2026-09-28 - Board of Commissioners

0:01:46[music]

0:03:13Heat. Heat.

0:03:32Heat.

0:03:51Heat.

0:06:31Heat. Heat. Heat.

0:07:38Heat.

0:08:01Heat.

0:11:37Get my head up here.

0:11:48Hey,

0:11:50[laughter]

0:11:51>> that's quite the entrance right there.

0:11:53That's like Hey, dusty road. [laughter]

0:11:58>> Let me tell you something, baby.

0:11:59>> That's all right. That's all right.

0:12:02Thanks for pushing on me.

0:12:04>> I love Yeah. Yeah. I love Dusty Rose.

0:12:14>> Yes, ma'am.

0:12:15Good evening everyone.

0:12:18I'll turn on my teacher voice. How about

0:12:21that? Okay. Welcome to the Monday,

0:12:25September 28th uh Davidson County Board

0:12:27of Commissioner meeting. We're glad to

0:12:29have you here. I'll call the meeting to

0:12:31order and I'll call on Commissioner

0:12:33Shell to give us the invitation and the

0:12:36pledge of allegiance.

0:12:38>> Thank you, Madam Chair. For those of you

0:12:40that would like to join me, our most

0:12:43gracious heavenly father, we thank you,

0:12:46Father, for the blessing of this

0:12:48beautiful day. We thank you for our

0:12:51families.

0:12:52>> Yes, Lord.

0:12:53>> And and the time that you give to us to

0:12:56be able to spend with them, Father.

0:12:58>> Yes.

0:12:59>> We know nothing is possible without you,

0:13:03Father.

0:13:04>> Amen.

0:13:05Father, we thank you so much for

0:13:08loving us.

0:13:10And we pray for your wisdom, your

0:13:13strength, and your guidance as we move

0:13:16forward

0:13:17in conducting the business of the

0:13:20people. Thank you, Father, for it is in

0:13:23his precious name I pray.

0:13:25>> Yes, Lord.

0:13:25>> Amen.

0:13:26>> Amen.

0:13:30>> [clears throat]

0:13:31>> I pledge algiance to the flag of the

0:13:34United States of America and to the

0:13:37republic for which it stands. One nation

0:13:41under God, indivisible, with liberty and

0:13:45justice for all.

0:13:47>> Thank you, sir.

0:13:50>> And I'm so happy to see so many people

0:13:53from the school system. I'm not going to

0:13:55try to call out names. um probably miss

0:13:58somebody, but uh teachers and um staff

0:14:02and and uh leaders, we appreciate all of

0:14:05you being here among the rest of you.

0:14:08So, hope to have a wonderful meeting

0:14:10tonight. Um I'll turn it over to you and

0:14:14if you want to recognize our veterans.

0:14:17>> Okay. If we have any veterans in the

0:14:19office, would you please stand so we can

0:14:21honor you?

0:14:27>> [applause]

0:14:32>> If you have not received the county

0:14:34veteran pen, if you'll come up and allow

0:14:37us to present one to you.

0:14:41>> Everybody have one. Come on.

0:14:43>> AMEN.

0:14:45[applause]

0:14:52>> Thank you, sir, for your service. Sir,

0:14:57>> thank you for your service.

0:15:03[applause]

0:15:09>> I'd like to call Mr. Marshburn of Parks

0:15:12and Recreation to the front. He and I

0:15:15are going to have have a um recognition

0:15:19if you will.

0:15:24Yes, ma'am. We're here tonight to

0:15:25recognize Miss Cody who has dedicated 15

0:15:28years to the parks and recreation board

0:15:30volunteering and she has represented

0:15:33South Davidson very well over them 15

0:15:35years plus because before before she was

0:15:38on the parks and rec board, she worked

0:15:40for the parks and recreation department.

0:15:42So, she has done about 30 years of

0:15:43service for the parks and recreation

0:15:45department. We just like to recognize

0:15:46her for her service.

0:15:49>> [applause]

0:15:53>> Randy would probably like to say

0:15:55something too.

0:15:57>> As uh chairperson of the parks and

0:16:00wreck, uh I'd just like to personally

0:16:02and publicly thank Lauren for her

0:16:04commitment, dedication, loyalty, um and

0:16:08service she has provided for us during a

0:16:11very period of time where there's been a

0:16:14whole lot of change, a whole lot of

0:16:15stuff going on. and uh we'd like to

0:16:17publicly thank her for her commitment

0:16:20and service to our county. Thank you,

0:16:22>> Madam Chair. I have a point of

0:16:24privilege. Uh

0:16:26I'm [clears throat] trying not to get

0:16:27emotional, but what what you have done

0:16:30for our community over the past 15 plus

0:16:33years is uh nothing short than

0:16:37extraordinary, especially what you've

0:16:38done for the [clears throat]

0:16:42for the children like my son and uh

0:16:44putting on Special Olympics and doing

0:16:46stuff like that and making sure they had

0:16:48a place to go and uh things to do and

0:16:51your your passion and your dedication to

0:16:54to the underprivileged has always been,

0:16:57you know, second to none. And I just

0:16:58want to tell you from the bottom of my

0:17:00heart as a parent of a child with

0:17:02disabilities, thank you. Thank you for

0:17:04being an angel and light in the dark

0:17:06place. And thank you for always making

0:17:09them feel like they were number one to

0:17:11to you and and making the families feel

0:17:14like they're loved. And that really

0:17:16means a lot to me. This is just a short

0:17:18stippant of what you deserve, but we

0:17:21appreciate you and we honor you today.

0:17:23God bless you, my friend. [applause]

0:17:33>> Okay,

0:17:37[clears throat]

0:17:38we'll have to move it on back. I'm so

0:17:39short. Y'all be taller than me.

0:17:41[laughter]

0:17:46>> Can you in the chair switch?

0:17:50>> Thank you.

0:17:53One, two, three.

0:17:56One, two, three. And one, two, three.

0:18:02>> Good job, sister.

0:18:12>> Brother, good job. Good job, sister.

0:18:15[laughter]

0:18:17>> Man, that's good.

0:18:21Good job, Thomas.

0:18:25>> Yes, ma'am.

0:18:31>> Okay,

0:18:32>> that's beautiful.

0:18:33>> Gentlemen, I I'd like to ask you to

0:18:36excuse Vice Chair Yates. He's unable to

0:18:38be with us tonight. Do I have a motion?

0:18:40>> Motion to excuse.

0:18:41>> Thank you.

0:18:42>> Second.

0:18:43>> I have a motion and a second. All in

0:18:44favor say I.

0:18:45>> I.

0:18:46>> Thank you.

0:18:47If you have not registered for public

0:18:49address, if you're speaking, um, please

0:18:52do at the table up here. We'll move on

0:18:56to the adoption of the agenda. Are there

0:18:58any changes to the agenda?

0:19:00>> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion

0:19:01to, uh, amend the agenda specifically

0:19:04under the deliberation section to

0:19:06briefly revisit moratoriums on data

0:19:09centers.

0:19:12>> Okay. Um,

0:19:16anything else? Anything else?

0:19:19Okay. So, that will be added as agenda

0:19:22item

0:19:23>> item

0:19:24>> 8.

0:19:268.

0:19:30>> Say 8B.

0:19:31>> 8 D.

0:19:32>> 8 D. Yeah, David. 8 D.

0:19:34>> Yep. Okay.

0:19:36>> Hold on a minute. I can't find eight.

0:19:40>> I got you.

0:19:42>> [clears throat]

0:19:46>> 20.

0:19:59>> What do you

0:20:00>> I hadn't found it yet. What is it?

0:20:02>> 8.

0:20:03>> Hey, it it is to add 8D.

0:20:05>> It's to add 8D. It's

0:20:07>> had a discussion on data centers as

0:20:09>> Okay. More important on data centers of

0:20:108D. Okay.

0:20:12>> After the NCAACCC voting day.

0:20:14>> Okay.

0:20:14>> Excuse me. I'm just Okay.

0:20:20>> Do you need a second for that? I'll

0:20:22second.

0:20:23>> Do I have a second? I have a motion and

0:20:24a second. All in favor say I.

0:20:26>> I.

0:20:26>> I.

0:20:31>> Is that all data centers? All of them?

0:20:35>> Yes.

0:20:36>> So you're not interested in looking at

0:20:38any data center? All I'm saying is a

0:20:41brief moratorum to give us more time to

0:20:43study it so we don't jump headlong into

0:20:45something none of us are really

0:20:46thoroughly schooled in. Just to give us

0:20:48time to look at it and put some

0:20:49protections in place. That's all

0:20:51>> I might suggest to you that we're

0:20:53already in that process.

0:20:55>> That's fine, but that would prevent us

0:20:56from going into any further ones.

0:20:59>> Don't we already have that option?

0:21:02>> That's making the motion.

0:21:04>> I I don't see where we're forced to

0:21:06accept any data set. I still think that

0:21:09the moratoriums are good to give us time

0:21:11to thoroughly study it to give planning

0:21:14and zoning time like we discussed. I

0:21:16mean it wasn't

0:21:18>> five six weeks ago we were all in theory

0:21:20in favor of a six-month moratorum and

0:21:22then we deadlocked three to three.

0:21:24>> We weren't all in favor of it.

0:21:26>> Do we do we want

0:21:27>> you remember discuss

0:21:30commissioners? I think it handcuffs the

0:21:32commissioners

0:21:33>> and there may be some data centers out

0:21:35there that you're all in favor of.

0:21:38>> And there may be, but I just want time

0:21:39to see

0:21:40>> and nothing's going to happen in the

0:21:41next 6 months.

0:21:42>> Well, I still say and

0:21:44>> you know, we've got the vote to to

0:21:46revisit it.

0:21:47>> I think it's been motion been made and

0:21:49passed. So,

0:21:49>> well, I would like for you to pull the

0:21:52poll the can can you poll the the vote

0:21:57just for the record?

0:21:58>> Yeah.

0:22:03I thought that'd have to be voted on

0:22:05anyhow, wouldn't it?

0:22:06>> This is This is Wait a second. This is

0:22:08to amend the agenda to add it to to add

0:22:11a discussion to the agenda.

0:22:13>> Well, I still can we not vote against

0:22:15that?

0:22:16>> I have to give notice that that will

0:22:18appear on the agenda.

0:22:20>> No, sir.

0:22:20>> No. No.

0:22:22>> Well, there in order to enact a um

0:22:24>> we would have to re republish the

0:22:26notice. You would have to republish the

0:22:27notice and and go through that process.

0:22:29>> You can't enact it immediately. It would

0:22:32still have to go through the process,

0:22:33>> right? Exactly.

0:22:35>> Okay. So, the poll will be for the

0:22:38>> amending the agenda of the amending the

0:22:40agenda.

0:22:40>> The agenda.

0:22:41>> Okay. Commissioner Meiselle.

0:22:43>> Yes.

0:22:44>> Commissioner Shell?

0:22:45>> No.

0:22:46>> Commissioner Shook?

0:22:48>> Yes.

0:22:51>> Commissioner Elliot?

0:22:52>> Yes.

0:22:54>> Commissioner Kester?

0:22:55>> Yes.

0:22:56Chair Watford.

0:22:58>> No.

0:22:58>> So that motion carries by a vote of 4

0:23:00to2.

0:23:01>> Thank you.

0:23:03All right. All right. We're ready to

0:23:05move on.

0:23:08Did we?

0:23:10Okay.

0:23:12So, [clears throat] did we officially

0:23:13adopt the agenda?

0:23:14>> Yes.

0:23:15>> By by vote of 42.

0:23:18>> Okay. All right. We're ready for public

0:23:21address. Mr. Minuses.

0:23:25Thank you very much. First of all, I'll

0:23:28call on Jackie Taylor.

0:23:31[clears throat]

0:23:33>> Good evening, commissioners. My name is

0:23:34Jackie Taylor and I'm a resident of

0:23:36Davidson County. I sent y'all an email

0:23:39today of the document that I'm going to

0:23:42speak about. I sent you all six pages,

0:23:44but for the purpose of giving this to

0:23:46Debbie at the end, I'm just going to go

0:23:47on paper.

0:23:48When I was in the nutrition program, I

0:23:51was talking about how I wanted to use

0:23:53diet and exercise rather than

0:23:55medications to improve my health. So,

0:23:58the nutrition diets in charge of

0:24:00everything, Ron Bellini, he gave me the

0:24:03six page documents that I've sent

0:24:05y'all's email, which is a um

0:24:09GCP Partners Incorporated nutrition

0:24:12program for the elderly.

0:24:14And there were 30 meals that I gave

0:24:17y'all. The content of the meals isn't

0:24:19important. What I want to bring to

0:24:20y'all's attention is the fact that if

0:24:24the nutrition site coordinator, Martha

0:24:27Trantham, would serve the meals as they

0:24:30are prepared by the caterer and sent by

0:24:32the delivery driver to us exactly as

0:24:35they are. They will be nutritious.

0:24:38However, when Martha decides to add

0:24:40additional salt, sugar, butter,

0:24:43whatever, well, now it's no longer the

0:24:46nutritious meal. It's simply delicious,

0:24:49which takes away the whole thing that

0:24:52you advertise about. You know, when

0:24:54senior services says that they're

0:24:55nutritious, well, they have a guideline

0:24:57to go by. It tells you what the serving,

0:25:01the portion size is, and all of that. So

0:25:03when Martha loads up on somebody and

0:25:05then, you know, gives me the the water

0:25:08and the pan and the scrapings, well, you

0:25:11know, she'll do that because that's a a

0:25:14unreserved meal. And so she thinks she's

0:25:16being funny.

0:25:17>> And so when she would say, "I complain,"

0:25:20I don't really call it complaining. I

0:25:22call it trying to be quality control.

0:25:25The paper says on here that with each

0:25:29individual meal with the various items

0:25:31on there, if it's exactly like that

0:25:33says, it shows you how many calories is

0:25:36in it, the fat percentage, the sodium,

0:25:39the calcium, and the protein, and the

0:25:41carbs. So, if you go by that, you have

0:25:44the nutritious meal that they advertise

0:25:47that you're going to get. So, you

0:25:49shouldn't be tampering with it or being

0:25:53creative and doing all this other stuff.

0:25:57Back around 2019 or so, I was given the

0:26:00opportunity to speak before the then

0:26:02county manager, Zeb Hanner, and the then

0:26:05assistant county manager, Casey Smith,

0:26:08and they brought in the then attorney

0:26:11Mike Nubbie. I thought they really

0:26:14wanted to hear what I had to say, but

0:26:16now I kind of believe they just wanted

0:26:18to evaluate what kind of a risk I am to

0:26:20the county because they found out that I

0:26:23will advocate for myself. I will speak

0:26:25up and even when I'm nervous, I'll still

0:26:28say it. I'll spit it out as best I can.

0:26:31And I'm truly honest to goodness doing

0:26:34this in good faith. You know, when Tisha

0:26:36and them say

0:26:37>> three minutes, ma'am,

0:26:39>> I'm giving this credit.

0:26:40>> Thank you.

0:26:42I see.

0:26:43>> Thank you.

0:26:46>> Dana Lumis.

0:26:51>> Good evening. The board of

0:26:53commissioners, you did a study on EMS. I

0:26:55was there a month ago regarding this. On

0:26:57uh September 17th about 10:00 a.m. on

0:27:01South Main Street up here, there was a

0:27:03twocar accident. Um, Felicia Dre Drager

0:27:07and Antwanet Kerr from the Davidson

0:27:10Local were in a head-on collision. So,

0:27:12what we got here is three people were

0:27:14put into one ambulance. One ambulance,

0:27:17three people, an elderly lady who

0:27:18possibly was suffering a heart attack,

0:27:21two other people suffering neck

0:27:23injuries. Personal information being

0:27:25asked between all of them within the

0:27:28three of these. I called one of the

0:27:29commissioners. We found out there was

0:27:31only one ambulance in Thomasville where

0:27:34they're located. That's what they have

0:27:36two. There was only one ambulance in

0:27:38Lexington and we were only having seven

0:27:41ambulances countywide. So please explain

0:27:44to me why we're going to take chances

0:27:46and be under man when also as well they

0:27:49had six people on vacation that that

0:27:51week. That's a management problem that

0:27:54needs to be addressed. You allowing six

0:27:56people knowing that you're 13 to seven

0:27:58pe 17 people understaffed. You're

0:28:01understaffed on ambulances.

0:28:04Are we going to allow people to die in

0:28:05this county because we're lacking

0:28:07services? I'm going to say this once. I

0:28:10don't like the sports. I don't support

0:28:12the the sports plex. This thing's going

0:28:15to hit $und00 million that could have

0:28:16been used on the services of Davidson

0:28:18County. Now, we know that the Davidson

0:28:21County Sheriff's Department's under

0:28:23demand. We know that the Lexington

0:28:25Police Department is really under

0:28:26manned. This money could have been well

0:28:28used on county services and then we're

0:28:31going to allow people to die. Second of

0:28:33all, you know what I do, okay? Narcan,

0:28:36you only have 2 minutes to administer an

0:28:39lock zone into somebody or they're dead.

0:28:41So, if it takes an ambulance to get to a

0:28:44rescue 10, 15, you have to come 10 miles

0:28:46out of your way, we're going to lose

0:28:48more people. When are we going to

0:28:51address the issues in the study that you

0:28:53all did in this county regarding EMS?

0:28:56Get up your tails, please, guys. I like

0:28:58I respect every one of you. My god,

0:29:01people are dying and could die more with

0:29:04the lack of services we have. DSS is

0:29:06suffering. EMS is suffering. The seniors

0:29:10are suffering. You could have used that

0:29:12money for a better service. Think about

0:29:14that. And then when I have to go out of

0:29:15state to get nlloxxone to save people in

0:29:17this county, we gave out over 500

0:29:20nlloxxone kits at the pier this year to

0:29:23save lives in our county. That's all I'm

0:29:26asking. You either like me or don't and

0:29:28I could care less whether you do or not.

0:29:31Take that to the bank.

0:29:33[applause]

0:29:36By the way, blow with your mind. Don't

0:29:40vote friends and family.

0:29:42[applause]

0:29:48MARY BOON.

