Board of County Commissioners Regular Session Highlights from August 10, 2026
Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, August 10, 2026, in Regular Session. Meetings are held in person with a hybrid option, inside the BOCC Chambers, located at 200 E. Main Street on the second floor.
Vice Chair Nida Allam called the meeting to order. Chair Dr. Mike Lee was granted an excused absence by the Board.
All attendees were led by Commissioner Valentine in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Adjustments: The Board made no adjustments to the agenda.
Announcements: Monica Wallace, Clerk to the Board, read the announcements.
- Durham County Residents to Receive 2026 Tax Bills Soon- Durham County residents will soon receive their 2026 tax bills in the mail. The Durham County Tax Administration mailed annual property tax bills on August 10, 2026. Current year taxes are due September 1, 2026, and can be paid without penalty through January 5, 2027. Information on tax payment options, the countywide tax rate, how to calculate your tax bill, and property tax relief programs for homeowners can be found here: https://dconc.gov/DurhamCo-News/Durham-County-Residents-to-Receive-Tax-Bills-Soon3.htm. Taxpayers may also access and view their 2026 tax bill online here: https://property.spatialest.com/nc/durham-tax/#/.
- Become a Precinct Official in Durham County - The Durham County Board of Elections is seeking precinct officials for the upcoming election cycles. Precinct officials play a vital role in maintaining order at polling locations, verifying voter eligibility, assisting voters with ballots, and helping ensure the integrity of the voting process. To learn more or apply to serve as a precinct official, visit https://bit.ly/PrecinctOfficial.
- Community Presentation Introducing and Exploring the Recommended Cultural Plan - In the coming months, the Durham City Council and Board of County Commissioners will vote on Durham’s Cultural Roadmap, a long-term plan shaped by years of community input to guide arts and culture investment over the next decade. Before the vote, you’re invited to learn what’s included in the draft plan. Join a community presentation covering the vision, four pillars, and ten recommendations developed through extensive resident engagement. Also learn how public input shaped the plan, what adoption means, and how you can share feedback on its implementation. Seats are limited, and registration is recommended. More information and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-presentation-durham-cultural-roadmap-tickets-1995718790626?aff=oddtdtcreator.
- SOAR Disability Clinic on August 20 – Individuals who need help completing the paperwork and steps required to apply for Social Security Disability or SSI can stop by Main Library on Thursday, August 20 for the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Disability Clinic, where one‑on‑one assistance will be available. More information about the clinic is available here: https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/17282277.
- City and County Announce Recommendations from “Summit on Saving Lives” to Reduce Violence in Durham- Following months of community listening, data analysis, and a three-day summit, the Violence Reduction Working Group has officially released its recommendations. The City of Durham and Durham County have established a joint mission: reducing homicides, nonfatal shootings, and hospitalizations due to shootings by 10% each year. Grounded in local data and direct input from over 400 residents, these recommendations outline five core strategies focused on high-risk support and accountability, street outreach safeguards, neighborhood partnerships, trauma-informed practices, and a dedicated Youth Summit. Read the full report on the working group recommendations here: https://www.durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/70725/Durham-Summit-on-Saving-Lives_Workgroup-Recommendations_Summer-2026. For more information on next step’s following the Summit on Saving Lives visit the City’s webpage here: https://www.durhamnc.gov/5556/2026-Violence-Reduction-Summit.
Minutes: Commissioners approved the minutes from the July 13, 2026, Regular Session.
Ceremonial Items:
- Proclamation - Welcoming Week- The Board proclaimed September 10 - 19, 2026 as Welcoming Week in Durham County. Kokou Nako, City-County Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, spoke on the item. Read the proclamation here.
