2026-10-12 - Board of Commissioners
Summary
Short Monday evening meeting chaired by Vice-Chair Todd Yates because Karen Watford was excused and Steve Shell was absent; Chris Elliott opened with a prayer referring to an incident the day before in which a life was lost but no deputies or citizens were hurt (the captions do not describe it). Early College students attended, and Amanda Paris received an NC Association on Aging Guiding Star award. Public address included Scott Ford pitching sports park sponsorship sales at $150,000 plus 15 percent, an asphalt plant near Muddy Creek (outside Davidson County), and the Duke, Piedmont and data center plans. The consent agenda passed and the board approved Robin Sage special forces training at a Denton cell tower. The county attorney reported that Flock decommissioned the license plate readers and network the previous Wednesday and removal is pending, and the board passed Tripp Kester's motion to bag the cameras until they are removed. The board reached consensus not to sign a cell tower company's letter of interest unless it discloses its 12 sites, and agreed to move the sewer and jail committee meeting days. In closed session on Terry W. Hartley v. Davidson County (Industrial Commission 24-025481) the board asked outside counsel to proceed with a settlement, and a contract dispute was discussed.
Summary written from YouTube auto-captions of the meeting; names, figures and speaker attributions may be misheard.
Issues discussed: Flock License Plate Reader Cameras, Davidson County Sports Complex, Piedmont Natural Gas LNG Facility Rezoning
Transcript
These are auto-generated YouTube captions and are likely to contain misheard names (for example "Mayus", "Manis" and "Haynes" for the assistant county manager, "Meiselle" for Mizell, "Mccclure" for McClure). Timestamps are h:mm:ss from the start of the video; the stream also contains long music or silence stretches during closed sessions, shown as "Heat." lines.
Transcript
0:01:14[music]
0:05:27Heat. Heat.
0:05:33Heat.
0:05:47Heat.
0:07:03Heat. Heat.
0:10:15Heat. Heat.
0:13:27Good afternoon.
0:13:28Welcome to the Monday, October 12th, uh,
0:13:31Davis County Commissioners meeting. Uh,
0:13:33Mr. Elliott, Commissioner Elliot, would
0:13:35you lead us off in the invocation and
0:13:37pledge of allegiance, please?
0:13:38>> Yes, sir. Heavenly Father God, we come
0:13:41before you tonight, God, and we're
0:13:42seeking wisdom. Father God, we pray,
0:13:45God, for the protection of all of our
0:13:47county workers. Father God, after the
0:13:50event that happened yesterday, God,
0:13:52we're so thankful, God, that none of our
0:13:54sheriff deputies was harmed. None of our
0:13:57citizens were harmed. And Father God, uh
0:14:00although a life was lost, Father God,
0:14:02and uh we lift that up to you, Father.
0:14:05We're thankful, God, that none of our
0:14:07employees was hurt, God. We we ask for
0:14:10that same protection to go out uh forth
0:14:13to all of our first responders, God, as
0:14:15they serve uh flawlessly, God, to keep
0:14:18us protected here in Davidson County.
0:14:20Father God, I pray, God, you give us
0:14:22wisdom from on high, that we would make
0:14:24right decisions, God, that we would have
0:14:26open ears to hear the citizens tonight.
0:14:29And Father God, that we could vote with
0:14:31our own conscience. And Jesus, lead us,
0:14:33guide us, and direct us. In your
0:14:34heavenly precious name we pray. Amen.
0:14:37>> Amen.
0:14:39>> [clears throat]
0:14:40>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
0:14:43United States of America and to the
0:14:46republic for which it stands, one nation
0:14:50under God, indivisible, with liberty and
0:14:53justice for all.
0:14:58>> Thank you, Commissioner Elliot. I'm
0:15:00going to call uh Scott Pettit up with
0:15:04his uh with some of his students. He's
0:15:06from Davidson County Early College
0:15:10and they are viewing from the audience
0:15:12tonight to see how local government
0:15:15works. So, thank you, Mr. Pettit, for
0:15:18for bringing the students out.
0:15:22Looks like they're really happy to be
0:15:23here.
0:15:24>> Amen. Good job.
0:15:32[laughter]
0:15:34>> Come on.
0:15:34>> Up front. Yeah. There you go.
0:15:36>> Take a picture.
0:15:38>> Y'all come up here and we're going to
0:15:39take a picture.
0:15:40>> Come on.
0:15:41>> Come on up, Mr.
0:15:48[laughter]
0:15:49>> Anybody has to be willing to say
0:15:55>> and Steve, if you'd like to say
0:15:56something afterwards, uh, you're more
0:15:58than welcome to do that.
0:16:00>> I don't think you heard it yet.
0:16:03Need to tighten up a little bit. We're
0:16:05good.
0:16:05>> Yeah.
0:16:07>> Put a smile on your face, kids.
0:16:12>> One, two, three.
0:16:14>> Can we do bunny ears on them? Like
0:16:17[laughter]
0:16:20>> one, two, three.
0:16:27>> Thank you. Steve, if you'd like to say a
0:16:29word, that'd be uh great.
0:16:33Steve
0:16:40>> was not quite expecting this. Um, thank
0:16:43you for having us. This is part of a new
0:16:46initiative at the early college high
0:16:48school. Um, our students are required to
0:16:50earn 20 hours per semester of community
0:16:53service and attending schoolboard
0:16:55meetings and board of commissioner
0:16:56meetings gets them partway there. So,
0:16:58thank you for having us.
0:16:59>> Good. Thank you all for being here. Yep.
0:17:01>> Good job.
0:17:05[applause]
0:17:07>> It's good to see young kids
0:17:08participating in local government. All
0:17:11right. Uh recognition by uh for Amanda
0:17:14Paris from [snorts] uh Miss Roberts.
0:17:21How are y'all tonight?
0:17:22>> How are you?
0:17:23>> Good.
0:17:24>> Good evening, commissioners. It is my
0:17:26pleasure to introduce to you Mr. Brad
0:17:28Allen. Brad is the treasurer of the
0:17:30North Carolina Association on Aging and
0:17:33he is here to present one of our senior
0:17:35services staff with an excellence in the
0:17:37field of aging award. And Brad came all
0:17:39the way from Raleigh tonight to uh
0:17:41present this award. So I'll turn it over
0:17:43to Brad.
