Alamance County staff briefed commissioners on the proposed renovation of a former BD building at 9780 Plantation Drive in Burlington to house a consolidated emergency services center, including a new 911 call center, emergency management space and radio infrastructure. Staff said the county acquired the building with state grant assistance and that design and bidding are complete.

Staff presented a funding summary: acquisition about $7.3 million, design ~$827,000, renovation bid ~$11,000,007.51 and technology/equipment roughly $5,000,000, for a cited grand total of about $25,427,000. The presentation said the county's primary funding source is a SCIF grant originally cited at $15,000,000; staff said interest and related adjustments brought that amount to about $18,000,008.10. Additional state grant commitments and a $25,000 donation from Duke Energy were also mentioned.

Staff recommended awarding the construction contract to CT Wilson, the lowest responsive bidder, and sought board permission for the county manager to negotiate and execute that contract. "We take the lowest responsive bidder that we think can do the work," a staff member said, explaining procurement standards.

Commissioners raised questions about the project scale and long-term maintenance costs for grant-funded facilities. One commissioner recommended clarifying the agenda text (a typo referenced a different contractor) and asked staff to provide contractor qualifications. Another commissioner expressed reservations about grant-funded projects that ultimately increase county maintenance obligations.

After discussion and clarification (including amending the motion to name CT Wilson rather than the incorrect vendor in the packet), the board moved and the motion to authorize negotiation with CT Wilson was put to a vote. The transcript records general support for authorizing the county manager to negotiate the contract; one commissioner said they had reservations but did not block moving forward. The board did not request county funds at the meeting and staff said existing committed grants and donations covered the presented budget.

Next steps: staff requested authority for the county manager to finalize contract negotiations with CT Wilson and to execute the construction contract, subject to final terms and standard procurement checks. Several commissioners asked for additional contractor qualifications and for clarity about long-term county maintenance obligations for the completed facility.