Good evening everyone I will read the announcements that are published in our agenda the links for these announcements are also available online Eco Public Health covid-19 vaccination clinic hours the covid-19 vaccination clinic at the Durham County Department of Public Health located at 414 East Main Street have the following walk-in hours to receive your free vaccine Monday Wednesday Thursday and Friday 9 A.M to 4 P.M and Tuesdays 9 A.M to 5 45 PM all doses are available please note that clinics are closed daily between 11 30 a.m and 1 pm and also on Saturday and Sunday you can visit Deco public health.org backslash covert vaccines or call 919-560-9217 for additional information opioid settlement survey Durham residents we need you staff and the Board of Commissioners need your feedback on how best to invest the national opioid settlement in OS funds of nearly 11.6 million dollars over 18 years a survey is posted at there is a link there is a Survey Monkey link and public input is very vital Community listening sessions will be.
Available soon and to find out additional information there is a feedback link as well ACT test prep Library databases and resources nervous about taking the ACT join South Regional Library on Wednesday January 11th from 6 to 7 pm to learn about Free Library resources to help you practice and prepare registration is required you'll need a Durham County Library card and a four digit PIN an email password personal computers are encouraged you can register at the Durham County Library link and if you have questions you can contact Sarah Gibson at s Gibson at dconc.gov language access survey for Spanish-speaking residents Durham County wants to identify areas for improvement in overall Communications with the Spanish-speaking residents please take a few minutes to complete the language access for Spanish-speaking residence survey to share your opinion on how decode can improve accessibility to our Public Services there is a link via SurveyMonkey as well business and personal property listing forms the Durham County 2023 annual tax listing forms will be mailed in early to mid-January Additionally the Durham.
County Board of Commissioners has extended the regular listing period an additional month for 2023 to run through February 28th to be timely listing forms should be returned to Durham County Tax Administration by February 28th 2023 you can call 560-0300 for additional information the low-income energy assistance program is open for all eligible Durham County residents to apply residents can call 560-8192 to make a virtual appointment with the Department of Social Services Specialists or you can apply online it's https e-pass.nc.gov the l-i-e-a-p program ends March 31st parent and family advocacy and support training join the Durham County Cooperative Extension for a free virtual eight-week online course to help parents navigate the public school system come lunch and learn with us the program runs on Thursdays from 12 noon to 1 15 from January 26 through March 16th you can contact Sherelle hinckland house at s house at dcounc.gov you can also register online and there is a link there stay up to date with Durham New Durham comprehensive plan Durham is working on.
A new comprehensive plan a long-range vision for our community the comprehensive plan decides what can be built built where in Durham it decides what size and kind of homes can be built and what part of the city and county where schools and businesses can be built and where streets can run through our current plan is nearly 13 years old and Durham has seen a lot of change in that time that change has benefited some residents While others have been negatively impacted please visit engagedderm.com backslash comprehensive plan to learn how to be involved and to sign up for updates during Pre-K family information session the 2324 application season is almost here please register for the virtual Durham Pre-K family info session which is scheduled for Saturday February 4th from 10 to 11 A.M there is a link for registration and lastly most Durham County offices will be closed on MLK Junior Day Durham County department will close most of his offices on Monday January 16th in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr.
Holiday our offices will reopen with normal hours on Tuesday January 17th to read about how those closures will impact certain Durham County government services please visit dcounc.gov that concludes the announcements published in tonight's agenda all right thank you so much Miss Wallace and board members do you have any additional announcements you'd like to share. Your Burns I only had one additional one to add and that is our MLK day this this year for some people who were used to it beforehand there's usually a triangle Interfaith breakfast and it is no longer virtual we're back in in person so if anybody really feels like getting up at 5am and having breakfast with some of your closest neighbors by all means please meet us at the Sheraton Imperial I think I can get the poster to Monica but it is the first 43rd triangle Interfaith MLK breakfast and it starts I think the lineup starts at 10 A.M the reason why I say like five or six they usually have about 2 000.
People to show up it is a free breakfast it's a good program in any event you can't be there it will be live streaming I think this year on WRAL instead of ABC it thank you. I actually have one thing that I'd like to share it's not exactly an announcement but I did see that Durham County Department of Public Health put this out on Twitter today just that Durham County is once again in an area of high transmission of covid by the CDC definitions and you know I know we're all really getting tired of the precautions that one needs to take when when we're in a high transmission area but the virus unfortunately is not tired the newest xbb 1.5 variant is telling the world that it's not finished and just we need to continue to be sure that we're vaccinated up to date on vaccines and boosters wear masks again probably I would I think it's recommended in public places that are crowded and you know to.
