Martin County approves Terracon for PSAP inspections after state limits on 911 fund use

WILLIAMSTON, N.C. — The Martin County Board of Commissioners on June 27 approved hiring Terracon to provide special inspections and structural testing for the county’s new Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and regional backup facility.

County Manager David Bone said the Schrader Group, the county’s engineering firm on the project, solicited proposals from state‑licensed testing firms and recommended Terracon. The recommended cost was $14,770 for testing plus an additional estimated $4,000 for precast concrete plank inspections; the project budget had $25,000 allocated for these services. Vice Chairman Tommy Bowen moved to accept the firm’s recommendation; Commissioner Dempsey Bond Jr. seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Separately, Finance Director Cindy Ange told the board that state 911 staff reviewed the county’s purchase of a computerized dispatch system (CAD) and determined some items — including $2,860 of the original CAD purchase and $1,666.67 for annual CAD maintenance — were ineligible for Emergency Telephone Fund reimbursement because the system provides outside connections to state and national law enforcement information systems. "Therefore, these funds must be replaced by funds from the General Fund," Ange said.

The board adopted budget amendments to effect the required transfers. The PSAP contract award and budget actions were approved during the same special session; the board later met in closed session under NC G.S. §143‑318.11(a)(3) for attorney‑client privileged matters and adjourned at about 7:44 p.m.