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Durham Board Of County Commissioners Regular Session Highlights From August 9

Phyllis Coley @phyllis_coley

DURHAM, NC – The Durham Board of County Commissioners met virtually at 7 pm on Monday, August 9, 2021. The virtual option aligns with social distancing requirements to ensure the safety of citizens who wish to participate as well as Board members and Durham County staff. 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 about BOCC meetings, contact the Clerk to the Board’s Office at (919) 560-0025 or email mtoomer@dconc.gov.

Board Highlights:

Chair Brenda Howerton called the August 9, 2021 Regular Meeting to order. Commissioner Nida Allam led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Clerk to the Board Monica Toomer read the Announcements:
  1. commissionersDurham County Back-to-School Bash – Join us at the Durham County Back-to-School Bash on Friday, August 20th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Durham County Memorial Stadium for free food, school supplies, haircuts, and more. Bring your child to get their COVID-19 vaccine, or get vaccinated yourself, and get a free $25 Visa gift card for each person who takes their shot, plus another $25 gift card for driving someone to get vaccinated!
  2. DCo Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Hours – The COVID-19 Vaccination clinic hours at the Department of Public Health have changed. The new hours are as follows: Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Tuesday 9 am-6 pm and closed on Thursday and Friday. Appointments and walk-in are welcome. Please visit www.dcopublichealth.org/covidvaccines for more information.
  3. 2021 Annual Property Tax Billings – DCo Tax Administration will begin mailing 2021 tax bills to County property owners on August 13. The 2021- 22 Solid Waste Decals will also be enclosed in those tax bills. Taxes are due by September 1st but must be paid by January 5, 2022. Please note that citizens will have the option to make partial payments on real property taxes. For additional information, please visit www.dconc.gov/tax or call 919-560-0300.
  4. Apply for Durham Pre-K Today – Are you looking for Pre-K for the 2021 -22 school year? All families with children that will be four years old on or before August 31, 2021, can apply. The application can be found at www.durhamprek.org. For questions or assistance please call 1-833-733-5338 or email prek@childcareservices.org.
  5. Program Offerings at Durham County Cooperative Extension – The Durham County Cooperative Extension program offers a wide variety of events during the month of August. Please visit www.durham.ces.ncsu.edu or https://www.facebook.com/DurhamExtension for a list of events.
  6. P-EBT Benefits Expanded for Children Under 6 – The NC Department of Health and Human Services has expanded the P-EBT benefits to more than 230,000 additional children under the age of 6. For more information, please visit www.ncdhhs/gov/PEBT.
  7. Durham County Register of Deeds – The Register of Deeds has moved Vital Records to appointment only but will continue to take requests online. Please visit www.dconc.gov/ROD, call 919- 560-0495, or email RODvitals@dconc.gov for more information.
  8. Durham Emergency Communication Center Wants You! – Are you looking for a meaningful, rewarding, high-energy environment? If so, this job is for you. To learn more and apply www.bit.ly/911jobs.
  9. Durham County Convenience Site Hours – A reminder to all Durham County residents of the new hours for the County’s four Convenience Sites: · Parkwood: M-W-F (7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.); T-T (10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.); closed daily 12-12:30 p.m.; closed Saturdays and Sundays, except 2nd Saturday of each month – open 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. · Bahama, Rougemont and Redwood: M-F (7 a.m.-6 p.m.); Saturday (7 a.m.-12 p.m.); closed Sundays. More information on the Durham County Convenience Sites can be found at www.dconc.gov/recycling.
  10. commissionersMain Library is Open – Great news for everyone in Durham County as the Main Library in downtown Durham (300 N. Roxboro St.) has finally reopened! The renovated and state-of-the-art facility opened its doors to the public on Tuesday, July 20th, and is ready for everyone to enjoy! Hours for Main Library and all branch and regional locations (except Bragtown) are: · Monday-Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. · Thursday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. · Closed on Sundays Hours for the Bragtown Branch are: Monday 1-8 p.m. and Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Questions? Visit www.durhamcountylibrary.org

The Minutes of the Budget meetings on May 18th, May 27th, June 3rd, the June 7th work session, and the June 28th regular session were approved.