- Durham County Earns Six NACo Achievement Awards and one Digital Counties Survey Award for 2026- The Board recognized the six Achievement Awards Durham County received from the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the 2026 Digital Counties Survey award, Durham County received ranking as fourth among counties nationwide with a population of 250,000-499,999. Durham County’s award-winning programs celebrated by NACo for 2026 include:
2025 Inauguration of Durham County Women Veterans Recognition Day Celebration - Durham County Veteran Services
Durham County UOCAVA Ballot Distribution Tool-Durham County Board of Elections and Durham County Information Services and Technology
Vaccine Anti-Misinformation Campaign - Durham County Department of Public Health
Combatting Food Insecurity in Durham, North Carolina, with Durham’s Food Security Network - Durham County Department of Public Health and Durham County Cooperative Extension
Stanford L. Warren Branch Library's Native Pollinator Demonstration Garden - Durham County Library and Durham County Cooperative Extension
Durham County Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts - Durham County Board of Elections and Durham County Office of Emergency Services
Winning Department heads attended to receive recognition.
Consent Agenda: Commissioners approved the following items. See full agenda for complete details:
26-0249- Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA003 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC03 Reducing the Durham County Sheriff’s Office Completed Detention Center Food Doors Capital Project (4310DC094) by $561,725.00 and the Completed Sheriff IT Server Room Capital Project (4310DC095) by $371,739.49, Transferring a Total of $933,464.49 to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office Operating Budget, as well as Appropriating $142,587.23 in PAYGO Funding to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office Operating Budget for a Total of $1,076,051.72 to Support Year One of a Five-Year Contract with Tritech Software Systems, a CentralSquare Technologies Company (CentralSquare Technology) and Upgraded Computer-Aid Dispatch and Report Management Systems
26-0356- Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 27BCC006 to Recognize $28,153 in LSTA Grant Funding Awarded by the State Library of North Carolina to Fund the “Learning Through Play” Initiative
26-0358- Authorize the County Manager to enter into a contract with Ardurra not to exceed $114,800 for construction oversight services for the Whispering Pines Stream Restoration and Stormwater Improvement Project
26-0379- Approval of the FY27 Durham Annual Transit Work Program Global Operating and Capital Agreements
26-0383- Approval of Contract with Moriah Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department for Fire, Rescue, and First Responder Services in the Mangum Fire Protection Service District
26-0385- Approval to Enter into a Service Contract with Roth Staffing, a Temporary Agency, in the Amount of $255,747.66 to support the Board of Elections for the upcoming General Election
26-0387- Approval of Purchase of Goods contract with PMC Commercial Interiors, Inc. for administrative office and miscellaneous furnishings from the NC State Contract (5610A-Furniture) and/or Omnia Partners buying programs in a total amount not to exceed $134,600 for the new Sheriff’s Training Facility
26-0389- Approval to Enter into a Contract to Purchase Paving, Striping and Concrete Repair Services from KPH Paving & Landscaping, Inc. Using Capital Funds from Ongoing Parking Resurfacing Program (4190DC074) in the Amount of $149,500. The Following Locations will be Repaired with this Contract: (1) Durham County EMS 6 Building, followed by remaining facilities at (2) Durham Center Access (3) EMS #1 (4) Durham County Cooperative Extension Building (5) Foster Street Parking Lot (6) Durham County Main Library (7) The Durham County Community Shelter (8) Durham County General Services Building (9) Durham County Main Fueling Station and (10) Justice Services Center. Also, that the board authorizes the County Manager to approve any change orders or amendments as long as funding is available
26-0390- Approval of Budget Amendment No. 27BCC007 Distributing the Board Approved 2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for FY 2026-27 to the Respective Budget Ordinance Approved Functional Areas ($3,600,000)
26-0391- Award of Triangle Wastewater Treatment Plant Residuals Transport and Disposal to McGill Environmental Systems of NC, Inc. in the amount of $569,660 and to Execute Any Other Related Contract Amendments Not to Exceed $626,626
26-0392- Durham Sports Commission Interlocal Agreements (ILA) Renewal
26-0393- Award of the Collection and Distribution System Emergency and Scheduled Repair Services for the Utilities Division (RFP 26-036R) contract to Carolina Civilworks Inc. and Axis Utility Inc.
