Columbus County commissioners approve contracts, grants, vehicle purchases and staffing changes in routine consent items

Columbus County’s Board of Commissioners approved multiple consent‑agenda items and routine motions during its regular meeting, including contract approvals, grant acceptances, vehicle purchases, staff‑level personnel changes and budget amendments.

Key approvals and votes: the board approved a one‑year extension of the Farmers Market contract; authorized county participation in a Purdue Direct Association opioid settlement; approved a revised utility and access easement tied to the airport lift station and sewer work; awarded a design and oversight contract with Coastal Architecture for the transportation building expansion (funded through the North Carolina Department of Transportation); and authorized the county manager or his designee to execute contracts necessary to implement approved opioid settlements.

Grants and departmental items: the Department of Aging received approval for a PEACE elderly meals grant totaling $34,946 and the associated budget amendment; the board approved condensing two certified nursing assistant (CNA) positions into one social‑worker/case‑manager position in the Aging department and approved the associated personnel action. Finance approved multiple budget amendments and requisitions, including $11,914 for the sheriff’s DARE/donation funds and a combined $745,050 in earmarked state funds for Social Services programs that will be rolled into the FY2026 budget for use.

Equipment and vehicles: the board approved purchases of pre‑budgeted Ford F‑150 trucks for solid waste ($94,142.40) and for public utilities (same total, separate budget lines), approved a Motorola quote and requisition to relocate radio equipment to the new 9‑1‑1 center, and declared Kenwood NexEdge radio equipment surplus to allow private sale negotiations. Public utilities also approved Green Engineers Task Order No. 13 for Phase 4 of the Goshen Community/Beaver Dam Road extension project in the amount of $406,552, funded through the stated local funding source referenced in the item.

Policy and procurement: Finance requested and the board approved an amended purchasing policy (first/second reading language in the agenda) to include conflict‑of‑interest forms and exhibits to comply with audit and grant requirements. Staff said the forms will be required for personnel working on state and federal grants to document potential conflicts.

Discussion vs. decision: most items were handled as routine consent agenda items with brief staff explanations and limited commissioner discussion. The PEACE grant and the Aging department staffing change drew more explanation from Aging Director Christy/Chrissy Massey about client eligibility, meal timing and financial offsets. The board did not debate the substance of the opioid settlements, relying on staff recommendation to participate and to authorize the county manager to execute necessary contracts.

Votes at a glance: (recorded per the meeting transcript) • Farmers Market contract extension — motion passed. • Participation in Purdue Direct Association opioid settlement — motion passed. • Airport utility and access easement — motion passed. • Contract with Coastal Architecture (transportation building expansion, NCDOT‑funded) — motion passed. • Authorization for county manager to execute opioid settlement contracts — motion passed. • PEACE grant, $34,946, and budget amendment — motion passed. • Condense two CNA positions into one social‑worker/case‑manager position — motion passed. • Purchase of two Ford F‑150s for solid waste ($94,142.40) — motion passed. • Purchase of two Ford F‑150s for public utilities ($94,142.40) — motion passed. • Declare Kenwood NexEdge radio equipment surplus and allow private negotiations — motion passed. • Motorola quote and requisition to relocate existing radio equipment to new 9‑1‑1 center (requisition added to motion) — motion passed. • Amended purchasing policy (conflict‑of‑interest forms) — motion passed. • Budget amendments/requisitions (Sheriff $11,914; Social Services $745,050; requisitions for opioid-funded equipment and vendor invoices) — motion passed. • Green Engineers Task Order No. 13, $406,552 — motion passed.

What was not decided: the board did not adopt new long‑term policies tied to any single item; most approvals were authorizations for contracts, budget adjustments, or staff actions. Several items referenced funding sources or grant requirements; staff noted follow‑up reporting obligations.