The Onslow Board of Commissioners will meet in a regular session at 6PM, Monday, February 21, 2022 in the Commissioners’ Chambers at the Onslow County Government Center, 234 NW Corridor Blvd, Jacksonville, NC. The Commissioners will hear a report about Onslow Memorial Hospital, present a proclamation for Black History Month, consider two requests that would allow developments in the White Oak area, consider the purchase of land adjacent to Jacksonville High School and acquisition of a park built by a private entity in the Hubert area, rezoning of a parcel within Burton Park for a new use, and consider the acceptance of additional funds for Senior Services to increase the in-home care provided for seniors.
Commissioners will hear an audit report from the Onslow County Hospital Authority’s auditors. Kevin A. Leder, CPA from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP will be giving the report.
Members of the Onslow County Community Advisory Committee will accept a proclamation on Black History Month as part of the meeting. The County has several entities which have been presenting on Black History month throughout February.
Four public hearings are set for the meeting:
Coastal Carolina CPR LLC doing business as American Ambulance Service is requesting a franchise to provide non-emergency transportation within Onslow County. This does not affect the Onslow County EMS system. The company, based in Holly Ridge, is new but has a franchise to operate similar services in Pender County. A favorable recommendation was given by the Onslow County Peer Review Committee which is recommending the award of the franchise.
Three other public hearings have to do with rezoning about 269 acres of land in three parcels across the County.
The first is a request made on behalf of Marvell H. McDowell to rezone a parcel on the southeastern side of Rocky Run Road in the White Oak Area from Rural Agriculture to Residential 15. The 27.87-acre site is currently vacant and other residential developments are nearby. The classification of the requested rezoning would allow medium density single family residential housing. The Onslow County Planning Board voted to recommend the rezoning allowing development.
The second is a request to rezone 229.42 acres on both sides of Uzzell Road, also in the White Oak area. The request is also to rezone from Rural Agriculture to Residential 15. The area is currently used for single family and agricultural uses and the proposed zoning would allow single-family housing development. The Onslow County Planning Board has also recommended this rezoning.
The third rezoning is within Burton Park and is a staff-initiated request to rezone an 11.67-acre site from Highway Business to Office and Institutional which would limit the types of business that could operate there. The area is on the south side of the Park after the Public Safety Memorial. The proposed rezoning has also been endorsed by the Onslow County Planning Board.
A request from the Onslow County Board of Education for the County to approve the purchase of a nearly 12-acre site at the back of Jacksonville High School for future expansion. The request does not require additional funding from the County and a due diligence effort determined no reasons that the property should not be purchased.
Jacksonville High School has the smallest amount of acreage for any high school in Onslow County and has the highest student population. The acreage will provide opportunities for traffic flow recommended by the NC Department of Transportation, increase parking spaces for students and staff, and provide for future needs such as additional athletic facilities.
The School Board has an offer to pay $500,000 for the site and is asking the approval from the Board of County Commissioners.
As the Onslow County Albert Ellis Airport has a new fire truck funded by a Federal Aviation Administration grant, the Airport is asking the County Commissioners to declare the old truck surplus. The item is before the Board for action.
The Commissioners are also considering the lease and potential purchase of a one-acre site developed as a park in the Hubert area. Pluris Webb Creek has offered the County a $10.00 a year lease for the park which includes playground equipment and exercise equipment. The park was constructed as part of a development where it is located. After ten years, the County could purchase the property for $1. The County’s Parks and Recreation staff has determined that the park equipment is of commercial grade and suitable for use in a county park facility.
Commissioners are also to consider an increase offered as part of a grant to reduce the number of seniors requesting in-home services. The grant from the Department of Aging and Adult Services would provide an additional $46,301 to fund one additional Certified Nursing Aide position to provide these in-home services to seniors. A grant match is required which is already budgeted. Commissioners will consider accepting the additional grant amount.
A new auditing firm for the County is also being considered. The current firm has indicated they would no longer doing audits of local governments and the County put out a proposal for a new firm. The County is to consider approval of the Martin Starnes and Associates firm to perform the Fiscal Year 2022 audit for $89,500. The firm is currently providing audit services to 25 other governmental entities in North Carolina.
A series of budget amendments and an appointment are before the Onslow County Board of Commissioners. The Town of Swansboro has requested appointment of Sherrie Hancock on the Swansboro Planning Board to represent their extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Items on the consent agenda include a release from a deed of trust that has been satisfied, and changes in the authorized signers for financial records.
