Good evening everyone. Thank you so much. Is this Thank you so much for joining us tonight for our Durham County Board of Commissioners regular session this July 28th. the board met in close session. no action was taken. The direction action was given to staff. I will get us started with the public charge. before I do that actually just few housekeeping matters. We are in a different space today due to HVAC issues in our admin one building. So, thank you all so much for being flexible with us, but a huge huge shout out to our director of general services, Mo, who's usually here with her hat., but her and her team have been honored to get that room that space, that whole building repaired and back in service, but also set up this entire space for us to continue our meeting and make sure thank you to our public information office for getting the information out to the community that our space has changed as well as our clerk's office. And as well to know for.
Since we're in new space, there is a bathroom through the back through that direction that there's two bathrooms and then there's also two on this side. So in case you need to go to the restroom at any point. And for folks who are watching online, you may see just an empty county commission chambers. That's just because our camera setup is different. But we are here in the Health and Human Services building on the second floor. and the meeting is being recorded to be published properly later. But thank you all for bearing with us. Now the public charge.
The board of commissioners ask its members and residents to conduct themselves in a respectful courteous manner both with the board and fellow residents. At any time should any member of of the board or any resident fail to observe this public charge, the chair will ask the offending person to leave the meeting until that individual regains personal control. Should a quorum fail to be restored, the chair will recess the meeting until such time that a genuine commitment to the public charge is observed. Commissioner Jacobs, would you like to read the land acknowledgement today?
As we convene for the Durham County Commissioners meeting, it's crucial to recognize the painful truth of history. We stand on the stolen ancestral lands of the Katabo, Eno, Okinichi, Shakuri, and Tuscarura peoples whose deep connection to this land predates our arrival. We acknowledge with humility the unjust displacement and violence that occurred leading to the dispossession of indigenous peoples from their homelands. Their resilience in the face of such adversity is a testament to their strength and spirit. May we humbly honor the ancestors and elders of these nations, both past and present, by committing ourselves to fostering understanding, healing, and justice for all who inhabit this land. Let us walk forward together with open hearts, acknowledging the past, and embracing a future guided by compassion, respect, and unity.
>> Thank you, Mr. Jacobs., Vice Chair, Dr. hear me. Would you like to do the pledge? >> Sure.
I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you, Vice Chair. Are there any agenda adjustments? >> Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda. >> Move approved. >> Second. >> Moved by Vice Chair Mi, second by Commissioner Lee. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Agenda is adopted. Five to zero. For announcements, I'll be giving our clerk a break and reading them today.
For the announcements, Go Triangle is offering 15inut service. Beginning August 4th, Go Triangle will offer their first ever 15-minute service along routes 4405 in Durham and Orange counties. This new change will affect old routes. Please visit www.gotriangle.org/ org/service changes for more information. Stop the violence and ceasefire community resource event. The Durham County Sheriff's Office is hosting its third annual Stop the Violence and Ceasefire Community Resource event at the Durham County Memorial Stadium on Saturday, August 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event is part of the Durham County Sheriff's Office's Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Everyone is invited to come out for a day of fun while learning about community resources. There will be back to school giveaways, complimentary food from local food trucks, and entertainment for all ages.
Durham County Library is having a library fest logo contest. Can you outdes Durham County Library staff? They are calling on all artists, hobbyists, and designed daredevils to enter the Library Fest 2026 logo contest. This year's theme is the stories at BuildPest and your design could be the face of it all. Deadline to submit entries is August 15th, 2025. Find out more information at durham county library.org back/archbitrary feature/ library best hyphen 2026 hyphen logo hyphen design contest. Durham County Tax Bill Estimator. Now that the 2025 general reappraisal and both the city and county of Durham have passed their 2025 2026 budgets, residents may be wondering what their tax bill will be. Watch video, you can look it up on our Durham County YouTube page. I'm not reading that link to learn how to use our tax bill estimator and then head to the estimator at fit.y/decode tax bill estimator.
Apply >> apply for economic development grant program. The Durham Soil and Water Conservation District's Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program is accepting applications funded by the Durham Board of County Commissioners. The purpose of the AEDGP is to offer cost share grants to assist farmers and nonprofits in their agricultural endeavors and to promote agricultural development and outdoor environmental learning centers in schools. Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. on August 25th, 2025. Applications are posted at dc.gov back/soily and hyphen water back slash hyphen economic hyphen development hyphen a no back slash a hyphen economic hyphen development hyphen grants website has a new look last week the official Durham County government website got an overhaul with the launch of our redesigned website be sure to head over to www.dc.gov and check it out. We will be looking for feedback from residents and stakeholders on what they like and what we can improve in the near future. You can also send your feedback now to public information office at dcomc.gov.
