Board of Commissioners · Regular Meeting · November 13, 2023

Good evening everyone I will call this meeting to order at 7 p.m. on November the 13 2023 this is our board meeting County Commissioner's board meeting and I will Begin by reading the public charge the Board of Commissioners ask its members and citizens to conduct themselves in a respectful courteous manner both with the board and fellow citizens at any time should any member of the board or any citizen failed to observe this public charge the chair will ask the offending person to leave the meeting until that individual regains personal control should the quum fail to be restored the chair will recess the meeting until such time that a genuine commitment to the public charge is observed I think I'll start on this side commissioner Burns would you leave us in the Pledge of Allegiance please I pledge allegiance to the flag the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible liy justice for.

All are there Commissioners are there any agenda adjustments car none we'll move on to our announcements and our clerk Miss Wallace will read our announcements for us good evening I will read the announcements published in tonight's agenda the Durham County Sheriff's Office in partnership with project safe neighborhoods is hosting a Durham County gun buyback event at two separate locations on Saturday November the 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. staff will be on hand at Durham County Memorial Stadium in the visitors parking lot and at the Mount Vernon Baptist church located at 10:07 South Roxboro street you may turn in any working gun for cash long gun $100 handgun $150 and assault rifle $200 with no questions asked our weapons must be unloaded and laid in plain view in your vehicle you will then be directed on what to do next by law enforcement local startups and entrepreneurs looking for a way to develop and test their products and services are invited to apply for the 2023 innovate Durham program but hurry the.

Deadline is Sunday November 19th the city county partnership allows entrepreneurs to learn to use local government as a laboratory to test products and ideas there is a link to learn more and apply the Men's Health Council of the Durham County Department of Public Health host monthly Community walks at various sites throughout Durham County socialized walk in a beautiful Park and learn this month's talk for lung cancer awareness month will feature Olivia Cunningham tobacco education specialist at the Department of Public Health or with the Department of Public Health the walk will be on Saturday November the 18th at 9:00 a.m. at The Merck Mor Park located at 632 North Hoover Road the community is invited to the free kickoff event for Durham County's guaranteed income pilot program Deco thrives on Monday November 20th at 5:00 p.m. the event the event at the Durham Convention Center which is located at 301 West Morgan Street will feature a screening of the documentary it's basic followed by a panel discussion on the impacts of guaranteed income it will.

Feature a DJ concessions and giveaways for updates please visit the County website DC nc.gov or you can email Deco thrives at DC nc.gov Medicaid expansion is here and our social services department is preparing to serve the estimated 22,000 new clients in Durham that will apply for Medicaid the simplest and quickest way for new applicants to apply is to visit EP pass. nc.gov for those adults 19 through 64 years of age who wish to learn more about Medicaid expansion you can also visit a link which is on our site as well and in the agenda packet in addition to signing up for Medicaid online you may visit the Durham County offices the at the human resources building which which is located at 4:14 East Main Street in downtown Durham to apply as well open enrollment for the health Insurance Marketplace for 2024 has begun enroll in or change your existing healthc care plan through the marketplace by December 15th to get coverage beginning January 1st 2024 you can visit their site at.

Healthcare.gov watch the in touch with Durham County TV show each month hosted by chair Brenda Howton and chief Communications officer Deborah Craig Ray this month's feature a conversation with Durham County Public Health director Jenkins and human resource manager Dedra Gonzalez it is available to watch on the Durham County YouTube channel as well and it is on the Durham County website DC nc.gov did you know Durham County is developing a new strategic plan the new plan will serve as the road mapap for the next 5 years for Durham County government your voice matters and we want to be sure to get your feedback throughout the process share your voice today there there are two links one is is in English and the other in Spanish that is available online and lastly Durham County has offered a new vehicle that will serve residents as a mobile Durham County Office Deco on the go will include Broadband access meeting rooms large screens to share videos and other services this vehicle will now I'm sorry.

This vehicle will need distinctive artwork and the county is asking local artists to assist Eco on the go design contest is open to ages 18 years and up and winning designs for the bus wrap will be eligible for cash prizes up to $1,000 younger residents in grades 6 through 12 can help design art for the rear panel of the vehicle prizes are up to $250 for that area the deadline has been extended until April 12th 2024 you can visit DC nc.gov for additional information and to apply as well and that includes the announcements in the agenda thank you very much Miss Wallace so I wanted I I wanted to make sure that we wish everybody a happy holidays this is the last meeting we will have before our holidays just wishing everyone a wonderful happy holiday and a safe one and are there any other announcements from commissioners okay commissioner Burns M I have two that are really quick one is just a special shout out I know I've been pushing the Fidelity Investment scholarship.