0:29:54>> UM, COMMISSIONERS, tonight you're

0:29:56setting a hearing for a request signed

0:29:58by Pedmont Natural Gas and Duke Energy

0:30:01to reszone more than 1600 acres. I'm

0:30:04asking you to hold that hearing as the

0:30:06only item on a dedicated agenda in a

0:30:08venue large enough for the people of

0:30:10Davidson County. I know there is an

0:30:13overflow room with speakers. An overflow

0:30:15room is where you put people when you

0:30:17run out of space. It should not be the

0:30:19plan from the start for a hearing this

0:30:22size. People deserve to be in a room

0:30:25where you hear the evidence, ask

0:30:26questions, and make your decision. That

0:30:29includes residents who use

0:30:32wheelchairs.

0:30:33They also need accessible seating in the

0:30:35main hearing room with a clear view of

0:30:37the proceedings and a way to reach the

0:30:39microphone. Unlike last time, they

0:30:42should not be sent to another room as an

0:30:44afterthought or next to the door.

0:30:48If a cost, if the cost is standing in

0:30:51the way, tell us what a larger venue

0:30:53would cost. Look at available county

0:30:56facilities like Davidson County

0:30:58Community College. Ask Pedmont Natural

0:31:00Gas in Duke Energy whether they would

0:31:02cover a venue rental while the county

0:31:05keeps control of the meeting. But please

0:31:08do not use the overflow speaker system

0:31:11as the reason to limit the public's

0:31:14opportunity to attend.

0:31:16There is more than 1,600 acres proposed

0:31:18for conditional heavy industrial zoning

0:31:21set aside an evening for this issue

0:31:23alone. Choose a larger venue where chair

0:31:27wheelchair accessible. Give people

0:31:29proper notice. Allow enough time for the

0:31:31people who sign up to speak. Everybody

0:31:34that signs up to speak. and continue the

0:31:36hearing if that's what it takes for

0:31:38every citizen to be heard that wants to

0:31:41be heard. You are deciding the hearing

0:31:43arrangements tonight. Let's make sure

0:31:45the public will have a place in that

0:31:47room. This is your opportunity to show

0:31:50the county, these people here, that you

0:31:53care about the citizens and their right

0:31:55to be heard and be involved in the

0:31:58procedure. The other room does not allow

0:32:01them to be involved. Change the venue.

0:32:04>> Thank you. Thank you,

0:32:11>> Reverend Arnettto Beverly,

0:32:21Madame Chair, members of the commission,

0:32:23ladies and gentlemen, I'm Arnetta

0:32:25Beverly, and I have the pleasure of

0:32:27serving as the pastor of St. Steven

0:32:30United Methodist Church here in

0:32:32Lexington. I'm also a proud graduate of

0:32:35Dunar High School 1964, many, many years

0:32:38ago. My brother was in the last

0:32:41segregated class out of Dunbar. But yet,

0:32:45my younger brother, my sister, and my

0:32:48sons graduated from Lexington Senior

0:32:51High, one in 1983,

0:32:54one in 1987,

0:32:57and my granddaughter is also a graduate

0:33:00of Lexington Senior High. all in the

0:33:03same building that still stands on what

0:33:07may be its last leg. The children and

0:33:11grandchildren laugh when I tell them I

0:33:12can fix anything with super glue and

0:33:15duct tape. Unfortunately, our high

0:33:18school is past duct tape and super glue.

0:33:22Lexington Senior High has produced

0:33:24professional athletes, teachers,

0:33:26administrators, educators, mayors,

0:33:30politicians, CEOs, pastors, doctors,

0:33:34lawyers, funeral directors, college

0:33:37professors, and leaders in every sphere.

0:33:41If you have lived in your house more

0:33:44than one year, I'm sure that there are

0:33:46things that may have been repaired,

0:33:50repainted, or replaced. So it is with

0:33:53our high school. 73 years of wear and

0:33:58tear, outdated facilities,

0:34:02housing and educating those who will

0:34:05follow long after you and I are gone. It

0:34:09is my hope and prayer that you, the

0:34:12Davidson County Board of Commissioners,

0:34:15will approve and support the application

0:34:19for needs-based public schools capital

0:34:21funds so that Lexington Senior High

0:34:24School can continue to send fine young

0:34:28men and women into the workplace and

0:34:31into the world who were educated in a

0:34:35building that is now safe. And I also

0:34:39hope that you will match the funds.

0:34:41Thank you so very much.

0:34:44[applause]

0:34:50[applause]

0:34:54Jerine Spudo.

0:35:01>> Good evening.

0:35:03Today you're being asked to schedule a

0:35:05public hearing on reszoning more than

0:35:071600 acres of Davidson County from rural

0:35:10agricultural land to heavy industrial

0:35:13for Piedmont Natural Gas and a project

0:35:15tied to Duke Energy. This is not a

0:35:17convenience store, a subdivision or 20

0:35:20acres. This is a decision that could

0:35:22reshape more than 1600 acres of Davidson

0:35:25County for generations.

0:35:27The proposed November 9 hearing would

0:35:30take place after voters go to the polls,

0:35:33but before the newly elected

0:35:34commissioners are seated. That timing is

0:35:37unacceptable for a decision of this

0:35:39magnitude. If the makeup of this board

0:35:42changes, the commissioners chosen by the

0:35:44people should have a voice in one of the

0:35:47largest and most consequential reasoning

0:35:49decisions this county has faced. Let the

0:35:53election matter. There is also another

0:35:56compelling reason to wait. The North

0:35:58Carolina Utilities Commission has not

0:36:01even issued a decision on Duke Energy's

0:36:03carbon plan. The state agency

0:36:06responsible for evaluating Duke's

0:36:08long-term energy plan is still

0:36:11considering the matter. Yet, Davidson

0:36:13County is being asked to move forward

0:36:15with a hearing involving heavy

0:36:17industrial infrastructure associated

0:36:19with that expansion. There is no

0:36:21emergency that justifies acting before

0:36:24the utilities commission completes its

0:36:26process and before the newly elected

0:36:28commissioners take their seats. Why does

0:36:31Davidson County have to move first? What

0:36:33possible harm comes from waiting a few

0:36:35weeks? The land isn't going to go

0:36:37anywhere. Duke's not going anywhere.

0:36:40Piedmont Natural Gas isn't. But once

0:36:42rural land is reszoned heavy industrial,

0:36:45that decision can have consequences for

0:36:47generations. So, I'm asking the board to

0:36:50postpone the hearing until after the new

0:36:52commissioners are seated and after the

0:36:55North Carolina Utilities Commission, the

0:36:57experts make their decision. And if when

0:37:00this and when and if this hearing is to

0:37:03happen, do not hold it in this room. You

0:37:06already know the level of public concern

0:37:08surrounding this project. You are

0:37:10talking about more than 1,600 acres,

0:37:12natural gas infrastructure, rural

0:37:14communities, the Yaken River, property

0:37:16owners, public safety, air quality,

0:37:19water, and the future of the

0:37:21industrialization of Davidson County.

0:37:23The public deserves a venue large enough

0:37:25to accommodate the people who want to

0:37:27participate. Nobody should be standing

0:37:30in a hallway. Nobody should be turned

0:37:32away because the room is full. And

0:37:34nobody should lose the opportunity to

0:37:35witness their government making a

0:37:37decision of this magnitude because you

0:37:39choose a room that was obviously too

0:37:41small. Find a school auditorium, a

0:37:44community college, a civic center.

0:37:46Commissioners, democracy is not

0:37:48something you squeeze into whatever room

0:37:50happens to be convenient. And a decision

0:37:52affecting more than 1600 acres of

0:37:55Davidson County deserves more than

0:37:57speed. It deserves scrutiny,

0:37:59transparency.

0:38:01It deserves adequate space for the

0:38:02public. And most importantly, it

0:38:05deserves time. Postpone this hearing.

0:38:08Let the utilities commission finish its

0:38:10work. Let the voters have their say. And

0:38:12let the newly elected commissioners take

0:38:14their seats. And then hold this hearing

0:38:17somewhere large enough that Davidson

0:38:19County residents can show up and be

0:38:21heard.

0:38:23[applause]

0:38:27Val Hastings.

0:38:33Good evening.

0:38:34>> Good evening.

0:38:35>> So, I'm Val Hastings, Farabby Homestead

0:38:38Road.

0:38:39>> Thank you.

0:38:39>> And [clears throat] um I've been here a

0:38:41lot, but I haven't spoken yet. So, now I

0:38:44am. Before this board considers

0:38:47reszoning land for Duke Energy's

0:38:50proposed liquid natural gas facility,

0:38:54I'd like each one of you to answer one

0:38:57simple question. Is Davidson County

0:39:00actually prepared for the worstcase

0:39:04emergency at this facility?

0:39:07Not Duke Energy, not Piedmont Natural

0:39:10Gas, but Davidson County.

0:39:14When something if something goes wrong,

0:39:17people will not be calling Duke's

0:39:19corporate office. They'll be calling

0:39:22911.

0:39:24The county's own figures say Davidson

0:39:27County EMS serves more than 162,000

0:39:32people across 582

0:39:35square miles and responds to over 23,000

0:39:40calls a year and staffs a minimum of

0:39:44just 10 advanced life support ambulances

0:39:48each day.

0:39:50Now, we're talking about adding a major

0:39:53industrial liquid natural gas operation

0:39:57to that system. And the North Carolina

0:40:01public staff has characterized the

0:40:05enhanced liquid natural gas concept Duke

0:40:09is pursuing as a firstofits-kind

0:40:13technology.

0:40:15That's huge.

0:40:18So, where is the independent emergency

0:40:20response analysis?

0:40:23Where is the publicly available

0:40:25worstcase

0:40:27incident assessment?

0:40:29How many firefighters in Davidson County

0:40:34have specialized training in this kind

0:40:37of an event?

0:40:39How many departments have the necessary

0:40:42equipment to deal with it?

0:40:45How much specialized foam and protective

0:40:49equipment is immediately available?

0:40:52What is the evacuation plan? What

0:40:55happens if multiple ambulances are

0:40:57required simultaneously?

0:41:00Which hospitals are equipped and would

0:41:03be involved?

0:41:05What happens if an incident occurs and

0:41:08EMS is already handling other major

0:41:12calls elsewhere in this 582

0:41:16square mile county? I have tremendous

0:41:19respect for our firefighters and our

0:41:22paramedics, but they can only work with

0:41:25the staffing and equipment and training

0:41:28that their government provides. And that

0:41:32responsibility rests on the board. So

0:41:36before any vote, I urge you to require

0:41:39an independent emergency response

0:41:41capability study.

0:41:43>> Three minutes, ma'am.

0:41:44>> A worst case emergency exercise

0:41:48and require Duke Energy to pay for every

0:41:51additional emergency capability this

0:41:54project demands.

0:41:56Thank you.

0:41:56>> Thank you. [applause]

0:42:02Chuck Slabetski,

0:42:11>> thank you for hearing me. The first

0:42:14thing I'd like to say is I want to

0:42:16apologize

0:42:18uh to uh Karen there because if she

0:42:21notices I wrote my name and information

0:42:24on two blocks instead of one because

0:42:27last time and one time before my name

0:42:30got skipped and I accept your apology on

0:42:33that but I just want to make sure you

0:42:35know who I am. Second thing is I want to

0:42:40talk about five to two Does anybody know

0:42:44what I'm talking about?

0:42:46That's the vote November 9th that you

0:42:49guys are going to give to approve the

0:42:52reasonzoning.

0:42:54I already know it's it's 5 to two. Now,

0:42:59there's a number of people on on this

0:43:01board that I really respect and there's

0:43:04a number of people on this board I

0:43:06don't. And there's one that the the the

0:43:10um the vote is out yet because of his

0:43:13newness.

0:43:15But you all know that we don't have the

0:43:18infrastructure.

0:43:20You heard like I heard at a previous

0:43:23meeting where all the fire chiefs were

0:43:26up here and one in particular said that

0:43:29there was three deaths at a houseire. Do

0:43:32you remember that? Huh? Three deaths.

0:43:35Why? Because the fire truck showed up

0:43:38with one fireman. One. What was he

0:43:41supposed to do? What could he do? Record

0:43:46the deaths?

0:43:48And yet you have no problem approving

0:43:52flock cameras that nobody wants. And you

0:43:54spend how much money? And then you're

0:43:56going to spend money to take them back

0:43:58down because you listen to us. Oh,

0:44:02[applause]

0:44:04you deserve a hand.

0:44:07Now,

0:44:09I would rather spend my time chasing my

0:44:12wife around the house. It probably would

0:44:15be slow, but I would rather do that than

0:44:18be here talking to you. Why? Because you

0:44:22don't listen. You don't care. You are

0:44:26here to do what you want to do like your

0:44:30parents and we're the children. You

0:44:33treat us like that with disrespect. You

0:44:36call us names. You talk us all about uh

0:44:39you know how we have to maintain decorum

0:44:42when you yourselves don't. By the way, a

0:44:46lot of people don't realize this. But do

0:44:49you have a code of ethics? Does anybody

0:44:52know?

0:44:53>> Amen.

0:44:53>> Huh? No, you do not. It's certainly not

0:44:58listed. Do you have a code of conduct?

0:45:01>> Oh, no. No, it's not listed anywhere

0:45:05because I looked. And you know why?

0:45:08Because you don't need them. You already

0:45:11decided what's best for us.

0:45:15I think I'm done.

0:45:18[applause]

0:45:19You know, we only have

0:45:246,000 EMF statewide.

0:45:27>> What are we going to do when more people

0:45:28die in this county?

0:45:32Danielle

0:45:33>> Hurley.

0:45:39>> Thank you guys.

0:45:41Thank you.

0:45:43>> Thank you.

0:45:50>> Danielle Hurley, 508 Wall Street,

0:45:52Lexington.

0:45:54Good evening, commissioners. My name is

0:45:56Danielle, and tonight I'm standing here

0:45:58as a mother. I'm not here because I want

0:46:00a nicer school, and I'm not here because

0:46:02I want something fancy. I'm here because

0:46:04I'm worried about the children's health.

0:46:07The high school my son attends was built

0:46:09in March 1953. That's approximately 73

0:46:13years ago. And this isn't just about the

0:46:15age of the building. The school has

0:46:17environmental testing,

0:46:20mold present, children have asthma. For

0:46:24years, my son's asthma has been

0:46:27manageable. He wasn't needing his rescue

0:46:29inhaler every day. But now something has

0:46:31changed. His asthma has become

0:46:33significantly

0:46:35worse during school day. As his mother,

0:46:38I've watched him struggle with something

0:46:40that was previously under control. And

0:46:42when I drop my child off at school, I

0:46:44shouldn't have to wonder whether the

0:46:45building he's spending his day in is

0:46:47contributing to those problems. I

0:46:49understand that mold being present

0:46:51doesn't automatically prove that it

0:46:53caused my son's asthma to worsen. I'm

0:46:55not standing here pretending to be a

0:46:57doctor. I'm not standing here. I'm

0:46:59standing here as his mother saying

0:47:02something has changed.

0:47:05Our children deserve you to take this

0:47:08seriously. I know there has been

0:47:10discussion about approximately 33.5

0:47:13million for HVAC renovations across

0:47:16three school districts. and I appreciate

0:47:18any investment that improves

0:47:20ventilation, but respectfully, HVAC

0:47:23renovations are not the same thing as

0:47:25building a new school. We're talking

0:47:27about a building that was constructed in

0:47:291953. At some point, we have to stop

0:47:32asking how much more we can repair and

0:47:35start asking when we are going to

0:47:37replace it. And that's where I have a

0:47:39difficult question for this board. Our

0:47:43county is moving forward with

0:47:44approximately $65 million for a new

0:47:48sports complex. I'm not here to tell

0:47:51anyone that recreation doesn't matter,

0:47:53but there are residents who made it very

0:47:55clear that they don't support the

0:47:57project. And meanwhile, I'm standing

0:47:59here asking for a safe and healthy

0:48:01school for my child to attend. So, what

0:48:04does that say about our priorities? If

0:48:06we can make a commitment of of 65

0:48:09million to build something new for our

0:48:11community, then I believe we can make a

0:48:13commitment to build a new school for the

0:48:15children. I'm asking you to have the

0:48:17same sense of urgency about our schools

0:48:19that we have when we decide to build

0:48:21other major projects because our

0:48:24children spend 5 days a week inside

0:48:26these schools. They don't get a choice

0:48:28on the building. They don't get to

0:48:30choose the air they breathe. And my son

0:48:33doesn't get to choose whether his lungs

0:48:35re react to the environment around him.

0:48:38But you can choose to make replacing the

0:48:40school a priority. When will our

0:48:43children get the investment they

0:48:45deserve? I'm asking you tonight to

0:48:47pursue every available state and local

0:48:49funding opportunity provided the

0:48:52necessary county match and develop a

0:48:54real plan to replace a 73year-old high

0:48:57school. Because this isn't about wanting

0:48:59something newer. It's about wanting

0:49:01something safer. It's about our

0:49:02children. It's about our teachers. And

0:49:04it's about being able to drop our

0:49:06children off at school in the morning

0:49:07and know that we're sending them into a

0:49:10safe environment. Our children deserve

0:49:12it. Our teachers deserve it. And our

0:49:14community deserves that. And I'll have a

0:49:17copy for all of these pictures and what

0:49:20I said tonight.

0:49:21>> Thank you.

0:49:22>> Thank you.

0:49:23>> Okay. I think THAT'S [applause]

0:49:29[applause]

0:49:32>> Thank you.

0:49:33>> All right. Item number seven uh for the

0:49:36consent agenda.

0:49:38>> Copy here.

0:49:39>> I don't know what I know what I

0:49:42>> Okay.

0:49:43>> Thank you.

0:49:52Item number seven, uh, the consent

0:49:54agenda. Are there any items to remove

0:49:56from the consent agenda for discussion?

0:50:00>> May I have a motion and second to

0:50:01approve the consent agenda?

0:50:03>> I make a motion to disapprove the

0:50:05consent agenda.

0:50:06>> I have a motion. Do I have a second?

0:50:09>> I'll second.

0:50:10>> Okay. All in favor say I. I.

0:50:12>> Thank you.

