Regular Session

Regular session of the county board of commissioners for June 22, 2026. Let's see here. So, before we begin, I'm going to read the public charge. Vice President Lum, could you read the land survey? Okay. So, I'll start with our public charge. The board of commissioners asks members and residents to behave in a respectful and courteous manner, both towards the board and towards other residents . At any time, should any council member or resident fail to fulfill this public duty, the chairman will ask the offending person to leave the meeting until the individual regains control of their personal abilities. If a quorum is not restored, the chairman will adjourne the meeting until a genuine commitment to the public duty is observed. Vice-President, as we gather for the Durham County Commissioners' meeting , it is crucial to acknowledge the painful truth of history. We are on ancestral lands stolen from the Kataba, Eno, Okonichi, Shakori, and Tuscarora peoples, whose deep connection to this land predates our arrival . We humbly acknowledge the unjust displacements and violence that have occurred, leading to the expropriation of indigenous peoples from their native lands. His resilience in the face of such adversity is a testament to his strength and spirit. May we humbly honor the ancestors and elders of these nations, both past and present, committing ourselves to promoting understanding, healing, and justice for all who inhabit this land. Let us walk together with open hearts, acknowledging the past and embracing a future guided by compassion, respect, and unity. Thanks. Commissioner Burton, would you lead us in the oath of allegiance?

Okay. The next item on our agenda is adjustments or changes to the agenda. Cheers, Lee. It 's not an adjustment, but I would just like to consider a motion for Commissioner Jacobs's excused absence . Okay, we can do that now. Approved. Second. It was proposed and duly supported that we have a justified absence for Commissioner Jacobs. Everyone in favor, say "I...I..." So, if you were here, there are stories and perhaps misinformation on social media and in the news media, among others, that tonight we were considering a moratorium

on data centers. That's not correct. Right, that's a different adjustment. That's a different adjustment, all together. Right. I just wanted to make that clear. I'll probably say that again before the public hearing. Right. Let's get to the announcements. Clerk Wallace. Good evening everyone. I will read the announcements posted on the agenda tonight. Youth in Durham County can get free meals at schools and community venues in Durham during the summer months through the Sun Meals program. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction program offers breakfast, lunch, and nutritious snacks to those under 18 , from now until July 31. No application, ID, registration, or proof of income is required. There is a link you can access that shows the locations, dates, and hours of operation near you. For the past six months, The Durham County government has partnered with the City of Durham to better understand the root causes of violence in our community and identify impactful strategies. Now, we are taking this work to the community at the Save Lives Summit on Wednesday, June 24th, from 8:30 am to 12:15 pm. A hybrid event to share what we've learned and turn that learning into action together with residents, local leaders, and national experts. We will examine local data, assess the evidence, and align on a focused set of strategies tailored to Durham's unique challenges and strengths. Registration for in-person seating has failed. However , you can watch the entire summit on the City of Durham's YouTube channel, and there is a link. The Durham County Department of Social Services is developing a parenting program to support fathers connected to the local DSS, in the division of

children and families services. You are invited to help shape services that reflect the needs and experiences of fathers, while strengthening their roles as fathers , providers, and community members. There is a link to a survey that This needs to be answered. To learn more about the survey and program, contact child protection social worker Taquan Lynch at 919-5608459. Get out in the community and eat some donuts and other treats this summer with the Durham County Library Department, sorry, Durham County Library Doughnut Crawl. Pick up your donut tracker at any library or email Sarah Gibson at sg gibson dc.gov and start visiting some great local businesses. The crawl runs until August 1st. You’ll earn a completion sticker for each location you visit in Durham. Visit five or more locations and enter the final drawing for four Durham Bulls tickets. Trackers must be turned in by Saturday, August 8th to be registered. Sorry, to participate, and registration is not required. The crawl is open to all ages and there’s a link for additional information. And lastly, watch the June episode of InTouch with Durham County. In this month’s episode, host Deborah Craig Ray, director of communications for Durham County, welcomes guest Crystal Harris, director of community support and intervention services, and introduces Seth Kaminsky, the new chief paramedic for Durham County Emergency Medical Service . You can watch the full episode on our YouTube channel, and there's also a link. That concludes the announcements on tonight's agenda. Thank you, Secretary Wallace. Any further announcements? Commissioner Valentine, would you like to say something? Yes, President. I'd like to take a moment of personal privilege to acknowledge the loss of Minister Paul Scott, who was a local community activist and minister

. He served our community for many years. And he was committed to youth. So, I just wanted to make sure we acknowledge that we lost a giant in our community last week. Thank you. And Commissioner Burton. Yes. I just want to echo what Commissioner Valentine said. Minister Paul Scott was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Durham. I worked at the Stanford Warren Library, and he was a regular at the library. He used to come here, that was over 30 years ago. He used to come to borrow books, things like that. He was a wonderful human being. We had a discussion about gun violence not long ago. We sat quite close to each other, so he will be greatly missed. And I also want to record the sudden passing of our colleague in Orange County, Commissioner James Zetta Bedford. She died suddenly on Sunday, and I had the pleasure of knowing her when I became county commissioner. A wonderful person. So, I just wanted to highlight that. Thank you. Anyone else? Minister Scott will be missed at Old Oxford and Danube, he used to sit there with books and distribute them, and I told him at one point that we would figure out a way to fund his books so he could continue distributing them. And then, after he passed away, I was talking to my wife. I thought, "You know what?" I would love to build one of those small libraries. "It looks like a mailbox, but it's like a little library to put it there in his honor, right there at that bus stop. And I can try to do that myself, you know, put it there because that's where he was. That was his place. And

so I think it would be a good representation. And I'll see how I can organize myself to do something like a little library right there. I do n't live very far from there myself. So, for me, regarding the announcements, it 's June, and many of you know that two years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and I've overcome that and everything else. But I decided that every June, at the last meeting we have of the month, at some point in the month, I would ask everyone present, the millions of people watching, if you know someone over 40, a man over 40, to get their PSA levels checked. It's part of a blood test. There's no probing. There's nothing. I know how some people can do it. It's a blood test. You go to the doctor anyway. They They collect blood. They just need to check the box corresponding to PSA levels. This can literally make the difference between saving your life. Saving your life or not. Prostate cancer is one of the most curable cancers that exist. I am living proof of that. And when I started talking about it, many people came up to me and said, "Oh, I lived through that." I've been through that . I went through the same thing. People I knew, and I had no idea they were going through this . People are very private about that. There are reasons for that, but I'm not one of them. So please ask your loved ones, men over 40, to check their PSA levels. If you have any questions, give me a call. I've spoken to over a hundred people since then, 100 of them men, or rather, wives and husbands. I spoke