Continue to to to take the rapid tests before gatherings so I just wanted to mention that and yes I actually had a comment regarding that I was gonna I'll send an email to Rod about this also I also saw this map but also I saw that Duke actually just released the statement that they had said that if Durham County continues in this trend and go continues to be in this trend for two weeks they'll reinstate their math mandates I want to be you know we're not in the state of emergency under the governor anymore so for Durham County what jurisdiction we still have around last mandate if any I think it's really important that you know to keep our community members safe if we should be you sort of asked bring the love.
Get with the county attorney we'll give some feedback thanks for that question all right Commissioners we have before us the December 12 2022 regular session minute are there any comments or revisions to the minutes Cooper okay motion for approval second right we moved by commissioner Alam seconded by commissioner Burns to approve these minutes all in favor say aye aye aye that word it passes unanimously right.
That brings us to the consent agenda we have these items that we reviewed thoroughly at our work session either that or their very regular items are there any items that Commissioners would like to either fall in place at the end of the agenda or any brief comments on any of these agenda commissioner Burns I did want to just kind of sort of give a shout out to the staff and then another shout out to the board I know this has been on our work session and another agenda item but the fact that we proactively go after really unique funding I'm excited about the bio retention pond at Neal middle school and that's funding that came from the Attorney General's office that they got from Smithfield so if you're trying to figure out how we can clean up Water by going through an attorney that went to a hog farm this is how you do it and so I do appreciate the staff always going after these unique opportunities and our.
Community gets the benefit I also want to give a shout out and I know I'm going to pronounce it wrong to the restaurant am I saying it right so we do have a restaurant that is finally coming across the street the board many conversations I won't say how long but way back we've had a lot of conversations thank you to Perry and everybody on the on our staff that brought these forward if many of you all don't notice once you get to this end of downtown it starts to die off a little bit after five o'clock so what we really want to do is extend the foot traffic open it up for more Economic Development opportunities and I I remember when I worked at the Attorney General's office they closed the lunchroom and there was a receptionist Miss Lucy she said you can really tell that they don't care about their employees and I said well what do you mean she said if you don't care about your employees that have a.
30-minute lunch break then you're really not thinking about how much work you want to get done so I am hopeful that this restaurant opens up an additional opportunity for employees to be able to go out eat and not have to get in that car Drive far especially so many restaurants being closed so thank you to the staff for improving it and to my board members who know how hard it was to get a restaurant here thank you all for you know sticking it out for the Long Haul and that's all I got thank you commissioner Burns thank you care I have a quick question for Dwayne on the property tax at least just a verification question and this may be a silly question so I apologize in advance just reading the portion of releases and refunds for taxes for 2022 total 612 and then it says for prior tax years is that saying the total for those higher tax years was only 4 600.
Dwayne Brenton Durham County tax administrator feedback that that's correct for this meeting okay so in in previous years we we have released more money in those years but for this meeting you have the current year which is the 2022 and then in the current fiscal year we have released a refunded bad amount of dollars for previous year taxes I don't have it pulled up this is refunding someone for taxes they paid all the way back between 2016. that's right that's right does that answer your question all right hearing no other comments about these agenda items could have a motion then to approve the consent agenda.
Madam chair I make a motion that we approve the odd consent agenda I can right to move by commissioner Burns seconded by commissioner Alam that we approve the consent agenda all in favor say aye aye aye that's unanimous all right that brings us to an exciting topic on our agenda it is a public hearing regarding a resolution requesting the North Carolina Department of Public of Transportation designate a certain portion of North Carolina Highway 751 and Cameron Boulevard from Curley Road to Duke University Road in honor of Coach Michael Williams and we will be required to conduct public hearing on this and this time we have Jay Gibson here virtually I think to present this item more fully.