0:50:14>> Okay. Um,

0:50:17I I noticed in in the audience we have

0:50:21Mr. David Hiller uh in the audience, I

0:50:24think, and I'd like to invite him to

0:50:26accept the National Disability

0:50:28Employment Awareness Month proclamation.

0:50:31And if you'd like to say anything,

0:50:32you're welcome to say something.

0:50:34>> Thank Thank you very much. I would like

0:50:36to to say something real fast. You have

0:50:38a lot going on, but I do want to thank

0:50:40the county commissioners. Hey, Chris.

0:50:43for uh taking the time to recognize

0:50:46National Disability Employment Awareness

0:50:49Month. Started in 1945. This effort

0:50:52started in 1945. It's been going on

0:50:54since then. Uh the theme this year is

0:50:56celebrating value and talent. I'd also

0:51:00like to appreciate uh give my thanks and

0:51:02appreciation genuinely to all the

0:51:05employers in this community uh the

0:51:07families the community programs that

0:51:09have supported people with disabilities

0:51:12in their efforts to um obtain employment

0:51:15maintain employment and not just any old

0:51:17job but a career career advancement. So

0:51:20that's uh that's what we're doing here

0:51:22with this um uh event set national

0:51:26disability employment awareness month.

0:51:28And so I just want to thank you very

0:51:29much for this opportunity.

0:51:31>> Amen.

0:51:31>> Thank you.

0:51:32>> Good job.

0:51:44>> Hey brother.

0:51:49Thank you. Thank you all gentlemen. I

0:51:51appreciate your time. Yes, sir. Thank

0:51:52you very much. I'm sorry.

0:51:55Yes, ma'am.

0:51:57>> Hello. I'm sorry.

0:51:59Yes, sir. You too.

0:52:05>> Ready?

0:52:07One, two, three.

0:52:10One, two, three. And one, two, three.

0:52:14>> Thank you. And I'll send it to you

0:52:15tomorrow.

0:52:16>> Perfect.

0:52:18[laughter]

0:52:19You're

0:52:21>> welcome. Have a good evening, David.

0:52:36>> All right, we're ready for deliberation.

0:52:39We're going to start with Lexington City

0:52:41Schools.

0:52:42Mr. Mayus and Dr. Anthony, we'll leave

0:52:45this off and um any of the others that

0:52:49you know if you want to invite any of

0:52:50the others and look at all our Lexington

0:52:53folks that are here. Thank you. Thank

0:52:55you for the signs. Thank you for your

0:52:57attendance.

0:52:59Commissioner um Miselle and myself. We

0:53:02met with Dr. Anthony today and u some of

0:53:06the other folks and um we're anxious to

0:53:09hear what you have to say.

0:53:11Thank you.

0:53:12>> Good evening, Madam Chair Watford and

0:53:14members of Davidson County Board of

0:53:15Commissioners. Thank you for the

0:53:17opportunity to be with you this evening.

0:53:19More importantly, thank you for your

0:53:20leadership, your service to Davidson

0:53:22County and the investments you've

0:53:24already made in our schools. I want to

0:53:26personally thank Chair Watford and

0:53:28Commissioner Miselle for visiting Lexon

0:53:30Senior High School today. I also want to

0:53:31thank interim county manager David

0:53:33Rickert and assistant county manager Tim

0:53:34Manis for visiting Lexon Senior High

0:53:36School on September 10th. We appreciate

0:53:39each of you for walking to school,

0:53:41seeing the conditions firsthand, and

0:53:43gaining a deeper understanding of the

0:53:45opportunities that are before us. We

0:53:47recognize the responsibility entrusted

0:53:49to this ward. You balance competing

0:53:52priorities, safeguard taxpayer

0:53:53resources. You make decisions that must

0:53:56serve Davidson County, not only today,

0:53:58but for generations to come. We know

0:54:00this board values fiscal accountability

0:54:02and responsible stewardship.

0:54:04You expect public resources to be used

0:54:06responsibly and to produce meaningful

0:54:08results results and we share those

0:54:10values. We've seen what is possible when

0:54:12we work together. Lexon Senior Lexon

0:54:15Middle School has earned its first C

0:54:17school performance grade and has

0:54:18exceeded growth for two consecutive

0:54:20years. Districtwide proficiency has

0:54:23increased for three consecutive years

0:54:24and now stands at 51.3%.

0:54:28Every school in our district in the

0:54:30accountability model met or exceeded

0:54:32growth this year. Amen.

0:54:34>> Lexon Senior High School has also made

0:54:36history. The school earned his first B

0:54:38performance grade and reached a record

0:54:40high 91.7% graduation rate. Those

0:54:44results belong to our students,

0:54:46educators, family, and the community.

0:54:49They show what our students can

0:54:50accomplish when high expectations,

0:54:52accountability, resources, and

0:54:54opportunities come together. and

0:54:56progress raises the expectation for what

0:54:58comes next. This year in Lexon City

0:55:01Schools, we are leading with a clear

0:55:02commitment, high expectations,

0:55:04accountability, and urgency. We believe

0:55:07in high expectations for our students,

0:55:09our staff, and our families. We accept

0:55:12accountability for results and for

0:55:14what's being and being responsible for

0:55:16stewards and the resources that are

0:55:17entrusted to us. And we understand the

0:55:19importance of providing healthy and safe

0:55:21environments to our students and staff.

0:55:23The condition of Lexon Senior High

0:55:25School is not a new conversation for

0:55:27this board. You are familiar with the

0:55:28needs that the facility has and Davidson

0:55:32County has already expressed its

0:55:33willingness and has made an investment

0:55:35of 15.5 million dollars toward

0:55:37improvements at Lexon Senior High School

0:55:39and we are grateful for that commitment.

0:55:41But tonight, rather than revisit what we

0:55:43already know about the condition of the

0:55:44school, I want to focus briefly on what

0:55:46the assessment tells us about the

0:55:48options before us and then share a few

0:55:50photographs that provide context for

0:55:52comparison. Our goal is to continue

0:55:54working together towards solutions that

0:55:56make responsible use of public resources

0:55:58and serves our students, staff,

0:56:00families, and communities for the long

0:56:01term.

0:56:03In front of you and in your packet,

0:56:05there is a a slide that talks about the

0:56:08levels of intervention. I want to focus

0:56:10your attention on the comparison. So, in

0:56:12the column to my left, you see $15

0:56:14million, and that is what the county has

0:56:16already provided. And with that money,

0:56:18uh, and when I visited this board on

0:56:20August 6, there was some conversation

0:56:21about the money and what can it get us.

0:56:23So, working with the architect and

0:56:26addressing some of our most, uh,

0:56:27fundamental needs and our most basic

0:56:29needs and what we can accomplish with

0:56:3015.5 million, we can address the roof,

0:56:33windows, and the mechanical units, the

0:56:35HVAC units. We need a new HVAC. Uh, if

0:56:38we put a new HVAC in the building with

0:56:40the current roof and window conditions

0:56:42is not going to improve the environment.

0:56:43So that $15.5 million though it is a

0:56:46significant investment. It only really

0:56:48scratches the surface. So that $15

0:56:50million will get a new roof, new

0:56:52windows, and a new HVAC unit. But it

0:56:54won't address some of the other

0:56:55environmental issues and safety issues

0:56:57that are in our building. We also

0:56:59discussed a renovation working with the

0:57:01architects. A renovation will cost about

0:57:03$58 million and it will provide uh some

0:57:06improvements as well. It will address

0:57:09the mechanical needs, the roof, windows,

0:57:11some plumbing, electrical accessibility

0:57:13because we have parts of our building

0:57:14there that all of our students or staff

0:57:16members can assess if they have mobility

0:57:18issues. It will address water intrusion

0:57:20and waterproofing, abatement of uh

0:57:23asbestous tiles, student count, life

0:57:26safety like improve uh the addition of a

0:57:29sprinkler system, structural repair and

0:57:32some other finishes as a kitchen

0:57:34renovation because the $58 million will

0:57:36be able to address the cafeteria and

0:57:38that is a significant ask and I

0:57:40understand that. But also with the needs

0:57:41based grant $41 million will equal new

0:57:44construction. New construction will

0:57:45provide all of the above with the

0:57:47addition of campus security, classroom

0:57:49size improvement, teaching

0:57:50functionality, parking and traffic, and

0:57:53a significant investment. So, it'll be a

0:57:5560-year investment to a building being

0:57:57around for 60 years in serving the

0:57:59community.

0:58:00The new construction scenario includes

0:58:02$41 million county participation with

0:58:05approximately $62 million through the

0:58:07North Carolina needs-based grants and

0:58:09additional Lexon City Schools funding.

0:58:11This option addresses all seven

0:58:12categories and provides a stated 60-year

0:58:15life building. We recognize that 41

0:58:18million is a significant commitment. We

0:58:20do not take that lightly. At the same

0:58:22time, that participation provides an

0:58:24opportunity to pursue approximately 62

0:58:26million in state funding. So spending 41

0:58:28million to get 62 million is a great

0:58:31return on investment. That is the

0:58:33opportunity we're seeking asking you to

0:58:34consider tonight. We just show you a

0:58:36couple of slides from uh that you've

0:58:39seen before. want to show you a few

0:58:41photographs. These images are examples

0:58:42of conditions identified through the

0:58:44facility assessment. As you look at

0:58:46these photographs, you can see examples

0:58:48related to the building envelope, the

0:58:49site conditions, the aging building

0:58:51systems, water intrusion, and interior

0:58:53conditions. [clears throat]

0:58:58The assessment identifies structural

0:59:00settlement related to drainage and

0:59:02deteriorating storm water lines, age of

0:59:04mechanical systems, accessibility

0:59:06concerns, general deterioration, and

0:59:08lifea safety issues.

0:59:12Here you see additional examples related

0:59:14to accessibility, classroom conditions,

0:59:15aging building systems, and life safety.

0:59:19The assessment identifies accessibility

0:59:20and life safety concerns, including

0:59:22inaccessible areas of the campus, no

0:59:24automatic sprinkler protection, removed

0:59:26fire doors and rated stair towers, and

0:59:29fire shutters that do not function

0:59:30appear to function. These are some of

0:59:33the conditions that inform the different

0:59:34levels of intervention presented in the

0:59:36previous slides. In closing,

0:59:38commissioners, we appreciate the

0:59:39investment that Davidson County has

0:59:41already made in Lexon City Schools, and

0:59:43we appreciate the opportunity to

0:59:44continue this conversation together.

0:59:47Providing healthy and safe environments

0:59:48for students and staff is fundamental to

0:59:50the work we share. The academic progress

0:59:52we are seeing shows what our students

0:59:55are capable of. This assessment gives us

0:59:57a clear understanding of what the

0:59:59available options that we can accomplish

1:00:01and the needs-based grant provides an

1:00:03opportunity to pursue significant state

1:00:04funding toward a comprehensive long-term

1:00:06solution. The decisions we make today

1:00:08about our schools will serve students,

1:00:10staff, families, and this community for

1:00:12years to come. Ultimately, these are our

1:00:15students. These are our schools and

1:00:17these are our public resources. And this

1:00:19is our community. With approximately 41

1:00:22million in county participation, we have

1:00:23the opportunity to unlock approximately

1:00:2562 million in state funding toward a

1:00:27comprehensive long-term solution that

1:00:29will address all seven areas. We

1:00:31respectfully ask the Davidson County uh

1:00:34commissioner to support Lexon City

1:00:35Schools and pursuing this opportunity.

1:00:37We believe that the strongest path

1:00:38forward is one that we build together.

1:00:40Thank you for your consideration and

1:00:42your continued partnership.

1:00:44>> Thank you.

1:00:45>> Thank you, sir. [applause]

1:00:53I'd like to say a few things. Um, first

1:00:56let me go ahead and assert my belief

1:01:00that every child deserves a quality

1:01:04education and a quality school

1:01:07regardless of background,

1:01:10regardless of the street they grew up on

1:01:12and regardless of the zip code they live

1:01:14in.

1:01:16Then that should be something that we

1:01:18hold again throughout not just this

1:01:20county but the state. And I say that as

1:01:23a former school teacher who spent four

1:01:25years in a title one school that was

1:01:28also built in the 1950s. So I I do know

1:01:31where some of y'all are coming from.

1:01:34>> I'd also like to um just thank Dr.

1:01:37Anthony and Dr. Porter. I think we had a

1:01:39a about a two-hour tour today through

1:01:42the school and it had been a few years

1:01:44since I had been there. So, I appreciate

1:01:46the time that you took um out of your

1:01:49day to take us through and I'll just

1:01:51you've talked on some of it, but I took

1:01:53pictures and I made notes and I showed

1:01:55you my notebook of all my notes I had

1:01:57been taken of some of my concerns and

1:01:59some of the issues that I saw in the

1:02:01school and I'm going to read through

1:02:02them so everyone is aware um that it's

1:02:05also coming from us in terms of these

1:02:07concerns. Number one, we called out the

1:02:10um ADA safety and compliance throughout

1:02:13the school.

1:02:15Uh not just the the ramps, but also the

1:02:18fact that there is uh a a second story

1:02:21where there are just stairs, there's no

1:02:23lift, there's no elevator.

1:02:26So, you can imagine the issues that

1:02:28arise if a student, for instance, um has

1:02:32a sprained ankle, has a broken leg, or

1:02:35is wheelchair bound.

1:02:37In addition, when we were walking

1:02:39through the halls and classrooms,

1:02:42the ceilings, multiple ceilings were

1:02:44leaking.

1:02:46The floors and the tiles were buckling.

1:02:50That's not the quality of of school we

1:02:52need in the county.

1:02:55And I think I had actually talked with I

1:02:58think I saw him actually one of the

1:02:59history teachers who had flooding in his

1:03:02classroom

1:03:04a quarter of an inch

1:03:07because pipes that have been mended can

1:03:10no longer be fixed. And so when we we

1:03:13have heard before that well the the

1:03:15bones of the school are good. I would I

1:03:18would say that the bones have

1:03:20osteoporosis

1:03:22and they are in desperate need of

1:03:25fixing.

1:03:29The other piece I would say and I say

1:03:31this to my colleagues and you'll have to

1:03:33pardon me. I do get passionate and most

1:03:35of my my colleagues up here know I get

1:03:36passionate about public education. I

1:03:38know Karen Watford does because she was

1:03:40a school teacher too. Um

1:03:44facilities and learning go hand in hand.

1:03:46We cannot separate the two. So we cannot

1:03:50simply say well it's a building. It

1:03:53doesn't impact school. It does. It does

1:03:56impact learning. It impact impacts pride

1:03:59of the school. It impacts learning. When

1:04:02you have to move classrooms because they

1:04:06are flooded or because the temperatures

1:04:08get too low or too hot and it feels like

1:04:11you're traveling different temperate

1:04:13zones and you have to use

1:04:16other teachers classrooms and use their

1:04:19planning periods, you interrupt their

1:04:22planning and instruction and you cause

1:04:25issues with having to move students. And

1:04:27again, I speak firsthand of knowing what

1:04:29it's like having to move students from

1:04:31classroom to classroom. It causes

1:04:34disruption. And even with all these

1:04:36things, as was noted today during our

1:04:39meeting, there has been great

1:04:41achievement at this school.

1:04:4398% I believe um was the retention rate

1:04:48for staff. And you have continued to

1:04:50climb. You have continued to climb in

1:04:54spite of all of these things. So God

1:04:57knows what you would accomplish

1:05:01if you didn't have those things holding

1:05:03you back. [applause]

1:05:10I say all of this even after a couple

1:05:13weeks ago when Thomasville came before

1:05:15us and we said unanimously we were

1:05:19wedded to our current um plan of our

1:05:24capital improvement plan for the

1:05:26renovations and that we would not change

1:05:29course.

1:05:32However, we also have to weigh new

1:05:35information.

1:05:36And I've already shared once, but I'll

1:05:38I'll share it again. As a former history

1:05:40teacher, I love quotes. So, I'll go

1:05:42ahead and share one. Um, Ralph Waldo

1:05:45Emerson, for you English teachers who

1:05:47might be in the room, right, said that a

1:05:49a foolish foolish consistency, not

1:05:52consistency, but a foolish consist

1:05:54consistency is the hobgoblin of little

1:05:56minds.

1:05:59So, let us not wet ourselves to a

1:06:01previous plan, especially if we now have

1:06:04information

1:06:06where we may actually have a chance to

1:06:08get whether it's Lexington or

1:06:10Thomasville one of these needs-based

1:06:12grants. So, I am fully supportive of

1:06:14this. I think there may be way we've

1:06:17talked about perhaps there's some

1:06:19flexibility in the um amounts to maybe

1:06:22even bring it down a bit to make it more

1:06:24suitable for us to find the funds to

1:06:27match. Those are my statements. Those

1:06:29are based on my experience. Again,

1:06:31pardon the passion, but

1:06:32>> say it again, Reverend. Let's go.

1:06:35>> Hallelujah.

1:06:36>> Amen.

1:06:38>> That is where I stand.

1:06:39>> Amen.

1:06:40>> I' I'd like to say a little bit today.

1:06:42THANK [applause] YOU.

1:06:46WE HAD A WONDERFUL UH meeting today and

1:06:49certainly um you know a lot of times

1:06:51when you look at a building and it looks

1:06:53pretty good on the inside and it might

1:06:56look pretty good on the outside but in

1:06:59in the middle the part that you can't

1:07:01see. That's what I noticed more than

1:07:04anything today uh about the school. um

1:07:08from the top to the bottom,

1:07:10[clears throat] from the clogged drains,

1:07:13um the pipes um falling apart, that sort

1:07:16of thing. But the most exciting thing,

1:07:19and I've got children that are at

1:07:22grandchildren at Oak Grove, I'm very

1:07:23proud of them in Oak Grove, but I'd like

1:07:26for Mr. uh Dr. Porter to share what you

1:07:29told us about the late the ABCs, deans,

1:07:34whatever you call them. [laughter]

1:07:38This this is something to brag about.

1:07:41Really, I want y'all to hear this.

1:07:44>> Thank you, Madam Chair. My name is Dr.

1:07:45Germaine Porter. I'm the proud principal

1:07:47of Lexington Senior High School. Allow

1:07:49me to first say everything that I'm

1:07:51getting ready to tell you. It is because

1:07:53of the legacy that's come before myself.