with them about what to expect from prostate cancer. I am not ashamed of my experience and I will speak out loud so that everyone can be examined. So please take a moment if you know someone over 40, used to be 50, by the way, a man over 40 , ask him to check his PSA levels. This is a favor from Commissioner Dr. Mike Lee. Okay, great. All good. Next item on our agenda. Make sure I'm not skipping anything here. Well, were there any other announcements? Some. Okay. The next item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from the working session of June 1, 2026, and the ordinary meeting of June 8, 2026. Therefore, approved. Second. It was proposed and duly supported that we approve the minutes dated working session, and this is a working session, within the ordinary session of June 8, 2026. Any further discussion? Everyone in favor, say "I. I. I." Everyone against, please use the same sign. Approved unanimously. Now we have our ceremonial items. We have three to be recognized and some to be recognized. So, the first is the recognition of Tyler Fitz as the new fire chief for Durham County in the emergency services office . Good evening, commissioners, Madam Manager, Madam Attorney, Mark Lockheart, Director of the Emergency Services Office. It is my pleasure to be here tonight to introduce you to our new fire chief for County Durham. Although he is not new to the county, he assumed his new role at the end of April. Tyler Fitz brings nearly two decades of experience in

local government fire service, along with over eight years of dedicated service here in County Durham. Tyler grew up in County Durham and proudly graduated from CE Jordan High School, and this lifelong connection to the community underpins his commitment to public safety. Tyler holds a bachelor's degree in fire safety engineering technology with a specialization in fire management from Eastern Kentucky University. I had the opportunity to work with Tyler for almost six years and I can say that he is a very passionate advocate not only for community risk reduction, but also for fire prevention and code enforcement. Chief Fitz, thank you, Director Lockhart. Good evening, President Lee, Commissioners, Manager Hagar, Ms. Attorney, Durm County Leadership, and community members . It is a privilege to be here tonight and to speak to you tonight. Having begun my career in the fire service here in County Durham in 2006, it is an honor for me to have the opportunity to continue serving this community as the next Fire Chief of the County Durham Emergency Services Department. The fire department is comprised of a highly dedicated team of professionals, and I look forward to serving alongside them as we maintain recognized standards with the level of professionalism that our citizens and clients deserve and expect. As we continue to refine our internal processes and procedures, as well as recruit qualified and committed individuals for our team, we remain grateful for the continued support provided by the county board of commissioners and county leadership. I look forward to continuing the collaboration with the council, county leadership and stakeholders as the emergency services department and fire division continue to prioritize the safety of all those who live, study, work and visit County Durham . Thank you again for this opportunity. Thank you very much. Congratulations on your appointment. Any comments, Commissioner Burton? Yes, thank you very much. I was talking to Tyler about the

importance of the fire chief, especially for schools, because you have to check, I think, how many days do you need to check each school building? We conduct semi-annual inspections at 120-day intervals. Twice a year, right? And as a former educator, I always had to make sure there was nothing that could catch the fire chief off guard when they were making their rounds. We had to ensure things were taken down and understand that, okay, it 's about protecting the students and ensuring there are no fires or damage to property. Therefore, their role is very, very important. Thank you for performing this role. I look forward to working with you, Fire Chief Fitz. So, this public announcement had been anticipated for several months. I know I had the opportunity to speak with some people interested in knowing who would be filling that position. So, I hope you have the opportunity to go out into the community and integrate into your new role in Dorm County. We look forward to you leading the way in providing the best possible services. Thank you and welcome back. Thanks only to you. Yes, congratulations on your appointment and thank you very much for your years of service to County Durham. I am very grateful and happy that we have talented people from County Durham who know our systems, know our processes, and have served and known the community so well. Hmm, and I'm glad you're willing to take on this new role with your care and love for County Durham. And thank you, Director Lockheart, for developing such a strong and amazing team here in County Durham that we were able to elevate internally. Thanks. All good. Thank you very much and congratulations. Thank you for being in your office. I

only have one quick comment. Thank you, Tyler, for your commitment to the county. I know you will continue to do a phenomenal job. We are grateful to have you with us. Thank you very much. All good. Thank you very much. Okay. The next item on our agenda is another recognition. In recognition of Eddie Cloverson, Director of Soil and Water, for his 42 years of service, 38 years in County Durham, and his effective retirement on July 1st. Good evening, commissioners, manager, lawyer, Dwayne Brenson, assistant county manager. I recently had to do something that no one has had to do in a very, very long time, which is to participate in the recruitment process for a new director of soil and water. After 42 years of service, 30 of them in County Durham, Mr. Coberson is retiring. We, you know, I started working with Eddie recently, last year, and he's passionate about his work. Everyone can see this. It's there. This department is an award-winning department, the best in the state, and we are grateful for the work you have done. I would like to acknowledge your wife. He has his granddaughter here with him. We know that our work extends beyond these walls and these doors. So, I definitely want to thank your family for providing us with their services for so long. I know how

important this is. Hmm, this position reports to the county. It is also a unique position that reports to the soil and water council. So, we have Mr. Waller here, who is the vice president of the district council, to offer some comments as well. Mr. Waller, thank you very much for this opportunity to speak, and if I may say good things about this man here. We're going to be here for a long time. Hmm, I'm on the soil and water council and I served with Eddie and his team. Brother Dwayne forgot to mention, we were number one in the state five times during his term, so not just one year, five years. And every time we go to a convention, the praise always comes for Durham. Hmm, we won three other awards last year. But more than a supervisor, I am the owner and operator of Waller Family Farms in Durham, and I represent the hundreds of farmers that Eddie has helped throughout his years here in Durham. Wow. It's simply amazing. If you drink clean water and see soil in a place that isn't in the reservoirs, it's mainly because of this man here and his team. They are an amazing group. As a Duke fan and a State fan, a State graduate, it pains me to say that he's the Michael Jordan of land and water. Not just for me, but when we go to conventions and other gatherings, people stand up and give this man well-deserved praise. So, I thank the council for taking the time to acknowledge it. Thank you very much. Thank you, flight attendants, for the opportunity to be here before you. Yes, 48 ​​years old, Kenny Chestn

said it well. Don't blink because it goes by fast. I remember starting out in Chadam and around '88 I applied for a job here in Durham. I applied for the same job in Wake County and there was Wake with a brand new facility, vinyl fence, new building and Durham, um, I'd say it had bars on the windows and there was n't anyone on the street like there is today. You changed that, the people who were sitting in those seats made the right decisions, and the Durham center is alive and well now because of people like you. Hmm, so you did it right. And I 'll tell you something else you did right. Hmm, I've served many county managers throughout my time. And you are right now about Manager Hager. And I'll give you an example. And Deborah Craig Ray can agree with me . When I started working here, you know, we were talking to a current manager. Well, do we get time off on snowy days? Like, on days with bad weather. Can we go home sometime? He said, "Well, when the snow reaches the seal on my window, you can go home." Oh , that was bad enough, but on top of that, he was on the second floor. So, it goes without saying that you take good care of your employees, and that helps a lot. You know, I remember Lake County Commissioner Becky Heron saying, "Eddie, you've got to ride the valleys on your heels." And I can count on my fingers fewer than five times that the count of Durham County government employees did not receive some kind of raise or bonus during the year. And from my point of view, that was excellent. But again, thank you for a great career. And I think I told Kathy Ever

