Commissioners make decisions on budget items

Janet Imrick 

Randolph Hub 

ASHEBORO — A flooding parking lot at the sheriff ’s office and farewells for retiring county employees were among more than a dozen items on the agenda for the Randolph County Board of Commissioners Jan. 3 meeting. 

Some highlights: 

-Three county employees retired with a collective 86 years of service: Lindale Thomas from the Department of Public Buildings, Cathy Wall from Public Health and Capt. Mickey Beal from the Sheriff ’s Office. The commissioners gifted them each with a clock and a pen made from the wood of the tree that was removed from the courthouse grounds. 

-Lt. Col. Steven Myers formally presented the Randolph County Sheriff ’s Office request for new vehicles. The Sheriff ’s Office wishes to buy three 2023 Chrysler 300 Tourings for undercover enforcement and six 2023 Ford F-150 for various purposes. The purchases were already included in the 2023 county budget.

-Commissioners approved a contract with dbd Construction to repave and improve drainage in the Sheriff's Office garage parking lot. Public Works Staff Engineer Paxton Arthurs said this project should stop rainwater from pooling outside and inside the garage.

-They approved a grant subcontract with Kintegra Family Dentistry for a school-based oral health program. Public Health Director Tara Akers said this will allow them to use a Duke Endowment grant awarded to the county.

-For the I-74 sewer project, the board accepted revised funding awarded by a Commerce IDF grant from $1 million to $800,000 and accepted a Golden LEAF grant for $1 million. They approved a budget amendment to transfer the project from the city of Asheboro to the city of Randleman.

-They approved a request on behalf of the Trinity Museum to transfer $25,000 from Well-Being Reserve funds for repairs to the chimney and train station roof.

-Approved a budget amendment to refund Toyota Battery Manufacturing $200,000 for building inspections, part of the performance-based incentive agreement with Toyota. 

-Two budget amendments were approved for building reuse grants for Kraftsman Trailers and Mid-State Trailers, totaling $240,000.

-The board voted to create 12 new positions and reclassify current job positions with Randolph County.

-During the public comment period, Ken Rhodes and Larry Cahoon from Pinecroft Village reported how clearcutting filled their neighborhood with smoke in the days after Christmas, settling on the ground due to the weather. They said it was thick enough to set off smoke detectors and caused some residents to seek medical treatment.

Dwain Roberts and Clyde Foust respectively spoke in favor and against the Confederate statue outside the courthouse. Foust also asked about creating a warming center.

-Commissioners passed a resolution supporting North Carolina's Year of the Trails for 2023.

-April Adams, engagement partner for Cherry Bekaert, presented Randolph County's annual audit results.