Durham, N.C. – On Monday, July 11, 2022, the Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met in regular session at 7p.m. Meetings are again being held in person, in the BOCC Chambers, located at 200 E. Main Street on the second floor.

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, and Frontier Communications Channel 70. For more information, contact the Clerk to the Board’s Office at (919) 560-0025 or email clerk@dconc.gov.

Board Highlights:  

Chair Brenda Howerton called the July 11, 2022, Regular Meeting to order.

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

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 - 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Appointments and walk-ins are welcome, and all doses are available. Please note, clinics are closed between 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. daily. For more information, please visit www.dcopublichealth.org/COVIDVaccines or call 919-560-9217.
2. 500 E. Main Street Construction Commencement - Construction activities for the 500 E. Main St. Mixed Use Development will commence on Monday, July 25, 2022. The southern portion of the 500 E. Main St. parking lot will remain accessible to public vehicular traffic. During construction members of the public will have to utilize the new entrance on Elizabeth Street to access the parking lot. Because some of the sidewalks around the construction zone will be closed, pedestrians will be directed to the intersection of Dillard and Ramseur for street crossing from the parking lot and will be able to enter the Human Services Building using the Dillard St. entrance.
3. Welcome Baby Needs Summer Clothes Donations - Welcome Baby is in urgent need of girls and boys summer clothes and shoes! Currently, most of our bins are bare and we need help from the Durham County community! Clothes for 2T to 8 and shoes sizes 8-13 are needed! Donation hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Durham Cooperative Extension building at 721 Foster St. For more information, call 919-560-7150 or visit www.welcombaby.org.
4. 20th Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational on July 22-24 - The Durham Striders Track and Field Club will host the 20th Edition of the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational from July 22-24 at Durham County Memorial Stadium, 750 Stadium Dr. For more information on the meet, tickets and more, visit the Durham Striders website at www.durhamstriders.com/blunteci.
5. Men’s Health Council’s Men on the Move Walk - Everyone is invited to join the Men’s Health Council of the Durham County Department of Public Health for its monthly “Men on the Move” Walk on Saturday, July 16 from 8:45-10 a.m. at Leigh’s Farm Park at 370 Leigh Farm Rd. Enjoy healthy living tips, warm-up exercises, fellowship and a walk- through nature. For more information, contact Joyce Page at jpage@dconc.gov.
6. Looking for FREE summer meals for children? - The Durham Summer Meals Program for children 18 and younger began June 13! Check the Food Resources Map to find locations. Please check the website frequently because there will be more sites added throughout the summer. Find out more information at https://durham-area-food-resources-durhamnc.hub.arcgis.com/.
7. Help Decorate the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree - The Durham County Soil and Water Conservation District is calling on all Durham County students to take part in the 2022 Capitol Christmas Tree Ornament Project. The tree used at the U.S. Capitol this year will come from one of North Carolina’s forests, and we want to highlight our state’s conservation of our soil and water history, efforts, and natural resources. Let’s make N.C. shine! Contact Lisa Marochak at 919-560-0558 or lmarochak@dconc.gov for more information and how to enter!
8. Apply Now for Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program - The Durham County Soil and Water Conservation District is accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2023 Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program for Farmers and Schools. Small grants for ag development in schools up to $1,500 and grants for farmers of up to $7,500 available. These grants are directed a new and beginning entrepreneurs, nonprofits that support agriculture in the county and to support agriculture education in schools. Visit www.dconc.gov/SWCD or contact SWCD staff at 919-560-0558 or sscully@dconc.gov to find out more information.
9. BULLS Biowork Academy – The Building Up Local Life Sciences Industry (BULLS) Academy is now accepting applications for its Fall 2022 cohort. Full scholarships are offered to young adults interested in pursuing a career in Durham’s growing life sciences industry. For qualifications and more visit www.madindurham.org or email scannady@madeindurham.org.

The deadline to apply is July 29, 2022.

See the Board of Commissioners webpage for additional announcements.

Citizen Comments. Three citizens made comments on various issues.

Minutes: 

The Minutes of the June 6 work session and the June 13 regular session were approved. 