That concludes our listed announcements. Are there any other announcements from the board? Commissioner Burton. >> tested in testing. >> Can you hear me? Thank you. I just want to say that two weeks ago we attended Niko in Philadelphia. the Niko conference, the National Association of Counties. It was a very enlightening educational conference to learn about what's going on across the country with other counties. We talked about in a lot of the breakout sessions. I went to a session on transportation and also we had a very informative session around the bill or the one big beautiful act that's coming down from Congress and how counties can prepare for that., so I just wanted to say it was really great to be with my colleagues, Commissioner Stephen Valentine, Commissioner Lee, County Manager Hager.
It was very my first one, so I'm looking forward to going back to others, so I just wanted to share that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Burton., I'll just add the Durham Public School Foundation is currently doing their build that Plus Fuel the Year campaign where they are collecting contributions, book bags, school supplies from July 7th through August 8th., you can go to their pages through crayons crayons to calculators DPS foundation. If you look them up, you can either donate money or you can go to one of their drop off sites to drop supplies off. They're also going to be having another school supply drive. There is an upcoming event, the Cocoa Drip, happening August 23rd. that is it's a vendor market and serves as will be serving as a drop off event site as well for school supplies. So, if anyone wants to drop off book bags, pencils, crayons, notebooks, you can feel free to do so through there. And then as well, Council Member Cabayro, myself, Representative Marsha Moore, and.
Chair Betina Umstead are hosting a town hall this Saturday at Durham County Public Main Library, at 1:00 p.m. And it's going to be moderated by some of the amazing interns host, that are at our kids voting Durham office that's based out of our cooperative extension. So, please come out, ask us your questions, learn about the different bodies of government here at Durham. Commissioner Jacobs, >> I just have one quick comment slashannannouncement asking residents to please tune in to our August 4th work session next week where we will be having presentations and more in-depth discussion on the impacts to our residents due to the changes in law around Medicaid. paid and SNAP benefits. There have been many changes that have been approved by Congress that are extremely concerning for how they will impact benefits, food, access to health care, and other types of benefits to people in our community. And I think it's important that our entire community is informed and so that we can also work together as best we can to.
Try try to do our best to make sure that everybody maintains access to these benefits and also that we work together to address the gaps that will result in our community. So, I just wanted to highlight that coming up on our work session. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Pickhams. That concludes our announcements. We now move on to our minutes. We have minutes for our June 23rd, 2025 regular session that we need to approve. Commissioner Jacobs,. >> I was not present at the meeting and I just noticed reviewing the minutes that there needs to be one correction related to the appointment for the criminal justice advisory committee. It lists me as one of the votes. So it just it obviously is just you know editing mistake but thank you. So I would suggest that any motion includes just correcting that one item. Thank you.
>> I move approval of the minutes u to include the changes. Commissioner Jacobs just >> second moved by Vice Mike Lee. Second by Commissioner Val. All in favor say I. >> Any of those? >> Someone from the audience. >> We are >> we'll now move to resident comments. And first of all, where should Okay, you'll come up to this podium. we only have two individuals signed up. Donna Steinbach and Betty Hamilton. You'll each have three minutes at the podium where clerk polices.
Good evening board of Board of County Commissioners. My name is Donna Stain. My family lives in the Falls Lake critical watershed and I have assisted over 30 neighbors and Kim folks doing their Durham property tax appeals. I have indirect input from others assisting more than 60 plus tax payers and over 145 different parcels. They have appealed and gone to the board of equalization and review or the bora. We we'd like to thank the tax appraisers for their help that they could help on the buildings, but our major concern issue is the land rates in the critical watershed and the accessible data for what was used to come up with those land rates and the what they call comparables. We have provided comparables or these are where you look at recent sales that are similar and and look at the price per acre. We have developed our own list and sent it in and sent it in with a lot of these people that were doing their appeals. Unfortunately, their appeals.
Regarding land do not get done and mine did not get done at the initial appeal. It. I have to go to the and appeal that and go to the board of equalization to have them look at the land rates when I have raised many issues and presented about the land rates and had meetings with people about the land rates and I still on July 16th I get it back and they didn't change. They did not look, you know, because I asked the appraiser about the land rates and he said, "We just did the buildings."
