Durham Board
State News

Durham Board Of County Commissioners’ Regular Session Highlights for April 11

Phyllis Coley @phyllis_coley

Durham, N.C. – On Monday, April 11, 2022, the Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in Regular Session at 7 pm. BOCC meetings are held in person in the BOCC’s Chambers, located on the second floor of 200 E. Main Street.

To view the 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.

Highlights from the meeting include:

Chair Brenda Howerton called the April 11, 2022, Regular Meeting to order and the audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

State of the County Address

Chair Howerton addressed the County on the successful work conducted during the COVID pandemic, and the direction and goals the county will address in the coming year as the recovery continues. She recognized the entire County government workforce for working tirelessly to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of the entire community during the Coronavirus pandemic.  Chair Howerton applauded them for their “resilience, tenacity and perseverance.” 

Watch Chair Howerton’s State of the County Address

Download a copy of her speech and PowerPoint from the BOCC State of the County webpage here.

 Announcements

Monica Wallace, Clerk to the Board read the Announcements:

  1. DCo 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, that clinics are closed between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Visit www.dcopublichealth.org/COVIDVaccines or call 919-560-9217 for more information.
  2. Durham YouthWorks 2022 – Durham teens and young adults who want to participate in paid, work-based learning experiences this summer should apply to the 2022 Durham YouthWorks Program. This program includes paid, four-week sessions to help participants for jobs and careers through project-based work experiences. The deadline to apply is April 15! Find out more information and apply at www.durhamyouthworks.com
  3. Durham Tech Student Scholarships – Durham Tech Community College students, be sure to check out the list of scholarship opportunities on the college’s website. These scholarships from generous donors in the community help to alleviate the financial burden of tuition, books, and fees. The deadline to apply is April 15! Details: https://www.durhamtech.edu/pay-college/scholarships.
  4.  Durham PreK Roll Up and Enroll Event – Durham PreK will hold its second Roll Up & Enroll event on Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 1201 S. Briggs Ave., for everyone who wants to enroll their child in high-quality Pre-K from Durham PreK! Bring your required documents to start or complete an application. Bilingual support staff available. Visit www.durhamprek.org or call 1-833-773- 5338 to find out more.
  5. Communities of Faith Mobilizing to Prevent Overdose – Please join this VIRTUAL event to raise awareness of the pervasive substance use disorder/addiction and overdose problem we face in the Durham community. This event is FREE and although intended for faith leaders and health ministry leaders, all are welcome to participate. Please register by visiting: Communities of Faith Mobilizing to Prevent Overdose Survey (surveymonkey.com).
  6. Volunteers Needed for NCDOT Spring Litter Sweep – Please sign up to volunteer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s 2022 Spring Litter Sweep, which will be held from April 16 – 30th. Residents throughout the State can participate in local efforts to help clean up North Carolina’s roadways. For those interested in volunteering, please contact visit www.ncdot.gov/littersweep.
  7. Hometown Revitalization Grant Program 2022 – Duke Energy’s Foundation $500,000 Hometown Revitalization Grant Program will award 20 communities across the state a $25,000 grant via a partnership with a local 501c3 nonprofit. Please visit www.duke-energy.com/2022 for a full list of requirements and to apply. The application period opens March 31 – May 31, 2022, and grant decisions will be made by August 31st. For questions, please email communityaffairs@duke-energy.com
  8. Ride for free – We are excited to share that transit is currently free for all riders on GoDurham, GoCary, GoRaleigh, or GoTriangle buses until June 30, 2022! Riders do not need a ticket, pass, or ID. Just hop on a ride. Visit www.godurhamtransit.org for more information.
  9. Durham County to Recognize Good Friday Holiday – Durham County Government will close most offices in recognition of the Good Friday holiday on Friday, April 15, 2022. All offices will reopen with normal hours of operation on Monday, April 18. Visit www.dconc.gov for more information and to view online services.
  10. FULLY Funded BULLS Biowork Academy Information Session for Durham Youth!! BULLS Biowork Academy is now accepting applicants for its second spring cohort. Please join in on April 12th at 11:30 am or Thursday, April 14th at 6:00 pm for a live information session to learn more about this opportunity. We encourage interested students and community organizations to attend.  The Building Up Local Labor Systems (BULLS) Initiative is offering full scholarships to young Durham residents interested in pursuing a career in Durham’s growing life sciences industry. BULLS and Durham Tech Biomanufacturing Interest Information Session:

Date and Time: April 12, 2022 11:30 a.m. Eastern  

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81430216321

or

Date and Time: April 14, 2022 06:00 PM Eastern 

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83883473859

 

Minutes: 

The Minutes of the March 28th regular session were approved. 