26-0394- Award of the Triangle Wastewater Treatment Plant Emergency and Scheduled Repair Services for the Utilities Division (RFP 26-035R) contract to Carolina Civilworks Inc., Neikens Electrical Contracting, LLC and Axis Utility Inc.
26-0397- Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA006 & Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC008 Decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project (4730DC083) by $115,000 and Transferring that Funding to the Open Space and Real Estate (OSRE) Department’s General Fund Operating Budget, as well as Recognizing a $330,000 Contribution from the Army National Guard’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program to OSRE to support the Purchase of a 41-Acre Conservation Easement from Billy and Toni Stevens for a Total Cost of $445,000 26-0371- Approve Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Contract with Downtown Durham, Inc. for Economic Development Services in the Amount of $200,000
26-0398- Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA007 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC009 Decreasing the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Capital Project (4730DC083) by $123,000, Transferring that Funding to the Open Space & Real Estate Department’s General Fund Operating Budget, as well as Recognizing a $117,500 Contribution from the City of Durham’s Water Supply Protection Program to Support the Purchase of a 19.27-Acre Conservation Easement from Robin Davis at 505 Mason Road for a Total Cost of $240,500
26-0399- Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC004 Public Health to Recognize $2,444 from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, Epidemiology Section, Communicable Disease Branch (CDB) for HIV/STI Screening, Treatment, and Prevention Services
26-0400- Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA008 Closing Multiple Capital Projects that were Completed in FY 2025-26
26-0401- Approve Acceptance of a Donated 22-acre Conservation Easement from David and Carmen Durack at 1700 Woodstock Rd and 3900 W. Cornwallis Rd (a portion of REID 137661 and all of 137648) for Permanent Open Space Protection
26-0409- Authorize the Board to Approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC010 and Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA009 Reducing the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Capital Project (4590DC001) by $100,000.66, Allocating up to $406,944.34 of Budgeted PAYGO Funding and transferring these Funds ($506,945) to the General Fund Transportation Operating Budget to Support Payment to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the Acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor; the Board is also Requested to Approve a TIP Agreement Amendment with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor, Spending up to $1,658,390, with a Net County Expenditure of up to $1,013,077, and Recognition of State Grants of at least $645,313 and up to $855,313
26-0412- Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 27BCC012 for the Department of Social Services to Recognize $850,290 in Additional State Funding and Authorize Nine New Full-time Equivalent Positions to Support the Implementation of Federally Mandated Medicaid Changes Resulting from H.R. 1
26-0415- BOCC Review of 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Application
26-0424- BOCC Letter to Congressional Delegation Regarding Delaying Implementation of New SNAP Rules
All consent items were approved.
Public Hearing:
(26-0410) Public Hearing to Receive Comments on the Assessment Report (EAR) of the Comprehensive Plan: The Board conducted a public hearing to receive comments on the Assessment Report (EAR) of the Comprehensive Plan. This phase of the EAR contains staff recommendations for amendments to policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The proposed amendments aim to provide clarity, reduce inconsistencies, and refine the existing Comprehensive Plan Consistency Review document. No speakers asked to speak before the public hearing was closed. Following comments by Board members, the item was approved as requested.
Items Pulled from the Consent Agenda: None.
Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 7:59 p.m.
Board meetings are cablecast live and rebroadcast on Durham Television Network (DTN) on Spectrum channel 8 and 1302, Frontier channel 70 and AT&T U-verse channel 99. Meetings can also be viewed on the County’s YouTube channel. To view the agendas and recordings of the BOCC’s Regular Session meetings, visit the BOCC’s Website.
The next hybrid Regular Session is scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2026, at 7:00pm, inside the Commissioners' Chambers on the second floor at 200 E. Main Street.
For more information about BOCC meetings, contact the Clerk to the Board's Office at (919) 560-0025 or email clerk@dconc.gov.
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