1:07:55>> Amen.

1:07:56>> As well as the my staff at Lexington

1:08:00Senior High School. With that being

1:08:02said, Dr. Anthony, you did an amazing

1:08:05job.

1:08:07And that's my boss. Okay. [laughter]

1:08:10But I want to make sure that I'm

1:08:11abundantly clear when I say this. There

1:08:13are only two schools in Davidson County,

1:08:16two Oak Grove and East Davidson, whose

1:08:20data is better than Lexon and Senior

1:08:23High School. Let me make sure I'm clear

1:08:25when I say that.

1:08:25>> Number three,

1:08:26>> we are the third highest data wise in

1:08:31Davidson County.

1:08:32>> Amen. We There are no A schools in

1:08:36Davidson County. Let me be clear. Put

1:08:39the signs up behind me because Lex and

1:08:41Senior High School is a B school.

1:08:45>> Amen.

1:08:45>> Thank you.

1:08:47[applause]

1:08:52>> Don't we need cameras?

1:08:55>> No.

1:08:58Um, so anyway, I I just wanted to

1:09:00emphasize that I I spoke with Miss

1:09:02McDuffy today and she's an inspiration

1:09:05in herself, but um just she's uh the

1:09:09chair of the school board and I think

1:09:11she would like to say a few things.

1:09:13>> Yes. Again, um thank you uh Chair Wford

1:09:18and thank you Miselle. Y'all, that's my

1:09:21brother from another mother. [laughter]

1:09:25But, you know, um just these uh few days

1:09:29that we have um met and we have talked,

1:09:34it's been such a pleasure. Um having a

1:09:38open mind. Uh I would like to also

1:09:41acknowledge the rest of the

1:09:43commissioners. Um thank you for allowing

1:09:46us to come and stand before you. And

1:09:49again, as she stated, uh, I'm honored to

1:09:53serve as the chair of Lexington City

1:09:55Board of Education. I'm Angela McDuffy,

1:09:59and I do echo everything that has been

1:10:02stated. We have one of the greatest

1:10:05superintendent.

1:10:06Uh, I can't say everybody should say

1:10:09their superintendent is the greatest,

1:10:11but we have one of the greatest

1:10:13superintendent. And I stand before you

1:10:16just as um the one of the public

1:10:20speakers mentioned and uh others have

1:10:23mentioned, not just a school board

1:10:25chair, but as a mother, as a

1:10:28grandmother,

1:10:30as a community leader, and as uh a

1:10:34product of the quality education that I

1:10:39received from Lexington Senior High

1:10:41School. my siblings. I'm six of five. We

1:10:45all graduated from Lexington Senior High

1:10:48School. Uh my daughter is here in the in

1:10:51the audience. She graduated and I have a

1:10:54grandson that graduated from Lexington

1:10:57Senior High School. So, the building has

1:10:59so much meaning, right? Uh but even

1:11:05though it is a part of our uh our um

1:11:09community, it's a part of our family's

1:11:12stories, it is the oldest building in

1:11:16Davidson County, right? So my um uh

1:11:22class reunion, it'll be coming up next

1:11:24year, 45 years. the building is uh 10

1:11:30years older than me, right? Um and so I

1:11:35mean it's already been laid out before

1:11:38you. Um and also I wanted to mention

1:11:42that several of the former commissioners

1:11:45attended Lexington City Schools and

1:11:49graduated

1:11:50uh from Lexington Senior High School.

1:11:53So, you know, that's uh part of history

1:11:56as well. And so, um I echo that it's

1:12:00just not a school issue, but it's also a

1:12:04community issue, you know. So, it

1:12:07affects our entire community and it's

1:12:09just as Dr. Anthony stated and many

1:12:12others have stated is reached a point um

1:12:14where continued investment in renovation

1:12:18is is really not the best uh and most uh

1:12:23responsible long-term solution uh for

1:12:26the conditions that uh we have already

1:12:29witnessed and uh some of the

1:12:31commissioners came to see for themselves

1:12:34and as uh Dr. Porter, Dr. Anthony and uh

1:12:39Commissioner Meiselle stated, "Our

1:12:42children, our teachers, our staff, they

1:12:45continue to raise the bar even in the

1:12:47midst of that." You know why? Because of

1:12:50what Dr. Anthony stated, the

1:12:52expectations, the expectations not only

1:12:56of um Dr. Anthony, the school board as

1:13:01well as our community. We have high

1:13:04expectations for our students. We have

1:13:07high expectations

1:13:09uh for everyone at Lexington City

1:13:12Schools. And with that being said, our

1:13:15buildings should mimic those

1:13:18expectations.

1:13:19And so our teachers, like you said, they

1:13:22deserve Miss uh Commissioner Miselle,

1:13:25our teachers deserve uh Chair Watford

1:13:28and and uh Vice Chair Steve Shell, our

1:13:32commission uh or Commissioner uh Steve

1:13:34Shell, our you know, our teachers, our

1:13:38staff, they deserve to work in a safe,

1:13:42healthy, you know, quality facility,

1:13:46modern facility. And I believe we heard

1:13:49someone stated about the air quality. I

1:13:53know uh Mr. uh Commissioner Elliot, you

1:13:56mentioned about your child and would you

1:13:59want your child to be in a Lexington

1:14:02City school facility going to class

1:14:06every day in the conditions that our

1:14:09children are now having to withstand and

1:14:13our teachers and our staff on a dayto

1:14:16day. So, uh, I won't continue as far as

1:14:19to, uh, repeat everything that's been

1:14:22said, but I do want to say this.

1:14:24Lexington city as a whole is expanding.

1:14:28It's growing. And because Lexington is

1:14:32growing, we need to provide a high

1:14:37quality

1:14:39uh safe, healthy facility for these new

1:14:44families that's coming into the city of

1:14:47Lexington. That says a lot for our

1:14:50commissioners to support that. And so

1:14:54we're here because we know we don't want

1:14:57to just um just merely preserve the

1:15:01past, but our responsibility is to honor

1:15:05the past while preparing our children

1:15:07for the future. And so that's what I ask

1:15:11is here right here um for asking you for

1:15:16Lexington Senior High School, a safe,

1:15:18healthy, modern school which sends a

1:15:22message to our children. And that

1:15:24message that it sends to our children is

1:15:26that we care about you and we care about

1:15:30your education and we care about your

1:15:32future. And I know you do this. You do

1:15:36too. And so we're asking you to partner

1:15:39with us to come along and help us to

1:15:43with this message and cause this message

1:15:46to come to pass for our children. You

1:15:48have heard the details. You have heard

1:15:50all the concerns. And we our ask is that

1:15:54you reconsider approving our district to

1:15:57move forward with applying for this

1:15:59needs grace uh needsbased grant and when

1:16:04awarded and notice I said when awarded

1:16:07when awarded. Okay, we are just asking

1:16:11for your commitment to match those funds

1:16:14and we do recognize it is a significant

1:16:17request, but it allows us to meet that

1:16:21major need that um that we have at

1:16:25Lexington Senior uh high school. And by

1:16:28helping to honor, you're helping us to

1:16:31honor the legacy of Lexington Senior

1:16:34High and investing in its future. We

1:16:37thank you. We thank you. We thank you,

1:16:39Mr. Riker. We thank you to all the city

1:16:41officials that's here. And we thank you

1:16:44for hearing us. We thank you for your

1:16:47consideration, your partnership, and

1:16:49your commitment to our children and

1:16:51family in this Lexington community.

1:16:53>> She's good, ain't she? She's pretty

1:16:55good.

1:16:59>> Thank you,

1:17:00>> Dr. Anthony. Dr. Anthony, I I'd like to

1:17:03I'd like to say something um regarding

1:17:05this that tremendous. like number one,

1:17:08you got a future in coaching if you

1:17:10decide you don't like this commissioner

1:17:11thing cuz he had me ready to run through

1:17:13a wall. So, uh, no, I I think, you know,

1:17:18it's a testament and I'm coming from a

1:17:20from a different side. I'm coming from

1:17:22the uh from the uh from the delayed

1:17:27side, the the school that you had that

1:17:30my son Mason went to, the developmental

1:17:32center. A lot of people talk about

1:17:34Stoner Thomas, but they don't realize

1:17:36we've got a A1 facility for our de

1:17:39developmentally disabled children here

1:17:42in Lexington. And y'all allowed my child

1:17:45to come and be a yellow jacket. Even

1:17:47though I lived in the Central Davidson

1:17:49community, your teachers loved him. They

1:17:52man, he's got so many mamas and grandmas

1:17:54and aunts and and uncles and everything

1:17:56like that that wear the the blue and the

1:17:58orange. And uh when when he aged out and

1:18:03y'all gave him his little graduation cuz

1:18:05he never was able to make it to the high

1:18:07school and y'all gave him his cap and

1:18:10gown and you you gave him his little

1:18:12diploma and everything. When I tell you

1:18:14man that changed my life because you

1:18:18showed up when you didn't have to. And

1:18:21then I look at that facility that's aged

1:18:23out too. We need to be looking at that

1:18:24next. But I that that facility's aged

1:18:27out too and everything was clean.

1:18:29Everything was painted. Everything was

1:18:31done professional. And then I've been to

1:18:33the high school. I was just there the

1:18:34other night for the barn uh thing for M

1:18:37the Fair Queen. Y'all showed up and

1:18:39saved the night cuz it was raining and

1:18:41muddy and everything. And we came in

1:18:43there and the facility was clean.

1:18:45Y'all's kids just went crazy. I loved

1:18:48it. You had a little bee dancing around

1:18:49everything. The yellow jacket was going

1:18:51crazy. I said it was just a good place.

1:18:53But you know what you've done with aging

1:18:56facilities and I won't take away from

1:18:58what uh the madam chairwoman has said

1:19:01and what commissioner Meiselle has said

1:19:03but you know you're a B-rated school

1:19:05with facilities falling in all around

1:19:08you. What can you do with good

1:19:10facilities and a good chance to have

1:19:12kids that would actually take a little

1:19:14pride in coming to the facility and and

1:19:16not having to worry about being sick. So

1:19:19um I'm appalled at some of the the

1:19:22pictures that I seen. Shame on me for

1:19:24not getting by there and going by. I

1:19:26thank the mother that had the the

1:19:28wherewithal and the courage to stand up

1:19:30here and to bring those pictures to us.

1:19:32I thank Commissioner Miselle. Uh I don't

1:19:36I don't think this is something that you

1:19:37can kick the ball down the road anymore.

1:19:39We got to we got to get it done. And uh

1:19:42it'd be the honor of my lifetime to get

1:19:43it done and honor my son for y'all cuz

1:19:46y'all gave y'all all to him. I need to

1:19:48give my all to you. Thank you.

1:19:53Thank you, Commissioner Elliot. Just one

1:19:54thing I since you shot, Sir,

1:19:57>> let me cut you off quick.

1:20:00>> Sure. Yes. Go ahead.

1:20:02>> I come from an old school and the old

1:20:06school is Joe Mintosh.

1:20:08>> Amen.

1:20:08>> Rody Beverly,

1:20:11Dems May,

1:20:13>> all those guys. I didn't miss a game. My

1:20:16son graduated from Lex Senior High

1:20:18School. Those kids deserve what every

1:20:21kid in this county deserves.

1:20:23>> Amen.

1:20:24>> Amen, BROTHER. [applause]

1:20:30>> Anyone else have any questions or

1:20:32comments you'd like to make? I'm going

1:20:34to turn it over to Mr. Mayus uh to help

1:20:38us at this this particular time. Um

1:20:41>> Sure.

1:20:45>> You do you want to say what you told

1:20:47them today? Well, or Dr. Anthony, I know

1:20:49you and I talked about the initial total

1:20:52amount and you had expressed that there

1:20:54would there could be some flexibility

1:20:56there to to lower it a bit more. Would

1:20:59you want to speak to a little bit of

1:21:00that and it may help with some of the

1:21:02conversations on where the additional

1:21:04funds could could come from and how much

1:21:06would be needed? Well, and and you know,

1:21:09and we also have to keep in mind that

1:21:11we're talking to Thomasville also after

1:21:14you all and and we've already told them

1:21:17uh and asked them to do the same thing.

1:21:20We asked them to see if they could make

1:21:22some cuts, you know? Right. And and so

1:21:25we got to leave have that out in the

1:21:27open. So, um

1:21:29>> yes, right there is unacceptable.

1:21:31>> Yes, sir. Absolutely.

1:21:32>> Yes. And uh uh Chair Watford, I would

1:21:37like to allude again on one other thing

1:21:40and I I do, you know, I highly respect

1:21:43uh what you just stated, you know, with

1:21:46Thomasville.

1:21:47>> Again, uh Lexington City Schools is the

1:21:50oldest, you know, um uh building in

1:21:55Davidson County.

1:21:56>> Yes. and uh don't know what those needs

1:22:00are, you know, at Thomasville,

1:22:04but I do know that we have all seen and

1:22:08witness the needs of a 73 year old

1:22:12building. And you know, we talked about

1:22:16uh not patching it, not putting

1:22:20band-aids

1:22:21>> because that's money in the long run

1:22:24that'll be wasted that we that could go

1:22:27toward uh the new facility.

1:22:30>> Well, we've tried that for the last

1:22:32eight years and it has not worked.

1:22:34So

1:22:36>> having the information like brother

1:22:38Mazelle said u if you're going to keep

1:22:41on doing the same foolish things then

1:22:44you eventually have to be called

1:22:45foolish. So

1:22:48>> well I think and I think we're past the

1:22:50band-aid on top of band-aid strategy. I

1:22:53think where the and you're right to to

1:22:55mention Thomasville again. It's two

1:22:57distinct districts, two distinct

1:22:58schools.

1:22:59>> Yes. your your population is larger, so

1:23:01it would necessarily um it's not

1:23:04surprising that your school would be

1:23:05larger and therefore more costly. Um but

1:23:08Dr. Anthony, could you talk about maybe

1:23:10some of the potential flexibility we we

1:23:12could have with um that total amount of

1:23:15the the 104 million?

1:23:18>> Uh yes, sir. Thank you for this

1:23:19opportunity. So there is uh a space for

1:23:21us to kind of uh retract some things

1:23:24from this uh this initial offer. A

1:23:26portion of the grant is due on October

1:23:292nd. So time is of the essence. I just

1:23:31spoke with our architect and we can uh

1:23:33work something smaller or a smaller

1:23:35number and get it to you. We need about

1:23:37um we have about a 48 hour window to get

1:23:39something to her and get with you uh get

1:23:41it back to you so we can get it signed

1:23:42and then uh get it submitted. So there

1:23:44is uh opportunity in there. Uh but this

1:23:47as we spoke earlier today and this you

1:23:50know as it's grown uh it's been a quick

1:23:52turnaround. We just want to take some

1:23:53time to make sure the cuts that we make

1:23:55are prudent. Uh as uh Commissioner

1:23:57Elliot said, you know, the Kuanas Club

1:23:59needed our facility. So having that um

1:24:02the auditorium was crucial. And this

1:24:04another thing that we kind of left out

1:24:06in this uh initial talk um is that

1:24:10building a new school also gives us a

1:24:12new emergency shelter for Lexington for

1:24:14the Lexington community. So right now

1:24:16our building can't serve in that

1:24:17capacity because we don't we have ADA

1:24:19issues and generates and such. So this

1:24:21investment not only is it for our

1:24:22students but it's for the community as

1:24:23well as demonstrated on Thursday night

1:24:25in less than 3 hours or 4 hours Dr.

1:24:27Porter and his staff were able to open

1:24:28up the auditorium and get uh security

1:24:30and things in place to make sure that

1:24:31that event went uh off. So for a fam for

1:24:35families and students uh it was a great

1:24:37event on Thursday night. So uh to answer

1:24:39your initial question, we have some

1:24:40flexibility and I just think need to

1:24:42know who would you like for me to talk

1:24:43to to bring that information to?

1:24:45>> Probably be Tim right there.

1:24:47>> Tim. Yeah. Let's let Tim jump in there.

1:24:51>> No,

1:24:54>> sure. So, just to just to recap and

1:24:57rehash, every everyone knows that we've

1:24:59had um

1:25:01at current in the CIP 15 and a half

1:25:04available for Lexington and 15 and a

1:25:06half for Thomasville. Um, some of the

1:25:09things we talked about a few weeks ago

1:25:10was how could we make one project go

1:25:13over another if it was indeed chosen to

1:25:15be above and beyond that 15 and a half.

1:25:17So, a couple of options and uh Dr.

1:25:21Shotwell's here and you may not want to

1:25:23listen to this part, Dr. shot. Well, but

1:25:25um you you could you could you could

1:25:27repurpose some of the match money for

1:25:29Thomasville if now mind you based on

1:25:32feedback from the state the aggregate

1:25:35award 62 million that means there's

1:25:37going to be one grant recipient if if

1:25:39awarded

1:25:39>> one yeah

1:25:41>> at the same time I realize that the

1:25:43needs remain that doesn't fix the issue

1:25:46right

1:25:46>> right

1:25:47>> so but to to come up with the match just

1:25:50real quick and easy and this is you know

1:25:52nothing nothing's ever that easy just

1:25:54you you could repurpose that that monies

1:25:57so that gets you to 31 and then you have

1:26:00I'm thinking on the fly here um you have

1:26:02some of that other capital money the

1:26:04lake dredging would get you to the 41

1:26:06that's the easiest way to just lay it

1:26:09out there right now the good news is we

1:26:12have the benefit of um of time because

1:26:15once if a project gets approved it's

1:26:17probably going to take 12 to 18 months I

1:26:19would imagine for for you know earth to

1:26:22start moving so that gives

1:26:24us a little more time to to realize some

1:26:27other savings. Um other options

1:26:31you can always you know borrowing is an

1:26:33option that um we can either couple with

1:26:37with the jail or do independent of. It's

1:26:39it's fine to do you know multiple

1:26:41borrowings in in in one fiscal year or

1:26:43one year. That's not uncommon. Um we

1:26:45kind of touched on that a few weeks ago

1:26:48what that debt service might look like

1:26:49and that just really depends on the

1:26:51dollar amount obviously we have to

1:26:52borrow. Um

1:26:56other than that those are the two like

1:26:58kind of probably quickest most efficient

1:27:01ways to really describe how to how to go

1:27:03about doing this and skin this cat so to

1:27:05speak uh to provide provide that match.

