Commissoners to consider hearings on budget, road closure
By Steve Herring
Published in News on May 2, 2011 1:46 PM
Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning will consider establishing two public hearings -- one on the county' 2011-12 budget proposal and the second on the state's plans to close a section of Zion Church Road just east of Mount Olive.
The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. with an agenda briefing followed by the meeting at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' room on the fourth floor of the county courthouse annex.
County Manager Lee Smith will recommend that commissioners establish a public hearing on June 21 at 9:15 a.m. in their meeting room to receive public comments on the proposed 2011-12 budget.
Smith said that establishing the hearing is a formality and that he and his staff are continuing to work on the still-unfinished budget proposal.
The board also will be asked to set a public hearing for June 7 at 9:15 a.m. in the commissioners meeting room to receive public comments on the proposed road abandonment of 200 feet of Zion Church Road at the intersection of N.C. 55 and N.C. 403.
There are no residences along the 200 feet to be abandoned.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to make improvements at the intersection of Zion Church Road and N.C. 403 to remove the fifth leg (Zion Church Road) from the intersection.
The DOT will pave the dirt portion of Emmaus Church Road from N.C. 55 to Zion Church Road to provide the residents access to NC 55.
The intersection been identified as an area with a high crash rate -- 10 crashes in five years with one fatality.
The DOT will also be upgrading the flasher with advance warning shoulder-mounted flashers at the intersection as well.
Commissioners would need to approve the abandonment in order for the state to make the improvements.
In other business Tuesday, the board will hold a second reading on codifying the county's ordinances.
No one spoke at last month's public hearing on codifying the county's ordinances -- collecting and organizing them in a manner similar to the way state statutes are recorded. Currently each ordinance stands on its own.
Commission Chairman J.D. Evans became sick and left the meeting early and was not present for the vote. With Evans absent, the vote could not be unanimous, necessitating the second reading and vote.
The county has been working with a company to convert the ordinances to a format that can be placed on the county's website. However, the ordinances first must be codified.
Maintaining electronic versions will mean that the county would not have to maintain a large number of bound volumes that are outdated as soon as they are printed, county officials have said, though a bound copy would still be available.
Another repeat from the board's April 18 meeting is the 35-lot East Lake preliminary plat. The owner\developer is J&N Developers, LLC.
The subdivision consists of 35 lots on the east side of Dollard Town Road and the north side of St. John's Church Road. The property is zoned Outer Horizontal surrounding Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
The subdivision lots that will have access to Dollard Town Road and St. John's Church Road by way of a three new streets. A 1.17 acre area at the rear of the property has been designated as East Lake Park.
At their April 19 meeting commissioners had questions about interconnectivity to the adjoining property.
The plat was returned to the Planning Board for further review. The developer revised the plat providing connection to the adjoining property and St. John's Church Road.
The Planning Board met in special session to review the plat in order to avoid a one-month delay in the approval process.
Services on Aging Director Eryn McAuliffe will speak to commissioners about activities related to Older Americans Month.
She will ask the board to proclaim May as Older Americans Month in the county.
The board also will consider proclaiming May 9-15 as Peace Officers Memorial Week.
It calls upon all citizens of Wayne County to participate in the Wayne County observance on May 12 at 9 a.m. at Wayne Community College in honor of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Commissioners will be updated on Eastpointe services in the county and legislation that would consolidate local management entities and a Medicaid Management System for the state.
Commissioners will be asked for their support of the legislation.