Ceremonial Item:

The Board extended congratulations and recognized seven Durham County departments for their role in being named 2022 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award Winners. Nationally, awards are given in 18 different categories including: children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, county administration, information technology, health, civic engagement and many more. Durham County’s awards will be recognized on the NACo Achievement Awards Luncheon program on July 23, 2022, during NACo’s Annual Conference and Exposition in Adams County, Colorado.

Consent Agenda:

The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to recognize $2,488 in grant revenue from the State Library of North Carolina (SLNC) to support Durham County Library’s Older Adult and Shut-In Services (OASIS) program in their endeavor to renovate their reminiscence therapy kits.

Commissioners appointed Chair Brenda Howerton as the voting delegate and Vice Chair Wendy Jacobs as the alternate for the NACo Conference.

County Commissioners approved a Budget Amendment and Capital Project Amendment appropriating $500,000 of Sewer Utility Enterprise Fund Fund Balance - the total $500K will be taken from the Sewer Utility Enterprise Fund’s Unspent Restricted System Development Fee Funds - and transferring those funds to the HUB RTP Sanitary Sewer and Reclaimed Water Extension Project (SE058) to cover the cost of system improvements and project cost increases.

The Board approved a Capital Project Amendment officially closing multiple completed capital projects.

County Commissioners authorized the County Manager to enter into a contract with Riggs-Harrod Builders, Inc. for the Administration Building II TV Studio improvements, located on the fourth floor of the Durham County Administrative Building II, 201 East Main Street, Durham., in the bid amount of $262,486.00, and to execute any other related contracts including change orders, if necessary, not to exceed a project cost of $288,735.00.

The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to increase expense and revenue budgets by $150,000 to recognize the City of Durham’s equal funding amount for the Master Aging Plan and approved the Master Aging Plan Interlocal Agreement.

Commissioners approved the Releases & Refunds for the month of June 2022, which includes adjustments to the current year levy as well as prior years’ levies. Due to property valuation adjustments for over assessments, listing discrepancies, duplicate listings, and clerical errors, etc. the attached report details releases and refunds for the month of June 2022.

The Board of Commissioners approved an exemption to Article 46 Sales Tax funding dedication to allow Durham Technical Community College to use additional funds ($200,000) to better prepare their campus in the event of a security incident.

See the full agenda for a complete list of approved Consent Agenda. Items.

Other Business

The Board received a report from Public Health Director Rod Jenkins. "COVID is not over,” he began his comments. Since the beginning, there have been 343 deaths in Durham County.  Currently our positivity rate is beginning to creep up with the last few weeks of holiday events. Hospitality rates are slowly creeping up. People may have COVID fatigue, but we must continue to think, be cautious and wear a mask indoors.

Durham County is in the high transmission level currently.

The Omicron variant BA 5 is the most prevalent at this time. Message is vaccines are available for all…. children 0-5 and up! Please take advantage.

Testing is still available at 30 plus various locations. More information to come.

Final take away from Director Jenkins:

• Stay up to date on your COVID vaccines
• Test and stay home if you’re feeling sick
• Get treatment right away if you test positive

As a matter of additional information, Durham County Public Health has received vaccines for Monkey Pox. Currently, there are four confirmed cases in the state.

Public Hearings

In reference to the 2022 General Obligation Bond Referendum, The Board took the following actions: Conducted public hearings on each of the School Bond Order, the Community College Bond Order and the Museum Bond Order, (2) Adopted each of the bond orders at the conclusion of each public hearing, (3) Adopted a Resolution Calling a Special Referendum on the School Bonds and the Community College Bonds and (4) Adopted a Resolution Calling a Special Referendum on the Museum Bonds.

County Commissioners conducted a public hearing to receive citizen input on the Proposed Amendment to the Durham County Animal Control Ordinance.

Board and Commission Appointments

The Board made appointments to the following boards:

• Alcoholic Beverage Control Board --i) Daniel Edwards and  (i) Frachele Scott
• Durham Convention Center Authority -- Nicole Thompson
• Durham County Women’s Commission ---Kate Shirah and Vanessa Safie
• Juvenile Crime Prevention Council ---Alex Hurdle

The Board adjourned into Closed Session for the following: economic development, personnel and to preserve attorney client privilege.

The Board returned and gave direction to staff.

The Board adjourned the meeting at 10:55 p.m.

This is the only meeting in the month of July. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 8, 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 clerk@dconc.gov.

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