0:17:44>> Thank you.
0:17:44>> Hey, Brad.
0:17:46>> This is actually the second time that I
0:17:48have been here in recent years. So I
0:17:49think that says something about the
0:17:51quality of your senior services in
0:17:53Davidson County. But uh I am Brad Allen.
0:17:55I'm the executive director of North
0:17:57Carolina Senior Games and the treasurer
0:17:59of the North Carolina Association on
0:18:01Aging, which is a group of professionals
0:18:03that uh provides services for home and
0:18:06community based needs for older people
0:18:08like me in the state of North Carolina.
0:18:11Each year, the NCAA presents only five
0:18:14awards across this entire state to
0:18:17recognize excellence in the field. And
0:18:19the guiding star award honors a
0:18:21supervisor for quality supervisory
0:18:24skills in the management of programs and
0:18:26staff that benefit older adults. This
0:18:29year's guiding star for the North
0:18:30Carolina Association on Aging is none
0:18:33other than Amanda Paris from the inhome
0:18:36uh uh services program manager for here
0:18:39in Davidson County. She has an
0:18:41incredible 29 years of service to older
0:18:44adults with senior services. And just in
0:18:47this last year, she continues to show us
0:18:50her value because you may know there's
0:18:52been a terrible shortage of CNAs, not
0:18:55just in Davidson County and North
0:18:57Carolina, but across uh this entire
0:18:59country. But she
0:19:01absolutely stepped forward uh installed
0:19:04some innovative programs to make sure
0:19:06that this challenging workforce did not
0:19:08impact the services of older people in
0:19:11your community. So, uh, in recognition
0:19:14of her outstanding work, she is
0:19:17absolutely a star, one of five in the
0:19:20state of North Carolina. The guiding
0:19:21star for 2026 is your own Amanda Paris.
0:19:27[applause]
0:19:33>> Amanda, would you like to say anything?
0:19:37>> Thank you so much. This is such an
0:19:39honor. Um, I work with the best of
0:19:42people and it's my uh they inspire me
0:19:45every day. I say that and uh it's been a
0:19:48privilege to serve the older adults of
0:19:50Davidson County for almost 30 years now.
0:19:53So, thank you. This means so much. Thank
0:19:55you so much.
0:19:55>> Congratulations.
0:19:59[applause]
0:20:04>> Thank you. Appreciate you.
0:20:06>> Thank her.
0:20:07>> Thank you.
0:20:07>> Thank her.
0:20:08>> Thank you. Thank her.
0:20:10>> Congratulations.
0:20:19>> Thank you.
0:20:21>> Thank you.
0:20:27[laughter]
0:20:30>> You have to be the
0:20:34>> one. [clears throat]
0:20:37One, two, three.
0:20:39One, two, three.
0:20:41>> Congratulations.
0:20:43>> Good job. [applause]
0:20:49[applause]
0:20:50>> Good job. Thank you very much. Making a
0:20:53lot of difference in our in our world we
0:20:55live in. All right. I'm going to
0:20:57recognize the veterans tonight since
0:20:58Commissioner Shell's not here. Do we
0:21:00have any veterans attending tonight? If
0:21:03you do, please stand.
0:21:05Thank you very much for your service.
0:21:07[applause]
0:21:11Any veteran that hadn't received a pen,
0:21:13you're more than welcome to come up and
0:21:14get it. If you've already received one,
0:21:16then you probably don't want another
0:21:18one. But seeing none, I'll move on.
0:21:21Thank you very much.
0:21:23All right. Can I have a motion to excuse
0:21:26Chair Watford?
0:21:27>> So moved.
0:21:27>> Second.
0:21:28>> All in favor?
0:21:30>> Any opposed?
0:21:31>> All right. Register for public address.
0:21:33We have a signup sheet right over here.
0:21:36If you hadn't signed up, please do so
0:21:38now.
0:21:39Um,
0:21:41>> excused. Steve,
0:21:42>> he's coming.
0:21:44>> He's coming.
0:21:44>> Do you want to speak to public address
0:21:45or you go up for your item?
0:21:47>> He didn't ask to be excused. So,
0:21:49>> okay.
0:21:49>> Okay. Okay. There you go.
0:21:50>> Hopefully, he'll make it.
0:21:51>> He said he was going to
0:21:52>> Right. Right. So, yep. All right. So,
0:21:55adoption of the agenda. Um, is there any
0:21:58changes to the agenda? Seeing none. Uh
0:22:02motion.
0:22:03>> Chairman, I make a motion that we
0:22:04approve the agenda as written.
0:22:05>> All right. Second.
0:22:06>> Second.
0:22:07>> Second.
0:22:07>> All in favor?
0:22:09>> I.
0:22:09>> Any opposed? That motion carries. Public
0:22:13address, please. Tim
0:22:19[clears throat]
0:22:22Scott Ford.
0:22:30Good evening everybody. Uh my name is
0:22:32Scott Ford. Um [snorts] most of the
0:22:34comments that I have tonight are uh are
0:22:37not directed at the two men to my left.
0:22:40um they've consistently voted with their
0:22:43constituents and their uh um and their
0:22:47their voters against this uh uh the ex
0:22:53expensive expensive sports park. So now
0:22:55what are we talking about? $150,000 for
0:22:58a salesman that's going to sell
0:23:00sponsorships
0:23:02for the sports park.
0:23:06We're talking about a salesman that's
0:23:08going to get paid $150,000. And from
0:23:10what I understand,
0:23:13whether or not he sells enough to pay
0:23:16for himself, plus a 15% commission, a
0:23:20car salesman doesn't get that, right? Am
0:23:22I am I wrong about this?
0:23:28Nobody. Okay. So, that's what that's
0:23:30what my understanding is is that uh this
0:23:32consultant, basically a used car
0:23:35salesman, is going to sell sponsorships
0:23:37to help pay for overages
0:23:40on this $65 million abomination sinkhole
0:23:45that is only going to be open six months
0:23:47a year. So, there's a giant question
0:23:50mark whether it's going to even generate
0:23:53enough money to pay for itself.
