Forsyth County commissioners approve series of budget amendments, contracts and petitions

Forsyth County commissioners on Feb. 13 voted unanimously to approve a package of budget amendments, grant appropriations, contracts and two public-hearing petitions, the board chair said.

The board approved releasing $500,000 from a county budget reserve for Winston‑Salem Forsyth County Schools to support classified pay; appropriated smaller grants for Cooperative Extension community gardens ($1,643.28), child‑fatality case reporting ($6,771) and the central library ($20,000); increased the county manager’s change‑order authority for the Annex 1 Auditorium AV installation from $25,000 to $60,000; and authorized a not‑to‑exceed $2,126,000 contract with Bar Construction Company for the Horizons Park multimodal trail with a $100,000 change‑order cap.

The board also approved a contract for upfit services on public safety vehicles not to exceed $81,800; a lease with Daymark Recovery Services Inc. for 6,094 square feet at 650 Highland Avenue at an annual base rent of $36,259.30; and several other routine items including acceptance of the December 2024 human resources report and approval of the Jan. 30, 2025 minutes.

Two public‑hearing items were resolved by vote: the board approved a petition from Susan and Edwin Christian to abandon an unopened 60‑by‑185‑foot right of way along Creek Ridge Lane, and approved an ordinance to name the portion of State Road 4312 in the unincorporated county Rosewater Avenue at the town of Kernersville’s request. Both hearings were accompanied by staff presentations and closed with unanimous approval.

Board members moved and seconded the measures as part of the meeting’s consent and regular agenda; where recorded, motions were made by Commissioners and seconded by colleagues. The chair called the votes and announced each motion carried unanimously.

The actions are procedural and administrative approvals required to implement awarded grants, begin construction contracts, adjust the budget and handle property and addressing matters. Several items noted existing commitments or matches: the $500,000 Blues Lake grant appropriation will be paired with a $2,500,000 county match that was included in the county’s 2023 PAGO project list and previously approved by the board on March 2, 2024.

Votes at a glance

- Petition to close unopened right of way off Creek Ridge Lane (petitioners: Susan and Edwin Christian): motion to approve; mover recorded as Commissioner Limble; second recorded as Commissioner Bessie; outcome: approved unanimously (public hearing held).

- Ordinance to name portion of State Road 4312 in unincorporated Forsyth County to Rosewater Avenue (requested by Town of Kernersville): motion to approve; mover Vice Chair Whisenhunt; second Commissioner Bessie; outcome: approved unanimously (public hearing held).

- Budget amendment: release $500,000 from reserve for WS/Forsyth County Schools classified pay: motion to approve; mover Commissioner McDaniel; second Commissioner Bessie; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Appropriation: $1,643.28 from Winston‑Salem Foundation to N.C. Cooperative Extension for community gardens: motion to approve; mover Commissioner McDaniel; second Commissioner Linville; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Blues Lake Park — appropriate $500,000 in N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources grant funds for phase two (county match $2,500,000 included in 2023 PAGO list): motion to approve; mover Commissioner Bessie; second Commissioner Linville; outcome: approved unanimously.

- N.C. DHHS addendum (child fatality case reporting) appropriation $6,771: motion to approve; mover Commissioner McDaniel; second Commissioner Wilson; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Appropriation: $20,000 from Winston‑Salem Foundation for central library maker‑space furniture: motion to approve; mover Commissioner McDaniel; second Vice Chair Wizenutt; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Increase county manager change‑order authority for Annex 1 Auditorium Project from $25,000 to $60,000 for AV installation: motion to approve; mover Commissioner McDaniel; second Commissioner Bessie; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Contract award: Bar Construction Company for Horizons Park multimodal trail in an amount not to exceed $2,126,000; county manager authorized to sign change orders not to exceed $100,000: motion to approve; mover Commissioner Bessie; second Commissioner Linville; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Contract award: upfit services on public safety vehicles not to exceed $81,800: motion to approve; mover Vice Chair Wizenhund; second Commissioner Bessie; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Lease: Daymark Recovery Services Inc., lease of 6,094 sq ft at 650 Highland Ave, annual base rent $36,259.30: motion to approve; mover Commissioner McDaniel; second Commissioner Bessey; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Acceptance: December 2024 human resources report: motion to accept; mover Commissioner Linville; second Commissioner Bessie; outcome: accepted unanimously.

- Approval: minutes of Jan. 30, 2025 meeting: motion to approve; mover Commissioner Bessie; second Commissioner McDaniel; outcome: approved unanimously.

What this means

Most items were routine appropriations, grants and contracts that allow staff to proceed with procurement, park construction, library purchases and related implementation steps. The board’s approvals that day did not include new policy directives beyond authorizations to spend, contract or execute leases; several items noted prior board commitments (for example, the Blues Lake match previously approved in the PAGO list). The public‑hearing items approved will be effective as the county’s land records and addressing systems are updated.

The board did not discuss any items that would change statutory authorities or create new county programs that require subsequent board action. Staff will proceed with the purchases, contract executions and recordings authorized by the board.