Ceremonial Items:
  • Durham County Commissioners recognized Sheriff Clarence Birkhead and the Durham County Sheriff’s Office for Receiving the Triple Crown Award from the National Sheriff’s Association for Achieving Accreditation from the Top Three Accrediting Agencies for the Detention Center. Our Office of the Sheriff is the second in North Carolina to receive this coveted achievement.
  • The Board approved a resolution and adopted the Durham Digital Equity Plan. Digital Durham, in partnership with the Durham County Library and other member organizations, have created the Durham Digital Equity Plan which establishes goals to achieve digital in the City and County of Durham, NC
  • Following the reading of an establishing resolution of support for the Durham County Language Equity Program, the Board approved a Budget Ordinance to establish and fund the program in the amount of $50,000. The Durham County Language Equity Program will improve Durham County’s ability to enhance communications with its citizens.
Consent Agenda:
  • The Board approved an Amendment to the Architectural Design Service Agreement with Roughton Nickelson and DeLuca Architects for the Durham County Judicial Building Annex Renovations, in the amount of $10,500, for a Not-To-Exceed amount of $393,583.00.
  • County Commissioners approved a contract with Envirotrol, LLC in the amount of $103,328.00 for HVAC quarterly service of HVAC equipment at various Durham County facilities.
  • The Board authorized the execution of the Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Durham, Orange County, and Durham County Regarding Cost Sharing for the Transit Plan Governance Study
  • Commissioners approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to recognize $19,242 in grant revenue from the State Library of North Carolina for Digital Navigators for Durham.
  • The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to recognize funds in the amount of $3,311,290 from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Epidemiology/Communicable Disease Branch.
  • The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to recognize funds in the amount of $75,000 from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, Women’s and Children’s Health Section/Immunization Branch.
  • The Board approved Public Health’s receipt of vaccine gift card incentives from the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
  • The Board of County Commissioners approved the Board of Elections effort to enter into a contract amendment in the amount of $224,914.58 with Robert Half International Inc. to continue providing critical election services to the residents of Durham County.
  • The Board approved the Board of Elections request to enter into a contract with Electro Rent Corporation, dba Rush Computer Rentals, in the amount of $52,650.00, to continue providing critical election services to the residents of Durham County.
  • Commissioners approved the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Durham Public Schools (DPS) for the use of school facilities as mass care shelters and authorize the Interim County Manager to execute the MOA.
  • The Board approved a contract amendment with Evergreen Lines Services (ESL) for the provision of laundry and linen services for the Office of Emergency Services-EMS Division.
  • Commissioners approved two (2) contract amendments with EMS Management & Consultants (EMS|MC). One amendment adds ESO Solutions services and the other amendment modifies the collection rate for NC Medicaid services.
  • The Board approved the Reclaimed Water Supply Interlocal Agreement with the Town of Cary. On July 22, 2021, the Town Council ratified by resolution the subject interlocal agreement. The previous interlocal agreement expired on June 30, 2021.
  • Commissioners authorized the Interim County Manager to execute the attached contract with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce for services related to industrial recruitment and economic development in the amount of $225,000.
  • Board authorized the Interim County Manager to execute the attached agreement in the amount of $160,000 with Downtown Durham, Inc. (DDI) for services that support business and economic development in FY 2021-2022
  • The Board authorized the Interim County Manager to execute the attached agreement in the amount of $250,000 with Made in Durham for services that support business and economic development in FY 2021-2022.
  • County Commissioners voted to approve the Sheriff’s Office application for the FY 2022 Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) Grant in the amount of $1,127,161 to fund three new sworn positions to work traffic enforcement over a four-year period, starting October 1, 2021, with the required local match funding provided using existing DCSO FY21/22 allocated funding.
  • The County Manager recommended approval of a Capital Project Amendment officially closing multiple completed capital projects, reducing multiple recently completed capital projects budget to $0 to be closed in the future, and approval of Budget Amendment transferring $971,918.45 in remaining unspent project funds to the Debt Service Fund for future capital use or debt service funding.
  • The Board of County Commissioners reviewed the Sheriff’s Office application for the 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $196,249 and recommended that the Chair sign the Certification of Assurance no less than 30 days after the BOCC’s review in conjunction with the application being made available for public comment.
  • County Commissioners approved an increase of $250,000.00 in the maximum construction budget with Resolute Building Company for the Administration Building Refurbishment Project, bringing the approved construction budget for the project to $12,597,000.00.
Public Hearing
  • The Board held a public hearing to consider allocating a total of $125,000 to Smart Wires Inc. and authorizing the Interim County Manager to enter into preliminary negotiations and execute an agreement with the Company. Comments will be received from the public through August 10th and the item will be concluded on August 23rd.
Other Business
  • Durham County Deputy Public Health Directors Liz Stevens and Kristen Patterson provided the Board with an update on the COVID-19 response and efforts. A new State of Emergency went into effect at 5pm Monday implementing masking in all buildings and businesses for vaccinated as well as unvaccinated with certain exceptions. The staff stressed the importance of continuing to get everyone who is eligible for a vaccine and noted all upcoming opportunities to receive vaccines throughout Durham County during this month.
  • In addition, there is a new state benefit that provides persons 18 and older who are getting their first shot, a $100 gift card. The number of persons with COVID is increasing, but more positively officials have seen a notable increase in persons getting COVID vaccines in the past two weeks.
  • County Commissioners received a presentation on the NC Sentinel Landscape Partnership from Dr. Mary Lou Addor of North Carolina State University. Staff was instructed to develop and share an appropriate letter that was requested to support efforts toward a federal designation to support the program.

The Board adjourned into Closed Session to discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 23, 2021. 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 mtoomer@dconc.gov.