So, this makes it very difficult for other people because they get they don't get to see what is being used and they don't get it until the last minute. And then at some of the meetings, comparables that we've had have been disregarded because they're too low. Now, you know, what data do you use? You're throwing it out because it's too low. And so the people that don't get any assistance from the board of equalization and review on their land rates would have to appeal to the state. Now, I've got courage to appeal to the state, but a good bit of our community does not.
And we had to, you know, encourage them to come out and let us help. They were frustrated over the race because they have given up and just said it, it's not going to change. You know, there's nothing we can do to change it. Well, y'all know I don't believe that. So, thank you.
>> Good evening. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> I am Betty Hamilton. I live in rural Durham County on Patterson Road. I actually live in an area where I have lots of family members right around me and my major concern is with dealing with this tax assessment and the amounts we've been given. I see no consistency. I look at the amount that's given for one vacant lot, which is part of my property, as compared to my brother's who is less than a mile away from me.
And there's no way I can determine how these amounts are calculated or what you're using to figure out these rates and how we can address them. I understand there are problems with the critical watershed that have not yet been resolved. I have family members who already have hearings scheduled and I wonder how they can have hearings if this critical watershed issue has not been resolved. It's a significantly affecting people of my family., I don't know if I said it yet, but at least 15 parcels in my area in less than a mile and they're all appealing.
And we want to get some consistency, understand how you come into these rates and be able to explain to other members of the family how to get to it., I had a difficult time with the appeal process. Just to let you know, I could not get my comparables submitted with my house., my cousin had a problem with the appeals process on the website. She didn't click to appeal. She was in the process of doing things and it marked appeals. So, there are also some issues with the website.
I understand too that the northern county where I have other cousins have a different land rate such as in Rougemont it's 50,000 per acre for a building lot as compared to Redwood where I live 125,000 per acre for a building lot and I would wonder why we have this inconsistency across the Thank you. >> Thank you. That concludes all the residents signing up. if our tax administrator K if you wanted to provide any information follow.
Good evening, unknown, tax administrator., I have been in communications with these groups speaking specifically to the concerns that were just raised. I'm sorry. Can you hear me? All right., they have they have definitely addressed their concerns. We have had staff work with them to try to see if we could get to some actual data. They showed us some actual values that could be based on some types of adjustments. We have not found any adjustment value, but we do believe what their concerns have what they have described. We have we've had numerous conversations. Staff is still working with them. However, I think they described that they got beyond our staff to the board of equalization and review in some of these cases. and the board of equalization and review decided that they couldn't see values that address adjustment. What they are describing are real things. So this is not a matter of them not describing something that's real, but there is actually the data supporting the values that are in place.
Speaking to land rates differing across the county, that is a normal occurrence. Values differ in regards to the land values across the entire county. There are very few neighborhoods that are exactly the same and the data is what gives us that information., but we will continue to work with you. Please continue to communicate with staff., they have been very very very proactive and positive. So, the communications are positive and we will continue to work with them. >> Mr. Doy.
>> Yes, sir. Do you have the information about the the website? The concern that was raised about the website. You know anything about that concern that was raised about the website? >> Yes, I do not. But definitely let us know more about that incident and we'll look into it. Definitely. >> Thank you. Questions? >> Thank you, Mr. Joy. Thank you so much our residents for coming and bringing these concerns to us. we now have some ceremonial items. First, the board is issuing a proclamation for National Emergency Management Awareness Month. I believe we have Dr. Walker, who's here.
And is it just you, Director, or you have other folks with you? >> Well, I chose to exercise director's prerogative because they will not say the nice things that they are deserving of this evening. They're far too humble. >> but would you like them to join? >>, if they want to stand up as we talk about this., as you all know in the office of emergency services, emergency management is one piece of what our office does. So, they're led by Elizabeth Shrader., the deputy chief is Nate Sanders, Janisa Johnson, Hayden Smith, and Thomas Baralt. And these five folks comprise the city and county emergency management function.
This is a joint function between the two entities. they have labored for the last 3 weeks oftent times round the clock mitigating the effects of tropical depressant shantal. On top of that they responded to hazardous materials incidents and as recently as yesterday pulled off a very successful full-scale exercise involving active asalants at both Duke University and North Carolina Central University. I was there for the exercise yesterday and it was an exceptional coordinated exercise with a number of agencies both within the county and external to the county as well. these folks spend their lives dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community.