0:23:57just the whole thing stinks. And I don't
0:24:00think that these these um these tax
0:24:04prisoners that are behind me want to
0:24:07finance this thing. And I that's what I
0:24:10call you is your tax prisoners. [snorts]
0:24:14Raise your hand behind me, please, if
0:24:17you think that a salesman should get
0:24:19$150,000 whether he performs or not,
0:24:21plus 15% of any sponsorships that he may
0:24:25sell to this sports park. By show of
0:24:29hands,
0:24:31everybody thinks that this salesman
0:24:32should get $150,000.
0:24:34>> Sir, you you address You need to address
0:24:35the board here.
0:24:36>> I'm addressing the board. They are
0:24:38addressing you. You're out of order.
0:24:42>> You I said address the board, please.
0:24:45>> Okay, I'm addressing you through them.
0:24:50And I don't know why this is set in
0:24:51stone. Why can't we scale it back? If it
0:24:53can't pay for itself, scale it back.
0:24:58And all this is to me is it looks like
0:25:00feathers in somebody's retirement plan
0:25:04from these tax pensioners or tax
0:25:07prisoners behind me
0:25:09to finance this thing.
0:25:12And who it have have we even considered
0:25:15what's going to happen to it in the
0:25:17wintertime? I'm not going to the water
0:25:19park in the winter time. It's only going
0:25:20to be open six months a year. It's an
0:25:22impossibility.
0:25:24And the moratorum should have been voted
0:25:27in. Mr. Yates and I wish Karen was here.
0:25:30She's got a great name. And Steve Shell
0:25:32because they're the ones who
0:25:33consistently vote against the tax
0:25:37prisoners behind me and for whatever
0:25:40your interests are. regarding this
0:25:43because it just
0:25:43>> All right, your time's up, sir.
0:25:45>> Okay. Yeah. So, is yours?
0:25:47>> All right. Jackie Taylor,
0:25:53>> how are you this evening?
0:25:54>> Somebody's thing.
0:25:57>> Oh, I'm sorry.
0:25:58>> Okay, I'm sorry.
0:26:01>> Good evening, commissioners. My name is
0:26:02Jackie Taylor. I am 71 years old and a
0:26:0522year resident of Davis County. I am
0:26:07addressing Tisha Everheart Robertson's
0:26:10chronological documentation of issues
0:26:12Jackie Taylor concerning her entry for
0:26:14July through September 2020. The
0:26:17misinformation surrounding it continues
0:26:19to impact my life. Statements written by
0:26:21the senior services director Tisha
0:26:23Everheart Roberts claims that I made
0:26:25quote character assassination comments
0:26:28and placed the signate employee Kesha
0:26:30Carter in a position which she feared
0:26:32for her job. I state clearly and for the
0:26:34permanent record. This is a deliberate
0:26:36attempt to shade the truth and an
0:26:39outright lie. I will clarify what
0:26:41occurred after I was permanently
0:26:43terminated. I reached out to Sigma. I
0:26:45did not assassinate anyone. I did
0:26:48however ethically report what I strongly
0:26:50believe was unethical conduct carried
0:26:52out by Kesha Carter and the Davidson
0:26:54County employees and elected officials.
0:26:57An advisory board to secure my
0:26:59termination. [clears throat] Sigma and
0:27:01Senior Services encouraged and
0:27:02explicitly asked for feedback,
0:27:05indicating a safe space for both good or
0:27:07bad input. Instead, that feedback was
0:27:09weaponized and used as a setup to
0:27:11permanently terminate me. It is entirely
0:27:13unfair, deeply hurtful, and unjust to be
0:27:16black ballalled with sponsors on the
0:27:18falsehoods. Furthermore, Kesha Carter is
0:27:21responsible for her own actions. Long
0:27:23after I reported my unhappy experience
0:27:25regarding Kesha Carter, the Sigma
0:27:27representative, the company continued to
0:27:29send me promotional gifts. I told them I
0:27:32would accept the gifts and I will not
0:27:33cancel my Humana plan and go with Sigma.
0:27:36They continue to solicit my business and
0:27:38send me marketing materials. I asked the
0:27:41board to recognize that these
0:27:42contradictions reject the false
0:27:44narrative of character assassination and
0:27:46look at the facts of how feedback was
0:27:48used to systematically push out a senior
0:27:51resident of Davidson County. I am
0:27:53submitting an email dated October 20,
0:27:552020 to the clerk Debbie Harris to
0:27:58preserve in the permanent file in
0:27:59Raleigh.
0:28:02That's this.
0:28:02>> All right. Thank you, Miss Taylor.
0:28:04>> Thank you. [clears throat]
0:28:05>> Thank you. You're welcome. Doug Guyger.
0:28:11Sir, I got a quick question. It says the
0:28:13asphalt plan on this uh this is not in
0:28:16Davidson County, correct? The
0:28:18>> correct, but I'm going to kind of
0:28:19explain.
0:28:20>> Okay. [snorts] All right. Just wanted to
0:28:21double make sure.
0:28:22>> Yeah, absolutely. And I've got uh folder
0:28:26for each of the commissioners here.
0:28:27>> Okay.
0:28:29You can just hand it to Tim there after
0:28:31whenever and he'll pass them out.
0:28:36>> Yeah. My name is um Doug Guyger. I live
0:28:39at 4682 Greenale Way in Winston Salem,
0:28:42North Carolina.
0:28:44And so I'm sure each of you is
0:28:46wondering, you know, why I'm here about
0:28:48an asphalt plant. And I'm going to tell
0:28:51you why. Um I am a licensed physical
0:28:55therapist and I'm representing hundreds
0:28:58of people in our area that are opposed
0:29:00to this asphalt plant. The [snorts]
0:29:03reason it's appropriate or pertinent, I
0:29:05think for you all to know about this is
0:29:08the back portion of that um proposed lot
0:29:13is a FEMA flood zone uh designated area
0:29:17and also is lined with Muddy Creek.
0:29:20Muddy Creek
0:29:23empties into the Yaken River. The Yaken
0:29:26River flows down to here and other
0:29:30places further south.
