The January meeting of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners featured the 2023-2024 FY Audit Executive Summary. Randolph County Tourism Development Authority and United Way of Randolph County both presented Annual Reports. Additional new business was discussed at the meeting, including a funding request from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, a request for reclassification from the Randolph County Department of Social Services, the creation of a position to manage Ag Center events, a request to conduct Public Tax Auction Sale, and a request for to approve purchase for radio microwave dish equipment from for the new VIPER Tower for Randolph County Emergency Services.
2023-2024 FY Audit Executive Summary
Engagement Director April Adams and Senior Manager Jennifer Moran of Cherry Bekaert LLC were present virtually to report on the audit. They reviewed the full audit process in detail and were pleased to find no issues. April Adams noted, “Best results you can get.” Randolph County Commissioner Chairman Darrell Frye stated the County has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officer Association since 1989 for its comprehensive annual financial report. You may access the summary here.
Updates
Amber Scarlett, Executive Director of Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau/Randolph County Tourism Development Authority provided the 2023 Annual Report to the commissioners. Amber was pleased to report that in 2023, visitor spending was $189.50 million (an increase of 6.1% from 2022) which in the end provides $89.75 tax relief to each resident of Randolph County. You may access the full report here.
Sam Baker, Executive Director of United Way of Randolph County shared testimonies of how the community needs are being met through the organization. You may access the Annual Report here. She reported that to date, $578,000 has been raised of the (2024-2025) $600,000 Goal.
Requests
Sheriff Greg Seabolt with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office requested funding for some critical department needs, including replacing 70 desktops, 40 mobile data terminals, and other hardware/software needs ($207,050), outfitting new vehicles, which costs $15,000 per vehicle ($260,000), and replacing the X-ray machine at the courthouse ($33,350), totaling $500,400. The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
Tracie Murphy, Director of Randolph County Department of Social Services requested the reclassification of positions: Income Maintenance Caseworker I to Income Maintenance Caseworker III and Investigative, Assessment, and Treatment Social Worker to a Child Welfare Social Work Supervisor and Investigative to Social Work Supervisor for Foster Care. The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
County Manager Zeb Holden brought to the commissioners a request to add a position, Agricultural Center Coordinator to the Randolph County Classification Plan. This position will help manage the events and programs at the Farm, Food, and Family Agricultural Center. There was some discussion regarding changing the title of the position to convey that this position will not be over agriculture processes. The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
Associate County Attorney Aimee Scotton presented to the commissioners regarding property acquired by the county in 2022. She stated that there is currently an interest in the property, and she is requesting that the commissioners allow her to set up a public auction sale. According to the statutes, the county must advertise the auction sale 30 days prior so the earliest we could hold would be February 17th. The Board of Commissioners would have the option to not sell at the March meeting. The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
Deputy Chief Jared Byrd with Randolph County Emergency Services gave the commissioners an update regarding the VIPER Tower Equipment bid for $1.1 million that was approved at the previous meeting. The Randolph County Emergency Services have been working with a consultant and by working with vendors directly, they were able to save $300,000. In addition, Jared requested the commissioners to approve $117,240 to purchase radio microwave dish equipment from Aviat US, Inc. which will allow the new VIPER tower to connect with existing towers. The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
Upcoming
County Manager Zeb Holden announced that along with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the County is hosting The Generation Theory Documentary Screening on January 14th at 6pm at Sunset Theatre. He stated that Chairman Darrell Frye and Randolph County's Strategic Program Coordinator Leia Steigmann were both featured in the film, and this is an opportunity to see the positives of multigenerational workplaces as well as highlighting the need for succession planning for those retiring and bringing up the younger generations.
You can view the January 6 meeting by visiting the Randolph County YouTube Channel or accessing below.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners is set for 6pm on Monday, February 3, 2025.
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners holds its regularly scheduled meetings on the first Monday of each month at the Randolph County Historic Courthouse (145 Worth Street, Asheboro), unless otherwise noted.
For meeting agendas and minutes, visit Randolph County Agendas & Minutes.
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