And I can tell you in my 40 plus years in emergency services, these are some of the finest folks that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. So, we are very grateful for the board recognizing National Emergency Management Awareness Month and the exceptional work that these folks do day in and day out. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I want to echo my appreciation. I'm sure the other board members want to as well. Of just appreciation of y'all. Like especially now we notice a lot of the work y'all do when there's emergencies.
But we tend to forget what's the work that y'all have to do behind the scenes when there isn't an emergency like tropical storm Shanghal the work that y'all put into place to make sure that we're ready to respond and prepared when there are natural disasters or emergency situations. So, thank you so much for all the time and effort y'all put into making us prepared, to keeping us safe, and when there are disasters to responding to make sure our community members are safe as soon as possible. We had residents up in Northern Durham who were displaced. and y'all were very quick to get out there to assess and help find shelter for residents, not only for Durham County residents, but I know Orange County I spoke to several town council members in Cararo that had to seek out services from Durham County Emergency Services. So, y'all really stepped up to help our neighbors as well. So, just really appreciate all of the work you do when the limelight is on.
You, but also when it's not there. Thank you. Vice Chair Mike Lee. >> Yeah, I just wanted to add that Commissioner B mentioned that we went to NAO and there's a lot of different sessions and tracks that you can go on. My focus was emergency management. It was went to the sessions crisis management, disaster recovery for counties, those sorts of things. And those are the things that I'm really really interested in making sure that Durham is prepared for. So hearing stand this resolution and continue to see the successes that you all have make me really proud and happy. But that is something I'm very interested in and I wanted to learn more about it and and help advocate from this diet for those things. So I'm really excited about really excited about this. I'm excited about working with you all. So thank you for everything that you do.
Our next ceremon ceremonial item is a proclamation for program integrity awareness month and we have director Maggie Clap from DSS as well as Kelly our our chief operations officer and Sheila Dorson. >> Hi, good evening. Thank you very much. We're here tonight to recognize our program integrity unit and also our supervisor of that unit who's been with the state for over 30 years and is retiring July 31st which is Thursday after 14 years with Durham. so we do want to recognize that as well while we do this. But I just want to say when we talk about program integrity right now there's a lot of talk in the federal government about fraud and waste majority of that is with providers.
We had a 94% rate of success across this across the United States last year for the federal government. So the majority of that is providers, not staff and not clients that receive these critical benefits. But this is our department at Durham DSS that helps ensure that we are making sure that people get the correct benefits and the proper payments. So I will turn it over to Kelly and Sheila who's in charge of this department. >> Thank you. So, our program interity unit is focused on preventing fraud, waste, and abuse and assistance programs to ensure that Durham residents who are eligible for benefits can get them timely and accurately. This small but mighty unit collected and returned $1.6 million to federal and state budgets this fiscal year ending June 30th. Durham County was able to retain a little over 392,000 of those funds by completing,294 investigations and establishing 573 claims. This work maintains compliance and ensures that we are good stewards of public funds. So, thank you for highlighting the work this month. I.
Should also add that the PI unit has collected over a million dollars for the three years prior to the pandemic and the two years post pandemic. And as Maggie mentioned, we did want to spend some time celebrating the amazing contributions of Sheila Dorset, our program integrity unit supervisor. So before I came to Durham, I only knew Sheila by her name and reputation. And the best way that I can explain it is she's like the rock star of program integrity across the whole state. So people really regard her like a Beyonce or a Madonna in this world. You have to know this., so she would, everyone would always be excited if Sheila was going to be in a meeting and especially happy if she was training at that meeting. So, as Maggie mentioned, Sheila has been with us for 14 years and in service to the state of North Carolina for over 30. She's a dedicated leader in the field of program integrity on the state and national level. She has.
Represented us as a two-term past president of the United Council on Welfare Welfare Fraud and having her time and talents in Durham has been quite the feather in her cap. Sheila's commitment to this important work has safeguarded vital resources for countless families across the state. So, thank you, Sheila, for your leadership in Durham County and across the state and nation. Thank you for sharing your commitment to excellence and for making such a lasting impact on this important work. Happy retirement.
