal funding is approximately 300 million Commissioner Patrick E Harris asked if the requested 15 million amount could fluctuate prior to the end of the year Dr Renfrow responded the amount could fluctuate and although he hopes it will be less , the worst - case scenario is 15 million Commissioner Harris noted there is still some time left in the fiscal year and the schools are scheduled to receive another payment from the County in June Commissioner Chad M Stewart asked if Johnston County Schools had any funds available in their fund balance Dr Renfrow responded that when they begin July 1 , they will have a zero fund balance Johnston County Schools Finance Director Art Stanley stated they currently have approximately 2 million in their fund balance today and agreed with Dr Renfrow that they will begin July 1 with a zero fund balance Commissioner Butch Lawter asked if the Board could delay a decision on the additional funding until later in June at one of the budget meetings th Dr Renfrow stated the additional funds would be needed by June 15 Dr Renfrow stated they would th be willing to come to the June 10 budget meeting and give an update on the amount needed Commissioner Harris noted he has had conversations with the Legislators regarding the funding formula for the exceptional children’s program and he can say that they are aware of the problems At the request of Commissioner Wood , Dr Renfrow outlined how the exceptional children’s program works , how students are accepted into program , and how funding is currently received from the State The Board took the request under advisement 6 Juvenile Crime Prevention Council – Proposed Budget for FY 2019 - 2020 The Honorable Judge Addie Rawls , Juvenile Crime Prevention Council JCPC Chair , presented the Council’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2019 – 2020 and requested its approval The State’s allocation for Fiscal Year 2019 – 2020 is anticipated to be 251,231 , and the JCPC is requesting 74,000 from the County for the upcoming year Judge Rawls recognized JCPC Vice Chairman Steve Strickland and Johnston County Youth Services Program Director Deborah Bolin Judge Rawls also recognized Commissioner Chad M Stewart for his representation on the Council and thanked County Manager Rick Hester and Finance Director Chad McLamb for their assistance Judge Rawls presented the following to the Board We are mandated by statute to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners funding for dispositional alternatives for sentencing juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent or undisciplined Currently , it costs each individual county 12200 per day for a juvenile that is held in detention and the State 126,401 per year for each juvenile that is committed to a Youth Development Center , formerly known as training school Currently Johnston County has at least 1 committed in training school There are three levels of sanctions Level 1 includes community service , restitution , emergency home shelter and community - based programs that target changing the negative behavior of delinquent youth Level 2 sanctions include community service and restitution , structured day and other out of home placements Level 3 is commitment to training school We recommend funding for the following programs Page1808 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued Johnston County Youth Services This program has several components The Structured Day Program is used for juveniles who have been short and long term suspended from school and are on juvenile probation This a Level 2 sanction and is frequently used by the Court to prevent further delinquent behavior of youth suspended from the school system The actual cash money requested from the County is used to pay for the instructor in this program The State funds will not pay for an instructor and this program cannot exist without an instructor The next component is New Directions , which is a Guided Growth Program with a male group that meets twice a week and a female group that meets twice a week This program will address the needs of juveniles by providing mentors and counselors to deal with anger management , conflict resolution and problem solving The third component is Restoration Alternatives , a program that provides community service and restitution It is one of our most used programs and it provides restitution to victims of crimes The juveniles perform contract work for the citizens of Johnston County and the money paid is applied towards that juvenile’s court obligations The program coordinator of this program works on site with the juveniles and has limited part - time help Recommended Funding 192,253 , plus anticipated 39,000 county funds for instructor Healthy Choices This program will provide an environment for at - risk juveniles to become receptive to exploring their dysfunctional behavior and initiate change The means through which services are provided include group intervention , group activities , case management , and coordination with families , schools , social service agencies , and the courts A Nationally recognized curriculum is presented in a group setting focusing on a variety of possible deficits , including but not limited to , conflict resolution , anger management , social skills training , assertiveness training , and substance abuse Healthy Choices currently accepts children from all youth serving agencies in the County Recommended Funding 35,378 Preparing To Soar Teen Court Teen Court provides an alternative to prosecution of youth between the ages of 11 - 17 Youth