Pretty pretty hard I did want to let folks know that I found out from Fidelity that thus far the majority of the applications have been from North Carolina and the majority of those have been for Durham so let's keep that going because again last dollar scholarships $250 million we want our kids to get access to those dollars I want to also so I I don't know if we got that when I know it's online if nobody's doing anything on Saturday showcase of schools will be at dur convention center from 10: to 2: p.m. so all 57 of our schools including our new Murray massenberg and last but not least for the next two days you know I I do love mayor Elaine O'Neal she is she is working to her last day which is what a true public servant does while everyone else is taking breaks she actually does have a Bull City business Summit that is coming up it is this week and it is the 16th and the 17th it is.

Free registration is free I think we sent it out on our I think we sent it out on excuse me I know the man I sent it out the manager sent it out on her newsletter but idea for the public this event is tailored for aspiring entrepreneurs including seniors justce involved individuals and those with disabilities so again they're doing a a Bull City business Summit because they see all the work I think they jealous cuz they seeing all the great work that we're doing over here at the county and all the great work that Tammy's been able to do and I I and other folks have been able to support but if you can please go and support hers she's calling resilience and reinvention in Durham so it'll be a great two-day conference is free there's food and there will be a lot of different sessions so if you know a buting entrepreneur looking for a way to plug into the city this is a great opportunity to do so thank Mr.

Jacobs and just to Pony piggyback on that I'm not sure if you said the location which is our library our main library so that's a great partnership with Durham County and I just wanted to add to the announcements that the Durham County Community paramedics and Durham County Public Health is providing flu blue and coid vaccines for homebound people and you can call 919 475 3991 or you can email Captain Helen trip at H trip that's T rip p p at DC nc.gov I will send it to you Monica so we could actually get this included this information and there are point o Ms available Monday Wednesday or Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and our community paramedics will come to your home to provide you with vaccinations so this is a wonderful service to people in our community that we want to make sure people know about thank you commissioner L thank you chair Haron I didn't have an announcement I did want to just request an excused absence.

For our next regular session on the 27th okay so moved okay this been moly second all in favor I motion approved 5 to zero okay any other announcements okay I do have oh see was it one other one one other one that I have is and I have not had an opportunity to talk to the manager about it but I was at the pack four and five meeting on Saturday and there were a lot of questions about our tax assessment and what I said to them was I didn't want to fake it and try to answer questions that I'm I wasn't there to answer so at some point we I'd love to have a conversation with our assessor to attend the pack four meeting and probably some of the other pack meetings as well to start those conversations so that because they were asking questions about their how they pay their taxes and all that so I think it would be good for to have him maybe show up at some of those.

Meetings we talk about timing all right if there's no other announcements we will move on to cemon items I have one 23843 recognition of the family caregiver month 2023 Proclamation and this one is signed by Governor Roy Cooper and I wanted to read that and include that tonight state of North Carolina Roy Cooper Governor family caregiver month 2023 by the governor of the state of North Carolina a proclamation whereas more than 358,000 residents in our state are attending to the needs of or concerns of a person with short or long-term limitations due to injury or disability and are therefore caregivers and whereas the number of older adults who will need assistance with daily activ activities is growing substantially each year including an expected 50% increase in these in those over the age of 65 and 114% over the age of 85 in the next two decades and whereas North Carolina's caregivers remain diverse in their characteristics circumstances they share a common goal of keeping their loved one in their.

Community of choice and benefit from the assurance that the business Faith medical and Human Service communities can assist with information and services when needed and whereas there are numerous individuals communities and public and private organizations working to increase public awareness of the unique needs of children in foster care placed with kinship care providers and of the enduring and valuable contributions they make contributions made by kinship families and whereas the North Carolina division of aging and adult Services the area agencies on aging and many other local agencies are committed to increasing the awareness Wess of caregivers needs and continue to work toward meeting these needs and whereas the state of North Carolina encourages people to acknowledge and support family friends and neighbors who help those who are aging or have disabilities support a family caregivers in the right thing to do and an essential investment in a better future for North Carolina older adults and individuals with disabilities now therefore I Roy Cooper governor of North Carolina do hereby Proclaim November.

2023 as family caregiver month in North Carolina and commend its servants to all citizens Roy Cooper Governor as we that is for all of North Carolina and we have that in Durham as well yes Madam chair I just want to.