[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6230238,"mediaKeyId","3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f","parentId",3442470,"title","Town officials return from Denmark study tour exploring industrial symbiosis and green-industry partnerships","audioSeconds",442,"startMs",3817000,"endMs",4259000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f&start=3817&end=4259","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f/thumbnail_3817000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6230238/Clayton/Johnston-County/North-Carolina/Town-officials-return-from-Denmark-study-tour-exploring-industrial-symbiosis-and-green-industry-partnerships","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230238-55357b21d3c787515f47cb8fe199e5f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167388&Signature=nqT7~jJYwsz-q2zAmtQSAvQy5azX4FEAvs6Q333fiWLhi0B7QokVo6x-QFkqBoCW4-BvLDMh78BeuZIir1PhyHOKfkQwhj3J0NyXpWC30XD8glzyFikl6uY1TLQANKlPS8OoXNjS4Bu9lWkLlroq3-J~v5Q~9JQCqhyBAd08j8omEnxhYT-nPZNtBv7Lia0o1AWNeWP8AEizVFIdTyIyXtug64xHhkeTvFnK6jbmgREhXN-6zQG04F7YiMNg1v8T5mxm5VB9o1SGl5tnAIeF9SI-cM7GzsNgaFmoqcpMC3HgzL5k7Yv6axr2siEh2DpyvEFGqm6g8cd5KCsoFSeJxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Clayton Town ","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","Town Manager Rich Capold and Mayor Jody MacLeod reported that they, Economic Development Director Joe Stallings and other state and regional delegates attended an industrial symbiosis study tour hosted by the Danish Foreign Ministry in Copenhagen in May.

Capold said industrial symbiosis is a collaborative approach in which separate industries exchange byproducts, energy and materials so that one firm’s outputs become another’s inputs, reducing waste and costs. He said the delegation included county commissioners, officials from the state Department of Environmental Quality, professors from Duke University and NC State, state commerce representatives and chamber representatives.

Capold described site visits to multiple industries and wastewater-treatment facilities and said the Danish example (notably the historical K\u0000f8lleborg/K\u0000f8benhavn industrial symbiosis examples) showed long-term inter-industry collaboration over decades. \"It was really enlightening, to see how these different industries are able to kinda set aside some of the more competitive elements of how they would operate, and be able to work together to really find ways to support each other,\" Capold said.

Mayor MacLeod said the trip allowed Clayton officials to explore how elements of the Danish model might be adapted locally, particularly given Clayton’s industrial and biotech presence. She and Capold noted opportunities in green-energy and biopharmaceutical workforce training that could benefit local economic development.

Next steps

Capold said staff and council will continue conversations with state partners and local industry to assess whether and how to pursue industrial symbiosis practices in the Clayton area; staff said they will brief council with more detailed recommendations in future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Clayton Town Council Meeting - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor and senior staff attended a Danish government-led industrial symbiosis study tour; officials said the trip highlighted collaborative resource-sharing models and potential opportunities for Clayton’s industrial and biotech sectors.","taxTitle","Clayton, Johnston County, North Carolina","taxId",52052,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230243,"Clayton to stop accepting paper development applications July 1; online system launch delayed to fall",95,4325000,4420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f&start=4325&end=4420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f/thumbnail_4325000.jpg","/articles/6230243/Clayton/Johnston-County/North-Carolina/Clayton-to-stop-accepting-paper-development-applications-July-1-online-system-launch-delayed-to-fall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230243-700afaa6afbdba08f4f06e55801cd505/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167388&Signature=RSWcplJYsMNFaIcYYOv1b9BXWT97-iwFcZbmZxldekpE0qug2UWLdT3mBQ~iA5WUEYUVfPVo3-gZx6oYNnHrdrrrttgTIx5zoXyYnqmmXGp7Mjmadma-xwdIZEoyRInhEXamtxN0EvnCzIqvGmUwdm0CSaXRTfd9Agu4A8ekjFxiFrjlQVcG1fDi6BVI0dohsoPCjN9PDyXJ9BJUnrFQFRydHmYLJjMhdCITWufM8kxJAe4eRqPiPDzcXWXyvnIgYQ6UwBNYyMfmbgp6~bZSw-ztnpxBCiL9CigVQvCOD-~o6mSYmaRh7S9-QVrG3Ge7QNYHkyeK3p3ykhGrhJAtDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Town Manager Courtney Tanner told council on May 20 that the town will stop accepting paper development applications beginning July 1 and will implement an interim kiosk-and-scanning process to assist applicants during the transition to an online permitting portal.