1:27:08Um,

1:27:10as we mentioned, you know, once again a

1:27:12few weeks ago,

1:27:14after we get beyond, and I'm looking at

1:27:16the at the numbers here. I've been

1:27:18staring at the numbers trying to be be

1:27:20prepared for all these questions. Um,

1:27:23when we get beyond fiscal year 27, so

1:27:26the year we're in,

1:27:28our CIP,

1:27:31we get a little bit of relief. Now

1:27:32granted in December um departments will

1:27:36start turning their stuff in and it'll

1:27:37load up but I don't think it's going to

1:27:39load up as much as the relief that will

1:27:41be available. Now I don't know exactly

1:27:43the full extent of that relief but uh in

1:27:45looking at this um 28 29 and 30

1:27:51we were building up um

1:27:54you know some some relief that could you

1:27:56know yield a potential uh you know for

1:27:59example in 29 13.2 $2 million could

1:28:02could be available to still fund our

1:28:04plan as as it is now and and be

1:28:07available for for other needs which fits

1:28:09within the timeline of uh the a project

1:28:13like this. So long and the short is um

1:28:18we'd have to get a little creative and

1:28:20as I mentioned a few weeks ago, I think

1:28:23a lot of it could be done. Now there's a

1:28:25lot of contingencies and variables. Um

1:28:27we've taken some some some hits with

1:28:29some of our revenues and we still don't

1:28:31know what some of this uh you know we we

1:28:33lost a little hold harmless money

1:28:35through through uh Medicaid hold

1:28:37harmless and you know those error rates

1:28:39with the with food stamp error rates may

1:28:41may have an effect on us but I still

1:28:44think there's going to be some

1:28:47some movement there. So between all

1:28:49those

1:28:50I think it can be done. It just it's a

1:28:52matter of you know sharpening our

1:28:54pencils. And here's the thing, the

1:28:56challenge I think is that's bigger than

1:28:58me looking at these numbers and trying

1:29:00to

1:29:02if the grant's not awarded, like I said,

1:29:04the problems are still there. So, I

1:29:06think one of the things that we need to,

1:29:07this is just him thinking out loud right

1:29:09now. Um, probably need to put our heads

1:29:12together as a as a board and a school

1:29:14board or leadership and discuss how we

1:29:17can move forward and make things go. Um,

1:29:19and we've done that in the past. We did

1:29:21that, had some, you know, tough

1:29:22conversations, you know, and and did

1:29:24some things and that's resulted in, you

1:29:26know, it's some pretty good renovations,

1:29:28although, you know, maybe not as

1:29:30comprehensive as necessarily needed to

1:29:31the middle school. So, that's kind of my

1:29:34thoughts on the on the money piece. Do

1:29:36y'all have any questions? Sounds like we

1:29:38just got some some flexibility is really

1:29:40what you're you're saying. I understand

1:29:42if we don't get the grants, I don't mind

1:29:43doesn't want to go there. um that would

1:29:45there'd have to be kind of a we'd have

1:29:47to probably reconvene and discuss a path

1:29:49forward. Um I would say that even if we

1:29:53had to to borrow, I'd rather borrow the

1:29:5715 million if we had to than have to

1:29:59borrow 90 or 100 million for a new

1:30:03school if we get the needsbased grant,

1:30:05especially with the Oak Grove amount

1:30:07falling off in the next couple of years.

1:30:09>> I agree with that, but I think if I

1:30:11don't think 15 million is going to touch

1:30:13it. Well, it's 15 million is what

1:30:16they're talking about,

1:30:17>> right? But they've already they've

1:30:18already got about 15 million. I was

1:30:20saying if instead of taking from

1:30:21Thomasville, like hypothetically

1:30:24speaking, if Lexington was to get the

1:30:26award, instead of moving over what

1:30:28Thomasville has and taking from them to

1:30:30help with the matching, you take out a

1:30:32loan instead of 15 million. So

1:30:34Thomasville can keep following, I think,

1:30:37>> right? And so you could do it. Um

1:30:40>> I mean, I'm

1:30:41>> I mean, I'll be honest. Um, and

1:30:43>> just just for clarification for the

1:30:45folks at home, we had talked about what

1:30:48the Sports Plex money could have been

1:30:50used for. Uh, the the Hold on a minute.

1:30:54Hold on a minute. Hold on. So, the the

1:30:58money for cutting that out was not even

1:31:00available to go to to teachers, to

1:31:03schools, to anything like that was was

1:31:06what I was told.

1:31:07>> I thought half of it could. because h

1:31:10half of it was the COVID relief that was

1:31:13used as the revenue replacement and I

1:31:15thought the other half

1:31:17>> came from some sort of interest account

1:31:20that we had that could but I I don't

1:31:22want to get us off

1:31:22>> yeah let let's don't get off topic

1:31:24>> well my my topic my topic is that's what

1:31:27I was told

1:31:28>> cuz uh you know

1:31:29>> and and see that

1:31:31>> I don't really care what what that I

1:31:33like my vote would have changed like

1:31:35seriously the what what I'm the whole

1:31:39issue with the sports flex was to have

1:31:41money that you could only use for

1:31:43certain applications to be used to to

1:31:46build revenue for one point that it

1:31:48didn't have to raise the tax rate

1:31:51>> 54 cent you could build something that

1:31:53could actually generate revenue to help

1:31:56uh subsidize teacher pay subsidize

1:31:58sheriff deputies and stuff like that

1:32:00>> I think what we need to be talking about

1:32:02is how much money are we ready to

1:32:04approve here for this

1:32:06>> is it is it an amount or do we just need

1:32:08like a general eneral approval that they

1:32:09can apply for the the grant.

1:32:11>> Well, as it's written right now and

1:32:13presented that the grant, you know, ask

1:32:16us to sign off on the application unless

1:32:18it's revised [clears throat] and brought

1:32:19back Thursday morning for some reason to

1:32:22that to the tune of $41 million.

1:32:24>> 41 million. See, that's where I was

1:32:26saying that's 15 ain't touching it.

1:32:29>> Right.

1:32:29>> Right. Now let me but to M Matt's point

1:32:34the 15 that's already been allocated for

1:32:36that will that come off to 41 million?

1:32:38>> That's right. So the the gap there is 25

1:32:42more 25 right 25.

1:32:43>> So we're looking

1:32:45>> and then if you took from the lake

1:32:46dredging which is about 10 million right

1:32:49Tim?

1:32:50>> Yes.

1:32:51>> If you took from that then it would be

1:32:53only about 15 million to close that gap.

1:32:55>> And I think that's

1:32:56>> so working it down.

1:32:57>> Right. Well and again we Right. So, I

1:33:00mean, based on all that, I mean, I'll go

1:33:01ahead and make a motion to approve

1:33:04Lexington City Schools for their

1:33:05need-based grant.

1:33:07>> I second that.

1:33:10>> Yes.

1:33:12>> But I

1:33:12>> You don't think that we ought to have

1:33:15them, the architect is going to scale

1:33:18down a little? Maybe.

1:33:19>> Yes. That's there's time to submit in

1:33:21time,

1:33:22>> but that's not it's not to approve

1:33:24building the school. It's approved to

1:33:26allow them to apply for the grant and

1:33:28that's guaranteed a match.

1:33:29>> That's what I mean. But if they scale it

1:33:31down, that match would be less.

1:33:33>> Yeah. But that' be on the other end of

1:33:35it.

1:33:36>> That would be on the other end

1:33:38>> after the fact after they get the money,

1:33:41they start their bidding process and all

1:33:44that. So, let's let's have a um let's

1:33:48have a clear statement of what we're

1:33:53saying so that they can know what they

1:33:56can expect. I mean, you're you're saying

1:33:58we're just merely going to say yes,

1:34:01we're supporting

1:34:04not necessarily a full match

1:34:07>> 41 million. We are if we do that

1:34:09tonight,

1:34:10>> we've already got 26 million. So, I

1:34:12mean, uh

1:34:13>> 15 and a half. Yeah. 15 and a half. And

1:34:16no, I know you got 20 because the

1:34:18dredged part we've already got,

1:34:21>> right? I'm saying if if if they let's

1:34:23like say worst case scenario, they can't

1:34:25come down from the 104, even though

1:34:27based on our conversations, we think

1:34:29there is some flexibility to come down,

1:34:30but let's use the worst case scenario

1:34:32here. So, let's say it's 104 million. If

1:34:35you look at the the handout there, you

1:34:37got the 62 million from the needs space

1:34:39grant. They're putting in funds from the

1:34:41lottery fund. they're going to put in

1:34:42their county match from the CIP. So

1:34:45that's the 15 uh million. And so they're

1:34:48asking for an additional 25. What I'm

1:34:50saying is you could move the 10 million

1:34:53from dredging, which has been there for

1:34:55a while, and then you're left with an

1:34:57additional 15 million that needs to be

1:34:59filled. That's the piece that could be

1:35:02kind of open for discussion whether it

1:35:04can simply be a loan that we take out

1:35:06because I my point was 15 million would

1:35:09be a lot easier to pay off rather than a

1:35:12larger loan of

1:35:14>> Tim Kim said 13 million next year off of

1:35:16debt service. So that I mean that's 2

1:35:18million you're looking at

1:35:19>> takes the spot of where Oak Grove had

1:35:21been.

1:35:21>> Yeah.

1:35:22>> So that is my point.

1:35:24>> I'm good with that.

1:35:25>> Jim, does that make sense? That makes

1:35:28sense to me exactly what you're saying.

1:35:30And now not 13 million off the debt

1:35:32service totally. We're going to get some

1:35:33relief off the roller coaster. It's not

1:35:35going to be 13 million total, but there

1:35:37will be relief over time. Over time, pay

1:35:39it off. Right.

1:35:39>> Just want to clarify that. So the ask

1:35:41I'm going to call it to the dollar if

1:35:43y'all don't mind.

1:35:44>> So the ask of the county is 41,255,567.

1:35:49So 4125567.

1:35:52So as as as commissioner Miselle said 15

1:35:57and a half is there 10 million lake

1:35:58dredging and that gives you plus or

1:36:00minus you know 15.7

1:36:03gap remaining that could be covered

1:36:05through

1:36:07debt service it could be covered as as

1:36:10the CIP relief I call it relief because

1:36:13the plan's fully funded now essentially

1:36:15with a after this year we got to bring

1:36:18probably about 22.5 million dollars to

1:36:21the table to get this thing fully funed.

1:36:22this year and then we get what I call

1:36:24the relief valve so to speak where that

1:36:26frees up some money to

1:36:29maybe borrow less is what I'm saying

1:36:33but you are commissioner Shook's correct

1:36:35if we commit the 41.2 to

1:36:38I don't after the if the grant gets

1:36:40awarded I don't know that we're going to

1:36:41be able to scale back too much after

1:36:43that. We're probably you know you're

1:36:45you're going to probably commit to that

1:36:46>> but you'd have to have the the whole

1:36:49estimate in before you could approve

1:36:51this in that scenario and they don't

1:36:54exist

1:36:55>> right

1:36:57well we got some folks here Dr. Anthony,

1:37:00how Let me ask you this. Do you think

1:37:02like a I know it's an estimate. Could

1:37:05like a 90 or a 95 million estimate

1:37:08actually work?

1:37:10>> Yeah.

1:37:11>> Yeah. We'll have to uh you know talk

1:37:13with our architect for sure just to make

1:37:14sure that we have some of those critical

1:37:16areas covered. Um and com but I mean

1:37:19we're we're here to negotiate. Yes.

1:37:21>> Mr. Attorney, what would you advise on

1:37:23how we would word this?

1:37:26Well, so you have be before you you have

1:37:29a a grant application and the the grant

1:37:33application is for a certain amount of

1:37:36money. I mean it's it's it is for the

1:37:39$104

1:37:40million if am I correct on that? So if

1:37:44you approve them to if you if you

1:37:47approve them to apply

1:37:50for the grant as stated I believe you

1:37:53are you are going to be committed to the

1:37:56104 million. Um and that's I mean so if

1:38:01if we're if we're going to support their

1:38:04application

1:38:05um as it as stated I I mean I I I think

1:38:09that you're I think you're just on the

1:38:11hook for that amount. You know what I'm

1:38:13saying? I I mean, and and

1:38:15>> I'm having difficulty understanding

1:38:17where are you getting that? They've

1:38:18committed to 104 million.

1:38:20>> Well, so so they they have a they've

1:38:24submitted a a grant application and the

1:38:27grant application says that they're they

1:38:30are requesting $62 million. That's the

1:38:33maximum state grant. And then they have,

1:38:38you know, and then they've laid out in

1:38:39in their application the total amount of

1:38:43the grant and I mean the total amount of

1:38:46the of the the project. So what they're

1:38:48so they're saying that okay their total

1:38:52project is 104,844,000

1:38:56276

1:38:57>> 104

1:38:58>> and it

1:38:59>> you know so then you subtract the 62

1:39:01million of the grant and that leaves

1:39:07um you know $42.8 million.

1:39:10So,

1:39:12and and that that's that's just so so

1:39:14that's the that's the number if they

1:39:16submit this grant and we and we say yes,

1:39:19we're we're we are supporting that as

1:39:22written. I mean, it's so I so they've

1:39:24they've submitted it and we're going to

1:39:27support it as written. Then I, you know,

1:39:31I think that we're, you know, we're,

1:39:35whether we're,

1:39:37whether you could essentially talk your

1:39:39way around it or not, I I mean, we're we

1:39:41are putting our we are putting our

1:39:46stamp on this to say, "Yes, we're we we

1:39:48would be supporting the project as

1:39:50written." So the government's getting in

1:39:52the way again because they should be

1:39:54able to build a school based on what

1:39:56their their their estimates are, not on

1:39:59what the government says. You got to

1:40:00spend this much money and and we'll give

1:40:03you 62 million. Give them 62 million.

1:40:05Let these folks in and the county decide

1:40:08how how best to build a school and stay

1:40:11the heck out of it. The state needs to

1:40:14the government needs to stay the heck

1:40:16out of it. We can't do nothing about

1:40:18making that clear to them. No. And I I

1:40:20mean I think that we could I mean you

1:40:22can always negotiate it. You can always

1:40:25negotiate factors of I mean yeah the

1:40:27money out of this but

1:40:31what I'm saying is it I mean

1:40:33if you're if you if you vote on this

1:40:35tonight and accept it as as it's written

1:40:38then

1:40:40you know I I I do think you're I do

1:40:42think we're on the hook for that for

1:40:44that amount that

1:40:45>> but we're not obligating oursel any more

1:40:47than the 42 million.

1:40:49Right. Right. Right. You're you're on

1:40:51the hook for the 42.

1:40:53>> So I mean that's the scenario that we

1:40:54just walked through was

1:40:57>> what I had just said. It's

1:40:59>> and they're and they're also right.

1:41:00They're using their lottery fund.

1:41:02They're using the the current CIP

1:41:04amount.

1:41:04>> Mhm.

1:41:05>> Which gets it down to to 25.7 million.

1:41:08>> Yeah.

1:41:09>> And if we take from the dredging that

1:41:12brings down another 10 million. So at

1:41:14the very least you may have to worst

1:41:17case scenario take out a loan of 15

1:41:20million but with the debt coming off

1:41:22over the next few years of Oak Grove

1:41:24this one gets added. It's a lot less

1:41:26than initially what Oak Grove was um and

1:41:29they could move forward in good faith I

1:41:31suppose of trying to pull that number

1:41:34back even though we approved for this

1:41:36initial amount.

1:41:37>> So I I would say my motion stands.

1:41:40>> Okay. One one more thing I need to bring

1:41:42in here too. Okay.

1:41:45>> Worst case scenario, you don't get the

1:41:47grant.

1:41:49>> Then we'll have to start from scratch

1:41:50and go go over.

1:41:51>> That's a whole different

1:41:55conversation.

1:41:56>> Do we say that they still get to keep

1:41:58that 41 million?

1:42:00>> If they don't, the grant is is is the

1:42:03pivot. If if they don't get the grant,

1:42:05then it's the CIP plan would stay the

1:42:07same as it is. pay it out until the

1:42:09grant

1:42:10>> 15 million that that stays the same and

1:42:13then we need to start planning cuz

1:42:14that's

1:42:14>> they don't get the grant. We still need

1:42:16to look at doing something cuz the

1:42:18asbestous is there. The ADA is at some

1:42:21point they're going to need it

1:42:22>> like we we can't kick the can down the

1:42:25road no longer

1:42:26>> and Okay. So, cuz you have to keep that

1:42:30in the back of your mind too. If they

1:42:31don't get the grant because that needs

1:42:34to be decided,

1:42:36>> you need to understand you'll only have

1:42:38the 15.

1:42:40>> You won't have the what the extra that

1:42:42we're planning.

1:42:43>> Are y'all aligned with that? Yes. Okay.

1:42:45>> Okay. With that and then you all have

1:42:48already decided to uh

1:42:52>> submit yours and and it pretty much goes

1:42:56the same way, right?

1:42:58>> It's one or the other really is

1:42:59>> Yeah. I will say this if you don't mind.

1:43:02>> Go ahead.

1:43:03>> That if if neither one of us get the

1:43:05grant, you probably would need to really

1:43:07look back and see about renovation money

1:43:10for for Thomasville City too as well

1:43:12like you're doing with

1:43:13>> Right.

1:43:15Agreed.

1:43:16>> Don't you all agree?

1:43:17>> Agreed.

1:43:18>> They they've got

1:43:20>> an amount allocated.

1:43:21>> They do have an amount.

1:43:22>> Both there's county schools, there's

1:43:23Thomasville, there's Lexington. So, if

1:43:25no one gets the grant, which can

1:43:27hopefully one at least does, then we go

1:43:29back to the current status in the plan.

1:43:31>> Yeah.

1:43:32>> And then we can revisit the

1:43:33prioritization, but that's a separate

1:43:34conversation. I don't think we need to

1:43:36get into it.