Ceremonial Items:
  • County Commissioners proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month in Durham County.
  • The Board proclaimed April 2022 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Child Abuse Prevention Month is celebrated throughout the country annually in April.
  • The US Department of Justice declared April as Second Chance Month and encourages communities across the country to host appropriate events, ceremonies, and activities in observance. The Board proclaimed the week of April 25 – April 29 as Durham Reentry Week.
Consent Agenda:
  • The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment in Public Health to recognize funds in the amount of $262,706.00 from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, Women’s and Children’s Health Section/Children and Youth Branch to support the School Health Nurses and School Health Serving Positions to provide services to students.
  • Commissioners approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to recognize $5,000 in additional grant funding to the Durham Adult Drug Treatment Court.
  • The Board approved the purchase of two (2) BioQuell “BQ-EMS” bio-decontamination sanitizing systems from sole source BioQuell, Inc. for a total cost of $66,572 utilizing existing funds within the Office of Emergency Services EMS Division’s operating budget.
  • County Commissioners approved a Capital Project Amendment and a Budget Ordinance Amendment reducing the Main Library Upgrade Capital Project by $575,000 in 2016 GO Bonds and increasing the S.L. Warren Upgrade Capital Project by $1,580,746 using $575K in 2016 GO Bonds from the Main Library Upgrade Project and a $1,005,746 appropriation of Debt Service Fund Balance to the PAYGO Fund. The actions will provide construction services at the Stanford L. Warren Library.
  • The Board authorized the County Manager to execute eight (8) Utility Contracts for extensions of the County sanitary sewer system.
  • County Commissioners authorized the County Manager to enter into a service contract amendment with Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC for collection system odor and corrosion control services in the amount of $3,825.72, bringing the total contract amount from $76,514.52 to $80,340.24.
  • The Board approved a sole source exemption for the purchase of a United Flo 200 horsepower pump for the Stirrup Iron Pump Station in the amount of $66,481.
  • Commissioners authorized the County Manager to enter into a contract amendment to increase the existing service contract with TA Loving for emergency and scheduled Triangle Wastewater Treatment Plant repairs in the amount of $7,600, bringing the total contract amount from $20,000 to $27,600, and to execute any other related contracts, including amendments, not to exceed $40,000.
  • The Board authorized the County Manager to enter into a contract amendment to increase the existing service contract with FHS, Inc. for hoist and crane services for Triangle Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $16,116.67, bringing the total contract amount from $30,000 to $46,116.67, and to execute any other related contracts, including amendments, not to exceed $55,000.
  • The Board of Commissioners approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment appropriating $1,937,915 in General Fund fund balance to purchase seven (7) ambulances through the SAVVIK Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for the Office of Emergency Services. This purchase typically would have been a part of the upcoming FY 2022-23 budget, but to secure pricing and more timely delivery the request is being made to encumber this contract a few months prior to the next fiscal year.
  • County Commissioners voted to approve a FY21-22 Contract for Bull City Community Schools Project. The project is currently active at Club Boulevard Elementary and Lakewood Elementary Schools and has a leadership cohort of 7 additional principals learning more about the model who may adopt it at their schools in the future.
  • Commissioners approved an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with the City of Durham for the Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Initiative. The functions of the Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Coordinator will further the County and City objective to build relationships with residents through people-focused programs and activities to foster community cohesion and residents’ equitable participation in policy and decision-making that affect their communities.
  • The Board approved an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Durham for the Continuation of Durham’s Gang Reduction Strategy in Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
  • Commissioners approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to recognize $30,000 in revenue from the Durham Library Foundation awarded by The Forest at Duke.
  • The Board approved the contract amendment between the County of Durham and Tyler Technologies in the amount of $6,000.00

The Board adjourned into Closed Session and gave direction to staff.

The Board adjourned the meeting at 9:20 p.m.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 25, 2022. To view the agenda and recording of the Durham Board of County Commissioners’ 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 mwallace@dconc.gov.