TITLE
Title
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF HIGH POINT - 2019 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Sheriff Danny H. Rogers (Capt. Wes Mecham)
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BACKGROUND
Background
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (“JAG”) program is administered through the United States Department of Justice-Bureau of Justice Assistance (“USDOJ-BJA”). The grant may be used for criminal justice purposes to enhance public safety and Guilford County regularly applies for such grants. The 2019 JAG grant provided funds over a four (4) year period and this specific grant was awarded for the period beginning October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.
Initially, the 2019 JAG grant was a joint application between the City of Greensboro, City of High Point, and Guilford County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO). The 2019 grant award was in the total amount of $250,102 and was to be distributed amongst the City of Greensboro (as the primary recipient), with High Point and GCSO as sub-recipients. After the grant was awarded the City of Greensboro declined its share, thus requiring a resubmission of the grant application materials and re-distribution of Greensboro’s share of the grant money to GCSO (as primary recipient) and High Point (as sole sub-recipient). The resubmission process was successful, but time consuming.
Following completion of the lengthy re-submission process, the grant was placed on the February 3, 2022 regular meeting agenda where the Board of Commissioners approved the total grant amount of $250,102 to be allocated under the following terms: $120,029.50 to the City of High Point and the balance of $130,072.30 distributed to the FY 2021-22 GCSO budget.
Before the USDOJ would transmit these grant funds to the GCSO, the terms of the grant required the County to attest, under penalty of perjury, to a number of statements or acknowledgements which are called “certification and assurances”. Each certification/assurance made by the County must be accurate and precise. This 2019 JAG grant required four (4) certifications including the following:
3. I assure that the application described above (and any amendment to that application) was submitted for review to the governing body of the unit of local government (e.g., city council or county commission), or to an organization designated by that governing body, not less than 30 days before the date of this certification.
4. I assure that, before the dated of this certification-(a) the application described above (and any amendment to that application) was made public; and (b) an opportunity to comment on that application (or amendment) was provided to citizens and to neighborhood or community-based organizations, to the extent applicable law or established procedure made such an opportunity available.
In order to ensure 100% compliance with Certification Nos. 3 and 4, the item was placed on the January 19, 2023 agenda, where public comment was invited. At that meeting, the County Attorney opined that public comment satisfied the grant's "public hearing" requirement. This agenda item was approved Board of Commissioners by a 9-0 vote at the January 19, 2023 meeting and on April 11, 2023, the GCSO the City of High Point have entered into an interlocal agreement, which is was retroactive to the beginning of the project period date of October 1, 2018 and expired on September 30, 2023.
Through no fault of its own, the City of High Point was unable to complete its purchase of a forensic ballistics equipment by the September 30, 2023. It asked Guilford County, as lead recipient of the grant, to seek an extension from USDOJ on High Point's behalf, through September 30, 2024. The County did so, and USDOJ approved the extension. The sole purpose of the amended interlocal agreement that is now before the BOCC on June 20, 2024 is to approve that extension.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve interlocal agreement, in substantial form, with the City of High Point for distribution of the 2019 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding in the amount of $120,029.50 for the period beginning October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
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