Trinity getting three additional deputies

ASHEBORO — The City of Trinity is contracting with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office for three more deputies, augmenting the two deputies already patrolling the city.

The request for more law enforcement was approved by the Randolph County Board of Commissioners at their Aug. 1 meeting. Trinity leaders have agreed to cover the $292,173 cost of adding the positions, in addition to remodeling an office for the deputies and to offset the operation fees to the county by paying $500 per month, plus the cost of utilities.

The breakdown of cost for the three deputies is: $145,923 for salaries; $11,163 for FICA; $31,680 for health insurance; $19,116 for retirement; $7,297 for 401K: $27,795 per year for five years for vehicle equipment and installation; $14,550 for fuel and maintenance; $34,650 for one-time program investment fee for the first year (uniforms and personal equipment). The Sheriff’s Office has committed to purchase vehicles using funds from lapsed salaries.

Darrell Frye, commission chair, noted that the Trinity City Council had approved last year the development of more than 200 townhomes. Archdale has also agreed to a development with more than 500 new homes. With the expected increase in population for the two cities in the coming years, Frye asked if the five deputies contracted by Trinity would also be available to cover Archdale. He was assured that they would be.

In other business, the board:

•Received an update on county employee wellness by Sam Varner, Wellness administrator.

Varner said the county has a new mental health vendor, Asheboro Counseling and Wellness led by Litha Charles with nine licensed therapists to help employees and their families with mental health resources.

Varner said the county is expanding the Critical Incident Stress Management program (CISM) from Emergency Services to Sheriff’s Office, Department of Social Services and Public Health. Each of these departments will have a CISM team which offers a licensed therapist and trained peers to assist and support employees who have experienced on-the-job critical incident stress. 

Also expanding is a peer-to-peer support program for employees working in high-stress roles. Selected employees are trained to assist coworkers who have encountered critical incidents. Pet therapy, with support from Public Health, is being provided to all departments, Varner said. 

Wellness is creating a university-supported longitudinal study to analyze the county’s biometric and claims data over six years. Jennifer Layton of Public Health is working with UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Greensboro to create a Ph.D. research thesis program to explore Randolph County wellness trends. 

Lastly, Varner said the annual health fair for employees will now be a community health fair. In addition to employees and their families, the fair will be offered to at-risk and low-income populations with a wide variety of health screenings and wellness education. Transportation will be provided for those who wouldn’t be able to attend otherwise.

•Approved the Animal Services ordinance and bylaws updates and a Workforce Development Board realignment. 

The board also granted a change order for the Juvenile Day Reporting Center renovation. The change order is for $20,750, which is in the project budget, to replace existing non-metallic cables.

• Declared the county’s state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic to be expired as of Aug. 16, when the state ends its state of emergency.

•Recognized three individuals for their service to the county. Dr. Robert Shackleford is retiring as president of Randolph Community College. Teresa Stinson is retiring after 19 years with the Department of Social Services and Michael Rowland is retiring after 31 years with Information Technology.

Julie Miller of Juvenile Day Reporting was honored for her actions in assisting an elderly woman who was slumped over her steering wheel. Miller called 911 and followed their instructions in providing CPR until emergency personnel arrived. 

Alyson Kidd was recognized for being selected as Randolph County’s representative in the Youth Voice program at the NC Association of County Commissioners this month.

There were three high school athletic teams and one athlete honored for winning state championships.

Trinity High School wrestler, David Makupson, won the state 2A championship in the 138-pound weight class.

The Wheatmore Warriors soccer team won the state 2A championship, completing a perfect season at 25-0. 

The Randleman High School baseball team captured the state 2A championship, going 33-1 for the season.

The Southwestern Randolph volleyball team won the state 2A championship, going 28-5 for the season.

•••

The public comment period again was focused on the Confederate monument that stands in front of the Historic 1909 Courthouse. Franklin Suggs took issue with those who say that an overwhelming majority of Randolph County residents are for keeping the monument. “We can’t be sure of the number of monument supporters,” he said. “You should serve all 100 percent of Randolph County residents.”

Frye countered that “100 percent of the residents have access to all the services we provide.”

Alan Lamb said, “I have a voice at the polls. You all (the five commissioners who voted in March to keep the statue) have my vote.”

Dean Brown told the board that they had recently voted “for the unborn (with a resolution against abortion) and for those who fought in the war. The board has voted, it’s over, let it go. Work on something to help people.”

Dr. Chuck Egerton said the “issue will continue to be to rid Randolph County of white supremacy. The county voted against secession (prior to the Civil War). The statue stands as a lie. As long as the statue stands, we’ll be working until we’re done with this issue.”

Greg Auman said removing the monument “is not going to accomplish anything. It was put there for those who fought.”

Clyde Foust, president of the local NAACP, said there were 1,600 slaves in Randolph County, “people living in bondage. Some had their children sold to people in other states. You know what you did was right when you can explain why you did it.”