Perry about it in H&R. One of the benefits you need to list is the people here in the county, you know, because the buildings are just structural, but the people are what make County Durham what it is. And that's something I 'll carry with me for the rest of my life: the relationships I've built throughout my time here. Now, I have a lot to do. I have my lovely wife over there giving me orders, and I have this little girl here keeping me busy. So, but again, thank you very much for your time and your service. And if you need me, call me. Just a phone call away. Thanks. Former Vice President, Mr. Culverson, you are leaving a large space to fill. I know I've only been on the council for six of its 38 years here, but I feel that the soil and water district is synonymous with its name. Everyone knows the incredible work you've done, but it's also very important to highlight this because it's a part of local government that is often overlooked when it's so vital to us. It is our safe drinking water. It is the land where we can grow our crops to feed our communities. And not just our community here. Many of our farmers supply food for the entire country. And now, especially because we're seeing, you know, unprecedented droughts, and we're seeing food prices rising higher and higher because it 's harder to keep crops alive . It's more difficult to raise cattle. And for

us, you were looking after County Durham to be prepared for these types of situations, to ensure that our farmers received as much support as possible so that they could maintain their livelihoods as well. So, thank you very much for all the advocacy and work you have done for all the residents of County Durham, but especially for our county residents who have been the most dependent on your services and work. Thank you very much. Commissioner Burton. Yes. I just want to echo what my colleague, the vice president of Alarm, says . I always admire people like you, Eddie, Mr. Culverson, who just serve , right? You serve, you know, you give your all. You're a breed that's not around, people just give up. You know, they don't like it, they give up. But you persisted for 38 years. And I'm very happy that we're celebrating you. And as Vice President Lam says, your work is very important to this county, but it remains hidden because you, your team, ensure that we have, you know, potable water, that the soil is good for agriculture, etc. So, congratulations on your retirement. Enjoy your grandson. Hmm, I know she 'll keep him busy and I'm looking forward to honoring him on Thursday at the Redwood, Ruitton Club. So, thank you . Commissioner Valentine. Thank you, Mr. President. Congratulations, Mr. Carlson, on a long and impactful career. Your 38 years of selfless service reflect greatly on you in the Department of Soil and Water, also in Dorm County, and I join my colleague, Commissioner Burton, in looking forward to seeing you at that heartfelt farewell on Thursday in the Redwood community. Thank you very much for your service to

our community. Thanks. And I'll say that , after 42 years of working somewhere, I can only wish I looked as good. I'll tell you this . Congratulations on your retirement. We greatly appreciate your work here in County Durham for 38 years and I hope to be able to attend the event on Thursday. I would really like to see that happen. Thank you very much, and please commit. Yes, I'll save my comments for Thursday, but Eddie, thank you. You have been a gift to County Durham with your steady hand, discipline, focus, and ability to ease, sometimes when it was difficult, but you persevered and we have become stronger for it. So, once again, thank you for your years of service. We were very lucky to have him. Thanks. All good. Thank you very much. Thank you again. Okay, the next item on our agenda is a resolution celebrating 50 years of service provided by the general services to the Durham County government and the Durham community. Commissioner Valentine will read the proclamation pro. I am under resolution. Resolution. Considering that, throughout the last five decades, the Department of General Services has exemplified an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement, fulfilling its vital mission of ensuring that all county facilities and properties are maintained and operated safely, efficiently, and responsibly, thereby protecting public assets and improving the quality of services to the Dorm County community. Whereas the General Services Department was established on July 1, 1976, guided by the leadership of Director Wade Copelan, who

passed away from July 1, 1976 to April 30, 1981; Director Mike Turner, from May 1, 1981 to December 30, 2009; and Director Motiro Key Umbro Eero from January 25, 2010 to the present. And through his administration, he faithfully served the Durham community for 50 years with dedication, professionalism, and integrity. Under Wade Copeland's direction , the General Services Department was established with a staff of five in the construction services division, laying the groundwork for the department's future growth and expansion of services. And during the tenure of director Mike Turner, who also served as manager of the Dorm County Memorial Stadium, the General Services Department experienced significant growth, expanding to 79 employees, including 44 in construction services, 18 in animal services, and 17 in solid waste. Under the leadership of Director Montoro Kumbro Eero, the General Services Department successfully navigated the transition of animal control to a separate department under the sheriff's command in 2012 and has since continued to grow and strengthen its operations. It now employs 110 people in the divisions of buildings, HVAC, electrical, janitorial services, plumbing and preventive maintenance, gardens, warehouse, fleet, mail services, stadium, facilities use , solid waste, security and commercial services. And considering that the past and present employees of the General Services Department have contributed their knowledge, experience, and service to strengthen the organization and improve the well-being of those it serves. And considering that the collaborative partnerships built by the Department of General Services with internal departments, community stakeholders, and partner agencies were fundamental in achieving a significant and lasting impact. And considering that the 50th anniversary represents not only a milestone of longevity, but also proof of the

dedication, resilience, and professionalism that define the General Services Department. It is therefore now resolved that the Dorham County Board of Commissioners recognizes and congratulates the General Services Department and its staff on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. This is June 22, 2026. Signed, Dr. Mike Lee, President. Naida Alam, Vice President . Michelle Burton, commissioner, Wendy Jacobs, commissioner, and Steven Valentine , commissioner. Thank you, flight attendants, for recognizing General Services' 50 years of service . We have a small gift for each of you, as well as for the members of the organization. These past 50 years have been very exciting. Behind me are the people who do the work, who truly dedicate their days, their hours, and their services to ensuring that all of our facilities are legal, comfortable, and functional for our community. Therefore, they are the ones who should truly be recognized in this document. Sean Suatakus, responsible for the building's security managers . Isaac Alderman, our maintenance services with environmental services, is our assistant director and is also acting as my substitute. I am a figment of your imagination. I'm on vacation for my birthday, my wedding, and fixing up the house. vacation. So,

Shawn Davis is actually serving in my role. Well, in addition to taking care of all our environmental issues , such as janitorial services, maintenance, and those kinds of services. Next to him is our solid waste division manager, Chrissy Cori. And the last and most important person who actually wrote this resolution for general services is my senior operations manager, and what is her name, my son Tina Green. Hmm, but these are the people behind me who make things work. And each and every member of the team, all 110 of them, now that we've received seven more employees from your budget in our security division. Yay! Well, we now have 110 employees and are very grateful for today's recognition. So, we have a little charm that you'll see on the dashboards of our vehicles, which acknowledges our 50 years, and we thank Deborah Craig Ray for approving it; it was designed by our signage shop. Ken Keter is our signage shop and he actually designed the 50th anniversary celebration. So, what you have is a magnet, and the second one is the one I picked up. The second item, which is somewhat square, is actually a bookmark. Okay. So, we wanted to make sure the librarian would be happy with a bookmark, but thank you for recognizing us and for our 50 years. We will have a 50th anniversary celebration. Our 50th anniversary celebration will be on

