[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6428285,"mediaKeyId","5905303-40efba92a5a679dac5dc3ab0ec4b8e52","parentId",5905303,"title","Votes at a glance: Lee County commissioners approve agenda, consent items, proclamation and funding for reentry position","audioSeconds",4164,"startMs",159000,"endMs",4323000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5905303-40efba92a5a679dac5dc3ab0ec4b8e52&start=159&end=4323","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5905303-40efba92a5a679dac5dc3ab0ec4b8e52/thumbnail_159000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6428285/Lee-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Lee-County-commissioners-approve-agenda-consent-items-proclamation-and-funding-for-reentry-position","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428285-1b23cd187e7b5637e6c832e0782979b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166059&Signature=ID0zZaJwYriCgy5LQdcXoUGLgy~Y4eLIXzKKPiNBCVuMkYwfugLs~dQH8QKr4BihScUMdLg06XlLFYHAkeamNiiVLPF5qR1vwXSShSdkCUQImJ6iCtU2ViMt6SD7y7MmRmy2iFw-YIiDSA31XyRYRZAWH0a-i4vqshSEp4YPsdOIuJzLaL37opeAnyfUH~dgDZ2EYDRFxttHnMTfwpjg-6EXdKfoPsU~BSRz2f7RmooiDtQk-pTdgvRKJ6CVJMBSVC1qnxkdc4YA2erLwoJgi41lOnmNYuXsjYsvvMDNNzLGRUjc3~IzAsikr2FlQJI58wLPdrYlJSg3Uo5y3d7M6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lee County","date","2025-10-07T19:22:58Z","article","Here are the formal actions recorded at the Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting on Oct. 6, 2025.

- Agenda: The board approved the meeting agenda as amended (motion and voice vote). No recorded roll-call names or tally were recorded in the transcript.

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda as amended by voice vote. Item 2(e), the Lee County new courthouse building enclosures restoration, was removed from the consent agenda and will be considered separately.

- Proclamation: The board accepted a proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15'Oct. 15) for Lee County; acceptance passed by voice vote.

- Coca-Cola building financing: The board approved a resolution authorizing financing to purchase and improve the former Coca-Cola property, not to exceed $7,800,000 in limited obligation bonds; the resolution passed by voice vote. (See related article on the project.)

- Reentry coordinator funding: The board voted to continue funding a reentry coordinator position through June 30, 2026, and authorized using ARPA revenue loss funds up to $54,748 if state grant funding does not materialize; voice vote approved the motion.

- EMS franchise ordinance reading: The board opened the required public hearing on EMS franchising. After public comment, commissioners elected to postpone the ordinance's first reading until the Oct. 20 meeting (no roll-call recorded).

- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned by motion and voice vote.

Notes: Most votes at this meeting were taken by voice rather than roll-call; where the transcript does not report specific vote tallies or seconders, those details are recorded as not specified in the county record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lee County Board of Commissioners Meeting - October 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of votes taken by the Lee County Board of Commissioners at the Oct. 6, 2025 meeting.","taxTitle","Lee County, North Carolina","taxId",55520,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428305,"Lee County holds public hearing on 9-1-1 franchise after competing bids; board delays ordinance reading",2168,826000,2994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5905303-40efba92a5a679dac5dc3ab0ec4b8e52&start=826&end=2994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5905303-40efba92a5a679dac5dc3ab0ec4b8e52/thumbnail_826000.jpg","/articles/6428305/Lee-County/North-Carolina/Lee-County-holds-public-hearing-on-9-1-1-franchise-after-competing-bids-board-delays-ordinance-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428305-3094ead7338cc59d957840860e6b6457/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166059&Signature=NqJ5bTiFNeIv8DzX1o6D1k6DmuLbk9VwzvCKikv0CdXYSWmhl8kGC0QmgqhN5v2tgnzOZLZp2CHH8leIuuCwK4MiFxQn3ijKPgRgt7mm-zW1MxS17HB9jxSHa8XO1iE4LUKLhz8XPxcxsoXz8josZwo2XemSWXqX9lk4pQX4AGImk8NezLSvSNQUffNKWBawl2d1L-NULGIrFqeEvYacbYXz1T~aP86XaW2vchOhjTfkmkwgddPgM807MgVMcbLkFomVBMQ5OJXg-PmcQ6oh6RC1AC9tSnb3h4bOmn3LwYhoren6tDM5vpMxMCcn5LcR4~FaOqH4B0R9Rgt8QnmJFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lee County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing Oct. 6 on the need for countywide emergency medical services and a franchise to provide them, heard competing presentations from two bidders, and postponed the first reading of an EMS franchise ordinance until Oct. 20.

The hearing followed presentations by MedEx Medical Transport and First Health of the Carolinas about their proposals to provide 9-1-1 ambulance service under a county franchise. MedEx's chief operations officer, Jeff White, addressed the board and said the procurement process had lacked transparency and consistency. \"MedEx proposal was approximately $12,000,000 less than the first health, contractor for the term,\" White said, urging the county to reconsider or rebid the solicitation.

First Health representatives told the board they have operated Lee County's 9-1-1 ambulance service under the existing contract and emphasized local staffing, investments and performance. Jonathan Davis, chief operating officer for First Health of the Carolinas, said First Health had received the EMS advisory committee's unanimous recommendation. Matt Prestwood, president responsible for regional EMS operations, said the provider's average response time for the county has been 7.55 minutes and described staffing and capital investments, including seven paramedic classes and $1.7 million in capital spending on vehicles and technology.

