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Durham County agenda seeks roughly $12 million for emergency services projects, radios and equipment
Summary
Agenda materials ask the Board to appropriate roughly $1.56 million for radio towers and mobile radios, $10.63 million in bond funding for EMS Station #19, authorize a $143,624 contract for vehicle lifts, and cover about $118,780 in fleet rent to support emergency services readiness.
Durham County’s Feb. 9 agenda asks the Board of County Commissioners to approve multiple funding moves and contracts intended to bolster emergency communications and EMS facilities.
Agenda materials request a capital supplement of about $1.56 million to the Multi‑Department Radios and Towers Capital Project to support construction of an additional radio tower site and the purchase of mobile radios for the Office of Emergency Services (OES). The materials cite coverage gaps in areas including Brier Creek and Hope Valley and note the state’s move to a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) standard for radios.
The packet also requests $10,634,182 in Limited Obligation Bond funding for EMS Station #19 (31 Davis Drive) and lists the County’s total EMS facility responsibility at $10,834,916 after county‑specific expenses. The ILA and Joint Use Agreement with the City of Durham are included in the package; the agenda states ILA approval is pending final review by the County Attorney’s Office.
Separately, the County is asked to authorize a contract with AutoTech Solutions (DBA Universal Distribution Group) for automotive vehicle lifts and supporting equipment at an amount not to exceed $143,624.94 for the new OES Fleet Maintenance Facility. The packet also requests appropriation of $118,780.37 of General Fund fund balance to cover OES fleet facility rent after an unexpected relocation and lease extension.
Mark Lockhart, director of the Office of Emergency Services, is listed as the resource person on multiple items in the agenda packet. The agenda materials describe the radio and equipment investments as measures to improve first‑responder coverage, reduce reliance on in‑building bi‑directional amplifiers (BDAs), and ensure equipment compliance with the TDMA standard.
The agenda presents these items for the Board’s consideration; it does not record votes or show the Board’s final decisions. If approved, the funding would increase the county’s radio and station project budgets and authorize procurement of equipment described in the agenda.
Next steps: these items are on the consent agenda for the Feb. 9 meeting; any vote outcomes are not provided in the agenda materials.