July 16th at Spruce Pine Lodge, and we invite you all to attend. We are planning a big celebration for this 50th anniversary. Let's make sure that's on the calendar. Yes, it is. All good. Very cool. Thanks. You, commissioners, vice president alone. Thank you so much to everyone for literally keeping our buildings and services running. It is crucial to have you on our team, because if our residents cannot access the buildings due to a failed air conditioning system, leaking roofs, or other maintenance issues, we are not fulfilling our role as the Durham County government in providing these services. So, you guys really outdid yourselves. and beyond, to ensure that our service to residents is as uninterrupted as possible. And whenever unforeseen circumstances arise, you face them and end up achieving your goal. I still remember two years ago, when we had that county committee meeting, the entire building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system broke down and needed to be repaired. Mo, you and your team got together and found a space in public health, put all the technology in place and everything ready so that we could continue our business at the county commission and hold that meeting, ensure that residents could still attend, make public comments and everything else. And I would be remiss if I didn't also give special thanks to the City Councilor, because we had a personal interaction a few weeks ago . It wasn't my favorite way to meet you, but I'm very grateful that you're part of the Durham County team . I think it was a month or more ago when I received very threatening and harassing calls and messages. like packages, uh, sent to me, that you contacted me to verify and took those threats very seriously and necessarily escalated them

to the appropriate levels and ensured that not only me , but everyone in the County Durham government was safe. So, thank you very much for your service. Commissioner Burton. Yes. I just want to say that 50 years later , when I was preparing for today's meeting and I saw, okay, 110 employees, I was thinking, okay, as County Durham grows, general services grow because that means our footprint is getting bigger. Yes. And, just as with the soil and the water, our residents don't see the work you do to keep this county running smoothly in every building in Durham. And when we went to the detention center for a tour, Sean was there and, you know, I was thinking about all the things that general services has to do and maintain to ensure that things are running smoothly for our residents and to make sure that everything is in perfect condition. So, thank you. Thank you for this beautiful bookmark. I'm going to use it. I think that's very, very cute. I can't wait to go to the celebration in July. Thank you very much, Valentine. Director Kumbro, let me help you. I...I...I only call you boss. Chief of B.M.B. Row E.R. Yes, thank you for representing the general services on the occasion of the 50th anniversary . Hmm, I think it was extremely gratifying to hear you honor your team here today and put yourself and others in the background and put unsung heroes, people we don't usually see much of, in the

foreground. Hmm, I think that's indicative of someone who works hard every day on behalf of Dorm County, putting people first . So, thank you, and I'm looking forward to that celebration in July. All good. Thank you all very much. And I've said this before in other areas. The importance of an organization becomes clear when people come into contact with it. People only contact you when something is wrong. People don't know you. They exist when everything is working well. So, I deeply appreciate the work you all do because most of the time, the vast majority of the time, things are working out well. So, this means that you and your team are doing exactly what needs to be done. So, thank you all very much. Manager Hager, I'll be brief. Thanks. At any time of day or night, this team is agile. And as President Lee said, when they are contacted, sometimes it 's because something unexpected has happened, and they are always quick and responsive in a way that makes you feel good. You are part of the Durham County government. And I know this has been mentioned, but they're supporting over 2 million square feet , over 180 acres, and over 70 buildings. And although the team has grown, it hasn't kept pace with the number of buildings we've taken on. So, we see you, we appreciate and value you, and we look forward to celebrating. Thanks. All good. Thank you all very much. All good. The second part of our celebrations should only be acknowledged . And the first item here is the proclamation of World Elder

Abuse Awareness Day , with the council being asked to proclaim June 15, 2016 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Okay. Are we just talking? All good. All good. They may proceed. All good. Good evening, Manager Hager and board. I just want to ... I'm Travis Williams, Assistant Director of Adult Services, and we want to thank you for recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day . On behalf of the director of Clap and the entire DSS organization, we want to thank you again for this, because it is a very important event to recognize our elderly. And so we at DSS take this very seriously and work hard to ensure that our citizens, our elderly, are definitely safe. So , since you all recognize us at this moment, we truly thank you. So, thank you. Thank you very much. Actually, I've been reading a lot here about elder abuse, and I just didn't know. I simply didn't know. Therefore, it is extremely important to present this . So, yes, thank you very much for introducing this. Thanks. Okay, the next proclamation is the Durham Refugee Day proclamation. The council was asked to

proclaim June 20, 2026 as Durham Refugee Day. Good evening everyone. Thanks. I am very honored to receive this proclamation on behalf of the refugees in Durham, and as you know, since 2025 everything has been very difficult for refugees, and we thank you for your support and the work you are doing. Thanks. Thank you very much. Thanks. The next proclamation is the summer learning week, and the council has been asked to proclaim July 6-10, 2026 as the summer learning week in County Durham. Do we have someone to talk to about this? President Dr. Lee, she may not be present. It was an external organization. Then I will contact her. and ensure it is sent by mail. Okay. Thanks. Thanks. And that's it for our celebrations. Or are these celebrations? Am I saying the right thing? Ceremonial items. My apologies. The next item on the agenda is consent. So, we have items on our consent agenda. We will need to select three for public comment. We have item number 26 0334, item number 26 0337. And then item number 26 0336. So, these three items will be selected and we will get to them at the

end of the meeting, in the section that says selected consent items. Okay, everyone's aware? You may proceed, Commissioner Valer. Yes, Mr. President. Regarding item 260344, indicating a voting delegate, do you want to take care of that from the start? It is approved when we vote and approve the consent agenda. Okay. Did you want to select it and discuss it ? As far as I know, we haven't decided who the delegate is that we appoint as the voting delegate. So, it's not in my... I do n't remember seeing that. It's me and Michelle, with Commissioner Burke as our alternate. Okay. Okay. That's what we have. Okay. Okay. All good. So, those three items were removed, and we will discuss them again. It will happen right after the appointments of the boards and committees. So, aside from that, I accept a motion to approve the consent agenda minus three items identified previously. Approved. Second. Mr. President, I have some questions. Questions regarding item 260321. I'm not going to suspend this item, but I'd like to make several comments. Feel free to agree. Go ahead. Okay. So, with regard to the adoption of the annual ordinance for the opioid settlement fund for fiscal year 2627 and related expenditure resolutions , I just want to emphasize that I believe we need to have a comprehensive review of our processes involved in allocating

