[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6660591,"mediaKeyId","2434699-08f3e1902d61d95960117fb143649af7","parentId",2434699,"title","Resident urges commissioners to prioritize EMS staffing and ambulances after citing long waits and heavy call volume","audioSeconds",140,"startMs",1845000,"endMs",1985000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2434699-08f3e1902d61d95960117fb143649af7&start=1845&end=1985","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2434699-08f3e1902d61d95960117fb143649af7/thumbnail_1845000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6660591/Forsyth-County/North-Carolina/Resident-urges-commissioners-to-prioritize-EMS-staffing-and-ambulances-after-citing-long-waits-and-heavy-call-volume","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660591-fbd4842d6c0dbcdee0fc2d976202792a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142164&Signature=Le1T2eysz6FqNwvGAEON7oO725JK7MUfcBBQNyXnsFvs2h1MYv6c-f4ZLr-pMoJ~Uj26DhPxfneAmu0sbZvti0XlXaUyiT3UT-7RmiEtGcB9CUN5pJJJ-2KpNngrFKsDwSoFOqMEKmNe-~g9EJYZiB5580AQ8rHoR~7OLCKtoIgtMoV9Gwd3kxrQQZJoKOsppTaz6~4UIZk4wJ1l9Di2nuiyaP6FgvnF9KIR-3vX0qQ2z3SBcH5Hjj~00BAsWQiHi5QOBdZcvFBt9SIChFBcoNR08PoHeVOVW-YfKMexLz06DE5MdR2Ll7bG-gnRjN64-MNQnDuvxvMOA7oC4DDCiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Forsyth County","date","2025-02-27T21:04:25.97Z","article","Valerie Brockenbrough, a Forsyth County resident, used the public comment period at the Feb. 27 Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meeting to urge the board to make emergency medical services a top priority.

Brockenbrough told commissioners she is concerned about what she described as understaffing and long response times in the county's EMS system. She said Forsyth County receives about 67,000 calls a year and that the county's reported average ambulance wait time is 20 minutes while the industry standard is 9 minutes. She said the county's current fleet is 28 ambulances and that a county of Forsyth's size should have \"at least 40,\" citing Guilford County's larger fleet as a comparison. Brockenbrough said some EMS staff are overworked, reporting shifts of up to 72 hours.

Brockenbrough noted that the board would consider purchasing an extra ambulance at the meeting and urged commissioners to make investments in EMS staffing and equipment a top priority, even if doing so required raising revenue or redirecting other expenditures.

Board members did not take immediate action during public comment but later in the meeting approved multiple vehicle and ambulance contract awards and the purchase of Stryker power-load systems for Emergency Services; those procurements were approved unanimously.

Why it matters: Brockenbrough's remarks cite operational metrics—call volume, average wait times and fleet size—that relate directly to public safety and ambulance response capacity. The subsequent procurement approvals in the meeting create a near-term path to add equipment and vehicles that county staff can put into service.

What’s next: Implementation of the approved vehicle and equipment contracts and any staffing or deployment changes will be the responsibility of Emergency Services and county administration. The resident called on the board to prioritize recruiting and investment to shorten response times.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners Meeting - Feb 27 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Forsyth County resident told commissioners the county's emergency medical services face staffing shortages, a 20-minute average ambulance wait and an undersized fleet; the board approved ambulance and equipment purchases later in the meeting.","taxTitle","Forsyth County, North Carolina","taxId",5013,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6660596,"Smart Start and Pre-K Priority present interim results and expansion plans to Forsyth commissioners",374,3445000,3819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2434699-08f3e1902d61d95960117fb143649af7&start=3445&end=3819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2434699-08f3e1902d61d95960117fb143649af7/thumbnail_3445000.jpg","/articles/6660596/Forsyth-County/North-Carolina/Smart-Start-and-Pre-K-Priority-present-interim-results-and-expansion-plans-to-Forsyth-commissioners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660596-97813f62be819859ced6964c46f5e11a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142164&Signature=f1dlIs5PmHxYB3darX7vLdtQSw21-R0u-odaXthWh8vLthiJ8Uey0rIdycO4SYhromsTI~JnqjkIrjVR~WyVmtiNTFWT4xZrMbD0eFzrvR0-lfm26uwqQCZBFWDXjrihzeltoTuWYkTMEwwUZ2VHIIFst3liyYDAdQ2977UhIS0XJzZeqIzirdxplBlEurYQy7OE6qeRqGiIKQy-RpoGmTOPsb8vqXnBw2vMUqs1prUecXQgc-gsCzff-9Tv8yDq5q0Cx391ifY-rAEil6M0H6Nj2AvMIoIUCNg9gZeaa19K9hGDk4cjOXGFccTlaWw37VuQAdch1hmI2qvUwDRiZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Smart Start of Forsyth County and partners outlined early implementation results and next steps for the county's Pre-K Priority initiative during a Feb. 27 presentation to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

Dr. Louis Finney, CEO of Smart Start of Forsyth County, introduced an update on the initiative and emphasized the countywide coalition structure and private–public partnerships that support early childhood programs.