Tanner said the town is working with communications and IT to provide a kiosk for walk-in applicants so staff can scan paper forms into the new system; the interim scanning workflow is expected to remain in place for roughly a year while the town phases in the new digital permitting platform.

Tanner also reported the initial go-live for the online system will move from July to the fall of 2025 after testing identified additional tweaks. She said the town expects to complete the full multi-phase implementation by summer 2026, noting the revised timeline will delay some items, such as site-plan final plats, but should create operational efficiencies overall.

Why it matters

The change affects applicants who file planning, permitting or engineering documents with the town. Tanner said staff will not turn away applicants when the paper acceptance ends; instead, the kiosk-and-scan interim will let staff capture paper submissions for processing. Tanner described the delay as a quality-control choice: as testing revealed issues, staff adjusted the timeline to ensure a better public experience when the portal goes live.

Next steps

Tanner said communications materials and kiosk logistics are being finalized and staff will provide updates to stakeholders as the fall launch approaches and as the phased rollout continues into summer 2026.","Deputy Town Manager Courtney Tanner said the town will stop accepting paper development applications on July 1 and implement a kiosk-scanner interim process; the planned July launch of the online portal has been delayed to fall with full implementation expected by summer 2026.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230248,"Clayton joins NC WaterWARN mutual-aid network to bolster water and wastewater emergency response",217,3487000,3704000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f&start=3487&end=3704","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f/thumbnail_3487000.jpg","/articles/6230248/Clayton/Johnston-County/North-Carolina/Clayton-joins-NC-WaterWARN-mutual-aid-network-to-bolster-water-and-wastewater-emergency-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230248-45789c0735f0dca7fe5e4aa978009d31/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167388&Signature=ArN1W8IOFCKtww5D2a0L~9ySZB3VjzKawS8SdNcQJgpWtvfoSKM3RTTS8LWQd6zSFnNf6iLJk5KR-yAeqv217a8gRwzDHNz9-MbT44FPgsiJTGrSzRHQqK4wCn4aTmygTZq5ebv22brfZ9IDe9S~I5T5kWFvQDbUcEwg5AWgIdK8ybU6tST1xFkoVFEKRRK6~SQdO5BAFELdhGVCAA8hR-~GM22Ri2WG0ckZ3Orq2XmQy-Q~IyY6JdhNRslAn3WkDXjBYYUsslYIwESObpH-kZv2hJWck2BaaqqJvjQL8l3eZxvztN3ONISw3Itgg81mtbMENnJgp12cvzgFiHAuAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","James Blaylock, assistant water resources director, asked the council to authorize Clayton’s participation in NC WaterWARN, a voluntary statewide water/wastewater mutual-aid network, and the council adopted the resolution on May 20.

Blaylock said NC WaterWARN — created in February 2008 and, as of May 12, composed of 42 members statewide — provides a framework for requesting and receiving personnel, equipment and materials during emergencies and large incidents. \"This will give us added benefit to get the support that we need or help others,\" Blaylock said, noting the network also tracks requests for reimbursement in declared disasters.

Blaylock described recent network activity during Hurricane Helene: NC WaterWARN handled 44 requests for service and carried out more than 70 missions, helping some systems return to service within two weeks after catastrophic infrastructure loss. He also said Clayton water resources staff have completed FEMA incident-command training (ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800) and that joining the network aligns with work to update continuity-of-operations plans and incident-response procedures.

Council action and implementation

Council adopted Resolution 2025-31 authorizing the town manager or designee to execute the NC WaterWARN memorandum of agreement. Blaylock emphasized the membership requires no town funding and that participation grants Clayton access to specialized operators and equipment that are difficult to source in an emergency. Staff said membership also provides the town with a seat at the state emergency operations center when the network coordinates response efforts.

