County to set hearing on tax
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 5, 2015 1:46 PM
Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday will consider scheduling a public hearing on implementing a 1 percent countywide hotel occupancy tax.
County Manager George Wood is recommending that the hearing be held Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 9:15 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the county courthouse annex.
The bill granting the county the authority to levy the tax was approved during the waning hours of the General Assembly session that adjourned last week.
The tax is the linchpin in an agreement between the county and the city of Goldsboro for development of the city's multi-sports complex and the county's agricultural and convention center.
Tuesday's commissioners' meeting will get under way with an 8 a.m. agenda briefing followed by the formal session at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room.
While it is not part of Tuesday's agenda, commissioners also must appoint a Wayne County Tourism Development Authority, which will be charged with how the money is spent to promote travel and tourism in the county.
Also, the agreement between the county and city will have to be amended since the original pact was based on a 1 percent increase in the city's hotel tax and not a countywide tax.
Commissioners also Tuesday are expected to continue their discussion of the four-day work week under which some departments operate.
Wood is recommending that the Wayne County Development Alliance switch to a staggered four-day week so that the office is open on Friday.
Most other departments are on a similar schedule or are open five days a week.
Wood said he is still reviewing the schedules for animal services and information technology.
Review of the Department of Social Services has been delayed until March of 2016 because of the ongoing implementation of a new software system.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners will hold a rezoning public hearing at 9:15 a.m.
The rezoning request includes:
* One parcel of land along U.S. 70 West containing 27.29 acres from Outer Horizontal to Community Shopping.
* Extending an existing zoning area adjacent to Westbrook Avenue (SR 1259) to include an additional 62.22 acres. The proposed zoning for this additional area is Community Shopping.
* Approximately 89.61 acres located on the east side of N.C. 581 North from Outer Horizontal to Community Shopping.
* Three tracts at the intersection of Westbrook Avenue and unnamed service road from Residential-10 to Community Shopping and one tract to Village District.
* Approximately 28.39 acres on the west side of the Walmart development from Outer Horizontal to Community Shopping.
Also on the agenda, commissioners will consider motions to approve:
* Industry Celebration Week proclamation.
* Breast Cancer Awareness Month proclamation.
* Solid waste debt write-off.
* An amendment to the Wayne County Capital Improvement Plan for sewer improvements.
* Budget amendments.
There also will be presentations by the Wayne County Cooperative Extension on avian influenza; upcoming events and Medicare D open enrollment at the Peggy M. Seegars Senior Center; and an update on the Golden Leaf Foundation application process.
Consent agenda items include: A fee increase for Prevnar 13 (pneumonia vaccine) from $173 to $225 at the Wayne County Health Department; application for 2015 Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Exclusion; applications for 2015 Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exclusion; applications for 2015 Property Tax Exclusion; resolution amending the Wayne County Position Classification and Pay Plan; 2011 Community Development Block Grant-Catalyst project change order to extend the paving of Love Drive and amend the budget to transfer unspent funds to street and drainage improvement activities; and budget amendments.
Public comments will be taken at 10 a.m. Speakers will have four minutes to comment on their topic of choice.