Robbinsville – With the upcoming passage of a state budget, Graham County is likely to receive some additional funds toward its planned justice center.
In his report at Tuesday’s Graham County Board of Commissioners meeting, county manager Jason Marino said that the county would likely receive $5 million from the state toward its plans to build a new justice center.
The facility is slated to cost approximately $24 million and would replace the aging Graham County Courthouse, as well as the Graham County Detention Center.
It would also serve as headquarters for the Graham County Sheriff’s Office.
“Unofficially, until the budget cousin signed by (Gov. Roy Cooper), potentially later this week … Graham County has been appropriated $5 million for the justice center,” Marino said. “That is absolutely $5 million more than I thought the state would actually appropriate, so we’ll wait and see.”
Marino said that to his understanding half of the appropriation would come from State Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, while the other half would come from State Rep. Karl Gillespie, R-Franklin.
“We are well represented in Raleigh,” noted Commissioner Dale Wiggins.
Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday that he would sign the budget currently moving through the General Assembly.
The $25.9 billion budget would be his first to sign as governor, having vetoed past budgets in 2017 and 2019 in clashes with chambers.
“We’ll look for it,” Marino said. “We’re excited.”
EMS shifts, COVID pay
Marino also said that Graham County EMS would start its new 24-on, 72-off schedule starting Monday.
The board voted unanimously to change the shifts from 48-on, 96-off at an emergency meeting on Nov. 8.
“I know that’s been a long time coming and there’s a lot of people, including the people within the EMS department that’s excited about getting that 24/72 schedule started,” Marino said.
Wiggins also discussed the possibility of implementing some premium pay for Graham County Sheriff’s Office deputies for their work on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The county has already decided to put some of its American Rescue Plan Act funds toward premium pay for EMS workers.
“I had a discussion with the sheriff and former chief deputy, and we gave the EMS folks premium pay for their work during the pandemic, and I feel like they were on the front lines dealing with it every day, and we should try to find something for them,” Wiggins said.
He said that deputies were also put into close contact with the virus, using the example that a deputy responds to an incomplete 911 call to determine whether a scene is safe prior to EMS personnel arriving.
“They’re out there, and I just think our public safety people – and our transit – they could get some funds as well,” Wiggins said.
Commissioner Connie Orr voiced her support and suggested that the board hold a workshop on the matter.
“I support doing a workshop, because it’s going to take more than 10 minutes,” Wiggins said.
Marino also addressed the issue.
“I think we understand kind of where we are with them: we just wanted to get that workshop to where we see what we want to do with the sheriff and the jail, and then add in the transportation, because we only still have the first round,” Marino said.
The board voted to hold a workshop on possible premium pay for the sheriff’s office at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10.