Next steps

Staff will execute the MOA as authorized and integrate NC WaterWARN procedures into the town’s emergency-management framework, and staff may participate in future WaterWARN drills and training offered by the program.","Council approved a resolution to join the NC Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (NC WaterWARN), providing the town access to statewide mutual-aid personnel, equipment and a seat at the state emergency operations center during declared disasters.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230253,"Council awards $1.26M contract for Hoke at Ellington Memorial Library renovation",343,3135000,3478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f&start=3135&end=3478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f/thumbnail_3135000.jpg","/articles/6230253/Clayton/Johnston-County/North-Carolina/Council-awards-126M-contract-for-Hoke-at-Ellington-Memorial-Library-renovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230253-cb60228be8c33a2c3c8d448f06f2aa33/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167388&Signature=KomIs03LNOPvo6luqWtig1BJwIJ1-m3dJiHqpJCPp~eQR8-pB2kO1UGuYYXnDtaGEw56jhx5fQJ7iFRgKVvu21Iqgz9l6v27zPiPT5YHTE~X-IfgKMqF~6XBVmEcOKzEiW3-hJF6VCFa7W6rp3loWghEiP-dLmVNgaUDLiaNKq1MC4p5dvNUnpk7gBHcyGVl1t682T1pg1FlEK9fiOYHa2kQBW410yPKIjLQ~PjQkC6GGyJINW5logo8W1N2nhvjinQ3rWra33yKDqOI4pMhoTVwufyuEGdmKth4eZxtLpVPOyjPZ~fNP63J9A3AcZm~6nus68g-Xp~EKWqQnJKhuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christopher Gallant, capital program manager in the engineering department, recommended the Town of Clayton award a construction contract for the Hoke at Ellington Memorial Library renovation on May 20 after the town received four competitive bids.

Gallant said the project will demolish and renovate the entire 9,200-square-foot interior to modernize the layout for improved services and programming. He identified Vortex Construction Company as the apparent low bidder with a base bid and alternates totaling $1,259,030 and said that amount was well under the architect’s estimate.

Gallant told council construction is expected to begin in June 2025 with anticipated completion in April 2026 and that the architect of record and the town’s procurement contracts manager reviewed the bid package and recommended award to the lowest responsive bidder.

Council action

Staff asked the council to authorize the town manager or designee to execute the construction contract and any associated change orders needed to complete the project within the approved budget. The council then adopted Resolution 2025-40 authorizing the contract award.

Project context and community reaction

Council members who spoke during the item praised the project’s need and utility. Council Member Porter Casey and others noted regular heavy use of the library’s children’s area; several council members emphasized the renovation will improve sightlines and safety and praised the fact the low bid came in under the architect’s estimate.

Contract and schedule details

- Project: Hoke at Ellington Memorial Library interior renovation.
- Size: approximately 9,200 square feet of interior renovation.
- Apparent low bidder: Vortex Construction Company.
- Apparent low bid (base + alternates): $1,259,030.
- Bids received: 4 competitive bids.
- Construction schedule (presented): begin June 2025, substantial completion anticipated April 2026.

The council adopted the resolution authorizing the town manager to execute the contract; the motion carried and staff said they will coordinate relocation of library contents and temporary operations during construction.","Town staff recommended and council approved a construction contract to renovate the 9,200-square-foot interior of the Hoke at Ellington Memorial Library after Vortex Construction submitted the lowest responsive bid at $1,259,030; construction expected June 2025–April 2026.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230258,"Clayton officials present FY 2025–26 budget with proposed 49¢ tax rate; public hearing opened",1809,1022000,2831000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f&start=1022&end=2831","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442470-b0455aff7081548fa198a81a7595460f/thumbnail_1022000.jpg","/articles/6230258/Clayton/Johnston-County/North-Carolina/Clayton-officials-present-FY-202526-budget-with-proposed-49-tax-rate-public-hearing-opened","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230258-b2f9c7c5e60eec171413196edfd45324/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167388&Signature=VlwVkirndntq7ndJr2jCio4fJcI~o3Gawm5iaMhlKHSrQ2w9nXIWfB7BZaeEsYlnGthjM4r2r9cPpPd7U8AdfXNvhFwdevXSaS7ue0HcDuXxQsZSPt9SM4o-BDuQc8I0r3cTC10oCDyFIfqCdCO4b-6PYbuzC03lcn90Fo~ZUv1ECniLFh9WDaXI0Z7zLaj9GWab5ysnsVp0X9Q-fiap7gGulnwMQJlvm1M1SG~HwoB6MMbTrBbqIgABiYPN69jT4ePdaOTpKMoSk4rcM~H0oJvt-oHlTegIH3uWJOVbMXuZb5qEGx4mhdpHJjgDflSJR2Yc2NaFJoRZRVs~vJeJAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Manager Rich Capold opened the Town of Clayton’s first public hearing on the fiscal year 2025–26 budget on May 20, presenting a manager-recommended spending plan and asking council to review staff recommendations.

