Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, December 8, 2025, 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.

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.

1. Innovate Durham Demo Day - Durham County invites everyone to join us for the 2025 Innovate Durham Demo Day on Thursday, December 11 from 6-8 p.m. at American Underground (201 W. Main Street)! Innovate Durham turns Durham County into a lab for innovation, where local entrepreneurs test new ideas and solutions that improve community life. Meet this year’s cohort - Novexa, championed by the Cooperative Extension, and Financial Boss, championed by Durham County Library - as they share their pitches, progress, and next steps. Register: https://bit.ly/rsvp-demo-day-2025.
2. Farmers and Landowners Breakfast on Dec. 18 - Join the Durham Soil and Water Conservation District for a breakfast and discussion on farm law with Andrew Branan. We will discuss liability, trespassing, and more! Breakfast starts at 8 a.m., and presentation at 8:30. Event on Thursday, Dec. 18 at Farm Bureau office, 1901 Hillandale Road. Register: https://dconc2.jotform.com/252885186027061.  
3. Welcome Baby Winter Coat Drive - The Welcome Baby 13th Annual Winter Coat Drive continues through January 9, 2026. The Welcome Baby team collects new and gently used children’s coats, hats, gloves, and scarves in sizes newborn to 8 years old. Donate at 721 Foster Street during normal business hours, and other locations throughout the community. Find out information at www.welcomebaby.org.
4. 2025 Tax Bill Payments - The Durham County Tax Administration allows residents the option of making partial payments on real property taxes through January 5, 2026. Payment may be made by check, bank draft, money order, cash, or online at https://bit.ly/DCoTaxBillSearch. No payment plans will be extended once bills become delinquent after January 5, 2026. Property owners may visit www.dconc.gov/tax or call 919-560-0300 for more information.
5. LIEAP Applications Open Dec. 10 - Starting December 10, the Durham County Department of Social Services will begin taking applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) for applicants aged 60+ who receive services through DCoDSS’ Aging and Adult Services are eligible to apply. Also, those with disabilities, and who receive Food & Nutrition Services may apply. Call 919-560-8192 to make a virtual appointment with our LIEAP Specialists. On January 2, 2026, all Durham County residents may apply online at https://epass.nc.gov. Paper applications are available at our offices at 414 E. Main Street. The program ends on March 31, 2026 or while funds remain.
6. Winter Holidays Closures - Most Durham County Government offices will be closed for the winter holidays on the following dates: Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Dec. 26 (reopening on Monday, Dec. 29) and on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 (reopening on Friday, Jan. 2). For more information visit www.dconc.gov.

Minutes: Commissioners approved the minutes from the November 3, 2025, Work Session and November 24, 2025, Regular Session meeting minutes.

Ceremonial Items:

1. Introduction – Introduction of the New Durham County Memorial Stadium Manager Jamal White - The Board was introduced to the new Durham County Memorial Stadium Manager, Jamal White. Mr. White started as the new Durham County Memorial Stadium Manager on November 10, 2025.
2. Resolution - Recognizing Together for Resilient Youth 25th Anniversary - The Board passed a resolution recognizing the 25th Anniversary of Together for Resilient Youth (TRY). Founded in Durham County, TRY works to prevent substance misuse in the Durham community by promoting resilience among youth and families. Read the resolution here.

Consent Agenda: Commissioners approved the following items. See full agenda for complete details: 

• 25-0554 - Agreement - Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC023 to Recognize $369,949 of Year-4 Funds to Support Grant Award #5H79TI084839-04 to the Office of Emergency Services-EMS Division (OES-EMS) from the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and to Authorize the County Manager to Sign and Execute all Contracts for Authorized and Approved Uses Associated With the Grant Program Throughout the Grant’s Period of Performance – PULLED
• 25-0601 - Budget Ordinance Amendment No. BCC038 to Recognize $21,347 in Community Donations from Carolina Arbors Community to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office – PULLED
• 25-0602 - Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC040 for the Library to Recognize a Gift of $10,000.00 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York
• 25-0605 - Approval of Contract with Stryker for the Purchase of eleven (11) Power-LOAD units in the amount of $ $364,334.85, forty-five (45) Stair chairs in the amount of $319,707.45, and seven (7) LUCAS devices in the amount of $181,231.27 for a total purchase price of $865,273.57
• 25-0631 - Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment 26BCC041 Cooperative Extension to Recognize $1,500 in Grant Funds for Disaster Risk Management Training from NC A&T State University
• 25-0632 - Authorize the County Manager to Award a Contract to HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas in the Amount of $1,524,565.00 to Develop the East Durham Rail Crossing Study
• 25-0637 - Approval of Public Official Bonds
• 25-0639 - Award Contract for Janitorial Services RFP NO. 25-043 to Bull City Janitorial Service LLC in the amount of $83,863.98 for the remainder of fiscal year 2025-2026, which brings their current active contract total to $168,360.68 with the option to renew annually.
• 25-0648 - Approval of Property Tax Releases and Refunds for November 2025

Public Hearings:

1. Public Hearing and Award of Ambulance Franchise to Provide Non-Emergency Ambulance Services in Durham County - The Board conducted a public hearing, as required by ordinance, in order to grant an ambulance franchise for Jan-Care Ambulance of McDowell County, Inc., Midwest Medical Transport LLC Company d/b/a North State Medical Transport, Priority Care Ambulance, Inc. and Providence Transportation, Inc. to provide within Durham County non-emergency ambulance services. Approved
2. Public Hearing to Consider a Performance-Based Award for Projects Arrowwood & Red Cedar with Novartis Gene Therapies, Inc. - The Board held a public hearing to consider a performance-based award for Projects Arrowwood and Red Cedar with Novartis Gene Therapies, Inc. in a not-to-exceed amount of $5,500,000 and to authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute a performance agreement for the award. Approved
3. Public Hearing to Consider a Performance-Based Award for Project Speedy with Aspida Financial Services, LLC - The Board held a public hearing to consider a performance-based award for Project Speedy with Aspida Financial Services, LLC (“Aspida”) in a not-to-exceed amount of $750,000 and to authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute a performance agreement for the award. Approved

Board and Commission Appointments: The Board made appointments to the following boards:

• Durham Open Space and Trails Commission – (i) Stephen Artabane (At-Large) ,

(i) Steve Cohn (At-Large) ,(i) Deborah Luecken (Mangum Township) and

Geoffrey Phillippe (At-Large)

• Farmland Protection Advisory Board – (i) Talmage Layton

Congratulations to the appointees.

Items Pulled from the Consent Agenda:

25-0554- Agreement - Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC023 to Recognize $369,949 of Year-4 Funds to Support Grant Award #5H79TI084839-04 to the Office of Emergency Services-EMS Division (OES-EMS) from the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and to Authorize the County Manager to Sign and Execute all Contracts for Authorized and Approved Uses Associated With the Grant Program Throughout the Grant’s Period of Performance. Following a comment from a citizen the item was approved 

25-0601- Budget Ordinance Amendment No. BCC038 to Recognize $21,347 in Community Donations from Carolina Arbors Community to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office. Following comments by two citizens, the item was approved

Closed Session: The Board adjourned into Closed Session pursuant to G.S.143-318.11(a)(4). No action was taken.

Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 9:24 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, January 12, 2026.

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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