are sanctioned with constructive sentences by a jury of their peers This program trains volunteers as courtroom clerks , bailiffs , jurors , defense and prosecuting attorneys Recommended Funding 20,000 , plus anticipated 35,000 county funds Administrative Budget These are funds set aside to cover the expenses of the committee which includes salary of the administrative assistant , mail and other administrative costs As a committee , we must advertise the availability of funds and meet at the very least on a monthly basis We currently have at least ten meetings per year and minutes are taken at these meetings Additionally , we provide for community awareness through conferences , yearly achievement recognitions of juveniles in our programs , training , and expenses of the board members The State allows us to set aside up to 15,000 , but we only allocate a minimum amount Any overage is usually allocated back to our programs Recommended Funding 3,600 Please note We have not increased our request of county matching funds Most of the 20 match required by each program is through in - kind services Our programs have gone out of their way to find other sources to meet the 20 match with the exception of 39,000 which is used to pay for the following Instructor in Structured Day Program ; Community Service Restitution Assistant ; also , to help pay for increased transportation expenses and utilities Total Anticipated Amount from State 251,231 Total Anticipated Requested from County 74,000 The Board thanked Judge Rawls and the JCPC for their work Upon a motion by Commissioner Chad M Stewart , seconded by Commissioner Jeffrey P Carver , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 ; and further approved the 74,000 County allocation request , pending final adoption of the County Budget for Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 Page2809 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued 7 Cooperative Extension – Trademark for JoCo Grows Agriculture Logo Cooperative Extension Director Bryant Spivey stated in late 2018 , an idea to create a local agricultural promotion group was formed by the Johnston County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council to educate the public about the contribution of agriculture to Johnston County , help market Johnston County agricultural goods and services , and sustain and expand the contribution of agriculture to the local economy A committee comprised of farmers as well as representatives from county agriculture associations was formed and began meeting in 2019 Mr Spivey shared the following presentation with the Board Mr Spivey recognized Steering Committee Chairman Brandon Batten as well as the Johnston County Visitors Bureau for their assistance in creating the JoCo Grows Agriculture logo Mr Spivey stated the steering committee would like to trademark the JoCo Grows Agriculture and associated logos to protect the logo from being used inappropriately He explained that part of the process for a trademark requires an identifiable entity to be the holder of the trademark and at the present time , the committee is not structured to warrant a tax ID number , which is required for a trademark Mr Spivey stated the committee is requesting that either the County of Johnston hold the trademark or defer this responsibility to the Johnston County Visitors Bureau At the inquiry of Commissioner Chad M Stewart , Mr Spivey stated there would be an upfront cost of approximately 1,500 , but the committee has those funds available Mr Spivey stated as with any patent or logo , if it needs to be defended , there could be some legal expense involved Mr Spivey stated they hope to receive grant funding to support their efforts Chairman Ted G Godwin expressed support for the logo and stated he would like to see it trademarked through the Visitors Bureau because of the support and ideas they have with marketing Visitors Bureau President Donna Bailey - Taylor confirmed that her Board is supportive of holding the trademark Page3810 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued County Attorney Jennifer Slusser stated as she understands , the Visitors Bureau is willing to hold the trademark ; however , with regards to the defense of any trademark infringement they would look to the County for assistance Commissioner Larry Wood asked what would need to happen if another entity such as the Voluntary Agriculture District Advisory Board wished to use the logo Ms Slusser responded that if another entity requests to use the logo , there would have to be a license agreement in place to utilize the trademark She stated if the Visitors Bureau holds the trademark , then they would decide how it would be used Ms Bailey - Taylor stated she sees the steering committee setting up guidelines as to how the logo could be used by other entities Upon a question by Commissioner Patrick E Harris , Mr Spivey stated he sees the steering committee specifying exactly how the logo would be used and coming up with some kind of application for entities to complete if they wish to use the logo Mr Spivey stated the committee has not discussed setting a fee for the use of the logo , but if there is a fee , he feels it would be minimal to cover any associated expenses Upon a motion by Commissioner Chad M Stewart , seconded by Commissioner Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously , the Board voted to support the creation and copywriting of the logo for JoCo Grows Agriculture as presented , under the entity of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau 8 Emergency