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Johnston County approves most Wilson's Mills-area service road names, defers one for vetting
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved names for several new and extended service roads created by the U.S. 70 upgrade to interstate status, citing public-safety benefits; commissioners left one proposed name for further review to ensure 911 and addressing compatibility.
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing May 19 on proposed names for service roads created or extended after U.S. 70 was upgraded and access reconfigured. After public comment and staff discussion, the board approved most of the road-name proposals and deferred one name to allow further vetting with 9-1-1 and the town of Wilsons Mills.
The hearing followed a staff presentation explaining that interstate conversion of U.S. 70 removed direct access for some properties and required new service roads and rights-of-way. Planning staff said the county must name county-jurisdiction roads by ordinance under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-239.1 before notifying DOT, the U.S. Postal Service and utilities.
Planning director (speaker identified in the record as Braston) described the proposals, including extending Wilsons Mills Road to Swift Creek Road and naming a short service road within Wilsons Mills corporate limits for a single business. He told commissioners the county sent individual notices to affected property owners and that the board could act tonight or take comments under advisement before adopting an ordinance.
Local first responders and residents urged prompt action. Bentley Powell, identified as Wilkes Mills Fire Chief, told commissioners: "My concern is... if they look at a GPS... it's gonna take them to Highway 70 right in front of it, but they're gonna be a concrete wall." He said quick address changes reduce response confusion and urged the county to get names and addresses right the first time.
Resident Charlie Edwards proposed naming a short service road after his late father, saying, "I was suggesting the name of Jack Edwards Highway or Jack Edwards Road because that was my father." Bishop Michael Roseborough, representing Greater Vision Worship Center, asked that the service road serving the church be named for the church — "Greater Vision Road" or a similar derivative — citing the congregation's community outreach.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the proposed names for newly created service roads and extensions, with the single exception of the road the town proposed as "Captain Drive." The motion directed staff to investigate the Captain Drive proposal and return to the board at the first meeting in June with a vetted recommendation; the board approved the motion. The transcript records the motion carried.
What changed and why it matters: Commissioners and emergency responders emphasized public-safety reasons for timely naming and addressing changes so dispatch and out-of-area responders do not navigate to Highway 70 and encounter restricted access. Planning staff said approved names will be forwarded to DOT and address custodians after the board adopts an implementing ordinance.
Next steps: Staff will prepare the ordinance(s) for the approved names for adoption on a future agenda and will return a vetted recommendation on the Captain Drive proposal at the board's first June meeting. Planning staff also said they would reconcile any new names in the county addressing database to avoid duplicates and 9-1-1 dispatch confusion.
Votes at a glance: The board approved the motion to adopt the proposed names for the newly created service roads and extensions, and deferred one road name for further vetting; the transcript records a motion, a second and a voice vote with the motion carrying.