Local clinicians and county residents spoke during the public hearing. Nathan Miller, Lee County EMS medical director and a local emergency physician, said he had worked with First Health as medical director for about two and a half years and found the provider \"very committed to support quality patient care.\" Sanford resident Teresa Tudor described personal experiences calling 9-1-1 and credited First Health crews with timely, professional care. Paramedic supervisor Matthew McBride urged the board to weigh operational disruption and staffing impacts from a provider change, saying: \"A transition to another provider might look simple on paper, but it comes with significant challenges that affect both first responders and the citizens we serve.\"

A citizen, David Smoak, said he had concerns about potential improprieties during the bidding process and asked the board to ensure any such allegations are investigated and documented.

County staff explained statutory and procedural next steps for franchising. Whitney (staff member) told the board that North Carolina General Statute 153A-250 authorizes counties to franchise ambulance services and requires public hearings; the county had advertised and held the first of two hearings, with a second hearing scheduled Oct. 20. After receiving public comment, the board considered whether to hold the ordinance's first reading that night or wait until Oct. 20; the board collectively chose to defer the first reading to the Oct. 20 meeting.

The record shows the public hearing was opened, testimony was taken from multiple speakers for and against continuing the present contractor, and the board elected to postpone the ordinance first reading to the next meeting for further consideration.

The county will hold the second statutorily required public hearing Oct. 20, after which the board may proceed with readings of the ordinance and consider a franchise agreement and related documents.

Ending: The franchise process will continue publicly; the board scheduled the second public hearing for Oct. 20 and deferred formal ordinance action until that meeting.","The Lee County Board of Commissioners heard competing presentations from MedEx Medical Transport and First Health of the Carolinas on Oct. 6, 2025, held a public hearing on the county's emergency medical services (EMS) franchise and ordinance, and decided to defer the ordinance's first reading to the board's Oct. 20 meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428290,"Board approves financing to buy, renovate former Coca-Cola buildings for public safety warehouse",869,3287000,4156000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5905303-40efba92a5a679dac5dc3ab0ec4b8e52&start=3287&end=4156","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5905303-40efba92a5a679dac5dc3ab0ec4b8e52/thumbnail_3287000.jpg","/articles/6428290/Lee-County/North-Carolina/Board-approves-financing-to-buy-renovate-former-Coca-Cola-buildings-for-public-safety-warehouse","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428290-569659165cdccaa4e4a1db6d36aa0b8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166059&Signature=Lk2jGwNr-YqOEUFj5er-YrXdSrlWzaR2kfLL6Gy1XtXUIwzlL2myRq0pumTh8PVL9MpsvBR3s428B67rpyodw~5gYY0qvC17sCh-~9d3kK0bfMcIs~qTmyodvSWk0R7ZGiAl420Mhu19zARBOrj3HJHQbg8B9nmU7UkY95S3tgXI4nKUhHMdVECrxqpYym6~YrSOUUcz2bvEhNOS8lIkzRs1XzS4uOhUsLu6IoPNCUGWRTtZ5uWdZ5o6h2AKsDqL1kiyL-H0I01UwCBI8SmnITMnjUSUke-A5CT9cfudxdl3bfAGQyan7UBTt843GgzkkLLck1olrYjiac4vIGvU2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 6 to authorize financing to purchase and renovate the former Coca-Cola property as a consolidated public safety warehouse and office for county services.

County staff presented the public safety warehouse project, describing an acquisition of two buildings on roughly 8.6 acres: a larger 38,000-square-foot building proposed for warehouse storage and a smaller 8,600-square-foot building slated for office space to house programs such as COLTS and Veterans Services. Brandon Key (staff member) said the site allows for a secured perimeter, an existing 9,000-square-foot bay dedicated to the sheriff's equipment, and flexibility for exterior storage and future expansion.

Key told commissioners the county analyzed multiple properties and compared options. He said modest renovations to the existing structures would require an estimated $1.8 million to $2.1 million to make the space operational for county needs. By contrast, Key said a new-build facility of roughly 45,000 square feet with brick exterior and 15,000 square feet of office space would be about $18,000,000, not including land costs.

After the presentation the board considered a financing resolution and associated documents to support the purchase and improvements. Joan (staff member) presented the final resolution and related financing documents, including a bond purchase agreement and a supplemental trust agreement; staff also noted the Local Government Commission (LGC) would review the financing package.

Commissioner Sharp moved to approve the resolution authorizing financing to purchase and improve the Coca-Cola building through issuance of a limited obligation bond not to exceed $7,800,000; the board approved the motion by voice vote. The resolution directs staff to proceed with execution and delivery of documents needed to complete the financing and purchase and to seek LGC approval where required.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the comparative cost analysis: staff recommended buying an existing facility and renovating it as a cost-saving measure versus constructing a new building. Key said the county had previously budgeted for a new 30,000-square-foot build at the Jonesboro school site but the lease and timing constraints pushed the county to seek an immediate, lower-cost acquisition.

Ending: Staff will move forward with the purchase process under the financing resolution; the financing documents will be submitted for LGC review and the board will receive updates as the acquisition progresses.","Lee County commissioners approved a resolution to finance up to $7.8 million to purchase and renovate the former Coca-Cola property for a public safety warehouse and office space; staff said renovation estimates are $1.8–$2.1 million and a comparable new build would cost about $18 million.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Lee County commissioners approve agenda, consent items, proclamation and funding for reentry position

Lee County holds public hearing on 9-1-1 franchise after competing bids; board delays ordinance reading

Board approves financing to buy, renovate former Coca-Cola buildings for public safety warehouse