resources with respect to opioid settlement funds. I understand that during the budget season I requested some additional information and I haven't received it yet . Actually, I'm interested in the team informing me. I know they're keeping track of it, but I'm still interested in receiving them. I also think we have some work to do as members of this committee with regard to giving this specific advisory council guidance on how these resources are spent. Currently, resources are being spent 60% on the county and 40% on the community. I mentioned during the budget season that I thought it wasn't a good idea how we budgeted. That we shouldn't use opioid funds to support our regular budget, especially when we know we need additional assets and resources in public health, for example, and some of the money is being used to support the director's position in the sheriff's department. I think we should, you know, deal with this sort of thing within the normal budgeting process. Hmm, and also, uh, regarding my last comment, I believe the funds should be used to expand uh, services in the community so that we can truly solve this problem. I'm not sure if the way we're allocating money currently does that. And so I think that's a conversation we need to have as a pupil to give political guidance in the next cycle. We can take a look at that. So, is this your request to ask the team to come back and discuss this? Yes. Yes. I believe this is something that is already underway. Okay. Yes. We talked about returning to the

council in the fall with the framework for next year's process and also to assess where there were areas that needed refinement from the current system based on feedback from council members as well as input from the community. Does this work for you? Commissioner Valentine? Yes, Mr. President. Thanks. Okay. Any further comments on the consent agenda? I only have one. I am very pleased to see that the surplus vehicles from the sheriff's office will be used by the Durham Tech police department, six of them. I know there were some questions during the budgeting process about the number of sheriff's vehicles we purchased, things of that nature, and that many of the vehicles, when they don't have high mileage or maybe they're just, you know, beyond repair, whatever , they go into surplus. So it's great to see that some of the vehicles are being reused and that county resources are being put to good use. So, I just want to reinforce that. Okay. All good. We already have a motion in the plenary session that has been duly supported to approve the consent agenda without the three items previously removed. Any further discussion? All good. Everyone in favor, say I.I. Everyone against, please use the same sign. The consent agenda, without the three removed items, was approved. Okay. The next item on our agenda is the public hearing regarding the amendment to the Rupert Landscape zoning map. This is the first of two public hearings. This is the change to the Rupert Landscape zoning map. Now, I will open the public hearing and listen to the team.

Good evening, Mr. President, Dr. Lee, Vice President, alumnus, county commissioners. I'm Javar Jones, from the Planning and Development Department of Durham, and I'm here tonight to present the Z250028 Roupert Landscape. The proposal includes the rezoning of a plot of land totaling 0.4 acres and located at 3513 Angier Avenue. The existing zoning is suburban residential 20. The applicant proposes to change this designation to light industrial with a textual development plan to allow parking for an adjacent landscaping company. The U team recommends changing the site type to suburban commercial because the proposal is inconsistent with the current site type. The existing zoning is suburban residential 20. Sorry, here we are. The site is surrounded by suburban residential area 20 and light industrial area. As you can see , the aerial map shows the general location of the project, and south of the area outlined in red is the location of the existing landscaping business . The property is currently designated as a residential property on the location type map. The proposed zoning was deemed inconsistent with the type of site designated. If approved, the team recommends a change in the location type designation on the map to suburban commercial. The applicant included a text commitment that prohibits a payday lender,

adult establishment, indoor shooting range, nightclub or bar, hotel, car wash, and gasoline sales. Furthermore, the applicant agrees to use native plants for all necessary crops on the site. The applicant held neighborhood meetings on September 29, 2025, and March 18, 2026. One community member attended the first meeting, while no community members attended the second meeting. Furthermore, no comments were received regarding this proposal for the Durham Rezoning Explorer. This case was heard by the planning committee on April 14, 2026. The planning committee voted 12 to zero in favor of a positive recommendation. As mentioned earlier, the proposal is inconsistent with the established designation of the type of residential location . If approved, the team recommends a change to the location type map to designate the property as suburban commercial. The proposal is also consistent with 24 of the 29 applicable comprehensive plan policies . I would like to thank you for your time. The team, as well as the applicant, Tish Shapiro, from Morning Star Law Group, is available to answer any questions. Okay. Thank you very much. I think we had someone to talk to. Good evening, Mr. President, members of the board. My name is Leticia Shapiro. I am an attorney from Morning Star Law Group here on behalf of the applicant, Rupert Landscape. Javar did a great job outlining and summarizing the details of the requirement. So, I would just like to highlight a few points. Both the property in question and the adjacent lot where Rupert Landscape currently operates its landscaping business were acquired simultaneously. The proposed reasoning would

align the zoning districts of the property in question with those of the adjacent property. Rubert Landscaping has been a valued member of the community for over five years. During our neighborhood meeting, the only community member who joined us that night said that Rubert Landscaping is a good neighbor, is engaged, and cares about its community. Although the request is not currently consistent with the established residential site type designation, the team recommended changing the future land use map designation to suburban commercial. This recommendation is consistent with the character of the adjacent properties and the broader development pattern you see along Andrew Avenue when traveling south on I-85. And as you heard, the request is also consistent with several applicable goals and policies of the comprehensive plan. The applicant is seeking rezoning for light industry with a textual development plan . And this approach not only allows the property in question to be zoned in a way that is consistent with Rupert's existing landscape operation next door. It is in the spirit of being a good neighbor that he also prohibits a number of other permitted light industrial uses that Javar previously mentioned would be incompatible with the surrounding area. For these reasons, we respectfully request your approval of the request for repercussion. And thank you for your time tonight . And we would like to have your approval tonight. And I'm here to answer any questions you may have. Thanks. Okay. Thanks. Any questions from the flight attendants? Direct questions. Yes. To the applicant. So, from what I understand, this action is necessary due to a notification violation. Is this correct? There was a zoning violation, as it was zoned as RS20 and is currently being used as a parking lot. Yes, that's correct . And that would resolve the request for

media attention, that would solve it. Okay. Any other questions? All good. I will now conclude the public hearing and listen to the comments from the commissioners. Yes, I think the owner is just trying to make sure they're following the zoning rules to ensure the property is in line with how they 're using it. I believe he's using it as a parking lot. So, I think that's a good thing. Okay. Okay. Mr. President, I am inclined to support this action. It is not very common for the planning committee to meet and unanimously vote in favor of this type of action. Therefore, I am inclined to support her. Okay. And just for the record, I ended the public hearing because there were no public comments registered for this particular item. Okay. Therefore, there were no pre-registered public comments. That's why I ended without asking for public comment. Okay, there weren't any. Okay. All good. Any further comments? Okay. I accept the motion. Okay. Let me double-check that I understand correctly. Do I have a motion here? Okay. There are two motions. I'm going to read the motions. I will accept a motion to adopt the ordinance that amends a unified and de-unified development ordinance, removing the residential suburb 20 property and establishing it as light industrial with a textured development plan, and we will make one motion at a time. So this is the first motion. Approved. Secondly. All good. The motion was read and

