Commissioners allocate Waste Management strategic-plan funds to nonprofits; Keaton's Place and Lydia’s Place draw close votes

Randolph County commissioners voted to distribute remaining strategic-plan funds received from Waste Management to a slate of nonprofit and municipal requests after discussion and separate votes on at least two contested items.

Staff explained the strategic-plan funding originates from host fees paid by Waste Management and has historically been awarded to local nonprofits and community programs. After review and a public meeting, staff presented a recommended list of awards and the board considered requests individually when requested.

Key awards and outcomes recorded in the meeting (amounts as recommended by staff or recorded in the transcript): - City of Asheboro: $250,000 (reduced from a larger original request). - City of Randleman: $100,000. - Emergency services pilot project: $244,370. - Friends of Patterson College (Liberty greenhouse): amount not specified in transcript (recommended in list). - Daily Bread: $25,000. - Randolph County Family Crisis Center: $55,000. - Randolph Partnership for Children: $50,387. - Sleep in Heavenly Peace: $30,000. - Victory Junction: $67,500. - Keaton's Place: recommended $95,855.10 — board first voted against a motion to not fund (motion to not fund failed 3–2) and then approved funding for Keaton's Place by voice vote, recorded as 3–2 in favor. - Lydia's Place: $23,988 — approved from remaining funds by a 3–2 vote.

Why it matters: The funds are intended to support local programs that serve residents affected by the landfill’s presence, emergency sheltering, child and family services, and community facilities. Board members debated trade-offs between using the strategic-plan money for community nonprofits versus reserving funds for budget gaps in core county services.

Votes and process notes: The board handled Keaton's Place separately after a commissioner requested a separate consideration; an initial motion to decline funding was defeated 3–2, after which a motion to approve was passed 3–2. The broader slate (excluding Keaton's Place) was approved by voice vote (recorded as passing 4–1). A subsequent motion to split leftover funds between county trails and the town of Seagrove failed 3–2. The record shows tension among commissioners over fiscal priorities but ultimately approved multiple grants.

Ending: Staff will prepare disbursement paperwork and monitor the use of funds per strategic-plan guidelines; the board noted the money is not part of general-tax revenues and has specific historic uses tied to landfill host fees.