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  Johnston Town Council addresses wide range of issues in May meeting web posted May 13, 2008 JOHNSTON – The Johnston Town Council held their May meeting Monday night and tackled an assortment of matters ranging from tractor-trailer trucks “Jake breaking” on Highway 121, tornado warnings, to moving up the time of the monthly meetings. After passing the first reading of the town budget, and a second a final reading rezoning property at 98 Calhoun Street from residential to business district, Mayor Willie Campbell directed the town council’s attention to a consideration of amending the town’s noise ordinance. The wanted change is to address what is called “Jake breaking” by big rigs as they enter the town. Jake breaking, as it was described, is the use of compressed air to slow the engine down without using the brake system and thus causing a loud noise during the process. Interim Administrator Sam Leaman said that he has spoken with the SC DOT who would install signs stating the practice is not permissible in the town but the town would need to pass an ordinance forbidding the practice. “There has to be something the town can enforce before they will place the signs,” Leaman said. The council asked for more information before moving forward on the matter. Another issue brought forward to the town council’s attention was the duplicity of the town’s ordinance on what constitutes junk cars and the zoning ordinance. A Johnston resident said his sister had received two tickets about two cars on her property and he did not understand why. “She’s been out of work,” he said, and added that the cars were just sitting there until she could make the minor repairs and be able to afford to put a tag on her car. “She just started work,” he said. Police Chief Chris Aston said no tickets have been issued and only letters advising of the law have been sent to residents. Chief Aston stated that he instructed no tickets be issued until the discrepancy in the two ordinances could be codified. The town ordinance states a person can have up to five unlicensed cars and the zoning ordinance states no more than two. Yet another provision stated that the unlicensed vehicles could not be on the property for more than 45 days without being placed behind a fence or in a storage building and out of view. Council members debated the issue stating they believed they rectified the problem years ago. Councilman Morris Holmes spoke up and stated that he thought they made changes due to people in the military that may be on a tour of duty for a year or more or perhaps a person lost their license and could not drive for a period of time and may choose to unregister their vehicle during the period. The matter was taken in as information and would be addressed further in upcoming meetings and Chief Aston was instructed not to issue any tickets until the matter could be resolved. Councilman Tommy Burton raised the issue of tornado warnings in the event, “a tornado is spotted in or near the town of Johnston,” and referred to the warning issued early Saturday morning when a detected rotation approaching Johnston was issued by the weather service. Councilman Burton said that the siren should be set to sound one continuous blast to warn citizens that they should seek safe shelter. The activation of the warning would have to come from the E911 center and may require the installation of a piece of hardware allowing dispatchers to issue the warning. The council suggested more information of what needed to be put in place to make the warnings available. Councilman Burton suggested that the local press could “get the word out” on the meaning of the siren so residents would know they are in danger and how to respond in the situation. The town council also took up a suggestion by Councilman Morris Holmes to move the time of monthly meetings to 6 pm rather than 6:30 pm. After a brief discussion Mayor Campbell asked each council member if 6 pm would be acceptable to them and all agreed. In order for the time to be change the council would need to hold two readings and advertise the change. The town council will take the matter up again, possibly in ordinance form in the June meetings. The town council also approved designating the roughly $18,000 in state PARD (Parks and Recreation) funds to replacing the failing light poles and lighting at Watson Park. The funds require a 80/20 match by the town of just over $4,700 in funding making the total cost of the project a little over $23,000. Mayor Willie Campbell said during his report that he wanted to thank the Johnston Development Association for the wonderful work they did on the Peach Blossom Festival that made it a success. With no other business the meeting was adjourned. ©
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