October 25, 2025
County Commissioners Fund Baseball Stadium While School, Infrastructure Needs Loom
County Bets On Baseball With $2 Million — Payback May Take 16 Years
By The Smithfield Weekly Sun
SMITHFIELD – Smithfield’s Town Manager Mike Scott asked commissioners Monday morning to appropriate $2 million over two budget years to help pay for construction of a Smithfield stadium, which the town will own and maintain. He said a “conservative” assessment forecasts $4,850,000 in “direct” economic benefits and $7,323,500 “overall” for Johnston County each year.
During their Monday evening session, commissioners voted 5-2 to grant Smithfield’s request for funding. “Johnston County is in need of more activities for families,” said Commissioner Mike Rose of Princeton. The Tobs, he continued, will produce “a stream of revenue we don’t have now.”
Mr. Rose said Finance Director Chad McLamb estimates the county will recoup its $2-million investment in 10-16 years from additional tax revenues generated by the Tobs’ presence here.
Commissioner Bill Stovall voiced opposition on grounds the county’s appropriation would be “subsidizing a business that’s coming here.” He said private investors ought to be paying for the ball park.
Commissioner Patrick Harris of Smithfield called the county’s support of the project a “quality of life” investment – “an opportunity for our citizens to have things to do with their families.”
Commissioners’ Chairman Butch Lawter sided with Mr. Stovall in voting against the appropriation, citing numerous high-dollar capital needs facing the county just now including construction of a new Clayton High School on its present campus.
Mr. Stovall said “it’s a bad time” to fund a baseball stadium in light of the past year’s real-estate revaluation that has raised county taxes for most property owners.
Joining Mr. Rose and Mr. Harris in approving Smithfield’s request were Michelle Davis, Ted Godwin, and April Stephens.
Two assistant medical directors added to EMS
Commissioners employed two assistant medical directors for the county’s Emergency Management Services: Dr. Andrew Mealin and Dr. John Wooten. They will join Dr. Rodney McCaskill, the department’s current medical director who was previously the only assistant director before he succeeded Dr. Ed Hartman, who retired as EMS medical director this past year.
301 sewage-pump station at Neuse to be moved
Commissioners approved a $4,581,444 contract with Sanford Contracting to relocate a sewage pump station in the way of the Highway 301 bridge-replacement project under way at the Neuse River. Chandra Farmer, the county’s utilities director, said the new facility will be located out of the river’s floodplain.
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2 million net in 10-16 years? Doubtful for a team that plays three months a year and only 26 home games. Do they think the tombs will stay here for 10-16 years? What a complete waste of money.
First off you need to be smart about this. How many people have heard of the Wilson tobs? The aquatic center was out there for the citizens and the youth and that place has turned political. I’m willing to help organize events and training to keep revenue coming in Wilson tobs will not be able to keep the revenue coming in theirselves But I think this could really be something big
Please explain how the aquatics center has turned political? I’m very confused.
I don’t care how you try to justify it — the fact remains that there are far more important needs in our community than spending money on a luxury project. Let me put it into perspective: if your car is long overdue for maintenance and barely running, would it make sense to go buy an expensive TV instead of fixing your only mode of transportation? Of course not.
The people of Johnston County and the citizens of Smithfield don’t need a baseball stadium. What we need is a local government that stops wasting our tax dollars on unnecessary projects. Take your baseball team and find somewhere else to go — we want our leaders to actually care about us and focus on things that make a real difference.
Fix our roads. Stop the utilities from skyrocketing. Quit trying to squeeze every last penny from hardworking residents.
It’s clear the only reason you’re pushing for the Wilson Tobs is because you have a financial interest in their success. We don’t need a baseball team — we need a government that serves the will of the people. Our elected officials were chosen to represent us, not to pursue their own agendas.
So instead of investing in things the community actually needs, the town has decided to pour money into a baseball stadium. What a great example of our elected officials wasting tax dollars on projects that do nothing to help residents. Meanwhile, utility costs keep climbing, roads keep crumbling, and taxes keep rising.
Our local government has become a joke—more focused on serving the same “good old boys” than the people footing the bill. Here’s an idea: why not use that money sitting in the bank to repair our roads and lower utility costs? Or maybe reduce the property tax rate so residents aren’t crushed by the new revaluations? Of course, they’ll never do that—because it would mean giving up their habit of wasteful spending.
If it is so good of a financial investment then why did Zebulon let it go? It is a waste of tax payer money. There is more important investments for the county than a baseball team that is not going to recoup the initial 2 Million for over a decade. How about use that money to improve infrastructure in the town?
“A stream of revenue”……Mike rose is delusional.
