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Votes at a glance: Durham County approves ambulance franchises, multiple budget amendments, appointments and recognitions
Summary
At its Dec. 8 meeting the Durham County Board of Commissioners unanimously awarded four non-emergency ambulance franchises, approved several budget ordinance amendments and contract awards, confirmed board and commission appointments, and recognized community programs including Together for Resilient Youth.
The Durham County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 8 approved multiple actions during a regular session that included franchise awards for non-emergency ambulance providers, routine budget ordinance amendments, contract awards, appointments to advisory boards, and recognition of community groups.
Ambulance franchises: After a required public hearing the board awarded non-emergency ambulance franchises to Jan-Care Ambulance of McDowell County, Inc.; Midwest Medical Transport LLC (d/b/a North State Medical Transport); Priority Care Ambulance, Inc.; and Providence Transportation, Inc. Company representatives briefly described their operations; citizen Victoria Peterson asked about company workforce demographics and whether the franchises would replace county EMS. Seth Komansky of the Office of Emergency Services clarified the franchises are for non-emergency transport only and would not replace Durham County EMS. Each franchise award was approved in separate motions and carried unanimously.
Consent and budget items: The board approved several consent items including Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC040 recognizing a $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the library (25-0602); Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC041 recognizing $1,500 in grant funds for Cooperative Extension (25-0631); Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC039 rolling FY 2025-26 encumbrances and increasing multiple funds by a total of $14,194,990.03 (25-0635); and property tax releases and refunds for November 2025 totaling $1,528,765.29 (25-0648). The board also approved a contract with Stryker for medical equipment totaling $865,273.57 and awarded a janitorial services contract to Bull City Janitorial Service LLC.
Pulled items: Citizen comments were received on two pulled consent items. For Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC023 (25-0554), which recognizes $369,949 in Year-4 SAMHSA funds for EMS-related uses, Victoria Peterson asked how funds would be used for unsheltered residents reportedly lighting fires to stay warm; EMS Program Manager Helen Tripp said the grant would help provide additional naloxone kits and services addressing substance use. For Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC038 (25-0601), the board recognized $21,347 in community donations to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office and citizens offered thanks; both pulled items were then approved unanimously.
Appointments and personnel: The board introduced Jamal White as the new Durham County Memorial Stadium Manager and made multiple board and commission appointments as recorded in the minutes, including appointments to the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission and the Farmland Protection Advisory Board.
Other business: The board read a resolution recognizing Together for Resilient Youth (TRY) for its 25 years of substance-use prevention work and heard a brief update from Dr. Wanda Boone. The board later moved into closed session to discuss economic development site location and possible incentives and reconvened to report that staff received direction.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
