Baseball Stadium Funding Agreement, Convenience Site Expansion Highlight Commissioners Agenda

SMITHFIELD, N.C. – A funding agreement for Smithfield’s new baseball stadium, a $432,941 expansion of Johnston County’s busiest convenience site and a proposal to help low-income residents buy fresh food are among the items awaiting county commissioners Monday night.

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, in the Commissioners Meeting Room at the Johnston County Courthouse, 207 E. Johnston Street in Smithfield.

One of the more closely watched items will be a proposed agreement between Johnston County and the Town of Smithfield concerning the town-owned baseball stadium being constructed for the Tobs, a summer baseball team made up of college players.

Commissioners agreed last fall to provide $2 million over two budget years toward the stadium. The agreement before the board Monday would spell out how and when the county will make those payments.

The stadium project has drawn increased attention as its estimated cost has climbed substantially from the original proposal.

Barber Mill Convenience Site

Commissioners will also be asked to award a contract for expansion of the Barber Mill Road convenience site, the busiest of Johnston County’s solid waste convenience centers.

County staff recommends awarding the project to S.T. Wooten Corp., which submitted a bid of $432,941.

Another proposal would establish a Double Bucks Program for residents receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.

Under the program, participants could double the value of benefits spent on qualifying fresh foods at local farmers markets, including fruits, vegetables and meats. Supporters say the program could improve access to nutritious food for lower-income residents while putting additional dollars into the hands of local farmers.

The program would require some county funding, although the proposed county contribution would not exceed $2,500 during the first year.

Whitley Heights Tax District Could Be Dissolved

Commissioners will hold a public hearing on dissolving the Whitley Heights Sanitary District.

Property owners in the Whitley Heights community agreed in 1988 to tax themselves to finance construction of a sewer collection system. The district has since paid off its debt and operation of the sewer system has been transferred to Johnston County.

With the debt retired and the county operating the system, officials say the sanitary district — and its additional property tax — is no longer needed.

The county has formally advertised the Sept. 21 hearing to receive public comment on dissolving the district.

Technology, EMS Equipment And 911 Spending

Johnston County Emergency Services will ask commissioners to purchase software from Peregrine Technologies.

The artificial intelligence-powered system would work with data already collected through other Emergency Services software. Officials say it could help identify trends, coordinate resources and allow staff to make faster, better-informed decisions during emergencies.

Emergency Services will also request approval of a repair and maintenance agreement with Stryker, which manufactures equipment used by Johnston County EMS, including power cots, stair chairs and LUCAS mechanical chest-compression devices used during CPR.

Johnston County 911 Communications is seeking permission to take $325,000 from reserves for radio maintenance and server upgrades.

UDO Update

Planning Director Braston Newton is scheduled to update commissioners on public feedback received during a recent community drop-in session concerning the latest draft of Johnston County’s proposed Unified Development Ordinance.

The county has been working on the new UDO for an extended period, with multiple public meetings and revisions. A third draft has been released, and another public drop-in session is scheduled Sept. 23 at Johnston Community College.

Sheriff’s Vehicles Headed To Auction

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office is asking commissioners to declare 19 vehicles surplus so they can be sold at auction.

The list includes a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe with 150,649 miles; two 2014 Chevrolet Tahoes with 125,544 and 129,256 miles; and a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe with 129,024 miles.

Also proposed for sale are 2016 Dodge Chargers with 112,645 and 127,781 miles; 2020 Dodge Chargers with 129,343 and 130,127 miles; and 2021 Dodge Chargers with 129,957, 130,318, 128,733, 134,618, 129,221, 128,814, 128,303, 130,209, 129,060 and 98,844 miles.

A 2023 Dodge Charger with 133,992 miles rounds out the list.

If approved, Wester Auction Co. would conduct an online auction beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8.

Other Business

The N.C. Department of Transportation is requesting that Red Rocks Circle in the Lowery Meadows subdivision in Elevation Township be added to the state-maintained road system.

Commissioners will also consider a request from the Town of Clayton to designate town employees as map-review officers. State law requires maps and plats to be reviewed before they can be recorded in the Johnston County Register of Deeds Office. The designation would allow Clayton staff to perform that review for property within the town limits.

Several budget amendments are also on the agenda.

The Health Department is proposing to accept $5,305 in state grant funding for family planning services, including Pap smears, pregnancy testing and birth control, along with $1,296 in federal funding for child fatality reporting and prevention.

The Sheriff’s Office is requesting a budget amendment totaling $2,073.33 from insurance proceeds and controlled-substance tax revenue.