Services – Request to Increase EMS Special Event Rates Emergency Services Director Kevin Hubbard and EMS Division Chief Dan Gagne requested the Board to approve an increase in the EMS special event rates Mr Hubbard explained that the EMS Division frequently receives requests to cover special events requiring a dedicated ambulance to be on - hand He noted the current fee , which has been in place for over 15 years , is 3500 per hour and does not cover the costs associated with such events Mr Hubbard stated the EMS Division is requesting an increase of the rates based on a study of area rates of similar EMS agencies as well as an internal cost analysis Mr Hubbard stated the EMS Division requests approval to increase the special event hourly rate from 3500 per hour to 12500 per hour for an ambulance with a Paramedic and EMT and 7500 per hour for a single person resource or supervisor unit Chairman Ted G Godwin asked if the fee would apply to school athletic events Mr Hubbard responded the County has never charged the school system to cover athletic events due to the nature of those events having a high risk for injury Mr Hubbard explained the fee would be primarily for events held by for - profit entities Mr Hubbard stated even though they are asking for an increase , the fee would still be under what most contiguous counties are charging Commissioner Patrick E Harris stated this would put some of the cost burden back on the entity that is making money on an event He noted the Johnston County EMS Advisory Committee voted to recommend approval of the increase and it is consistent with other counties Commissioner Patrick E Harris moved the Board approve increasing the special event rate to 12500 per hour for an ambulance with a Paramedic and EMT and 7500 per hour for a single person resource or supervisor unit effective July 1 , 2019 Commissioner Chad M Stewart seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote 9 Emergency Services – Fire Department Contracts Renewal Emergency Services Director Kevin Hubbard and Fire Marshal Adam Stanley requested the Board’s approval of the 2019 - 2021 fire department contracts , which are revised and renewed every two years Mr Hubbard stated over the past few months , staff has made necessary revisions to the current contracts to most reflect current conditions and needs At the inquiry of Commissioner Chad M Stewart , Mr Stanley stated the proposed changes have been discussed at several recent meetings with all of the fire chiefs Page4811 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued Upon a motion by Commissioner Chad M Stewart , seconded by Commissioner Butch Lawter , and carried unanimously , the Board approved the following contracts for both the Non - Profit Corporation and Municipal versions of the agreements NORTH CAROLINA JOHNSTON COUNTY This Agreement , made and entered into this first day of July , 2019 , by and between County of Johnston , a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina , hereinafter referred to as the County , and the Fire Department , Inc , a non - profit corporation existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina , hereinafter referred to as the Fire Department or Contractor ; Now therefore , in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration , the parties hereto contract and agree as follows 1 The County agrees that it will cause to be assessed or levied a special fire tax within statutory limits after consultation with the Fire Department ; and will collect said fire tax on an ad valorem basis 2 The Fire District Tax Commission for the _______ Fire District shall submit in writing to the Johnston County Fire Marshal a proposed budget and the requested rate of fire tax to be levied by the established deadline each year This request shall be forwarded to the Johnston County Manager and the Johnston County Board of Commissioners for consideration by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will determine and approve , in its discretion , the amount to be assessed or levied , taking into consideration the needs of the citizens of the Fire Protection Services District and the budget projections submitted by the Fire District Tax Commission 3 Funds collected by the County as a result of said special fire tax shall be distributed in accordance with the rate of fire tax levied per hundred dollars valuation of all real property and personal property in the ______Fire District and the provisions established by the Johnston County Finance Office 4 Fire Protection Service District NC General Statute 153A - 301 funds levied and collected by the County and paid to the Fire Department by the County shall be used exclusively for fire department operations to provide fire protection and emergency services in the Fire District and other areas of response as dispatched and to meet the standards established by this Agreement 5 The Fire Department will furnish fire protection and related emergency services pursuant to the standards set forth by the North Carolina Department of Insurance , County , and all other pertinent federal , state , and local laws and regulations within the Fire District sometimes referred to herein as “ primary service area ” and shall provide the necessary equipment , personnel , and those things necessary for furnishing such protection in the Fire District The Fire District is defined in the map of the Fire Protection Service District on record with the Clerk to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners and in the GIS Land Records Management of Johnston County