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Durham County to fund urgent repairs at Lincoln Community Health Center; lease responsibilities disputed with Duke
Summary
Durham County commissioners approved capital repairs for Lincoln Community Health Center after staff said the county must step in for HVAC, parking and elevator work despite an existing lease that assigns maintenance to Duke. Commissioners requested detailed cost history and follow-up with Duke leadership.
Durham County commissioners approved funding for repairs and upgrades at Lincoln Community Health Center on Sept. 22 after staff described immediate risks to operations and commissioners pressed for clarity on who must pay under an existing lease.
The board approved the item as part of the consent agenda. County staff described the work as repairs needed to keep Lincoln operating, including HVAC replacement work, a new generator, resurfacing of parking lots, an additional upper-level parking area under construction and replacement of two elevators.
Commissioner Jacobs said the building and systems are aging and emphasized service impacts. “This is a building that is about 40 years old,” Commissioner Jacobs said. “We can't have one day where the building closes down in the summer because the HVAC doesn't work.” Jacobs added that Lincoln fills about 800 prescriptions every day and said the county must avoid any service interruptions for vulnerable residents who rely on the health center.
Perry Manns, deputy director of county engineering, told commissioners the county owns the building but that a lease assigns maintenance responsibility to the party operating the clinic. “The Lincoln lease clearly states that, at the time, it was Duke Community Hospital Corporation, which is now Duke, is responsible for the repairs,” Manns said. He said the items before the board are “desperately needed” and that the county is managing an additional parking lot currently under construction.
County Manager Hager said the county has realigned staff positions and was already discussing the repairs with Duke senior leadership; Hager said both parties began conversations in the May–June time frame to avoid service delays. “Senior leadership at Duke has committed to supporting, will come back to the board with more details about that,” Hager said.
Jacobs, who serves as the board liaison to Lincoln Community Health Center, asked staff to provide a historical accounting of past repairs the county paid for and to pursue discussions with Duke about contractual responsibilities and possible reimbursement. Commissioners noted previous shared work on a roof replacement and said the original support agreement does not account for inflation in contribution levels.
The board approved the consent agenda motion that included the Lincoln capital project (item 25-0511); the consent agenda passed 5–0.
The county characterized the current package of work as repair and maintenance rather than new construction and said it would follow up with legal and Duke representatives to clarify long-term responsibility and reimbursement.
No additional formal amendments or postponements were recorded on the item; staff committed to reporting back to the board with further detail on costs and on planned coordination with Duke.