1:43:36>> No, I don't think we do. I just need and

1:43:38I just want both boards to kind of see

1:43:41what we're talking about. Can I can I

1:43:42just make one point? I I just was

1:43:44looking for the sort of the language

1:43:46that's actually in the application. So

1:43:48So when when we sign if the application

1:43:51it says that

1:43:52>> that we we certify I mean if we if we

1:43:55approve it and we certify it, it says

1:43:57that we are we're certifying that the

1:44:00project, you know, that the required

1:44:03local funding is available and

1:44:05designated as a match for this project.

1:44:07So I mean so we are we're we would be

1:44:09making that representation to the state.

1:44:11So we if we applied with the grant

1:44:14stated as it is okay or the grant

1:44:16application stated as it is.

1:44:17>> Well that's the assumption that that if

1:44:19they were awarded it. Yes. We're we're

1:44:22going to do what we said we were going

1:44:23to do.

1:44:24>> Mr. Jones, may I please add one thing?

1:44:26My name is Muki Keller. I'm the project

1:44:27architect for um for this project

1:44:30specifically. One thing to note about

1:44:32that language. It's the match

1:44:34specifically. So we have countered um

1:44:36encountered a couple different instances

1:44:38where the project budget might have

1:44:40increased or decreased depending on what

1:44:43it is but the thing that they are most

1:44:44interested is the match and that's based

1:44:46off of the percentage that's been

1:44:47already established. So the match is the

1:44:5015.5

1:44:52not the additional funds. So your

1:44:53language that you're referencing is only

1:44:55referencing the 15.5 which is the 35% of

1:44:58the project cost. Now, if the project

1:45:00cost goes down, technically that match

1:45:03changes as well. So, I think what we

1:45:06need to double check is just we're not

1:45:08ask the language that you're signing off

1:45:10on is the match

1:45:13>> tech by by your reading in your

1:45:15>> the 15.5

1:45:17>> the 15.5

1:45:19>> which is good.

1:45:20>> Already have the capital.

1:45:22>> That doesn't change because that's based

1:45:24off of the contribution the 60 the the

1:45:26$62 million that that you're requesting.

1:45:30That is the percentage of the match that

1:45:32you have to and then that doesn't change

1:45:33based off of what you require.

1:45:37>> I I second

1:45:40>> 15.5 not the 42.

1:45:43>> That's the match. Yeah. Good with that.

1:45:45>> Which is what what is you're technically

1:45:47signing for. Now you're you're obviously

1:45:49there's information included in the

1:45:51grant that outlines the additional

1:45:52funding in order to make it possible.

1:45:54But again, we have already as a firm

1:45:57we're already under contract. We already

1:45:58understand that no matter what what

1:46:01happens we are working towards achieving

1:46:03the budget which makes this possible

1:46:06whether that's again value engineering

1:46:08or reduction of scope that obviously has

1:46:10to be approved across the board. So that

1:46:11is an effort that we are we're a part

1:46:13of. Okay.

1:46:13>> Thank you. Okay.

1:46:14>> Thank you for clarification.

1:46:16>> Thank you.

1:46:16>> So 50.

1:46:17>> Amen.

1:46:18>> So so what we're saying is we're obeying

1:46:20[clears throat] the 50.

1:46:21>> Right. Yeah.

1:46:22>> Okay. Okay. So do we need to make a

1:46:25motion for that? He's already second. I

1:46:27second it.

1:46:28>> We have a second. All in favor say

1:46:31>> I.

1:46:32>> I.

1:46:32>> Unanimous.

1:46:34>> Thank you.

1:46:35>> Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.

1:46:37[applause]

1:46:39>> Dr. Anthony. Thank you.

1:46:43>> What I was saying from 15.

1:46:46>> You was right, Steve. You was right.

1:46:49>> Because it does fluctuate. Yeah.

1:46:55>> How you doing? Oh, thank you. 19.

1:46:58[clears throat]

1:46:59>> Yes, sir.

1:47:06>> That's your piece.

1:47:08>> Been using this.

1:47:11>> Okay. Are we ready to go move on?

1:47:15>> All right, everybody ready? We'll get

1:47:18get a little

1:47:19>> Here we go.

1:47:19>> We might be out of here by 8:00, maybe.

1:47:22[laughter]

1:47:23Okay. Um, Mr. Mayus and Dr. Shot. Well,

1:47:27we're going to let you uh and and we're

1:47:30just as happy to see you as we are we

1:47:32were to see them.

1:47:33>> Well, you know what? I think third time

1:47:36might be the charm.

1:47:37>> That's right.

1:47:38>> You know, I I realize that I've been

1:47:40like a mosquito [laughter]

1:47:42>> and uh been hanging around. You know, my

1:47:44last day as interim was September the

1:47:463rd, but I am here on behalf of the

1:47:47board and the school district. And Tim

1:47:49and I have been talking all month long,

1:47:52>> okay?

1:47:52>> Trying to figure out a way to make this

1:47:54work because everything that you saw

1:47:56over here is the same thing that you

1:47:58would see at Thomasville High School. Um

1:48:01I feel like, you know, especially with

1:48:03the postseason coming in baseball right

1:48:05now, even though my Texas Rangers did

1:48:07not make it, uh I feel like I'm the

1:48:09closing pitcher. Okay, we got it's

1:48:11already got two outs, you know, and

1:48:14three guys on base, but we're going to

1:48:15we're going to take care of that. We're

1:48:16going to throw we're going to throw a

1:48:17strike in a good way here.

1:48:19>> Our scope has changed to some degree,

1:48:21but I want to explain it. The building

1:48:23itself that we shared with you, remember

1:48:26that long uh legal size paper, that

1:48:28building does not change.

1:48:31Everything that's in that building stays

1:48:32the same as it is. our focus on uh

1:48:35career technical education, all the

1:48:37academic classrooms, uh gymnasium, uh

1:48:41cafeteria, everything, all of that

1:48:43stays. What has changed is that we had

1:48:47money set aside to upgrade the athletic

1:48:50facilities that are around there. If

1:48:51you've been by seen our tennis courts,

1:48:54it's a forest literally on there right

1:48:57now. Um there's two buildings that we

1:48:59are going to be maintaining which is the

1:49:02administrative building and the science

1:49:04building there at the school and those

1:49:06were scheduled to use some of those

1:49:08renovation dollars for those two

1:49:09classrooms. However, I will say that if

1:49:12we can get an entire school built, we

1:49:14can figure that out. We can we've

1:49:16already said that for Bulldog Academy,

1:49:17we can take about uh 475,000

1:49:21in this budget that we're asking you all

1:49:23for to do some upgrades for that

1:49:26program. If something comes along along

1:49:28the way, that's great. We're going to

1:49:30include the 15 million as a uh as an

1:49:33alternate so when we're bidding it out,

1:49:35it'll still be there. So that way if

1:49:37something happens from the time that we

1:49:39put the bids out, if there's any money

1:49:42that comes about, you know, we at least

1:49:44have it there so we have a good idea.

1:49:45But what we're asking for you tonight is

1:49:47literally the $15.5 million.

1:49:50>> That will give us 77.5 million dollars

1:49:52to build the school. Uh, and like I

1:49:54said, the scope has not changed. And and

1:49:57I just to put it in perspective, we have

1:49:59one building, and I think I told y'all

1:50:00this the last time, we've closed our

1:50:02career technical education building that

1:50:04housed our band, art, and uh, ROC,

1:50:08and our CTE. The pipes have collapsed.

1:50:11The roof has holes in it. We We've got

1:50:13an RFP getting ready to go out for $1.2

1:50:16million if we don't get this grant.

1:50:18That's 1.2 million. and all you're

1:50:20getting is a new roof and new water and

1:50:23sewer coming into the building. Nothing

1:50:25that you can see. It doesn't change the

1:50:26classrooms or anything like that. So,

1:50:29I'm I'm quite sure that's the same

1:50:30perspective that you saw today when you

1:50:33went to Lex Senior High. And like I told

1:50:35y'all, I was principal up there for four

1:50:37years. Some things have not changed,

1:50:39>> you know, and that was 25 years ago.

1:50:42>> And we've already sent folks that that

1:50:44Thomasville school.

1:50:45>> Yes, sir. I it made it sound like we

1:50:47only done this school, but we done your

1:50:48school as well.

1:50:50>> And Mr. Chair, I want to say thank you

1:50:51to you because I like how you always

1:50:53were saying they're only asking for 15

1:50:55million more. And I know that's a lot.

1:50:57Trust me, I do. But at the same time, I

1:51:00think the the impact that we can have on

1:51:03both schools, for our for the county as

1:51:06a whole, we are growing and uh and

1:51:10education is a key centerpiece that

1:51:12economic uh development. Only thing I

1:51:14just I need to say is that if either one

1:51:16of us gets an imp one of these grants,

1:51:19it creates a $93 million impact for

1:51:23Davidson County and the surrounding area

1:51:25outside of the $77.5 million. So, you're

1:51:28sending a ripple of investment beyond

1:51:31just the schools when you do this. And

1:51:34um I just want to say again, thank y'all

1:51:37for allowing me to come back here a

1:51:39third time. Uh I'm persistent and uh I

1:51:42just want to thank Dr. Anthony and the

1:51:44Lexington crowd for getting a good

1:51:46warm-up going on here. Uh yeah, but I I

1:51:50just really appreciate you at least

1:51:51entertaining the idea. And uh and Tim

1:51:54and David, thank you always for uh uh

1:51:57entertaining me for the last three

1:51:59weeks. And our board is meeting on

1:52:01Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. to

1:52:04approve the new grant at $77.5 million.

1:52:08>> Okay. Okay.

1:52:11Any questions? I make a motion that we

1:52:13approve this and I'd like to add on

1:52:16you're phenomenal. Dr. Shotwell, you was

1:52:18also at Mason's graduation. I appreciate

1:52:20all you do. You're the epitome of a

1:52:22professional. Got a great track record.

1:52:24Everybody in Rockingham County still

1:52:26love you. We love you and we're glad to

1:52:28have you here locally in Davidson

1:52:30County. Man, thank you.

1:52:32>> It meant so much to me to do this today.

1:52:34[laughter]

1:52:35>> I I'm just I'm just telling you, it

1:52:36meant so much for me to do this. My son

1:52:38is a senior, [snorts] so every game that

1:52:39he plays is important. He had a soccer

1:52:42game tonight.

1:52:43>> Oh man.

1:52:43>> But my family knows.

1:52:45>> Sorry about your ball team, buddy.

1:52:47>> That's Yeah. I mean, but you know what

1:52:51>> this they they all understand if I'm

1:52:53helping some children out

1:52:55>> for 50 to 70 years.

1:52:58>> It's okay to miss a game.

1:52:59>> Amen, brother.

1:53:00>> It's okay to miss a game. And I just

1:53:01want to thank y'all again for allowing

1:53:02me to come up here. I just appreciate

1:53:05your your, as you already said, your

1:53:06persistence. Very grateful for that. Um,

1:53:08that's why I had to kind of make made a

1:53:10beline for you when I came in because I

1:53:11saw you there. Um, [laughter] like I

1:53:13said, I I think we got all the uh

1:53:15questions out of the way with with

1:53:17Lexington, so I won't go into my whole

1:53:19spiel um for Thomasville and I'll I'll

1:53:22second uh Commissioner Elliot's uh

1:53:23motion.

1:53:24>> So, and so this is for submission of the

1:53:27grant application. So, so do I have a

1:53:31I've got a motion and a

1:53:33>> All in favor say I.

1:53:34>> I.

1:53:36>> You closed it. Strike out. Thank you.

1:53:38Appreciate it. [applause]

1:53:43>> Miss Debbie, I believe you're on on

1:53:45board for this.

1:53:46>> We have gotten a request from the NCAC

1:53:48to designate a voting delegate for the

1:53:51legislative goals conference that is

1:53:53scheduled for November 19th through

1:53:5420th. It's at the Marriott Crabtree

1:53:57Valley in Raleigh.

1:53:59So, I'm looking for someone who would be

1:54:01able to go and be a representative for

1:54:03the county at the legislative goals

1:54:05process.

1:54:06Can you go?

1:54:07>> I can go.

1:54:08>> Can you go?

1:54:10>> I'll book you into the Marriott

1:54:11Crabtree. They're actually putting

1:54:12everyone up there and you'll be there

1:54:14that Thursday.

1:54:16>> Do you need a motion for that? Cuz I I

1:54:18want a motion for

1:54:21that.

1:54:21>> Can we have a motion [clears throat]

1:54:22second? All in favor?

1:54:24>> I.

1:54:24>> All right.

1:54:25>> It' be a good experience.

1:54:26>> Yeah,

1:54:26>> it

1:54:29be good to get him into

1:54:32that other

1:54:34>> Okay. Ready for close session? enough

1:54:36with item number.

1:54:38>> Oh,

1:54:39>> what was D? I don't have a D.

1:54:43>> You want me to get up here?

1:54:44>> Oh, okay.

1:54:49>> Uh, maybe. Yes.

1:54:54>> Yes, I think so.

1:54:57>> Here's the good up here,

1:55:00>> please.

1:55:01>> He's not feeling well. It's nothing.

1:55:03It's nothing contagious. No, we don't

1:55:05need him. [laughter]

1:55:06He ain't feeling good.

1:55:09>> Where's the hand sanitizer?

1:55:11>> He's not He doesn't have anything.

1:55:13>> Okay. I um I printed a copy of of the

1:55:17moratorum that you all considered. I

1:55:20don't It's a month or so ago. Just so

1:55:23just to refresh your memory on on what

1:55:25the moratorum was that you all

1:55:27previously voted on just so you just as

1:55:29a frame of reference.

1:55:32Is this to uh put it put it on an agenda

1:55:35item in the future? Is this a motion? Is

1:55:38that what this motion is for?

1:55:39>> Well, that's it's not a motion. That's

1:55:41what that is. Is that's the morator I

1:55:43mean Mr. Mr. Ker wanted to discuss

1:55:47wanted to discuss bringing a moratorum

1:55:49back onto the agenda. So, what I what I

1:55:51did was to print out a copy of the one

1:55:53that was considered a month or so ago so

1:55:58that you all could see just as a

1:56:00refresher what was considered at that

1:56:02time. And that's that's not necessarily

1:56:05the one that's not necessarily what

1:56:07would what would be voted on, but

1:56:08>> won't be voting on this tonight.

1:56:10>> No, you will not be voting on that.

1:56:12>> Be voting on now is put it to to table.

1:56:14I mean to put it on. So, so right, you

1:56:16would be voting to you would be voting

1:56:18on whether to schedule a hearing at a

1:56:21future meeting and then a and a vote on

1:56:24a on a moratorum in the future. So,

1:56:26that's not what you would actually be

1:56:27voting on.

1:56:28>> I think we're ready for a motion anyway.

1:56:30>> Well, Mr. Crook, we just want to tell

1:56:32you that we just we won't hold you but

1:56:35just a second or two if you got any

1:56:37questions.

1:56:37>> I'm here for questions if you need to.

1:56:39>> Okay.

1:56:40>> I'd prefer not to say a word, but if uh

1:56:42[laughter]

1:56:43>> if I need to, I will. don't have to if

1:56:45you don't want to. Uh I'm going to go

1:56:47ahead and start if anybody else wants

1:56:49to. You you brought this up and you want

1:56:52to bring it up again and certainly

1:56:54obviously uh obviously as of tonight uh

1:56:58we don't have the votes to to go against

1:57:01this. But I am very much against this. I

1:57:04think we're well on our way. Mr. Crook

1:57:07is well on his way to he and his group

1:57:11is to to make the [clears throat] rules

1:57:13up and make everything so that we're

1:57:15safe and everything for the future. And

1:57:18I personally think and this is my

1:57:19opinion. I personally think you're

1:57:21sending a message. You're sending a

1:57:24message that we don't want to even

1:57:26consider anything whether it be a light

1:57:28one or a big one or etc. We don't we

1:57:31want to stop and and stop it and and

1:57:36that's the reason I'm against it. I

1:57:38think we can work through this. I think

1:57:40we can do some visiting. Todd and I have

1:57:43been trying to get a visit lined up.

1:57:45It's hard to get into these places.

1:57:47We've gotten a lot of information from

1:57:50Tavis uh from Debbie sending material to

1:57:54us. We're all reading uh I've consulting

1:57:58a consulted a lot of magazines. I'm just

1:58:01totally against

1:58:03>> creating another moratorum.

1:58:05>> And I'll tell you why I'm I'm for it.

1:58:08Okay. And I think I'm for it is, you

1:58:11know, we haven't we haven't taken our uh

1:58:16our state representatives or our federal

1:58:19representatives and we haven't asked a

1:58:21single one of them to come before the

1:58:23board and explain what benefits are to

1:58:27these national security risk. What

1:58:29benefits are there? What protections are

1:58:32there for the environmental, you know,

1:58:34concerns that we have? What kind of uh I

1:58:36know we talked about a bill being in the

1:58:38in the state senate for u holding these

1:58:43companies accountable to make sure that

1:58:45there is not going to be noise

1:58:47pollution, there is not going to be

1:58:48environmental pollutions, but all that's

1:58:50just up in the up in the whim right now.

1:58:53I would like these officials to come

1:58:55before us so that we could talk to have

1:58:58that that that discussion. right now

1:59:00we've had nothing and uh and I I think

1:59:04too much of the problem is a lot of this

1:59:07concern comes on the local officials all

1:59:10the time for us to fight these battles,

1:59:12but a lot of times those that are

1:59:14actually making the laws and that are

1:59:16making the push for us to do it behind

1:59:18closed doors and and and u on on the TV

1:59:22for us to make sure that we have

1:59:23national security and all this. They

1:59:26don't give us a time a day to talk to us

1:59:28about it. And I think it's time that,

1:59:30you know, we kind of pump the brakes to

1:59:32say, uh, wait a minute now, like if if

1:59:35this is true, then, you know, why isn't

1:59:38there federal blocks of land or state

1:59:41blocks of land? And if it's a national

1:59:43security risk, then why aren't we uh

1:59:46kept more in the the forefront of of

1:59:48what some of these challenges are? And

1:59:51uh none of those have been answered to

1:59:53me. So, uh, I I almost feel like, hey,

1:59:56vote yes and then trust us later. Well,

1:59:58I'm not really good with that. So,

2:00:01>> you know, I don't like that.

