Stadium Funding, Barber Mill Expansion Among Johnston Commissioners Actions

SMITHFIELD, N.C. – The Johnston County Board of Commissioners approved funding agreements, contracts and several other measures during its Sept. 21 meeting, while also recognizing a world championship softball team and hearing additional feedback on the county’s proposed Unified Development Ordinance.

World Series Team Recognized
Commissioners recognized the Johnston County 12U team that recently won the 2026 Little League Softball World Series. Representing North Carolina, the Johnston County team went undefeated in the tournament, defeating Canada, Texas, Florida twice and Kentucky in the championship game.

Development Rules Draw Public Input
Commissioners also heard a recap of public feedback received on the county’s draft Unified Development Ordinance.

Opinions varied on several key issues. Some residents said subdivisions containing 10 or more lots should require approval by commissioners, while others favored a 30-lot threshold.

There were also differing views on agricultural buffers. Some residents supported requiring a 75-foot separation between new homes and neighboring farms, while others supported a 35-foot buffer favored by most commissioners. The county’s current UDO does not require such a buffer.

Some residents also called for an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, which could tie development approvals to the availability of roads, schools and other infrastructure.

Barber Mill Convenience Site Expansion Approved
Commissioners awarded a $432,941 contract to S.T. Wooten Corp. to expand the Barber Mill Road solid waste convenience site, the county’s busiest convenience center. County officials said the site handled approximately 112,000 customers last year.

The contractor will have 147 days to complete the expansion once work begins, which is expected in October. The county received five bids for the project, and its consulting engineer recommended S.T. Wooten.

Smithfield Baseball Stadium Funding
Commissioners also approved an agreement with the Town of Smithfield providing partial county funding for construction of a town-owned baseball stadium expected to become home to the Tobs, a summer wood-bat baseball team for college players.

Commissioners previously committed up to $2 million toward the project. Under the agreement, Johnston County will not provide the money upfront. Instead, Smithfield will incur eligible expenses and seek reimbursement from the county.

The agreement caps county funding at $2 million and allows reimbursement for qualifying expenses incurred between Oct. 6, 2025, and June 30, 2028.

The board also heard a presentation on a proposed Double Bucks program that would allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to double their purchasing power for eligible fresh foods at participating farmers markets.

Johnston County Cooperative Extension plans to launch the program Oct. 31 at the Clayton Farm & Community Market. The program would provide a dollar-for-dollar match for eligible SNAP purchases, including locally produced foods.

County funding would be required, although officials said the county’s contribution would not exceed $2,500 during the first year. Commissioners expressed support for a program they said could both improve access to nutritious food for lower-income residents and benefit local farmers.

Whitley Heights Sanitary District Dissolved
Following a public hearing, commissioners dissolved the Whitley Heights Sanitary District.

The district was established in 1988 after property owners agreed to tax themselves to finance water and sewer improvements. The sewer system was later transferred to Johnston County, and the district’s USDA debt was paid in full in February 2024.

County officials said maintaining the district was no longer necessary and that dissolving it would eliminate the additional sanitary district property tax. Commissioners unanimously approved the dissolution.

EMS Software, Service Agreement
Commissioners approved the purchase of software from Peregrine Technologies for Johnston County Emergency Services at an annual cost of $95,000.

The data-integration software is designed to bring information from several systems into a single platform, allowing Emergency Services personnel to review live and historical data, identify trends and coordinate resources. County staff said the platform can integrate information from systems including CAD, emergency medical records, WebEOC, weather data and mapping systems.

The board also approved a service agreement with Stryker, which manufactures emergency medical equipment used by Johnston County EMS, including power cots, stair chairs, power-load systems and LUCAS mechanical CPR devices.

County officials said the service agreement covers repairs, maintenance and replacement of equipment. Funding was already included in the Emergency Services budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

911 Funds
Johnston County 911 Communications received approval to transfer $325,000 from the Emergency Telephone System Fund for radio maintenance and server upgrades.

Commissioners also agreed to an N.C. Department of Transportation request to add Red Rocks Circle in the Lowery Meadows subdivision in Elevation Township to the state-maintained road system.

The board designated Town of Clayton staff as map-review officers for property within Clayton. State law requires counties to designate individuals to review maps and plats before they are recorded by the Register of Deeds.

Surplus Vehicles
Commissioners declared 19 Johnston County Sheriff’s Office vehicles surplus and authorized their sale through an online auction beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, by Wester Auction Co.

The vehicles include four Chevrolet Tahoes and 15 Dodge Chargers ranging from model years 2010 through 2023. Mileages range from 98,844 miles on a 2021 Dodge Charger to 150,649 miles on a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe.

The remaining vehicles include 2014 Chevrolet Tahoes with 125,544 and 129,256 miles; a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe with 129,024 miles; 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 mileages of 129,957, 130,318, 128,733, 134,618, 129,221, 128,814, 128,303, 130,209 and 129,060. A 2023 Dodge Charger with 133,992 miles is also included.

The board also authorized Johnston County Cooperative Extension to apply for a grant from the United Way of the Greater Triangle. The proposed funding would support efforts aimed at improving high school graduation and college access within Johnston County’s Latino community.