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Commissioners approve audit contract, award Hickory EMS base bid and adopt Unifour hazard mitigation plan
Summary
In a March 17 consent package, the Catawba County Board approved an audit contract with Martin Starnes & Associates (not to exceed $128,750), awarded the Hickory EMS base construction contract to Wilkie Construction ($3,429,830 with alternates), and adopted the 2024 Unifour Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Resolution 2025‑09).
The Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved several consent items at its March 17 meeting, including an audit contract for fiscal year 2024‑25, an award for construction of a Hickory EMS base, and adoption of the multi‑jurisdictional Unifour Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Assistant County Manager Paul Murray presented the consent agenda. The Board approved a contract with Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A., for auditing services for fiscal year 2024‑25 not to exceed $128,750. The engagement letter and LGC contract form included a base audit fee of $90,500, additional fees of $4,250 per major program beyond the two included in the base cost, and a requirement to satisfy Local Government Commission (LGC) procedures for audit approval and invoice submission.
Also approved was the construction bid award for the new Hickory EMS Base to Wilkie Construction Company SE, LLC, of Lenoir, North Carolina, with a base and selected alternates totaling $3,429,830. County staff recommended approval with four alternates (owner‑preferred equipment, insulation and sod) and requested a budget transfer of $875,000 to cover the expected total project cost. Project budget items presented to the board included land acquisition ($375,000), construction ($3,430,000), furnishings and equipment ($105,000), IT ($146,000), design and inspections and a project contingency (8%) for a projected total of $4,625,000. Construction is estimated to take approximately 325 days with an on‑or‑before completion date of Feb. 6, 2026.
The board also adopted Resolution No. 2025‑09 adopting the 2024 Unifour Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, a multi‑jurisdictional plan prepared with federal Pre‑Disaster Mitigation funding and required under Section 322 of the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and 44 CFR Part 201. County staff noted that adoption preserves eligibility to apply for certain FEMA and state mitigation funding and charged Emergency Services with assuring five‑year updates and annual reviews.
The consent agenda also included routine tax office actions (26 releases totaling $6,162.22; two refunds totaling $18.29; 63 motor vehicle adjustments totaling $4,860.74) and two budget transfers: $25,300 to complete jail painting and $47,000 to Fleet Services Expansion to complete pipe repairs discovered during construction.
What happens next: the audit contract requires standard LGC approvals and coordination with the auditor; construction documents for the Hickory EMS base will be executed and the project scheduled; Emergency Services and Planning will track hazard mitigation plan follow‑up and grant eligibility.
