Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, September 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 Nida Allam 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. Free School Meals for All at DPS - Great news, Durham County! Everyone is eligible for FREE school meals in Durham Public Schools this year. No applications, no hassle - just healthy meals for every student. When we all participate, the program grows stronger and helps every child thrive! Find more information here: https://www.dpsnc.net/o/dps/page/school-nutrition-services.
2. 2025 Municipal Primary Election - Early Voting for the 2025 Municipal Primary Election will be held in person at one of five early voting sites from Thursday, September 18 through 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 4. You can request a no-excuse absentee by-mail ballot fully online on or before Sept. 23rd. Please note that the registration deadline for the Municipal Primary Election is Friday, September 12. The 2025 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., at your assigned polling place. More info at www.dconc.gov or by calling 919-560-0700.
3. A.S.I.S.T. Training on Sept. 11 & 12 - Join Alliance Health and the DCo Department of Public Health for a FREE two-day workshop. This training is an in person 2 day all day training that teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Trainings on Sept. 11 & 12, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 414 E. Main Street. Register at https://bit.ly/DCoASIST25.
4. Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Plan Survey - Staff from the City of Durham and Durham County, the NCDOT, and Triangle West Transportation Planning Organization are looking for your input on the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Plan - a project that aims to establish a 26-mile trail network linking Durham to Roxboro. Take a minute to take our online survey by September 22 to provide additional feedback on the conceptual designs for the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Plan. Your input will help us shape a trail that reflects the needs and vision of our community. Survey at https://durham2roxborotrailplan.com.
5. DCo Library “These Routes Are Made for Walkin’ Exercise Challenge” - Discover the deep roots of Durham with our 2025 exercise challenge that celebrates the story of Bull City’s history. Track the number of minutes you exercise using our tracker available at South Regional Library or request a printable PDF and you could win a prize! The challenge runs from September 19 through October 31. Trackers will be available beginning Monday, September 15 and are due at South Regional Library by Saturday, November 8. More information: https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/14700153.

Minutes: Commissioners approved the August 25, 2025, Regular Session minutes.

Ceremonial Items:

1. Proclamation – Six Triple Eight Day - The Board proclaimed September 13, 2025, as Six Triple Eight Day in Durham County. The purpose of the proclamation is to recognize the service woman of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, and the women of North Carolina that served. These women included: Sallie Alexander, Elizabeth Barker, Odessa Brake, Davetter Butler, Charlet Lilian Conrad, Millie Dunn, Ruth Lillian Gaddy, Virginia Louise Glenn, France Myrtle Gray, Esther DeLois Hall, Vernese Virginia Haynes, Catherine Mosander Hinton, Lucile Houston, Emma Jenkins, Anne Leach Johnson, Nannie Pearl Jones, Maggie Ada Latta, Theopia Louise Ledbetter, Lattie Mills, Fannie Clarine Smith, Inez Naomi Stroud, Effie Clark Sutton, Sarah Taylor, Annie Lee Terry, Artelya Whitely. Read the proclamation here.
2. Proclamation - Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties’ Find the Good Day - The Board proclaimed September 18, 2025, as Find the Good Day in Durham County. Find the Good Day, encourages individuals to recognize and celebrate the positive aspects of their communities and to take action to uplift others. It is a day to acknowledge the importance of kindness, compassion and community service in fostering positive change and building stronger, more resilient communities. Read the proclamation here.
3. Resolution - North Carolina NAACP 2025 State Convention - The Board is approved a resolution recognizing the 82^nd Annual State Convention of the North Carolina State Area Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) that will be held in Durham on September 26, 27 2025. Read the resolution here.
4. Proclamation – Recovery Month 2025 - The Board proclaimed September 2025 as Recovery Month. The purpose for National Recovery Month is to acknowledge and address these concerns, providing hope and healing for the millions of individuals and families who are affected by addiction. Read the proclamation here.
5. Proclamation – World Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness Day - The Board proclaimed September 21, 2025, as World Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness Day in Durham County. The purpose of World Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness Day is to raise awareness and combat the stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Read the proclamation here.
6. Proclamation – Welcoming Week - The Board proclaimed September 13 - 22, 2025 as Welcoming Week celebration in Durham County. Welcoming Week is a national initiative that highlights the efforts of local communities working to foster greater understanding, connection, and civic engagement among all residents Read the proclamation here.