Yes and and we're very pleased to bring to the board tonight and the item we've been working on for several weeks with our partners from Duke University Miss Katie light and Dr Stephanie Williams both of whom are present this evening the item proposes to honor a person whose name and wide-ranging accomplishments are synonymous with University and Durham coach Michael williamskey better known simply as Coach K more specifically the board is requested to conduct a public hearing to consider adopting a resolution requesting that ncdot designate a portion of Highway 751 from Duke University Drive to Curley Road in honor of Coach K this is a required procedural step before ncdot will accept the request and it's worth noting that our colleagues at the city have already adopted a similar similar resolution and this request also has broad community support from numerous Civic and elected leaders we appreciate the board's consideration of this resolution request and staff along with our aforementioned youth Partners we'll be glad to entertain any questions as part of the public hearing.
All right Commissioners I was thinking we probably should read the resolution before we hold the public hearing either of you have it pulled up or would like to volunteer to read it I have it pulled up great I didn't give you any advance notice that I was going to ask you to read this but I do think it makes sense all right commissioner Alum you have it okay great thank you. Resolution requesting the North Carolina Department of Transportation designate a certain portion of North Carolina Highway 751 and Cameron Boulevard from Curley Road to Duke University Road in honor of Coach Michael William paceski whereas North Carolina General statute 136-18 8 grants the North Carolina Department of Transportation Authority to name or designate certain Highway Assets in honor of North Carolinians who have made notable contributions to the state and its residents whereas coach Michael Williams chesky better known as Kate Coach K has distinguished himself and brought honor to the state of North Carolina in Myriad ways including military service to our nation.
Serving as head coach of the Duke University men's basketball program for 42 consecutive years compiling an impressive record of 1129 wins while Duke head coach and an unparalleled division one record of 1202 wins in total while serving as a head coach whereas Coach K served with distinction on over 21 different USA Basketball coaching staff for which these teams achieved over a 95 winning record whereas Coach K further served as the head coach for the U.S Olympic men's basketball team becoming the only Olympic head coach to ever win three consecutive men's basketball gold medals whereas Coach K has further invested in the well-being of the Durham Community more especially as young people via the founding and ongoing support of the Emily K Center which now serves more than 2 000 students of various grade level annually whereas the Durham County Board of Commissioners wishes to honor Coach K by supporting the requests of Duke University to honorarily designate a portion of NC Highway 751 and Cameron Boulevard from curly Road to Duke.
University Road as Coach K Highway whereas a public hearing was held on the matter on January 9 2023 by the Board of Commissioners now therefore be it resolve that the Durham County Board of Commissioners adopts this resolution in enthusiastic support of Duke University's request to petition the North Carolina Department of Transportation to honorarily designate a portion of NC Highway 751 and Cameron Boulevard from Curley Road to Duke University Road as Coach K Highway adopted by the Durham County Board of commission thank you and we are indeed excited to consider this item and I in addition to Jay our general manager I think we also have the assistant director of Duke and state relations who would like to make a comment Katie Lipe you could come to this microphone Madam chair while she's going to the podium my I at the request of the board be able to add an addendum as much as it pains me to do so and all the whereas is Duke is only ever won.
Five Championship they have won all five national championships under Coach K I think it would only be fitting if we add those five whereas if somebody correct me if I'm wrong I checked Wikipedia I know it's not a scholarly Source but I think we should actually mention he's one on five national championships and that's not in there but I digress if it pleases the board commissioner we are or certainly as you note and I'll be honest with me bleeding red and white I knew for you it was tough being light blue coach K's accomplishments are so Broad and so deep the challenge we faced actually is ncdot I believe has a limit of 400 words on the resolution so we are we are certainly glad to entertain The Friendly Amendment we just need to make sure we can squeeze in under that 400 word limit so as not to agitate our our good friends at ncdot thank you sir yeah okay thank you acting chairwoman Carter and.
Board of Board of County Commissioners my name is Katie light I'm the assistant director for Duke State relations thank you all so much for having us here this evening to honor coach K's illustrious 42-year career as head coach of the Duke University men's basketball team and to recognize Decades of service and leadership in Durham County North Carolina and nationally Duke University is seeking to honorarily designate a portion of NC's Highway 751 and Cameron Boulevard from Curley Road to Duke University Road in Durham the North Carolina Board of Transportation requires support from local governments in the form of a unanimous unanimously passed resolution and letters of support from Civic business and service organizations in the county the Emily case Center the Durham Chamber of Commerce and State House Representatives Marcia Mori and vernetta Austin from Durham have all provided letters of support for this honorary designation in the Durham City Council unanimously passed a resolution in report of the road designation in December we greatly appreciate the Durham County Board of Commissioners willingness to consider.