Prismatic Services, an external evaluator, presented a formative evaluation that characterized the initiative's approach: financial supports for teachers, coaching and professional development, family engagement and a specific focus on equity. Dr. Tasha Prieto of Prismatic said the research literature typically expects 3–5 years to see substantial student-outcome changes after a new educational initiative begins, and she described an \"implementation dip\" that can occur as staff and systems learn new processes.

Key details reported to the board:
- Year 1 (2023–24) served 353 students; midyear of the 2024–25 school year enrollment reported as 301 as of December 2024, with county staff reporting additional enrollments since then.
- Teacher retention in 2023–24 matched the raw count of departures in comparable non-ARPA classrooms; midyear 2024–25 retention was reported at 100% as of December 2024.
- Classroom-quality measures showed 40% of classrooms averaging high scores on selected quality instruments in year 1; coaches and Smart Start staff have been working to raise quality in other classrooms with further assessments expected at the end of year 2.
- Outputs including salary and tuition supports, coaching and professional development were delivered; Smart Start reported that 100% of eligible teachers received salary/tuition supports in both year 1 and year 2 to date.
- End-of-year literacy outcomes in year 1 showed about 39% of students at or above average in literacy and 65% at or above average in math; evaluator cautioned that midyear percentages can be variable and student growth is often non-linear.

Leslie Molineux and other Pre-K Priority partners described community outreach, provider recruitment and an ongoing focus on raising the county's share of NC Pre-K slots and quality-rated providers. County officials and presenters discussed that Guilford County and some other jurisdictions have higher NC Pre-K slot counts because of earlier local applications and program growth at the state level; Smart Start and partners said increasing Forsyth's share depends on raising provider quality ratings, identifying funding, and submitting applications to the state when slots are available.

Commissioners asked about midyear enrollment differences between years 1 and 2 and about classroom-level reporting; presenters said some low-enrollment classrooms were removed from the cohort before year 2 to concentrate supports where they would affect more children. They noted that student enrollment for pre-K is rolling across the school year, which complicates direct midyear comparisons to K–12 data where attendance is more static.

Why it matters: the initiative aims to increase access to high-quality pre-K, support the early-childhood workforce and improve kindergarten readiness. Presenters emphasized workforce and long-term economic arguments, noting national and state-level research tying early-childhood investment to workforce stability and economic returns.

What’s next: Smart Start and Pre-K Priority will continue implementation during the 2024–25 year, collect end-of-year student- and classroom-level data, and pursue strategies to increase NC Pre-K slots and quality-rated providers in Forsyth County. The coalition invited commissioners and the public to upcoming community events and a March 6 forum on the business impact of pre-K.","Smart Start of Forsyth County and Pre-K Priority presented mid-program evaluation and early outcomes for the county's ARPA-funded pre-K initiative, highlighting program outputs, teacher supports and steps needed to expand NC Pre-K slots and quality-rated providers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6660601,"Forsyth County commissioners approve zoning changes, budget amendments, vehicle and equipment contracts in unanimous votes",118,2192000,2310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2434699-08f3e1902d61d95960117fb143649af7&start=2192&end=2310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2434699-08f3e1902d61d95960117fb143649af7/thumbnail_2192000.jpg","/articles/6660601/Forsyth-County/North-Carolina/Forsyth-County-commissioners-approve-zoning-changes-budget-amendments-vehicle-and-equipment-contracts-in-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660601-2507c7903f41867a92fac97aaa14d807/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142164&Signature=OcnPKP~xryO3MJTWDubUeYh3b114CQCN7SPkvaDgt5U2rtgxf6YM-2GASSdHltqHCqkl~8affPZ80hrWN-ac9sRyvomXuvtrIBMg74EGk0cetczrfPF6Xu044o~ktNX~um~InUxPNCjVEPNdPESPgdRyO8OcffZYyP4DXzbJN3z3fTTxtyzq8l5V-KXRYz-NwNUCmBzeA8x3QGCS8C2-AETpR5UtCOhq4UVMds6zvMcc~zDTSXLogygGy5~g-Q5XptmOOVW6yU71U4B5dJbqDTNUb3cHC~NQ6lm2P1b~hv4VTYBS~gx9v8X4V91X9SxHgz8MMifcCEFSfSAXNnHr5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Forsyth County commissioners on Feb. 27 unanimously approved a series of zoning map amendments, site-plan changes, budget ordinance amendments, vehicle and equipment purchases, grants and other routine items after staff briefings and public hearings.

The business session covered three public-hearing rezonings and a site plan amendment; multiple budget and grant appropriations including airport fencing and public-health funds; awards of vehicle and ambulance contracts totaling up to $2.38 million; purchases of ambulance-loading systems and radio equipment for the school system; and several administrative resolutions, including a lease with Partners Health Management and dissolution of two inactive advisory committees.