0:29:32The potential if this asphalt plant is
0:29:35built, the potential of toxic runoff
0:29:41into Muddy Creek is certainly there. Not
0:29:45saying it's going to happen, but it
0:29:47could. And if it does, the contamination
0:29:51of the water supply for the Yaken River
0:29:55and for Davidson County would be pretty
0:29:58extensive. And so on behalf of myself
0:30:01and hundreds of others, we want to make
0:30:04sure that you all know about this and
0:30:08that the citizens of this county know
0:30:11about it. Um,
0:30:13uh, the other thing I would say is that
0:30:17in your folder,
0:30:19one of the sheets
0:30:21has a list of infractions and things
0:30:25that this uh, company has had in the
0:30:29past.
0:30:30Not saying that they're going to have
0:30:32them when this is built, if it is, but
0:30:35the track record right there should show
0:30:37you that they've not been really good at
0:30:40abiding by regulations.
0:30:43Um, so that's really why I'm here. Kind
0:30:46of wanted you all to know about it. I
0:30:49know a lot of people think it just
0:30:50affects
0:30:52our area where we live, but the
0:30:55ramifications
0:30:57can be a lot further. Thank you. Thank
0:30:59you. All right. Yes, sir.
0:31:01>> Thank you very much.
0:31:02>> All right. Janine
0:31:04Spir Spirto,
0:31:17>> how are you this afternoon?
0:31:18>> How are you?
0:31:19>> Not a billion.
0:31:20>> Good evening.
0:31:22I stand before you today angry,
0:31:24frustrated, and absolutely disgusted
0:31:27with the direction this county is
0:31:28heading. At a recent public meeting, a
0:31:31sitting commissioner had the audacity to
0:31:34tell me to shut up.
0:31:36Let me remind the board of something.
0:31:39You work for us.
0:31:43We
0:31:44do not work for you. Okay? You were
0:31:48elected to represent the people of
0:31:51Davidson County, not silence them when
0:31:54uncomfortable questions are asked.
0:31:58And frankly, if you cannot handle
0:32:00criticism from the very people whose
0:32:02lives your decisions affect, perhaps you
0:32:06have no business sitting in those seats.
0:32:08Now, let's talk about the absolute
0:32:10insanity of what's happening in this
0:32:11county. Sunday we had some rain and
0:32:15residents experienced power outages. I
0:32:17was one of them. Yet this board
0:32:19continues entertaining massive
0:32:21hyperscale data centers that could place
0:32:24enormous addition additional demands on
0:32:26our electrical grid. We can't even count
0:32:29on keeping the lights on and you want to
0:32:31welcome some of the largest electricity
0:32:33consumers in the country here. Where is
0:32:36the common sense? Then we have Duke
0:32:38Energy's proposed gas plants. We're
0:32:41being asked to sacrifice our land, our
0:32:43air quality, potentially our water
0:32:46resources for electricity that's not
0:32:48specifically guaranteed to benefit any
0:32:51resident in Davidson County. But guess
0:32:54who will be left dealing with the
0:32:55consequences?
0:32:57We will. Our firefighters, our EMS, our
0:33:01law enforcement, and the taxpayers. And
0:33:04we're not just talking about gas plants.
0:33:06We're talking about enhanced liquid
0:33:08natural gas infrastructure, pipelines,
0:33:11compressor stations, massive data
0:33:13centers, and a huge sports plex. Each
0:33:16brings its own demands, its own risks,
0:33:18and its own strain on public services.
0:33:21Meanwhile, Davidson County already
0:33:23struggles with emergency response times.
0:33:26Our emergency personnel are stretched
0:33:28thin, and residents are left wondering
0:33:30how long it will take when they dial
0:33:32911. What happens when there's a major
0:33:35industrial accident, a gas leak, a fire,
0:33:37an explosion? Who's coming to save us?
0:33:40And how long will it take them to get
0:33:42there? You cannot keep approving or
0:33:45encouraging massive development while
0:33:47ignoring the public safety,
0:33:49infrastructure, and that's necessary to
0:33:51support it. That is not responsible
0:33:54growth. That's reckless government. and
0:33:57allowing dangerous industrial
0:33:58development without first demonstrating
0:34:00adequate emergency preparedness is in my
0:34:03opinion bordering on criminal
0:34:05negligence.
0:34:08You are gambling with the people's
0:34:09homes, their health, their property, and
0:34:12potentially their lives. And for what?
0:34:14To tell everyone Davidson County is open
0:34:17for business. Well, let me tell you
0:34:19something. Davidson County is not for
0:34:21sale. Our communities are not
0:34:23expendable. Our first responders are not
0:34:26miracle workers and our citizens are not
0:34:27collateral.
0:34:28>> Time's up, man. Thank you, Gary.
0:34:30>> He's right. Listen to your constituent.
0:34:34>> Can you shut that door, please?
0:34:45>> Good afternoon.
0:34:46>> Good evening.
0:34:48I stand before you tonight with a
0:34:50message. The people of Davidson County
0:34:52are fed up with you.
0:34:54At the Davidson County Fair, our
0:34:56organization,
0:34:57Davidson and Davyy for a clean future,
0:35:00spoke with hundreds, literally hundreds,
0:35:02almost thousands of residents. And let
0:35:05me tell you, the conversations were
0:35:06eyeopening. People weren't just
0:35:08concerned, they were angry, they were
0:35:11disgusted, and most importantly, they
0:35:14have lost faith in this board.
0:35:17We heard the same complaints repeatedly.
0:35:19You don't listen. You aren't
0:35:21transparent. You make decisions without
0:35:24meaningful public involvement and
0:35:26citizens feel their voices simply don't
0:35:28matter. People are beginning to view
0:35:30this board as corrupt, irresponsible,
0:35:34and more interested in protecting
0:35:36corporations than protecting the
0:35:38citizens who elected you.
0:35:42That is the per the
0:35:45perception your behavior has created.
0:35:47When residents ask legitimate questions
0:35:49about Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas,
0:35:52data cent's environmental destruction,
0:35:54and our failing infrastructure, what do
0:35:57we get? Deflection, dismissal, silence,
0:36:00and out outright disrespect. Right,
0:36:03Missy?