2:00:03>> Well, and and then and we've also seen

2:00:05our own commissioners go online and say,

2:00:08"We do not need this before we ever have

2:00:11a discussion about this." And that sets

2:00:13the tone of cutting everything and and

2:00:16not even looking at any possibility.

2:00:19>> Yeah. Well, uh, you know, the ironic

2:00:21thing is is every about every person in

2:00:24this room supports data centers. Every

2:00:27time you open your phone, you're using

2:00:29data and have to come from somewhere.

2:00:32And uh, you know, Rowan County's got it.

2:00:36And we ain't had no problem with Rowan

2:00:38County. If the cost of utilities goes up

2:00:41because of that data center in Rowan,

2:00:43it's going to affect us here in Davidson

2:00:45County. And and what all I'm saying is

2:00:48this.

2:00:50You can laugh all you want to, Missy.

2:00:52>> You don't sound important. You're

2:00:54nothing.

2:00:54>> No, you don't know what you're talking

2:00:57about. And I appreciate if you would

2:00:58just shut up,

2:01:00>> Miss.

2:01:01>> It's not your time to speak.

2:01:03>> Did you just shut up?

2:01:04>> Yeah, I did. I don't stutter.

2:01:08>> Hey, that's enough. That's enough. You

2:01:11do not you do not have you do not have

2:01:13the floor

2:01:13>> and I don't have the respect from the

2:01:15county commissioner

2:01:17>> and you give us respect.

2:01:19>> Yes, I do. That's

2:01:20>> BS. That's BS and you know it.

2:01:23>> You don't tell people to shut up. That's

2:01:24BS.

2:01:27>> Oh, I'm I'm folks. Let's have a civil

2:01:31Let's just tax take a step back and have

2:01:34a civil discourse.

2:01:39>> Let's go. Who's asking you to leave?

2:01:42>> No. Just go out the door and just settle

2:01:44down.

2:01:45>> Shut up. And I'm the one who has to

2:01:46leave.

2:01:47>> He

2:01:50That's You telling me?

2:01:51>> You're You don't have to leave. Just go

2:01:52out the door and cool off.

2:01:54>> I'm That's I'm That's I'm very cool. You

2:01:55haven't

2:01:56>> You cannot have the floor. Do you

2:01:59understand that?

2:02:00>> I don't want the floor.

2:02:02>> You just took it again.

2:02:04Do you understand?

2:02:08Okay, let's proceed. Let's cool our

2:02:11heads prevail. All right, Commissioner

2:02:13Shale, do you have your say? Are you

2:02:14good?

2:02:14>> That's all I need.

2:02:16>> That's all I want to say.

2:02:17>> Chairwoman Watford, Chris, who wants to

2:02:19speak next? So, we'll let you.

2:02:20>> Okay. I'm as passionate about the

2:02:24moratorum

2:02:25as chairwoman Watford is in her belief.

2:02:30I've not had one constituent in favor.

2:02:32And I'm not saying I'm against all data

2:02:34centers. What I am saying is we need

2:02:36time to thoroughly investigate this

2:02:39situation to let the citizens have input

2:02:42to not just shove something down their

2:02:44throat before they've got time like us

2:02:46to fully investigate the pluses and

2:02:49minuses of this thing. What sizes we can

2:02:51accommodate, what sizes we can

2:02:53accommodate. And I think that can more

2:02:55sensibly be done with just simple

2:02:58moratorum to have more time to

2:03:00investigate it to give Mr. crook more

2:03:02time to put some protections in place

2:03:04for our county. And our citizens want

2:03:06that. And I can't sit up here and

2:03:07pretend to say I know better. They voted

2:03:09me up here, so I'm going to have the

2:03:10audacity to say, "Well, I know better

2:03:12what they want." When they're sitting

2:03:14here telling me what they want. I'm not

2:03:15going to do that. So, I'm going to

2:03:17listen to what they want and take the

2:03:18time to thoroughly look at the look at

2:03:21the situation. That's all I'm asking.

2:03:22>> Well, I'm going to ask you one question.

2:03:25I want to ask you one question, and this

2:03:27is with respect.

2:03:28>> Yes, sir.

2:03:30If absent a moratorum, would you not

2:03:32still do that?

2:03:35>> Absent a mortorium.

2:03:36>> Yeah. If you don't have a moratorum,

2:03:38would you would you not still do that?

2:03:41>> There's been other issues that we're

2:03:43facing.

2:03:44>> We're talking about this issue now.

2:03:45Would you not still look at each each uh

2:03:50application to come into this?

2:03:51>> I think I think it protects us to have

2:03:54the time to not have something shoved

2:03:55down their throat that they don't want.

2:03:57I don't know how a moratorum would force

2:03:59you to do anything or not force you to

2:04:01do anything.

2:04:02>> Well,

2:04:03>> I think you still have that and I think

2:04:05we're just trying to appease the public

2:04:07by saying things that they want to hear.

2:04:09No, sir.

2:04:09>> And I don't think it means anything.

2:04:11>> Well, that's you're entitled to your

2:04:13>> And let me say one more thing, ma'am. I

2:04:15do apologize for saying that. I'm I'm

2:04:17sort of hottempered just like you are.

2:04:19Okay. I do apologize for telling you

2:04:22shut up.

2:04:23I I will note that when when you have

2:04:27the obviously with the the stuff that

2:04:30we've heard tonight, when you have a big

2:04:33data center come in and and I'm hearing

2:04:37stuff from other counties where they say

2:04:39we can have a $10 billion investment and

2:04:42you're guaranteed $35 million a year

2:04:46economic impact, that's a school every

2:04:49year we could build in this county. Like

2:04:51seriously. and and then you start

2:04:53looking at well we can build a school

2:04:56every two years and then the rest of the

2:04:58money that we bring in will you you're

2:05:00you know you keep taxes low and keep

2:05:02raising the the salaries of our folks

2:05:04right there you know the the the one

2:05:07thing that that I was really wanting to

2:05:10look at uh when we talk about the

2:05:12moratorum that that we would need time

2:05:14with is not only getting our public

2:05:17officials in here but there have been

2:05:19there have been great ideas of saying

2:05:21okay well if you've lived in the county,

2:05:23okay, for over 20 years, you've paid

2:05:26your taxes into the county for 20 years.

2:05:29When if if you had an economic impact of

2:05:32that, then you'll no longer pay property

2:05:35taxes. Okay? Well, then we got to think

2:05:38about, well, what if you sell your

2:05:39property to get a bigger house? Okay.

2:05:42Well, now is there a 5-year limit? Well,

2:05:44there's counties that's actually doing

2:05:46this to where folks no longer pay

2:05:48property taxes. And then they do another

2:05:50thing to where if you're over the age of

2:05:5365, you don't pay property taxes and

2:05:56you've lived in Davidson County or

2:05:59you've lived in that county for over 5

2:06:01years. So there is a lot of stipulations

2:06:04right there to where if you had real

2:06:06money like that and and and you had

2:06:08something in place because we're not

2:06:10going to stop them. We already know

2:06:12that. But if we had a great plan in

2:06:14place like that to where now we can say

2:06:17because all I've heard is it doesn't

2:06:18benefit us at all. Well, if you gave

2:06:21them a plan to say, "Listen, if we can't

2:06:23stop them, at least what we can do is if

2:06:26we're going to take that money right

2:06:28there and then we can cut your property

2:06:30taxes for folks that's lived and paid

2:06:32and done their dues in Davidson County."

2:06:34Now, that's real money and good things

2:06:35that we could do to help our seniors

2:06:38out, to help those people that have

2:06:39lived here their entire life, and to

2:06:41give them a reduction. I just want the

2:06:44time to kind of look at a plan like that

2:06:46because other people are doing it and

2:06:48it's working. But if we could do it,

2:06:50that'd be a home run that you could

2:06:51really hit. And it's just I don't know

2:06:53enough about it. And I'm like, Trip, I'm

2:06:55not smart enough. And I'm I'm not dumb

2:06:58enough to stand up here and act like I I

2:07:00do know everything about it. I just need

2:07:01some need some time. But, uh, I do get a

2:07:05little upset with, uh, seeing what our

2:07:08president say. He he's saying that we

2:07:10need it for national security and that

2:07:12we're dumb if we don't have it. And, uh,

2:07:14the Republican party is alltogether

2:07:16saying, "You're not a Republican if you

2:07:17don't if you don't go for it or whatever

2:07:19like this." And, you know, I get some of

2:07:21those arguments. But

2:07:24then again, at the end of the day, you

2:07:27know, when's somebody going to come here

2:07:29and answer my questions? you know, but

2:07:31it's it's like my questions don't

2:07:33matter. And uh that that infuriates me

2:07:36because I haven't had a call back yet

2:07:38from from any office of our

2:07:41representatives in the federal office

2:07:43and and that really upsets me, you know,

2:07:46push something down my throat and then

2:07:48you don't even have the time to come and

2:07:50talk to me. So, if you're watching uh

2:07:53out there on YouTube land and you're one

2:07:55of our representatives, then have the

2:07:57kahun to come in here and let's talk

2:07:58about it. Well,

2:08:00>> but nobody how is somebody throw doing

2:08:03if we don't have a moratorum. Okay. And

2:08:06we're just working on the safeguards and

2:08:09that's what we've been doing and we're

2:08:11trying to gather data. How is somebody

2:08:13throw Have we been approached by one?

2:08:16No, we've not been approached by one.

2:08:20So, uh, and if you know if it gets out

2:08:23that they those people don't want them,

2:08:26you know, [clears throat] then you don't

2:08:27have a chance at getting that money at

2:08:29all ever. And Rowan County will,

2:08:32Charlotte will, Winston Salem,

2:08:34>> and our utilities are still going to be

2:08:36>> and ours, you know. So my my my concern

2:08:39is with trying to get the during the

2:08:43during the moratorum. We're not saying

2:08:45that the owners or the developers of

2:08:47these things can't come in here and talk

2:08:49with us and to help us, you know,

2:08:51design. We're not saying that we're

2:08:53against them. Matter of fact, our owner

2:08:56regulations say we can't be against

2:08:57them. You know, they can come in. We

2:09:00just want a better chance to regulate it

2:09:02and to have some answers and to to

2:09:04understand what can we do. you know, can

2:09:07we do this? Is there something that we

2:09:09can put out before we even start talking

2:09:11to these things that you know what, that

2:09:12is a good answer. We can cut your

2:09:14property taxes, folks. If you've lived

2:09:16here over 17 years, guess what? When

2:09:19this passes, you don't pay a single dime

2:09:21in property taxes.

2:09:24Yeah, that'd be a pretty good selling

2:09:26point, right? Or, hey, listen what? We

2:09:28can associate you right here on this

2:09:29side of the county with this land right

2:09:31here because that will that will sustain

2:09:33you. Like I I I just I would like to

2:09:36have a better understanding of

2:09:38>> the the only problem I've got and and

2:09:40really I don't have a problem with the

2:09:42moratorum. The problem I've got is

2:09:44supposedly in midstream.

2:09:47>> You study one and look at one and it

2:09:51does everything you want it to do. What

2:09:53are you going to tell that company? You

2:09:55got to wait three more months before we

2:09:57do this.

2:09:58>> I mean, I just don't see handcuffs on

2:10:01commissioners. I ain't

2:10:03>> when you've already got that authority

2:10:05to make that decision.

2:10:07>> I just that's my thing is the future

2:10:10commissioners. I don't see handcuffing

2:10:11them.

2:10:15>> I would agree with uh you Commissioner

2:10:17Elliot. It it shouldn't be. Back to your

2:10:19point. It's really not a conservative or

2:10:21liberal or Republican or Democrat issue.

2:10:25>> It never is if it goes against your

2:10:27platform,

2:10:27>> right? It's it it spans the spectrum. I

2:10:31my my opinion when I had brought forward

2:10:33seems like a couple months ago the

2:10:35initial idea for moratorum

2:10:38it it was out of concern because we did

2:10:41not have any regulations in place they

2:10:45would be fall under warehouse based on

2:10:48our zoning zoning ordinance and that

2:10:50would not be acceptable and I think we

2:10:52all agreed with that hence why we're

2:10:54making progress in the studying and

2:10:56coming up with rules and regulations

2:10:59um That said, I I get things all the

2:11:03time, just news articles where they're

2:11:06not having any issues. Maybe they're up

2:11:08in Lowden County, which I know has a

2:11:10high density of them,

2:11:12>> or I get other articles where it talks

2:11:16about the communities are having issues.

2:11:18So, it's one of those things where I'm

2:11:21like, I don't know what to believe, what

2:11:23makes the difference there, and then

2:11:24there's all sorts of cooling systems

2:11:26that go into it. Um, I'm not opposed to

2:11:29to us putting forward a short-term

2:11:33moratorum and and actually I had met

2:11:36with uh an executive um for an energy

2:11:40company probably a couple weeks ago and

2:11:42even though he doesn't work for a data

2:11:45center, he said if I was at a data

2:11:46center, I would want municipalities

2:11:50and counties to pursue a short-term

2:11:53moratorum to get at their house settled.

2:11:57before we come in. And that was a

2:11:59different perspective I hadn't heard

2:12:00before. And I I know we can't speak for

2:12:02all the data centers, but it does make

2:12:04sense. Um we certainly don't want to

2:12:07send the message to other industries

2:12:10that were closed for business. And I

2:12:14personally don't think a a short-term

2:12:17moratorum would would do that. And if

2:12:20businesses took that, businesses outside

2:12:24of data center industry took that as,

2:12:26well, they're closed for business, then

2:12:28I would say those businesses aren't very

2:12:29bright if they're assuming we're closed

2:12:32to all businesses because we're studying

2:12:35data centers to put some regulations in

2:12:37place. Um, my opinion again has not

2:12:40shifted from where I was a couple months

2:12:42ago on on this matter. I think we've

2:12:44made I think we're making good progress

2:12:46and I think we can continue but I'm kind

2:12:48of like trip here. It's it gives us that

2:12:51protection [clears throat] that we can

2:12:53continue to do the progress that we're

2:12:54doing. Let's go to them. Let's learn

2:12:56let's study them and learn about them.

2:12:58Let's get those regulations in place

2:13:00under the protection of a short-term

2:13:03moratorum. That's again my position.

2:13:05Again, it hasn't really changed.

2:13:07>> I just I want to let Lee go for just a

2:13:09minute because I do have one question.

2:13:11>> Yes, ma'am. would you share with us uh

2:13:13your progress

2:13:15from your from your um

2:13:19>> we we we've been in data collection mode

2:13:21and and to to be clear the process we're

2:13:24going through right now is a is a text

2:13:26amendment to the zoning ordinance on uh

2:13:29September 14th. This board unanimously

2:13:31voted to enact that pro that uh that

2:13:34that amendment. Um we're in data

2:13:37collection mode right now. We've been

2:13:40polling. We've been receiving data from

2:13:42people and looking at other ordinances

2:13:44and the the regulation of a data center

2:13:46is is um it's not rocket science. They

2:13:50have very similar impacts. Um but the

2:13:54the question for each local governing

2:13:58authority is how much of those impacts

2:14:01do you want to regulate? That's what I'm

2:14:03seeing. I'm seeing, you know, some

2:14:07people shy away from reg utilities

2:14:10regulation because they don't feel like

2:14:12we have a a dog in that fight, so to

2:14:14speak. Some uh some approving

2:14:18authorities want to see some type of uh

2:14:22document saying, "Yeah, there's a plenty

2:14:23of power here. It's not going to impact,

2:14:25you know, the people who are already

2:14:27being served. There's plenty of water

2:14:28here. It's not going to impact them.

2:14:30Plenty of sewer." Um, I love to

2:14:34oversimplify things with respect to the

2:14:38progress that we're making. When I was a

2:14:41year in 1994, when I'd been here a year

2:14:44and I I had to ask 10,000 questions

2:14:46about the zoning regulations. Now, after

2:14:4933 years, I know it pretty good. So, the

2:14:52any anything in life, the longer you

2:14:54study it, the better you're going to

2:14:56understand it. Do I think we can put a

2:14:58document in place under the current

2:15:01process that will be a quality document?

2:15:04I think we can. Uh but I don't that's

2:15:09not saying it wouldn't need to be

2:15:10changed after that. So I I I the the

2:15:14office my office is ready to you know

2:15:17serve with whatever the political

2:15:20opinion is of this board and this day

2:15:22that philosophy we'll move forward with

2:15:25and uh we'll we'll enact it the best we

2:15:27can

2:15:30>> motion

2:15:31>> I don't think we had a motion

2:15:33>> huh

2:15:35>> no I don't think we have

2:15:39>> Would y'all be amendable to like a a

2:15:41four month moratorum taking into account

2:15:44that some progress has been made and by

2:15:46the time we would get a public hearing

2:15:48in place which would probably put it

2:15:50closer to late October to early November

2:15:53that would put two months have passed so

2:15:55we would have gone forward with a

2:15:56six-month mortorium but we do a four you

2:15:58still kind of get that six months of

2:16:00study time

2:16:00>> isn't that don't you already have a plan

2:16:03>> the the the schedule for the text

2:16:05amendment right now is planning board

2:16:08will be will have a a uh I don't know

2:16:11whether we'll reach consensus on October

2:16:146th. We're going to have I had planned

2:16:17to have a workshop with this board on

2:16:19October 1st, a second workshop just to

2:16:22discuss and point out some things that I

2:16:24see other people regulate and try to get

2:16:26a little bit of direction. No, no vote,

2:16:28nothing official, and then go to the

2:16:31planning board on October 6 where we'll

2:16:33have a a planning board meeting and I've

2:16:36started fashioning what will look like a

2:16:39special use permit. We've got

2:16:40recommendations that that we're we're

2:16:42going to propose. We'll take public

2:16:44input at that meeting. And um if we

2:16:48can't reach consensus on October 6th,

2:16:50we've got October 20th because the the

2:16:53when the application to amend the

2:16:55ordinance was set, you guys set a public

2:16:57hearing for October 26th.