duly supported. Any further discussion on the first motion? Everyone in favor, say "I.I. Everyone against", please use the same sign. The motion is approved unanimously. The second motion is to adopt a statement of consistency as required by section 160D-605 of the North Carolina general statute. Approved. Secondly. Our second motion was duly presented and supported. Any further discussion? Everyone in favor, say "I.I. Everyone against", please use the same sign. Approved unanimously. All good. This was our first public hearing. We're moving on to the second public hearing, but I wanted to reread what I said at the beginning of the meeting here, just for clarity. So, before opening the public meeting, I want to clarify that the item under discussion in the council tonight...to clarify the item under discussion in the council tonight. Tonight's public hearing concerns a proposed amendment to the provisions of the ordinance governing the process and requirements for adopting development moratoria in general. The council is not considering adopting a moratorium on data centers tonight. The comments from the public hearing should focus on the amendment to the text that is being discussed in the council tonight. I read this because we have 13 subscriptions for public comments. I just wanted to make sure I was clear about that. Okay. I will now open the public hearing on the amendment to the text of the development moratorium of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDL). Robin. Goodnight. My name is Robin Schultz, from the planning and development department. I am here to present to you all TC2600002,

which is a text amendment initiated by the team. This amendment aims to remove the additional barriers imposed by the current Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) on government agencies required to institute a development moratorium. In addition, it will remove redundant standards that are already required by state law. More specifically, North Carolina General Statute 160D-107. The team is available for any questions. Thanks. Okay. Any questions from the stewards at this time? Okay. We now have public comments posted for this or this item. Okay. So, we have 13, and I'm going to read them maybe four at a time so you can line up against the wall over there to be ready here. All good. The foyu chum. Did I get close? Because it is phonetically written here. Okay, then . Teima Oak, Charlotte Rio, Rios and Ashley Daniels. These are the first four. Okay. And it will be, um , because of the number we have, we'll do one minute each. So, here we go . Here we go. Good evening, board of stewards, to everyone watching. My name is Fio Jagun. I am a resident of County Durham. My address is registered. One minute is a bit crazy, but I'm here to support the amendment to the text and I advise you to approve,

when the time comes, the strongest possible data center moratorium. I advise you to combine the city's 12-month moratorium with a ban on existing data centers. Hmm, thank you very much. Okay. My name is Tema Oaken. I am a long-time resident of the city and county of Durham. Hmm, yes. I am also requesting that this amendment to the text be approved. And I feel that you should shout from the rooftops that you will approve this amendment to the text because you also want to be able to approve a moratorium. I am observing how we honor the land of our ancestors and also how we pay homage to a man who protects our water. My father was a man of water and sewage and was very proud of Durm Water. I feel that approving this amendment is the first step toward ensuring that we can protect the public resource that is water. Good evening, commissioners , Chairman Lee, Co-Chairman Alam, and others. Thank you for listening to my comments. My name is Tara Rios. I've always been from North Carolina. I've lived in this area for about 10 years and I'm speaking tonight in support of amending the UDO text. This amendment to the text is supported by the planning committee, and I was pleased to see that this item aligns with County Durham's strategic goal of sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship, protecting and enhancing natural and built systems to support a sustainable community. This amendment will open the possibility for the county to adopt longer moratoriums on a variety of issues. It's important that we slow down and do sufficient research on a variety of different problems, but in this case, specifically for data centers. I was impressed by what

Co-Chairman Alam shared earlier regarding the recognition of our land. We need to make sure that we're doing exactly that as well. Thanks. Goodnight. My name is Ashley Daniels. I am the program and organization director for Toxic Free, and the residents of Durm are being advised to conserve water to ensure they don't run out. What similar directive would be given to a data center if Durm were to experience another historic drought season in the future? And how would this directive be applied? By what percentage would the energy bills of Durham residents increase with a new data center? And how would the county mitigate these costs? All researchers report the detrimental impact that data centers have on air quality if Durham were to allow data centers access to the county. We need to define the topic, please . These data centers are not the topic. Thanks. So, I'm explaining why you need to change the UDO, but my time was limited to 60 seconds, so I can't explain it completely. But you... Let's go back to 30 seconds. We need you to focus on this topic, please. Okay, so I had several other questions that needed answers, and the need for those answers, and others, is the reason why County Durm amended the UDO and allowed the necessary moratorium to protect the residents of Durham. Thanks. Okay, now we have Jana Sims, Omar G. I can't, Gomez. Oh yes. Edgar. Arctic. Arita. Orata. Raphael Maser.

Please forgive me if I'm not pronouncing these names correctly. We will do it. I thought there were four. Raphael. Okay. They can speak. Goodnight. My name is Jana Sims. I am a resident of Durham and County Durham. Thank you for letting me speak tonight . I am here to support the amendment to the UD UDO text. I'm glad to see that you're proposing this and that it's supported by the planning committee. For me, this is a step toward demonstrating a culture of care that we want to see from our leaders in the community. Approving this UDO allows us to analyze things in the future, such as data center moratoriums , so that whenever we are analyzing and evaluating community needs, we have time to analyze this and really delve into it and find the necessary research to truly assess what is good for the community, what truly centers a culture of care, and not just what is good for a company, for a company's profits. I want to see our leaders in our community truly demonstrating that they care about the people in the community, and part of that is really giving us time to analyze and evaluate new changes. Thanks. Okay. Thanks. Hello, my name is Omar and I haven't been in Durham for very long. I've been here for about four years. Part of what I really like about Durham is the community culture and the care we give to our communities. And I'm here to support that, DU, because we really need to invest a lot more time in research on what the downstream effects are . Earlier, you praised some of these city workers, who I believe should be commended for the hard work they have been doing and for keeping our water and environment safe. By adopting this, you're upholding that commitment, and I think you really need to match what the city has done, if not expand even further

, to a 32-month moratorium, all to give us enough time to do the research, really plan, and really strategize, not just to profit from a handful of companies that will end up replacing all AI workers and other, uh, workforce. So, I really strongly recommend that you adopt this. Thanks. Thanks. Good evening, flight attendants. My name is Edgar Aretta. Hmm, you're close, don't worry. And I am here as part of a coalition of community members and organizations in support of amending the UDO text. Well, you know , we've been in and out of town hall for the last few months, and now we're here and we'll be here a little more frequently, because this is another bastion to help protect the health and future of Durham residents. So, I am here in support of this amendment to the text. You know, it's not just a simple change of wording, and it's giving us more tools to fight against, as some people have said, those corporations that care more about their profits than the city and the people who live in it. Hmm, and this opens the door not only to passing a city moratorium, but to passing a county-wide moratorium that should be as strong, if not stronger, than the one the city of Durham just passed. And if this moratorium is on the agenda, many other things will be too, to set a good example, to help finance the heart of our city: its employees, its teachers, its firefighters, other municipal workers, opening better ways for the city to see what we are funding. I thank. Thanks. Okay. And I called Raphael Maer. Okay. And then we'll have the others here, Leslie St. Dre. We have Eleanor Weston, Eva