The services shall be in accordance with minimum standards set forth in this Agreement and all future amendments adopted in accordance with paragraph 19 of this agreement The Fire Department shall furnish said fire protection without charge to all persons and property located in the Fire District in an efficient and competent manner This provision shall not prohibit the Fire Department from recouping cost and expense from incidents or from entering into contracts with the Federal , State , or local governments or utility companies for the provisions of emergency protection services for a fee , or from applying for and or receiving any donations , grants , or contributions of any kind , whether governmental or private 6 Fire Department agrees that County has the right to inspect all books and accounts of Fire Department at any time Said inspection shall be conducted by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners through the Johnston County Fire Marshal , the Johnston County Finance Officer , or other designees of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners The County shall require the Fire Department to furnish all applicable materials and financial statements for the purpose of the annual audit conducted by a certified public accountant which shall be in conformity with General Accepted Accounting Principles or other comprehensive basis of accounting The Fire Department also agrees to secure and maintain a blanket bond on all persons who have access to or authority to disburse funds belonging to the Fire Department Such blanket bond shall be through a company licensed to provide said blanket bonds and be in the amount of not less than the revenues to be collected by the County in the tax district served by the Fire Department as projected by the County for the upcoming year Proof of such bonding shall be provided to the County prior to the disbursement of any funds by the County to the Fire Department The Fire Department shall follow the applicable North Carolina statutory procedures for letting of public contracts for fire apparatus , equipment , and construction as may be amended by the North Carolina Legislature from time to time Currently , the dollar threshold for formal bidding of construction or repair contracts is an estimated cost of contract at 500,00000 and above The dollar threshold for formal bidding for the purchase of apparatus , supplies , materials , and equipment is 90,00000 and above The dollar threshold for informal bidding of construction or repair contracts and the purchase of apparatus , supplies , materials and equipment is 30,00000 to the formal limit Fire Department may use the previously bid or piggybacking contracts exception for public bidding consistent with NCGS 143 - 129 g Fire Department further agrees it should use tax - exempt financing to the extent it is available for all asset acquisitions in the amount of 90,00000 or above Page5812 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued 7 The Fire Department , during the term of this contract , shall remain incorporated and do business as a private non - profit corporation under the provisions of the North Carolina Non - Profit Corporation Act A true copy of the Articles of Incorporation , existing By - Laws , and any changes made from time - to - time to either will be filed with the County The Fire Department will adopt By - Laws , which meet all minimum legal requirements of said Act The By - Laws shall vest in a Board of Directors the authority to manage the affairs of the corporation to the extent permitted by said Act The Fire Department Board of Directors shall be representative of the citizens within the Fire District and are encouraged to include non - member citizens 8 Fire Department shall maintain an accurate accounting of the use of funds paid to it by County under this Agreement and shall maintain an accurate inventory of any property with a purchase price of 5,00000 or greater purchased in whole or in part with County Fire District funds for the purpose of providing and furnishing fire protection services to the Fire District pursuant to this Agreement In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Fire Department , or in the event that the Fire Department is no longer responsible for County - provided fire protection in the Fire Department’s primary service area pursuant to this Agreement , all Fire Department assets and property that have been acquired using County Fire District Funds , including all cash , equipment , and assets , real and personal , shall be assigned to and become the property of the County or to such other entity as determined by County as may succeed the Fire Department in providing fire protection in the Fire District on behalf of the County To the extent that assets or property was acquired by Fire Department using a combination of County Fire District Funds and funds of another municipality within Johnston County , the property will be divided between the County and the municipality on a pro - rata basis 9 If any condition of this Agreement is not being fulfilled by Fire Department to the satisfaction of County , in County’s sole discretion , the Johnston County Finance Officer has the right to withhold any and all funds to be paid to Fire Department under this Agreement at any time and until such time as the Fire Department complies with the terms of this Agreement If Fire Department refuses or fails to provide fire protection services , facilities , or functions as contemplated under this Agreement and to the sole satisfaction of County , the