Board of County Commissioners Regular Session Highlights from July 10, 2023

Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, July 10, 2023, in Regular Session. Meetings are held in person with a hybrid option, inside the BOCC Chambers, located at 200 E. Main Street on the second floor.

Closed Session: The Board adjourned into Closed Session pursuant to G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6) at 5:45 pm.

Chair Brenda Howerton called the meeting to order.

All attendees were led by Commissioner Heidi Carter in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Announcements: Monica Wallace, Clerk to the Board read the announcements.

1. Summer Open Space Program Volunteers Needed – Can you imagine a more enjoyable way to spend your summer weekends than hiking in the heat or doing tough manual labor? The Durham County Open Space Program encourages you to sign up for one of our upcoming summer volunteer workdays. Volunteers help care for Durham’s public lands and tackle some of the toughest issues in local conservation. Questions? Contact David Bradley at dabradley@dconc.gov or 919-943-3997. Sign up here: https://volunteer.activategood.org/organizations/org-VOce7NIj81
2. Watch “In Touch with Durham County” – Did you know that the County’s Public Information Office produces a monthly show to update residents on services and programs? In this month’s “In Touch with Durham County” show, we welcome Library Director Tammy Baggett-Best to discuss the awesome services and programming at all our DCo libraries. We also have Public Health Education Specialist and Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership member Donna Rosser on to talk about gun safety efforts in Durham County. Watch at https://youtu.be/daSS63qpQjg.
3. Russell Blunt East Coast Invitational Track and Field – The 21st Edition of the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational track and field meet will be held from July 21-23 at Durham County Memorial Stadium (750 Stadium Drive). The annual event welcomes the best track and field athletes in age groups from 8 and under to 17-18 from the region for a highly competitive meet. For more information, email dsya@durhamstriders.com or visit http://www.durhamstriders.com/blunteci/.
4. Durham Area Food & Resources Map – Check out the Durham Area Food and Resource map. It’s a one-stop resource to find food pantries, places to get a hot meal, farmers’ markets that take SNAP and WIC benefits, and grocery stores that take SNAP and WIC benefits. Visit: www.tinyurl.com/DurhamFoodResourceMap. 
5. 2023-24 DCo Agricultural Economic Development Grants – The Durham County Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program is accepting applications. This program offers cost-share grants to assist farmers and nonprofits in their agricultural endeavors and to promote Ag Development and Outdoor Environmental Learning Centers in schools. Virtual and in-person training sessions will be held on July 11, 8-9 p.m.; July 13, 6-7 p.m.; and July 18, 6-7 p.m. Registration required. Get the application information and training session registration links at http://www.dconc.gov/SWCD.
6. Star Talk Podcast from DCo Sheriff – The Durham County Sheriff’s Office has a podcast! Called “Star Talk,” the DCSO is excited to use this technology to reach out to the Durham County Community. The second episode features Ryan Smith, the City of Durham’s Director of Community Safety, and Sheriff Clarence Birkhead talking about H.E.A.R.T. – Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/DCSOStarTalk.
7. All Together Now – Let’s Plant Swap! – For the second plant swap of 2023 you can take a plant and chat with a Master Gardener from the Cooperative Extension! Drop by and exchange or share houseplants, vegetable starts, annuals, perennials, or seeds! Please make sure the items brought are pest-free and labeled! This event is Saturday, July 15 from 2-3:30 p.m. at Southwest Regional Library. More information at https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/10643916 or by calling 919-560-7192. 
8. Durham County will honor former Durham County Attorney Lowell Siler in a naming ceremony on Friday, July 14th at 10:00 am on the 1st Floor of Administration Building II, located at 201 E. Main St. 

Citizen Comments: The Board provided a 30-minute comment period to give any citizen of Durham County wishing to speak the opportunity to do so. Ms. Jackie Wagstaff and Mr. DeWarren Langley addressed the Board.

Minutes: Commissioners approved the minutes of the May 22, 2023, Regular Session.