>> I had no idea that my retirement was going to come up at this meeting or I may have stayed at home. You've mentioned the big beautiful bill and it's something that all of us are trying to understand exactly what's going to take place. But it just makes me realize that with the limits that the federal government is putting into the Medicaid and the SNAP benefits or what we used to call food stamps, it makes getting cases correct that much more important that we are not giving too much to one person that we don't have providers who are charging too much for their benefits and such as that. But I've been very proud to represent Durham County on the national and state and local level and I plan to continue to represent Durham County and North Carolina in the National United Council on Welfare Fraud. I will remain on the board as long as I can. And at our meeting coming up next month, I'm scheduled to do two trainings. So, I.
Just feel that that's something good for all of the citizens of the USA. Thank you for recognizing program integrity this month. I appreciate you all. >> Thank you so much. Thank you so much to our DSS team and congratulations, Miss Dorset, for such an amazing career. and thank you for all of your service to Durham County and our residents. Commissioner Jacobs and then Commissioner Burton. Well, I especially wanted to congratulate Sheila and thank you for your service to Durham County DSS and to other DSS agencies across the state in our country., I've had the pleasure of working with you as while I was on the DSS board for 12 years and you are the consmate professional which I think everyone can see here and also your passion for the work and training is so important, integrity is so important and when we heard federal officials talk about the waste, abuse and fraud And I knew it was all a bait and switch and it wasn't true because I have seen.
Up close the work that the integrity department staff do in Durham County and I knew that that was not true., so thank you. I wish you a wonderful retirement and I'm also grateful that you're going to continue to be of service. Thank you. Yes, I just want to echo those words from my colleague, Commissioner Jacobs. Miss Dorset, congratulations on your retirement. You're going to enjoy it. It's going to be grand. But I also want to say thank you for the work that you have done to make sure that individuals are getting the right benefits. And I just want to echo what director Maggie Clouse said about most of the fraud wasted abuse. I don't even like saying that because like Commissioner Jacobs said, it's just like a a front to get people distracted.
We know it comes mostly from providers. They talked about that. It's interesting. They talked about that on NPR. And so getting it out there that it's not individuals who are trying to gain the system, right? It's mostly from providers. So, thank you for the hard work that you have done and I hope there's someone to replace you., because it's really critical work to make sure that people are getting the right benefits, especially what we know is coming down the pike. So, thank you, >> Mr.
>>, yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. I I hope you don't find I hope that you don't find me out of line, but 30 years of service to Durham County. And so I'm going to ask that everyone stand with me and applaud Mr. Years of service county.
Mr. Dor said, I just thought it would be fitting to to to let you know how much we appreciate you and how much residents here in Dome County appreciate your hard work over these number of years. sounds like it's been a labor of love. So, thank you again. Thank you. We have our nextations is I'm going to pass it back to you, Commissioner Stephen Valentine, actually for the next one, the next resolution. >> Yes. So, thank you again, Madam Chair. And so, I am or I have the the honor and the privilege to offer a resolution on behalf of William Martin Bill Chamberlain in recognition of his his life and his his legacy. So whereas William Martin Bill Chamberlain pioneer University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Basketball died at the age of 75 on July 13th, 2025.
Whereas Chamberlain, longtime resident of Durham, North Carolina, was the second black varsity basketball player to join the University of North Carolina Tar Hills in 1969. And whereas as a standout player contributing significantly to the Tar Hill success, he led the University of North Carolina to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in 1971, doing the same the next year, also advancing to the Final Four in 1972. And whereas Chamberlain paved the way for future University of North Carolina basketball legends such as Bob Mcadoo, who was present in Dorm County today for his memorial, James Worthy, Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, and others. And whereas during the three seasons, Chamberlain was a star player for the University of North Carolina, he received most valuable player honors for his play at the NIT before receiving second team all-American accolades during his last year at the University of North Carolina. And whereas off the court and in the classroom, Chamberlain was a standout student as well as a civil rights activist who notably supported the improvement of working.
Conditions, wages, and benefits for black employees following the cafeteria worker strike in 1969. And whereas after his trailblazing basketball career at the University of North Carolina, he began his professional basketball career with the Kentucky Colonels and the Memphis Tams of the American Basketball Association. As well as with the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. He briefly played in France and later returned to the United States where he became assistant coach at Dukane University located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1976 to 1979. Chamberlain held other coaching, teaching, and state government positions until his retirement. Whereas we we respectfully honor the life and legacy of William Martinville Chamberlain and celebrate his impactful life of service to others. Now therefore be resolved that the Dorm Board of County Commissioners resolve to pay tribute to my friend William Martin Bill Chamberlain. We call upon all citizens of Dorne County to remember his numerous contributions to athletic excellence, public service, and all the ways he made positive contributions to improve the lives of others this 28th.