2:16:59That would be when you guys see the

2:17:02recommendation from the planning board

2:17:04and y'all would consider that

2:17:06application. there'd be a public hearing

2:17:08where you would receive comment about

2:17:10that that proposed amendment and you

2:17:12either adopt it on the 26th or you push

2:17:14it off to your November 9th or your

2:17:16November 23rd date of however long you

2:17:19think you need to get it the way you

2:17:21want it. Now, that's the prog that's the

2:17:23process that we're currently in.

2:17:26>> Could that process still continue though

2:17:29under a moratorum? Well, this a

2:17:32moratorum is kind of a a stay. You it

2:17:36stops the process so that we can collect

2:17:39data. Normally, we would have the

2:17:42process we're going through now at the

2:17:44end of a moratorum. We would take a

2:17:46certain number of months, however many

2:17:48are provided by the moratorum, you know,

2:17:51outlined in the moratorum for if it's

2:17:53say hypothetically it's six months, we

2:17:56do the first four months of data

2:17:57collection and construction of a

2:17:59proposal. Then the last two months we'd

2:18:02set the public hearing, planning board

2:18:03meeting, board of commissioners meeting

2:18:05and and try to reach a consensus.

2:18:07>> Do you feel like you've gathered enough

2:18:09data to make that uh opinion? If if

2:18:14normally after the moratorum, we would

2:18:17be doing the process that's done in

2:18:19October uh that you spoke of that would

2:18:22be done after. Do you think that you've

2:18:24got gotten enough data from

2:18:27>> Well, it's like I stated before, um,

2:18:30Commissioner Elliott, the the I think we

2:18:34can put a quality document in place that

2:18:37has is is going to address the concerns

2:18:40that I've already kind of heard from the

2:18:43board. you know, not regulating

2:18:45utilities, not but you wanted impacts

2:18:49looked at, noise levels, you want

2:18:51setbacks, you want screening, you want

2:18:53to make sure that the existing the the

2:18:56the existing development around a

2:18:58proposed site is not impacted. You don't

2:19:01want the YouTube video of the wine

2:19:04coming from the building so people can

2:19:06enjoy their homes. That's what that's

2:19:08what I've heard from you folks that

2:19:09y'all want and that's the direction

2:19:11we're heading.

2:19:14So, uh, Mr. Attorney, how long would it

2:19:18be for you to get the information on the

2:19:20tax, uh, information back to us

2:19:24regarding I know I asked like a couple

2:19:26meetings back to kind of check in on the

2:19:28the different counties that are doing

2:19:30that tax abatement stuff for these uh,

2:19:34individuals that come in that where you

2:19:36can uh,

2:19:38kind of do that. Can you get me a legal

2:19:40opinion or can you check in with what we

2:19:42could do regarding that?

2:19:45>> Sir, are you ask you're asking about

2:19:50the amount that we would

2:19:51>> Yeah. a program to where you could uh

2:19:54you could,

2:19:56you know, subsidize some some folks

2:19:58meeting certain criteria that the board

2:20:01would look at various options that

2:20:04>> [snorts]

2:20:04>> uh where they could the property taxes

2:20:07where we could kind of

2:20:09>> the the county doesn't have the ability

2:20:10to do that. That has to be done by the

2:20:12legislature.

2:20:14[clears throat]

2:20:14>> What kind of what kind of um

2:20:17>> they're looking at some things now.

2:20:18>> Yeah. So, could we check on what they're

2:20:22looking at and what we could do from an

2:20:24ad, you know, an an advocate role of uh

2:20:28if if we're going to have these uh data

2:20:31centers, you know, coming in and uh

2:20:34[clears throat] in our area, we would

2:20:35love to be able to offer folks uh some

2:20:39kind of recompense on, you know,

2:20:42>> having these in their community where we

2:20:43could

2:20:45>> do that back. And how are these other

2:20:46places?

2:20:46>> You have that now with the tax rate. You

2:20:48can cut the tax rate and it'll help

2:20:50everybody. That's the only thing you can

2:20:51do right now.

2:20:52>> Okay. Well, that's an option too. If we

2:20:54could have some of those options that

2:20:56you know studying that and having some

2:20:58of those plans to when you move forward

2:21:00to be able to offer that to the

2:21:02citizens, I think it would be uh

2:21:05>> targeted relief would have to come from

2:21:07the legislature.

2:21:08>> Okay. Yeah. That that would be

2:21:10>> I think your point is that it's not a

2:21:12zero sum game. There's it's not 100%

2:21:14negative, 0% positive and vice versa.

2:21:17>> That's right.

2:21:17>> And that's the but that's the piece that

2:21:20makes me hesitate.

2:21:21>> That's the big piece that where we need

2:21:23to study.

2:21:24>> I agree.

2:21:25>> I think Commissioner Shook, do you have

2:21:27anything you you would like to add?

2:21:29>> Well,

2:21:31you know, hearing everything that's

2:21:34being said, there's a lot of unknowns.

2:21:38You know, that's the whole thing. It's

2:21:39all unknowns. We don't have anybody

2:21:42knocking on our doors wanting to put one

2:21:44in.

2:21:46At the same time, we're not ready for

2:21:48them to knock on our doors. We're not

2:21:51regulated yet.

2:21:54I I will add that um we we watched a

2:21:57seminar from the Institute of

2:21:58Government. Um as everyone's aware,

2:22:01they're kind of the authority with

2:22:03respect to local legislation and local

2:22:06rules and regulations across the board

2:22:08really. and and to to prohibit illegal

2:22:13use of land would probably be illegal.

2:22:16You'd have to have an exceptionally

2:22:18exceptionally specific set of

2:22:20circumstances to to be able to produce a

2:22:23document that would prohibit them

2:22:25altogether.

2:22:26>> Correct.

2:22:26>> So in that light and that's the way I've

2:22:28been taught the whole time I've I've

2:22:30worked in land use regulation that if

2:22:32it's a legal use of land, you have to

2:22:34provide a place for it. So, we we do

2:22:38need to regulate these facilities. We're

2:22:39going to be stuck regulating these

2:22:41facilities. Uh because I think a

2:22:44ordinance that would stop them all

2:22:46together would probably not stand up to

2:22:48legal challenge.

2:22:49>> One of the questions that I had is let's

2:22:52uh

2:22:54it Yeah. Well,

2:22:56>> Mr. Mr. I just wanted to

2:22:58>> just to just to get back to the point

2:23:00you were making about I I did see um

2:23:03just very recently Cabaris County

2:23:06adopted a a policy

2:23:10so that's specific to economic

2:23:12development incentives and so it's not

2:23:15it's not a tax it's not a tax refund or

2:23:19a targeted tax um relief. what that what

2:23:24they're doing is they're taking

2:23:26essentially taking a piece a portion of

2:23:28whatever the economic development

2:23:30incentive is

2:23:32>> and putting it into a fund and then that

2:23:34fund would be used for targeted relief.

2:23:38So it's not

2:23:40it's not it's not a situation where

2:23:42you're not collecting you know even in

2:23:45economic development um incentives

2:23:47you're you're still collecting the full

2:23:48amount of the tax from the taxpayer and

2:23:50then the incentives that you pay is is

2:23:54really it's treated separately even if

2:23:56it's based on the taxable amount.

2:23:57>> Gotcha. So I I think what

2:24:00there is that I have seen that kind of a

2:24:02program for example in just in in

2:24:05Cabaris County but I I don't know where

2:24:07else might have been looking at that but

2:24:09it's not it's not actual tax relief.

2:24:11It's right. It's it's finding a a it's

2:24:15get essentially getting a pool of money,

2:24:16>> a workaround. It's getting a pool of

2:24:18money from somebody.

2:24:19>> It's basically like a welfare program.

2:24:21>> Right.

2:24:22>> Right. Yeah.

2:24:23>> There's nothing to stop us from having

2:24:25conversations with them if at some point

2:24:27postmortium we have regulations in

2:24:30place. They come here and we're like,

2:24:30"Well, if you want to come here, what

2:24:31are you going to do for the schools?"

2:24:33>> Yeah. No doubt.

2:24:34>> I mean, I

2:24:36if it's just conversation, we can have

2:24:37that.

2:24:38>> Yeah. I'd just like to make a motion

2:24:40that we enact the four month whenever we

2:24:42need to procedurally put it on the

2:24:44calendar.

2:24:45>> One more point

2:24:48and it's a personal point. You put on a

2:24:51moratorum that takes Mr. Shale and

2:24:55myself out of the picture. Okay? So, we

2:24:59don't get to be a part of any of this

2:25:02because we'll be gone. Quite frankly, I

2:25:05like to work for being paid for this job

2:25:08because I feel like I've done a good

2:25:11job, right? I've worked hard. Okay. But

2:25:14a fourmonth moratorum is whatever

2:25:18whatever impact that we could possibly

2:25:21make. And that's my opinion. Now, if you

2:25:23don't agree with me, you don't have to

2:25:25say that.

2:25:26But I'm I'm I'm active and I'm wanting

2:25:29to be active and I want to do my job and

2:25:32I want to do a good job. But if you

2:25:34enact to this then it you're we're gone

2:25:38the first time.

2:25:39>> That's not that's not the purpose. The

2:25:41purpose is like we've all

2:25:44sincerely discussed for the last 45

2:25:46minutes. We want safety for the

2:25:48citizens. Not a question marginalizing

2:25:51or sidelining anybody. It's a it's a

2:25:53question of

2:25:54>> that's where they know what the heck's

2:25:57going on and got some input in it. We

2:25:58have some questions answered. That's

2:26:00what we're saying. It's a safety net

2:26:02>> and that's why I'm making that motion

2:26:03for the four months.

2:26:04>> But in the meantime, since it wouldn't

2:26:06come before a public hearing for another

2:26:0930ish, 25 days, however many

2:26:12>> talking about

2:26:13>> we could still

2:26:14>> the end of October,

2:26:15>> but we could still do some of the things

2:26:17we had planned, could we not? like this

2:26:20Thursday if we're going to have like a

2:26:21brainstorming session and work through,

2:26:23we could keep that stuff going where

2:26:26Commissioner Shell and Chair Waford

2:26:28could still be part of those

2:26:29conversations. We don't have to stop

2:26:31that just because we have a public

2:26:33hearing scheduled. Correct.

2:26:34>> Well, right now a process is in in

2:26:36motion where we could potentially have a

2:26:39a set of regulations governing data

2:26:41centers by October 26th. I don't I don't

2:26:45think you could. But if we do a

2:26:47moratorum, you're saying that

2:26:50pretty much things stop. Am I right?

2:26:53>> Well, they don't have to. They don't

2:26:56have to. And if the board chose to adopt

2:26:58what we've pushed forward, we could do

2:27:00that. And then,

2:27:01>> you know, that that's again a

2:27:03philosophical decision that this board

2:27:05would have to make. If you want to place

2:27:08a moratorum at that point in time to see

2:27:10if if that's what you want,

2:27:13it it's a little unprecedented. The

2:27:15earliest date we could get the moratorum

2:27:16on would also be October

2:27:18>> 26 with because there's there's two

2:27:21there's two levels of moratorum. Uh you

2:27:24can do a short-term moratorum which is

2:27:26less than 60 days by advertising 7 days

2:27:30prior to a a a public hearing. If you go

2:27:34to 61 days or longer, you have to comply

2:27:37with the 160D 602 section uh where you

2:27:41have to do the two advertisements 10 to

2:27:4325 days prior to an advertise public

2:27:46hearing. [snorts]

2:27:48>> All right, we have a motion on the

2:27:49floor.

2:27:52>> But just to confirm the the the work can

2:27:55continue though.

2:27:56>> Absolutely. uh that okay this has been a

2:27:59priority of our office since you know

2:28:01the the original vote on the moratorum

2:28:03because that's that's what we have to

2:28:05do. We have to prioritize things push

2:28:07things to the front push things to the

2:28:08back and and we we've been kind of you

2:28:11know um go mode on this trying to

2:28:13collect as much data as we can to to get

2:28:16everything in place. Can I just want to

2:28:17say one thing? If you do adopt I mean I

2:28:21I think if you if you adopt the

2:28:23moratorum then you would be in a

2:28:26position where you're not you're not

2:28:29going to be able to adopt the new

2:28:32amendment to the zoning ordinance you

2:28:35know on the 27th also because so as part

2:28:41of the moratorum the reason for the

2:28:43moratorum is that we have an issue

2:28:47essentially

2:28:48you know that that is not resolved and

2:28:52and the issue that we don't have

2:28:54resolved is that we don't have

2:28:57regulations or we don't have a zoning

2:28:59ordinance that sufficiently addresses

2:29:02data centers. So if you adopt new a new

2:29:06zoning ordinance provision that

2:29:08specifically addresses data centers and

2:29:10your your reason for the moratorum goes

2:29:13out the window. So I I think you if you

2:29:16if you do the moratorum, you can

2:29:18continue to work on

2:29:20the new zoning ordinance provisions, but

2:29:22I don't think you can actually adopt it.

2:29:24>> And are you able to end the moratorum

2:29:26early?

2:29:27>> You can. Yes.

2:29:28>> Okay.

2:29:28>> Yeah. Yeah. So I so all I'm saying is I

2:29:31I I would warn against doing but like

2:29:34going ahead and adopting the the new

2:29:37zoning ordinance provision and the and

2:29:40the or and the mortorium at the same

2:29:43time because it's it's kind of a one

2:29:45defeats the other.

2:29:46>> Right. I think what's been being said

2:29:47here is that you correct me if I'm wrong

2:29:50but that the more you would put the

2:29:52moratorium in place and then the work

2:29:55would continue.

2:29:57It wouldn't necessarily be adopted. Is

2:29:59that correct?

2:29:59>> I understand it.

2:30:00>> It would not be adopted. So if Mr. Crook

2:30:04brings the plan in and we vote and we

2:30:09decide that we want to have it on the

2:30:10agenda for the 28th

2:30:13and he brings it in and we like what he

2:30:16does, then we don't have to vote yes for

2:30:19the moratorum because all we're doing

2:30:21tonight is going to vote whether the

2:30:23moratorum is going to take place or not.

2:30:25You know, if it's going to be on the

2:30:27agenda,

2:30:27>> there's a public hearing for the

2:30:28morning.

2:30:29>> Correct. [clears throat]

2:30:29Right.

2:30:30>> Yes.

2:30:32>> You could reasonably have both.

2:30:37>> Mhm. If you feel like the text

2:30:39amendments don't go far enough and you

2:30:41need more time, vote for the moratorum.

2:30:44>> Correct.

2:30:45>> If you feel like you're comfortable with

2:30:46it and that gives us time to work

2:30:48through it, vote for the text amendment

2:30:50and not the moratorum.

2:30:52>> Correct.

2:30:56That would solve several issues because

2:30:58we would would need to dispose of the

2:31:01current uh amendment to the applica the

2:31:05amendment application to the zoning

2:31:07ordinance one way or the other

2:31:10>> time notice like what y'all were saying

2:31:12for the public to have input on it.

2:31:14Right.

2:31:14>> Received Karen or is that more

2:31:16amendable?

2:31:18>> What uh let me let me clarify something

2:31:21here. Yes sir.

2:31:22>> The property owner does a moratorum

2:31:26to data center

2:31:28>> the moratorum would that's a private

2:31:32property right. Anybody can convey

2:31:34property. We can't stop that process

2:31:36from happening. the the sale of the

2:31:39property would be subject to whatever

2:31:42regulations adopted unless they have

2:31:44some type of vesting beforehand to the

2:31:48old regulation.

2:31:49>> Yeah, everybody. [clears throat]

2:31:52>> It's okay. Okay, we have a motion on the

2:31:54floor. Do I have a second?

2:31:57>> I'll second.

2:31:58>> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All

2:32:00in favor say I.

2:32:02>> I.

2:32:05No.

2:32:07>> No.

2:32:08>> 42.

2:32:10>> So that would be to schedule it for

2:32:12October 26th.

2:32:14>> Can can you have me some options with

2:32:17the other items we discussed on the

2:32:19other side for programs regarding what

2:32:22we could do with that?

2:32:23>> Sure. We can we can we'll look at that

2:32:25and see see what other counties might be

2:32:26doing on that.

2:32:28>> Thank you.

2:32:28>> We're ready for

2:32:29>> Thank you. Thank you.

2:32:31>> Feel better.

2:32:33>> I hope you get better quick quick.

2:32:35Motion to go in close session. All in

2:32:38favor

2:32:39>> say I

2:32:40>> and go to the rest room.

2:33:01Heat

2:33:13up.

2:35:19Heat. Heat.

2:36:55Heat. Heat.

2:37:29>> [music]

2:37:59>> Heat.

2:38:10Heat.

2:42:15Heat. Heat.

2:43:24Heat. Heat.

2:44:55Heat. Heat.

2:46:17>> [music]

2:46:31>> Heat. Heat.

2:47:49Heat.

2:48:07Heat.

2:49:12Heat. Heat.

2:49:20Heat. Heat.

2:51:02Heat. Heat.

2:53:26Heat. Heat.

2:54:02>> [music]

2:54:13>> Heat.

2:54:31Heat.

2:55:03Heat. Heat.

2:59:36Heat. Heat.

3:02:52Thank you, Lee.

3:02:56>> Get to get better.

3:02:59That was a really good touch bringing

3:03:01hands like that.

3:03:07>> Motion to return to session. Do

3:03:09>> we have a second? All in favor say I.

3:03:11>> Mr. John, may I have a report on close

3:03:13session?

3:03:14>> Yes. Um the board met in close session.

3:03:17We discussed one um

3:03:21potential litigation and settlement of a

3:03:24potential litigation matter. Um it

3:03:26involves an an individual named Ferris

3:03:29Johnson. The board approved a um

3:03:34approved a potential settlement that

3:03:36would be paid by our insurance carrier

3:03:40um to resolve that matter. Um the uh

3:03:44board also

3:03:46um asked to discuss uh two different

3:03:48economic development uh matters and the

3:03:52staff were given instructions on on how

3:03:54the board wish to proceed on those and

3:03:56that's it.

3:03:57>> Thank you sir. Motion to adjurnn.

3:04:00Second. All in

3:04:01>> favor say I. Thank you. Sir y'all have a

3:04:05good