0:36:07We often have a commissioner, we we we
0:36:09even have a commissioner who thinks
0:36:11telling a constituent to shut up during
0:36:13a public meeting is acceptable.
0:36:16You get you do not get to demand respect
0:36:19while showing absolutely none in return.
0:36:21You were elected to represent us, not
0:36:24Duke Energy, not Pedmont National Gas,
0:36:27and not wealthy developers. You work for
0:36:30us. Yet citizens now feel they must
0:36:32fight their own government to protect
0:36:34their homes, their drinking water, their
0:36:36health, and their communities. Think
0:36:38about how shameful that is. You want the
0:36:42public's trust, then earn it. Stop
0:36:44treating public participation as an
0:36:47inconvenience.
0:36:48Stop acting offended when citizens
0:36:51demand answers. And stop confusing
0:36:53holding public office with holding
0:36:55unlimited authority. After speaking with
0:36:58hundreds of residents, one thing became
0:37:00painfully clear. You have seriously
0:37:02underestimated the anger and frustration
0:37:04in this county. People are watching.
0:37:07They're organizing. And they're
0:37:08remembering who's listening and who
0:37:10doesn't.
0:37:12You can dismiss one citizen. You can
0:37:14ignore one speech. You can even try to
0:37:16silence some in this room. But you
0:37:19cannot silence an entire county. That is
0:37:22demanding accountability. Public office
0:37:25is a privilege and an honor. And if you
0:37:28cannot listen, cannot be transparent,
0:37:31cannot put people ahead of corporate
0:37:33interest, then perhaps you should ask
0:37:35yourselves, why are you sitting in those
0:37:37chairs? Davidson County deserves
0:37:40leadership it can trust and right now
0:37:42you've given us every reason to question
0:37:44yours.
0:37:46Like this little this little note you
0:37:48have here. This almost seems like a
0:37:49threat against people who might might
0:37:51want to just clap or
0:37:53>> three minutes.
0:37:54>> All right. Thank you, Gary.
0:37:56>> Thank you.
0:37:56>> Have a good afternoon, Chuck.
0:38:02[clears throat and cough]
0:38:06>> Yes. Thank you. I appreciate the
0:38:08opportunity to talk. Uh I first need to
0:38:12take care of a couple different things.
0:38:14Uh Mr. Shook, um I asked you earlier
0:38:18about uh maybe we would have a chance to
0:38:20discuss because most people know that
0:38:23I'm running for the same seat you now
0:38:26occupy. And I've been seeing a lot of
0:38:29pictures on you online and stuff. So I'm
0:38:32assuming your father's doing better. And
0:38:34if that's the case, then
0:38:36>> he's actually not doing very well at
0:38:38all.
0:38:38>> Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Then the
0:38:41second thing, um, Mr. Yates, you and I
0:38:44had a long talk after the, uh, meeting.
0:38:47In fact, we were here for what, about 45
0:38:49minutes, an hour, something like that.
0:38:51And, uh, we both kind of understand
0:38:54where each other's coming from, at least
0:38:56I think. And I'm always open for
0:38:58discussions. Um, one thing that
0:39:01surprised me is when you endorsed me,
0:39:04you said you would vote for me. So, I
0:39:06was kind of surprised by that. And in
0:39:09fact, I think I almost haded to change
0:39:11my depends.
0:39:13Third thing, [clears throat] Mr.
0:39:15Biselle, thank you for sending the um
0:39:19the the code of ethics. Yeah, I could
0:39:23not find it online. Apparently, you did
0:39:26or had a copy of it, and I appreciate
0:39:28that. And I think that the majority of
0:39:32uh the people on this board ought to
0:39:34read it because everything that people
0:39:38are telling you is what is in that U
0:39:42code of ethics. Another thing
0:39:46I know your job is hard. I don't even
0:39:49want your job, but I don't see anyone
0:39:52else who sees the issues that I
0:39:56apparently see and wants to do something
0:39:59about it. And I've been really trying to
0:40:03identify all the issues and I'm
0:40:06overwhelmed. I'm glad that we're doing
0:40:09so well with the the elderly, but I've
0:40:12been door knocking and I don't know how
0:40:13many times I've disturbed a little old
0:40:15lady with an IV coming to the door all
0:40:18by herself. So, that really concerns me.
0:40:23Duke Energy is what I really wanted to
0:40:25talk about. Now, with Duke Energy, we
0:40:29have an issue with a company that has a
0:40:33long history in North Carolina of
0:40:35pollution.
0:40:37We have a bunch of young people here
0:40:39that want to be able to breathe in their
0:40:4250s and 60s. And I'm not sure they're
0:40:45going to be able to. And even if they
0:40:48can, it'll probably be too damn hot for
0:40:51them to go outside because of global
0:40:54warming. We know, and hopefully the
0:40:57students here know that this is a fossil
0:41:01fuel that we're using. Natural gas is a
0:41:03fossil fuel and it pollutes. And because
0:41:07of those things, we've got to be able to
0:41:12>> Three minutes, sir.
0:41:13>> Thank you. Thank you. And Chuck, don't
0:41:15forget you're my favorite Democrat.
0:41:17Okay.
0:41:18>> I told you that and I mean it.
0:41:21[applause]
0:41:22>> All right.
0:41:22>> Thank you. We're going to uh move on to
0:41:24item number seven, uh the consent
0:41:26agenda. Uh anyone want to remove
0:41:29anything off the consent agenda?
0:41:32Hear none. Can I get a motion to accept
0:41:34the consent agenda?
0:41:36>> Motion to to accept.
0:41:37>> Second.
0:41:38>> Second.
0:41:38>> All in favor?
0:41:39>> I.
0:41:40>> Any opposed? That motion carries. Thank
0:41:43you.
0:41:46All right. Uh, this one here, um, I was
0:41:51contacted last week by Frank. Frank,
0:41:54will you come on up? And, um, your last
0:41:57name just escapes me right now,
0:41:59>> right? Um, anyhow, Robin, I'm sorry.
0:42:02>> Your name again, sir.
0:42:03>> I'm sorry.
0:42:04>> Your last name again?
0:42:04>> Roman.
0:42:05>> Roman.
0:42:05>> Yes, sir.