Budget Manager Todd Milton told the council the recommended general fund is balanced at roughly $67,200,000 and that the town manager is proposing a 49¢ per $100 valuation tax rate for FY 2026. Milton said the recommendation also includes a 10.2% combined water and sewer rate increase (about 6% for water and 12.5% for sewer), a 2% electric rate increase, and capital outlay in the general fund of roughly $7,900,000, including $7,500,000 set aside for land banking for economic development.

The budget presentation laid out why the package matters. \"The budget process is one of the most important responsibilities we have in local government,\" Capold said, noting the town is operating three major funds totaling more than $100 million. Milton said staff moved to a base budgeting technique using three-year averages to constrain line items and began using ClearGov to budget by position and later link strategic-plan initiatives to budget lines.

Key details and assumptions

- General fund manager recommendation: approximately $67,200,000.
- Proposed property tax rate: 49¢ per $100 valuation (manager recommendation).
- Revenue neutral tax rate reported by staff: about 45¢ per $100 valuation.
- Water and sewer combined recommended increase: 10.2% (roughly 6% water, 12.5% sewer).
- Electric fund recommended rate increase: 2%.
- Capital outlay: general fund ≈ $7,900,000; water/sewer fund ≈ $2,200,000; electric fund capital ≈ $6,200,000.
- Land-banking allotment included: $7,500,000.
- Positions: seven new positions recommended (four in general fund, two in water/sewer, one in electric) for a total added personnel cost of just over $700,000.
- Average assessed single-family home value cited: $355,629 (post-revaluation figures cited in the presentation).

Why it matters

Milton and Capold framed the package as a response to sustained town growth and rising costs. Milton said the town used conservative revenue assumptions — for example, budgeting a 2.5% sales tax increase and a 14.6% ad valorem growth assumption — while noting a large portion of the town’s real property (about $484 million) remained under appeal, so staff included a 1¢ reduction assumption in some calculations.

Council discussion and follow-up requests

Council members thanked staff for the analysis and asked for additional detail. Council Member Porter Casey praised the three-year averaging approach and asked whether underspent funds from a project that comes in under budget would roll back into the capital improvement program; staff confirmed that underspending typically reduces the project budget and can free funds for other CIP needs.

Council members asked for more granular line-item detail in the budget document, with examples such as training and professional development. Milton said staff examined three-year averages for professional development and reduced the FY 2026 recommended amount by 20% where past spending warranted it, while departments were given the opportunity to justify higher needs for specific line items (for example, hiring new firefighters increases that department’s professional development needs).

Council Member Ruth Anderson asked staff to provide, at a future work session, historical personnel totals and salary-and-benefit totals by department for several years and to show homestead-exemption construction totals by year; staff agreed to prepare that information.

Process and next steps

Capold and Milton emphasized this was the first of at least two public hearings on the budget and that the council will have additional opportunities to adjust the manager’s recommended budget before adoption. The presentation materials and the ClearGov-based linking of budget to the town’s strategic plan were described as ongoing work. The public hearing was closed later in the meeting after no members of the public spoke.

The council did not take a formal vote on the FY 2025–26 budget during the May 20 meeting; the session was recorded and staff noted they will return with additional documentation and respond to the follow-up requests raised by council members.","Town staff presented a manager-recommended FY 2025–26 budget that balances the general fund at about $67.2 million, proposes a 49¢ per $100 valuation tax rate, utility rate increases and seven new positions; council held the first public hearing and asked staff for follow-ups.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town officials return from Denmark study tour exploring industrial symbiosis and green-industry partnerships

Clayton to stop accepting paper development applications July 1; online system launch delayed to fall

Clayton joins NC WaterWARN mutual-aid network to bolster water and wastewater emergency response

Council awards $1.26M contract for Hoke at Ellington Memorial Library renovation

Clayton officials present FY 2025–26 budget with proposed 49¢ tax rate; public hearing opened