Johnston County Fire Marshal shall investigate the cause of said refusal or failure During the investigation by the Johnston County Fire Marshal , County may withhold any and all funds due and payable to Fire Department If the investigation by the Johnston County Fire Marshal determines that Fire Department has refused or failed to perform the duties and obligations of it as required herein , and certifies the results of the investigation to the County Manager , the County Manager may instruct the Finance Officer to withhold any and all funds to be paid to Fire Department under this Agreement until a resolution regarding the refusal or failure to perform is reached by the parties If a resolution is unable to be reached by the parties , County , in its sole discretion , may withhold any and all funds to be paid to Fire Department under this Agreement , terminate this Agreement for cause , or take any other such action as County deems necessary to protect the citizens of the Fire Protection Service District Fire Department’s failure to file reports required of it to any Federal , State , or local authority shall be grounds for County to terminate this Agreement with Fire Department for cause If this Agreement is terminated by County for cause , Fire Department shall be liable to County for any and all funds appropriated and paid to Fire Department during the fiscal year in which the termination occurs Additionally , Fire Department shall not be relieved of its obligations to County under paragraph 8 of this Agreement Nothing herein shall affect Fire Department’s ultimate rights to payments , or County’s responsibility for payments , as outlined herein for services actually rendered by Fire Department prior to the effective date of any termination Nothing herein shall prevent County and Fire Department , in the event of a termination of this contract for any reason , from entering into an agreement to provide services beyond the effective date of any such termination 10 The Fire Department shall obtain and keep in force during the term of this contract the following minimum insurance coverage a Worker’s Compensation Coverage for all paid and volunteer workers meeting the statutory requirements of the State of North Carolina ; b Comprehensive General Liability , Malpractice , and Errors and Omissions Coverage with minimum limits of 1,000,00000 per occurrence , 1,000,00000 aggregate combined single minimum for bodily injury liability and property damage liability ; c Business Auto Policy Coverage with minimum limits of 1,000,00000 per occurrence combined single limit for bodily injury liability and property damage liability This shall include owned vehicles , hired , and non - owned vehicles and employee non - ownership d Management or Directors and Officers Liability Coverage with minimum limits of 1,000,00000 per claim and 2,000,00000 aggregate e Umbrella Liability Coverage with a minimum limit of 1,000,00000 with underlying coverage of auto liability , general liability , employer’s liability , and 1,000,00000 aggregate f County as an Additional Insured County of Johnston shall be named as an additional insured on all policies of insurance required hereunder Fire Department shall furnish County a certificate of insurance annually g Indemnity Agreement Fire Department shall and hereby agrees to indemnify and save harmless County , from any and all liability and expenses , including attorney’s fees , court costs , and other costs incurred by County caused by the negligent acts or omissions of Fire Department , its volunteers , agents and employees h Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a waiver of immunity by the County 11 The Fire Department shall provide services within the _______ Fire Insurance District NC General Statute 153A - 233 and maintain a minimum of a 9S E rating or better with the North Carolina Department of Insurance , Office of State Fire Marshal , as well as its present nonprofit corporation status pursuant to Chapter 55A of the North Carolina General Statues The Fire Department shall continuously comply with all applicable laws ,Page6813 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued ordinances , and Federal and State regulations See paragraph # 7 Fire Department shall submit to the Johnston County Fire Marshal a written plan outlining how it will maintain or upgrade its current insurance rating when requested by the Johnston County Fire Marshal 12 The Fire Department shall use reporting software supplied by Johnston County The following information is required to be reported in the reporting software to be used for compiling reports 1 Incident ; 2 Staff ; 3 Hydrants Testing and Maintenance ; 4 Training Fire Incident Reports shall be completed , utilizing the software th provided by Johnston County , by the 10 day of the month showing completion of the reports for the previous month The Fire Department shall keep all reports and records on site at Contractor’s principal place of business for at least five years from the creation date All mandatory State and County reports and rosters shall be submitted to the appropriate authority by the requested deadline 13 The Fire Department shall provide annually to the Johnston County Fire Marshal’s Division a current and complete roster of members of the Fire Department to include contact numbers for the Chief and Assistant Chief s 14 The Fire Department agrees to provide automatic and mutual aid services to other emergency services providers in Johnston County The Fire Department understands that other agencies will maintain