This is such a waste of taxpayer money that is so desperately needed elsewhere in the county schools! That is why so many teachers, staff, and students are leaving JCPS! Spend the taxpayers money wisely please!
“Joining Mr. Rose and Mr. Harris in approving Smithfield’s request were Michelle Davis, Ted Godwin, and April Stephens.”
I might remind the commissioners that they aren’t supposed to represent one town but an entire county. While it may bring some benefit to Smithfield, the entire county has needs other than a college baseball team which plays for only 3 months a year. Roads, services, upgrades of utilities, police, fire ,911 , schools are all under stress from the uncontrolled growth in the county. All of which has been caused by the commissioners. Johnston county is a large body and many residents won’t benefit one iota from the tobs. This is a classic boondoggle.
I agree that the county should not be helping a town out financially. They aren’t town council members.
Hey you voted for these IDIOTS JoCo
I wish they had spent the money on fire stations.
This is exactly what I thought WOULD HAPPEN when I read that the County was going to invest in this MESS!!! I just knew them SOB’s were going to rubber stamp MY TAXES to pad this F’D UP POS BOONDOGGLE!!! Isn’t it just freaking amazing that all this BS IS GOING DOWN AFTER THAT REVALUATION???? And it’s gonna only get worse since don’t we all get another revaluation again here in just 2 more years? Please Correct me on that if I’m wrong! Geez the Great Grifter Good Old Boy’s, and girl…. Network’s Got themselves one great gig going on!!! And we tax payers get no FREAKING SAY SO!!!
Hey in case you all missed the recent economic factors playing out, WE ARE VERY SOON GOING TO BE IN ANOTHER BIG RECESSION! What a wonderful time to build a stupid baseball stadium! Just got to ask yourself, Why did NovoNordisk back out of the new Plant, and also lay off folks in Clayton….? Hmmm….
Classic move, JoCo commisioners!! MORE WASTED MONEY ON CRAP!!
So the county owns a percentage of the stadium for the money they put in right?
If not. Everyone of the commissioners needs to be voted out as thet clearly have no fiscal literacy or deal making ability.
When you pay for things. You get ownership rights over things…..
If this county puts the costs of a baseball stadium upon the taxpayers, I will heed the advice of Franc White – the Southern Sportsman. “NEVER re-elect anybody – not even your momma”!!!
Ditch this idea! Total waste of money.
I never thought I’d ever agree with both Stovall and Lawter on anything, but their “no” vote is to be applauded.
This project will give this generation—and the ones that follow—a place to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. It’s time to get kids moving again! Video games won’t keep our children healthy, but parks, sports, and community spaces will.
Let’s be part of the solution by supporting a stadium that can host multiple family-friendly events each year. From what I’ve heard, “if you build it, they will come”.
Johnston County rocks, and together we can keep building a stronger, healthier community for everyone.
Thank you, ChapGPT
This isn’t the solution. I shouldn’t have to pay for anyone’s BRATS to come to Smithfield and have a “HANGOUT”!! Just so some lazy **$ parents can have a free babysitter! It’s bad enough that we pay for the ridiculous school system! AND I Mean The SYSTEM NOT THE TEACHERS!! This should be put up for the Entire County to VOTE UPON!!!
Wonder if Mike rose’s business will be the supplier for Tobs apparel? Hmmmmm
County needs to repair the court house, like 3rd street entrance before you put money in this, let’s keep up what you got first then maybe do it, how about a handicap entrance on Johnston street. Hate seeing the elderly walk up them steps.
What the heck is a Tob? I swear, I’ve lived in JoCo for 53 years and have never heard of the Tobs. I understand from this article that they are the Wilson Tobs, why isn’t this monstrosity being built in Wilson County? I would much rather that money being spent on more law enforcement. There are still too many drugs and drug dealers here. Let’s solve that problem first.
Because the mudcats are moving to Wilson next year. The tobs wouldn’t survive the competition.
Tobs is for Tobacco
It’s a simple background check. Call Town of Wilson and ask how much revenue the Tobs brought in. The answer is zero. They costed the town money is why they don’t have a stadium any longer.
Why do our town council members keep making motions to nix developments that our Planning Director and Development Directors present to our Town Council? I think it is going against what our town staff is putting together, and what they could nix themselves, if they did not approve of it. I would vote more often with our STAFF than our current town council members do.
Town council? Commissioners represent the county not just one town. Joco is overcrowded by far too much. There should be zero approval of any development over 100 residences and no lot should be smaller than a half acre. Van apartment complexes like the monstrosity at flowers and O’Neill street in Clayton.
Amen!!!