Day of July 2025. Signed Nam chair Dr. Mike Lee, vice chair. Michelle Burton, commissioner, Wendy Jacobs, commissioner, and Steven Stephen Valentine, commissioner. >> Thank you, Commissioner Stephen Valentine, for this recognition as well as attending the memorial services on behalf of the board. We appreciate you. We have a couple more ceremonial items. With the introduction of our 2025 Durham County 4H youth delegate Thomas McCoy and we have Miss Carolyn Krueger from the cooperative extension here to introduce her.
>> Hi, thank you. I am really pleased to be able to present to you Thomas McCoy who will be Durham's 4 representative at this year's youth voice at the NC Association of Board of County Commissioners meeting this August. Promise is one of our most active orange youth leaders not just here at the local level but at the state level. She's recently been elected as a state officer and she's also a very valued youth leader at Kids Voting Durham. so she was our natural choice to represent us in Durham at represent Durham at this year's meeting. I know some of you are new and have not been to youth voice at the annual meeting of the N the NC Association of Board of County Commissioners.
But it is a great opportunity for our young representative to participate in simulations of Board of County Commissioners meetings and learn a lot about what county government does. But the most impactful part is the Saturday afternoon lunchon where you are all invited to come have lunch with Promise and to share with her what you all do, how county government impacts us in Durham, and make what she's learned in the previous days real for her., so I'm going to let Promise tell you a little bit more about her and then as required by the youth voice program, we're going to take a picture with Promise and all of you for the program.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening, commissioners. >>, my name is Promise McCoy. Can you hold it real up close? Yeah, you can hear me. >> Okay., my name is Promise McCoy. I'm 16 years old and I am the district secretary for 4. I'm deeply involved in my county's 4 program and civic engagement through kids voting their own. I'm attending youth voice because I want to bring youth perspectives directly to our leaders. You young people have strong opinions and hopes for the future.
Whether it's about mental health awareness awareness, protecting our environment, or creating fair opportunities in education, I've been working to live a more sustainable live more sustainably. And I'm taking steps to get involved with the sunrise movement to help push for real clim climate solutions led by our generation. I want to learn firsthand how county decisions are made so that I can better understand how to make changes happen where I live. The workshops at youth voice like real colors and the budget simulation will give me a deeper understanding of leadership collaboration and how resources are prioritized in a community.
Most importantly, I hope to serve as a bridge between generations. Youth Voice will give me the tools and experience to bring back fresh ideas and help create a more inclusive, responsive, and future focused community where young people are not just seen, but heard and included. I'm looking forward to seeing you during the Saturday Youth Commissioner lunch at the MCACC conference on August 23rd, and I'm excited about representing you for at your voice. Thank you.
Cheer right there.
Okay.
One, two, three. Delicious. Thank you so much. Congratulations. And thank you again promise for representing Durham County and for all of your service through the 4 program but all the other ways through sunrise kids voting Durham that you mentioned and I'm sure that's just the iceberg of your involvement in our community and I look forward to the day that you are sitting in elected office. Our next I'll pass it to Manager Hager to recognize the amazing achievements of our Durham County staff.
>> Fantastic. And I would also before I get to that item like to congratulate Thomas as well. I was a 4er so when you started talking about your highlights I was a district 4 president did some fun things too and so my heart is always leaps for joy when when I hear those successes especially in 48 so keep up the great work u I will acknowledge 11 no achievement awards and a digital cities award for 2025 we have a lot of exciting activities happening in the county.
The board will recognize these winners for seven NA no awards for 2025 and there through a non-competitive application process. The programs receive awards in 18 categories that they can cover and these awards were given to the different recipients at the conference in Philadelphia July 11th to the 14th and I will now share the different categories in which we were awarded. The first one was Durham County government public facing website modernization, the Durham County information services and technology and public information office. And if y'all could come up and so we can recognize you.
Okay, the next category is in for Deco Ford 2029, the Dorm County Manager's Office. If you could please come up.
And so the next is our Durham County VCO votes application. The Durham County information services and technology and the Durham County Board of Elections. The next item is the Durham County Duke Fiber Implementation. This is Durham County information services and technology and the Durham County Social Services case management modernization. the Durham County public facing website modernization and Durham County social services. Fantastic. And the last one is the Africanamean Legacy and Gardening and Horiculture Symposium. That's with the Durham County Library. Let's give all of these recipients.
