Johnston County Commissioners approved a number of items at their December meeting held Monday morning at the Johnston County Courthouse.
Radios
The 911 Communications Center was allowed to purchase $1,358,486.94 in new radio equipment. The first payment on the equipment will not be due until the next fiscal year.
Commissioners agreed to pay $200,818 as the county’s share of a regional radio grant program to purchase new P-25 compliant radios for the Antioch, Archer Lodge, Bethany, Clayton, Corinth Holder, Kenly, Micro, Pine Level, Thanksgiving, and Wilson’s Mills Fire Departments. The total cost of the radios was $575,000. The county must switch to the new radio system by Oct. 1, 2016.
Health Department
The Johnston County Health Department was allowed to update fees they charges for services. Most of the cost increases were minimal. For example, the cost for tobacco counseling will increase from $14 to $20, and an established patient evaluation from $75 to $80. Many of the costs were unchanged and a few were lower. For example, topical fluoride is currently $59. Under the new fee structure the price will drop to $20.
DOT Road Approvals
The Board approved a request by the NC Department of Transportation to add several streets into the State Maintained System. Among the streets: Glen Iris Drive, Letchworth Drive and Gennessee Drive – Glen Iris Subdivision – O’Neals Township; Langdon Farm Drive, Lawson Court, and Gray Court – Langdon Farms – Smithfield Township; Manor Drive – Cleveland Manor – Cleveland Township; Redwood Road – Remington Hills – O’Neals Township. The DOT has added 74 streets to the state maintained system in Johnston County in 2015, the most of any county in North Carolina.
Planning Boards
Donna Hatcher of US301 North, Selma was appointed to the Selma Planning Board to a term expiring Nov. 1, 2018.
Mark Lane of Yelverton Grove Road, Smithfield was reappointed to Smithfield Planning Board and Board of Adjustments representing the ETJ areas of the Town. His term will expire Dec. 31, 2018.
Nathan Evans of Plaza DeLuke Square, Clayton was appointed to the Clayton Planning Board representing the ETJ areas of the Town. His term will expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
Bids
Commissioners approved bids to install a fourth filter and chemical feed improvements at the Johnston County Water Treatment Plant. State Utility Contractors of Monroe agreed to a negotiated bid amount of $4,906,000 for the work.
Hawley Construction of Kenly was awarded a $169,445 bid for water main extensions along Parkertown Road, Homestead Road, and Long Branch Roach. Hawley was the lowest among 6 companies that submitted bids for the project.
