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Durham Board of County Commissioners Regular Session Highlights for March 28

@SpectacularMag

Durham, NC – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, March 28, 2022, in Regular Session at the BOCC’s Chambers, 200 E. Main Street. Highlights of the meeting include:

Chair Brenda Howerton called the Regular Session to order at 7 p.m. Commissioner Heidi Carter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Monica Wallace, Clerk to the Board read the Announcements:
  1. Durham County Public Health COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Hours – The COVID19 vaccination clinic at the Durham County Department of Public Health, 414 E. Main St., has the following hours to get your free vaccination: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Appointments and walk-ins welcome. All doses are available. Please note, clinics are closed between 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. daily. Visit www.dcopublichealth.org/COVIDVaccines or call 919-560-9217 for more information.
  2. Durham County Seeks Input on Potential Use of ARP Funds for Broadband Services. Durham County is holding an information update and listening session on Thursday, March 31st from 7 pm -8 pm. This session will be held at Durham Technical Community College’s Northern Durham Center located at 2401 Snow Hill Road, Building 1. This session will provide updates on previous efforts to improve broadband and explain the current Request for Proposal ( RFP) process. For those who cannot attend in person, they will be able to access the meeting on the Durham County YouTube Channel and the Durham County Facebook page.
  3. 2nd Annual Library Fest: The Food Edition – The Durham County Library and Durham Library Foundation are hosting the Second Annual Library Fest from April 18-23. Library Fest is a celebration of public libraries and this year’s theme is all about food! Fest will be comprised of in-person and virtual programs for all ages. Learn more by visiting www.durhamcountylibrary.org/libraryfest
  4. Poultry with a Purpose – Are you thinking about getting backyard birds or starting a small egg or pastured poultry business? Sign up for this FREE virtual workshop on Thursday, March 31 from 6:30-8 p.m. from the Durham County Cooperative Extension today. Registration is required at https://bit.ly/DCoPoultryPurpose. Have questions, please contact janel_ohletz@ncsu.edu
  5. Durham County Tax Live-Chat Communication – Have a question for the Durham County Tax Administration? They have a live-chat communication feature for obtaining property tax information. Residents can ‘chat’ online with a member of the Durham County Tax staff by visiting www.dconc.gov/tax and look for the “Chat Now” link.
  6. Subscribe to SCOOPS! – Be sure to check out the latest information and inspiration news bulletin entitled SCOOPS! from the Durham County Department of Social Services with YOU in mind! It’s full of program updates and practical living tips. To get your SCOOPS delivered to your inbox, email dcodsspublicinformation@dconc.gov
  7. Need Help Buying Food? – SNAP or Food Stamps may be able to help you. For help with the SNAP application call Katy Forrest at 919-909-7469 (para Español contacte a Milagros Guzman al 910-705-5504). Also, WIC is a special program for women, infants, and children. To get more information call Lincoln Community Health Center at 919-956-4042.
  8. Rabies Vaccinations – The Durham County Sheriff’s Office, through its Animal Services Division, offers Rabies Vaccinations by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-11 a.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. There is a $10, a cash-only fee (exact change only). Photo ID required. You must stay in your car with cats in carriers and dogs on leash/in carriers. Don’t be late! The Animal Services Division is located at 3005 Glenn Rd. For more information, call 919-560-0630.
  9. Sign Up for Alert Durham Emergency Notifications – Spring is here and that means the potential for severe weather, including strong thunderstorms and flooding. Durham County wants to keep its citizens informed and safe in the case of an emergency. Sign up for Alert Durham to receive notifications about severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. To sign up, visit www.alertdurham.com.
  10. Durham County on DTN – Be sure to tune into the Durham Television Network and the official Durham County YouTube Channel to watch our monthly “In Touch with Durham County” show, which highlights the people who make our County thrive, including this month’s edition featuring Commissioner Heidi Carter and Clerk to the Board Monica Wallace. You can also watch our County Commissioners’ meetings, which are broadcast live and rebroadcast. Find our YouTube at www.youtube.com/dcowebmaster and watch DTN on Spectrum Channel 8 and online www.durhamnc.gov/1104/Durham-Television-Network.
Minutes: 

The Minutes of the March 7th work session and the March 14th regular session were approved. 