All right. Okay. There's one last one for the Durham County Information Services and Technology Department in the digital counties survey winner for 2025. This competitive category was in counties of populations of 250 to 499,000 individuals. And so again proud of our IS&T department and the information submitted which shows that we are definitely trying to be progressive and forward thinking and it's all because of our exciting teams across the county working together. So thank you again Greg. Let's give him another round of applause. He's.
Already taking our pictures. I would like to thank the staff that took the time to elevate the work that we're doing here and all of the camaraderie amongst the organization because although it may take one department submitting it, they're working with all of our departments and colleagues to to make these things happen. So, thank you for your commitment, your excellence in helping our residents have great service. Again, thank you.
Want to echo thank you and congratulations to all of our Durham County staff. Julie, none of what we as commissioners vote on and do would be possible without our amazing Durham County staff. you all put in the real hard work hours, data collection, analysis, that we then get to pay credit for. So, thank you., and to put it into perspective of, you know, receiving so many awards for Durham County, there's 100 counties in North Carolina and there's I Googled it. There's 3,144 counties in the country. So, for Durham County to receive this many 11 awards nationally, is really a huge feat.
And it just goes to show how amazing of a team we have here under the leadership of manager Hager., but really it's also a grassroots organization where you know our our staff build us up all the way to the top. Thank you. That's our final ceremonial item. We now.
Move on to the consent agenda. Are there any items anyone would like to Mr. Burton? Yes. I don't I just have a question about one. It's item number 25-0411. The allocation for Little River Elementary School's roof replacement. We're getting a refund. the first thing I want to say just for the audience, one of the questions that I often get is where does all the lottery money go? because many people don't understand. Well, we get a lot of it for our schools to do capital projects. So, that's the lottery money at work. But the question I had is with the refund that's coming back, is there a fund that the school system has when lottery money is not spent? Do they keep the money or does it go to the county? Where do those funds go?
>> Those funds would be returned back to the schools. >> Okay. And the question I have, they must use it for capital. Correct? >> Yes, that's correct. They must use it for capital. And what will happen throughout the year, you may see budget amendments where they realign the dollars from one project to another either because the project has completed or scope has changed. And just like with the county, there there are timelines that they try to work against and they maximize those dollars to make sure they're following the guidelines of the state and make and and optimizing those dollars should be used.
>> Thanks. >> Question. >> yes, I just have a question about 25. The group. >> Yes. So, oh my goodness. So, 25414. Are we aware of any additional delays outside of the the 20 weeks time that's been identified before we actually have a permanent solution to the issues with the chillers? This is a general question is is almost standard >> for chiller replacements and chiller apartments. >> So >> the mic over there the mic is over here.
>> So it's a standard standard of 20 to 32 weeks for chiller parts as well as for replacement chillers. >> So no additional delays. We're not anticipating any additional delays. and we're hope we're praying for no additional >> delay. Commissioner Commissioner Jacobs, >> I just have two quick comments and then a question. One is related to item 25-4, I'm sorry, 0404 about our contract with Megan Durham. Just for the public. really excited about the new planned academy at Southern High School. that's part of what we're approving tonight is a scope of work with made in Durham that includes a special academy biotech academy that is going to happen at Southern High School. So that's really exciting. And I want to give a shout out item 25-045.
We have two conservation easements. And I really want to lift up the Frank and the Sparrow families in Durham County. These are two families that have been real leaders as farmers in our community and it's thanks to their generosity and their leadership for moving forward with with these land conservation easements and related to what we saw with Shantel. We know that one of the things that we need to keep investing in to be sustainable with flooding is protecting our wershed and that's what both of especially I think the Sparrow property is along the false lake wershed and that is going to help with in the future with things like flooding. So I just want to lift them up. and my question is just there are several contracts related to cleaning which is not sexy but it is really important really impacts our staff and people in the community especially high impact buildings like this one and I was just wondering I know that in the it says that there's up for possible fouryear.
Renewal if we could just hear a little more about the process for how the contracts will be evaluated on a yearly basis and will the staff in the buildings get to have some input on or feedback in letting you and your staff know what is working and what isn't. So we monitor the buildings weekly with regards to the janitorial services that are being vendored and we also have a committee that's representative of major building what we call building owners general services but you know so we have representatives from the libraries for example we work with Sandra very closely with regards to the janitorial services being conducted in those buildings and We ask for representatives from other buildings like DSS and and public health and we have representatives for each one of the buildings. We also have we now have general services has has an environmental assistant director and he actually physically goes and monitors the activities of the janitors and we have made a transition with regards to our janitorial services. So this will be.
