County tackles new medical contract, strategic funds

ASHEBORO — As this fiscal year nears its end, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners spent their May 4 meeting moving along various contracts for services and capital projects.

■ On behalf of the sheriff’s office, Chief Deputy Steven Nunn and Major Ricci D’Angelo got approval for a new healthcare provider for the correctional center. They said they’ve been dissatisfied with services and staffing by the current provider, Mediko. Seven companies bid for the contract. The lowest bid, $1,484,000, came from IMS Correctional Healthcare.

D’Angelo said they spoke with other jail administrators, and they had good things to say about IMS’ service.

■ County Engineer Paxton Arthurs presented a plan to replace the HVAC chiller at the Shaw Building on Worth Street. He said they only got two bids, and both were substantially higher than the $500,000 estimate from the mechanical engineer.

Arthurs said they negotiated with the lowest bidder, Piedmont Service Group, to install a different cooling unit. That brought the cost down to $627,008.

Commissioner Lester Rivenbark and Chair Darrell Frye asked if they should put it out for bid again since the project changed. Arthurs and County Manager Zeb Holden said that would create problems because Piedmont Service Group began negotiations and put its price out there. “I do feel we compromised this group if they’ve already put a number out on the table,” Holden said.

Arthurs said no matter what, they will need to replace the HVAC eventually, and costs are not likely to come down in the future. Commissioners accepted the bid and made an $80,000 budget adjustment to cover the cost. Arthurs said they hope to start work this fall.

■ Next, they agreed to pursue a change of software. Information Technology Director RJ Williamson said their enterprise permitting and licensing software is cumbersome and hinders the workflow between different departments. Planning, Central Permitting, Environmental Health, Tax, Building Inspections and Fire Inspections all use it to collaborate on building approvals.

With the renewal date coming up and building issues forcing IT to pause some of their planned projects, Williamson said they can use the unspent money to work with the vendor and get better software. Commissioners signed off on $448,660 for migrating to a new service.

■ At the end of the meeting, they voted on how to spend the latest strategic planning funds. This year, they budgeted for $300,000. Fifteen organizations submitted requests totaling $500,860. After a workshop to review the proposals, staff recommended $298,310. Commissioners approved the recommendations with Rivenbark dissenting.

— Community Outreach of Archdale-Trinity, Inc. (COAT): $50,000.

— Friends of the Patterson College: $3,750. 

— Habitat for Humanity: $25,000.

— Healthy Communities: $2,000.

— Lydia’s Place: $17,560.

— Our Daily Bread Kitchen: $25,000.

— Place of Grace: $25,000.

— Randolph County Partnership for Children: $50,000.

— Rhino Leap Productions: $20,000.

— Sleep in Heavenly Peace: $15,000.

— Spirit Horse: $15,000.

— Victory Junction: $50,000.

These funds come from one of two checks made out annually by Waste Management and are traditionally set aside for nonprofits.

Students’ flags and retiring staff

■ Commissioners honored three students who won Revolutionary Randolph’s flag design contest. Students from both public school systems and Uwharrie Charter Academy created their own flag for the county and wrote an essay. Asheboro City Council Member Cam Mills and Randolph County Public Information Officer Amy Rudisill presented the winners:

— Santiago Alcantara Sampson, Randolph County School.

— Amelia Cameron, Uwharrie Charter Academy.

— Helen Espinoza Menjivar, Asheboro City Schools.

They each received a certificate and a gift bag from the Heart of North Carolina Visitors’ Bureau.

Revolutionary Randolph is part of America 250 NC, a nationwide campaign to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

■ Commissioners thanked two staff members who retired after 31 years of working for the county. Robert Cross was director of the department of public buildings. Jaynetta Butler was assistant director of social work for the Department of Social Services.