Durham commissioners approve consent agenda, authorize ARPA $1M culture and arts interlocal after separate vote

The Durham County Board of County Commissioners approved most items on a comprehensive consent agenda on April 8 and later approved a pulled interlocal agreement to use $1,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for culture and arts recovery.

Vice Chair Nimasheena Burns moved, seconded by Commissioner Wendy Jacobs, to approve the consent agenda excluding Item 24-0193; the motion carried unanimously among members present. The consent list included multiple budget and capital project amendments, contract amendments, and program approvals: a $58,640 amendment (plus a 7% design contingency) for architectural services on the Stanford L. Warren interior upgrades project; a $15,000 grant to Public Health for increased refugee screening; a $91,495.36 PAYGO transfer to begin detention-center fire-alarm upgrades; furniture purchases for S.L. Warren Library not to exceed $359,467.29; a $200,000 transfer to the Collection System Rehabilitation project; a $25,000 contract amendment for painting and coating services for Utilities Division; an amendment expanding a contract with Hayti Reborn - Justice Movement by $70,000 to a total of $770,000; and other budget adjustments listed in the published ordinances.

Commissioner Wendy Jacobs then moved the previously pulled Item 24-0193 — an interlocal agreement with the City of Durham to use ARPA funds for culture and arts recovery totaling $1,000,000 — for a separate recorded vote. The roll call recorded ayes from Chair Nida Allam, Vice Chair Nimasheena Burns and Commissioner Wendy Jacobs; Commissioner Heidi Carter abstained; Commissioner Brenda Howerton was excused. The motion carried.

Commissioner Jacobs also asked about the referral process for a $750,000 senior home repair program (Item 24-0196); Grants Administrator John Keefer said Durham County is partnering with Central Pines Regional Council as a sub-grantee to administer the program and accept referrals and that Adult and Aging Services should be a partner in the referral process. The board recorded the various budget ordinances and releases as printed and adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Next steps include executing the interlocal agreement for the ARPA culture and arts funds and carrying out the listed contract and capital project amendments per standard county procurement and finance procedures.