Ceremonial Items:

1. Proclamation – North Carolina Senior Tar Heel 30th Anniversary Celebration – The Board recognized the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel 30th Anniversary Celebration.  Read the proclamation here.
2. Acknowledgement – Durham County Government Earns Seven (7) 2023 NACo Achievement Awards – The Board recognized Durham County departments for their role in being named as 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award Winners. NACo awards are given in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, county administration, information technology, health, civic engagement, and more. Durham County was named a NACo Achievement Award Winner for seven awards for the following programs: Delivery Management Application (Board of Elections), “County U” Program (Human Resources), Development of a Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan: The Devil is in the Details (Information Services and Technology), Durham County Business Recruitment (Economic Development), Durham County Government Implements a Managed Security Awareness Service (Information Services and Technology), Hacking Into History: Discovering Racial Covenants in Durham Property Deeds (Register of Deeds), and Read A. Bull Collectible Cards (Library). Read a description of all Durham County 2023 NACo Achievement Awards here. 

Consent Agenda: Commissioners considered the following items. See full agenda for complete details: 

1. Budget Ordinance Amendment No.24BCC00005 to recognize $250,000 in grant funding for 2022 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program 2 (BJA)
2. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00004 to recognize $226,600 for Year One of a Three-Year North Carolina Department of Public Safety Grant to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office for Medication-Assisted Treatment at the Durham County Detention Center
3. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 23BCC00007 Social Services to recognize funding in the amount of $925,515 for Durham County’s FY2023-24 Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) Funding Plan and the Department of Social Services, which includes the required Durham County DSS Local Match of $85,600 to be appropriated via General Fund fund balance
4. Approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC000006 appropriating $450,000 of General Fund fund balance to provide full funding for Durham Pre-K in FY 2023-24
5. Amend contract with Republic Services for General Services’ Solid Waste hauling services at Durham County Convenience Site
6. Contract approval for lobbying services with McGuire Woods Consulting
7. Capital Project Amendment No. 24CPA00002 – FY 2023-24 appropriation of approved County Contribution (PAYGO) funds ($9,709,600) for multiple capital projects
8. Capital Project Amendment No.24CPA00003 – closing multiple completed capital projects
9. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00008 Cooperative Extension to recognize $61,590 in grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
10. Execution of the contract for the pre-construction services for the Board of Elections Renovation Project No.: DC155
11. Approval of memorandum of agreement with Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) to provide planning and technical assistance for the Triangle Region Solid Waste Consortium
12. Execution of a consulting service agreement with Kirsty Fontaine LLC to support County priorities and projects
13. On-Call Consulting Program Management Services
14. Approve contract with GFL Environmental for General Services’ solid waste and recycling collection services to Durham County Government Facilities
15. Amend contract with GFL Environmental for curbside recycling services to households in unincorporated Durham County

Board and Commission Appointments: Commissioners made appointments to the following Boards and Commissions:

1. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board –Will reschedule for August 7
2. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission- Andres Otero
3. Department of Social Services Board- Charles Mitchell
4. Durham Convention Center Authority- Laronte Bryant
5. Durham Workforce Development Board -Andrew Miracle
6. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council -Renee Hill (Member of Faith Community) Lisa Jones (United Way Rep. or other Non-Profit Organization) ;((i) Kevin Mciver (Citizen), (i) John Morris (Citizen), (i) Leah Selvy (Citizen) (i) LiBria Stephens (Citizen) Jonathan Wilson (Citizen)
7. Library Board of Trustees – Aquaris Anderson; Tal Matalon, Jen McConnel, Carl Newman, Miranda Straubel
8. Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority- (i) David Morgan

Congratulations to all appointees!

Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 8:00 pm. 

Board meetings are cablecast live and rebroadcast on Durham Television Network (DTN) on Spectrum Channel 8. Replays are available on DTN along with AT&T U-verse Channel 99 and Frontier Communications Channel 70. Meetings can also be viewed on the County’s YouTube channel. To view the agendas and recordings of the BOCC’s Regular Session meetings, visit the BOCC’s Website.

The next hybrid Regular Session is scheduled for Monday, August 14, 2023, inside the Commissioners’ Chambers on the second floor at 200 E. Main Street.

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