Planning and Development Services Director Chris Murphy summarized three land-use requests that the board approved after public hearings. The board rezoned a 34.97-acre parcel (zoning map amendment F-16-52) from RS-9 to AG, citing that the property is predominantly in a regulated floodplain and that AG zoning is consistent with the South Suburban area plan. The board also approved a site-plan amendment for Clay Pigeon Properties LLC on a 16.91-acre parcel (F-16-53) to reduce an approved 28-lot plan to 23 lots and returned the plan to the board because staff judged the design change substantial. Finally, the board approved a 3.08-acre rezoning (F-16-54) from General Industrial (GI) to RS-40 to allow single-family residential use consistent with the Walkertown area plan.

The meeting also contained votes to appropriate restricted airport funds ($47,500) for terminal fencing and control-tower related work and to amend a Smith Reynolds Airport capital projects ordinance. The board approved small grant appropriations to public-safety and public-health programs: $8,000 in Justice Assistance Grant interest earnings to be shared proportionately with the Winston-Salem Police Department; $8,000 to the Forsyth County Department of Public Health from the National WIC Association; and $43,750 from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to refurbish the mobile unit used for community STI testing.

On procurement, the board authorized multiple vehicle contracts and ambulance chassis/bodies with an aggregate not-to-exceed amount of $2,381,868.54 across five vendor awards and approved Stryker power-load systems for county emergency services at $185,171.37 (exclusive of sales tax). The board also approved a Motorola Solutions contract for school-system radio equipment not to exceed $1,691,042.25.

Other approved items included a resolution revising the county's home and community care block grant plan (shifting $6,000 between adult-day programs), increasing a reimbursement agreement with Partners Health Management by $25,000 for a total not to exceed $175,000, a lease of 4,891 square feet to Partners Health Management at $5.95 per square foot (annual $29,101.45), declaring surplus personal property for online auction, and approving $22,869.71 in tax refunds.

Several administrative actions were adopted unanimously with little or no debate: dissolving the Coalition for Drug Abuse Prevention appointments and the Risk Management Advisory Committee (both inactive since 2017), setting compensation for the Board of Equalization and Review at $100 per meeting, and adopting the board's priority goals as a framework for staff implementation.

Most motions were moved and seconded on the record and carried in unanimous voice votes. Planning-board public hearings on the rezoning and site-plan items had no speakers in opposition, and the planning board had recommended approval on Jan. 9, 2025. The county manager and department heads answered brief questions before several items were approved.

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Zoning map amendment F-16-52 (Edward Raymond Longbottom): rezoned ~34.97 acres from RS-9 to AG — motion approved unanimously.
- Site plan amendment F-16-53 (Clay Pigeon Properties LLC): site-plan change from 28 to 23 lots on 16.91 acres — motion approved unanimously.
- Zoning map amendment F-16-54 (Nancy and Prospero Carrasco): rezoned ~3.08 acres from GI to RS-40 — motion approved unanimously.
- Airport fencing: appropriate $47,500 (restricted fund balance) to capital projects — approved unanimously.
- Justice Assistance Grant interest earnings: appropriate $8,000 — approved unanimously.
- WIC grant: appropriate $8,000 to Public Health — approved unanimously.
- DHHS funding: appropriate $43,750 to refurbish mobile STI testing van — approved unanimously.
- Vehicle and ambulance contracts (five vendors): awards not to exceed $2,381,868.54 — approved unanimously.
- Stryker power-load systems: $185,171.37 — approved unanimously.
- Motorola radio equipment for schools: up to $1,691,042.25 — approved unanimously.
- Partners Health Management reimbursement amendment: increase $25,000 to total not to exceed $175,000 — approved unanimously.
- Lease to Partners Health Management (650 Highland Ave.): 4,891 sq ft at $5.95/sq ft, annual $29,101.45 — approved unanimously.
- Surplus property disposition via online auction: authorized — approved unanimously.
- Dissolution of two inactive committees (Coalition for Drug Abuse Prevention appointments; Risk Management Advisory Committee): approved unanimously.
- Board priority goals: adopted unanimously.

Why it matters: the package of approvals affects zoning and development on multiple parcels, appropriates public funds for airport and health projects, refreshes emergency medical and fleet equipment and ambulances, and updates the county's programmatic priorities and administrative structure. Several items will lead to near-term procurement and project work by county departments or require state approvals or interlocal coordination.

What’s next: several procurements and capital projects move to contracting and implementation; the county manager said staff will prepare implementation plans for the newly adopted county priority goals. The county will also submit the revised home and community care block grant plan to the state for approval.

","At its Feb. 27 meeting the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved multiple zoning map amendments, budget ordinance amendments, vehicle and equipment purchases, grant appropriations and other routine items after brief staff presentations and public hearings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges commissioners to prioritize EMS staffing and ambulances after citing long waits and heavy call volume

Smart Start and Pre-K Priority present interim results and expansion plans to Forsyth commissioners

Forsyth County commissioners approve zoning changes, budget amendments, vehicle and equipment contracts in unanimous votes