Durham County commissioners review consent agenda with contracts, grant recognitions and advisory committee plans

Durham County commissioners reviewed a lengthy consent agenda at a June 2 work session that included contract authorizations, budget amendments and program recognitions but did not record individual votes on those items in the meeting transcript.

Items read into the record included an authorization to purchase library books and cataloging services for a total not to exceed $760,000; a budget ordinance amendment recognizing $35,000 from Duke Energy Carolinas LLC’s 2025 “Share the Light” funds for residents in energy crisis; and a contract with Wall Recycling LLC for solid-waste hauling and equipment maintenance at county convenience sites for up to $128,000.

Staff also presented a capital project amendment to recognize $637,195 in community project grant funding for the county’s emergency operations center and backup 9-1-1 capital project, and a budget ordinance amendment to appropriate $10,000 from the New Hope fire tax district fund balance to increase distribution for computer equipment for the New Hope Fire Department.

“New Hope fire department is located in Orange County physically, but they service an area within Durham County,” Assistant County Manager Dwayne Brinson said, explaining the county’s approach to supporting an out-of-county volunteer department that serves Durham residents. Brinson said the county’s proposed tax rate of 6.41 cents is about 1.5 cents above the revenue-neutral rate and that staff expect to manage New Hope’s needs through the budget process.

Other items on the consent agenda included appropriating $1,109,661 from the Durham County Fire and Rescue Fund to pay the City of Durham for completion of Fire Station 18 under a June 2018 interlocal agreement; increasing a service contract with DESCO by $254,450.84 to support elections activities (new total $716,902.21); and contracts with Election Systems & Software for maintenance ($76,726.80) and for ballot layout and programming ($19,262.30 increase to a $47,437 total).

The board also reviewed recognition of an advisory committee for opioid-settlement funding. Assistant County Manager Joanne Pierce said the county is “on the fast track” and hopes to post applications and appoint committee members by late summer if the board approves the resolution. Commissioners asked staff to clarify term limits in the committee resolution so applicants understand whether members may serve additional terms.

Conservation and facilities items included approval to acquire a 19.37-acre conservation easement for $245,500; authorization to contract with Perkins & Will for conceptual architectural design and analysis for a Hope Valley facility project for an amount not to exceed $140,000; renaming and advancing design work for the county’s fleet maintenance facility with contracts recommended to HH Architecture and a preconstruction services firm; and contracts for curbside recycling for unincorporated households in the fiscal 2025–26 budget (contract amount cited at $503,000).

A question from commissioners confirmed that households in unincorporated Durham pay a fee for solid-waste and recycling services and that convenience-site access is available for a sticker fee.

The transcript does not show recorded votes for the consent items. The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn, which was made and seconded and carried by voice vote. Commissioners were reminded that a Juneteenth ceremony would begin at 11:15 a.m. with transportation available at 11:00 a.m., lunch at 12:30 p.m., and a budget work session to follow at 1 p.m.