0:42:06>> Yes, ma'am.
0:42:06>> Frank Roman. I got it in my phone. I
0:42:08just didn't look it up. Uh, anyhow, I
0:42:10was uh contacted last week and uh they
0:42:14would like to use uh some of our
0:42:17property down in Denton, the sale tower
0:42:19for training. But I'm going to let him
0:42:21introduce himself and what Robin Sage
0:42:24does. I had heard about him for years
0:42:26and years and I don't know who's
0:42:28familiar with it and who's not, but it's
0:42:30a very good organization. But just to
0:42:32kind of enlighten you a little bit about
0:42:33what he told me they want to do at one
0:42:35of our cell towers is hang dummy
0:42:38explosives like little cardboard boxes
0:42:40on the guide wire and simulate a sale
0:42:44tower uh takeover. So anyhow, if you
0:42:47will go ahead and introduce us to uh
0:42:49Robin Sage.
0:42:50>> Yes, sir. Uh, first of all, I would like
0:42:52to thank everybody here for allowing me
0:42:54to speak because I'm not from the
0:42:56community. I'm trying to I'm trying to
0:42:58ingrain myself here. I just started. My
0:43:00name is Frank Roman. I am a civilian
0:43:02lane manager for John F. Kennedy Special
0:43:04Warfare Center in schools. I have an
0:43:06example of some of the training. Uh,
0:43:09>> I can
0:43:13>> if you want to pass that around, Tim,
0:43:15maybe.
0:43:16>> Sure. Real quick, a snapshot of Robin
0:43:18Sage. It's a 50-year exercise that uh
0:43:20the army has conducted. It's the final
0:43:23culmination exercise in order these
0:43:25soldiers become special forces and go
0:43:28out in into that uncertain land that
0:43:30we've been dealing with. Um if you look
0:43:32at the document that's passing that's
0:43:34being passed around right now, it is it
0:43:36has several blocks. Uh the acronym ELO
0:43:39is means enabling learning objectives.
0:43:43And I'm not going to read it to you
0:43:44because there's a lot of stuff minimal
0:43:47on time. But what we're looking at is a
0:43:49box echo. They have to uh coordinate
0:43:54area command and com combat operations.
0:43:57What we're trying to do is use a facil
0:43:59uh area like a cell phone tower just to
0:44:02rehearse the muscle memory of doing an
0:44:05actual sabotage mission. They will
0:44:07implement this exercise at nighttime
0:44:09during limited visibility. Everything is
0:44:11completely notional. There will be no
0:44:13kinetic activity on the location. Also
0:44:17with that uh the cadray there will be
0:44:19two military uh cadray and myself on
0:44:22station to ensure that everything's
0:44:25policed up and no issues are caused. um
0:44:28with Robin Sage that's 50 years of going
0:44:31on and there's various of uh various
0:44:33jobs that they are trained in from the
0:44:36commander to the to the intelligence
0:44:39sergeant to the warrant officer and then
0:44:40it's broken down into weapons,
0:44:43communication, medical and demo and
0:44:47engineering. That's those are the big
0:44:49jobs and they they've been in school for
0:44:51about a year now. So, and I couldn't we
0:44:54can't do this without you guys. We've
0:44:56been working in the general area for 20
0:44:58years. I'm new, but I've heard nothing
0:45:00but great things. I've had nothing but
0:45:02great experiences with the law
0:45:04enforcement, with with the fire
0:45:06department, all that stuff. So, I really
0:45:08want to say thank you first
0:45:11cuz I couldn't do this without you guys.
0:45:13So, that brings us to this point. We
0:45:15were just looking for a location to
0:45:16train. So living down in the south end
0:45:18of county, we see a lot of C130s come
0:45:20over and we see uh when they doing these
0:45:23type trainings, it's really interesting
0:45:25to
0:45:26>> to see what happens in our community,
0:45:28but we don't really ever see any people.
0:45:30So y'all doing it like u
0:45:33>> you need an extra guy to hang out and
0:45:35shoot a gun. I'm with you, man.
0:45:37>> I'm always [laughter] and I would love
0:45:39to invite you guys to the final target
0:45:41because we are doing our final target
0:45:42exercise at Mid Carolina airport. Uh
0:45:45right now we also have some contractors
0:45:47building some temporary facilities up
0:45:49there cuz what they're going to do is
0:45:51air mobile operation and eliminate the
0:45:53target and then move. This is all
0:45:55simulation because special forces goes
0:45:57to different countries and they do
0:46:00nation building and nation building
0:46:02sometimes involves getting rid of that
0:46:04desk spot that's in the location.
0:46:06>> Right.
0:46:06>> And we can't do this and we can't train
0:46:08without you.
0:46:09>> Quick question.
0:46:10>> I'm all in favor of what you're doing.
0:46:12I'm very familiar with what you're
0:46:13doing. I'm familiar with folks that have
0:46:15participated in the stuff. Will the
0:46:18citizens of the area the operation's
0:46:20going to occur be properly notified? If
0:46:23they see people in uniforms and they
0:46:26don't know what the heck's going on, it
0:46:28might startle them or y'all might catch
0:46:29some unnecessary rounds. I mean, people
0:46:31just as long as they can be notified
0:46:34properly ahead of time what you guys are
0:46:36doing, I'm all in favor of that.
0:46:37>> Yes, sir. Uh, I didn't mean to
0:46:38interrupt, sir. I've been on the job for
0:46:40a year and a half. And since I've been
0:46:42on the job for a year and a half, I go
0:46:43out to every location at least an hour
0:46:45and a half prior. I knock on doors
0:46:48during the break in the cycles. I come
0:46:51up, I talk to the community. Uh I've had
0:46:53some issues in some locations, but the
0:46:55sheriff has helped me. I've put flyers
0:46:57out in mailboxes. I've tried to be very,
0:47:00very proactive to notify the community.
0:47:02Again, I don't want to offend the
0:47:04community.
0:47:04>> Yeah.
0:47:04>> I can't do We can't do this without you
0:47:06guys.
0:47:07>> Good deal.
0:47:08>> Have one other quick question. Yes, sir.
0:47:10Unless I heard you wrong. Everybody
0:47:12that's in special forces comes through
0:47:14Robin S. Right.