The first year that general services will actually be providing the products that go into several of our buildings. We're testing this out with regards to bringing in savings for the janitorial services and also trying to pick up the caliber of service that the janitors are actually performing. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome.
>> Thank you. questions., just want to highlight for item 25-0369 there is we're recognizing a grant award of $6,883. But just want to note the total overall amount of funding that we're receiving, 177,883 from the Durham County, the Durham Library Foundations Board. And this is one of 14 grants that they have issued to Durham County Libraries to help us run our programming and services. So, I want to shout out and thank the library foundation board of directors for this contribution and for the work they do in raising these funds to be able to issue these grants.
>> I will now entertain a motion. If there's nothing to be pulled, I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agender. Burton, second by Commissioner Stephen Valentine. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Said is approved. Now we'll move to other business. This is an item that I I know I'll have to repeat myself. Well, we have the approval of the fiscal year 202526 contract with downtown Dur for economic development services in the amount of 200,000. I would >> I would move this item for approval.
>> Second move by Commissioner Jacobs, second by Commissioner Burton. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? And then I am Dave. So it passes 41. Yeah, four with one objectives. And now I'll pass it to attorney Williamson for our boards and commission for this.
Okay. Can you hear me? Yeah. All right. We have a number of appointments tonight. the first one we have is the alcoholic beverage control ABC board. We have two vacant positions and the board has appointed Daniel Edwards and Relle Michelle Scott to that board to the bicycle and pedestrian advisory commission. We have one vacant position and the board has selected Andrew Burch for that position. For the Durham and Wake County's Research and Production Service District Advisory Committee, we have nine vacant positions. The board has appointed Alex Murray, Gina Anderson, Greg Lupereki, Sarah Ellis, Leon Kislowski, Sarah Gasco, Michael Mike Cury, Rodrigo Egley, and Tara Croen.
For the Durham Convention Center Authority, we have one vacant position. The board has appointed Shan Highland Holland for the Durham County Hospital Corporation Board of Trustees. The board has appointed Hector Hyalo. For the Durham Sports Commission, the board has appointed Emily. We have one vacant position. The board has appointed Emily Joe Roberts. For the Durham Technical Community College Board of Trustees, we have one vacant position. And the board has selected Tashandre Shun Edmonds for the juvenile crime prevention council. We have one vacant position and the board has selected Linda L or LA Huddler.
For the library board of trustees, we have four vacant positions. The board has appointed Annne Mlan, Kita Stringer Standback, Leah Josephson, and Erica Patillo. For the Memorial Stadium Authority, we have one vacant position. The board has appointed Robert Bob Weissman. For the opioid settlement advisory committee, we have 10 vacant positions. One local government official, one health care provider, one social services provider, one law enforcement representative, one education and employment service representative, one individual with lived experience with the opioid use disorder, one healthc care payer or funer, one employer and business leader representative, one community-based organization rep, and one individual who is a representative of a diverse community. And for the local government official position, the board has appointed Wendy Jacobs. For the healthc care provider, the board has appointed Jamie Carter. For the social services provider position, the board has appointed Katherine K. Sanford. For the law enforcement representative position, the board has appointed Don Baxton.
Sorry. For the education and employment service representative position, the board has appointed Paul Nagi. For the individual with lived experience with opioid use disorder, the board has appointed Loftton Wilson. For the healthc care payer or funer position, the board has appointed Britney Price. For the employer and business leader representative position, the board has appointed Karen Kelly. For the community-based organization rep, the board has appointed Shalisa Howard Martinez. And for the individual who is representative of a diverse community, the board has appointed Alonzo Paplin for that position. Congratulations to all of the appointees.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you, Attorney. I want to thank everyone who applied for boarding commission. I think this packet and these applicants have been the most applicants we've received in my time as a commissioner. So, I appreciate everyone who has been looking at our website and seeing all the ways you can serve our community. Thank you to everyone who has applied. To folks who didn't get selected this time, please apply for next time. We have lots more boards and commissions and we would love for your service and your voice., and congratulations once again to all the individuals who were selected. That concludes our meeting. So I will.
Entertain a motion to adjourn. >> Madam chair, I move that we >> Commissioner Stephen Valentine moves to extend the meeting. >> I second moves to adjourn, second by Commissioner Burton. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? We are ajourned. They draw so much.