This resolution tonight and I stand to take any questions if you all have thank you so much and we are delighted to take this on before we open the public hearing are there any questions for staff from either of you guys my colleagues no questions all right thanks really clear on what the ask is for us and so this point I will open the public hearing and acknowledge anyone that signed up to speak Madam Clerk do we have anyone signed up to speak no we have no one signed up is he all right if there are no comments from the general public I do know that we have recorded comments from chair Howerton and vice chair Jacob would this be a good time for us to check those here those at this point.
Or would it be better for me to close the public hearing first let's close the public hearing all right at this point I declare the public hearing closed and now if Commissioners would like to make comments we'll start with chair Howerton and vice chair Jake.
Chair of the board of County Commissioners and I am honored to be able to blend my boys to honoring Coach K today bye if you can excuse me for just one second I'll clear the.
Support of the petition to the North Carolina Department of Transportation the designated portion of North Carolina Highway 751 and Cameron Boulevard and Curley Road to Duke University Road as Coach K Highway what an awesome honor and honoree thank you Coach K I'm Wendy Jacobs Vice chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners and I'm so sorry that I cannot be there tonight for this important public hearing and this wonderful opportunity for our community to show you a in a very small way our gratitude to you for your Decades of dedication and service and leadership in our community I think this is a very fitting way for us to somehow represent how you have been such an important part of the fabric of not just the Duke Community but the entire Durham Community for more than 40 years I will share that I feel a little bit of kinship with you because I first came to Duke University in 1979 to start my freshman semester there and then you came on in March of 1980 and.
I have dedicated my life and fell in love with the Durham Community I think in similar you have have really shown your love and dedication to this community we know the many accolades of incredible achievements in the world of basketball and your legacy as a coach but I really want to focus on for a few minutes this moment of privilege for me to thank you for all that you have done as a part of the Durham community and the impact that you have had on the lives of countless young people in our community not just on the basketball court but I think back to my daughter's graduation in 2016 from duke and you were the graduation speaker and I still remember to the day your words about speaking about the importance of being a part of a team and working together with other people towards a goal something bigger than is in any of us as individuals and how important those words and inspiration are for for all of.
Us that you have demonstrated in the way that you have lived your life not just as a coach but as a person in this community I want to thank you for also what you have done you and your family with Immaculate Conception Church and the Emily K Center that you all have just never given up on Durham and the West End and and Emily K and the church have been such an important part of the transformation in Durham and of course what Emily K does for so many young people giving them a new opportunity in life so I want to just say congratulations and again I'm so grateful to you and your family for being part of this community and loving this community and I will fondly think of you when I drive along a future this future road that will be in a small way for us to honor you and all that you have done for the Durham Community thank you.
Well those were awesome comments board members anything else that anyone would like to add or we take a vote I would just like to make a comment to point out how hard I know this moment must be for commissioner Burns was she staying very strong and I hope to see her vote in the affirmative for this as hard as it may be. Okay I'm gonna make the most Madam chair if it was so pleased oh okay okay all right congratulations Coach K I too agree that you have done as I said during working sessions that after 42 years it is about time this board did something for you sir so I take great pride and pleasure pleasure and make an emotion that this board approve a resolution requesting the North Carolina Department of Transportation designate a certain portion of the North Carolina Highway 751 and Cameron Boulevard from Hurley Road to Duke University Road in honor of Coach Michael Williams do I have a stick is there a second.
Second all right it's been moved by commissioner Burns infected by commissioner Alam we adopt the resolution that we just read it may possibly have an additional whereas Clause depending on whether or not we can work it in without exceeding the 400 word limit all right all in favor of the adoption of this resolution requesting ncdot to designate a specific portion of Highway 751 in honor of Coach Michael Williams say aye aye aye the opposed it passes unanimously and we're very excited about this and thank you so much for bringing this to us and giving us the honor and the privilege of at the very least adopting this resolution we look forward to doing more in the future thank you all right oh my goodness that brings us to item seven have I missed anything item seven is adjournment is there a.
Motion to adjourn I thank you all for being with us tonight at this time we've finished the whole agenda and we're at item seven is there a motion to adjourn no move second all in favor say aye aye it's unanimous we're now adjourned thank you all so much.