their own liability policies and be responsible for their own expenses The Fire Department further agrees that it will be responsible for its own expenses while responding to a request for mutual aid to another agency within the county The current automatic aid agreement is included in Appendix A of this contract In areas where the fire district has been extended to six miles , the Fire Department agrees to maintain agreements with adjoining districts to respond with a minimum of one apparatus capable of transporting a minimum of 1,000 gallons of water to all alarms involving reported structure fires This apparatus will be dispatched simultaneously with the department within whose district the incident occurs 15 The following minimal performance standards are agreed upon by the County and the Fire Department and are part of this contract a The Fire Department shall comply with the procedures for radio communications and established protocols for the dispatch of emergencies as defined by the Johnston County Communications Center Protocols b The Fire Department officer in charge at all fire scenes shall attempt to determine the origin and cause of every fire When the officer in charge cannot determine the origin and cause of the fire , or if the cause is suspected to be of an incendiary nature , the officer in charge shall request assistance from the Johnston County Fire Marshal’s Division c The Fire Department shall keep all records on site for minimum period of five 5 years All State and County required reports and rosters shall be submitted by the requested deadlines d The Fire Department shall adopt a standard operating guideline that addresses the number of firefighters required on all types of fire calls A current , valid copy of the Contractor’s guideline shall be kept on file with the Johnston County Fire Marshal The Fire Department shall place at least four 4 personnel on the scene to operate at least one 1 pumper on all structure fire calls e The Fire Department shall have the minimum standard training requirements , as established by the State of North Carolina , for providing fire , rescue , and emergency management services The Fire Department shall maintain training levels in accordance with National Incident Management System NIMS directives f The Fire Department shall participate in at least two 2 or more county wide mutual aid trainings each year g The Fire Department shall develop a pre - fire incident survey and update it annually for all commercial buildings within the Fire Protection Service District Facilities that should be given priority are those buildings displaying NFPA 704 placards , as well as hazardous , institutional , and assembly occupancies The Fire Department agrees to cooperate with local fire code enforcement officials to determine hazards and occupancies Upon request , the Johnston County Fire Marshal or his designee shall assist the Fire Department in developing pre - fire incident surveys for buildings within the Johnston County Fire Marshal’s fire code enforcement service area h If pressurized fire hydrants are located within the fire district , the Fire Department shall adhere to the guidelines established by the Johnston County Public Utilities Department for the flowing of hydrants The Fire Department shall immediately report any malfunctions or damage to hydrants to the entity owning the water system The Fire Department shall conduct fire hydrant testing and maintenance on not less than an annual basis Testing shall ensure that every wet and dry fire hydrant in the Fire Protection Service District is flushed and checked for accessibility , functionality , visibility , and operation Records of fire hydrant tests and maintenance conducted by the Fire Department shall be completed and maintained in compliance with the North Carolina Rating System i The Fire Department shall follow the Johnston County Emergency Operations Plan when responding to an emergency or disaster Page7814 June 3 , 2019 – 10 00 am Continued j During a declared State of Emergency affecting the County , the Fire Department shall assist , within the limits of its personnel and equipment and capabilities and with deference to its primary service area , to the extent possible with the following services 1 Debris removal from roadways ; 2 Traffic Control ; 3 Alert and notification ; 4 Search and rescue ; 5 Evacuation ; and 6 other life saving and property protection measures as necessary Request for additional assistance outside the primary service area shall be directed to the Fire Chief or designee All operations shall be in accordance with the Johnston County Emergency Operations Plan k The Fire Department should have a public fire life safety education program or similar activities for , at a minimum , educating persons regarding life safety from fire l When determining the need and location of additional facilities fire stations , etc , the Fire Department shall participate in a planning process involving the County Fire Marshal which evaluates , at a minimum , the needs of the department , the effects on property owners , the effects on insurance grading , and the impacts on adjoining fire districts m Each Fire Department may elect to voluntarily participate in certain services Each department that provides these services shall be contracted or franchised for the operation of such service , pursuant to the rules set forth by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners If the Fire Department has chosen to participate in any of these programs , the agreements can be found as Appendices o