Harnett County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting yesterday morning, September 6, in the Commissioners Meeting Room at the Harnett County Resource Center and Library.

Commissioners kicked off the meeting with unanimously approving several action items in the consent agenda. These action items included:

• Approval to terminate the March 16, 2020 COVID State of Emergency (SOE) to align with the Governor’s termination of the North Carolina COVID State of Emergency on August 15th.
• Approval for Harnett County Health Department to accept COVID Vaccination funds in the amount of $299,331. These funds will assist the health department with COVID vaccine distribution and will ensure greater access to the vaccine in underserved populations.
• Approval for Harnett County Public Library to apply for annual state aid from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the State Library.
• Approval for Harnett County Public Library to amend the rate and fee schedule to include recently acquired lendable technology equipment and accessories and to adjust the current fees for makerspace materials.
• Approval of the Library Consolidation Agreement. This agreement details the terms and conditions for the consolidation of the Dunn Public Library with the Harnett County Public Library System.
• Approval of Harnett County Public Library’s Lease Agreement detailing the terms and conditions of the Dunn Public Library located at 110 E Divine Street, Dunn, NC.
• Approval of Harnett County Public Library’s consolidation budget for staffing and operating expenses for the Dunn Public Library effective September 1, 2022.
• Approval for Information Technology to upgrade and replace the Core Server Infrastructure. This will allow the County to meet the future needs of our on-premise server based applications and increase the performance of existing applications
• Approval for Sheriff Coats to award a Glock model 15, serial number BGYD537 service weapon to Lt. Bobby Hallman upon his retirement.
• Approval for the Sheriff’s Office to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US Marshals Service. The purpose of the MOU is to allow the US Marshals Service to assist the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office in locating and apprehending sex offenders who are non-compliant with the requirement that they register as a sex offender.
• Approval of Harnett Regional Water’s Southwest Wastewater Pump Station and Force Main Project and Capital Project Ordinance. This capital ordinance consists of the renovation of our regional sewer lift station #57 located off Hwy 87 in Spouts Springs and the construction of approximately 5 miles of 20 inch sewer force main along Hwy 87 in a southerly direction towards Spring Lake.
• Approval of an engineering Consulting Agreement between Harnett Regional Water and MBD Consulting Engineers PA. This agreement is for the Southwest Wastewater Pump Station and Force Main Project.
• Approval of the Amendment to the Capital Project Ordinance for the installation of locks and cameras for Harnett County Public Schools.
• Approval of the receipt and disbursement of Legislative Appropriation funds totaling $1.5 M to some special interest groups, municipalities, Chamber of Commerce, Veterans Groups, non-profits and other organizations.
• Approval to accept the resignation of Niihau Ramsey from the Harnett County Planning Board and appoint Dr. Brandon James Washington, DDS of District 3 to the physician vacancy on the Board of Health.
• Approval of Benhaven Emergency Services to purchase a used Ambulance.

Next, Commissioners opened a public comment period for citizens to address the Board. There were two citizens to provide remarks on various topics.

Following the public comment period, Commissioners adopted a resolution to begin the upset bid process for real property located on Monroe Lane in Erwin.

Next, Commissioners approved the Averasboro Battlefield Commissioner Contract. This contract outlines funds provided to the County to Averasboro Battlefield Commission.

County Commissioners then approved various budget amendments and tax rebates.

Last, County Manager Brent Trout provided his report, which included an update on the Shawtown Community Park, the Department of Social Services monthly report, Finance Department monthly report, interdepartmental budget amendments, and the proposed FY 2023-2024 budget calendar.

 The next County Commissioners regular meeting will be held on Monday, September 19 at 6:00 PM. You can watch yesterday’s meeting in full by visiting Harnett County Government’s youtube channel or the Commissioners webpage at harnett.org/boc.