Cabarrus Commissioners Notebook: May 2024

Published on May 17, 2024

Cabarrus County staff is working to ensure the new Regional Behavioral Health Center is operational by its 2026 opening date. That means startup funds are necessary.

Assistant County Manager Dr. Aalece Pugh and Behavioral Health Director Dr. Kamilah McKissick presented details of a $1.5 million request to commissioners during the May 6 Work Session.   

The funding would go to Albemarle-based Monarch, which will operate the facility, and be used to hire key administrative, clinical, nursing and direct care positions. 

The funding would come from the Medicaid Hold Harmless funds, which are provided annually by the State. 

Monarch is a private, non-profit organization that supports those with mental illness and substance use disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Monarch serves over 31,000 people annually at more than 186 locations across the state.  

The 59,300-square-foot Regional Behavioral Health Center will feature a full continuum of care, including a Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC), a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) and a Facility-Based Crisis (FBC) program.  

Charlotte’s human eXperience serves as architect on the project, while Messer Construction is building the facility. 

Also, during the May Work Session, commissioners: 

• Heard from Finance Director Jim Howden on insurance proceeds from the Frank Liske Park Barn fire. The County received a total of $1,221,598. The money was deposited in the County’s Property Liability Insurance fund. Howden requested moving the money into the County’s Capitol Project fund for the construction of the new barn. The new barn opened in August 2023. Since opening, the space has been reserved 533 times and has made $117,366 in paid reservations. 

• Heard from Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Chief Deputy Tessa Burchett on two Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) grants. The first grant will be used to purchase two patrol vehicles and two in-car cameras systems for traffic enforcement. The grant was originally awarded during Fiscal Year 2023, but a national shortage of fleet vehicles prevented CCSO from purchasing the vehicles during the allotted time. The GHSP offered to honor the award with a new application. As part of the original agreement, the total amount of the grant is $92,000 ($78,200 from the state and $13,800 from previously allocated local funding). The second grant award falls under the BikeSafe Program which aims to reduce preventable traffic crashes involving motorcycles. The total award amount is $5,000 and will be used for quarterly BikeSafe meetings with area coordinators to discuss new curriculum, classes and future trainings. No County match is required. 

These items and more are part of the commissioners’ Consent Agenda, which will be voted on during the May Regular Meeting.   

To watch the full May Work Session, visit youtube.com/cabarruscounty. 

The Regular Meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on Monday (May 20) at the Cabarrus County Government Center at 65 Church St. S, Concord.  

During the meeting, County Manager Mike Downs is scheduled to present the FY25 Recommended Budget.  

Residents can watch meetings on the Cabarrus County livestream at cabarruscounty.us, on YouTube (@CabarrusCounty) and on CabCo TV (Spectrum Cable Channel 22).  

Stay updated on these and all County programs and projects by visiting cabarruscounty.us and following Cabarrus County at facebook.com/cabarruscounty and on Twitter and Instagram @CabarrusCounty.