Iredell County commissioners approve series of grants, contracts and budget amendments at pre‑agenda meeting

The Iredell County Board of Commissioners approved a package of routine administrative items by unanimous consent at its pre‑agenda meeting on a Tuesday in February 2025, including federal and state grants, several budget amendments and contracts for county infrastructure and services.

The most consequential items included acceptance of a federal Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) award totaling $34,133; a budget amendment to appropriate $568,000 of countywide fire district fund balance to replace a totaled fire engine for the South Iredell Volunteer Fire Department; and authorization of budget amendment No. 31 to award a $76,432 construction bid (total amendment $101,000) to Ellis Building Company for a pedestrian bridge and related work as part of the Iredell County Health Department HR conference room and move.

Caroline Taylor, presenting the JAG award, said, "After the application was submitted, Ardo County was awarded the grant in the amount of $34,133. 10 thousand 3 hundred and 14 is awarded to the county ... and then the additional ... 23,819 is awarded to the City of Statesville," referring to the split between the county and the Statesville Police Department. The county portion was described as planned for thermal optics equipment as presented at an October meeting.

Library and parks grants were also approved. Julie Moore requested permission to apply for federal E‑Rate discounts covering internet service for three branch locations; the county expects to spend $13,140 on internet for Troutman, Harmony and Statesville libraries in FY 2026 and said E‑Rate would cover $7,884 of that amount at an approximate 60 percent reimbursement rate. The board approved…