0:47:15>> Absolutely. Every I came through here I
0:47:19not in this specific lane I went through
0:47:21in 99.
0:47:22>> Right.
0:47:23>> And then after that what we know current
0:47:25history and past history it's been
0:47:27pretty busy. And this new generation
0:47:30it's really I I envy him but I'm also
0:47:32worried for him. And that's why these
0:47:34training we take it very seriously.
0:47:36>> Well I'm happy for you sir. I don't
0:47:38think there's any opposition from the
0:47:39board here. Any other questions from the
0:47:41board?
0:47:41>> No.
0:47:42>> Uh, can we get them? Can we get a
0:47:44>> motion? We accept the training
0:47:45>> approved. Second.
0:47:46>> All in favor?
0:47:48>> Any opposed?
0:47:50>> Thank you very much. That passes and I
0:47:52would if you could get us the
0:47:53invitation. I'd love to see the
0:47:54simulation.
0:47:55>> If I can call you, I I will.
0:47:57>> Okay.
0:47:57>> Thank you, sir.
0:47:59>> Thank you, sir.
0:48:00>> Oh, that's okay. I'll go. I had a friend
0:48:02of mine went to one. He loved it. So, I
0:48:04need to I'd love to see it. All right.
0:48:06Uh this one here, item 8B. Commissioner
0:48:09Kester, would you lead us off? Uh update
0:48:12on status of uh dismantling the flock.
0:48:14>> Yes, sir. I just want to start by saying
0:48:16I want to commend Mr. Jones for his
0:48:20initiative in following up with the
0:48:22flock agency. Um there's been a lot of
0:48:25concern in the community. I get a lot of
0:48:28calls on a weekly basis, people
0:48:30inquiring after our vote over a month
0:48:32ago why they haven't been removed. And
0:48:34quite frankly, I've been distur, you
0:48:37know, upset about it myself. So, Mr.
0:48:38Jones and I've been having a lot of
0:48:40communication. I was told that the day
0:48:42after the vote, the sheriff's department
0:48:44was not accessing information. And I was
0:48:46led to believe that the things had been
0:48:48turned off. And unbeknownst to me, Mr.
0:48:51Jones found out that wasn't the case up
0:48:54to the last few days. So, I'll let him
0:48:55update you on what he found out.
0:48:59>> Yes. Well, as so the board voted on
0:49:03August 24th to terminate the contract
0:49:06and have the the cameras removed, the
0:49:10license plate readers removed. Um, the
0:49:13sheriff's office did notify Flock the
0:49:15day immediately after. And I I will note
0:49:18that the Flock actually had a
0:49:19representative here on the night of the
0:49:2124th, so they knew immediately that what
0:49:24you all had voted. Um, so the sheriff's
0:49:27office did notify them immediately and
0:49:29they acknowledged it. Um, but you know,
0:49:33as as you mentioned, uh, Commissioner
0:49:36Kester, um, they didn't they didn't
0:49:39actually I mean, so the the sheriff's
0:49:40office turned off their access. They
0:49:44stopped looking at the system and they
0:49:46they did what they could to limit, you
0:49:48know, access by outside agencies.
0:49:52Um, we did follow up and ultimately as
0:49:56of last Wednesday, um, the license plate
0:50:00readers and our network have been
0:50:02decommissioned. That's what at least
0:50:05what what Flock has relayed to me. Um,
0:50:07and we're we're waiting on a date for
0:50:11them to actually remove the cameras.
0:50:13>> Good deal. Well, I would like to be the
0:50:14first. My threshold of of trust in that
0:50:18agency is about zero and I'm frustrated
0:50:21with the fact
0:50:21>> they took two two days ago they cut it
0:50:24off since our last vote. So, what I'd
0:50:26like to propose tonight if if my fellow
0:50:28commissioners are in favor of it, is we
0:50:31physically bag the things until they're
0:50:33removed because that way the citizens
0:50:35out here can see a tangible saws off
0:50:38>> that we've done what we're supposed to
0:50:40do to prevent those things from being
0:50:42on. And if you guys are in favor of it,
0:50:44I'd like to make a motion that we bag
0:50:46them until they're removed.
0:50:48>> I think that's reasonable.
0:50:49>> All right, we have a motion.
0:50:51>> Second.
0:50:52>> Third. Any other discussion? All in
0:50:55favor say I. I.
0:50:56>> Any opposed? That motion carries.
0:50:59>> Thank you, Trip.
0:51:00>> Man, thank you all. Thank you, Mr.
0:51:02Jones.
0:51:03>> Thank you, Adam.
0:51:10>> All right, we'll move on to item 8 C,
0:51:13discussion of letter of interest on sale
0:51:15tower property lease. Dwayne Childress
0:51:21coming, sir.
0:51:24The facilities committee heard this u
0:51:27back [clears throat] on the 1st
0:51:30and I thought it was appropriate to
0:51:31bring it to the full board for
0:51:33consideration.
0:51:34I was reached out to uh several weeks
0:51:37ago now by this company that goes around
0:51:40and looks at holes in cell tower
0:51:43coverage across different counties,
0:51:45happens to be ours, different cities,
0:51:46different states, so on and so forth.
0:51:49They identify those places and then they
0:51:51come back with uh to the carriers
0:51:54themselves and says we can put a tower
0:51:56here to boost your particular um
0:52:01uh level of of coverage. And so, um,
0:52:06they've so far identified 12 different
0:52:08sites that they would like, um, for us
0:52:11to again sign this letter of intent or
0:52:15interest and [clears throat] then they
0:52:17would sell that or or market that to the
0:52:20sale towers or the sale carriers
0:52:23themselves. And I'll be glad to answer
0:52:25any questions that you may have.
0:52:27[clears throat]
0:52:29>> One of the questions, Mr. Chairman,
0:52:31>> yeah, go ahead. One of the questions, if
0:52:33you remember, Dwayne, that I asked was
0:52:35when they replace these towers, is the
0:52:39county going to have access to put any
0:52:41equipment that the county deemed
0:52:42necessary?
0:52:43>> That will be part of the the contract.
0:52:45Yes, sir. I will make sure. And so will
0:52:47Lee Crook as well.