Ceremonial Items:
  • The Board of Commissioners welcomed Ms. Claretta Foye, new Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln Community Health Center. Ms. Foye was named CEO in October 2021 and has more than 30 years of progressive leadership experience in a Federally Qualified Health Center. 
  • The Board welcomed new Racial Equity Officer Dr. Yesenia Merino. She will lead and coordinate efforts to integrate equity principles into the operations and services of county government. She brings more than 20 years’ experience in community engagement, capacity building, and equity-centered evaluation and research.
  • County Commissioners proclaimed April 4 – 10, 2022 as Public Health Week in Durham County. The Durham County Board of Health is committed to a continued emphasis on prevention in public health, and to helping Durham County and all of North Carolina reach a better state of health.
  • The Board proclaimed April 2022 as National County Government Month. This celebration of the nation’s counties is held each April. More than 3,000 counties and 37,984 county elected officials serve more than 315 million Americans.
Consent Agenda:
  • The Board of Commissioners voted to refund an excise tax of $650.00 filed in the Durham County Register of Deeds Office in error by CSC eRecording. 
  • The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment for Cooperative Extension to appropriate $29,146.13 of the General Fund fund balance to expand the Bilingual Latino Outreach Coordinator Position from .6 FTE to 1 FT. 
  • Commissioners authorized the County Manager to execute a contract amendment with Steel City Services in the amount of $38,350 for a not-to-exceed amount of $78,317 for the Stainless-Steel Rails at the Administration II Main St. Plaza in support of the outdoor retail spaces. 
  • The Board approved a contract amendment with Diana Phillips Consulting to include the additional professional services and to increase the contract to an amount not to exceed $70,000. The purpose of this contract is to provide Professional Consulting Services associated with the implementation of Tyler Technologies Software Solutions.
  • County Commissioners approved a Budget Amendment appropriating $149,500 of General Fund Fund Balance and authorized the County Manager to enter a contract with Management Advisory Group International, Inc (MAG) to conduct a comprehensive Classification and Compensation Study for the County for a total not to exceed $149,500.
  • The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment for the Department of Social Services to recognize HCCBG funds in the amount of $50,233.00 which includes the required Durham County DSS local match of $5,023.00 that will be funded with a fund balance appropriation. 
  • County Commissioners accepted the property tax release and refund report for February 2022 and authorized the Tax Assessor to adjust the tax records accordingly. 
  • The Board approved various submitted legal descriptions, surveys, and plats for the 500 E. Main St. mixed-use development project.
  • County Commissioners voted to remove K.D. Ann Welsh from the Durham County Women’s Commission due to poor attendance.
Other Business
  • The Board received a public health-focused update from County Public Health staff on the COVID-19 response and efforts. Public Health Director Rod Jenkins began by stating, “Things are getting better”. He noted that case numbers are steadily decreasing in the past 3 weeks with the current community positivity rate at 2.0%. Even though our level is low, Durham County still has 30 testing locations operating.
  • While COVID hospitalizations have decreased, those undergoing treatment have not been vaccinated. He concluded that vaccinations and boosters are still the keys to ending the pandemic.
Board and Commission Appointments
  • The Board made appointments to the following boards:
  • Durham County Women’s Commission – SaKoyra Bullock
  • Juvenile Crime Prevention Council – Ahmed Ali
Closed Session

The Board voted to go into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4. They returned and gave directions to the staff.

Adjournment

The Board adjourned the meeting at 9:18 p.m.

To view this BOCC meeting, visit the Durham Television Network (DTN) on Spectrum Channel 8. Replays are available on DTN along with AT&T U-verse Channel 99, Google Fiber Channel 8, and Frontier Communications Channel 70. For more information, contact the Clerk to the Board’s Office at (919) 560-0025 or email mwwallace@dconc.gov. 

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 11, 2022. To view the agenda and recording of the BOCC Regular Session Meeting, visit the BOCC’s Web site. 

For more information about BOCC meetings, contact the Clerk to the Board’s Office at 919-560-0025 or email mwwallace@dconc.gov.