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

25-0392- Approve a Resolution Delegating Authority to the County Manager to Sign Real Estate Leases of County-Owned Property for up to a One-Year term as Allowed by State Statute

25-0448- Approval of Contract with Boundtree Medical for the Purchase of UEScope Video Laryngoscopes not to exceed the amount of $146,073.12

25-0449- Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC010 for the Department of Social Services to Recognize Durham County’s FY 2025-26 Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) Funding Plan in the Amount of $932,221, Which Includes the Required Durham County DSS Local Match of $86,123 to be Appropriated via General Fund Fund Balance

25-0466- Approval to Enter into Contract with Runbeck Election Services LLC an Arizona Limited Liability Company for Ballot Printing Services in the Amount of $105,000.00

25-0468- Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC011 Public Health to Recognize $212,893 from NC DHSS Division of Public Health for the Prevention of Communicable Diseases

25-0469- Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC012 Public Health to Recognize $3,200 from the NC DHHS Division of Public Health Chronic Disease and Injury Section/ Cancer Prevention and Control Branch

25-0470- Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC013 Public Health to Recognize $13,826 from the NC DHHS Division of Public Health Epidemiology Section Communicable Disease Section Branch for Health Screenings

25-0471- Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC014 Public Health to Recognize $9,081 from the NC DHHS Division of Public Health Epidemiology Section /Communicable Disease Branch for STD/HIV Care

25-0472- Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC015 Public Health to Recognize $17, 500 from the Communicable Disease Branch of the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services for HIV Prevention

25-0476- Approval of Contract Amendment with Carolina Civilworks, Inc. for Emergency and Scheduled Collection System Repair Services in the Amount of $210,289.02, Bringing the Contract Amount from $400,000 to $610,289.02 and to Execute Any Other Related Contract Amendments Not to Exceed $700,000

25-0477- Approval of McGill Environmental Systems of NC, Inc. Contract Amendment for Triangle Wastewater Treatment Plant Residuals Transport and Disposal in the amount of $142,000 Bringing the Contract Amount from $408,600 to $550,600

25-0481- Approval of Agreement with Alliance Health in the Amount not to Exceed $6,173,542, to Manage the Provision of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (MH/DD/SUS) to Residents of Durham County

25-0483- Approve Acquisition of Three Conservation Easements: Sandra and Jerry Wrightenberry for 119 acres, Frances Cook for 147 acres, and Tom Washington for 76 acres for a total estimated County cost of $1.8 million

25-0491- Budget Amendment Ordinance No. 26BCC018 the Opioid Settlement Fund to Recognize $72,560 from Opioid Settlement Funding to Increase the Budget for the Post Overdose Response Team (Strategy 8) to Support the addition of a Peer Support Specialist FTE to Assist Emergency Service’s Opioid Community Paramedics

25-0500- Approval of Contract with Duke University Health System, Inc. for Emergency Medical Director Services for the Office of Emergency Services in the amount of $195,426 annually for Fiscal Year 2025 with a One-Year Renewal Term

25-0503- Approval of Contract with Vision Government Solutions in the amount of $291,000 for 2025 Reappraisal Services for Durham County Tax Administration

25-0504- Approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC017 Cooperative Extension to Recognize $5,000 from NC State’s 4H Program for FY 2025-26 Kids Voting Activities

25-0507- Approval to Appoint Members for Second Special Board of Equalization and Review for 2025

Items Pulled from the Consent Agenda: 25-0503  One resident spoke.

All CONSENT ITEMS WERE APPROVED

Public Hearing: The Board held a public hearing to consider naming the Durham County Administrative II Building after William V. “Bill” Bell, former County Commissioner. Mr. Bell was a Durham County Commissioner for 26 years (1972 – 1994; 1996 – 2000) and Chairman of the Durham Board of County Commissioners for 12 years (1982 – 1994).The Board  unanimously voted to  approve the item. Family members were present for the vote and thanked the Board of Commissioners for the action.

An official renaming ceremony will be held in the near future.

Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at   8:01p.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, September 22,2025, 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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