Johnston County opens talks with Kenly and Micro on joining county fire protection district

County Attorney Lester told the Board of Commissioners that the county adopted the Johnston County Fire Protection Service District on Oct. 15, 2024, to fund fire protection across unincorporated areas and Wilson's Mills. “This board adopted a resolution establishing the Johnston County Fire Protection Service District,” Lester said, noting the district's territory and the recent first budget cycle.

Lester said the county had received formal requests from the towns of Kenly (July 13) and Micro to explore inclusion in the district and proposed starting outreach in August with a September 30 deadline for towns to express interest. If towns request inclusion, staff would report in October, hold town-level community meetings in October and November, call for a public hearing in January 2027, and, pending town resolutions and the board's action, hold a public hearing in mid-February with board consideration in March. Lester said any approved inclusion would be effective July 1, 2027, to align with the fiscal year.

Lester emphasized that municipal inclusion would be voluntary: a town must pass its own resolution asking to participate, and the county cannot impose membership. He also said funding arrangements would be a focus of early conversations; town officials and staff would discuss rate changes and potential reallocation of the towns' ad valorem allocations for fire services. Commissioners asked staff to begin conversations and public education but made no binding commitment to add any municipality to the district.

The board signaled general consensus to proceed with informational outreach to interested towns and begin the sequence of community meetings and hearings described by staff.