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County briefing: turnout gear purchase, vehicle and construction contracts, easement and a study proposed on unmuffled engine brakes
Summary
At the Dec. 1 Forsyth County briefing commissioners reviewed a $369,491.74 EMS turnout gear purchase, a $107,956 appropriation of surplus vehicle proceeds, a $1.1M construction award for Piedmont Propulsion, proposed Duke Energy easement for EV chargers, and agreed to study posting and enforcement for unmuffled engine compression brakes on Highway 158.
Forsyth County commissioners reviewed several administrative and procurement items at a Dec. 1 briefing and agreed to study a citizen request on truck-noise mitigation.
Procurement and budget items highlighted at the briefing included:
- Emergency Medical Services requested a purchase of 125 sets of turnout gear from MES Life Safety LLC for $369,491.74 to replace equipment past its 10-year service life and to outfit incoming hires. EMS Chief Andrew Davis said most gear outside of 58 ARPA-funded sets was manufactured in 2008–09 and many sets were due for replacement.
- Budget staff corrected a line item to appropriate $107,956 in FY26 vehicle-sale proceeds to the Motor Vehicle subfund; proceeds will be prorated back to departments as appropriate.
- The county received a recommendation to award a contract to MWM Construction for the Piedmont Propulsion Structural Infill Project at $1,100,786 (including alternates). Staff noted MWM pledged 1.1% M/WBE participation and a good-faith effort review concluded they attempted to meet the 10% goal. The county manager was authorized in the briefing material to sign change orders up to $150,000 to cover discovery of hazardous materials or structural issues.
- Purchasing recommended awarding three 2026 Chevrolet 2500 crew-cab trucks from Nashville Automotive (Sarah Chevrolet Buick GMC) for fire services and the sheriff's office; the low bid met delivery requirements though only two bids were received.
- Chelsea Swaim briefed a utility easement request from Duke Energy Carolinas LLC to install and maintain a transformer that will feed electric vehicle charging stations on the county parking deck (fifth floor); the easement includes county approval requirements for any relocation.
On transportation noise, commissioners considered a citizen request to pursue NCDOT posting of signs and, if appropriate, a county ordinance prohibiting unmuffled engine compression brakes on downhill sections of Highway 158 near Walkertown. The county attorney said NCDOT will post signs only at a municipality or county request and that the county would be responsible for enforcement, sign installation, maintenance and payment if it enacts local restrictions; commissioners asked staff to study feasibility and consult Walkertown officials.
No formal votes were recorded at the briefing; items were presented for consideration at the Dec. 4 meeting or follow-up work by staff.
