The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners will vote Monday, Aug. 17, on accepting two state highway safety grants for the Sheriff's Office and donating surplus vehicles to two volunteer fire departments serving unincorporated Cabarrus County.
The consent agenda at the 6 p.m. meeting includes acceptance of a Governor's Highway Safety Program grant and a separate GHSP Bike Safe grant, both administered through Sheriff Grady Christie's office. The main grant funds dedicated traffic enforcement officers, while the Bike Safe grant supports bicycle safety enforcement and education.
Last year's GHSP award totaled $278,890 and paid for two officers dedicated to traffic enforcement from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, according to the county's full agenda packet. The dollar amount for the new fiscal year has not been released.
The program has already shown local results. The Sheriff's Office used GHSP funding to run a saturation patrol and checkpoint on March 17 in partnership with Concord Police, Kannapolis Police and the NC State Highway Patrol, issuing 98 citations for speeding, restraint violations, driving while license revoked and other offenses, according to a Sheriff's Office Facebook post.
"These grants provide law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and government partners with tools to combat unsafe driving behaviors," GHSP Director Mark Ezzell said in an Oct. 23, 2025, press release announcing more than $25 million in statewide awards.
Fire department vehicle donations
Two surplus county vehicles will also go before commissioners for donation — one to Allen Volunteer Fire Department and one to Georgeville Volunteer Fire Department. The county's agenda preview does not specify the vehicle types.
Allen VFD, stationed at 4000 US 601 S in Concord, has served a 19-square-mile district since 1959 and averages about 1,000 calls per year with a mix of paid part-time firefighters and volunteers. Georgeville VFD, at 6916 NC-200 in Concord, is one of 11 volunteer departments covering unincorporated Cabarrus County.
Chief Deputy Burchett retirement
Commissioners will also recognize Chief Deputy Tessa Burchett of the Sheriff's Office on her retirement. The agenda separately lists Burchett among four retiring Sheriff's Office employees, alongside Craig Carter, Sherry Nash and Thomas Norman, who will each receive their service weapon for $1 upon retirement under NC General Statute 14-187.2.
The meeting takes place at the Cabarrus County Government Center in downtown Concord. Residents can watch live on Spectrum Cable channel 22, the county's YouTube channel or at cabarruscounty.us/cabcotv.