Paige Banuk, Danielle Puroy and Pablo Ferman. Yes sir. Thank you, Rafael Mer, and I support this process for all the reasons mentioned before, and also because I think we need to pause this until we figure out a fair approach to taxing data centers. It was frustrating to read that. One of the biggest reductions in the tax amount was for a data center when, at the same time, my neighbors and I had our appeals hearings paused and rescheduled without our permission because they claimed it was new data that we had sent them in writing five months earlier, and then surprised us at the rescheduled hearing. We didn't have a chance to say when we wanted the audience, so we couldn't have our former experts. They surprised us with a 40% and 30% proposal using 2025 data, which isn't allowed because it ends in December 2024. Therefore, if we're going to be inflexible in the tax process, we need to find a way to tax data centers fairly, along with us as residents. Thanks. Goodnight. I am Leslie St. Dre. I am here as part of the Stop Data Centers in Durham coalition. I fully support this amendment to the text so that we can act more quickly when necessary to prevent development that is harmful to our residents. I spoke with most of you. You know we're fighting for a long data center moratorium so we can get the best permanent protections, and that's how you can use this text amendment. I am also here today to demand a refund from the people for a budget belonging to the people. We will collectively recover the $19 million that

you handed over to the corporate owners. It will be workers, firefighters, nurses, tenants, and landlords working together to get back the money you donated improperly. We demand that you replace BOER as well. It's time to stop prioritizing developers and homeowners over people who need housing, truly affordable housing, fair wages, and community services and programs . Thanks. My name is Eleanor Weston. I've been a resident of Durham for a long time. I've been here for about six years. I am also here representing the triangular center of the Sunrise Movement, which is a youth-led movement for climate action and a habitable future. I support this amendment to the UDO text. I think it's very reasonable that locally elected officials should have the power to approve longer moratoriums , especially on things that would harm our community. Data centers are not good neighbors, and I think it's very reasonable that you all have the power to approve a longer moratorium on building them in our county. Thanks. Hello, my name is Eva and I live in County Durham, outside the city limits. I am here today to ask the county commissioners to approve the proposed amendment to the UDO text that would allow us to follow the city's lead and move forward with the longest possible moratorium on new data centers. This proposed rule change would enhance the county's ability to reserve the necessary time to pause and plan not only for hyperscale data centers , but for any other issues that may arise. In my lifetime, and I'm only 33 years old, we've gone from paying for long-distance calls to Chapel Hill on a landline, ten cents for each SMS sent or received, and using

dial-up internet to where we are today . Communities have had little time to respond to the rapid changes and growing threat of hyperscale data centers . And we may continue to face similar situations as technology continues to change rapidly. This new threat to our security and the environment has progressed at an alarming rate, and County Durham needs the flexibility that this rule change would allow to respond to this and other pressing issues that may lie ahead. Thanks. Thanks. Good evening, flight attendants. My name is Danielle Puroy. I have lived in Durham for 36 years. I've lived in three different neighborhoods, grew up in Durham public schools, and currently live in Old East Durham. I am here to support the amendment to the UDO text, so that we can echo others, so that we can have the tools to approve the strongest possible moratorium on new data centers. There are several threats to our water right now, including in my neighborhood in ODS Durham, where they are gathering right now as we talk about the contamination of our water by Bin Tag. We are in one of the worst droughts in the state's history, right? Right here in our region. Mickey's Lake is dry, folks. Okay. Lake Falls is drying up. We have a responsibility to our water, to our future, right? To protect our water and soil from the development of these new data centers. So please approve this amendment to the text so that we can regulate these new technology data centers. Thanks. Good evening, flight attendants and members of the public. I'll forgo pleasantries simply because of time constraints. But first, I want to begin by expressing my

support for this amendment to the text. I think it 's a step in the right direction. And for those who may not know, and I found out about this when I spoke with elected officials, I want to commend you, Ms. County Prosecutor, because the reason this whole process started was because you called the people in town and said, "Wait, how are you going to move forward with this?" Because UDO doesn't allow that. So, based on your legal analysis, we are on this path which I believe is the correct legal path to follow. Secondly, I think it's important to have a moratorium because there are some issues that we need to resolve. I don't think any developer in County Durham is going to come here and build a data center. The biggest problem is the existing data centers and the gaps, and whether or not people have the capacity to handle them. For example, Duke University, a multi-billion dollar entity that does not pay property taxes. Are you building a data center? Will they use city water? How will they affect the local electric utility? I think these are important issues that need to be reconciled during this break. I think 12 months is the minimum. Siri County, a much more republican county, went for 24 months. So, I recommend that you also analyze this. Thanks. Thanks. Okay, I'll go. Ah, I already asked the stewards for questions before the public comments. So, I'm going to close the public hearing and I have comments from the commissioners. Just the vice president, I want to echo the comments that Mr. Pablo Freeman just shared, thanking our county attorney because this was something that, you know, was a team initiative. So, thank you to attorney Williamson for seeing that we were putting this into practice when we were already in a state with so many preemptions and limiting what local governments can do. The fact that we, as a local government, as a city and county, had even more constraints on ourselves regarding the time limits surrounding the moratorium. So, thank you, Attorney Williamson, and thank you to our planning team for stepping up so quickly and sending us this amendment to the text so we can get it

approved, because I think it's very important for us to be able to have the power and the ability as a local government , whatever power and ability we can have, in states like ours where they keep trying to take that away from us. So, I, for example, strongly support this amendment to the text and I am looking forward to our future discussions that we will have next month or in August. Okay. Yes. Thank you, President Lee. And I just want to acknowledge everyone who spoke about this issue tonight. So, I hear you. I hear you loudly . I support the amendment to the UDO text . I think it puts us in the right position to move forward in the direction we deem appropriate as a count, as a committee. And I also want to be aware that, as we move forward, we are being meticulous . I want to be on the right side of history, and I believe everyone here wants that too. So, we'll deal with this amendment to the text and move on . All good. Okay. And I also support the amendment to the text. I'm on the joint city and county planning committee, and it was unanimous that we would remove that, adjust that language, if you will, so we can discuss what that means, you know. And not just for any specific reason, but simply for any type of moratorium that might arise in the future, or for any type of development, we would have a little more flexibility. So, I support this, all together. So, let me read and analyze these motions here. All good. We have two motions, and I will read them here. Motion one to adopt an amended ordinance to the UD, the

unified development ordinance, incorporating revisions to article three, applications and licenses. Approved. Second. Our motion was duly presented and supported. Any further discussion on motion one ? Everyone in favor, say " I.I.I. Everyone against", please use the same sign. Approved unanimously. Motion two is to adopt a statement of consistency as required by North Carolina General Statutes 160D-605. Approved. Approved. We have a motion in the plenary session that was presented and duly supported. Any further discussion on motion two? Everyone in favor, say "I.I.I. Everyone against", please use the same sign. Both motions were approved unanimously. Okay. Thanks. The next item on our agenda is the appointment of the board of directors and committees. Attorney Williamson. Williamson. Okay. I won't take it personally if you leave. All good. You know, good night. We have a few vacancies that the board is filling. The first committee is the advisory committee on bicycles and pedestrians. There are three vacancies, and the board has selected Mary Fontana, Edward Rudo, and John Lawler for this committee. Next, we have the adjustments council. We have two openings, one for a city resident and one for a county resident. For the city resident position , the council selected Michael Tarrant. For the county resident position , the council selected Scott Mofield. We have a committee of criminal justice advisors. There are two vacancies. For this committee, the council selected Tanya Dixon and Mike Cyester for the Durham County Women's Commission

