Board approves multiple contracts, budget amendments and interlocal agreements; opioid settlement, airport fence and public‑safety items among actions

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved a broad slate of budget amendments, contracts, grants and interlocal agreements at its July 24 meeting. Most items drew little debate and passed unanimously; the board took separate votes on the two contested rezoning items and the Skyland upset‑bid advertisement (covered in separate articles).

Notable items the board approved (motions and vote outcomes as recorded):

- Agenda item 5: Amendment to 2024 drone study grant projects ordinance — transfer $45,000 into salaries/wages to cover allowable overhead; motion approved unanimously. - Agenda item 6: Appropriation of $49,990 from countywide overlay fire tax fund balance to hire a consultant to analyze fire capital assets and create a system‑wide capital improvement plan; approved unanimously. - Agenda item 7: Appropriation of $71,000 from countywide overlay fire tax fund balance for partial funding of fireworks contract (records management system referenced); approved unanimously. - Agenda item 8: Two NCDOT grants and contract award for perimeter fence replacement at Smith Reynolds Airport (grants $83,412.90 and $5,013; construction contract awarded to Revels Construction, $70,000 with manager authority for change orders up to $3,500); approved unanimously. - Agenda item 9–10: Resolutions authorizing execution of opioid settlement agreements and a technical reallocation within the opioid settlement fund (staff estimated roughly $4.5 million of additional proceeds over time); approvals unanimous. - Agenda item 11: Selected Cherry Bekaert LLP (Cherry Beckard in packet) for annual independent audit for fiscal years 2026–2028; three‑year contract not to exceed $418,500; approved unanimously. - Agenda items 12–16: IT hosting agreement for II Reception app ($88,000 FY26 cap, with renewals), economic development agreement with Greater Winston‑Salem Inc. ($285,000), design services for Blue’s Lake Park phase 2 (Stemel Associates, $271,000), fire alarm inspection contract (3 years, MSS Fire and Security LLC, ~$192,403), and breathing apparatus replacement (MES Service Company, ~$114,747 plus tax and budget appropriations); all approved unanimously. - Agenda items 17–25: Major public‑safety and interlocal items approved including radio equipment for fire departments (Motorola, ~$513,899), 911 interlocal distribution ($18,154.70), medical direction contract with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (35 months, ~$408,100), contracted security guard services for the detention center (P & G Security, ~$748,360), sheriff’s office psychological and pre/post hire services (FMRT Group LLC, ~$225,000), law enforcement duty footwear contract, renewal of the regional drug task force interlocal agreement (5 years), school resource officer interlocal with Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools ($4,088,136 for 10 months), and an amendment adding a policing position for the Village of Clemens (approved with associated budget adjustments); all motions carried as recorded. - Agenda item 27: Three‑year lease with RHA Behavioral Health LLC for 11,820 square feet at 650 Highland Avenue to operate a facility‑based crisis center; approved unanimously. - Agenda item 28: Ordinance declaring a dwelling at 5940 Britton Scribe unfit for human habitation following code complaints; commissioners approved placement of a placard and enforcement steps. Staff said 2024 taxes were delinquent and the property is not yet in foreclosure; neighbors cited sanitation and rodent issues. - Agenda item 29: Ordinance amendment to chapter 7 to permit civil penalties for minimum housing code violations; approved unanimously. - Agenda items 30–34: Tax collector annual settlement and several refund resolutions were approved as presented. - Agenda items 35–37: Routine reports (fuel surcharge, human resources, American Rescue Plan Act disbursement status) were accepted.

Where the record supplied a dollar amount or specific vendor, the article lists it as stated in the public record. For items approved under consent or brief staff presentation, the board recorded unanimous approval unless otherwise noted.