Body Cameras, Jail Safety Funding on Durham Commission Agenda

New body-worn and in-car cameras for the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, urgent repairs at the downtown detention center, and funding for a transit vision plan are among the items on the agenda for the Dec. 9 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners.

The board is considering:

• A proposal to upgrade cameras for sheriff’s deputies, including $368,119.48 for immediate funding needs and a $1.39 million contract with Motorola Solutions for the first year of a five-year program, transitioning to a cloud-based system for real-time video access.
• Purchasing five new ambulances to replace aging vehicles, worth about $1.9 million.
• Reallocating $500,000 from a detention center window replacement project to address urgent safety concerns, including a non-functional fire pump and installation of a bypass line to ensure uninterrupted water service.

Also on the agenda:

• The Durham County Library could receive $180,000 in grant funding from North Carolina Central University to support digital literacy initiatives.
• The Low-Income Homeowners Tax Relief Program (LIHRP) could get $627,500 in funding from the City of Durham to provide tax relief to long-term homeowners in lower income brackets.
• The county’s Bus Rapid Transit vision plan could get $1.13 million from GoTriangle.

Commissioners meet first in closed session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss legal issues with their attorney. The public meeting is expected to start about 7 p.m. in the commission chambers at 200 E. Main St.