. Actually, we have a tie in this one . So, let's move this on to the next meeting so we can do this again. And moving on to the Durham Trails and Open Spaces Commission, we have two vacancies. The board selected Ben King and Carrie Brandon. For the Durham Planning Committee , we have one vacancy. The council selected Drew Wooten. For the Durham Sports Commission, we have a vacancy and the council has selected Mike Mororrow. We have one vacancy on the Board of Trustees of Durham Technical Community College . The council selected Thai Shandre Edmonds. For the environmental affairs council, we have five vacant positions. And the board selected Astred Cook Deli, Luna Homsy, Ashley Hillard and Edgard Negabo Mahina. I apologize if I didn't pronounce it correctly. And for Lola Chafatelli, for the Advisory Committee on Services for People Experiencing Homelessness, we have a vacant position. The board selected Renee Vaughn. And finally, for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, we have two vacant positions. The board selected Alex Hurdle and Seth Kandall. Congratulations to all the selected candidates. All good. Thank you all for your willingness to serve, and to those who were not selected, please continue to apply. There are always opportunities and roles where we could use them . So, thank you all very much. The next items on the agenda are those removed from the consent agenda. They were removed for public comment. There are three. The first one, and all three, are by Antonet Halls, Miss. Halls. The first is 260334.

Approval to enter into a service contract with Recovery Innovations, Inc. in the amount of US$51,000. To provide telehealth and after- hours services to inmates with mental health issues at the Durham County Detention Center. I ask that your public comments be specifically about this item. My name is Antonet Hos and yes, I am here to support Burkehead and everything he is trying to do in prison, and to try to support citizens who are going through difficulties and detained for any reason. I'm not sure about Tella's health, and I know there's another item, but the point is, from what I understand, the population he serves is primarily mental health-related, and when you look at the people in this homeless community , many of them are also suffering from mental health issues, and I kind of feel that Durham isn't doing what they, the community, need them to do. You are not contributing to the community. I support Burkehead in all the efforts he is making to provide mental health services to his inmates, but I am also pressing the county to do what needs to be done for the citizens so that we can live dignified lives and positively impact the community instead of having a quick fix after something blows up. I mean, I really don't think Durham is really working hard to support the community, the citizens themselves, and mental health is a big problem. And I really feel that the money you're allocating to the DSS to have its psychoeducational program, that program should be going to prison.

It would need to be at the county level for the sheriff's department because most of the people detained have the list of problems described in that program for Maggie to manage. And for someone who can't pass a state audit, and someone whose team performs poorly based on the state-mandated training and supplements they've implemented, the sheriff's department is the best place for this psychological education program for bipolar disorder , intellectual disabilities, mental illness, depression, eating disorders, all those things. All these people in prison are suffering because they lack the resources of the community to function within the community. And it's your fault. It's your fault that you're not serving the citizens. It's your fault that we can't recover. We will ensure that we fulfill this particular contract. The topic is mental health in prison. That's the question. The problem is that you're not serving the community , or they wouldn't be there if you put a drop of humanity in your cup. That's all I'm saying. OK thanks. All good. Yes . Yes. No need to go back. Where are we now? Let's get moving. It's 26337. And this is approval to enter into a service contract with just one clean house, with 124,000 inhabitants, to operate a temporary living unit with six beds for individuals receiving services from the Durham County Department of Justice Services in fiscal year 2627, which, in my view, is another extended incarceration program. Am I

wrong about that? Another failing of the public service is that people lack the ability to have their own space to recover and become strong and productive citizens. They need to do this within the boundaries of an institution. I support that. I support that. But again, I feel that the psychoeducational program needs to go to Burkehead because he's the sheriff and the district attorney and prosecutor are there, and that program will be more ingenious and useful for inmates who already need services and who have exhausted their resources outside of a correctional institution. Again, Durham isn't doing what needs to be done for the citizens, or they wouldn't need to be there anyway. It's poverty. It's a lack of housing. It's a lack of opportunity. That's rude . All these things that this program Maggie is preparing to receive is saying it will support. But it's not in Maggie's interest to take on any more. Burke has a responsibility. Every time something happens in that prison, he 's always at risk and always in a fast-track rehabilitation program. But we need to be proactive, and I think Durham has a financial problem, but I think it's an allocation issue. I really think it's allocation rather than deficit. And it's your fault. Again, it 's your fault. What's next? Okay, just to clarify, I really did confuse the numbers of those two. What you just said was 260336. Now

let's go to 26337. Okay. What you just said was 336. Right. What we're talking about now is the 337. Just for the record. And this is the approval to enter into a service contract with psychiatric services and consultancy worth £ 204,000 to provide mental health services to individuals at the Durham County Detention Centre in fiscal year 2026-27. Yes, I support that. I always support anything Burkehead is doing to improve the quality of life for his inmates. Again, the psychoeducational program is designed for people who are in this group. They are legitimately a group of patients. You have a mental institution in Durham County Jail. It is a mental institution, and given that the department of social services and child protection services is involved, this program and these funds constitute a misappropriation of legitimately intended funds. I think so, and I'm going to state my position on it. It is misappropriation when the program participants are actually in the county jail. I really think that if you were going to have this program, the Burkeheads Correctional Institution or a county jail would be the best place to have these services and meet the needs of the public. And that's why we're here, right? To meet the needs of the public. Once again, County Durham fails its citizens. You need to allocate funds to the citizens of County Durham so that we

can stay afloat. Getting up on your feet is one thing, but staying upright is another. And pour all that money into these programs and, you know, give it here, move it over there, and transfer it there. It's a matter of appropriation. That's what it is . That's what we have. And once again , we need to audit Maggie's expertise. Okay. Thanks. All good. These are the three items that were removed from the consent agenda. Do the stewards have any further comments regarding the items that were removed? All good. In the absence of a response, I will accept the motion to approve item number 26334. Items number 260336 and 260337 were removed from the consent agenda. Approved. Second. The three items we removed from the consent agenda were approved and duly accepted. Approved appropriately. Any further discussion? Everyone in favor, say "I. I. Everyone against", please use the same tense. Approved unanimously. This brings us to the end of our meeting tonight. I will accept the motion to postpone. So, it passes second. Second. It was proposed and duly supported that we close the case. Everyone in favor, say "I.I. Everyone against". We are closed. Thanks. Approval and