Board of County Commissioners Regular Session Highlights from August 24, 2026

Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, August 24, 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.
Chair Dr. Mike Lee called the meeting to order and read the Public Charge.
All attendees were led by Commissioner Jacobs 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.
- Get Your Student Caught Up on Their Vaccines - Students have 30 days from the first day of school to get caught up on all required vaccines. The Durham County Department of Public Health has all required vaccines available in their immunization clinic, by appointment or by walk-ins as schedule permits. Children who are underinsured or have no insurance can be vaccinated at no cost. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the immunization clinic at 919-560-7608, or learn more on their website at dcopublichealth.org/immunization.
- Cooperative Extension Seeks Applicants for Extension Master Food Volunteer Program- Love cooking and giving back to your community? Durham Cooperative Extension is looking for residents to join the Extension Master Food Volunteer (EMFV) Program. Interested residents are invited to join an upcoming information session to learn how they can turn their skills and passion into meaningful support for families across Durham. EMFVs support and amplify Cooperative Extension’s nutrition and cooking programs and can lead their own cooking demos in the community. Applications for the new cohort open later this summer, and anyone interested must attend an information session. Learn more about the program and register for an information session here: https://dconc.gov/DurhamCo-News/Cooperative-Extension-Seeks-Applicants-for-Extension-Master-Food-Volunteer-Program.htm.
- Real Talk! Community Conversation about Health on Wednesday, August 26 – Join Durham County Library and Duke Cancer Institute for Real Talk! Community Conversation About Health, a community-centered dialogue about health and wellness for adults at Stanford L. Warren Branch Library (1201 Fayetteville St) from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26. This open conversation brings together community members and health professionals to explore topics such as cancer prevention, clinical research, screening opportunities, and other health questions that matter to you. Bring your curiosity, questions, and experiences, and connect with others in a welcoming, informal setting.
- Durham County Transportation Staff Want your Feedback! - The Public Comment Period for the Q1 Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2027 Durham Transit Work Program is open now until Thursday, August 27. For additional information on the proposed amendments, please visit the Transportation Department’s website: https://bit.ly/DCoQ1Transit27. To submit a public comment, please email Transportation@dconc.gov.
- County to Observe Labor Day Holiday – Most Durham County Government offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Offices will reopen with normal operating hours on Tuesday, September 8. For details on how the holiday may affect specific County services, please visit www.dconc.gov.
- Declaration of Independence: Rare Prints on Display – Durham County Library invites you to view rare 19th‑century prints of the Declaration of Independence at Durham County Main Library from September 8–20, 2026. As part of We the People: A Duke & Durham Initiative, Durham County Main Library and the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University will present three historic copies of the Declaration of Independence, on loan from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore how the nation’s founding document was visually rendered and circulated in early American history. For more information about the exhibit, visit: https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/17394114.
Minutes: Commissioners approved the minutes from August 26, 2026, Regular Session.
Ceremonial Items:
- Recognizing the Durham Library Foundation in Acknowledgement of Their Fiscal Year 2027 Gift of $248,317.31 in Support of Durham County Library Programs - The Board is requested to recognize and celebrate the Durham Library Foundation’s Fiscal Year 2027 gift of $248,317.31 in support of Durham County Library programs.
- Proclamation - Supportive Housing Week - The Board proclaimed August 24 - August 26, 2026, as Supportive Housing Week in Durham County.
Consent Agenda: Commissioners approved the following items. See full agenda for complete details:
26-0388- Approval of Contract with Laerdal Medical Corporation for the Purchase of SimMan Essential Dark Simulator and Accessories not to exceed the amount of $92,130.13
26-0411- Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 27BCC011 Appropriating $150,000 in General Fund Fund Balance for a Library Master Facilities Plan
26-0421- Approval of Property Tax Releases and Refunds for June 2026--Pulled
26-0427- Approve and Authorize the Manager to Accept the Conveyance of Easements for the Whispering Pines Stream Restoration Project and Execute All Documents to Effectuate These Conveyances Upon Final Approval by the County Attorney’s Office.
26-0431- Durham County NCACC Goals for 2027 Legislative Session
26-0433- Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 27BCC014 Public Health to Recognize $233,176 from NC DHHS Division of Public Health’s Local and Community Support Section for Local Workforce Development
26-0434- Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC015 Public Health to Recognize $15,000 from the North Carolina Department of Public Health for the Improving Community Outcomes for Maternal and Child Health Grant for Family Matters Durham
26-0435- Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC016 Public Health to recognize $56,250 from the North Carolina Department of Public Health, Chronic Disease and Injury, Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch to support evidence-based tobacco/nicotine prevention and cessation training in Region 5
26-0436- Approve Submission of a Letter to N.C. Department of Health & Human Services Outlining the Aggregate Percentage Change of 1.42% to Public Health’s Chargemaster Rate
26-0421- Approval of Property Tax Releases and Refunds for July 2026--Pulled
26-0441- Continuum of Care ILA Renewal
ITEMS PULLED
Property Tax Releases and Refunds for June 2026--approved
Property Tax Releases for July 2026--approved
Public Hearing: (26-0437) To Consider the Adoption of a Proposed Moratorium: The Board conducted a public hearing to receive comments on the adoption of a moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications for new or expanded data centers in Durham County. More than 60 citizens shared their thoughts regarding the proposed moratorium. Commissioners approved the 9 month Moratorium with modifications on a 4-1 vote.
- Board and Commission Appointments: The Board made appointments to the following boards and commissions:
- Durham-Wake Counties Research and Production Service District Advisory Committee -(i) Gina Anderson, (i) Sarah Gaskill and (i) Randi Saulles
- Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee –Elijah Bazemore
Congratulations to new and returning board members.
Items Pulled from the Consent Agenda: None.
Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 11:49pm
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, September 14
, 2026, 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.
###