0:52:51>> Is this uh timesensitive?
0:52:54>> No, sir. I don't think No, sir.
0:52:56>> Um, can we get this for anformational
0:52:58meeting?
0:53:00I don't see why not.
0:53:02>> That way we can and send us a little bit
0:53:04more information on maybe the sites and
0:53:07>> that's what I was thinking,
0:53:08>> right? I don't
0:53:08>> they're not willing to release the not
0:53:10willing to
0:53:12>> a huge fan of it.
0:53:14>> They're not willing to release I've
0:53:15already asked that question. I promise.
0:53:17>> Well, I mean, in my opinion, if they not
0:53:19willing to release the sites and I'm not
0:53:21willing to to give them permission, but
0:53:23that's just me thinking.
0:53:23>> I don't want a microwave every quarter.
0:53:25>> I'm with you, sir. So,
0:53:27>> yep. So
0:53:29>> that's a no.
0:53:30>> That's a nogo. That was easy.
0:53:31>> A consensus of the board that [laughter]
0:53:33unless they
0:53:35>> Yeah.
0:53:36>> Unless they can do that. If they can,
0:53:38then you can come back to anformational
0:53:40meeting and
0:53:40>> Yes, sir.
0:53:41>> discuss the locations. Thank you,
0:53:43>> sir. Thank you.
0:53:44>> Yep.
0:53:45>> All right. The next one is uh 8D. And I
0:53:48asked Debbie to put this on the agenda
0:53:51uh to discuss the facilities committee,
0:53:53sewer committee, jail committee.
0:53:55back when we done all this on um on
0:53:58Thursday after uh theformational
0:54:01meeting, I was on all the facilities.
0:54:04So, and we used to split them up in
0:54:06different days. And I said, you know, if
0:54:08I'm going to miss a day's work, I just
0:54:10need to miss one day's work and do it
0:54:12all in one day. So, now that I'm not on
0:54:14the facilities committee, I'm asking
0:54:16that we move the sewer committee, which
0:54:18is a usually a very short meeting, about
0:54:2110 minutes,
0:54:23and the jail committee. We hadn't had
0:54:24many of those, but I'd rather move those
0:54:26to a different day so I don't have to
0:54:28sit around here all day and wait on you
0:54:30guys to go through the facilities
0:54:32committee meeting.
0:54:34Um, I can either do it one day before um
0:54:38one of our county commissioners meetings
0:54:40or we can do it a different day, Debbie,
0:54:43earlier, but I'm just asking to
0:54:45>> You're just wanting to move the sewer
0:54:46and the jail committee meeting to a
0:54:48different
0:54:48>> different day. So I don't have to wait
0:54:50for that Thursday. All right. So, I got
0:54:52to wait till like 1:00 in the afternoon
0:54:54or 1 2 o'clock or something to do. I
0:54:58just waste a whole day sitting around
0:54:59here after ourformational meeting.
0:55:02>> So, what dates are we proposing?
0:55:04>> I don't know. Me and you'll get together
0:55:06and see what works. If that's okay and
0:55:08then we can ask the the board to
0:55:11>> We don't have to vote on that.
0:55:13>> We do.
0:55:13>> When we put a schedule together, you
0:55:15guys vote going to get a date together
0:55:19and we'll approve the date. set date
0:55:21each month for the meetings and probably
0:55:23do them back toback because they it is
0:55:25the same people. So,
0:55:26>> all right.
0:55:27>> I'll make a motion to approve a new date
0:55:29once approved by the the clerk and the
0:55:32commissioners on these committees.
0:55:35>> Got a motion to second. All in favor?
0:55:37>> I.
0:55:37>> Any opposed?
0:55:38>> Who was the second?
0:55:40>> Trip.
0:55:41>> So, basically what the motion is is once
0:55:44we come up with a schedule, we can just
0:55:46send it out to y'all. But right now,
0:55:48you're formally approving it.
0:55:49>> Yes. just with us letting you know when
0:55:51[clears throat] it is.
0:55:52>> Yep.
0:55:53>> Motion to go into close session.
0:55:55>> Second.
0:55:56>> Second.
0:55:58>> All in favor say I.
0:55:59>> I.
0:56:00>> Any opposed? Motion carries.
0:56:30>> [music]
0:57:08>> Heat. Heat.
0:58:43Heat. Heat.
0:59:59Hey,
1:00:02hey, hey.
1:01:20Heat. Heat.
1:03:10Heat. Heat.
1:03:41>> [music]
1:04:00>> Heat. Heat.
1:07:29Heat. Heat.
1:08:14Heat. Heat.
1:09:50Heat. Heat.
1:11:10Heat.
1:11:28Heat.
1:12:12Hey.
1:12:27Hey.
1:14:15Heat. Heat.
1:16:14Heat. Heat.
1:16:51Heat. Heat.
1:17:39back in open session.
1:17:40>> So move, Mr. Chair. Second.
1:17:41>> Second. All in favor? I.
1:17:43>> Any opposed? All right. Uh Mr. Attorney,
1:17:46would you give us an update?
1:17:48>> Yes, sir. Um board went into close
1:17:50session for legal close session. Um we
1:17:53discussed um the an active matter. It's
1:17:57uh captioned Terry W. Hartley versus
1:18:00Davidson County and Sedick Claims
1:18:01Management Services, Inc. It's with the
1:18:04Industrial Commission file number
1:18:0624-025481.
1:18:09the board um was asked to consider a
1:18:12potential settlement and um and in fact
1:18:15um ask our outside council to to move
1:18:19forward with settlement on that and um I
1:18:22will be following up with with um with I
1:18:26guess the final outcome of of that of
1:18:29that matter. Um, and then the board was
1:18:32also advised on the um terms and
1:18:37conditions of a of a contract that is um
1:18:40currently currently in dispute and um
1:18:43staff given instructions on that.
1:18:45>> All right, that's it.
1:18:46>> Thank you very much for the update. With
1:18:47no other business for the board, may I
1:18:49have a motion to adjurnn? Motion
1:18:50>> to adjurnn. Second.
1:18:52>> All in favor. Any opposed? Thank you'
1:18:55all.