Commissioners to discuss capital projects funding
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 6, 2018 5:50 AM
Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday will once again take up the issue of capital projects funding for Wayne County Public Schools.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore will attend the board's Tuesday morning meeting to discuss project funding recommendations.
The meeting will get underway with an 8 a.m. agenda briefing followed by the formal session at 9 a.m. Both will be held in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
In May, commissioners visited several schools for a firsthand look at school facility needs.
The tour included stops at Goldsboro High School, Wayne Academy (the old Goldsboro Middle School), School Street School, Brogden Primary School at Dudley, Rosewood Middle School and Fremont STARS Elementary School in Fremont.
Commissioners have been at odds with the school board over facility needs.
They have pushed for better use of existing space and for the need to examine school district lines.
Commissioner Joe Daughtery has perhaps been the most vocal on those issues.
He argues that the school board needs to open up classroom space by moving pre-K classes into other facilities.
"I just find it hard to imagine county taxpayers spending $10 million to build new classrooms when classrooms are available," Daughtery said during that tour. "I'm sorry. I have a problem with that.
"There has got to be a way to adjust the lines to maximize the use of the facilities that we have. Every school district faces the same problem, and that is what they do on an annual basis almost."
Yet, it has almost been 30 years since Wayne County has even looked at tweaking even one line, he said during the tour.
In other business Tuesday, the board will be updated on the Open Broadband internet pilot program and on a study of the County Office Building on whether to remodel or demolish it and build a new facility.
Mark Pope, the county's new economic director, will be introduced.
The board also is expected to act on a motion to approve a contract for expansion at the Wayne Executive Jetport.
Public comments will start at 9:05 a.m. Speakers will have four minutes to comment on their topic of choice.
Consent agenda items include:
• Applications for Elderly or Disabled Exclusion and Disabled Veterans Exclusion.
• Budget amendments.
• Motion to approve the Sweeten Branch subdivision preliminary plat as recommended by the Wayne County Planning Board.
• Motion to approve Gander Lake Phase 4 final plat, as recommended by the Wayne County Planning Board.
• Motion to adopt a resolution declaring the cost and preliminary assessment roll for Canterbury Village and North Creek subdivision street assessment and to establish a public hearing for 9:15 a.m. Aug. 21 in the commissioners meeting room on the proposed resolution.
• Motion to adopt a resolution declaring surplus real property and authorizing its sale.
• Motion to establish a public hearing for 9:15 a.m. Aug. 21 in the commissioners' meeting room on proposed industrial grant incentives.
• Motion to approve an easement allowing Duke Energy Progress to place electric facilities on Wayne County property for the Grantham Middle School pump station.