Public hearings on community development, Busco Beach on commissioners agenda
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 13, 2017 1:45 AM
Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning will hold a public hearing to explain the regulations, eligible activities and potential uses of Community Development Block Grant funds for Hurricane Matthew recovery.
They also will discuss the city of Goldsboro's pending public hearing on its proposal to remove Busco Beach and nearby property from the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
The meeting will get underway with an agenda briefing at 8 a.m. followed by the formal session at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
The public hearing will start at 9:30 a.m.
Eligible categories of activities under the grant may include: Homeowner housing repair and reconstruction assistance; temporary rental assistance; small rental repair assistance; multi-family rental repair and reconstruction assistance; temporary rental assistance; flood insurance assistance; housing storm damage repair reimbursement; supportive housing and services for the homeless; small business recovery loan assistance; public facilities and improvements; flood and drainage improvements; water and sewer improvements, and related categories.
All programs and categories of activities are designed and targeted to benefit low-to-moderate income persons.
The public hearing will also provide information on the county's support of fair housing requirements.
A second public hearing would be required if the county decides to apply in any program or category.
It would be held prior to submitting an application that will identify the grant program, proposed activities and budget.
Complaints about noise, traffic and other issues in the Busco Beach area have dogged the city and county for years.
The 678-acre park, campground and recreational area is within Goldsboro's extra-territorial jurisdiction, which allows the city to enforce zoning regulations.
However, City Manager Scott Stevens said the Goldsboro Police Department lacks the authority to enforce city zoning regulations in the ETJ where the city does not collect property taxes or provide services.
That inability to effectively enforce its zoning rules at Busco Beach is prompting the city to consider moving its ETJ line to the Neuse River and removing Busco Beach entirely.
The change would remove the city's zoning control and would also eliminate the city's conditional-use restriction that prohibits the use of ATVs and other sport vehicles after 11 p.m.
The property is in an area of the county where no zoning exists, and because the property isn't zoned, there are no regulations for its use, County Planner Chip Crumpler said.
The county has a noise ordinance, which can be enforced by Wayne County sheriff deputies, he said.
In addition to removing the ETJ, the city may also ask Wayne County commissioners if the county will take ownership of several city-owned FEMA buyout properties near Busco Beach.
From time to time commissioners have indicated that they would like to give the county's FEMA land to the city.
Also on Tuesday's agenda are motions to:
* Accept the tax collector's settlement for calendar year 2016 taxes and prior years.
* Approve an order directing the tax collector to collect the taxes charged in the tax records and receipts for calendar year 2017 and all prior years' outstanding taxes.
* Approve salary adjustments for the public health department as recommended by the human resources director and the county manager.
* Approve salary adjustments for facilities services as recommended by the human resources director and the county manager.
In other business:
* Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority Executive Director Fred Fontana will make a presentation on the five-year N.C. Department of Transportation Community Transportation Service Plan.
* Wayne County Finance Director Allison Speight will present the county's comprehensive annual financial report that has qualified for the Government Finance Officers Association's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
Consent agenda items include: Applications for Disabled Veteran Exclusion, Elderly or Disabled Exclusion and Present Use Value; budget amendments; and motion to adopt a proclamation for National Honey Bee Day in Wayne County.
Public comments will start at 9:05 a.m. Speakers will have four minutes to comment on their topic of choice.