[7:01] first public hearing to order. Uh the

[7:04] purpose of the public hearing is to

[7:06] receive public comment on the

[7:08] consideration of the proposed community

[7:10] development block grant disaster relief

[7:13] funding. Um with that, I'll turn it over

[7:16] to Mr. Poston.

[7:20] >> [snorts]

[7:25] » Good evening. Um the for this public uh

[7:30] understanding the community block uh

[7:32] community develop block grant fund that

[7:34] we're going after is a disaster relief

[7:36] fund. Uh and we expect them to um

[7:39] request a little over a million dollars

[7:41] for help with uh with the uh

[7:43] construction of the new portion of the

[7:44] greenway and um some related items to

[7:47] the damage that was caused from

[7:49] Hurricane Helen. The reason why we

[7:51] qualify for this grant is because we are

[7:52] in a Helen affected county and disaster

[7:55] county. Um and in order to apply for for

[7:59] these types of grants, we need to hold

[8:00] two public hearings. wanted to announce

[8:03] our intent which is tonight's the

[8:05] purpose of tonight's hearing and then in

[8:06] September 1st we'll we'll talk about the

[8:08] grant specifics uh with the board uh and

[8:11] then have the board uh uh review that

[8:14] grant application uh proposal uh so

[8:17] tonight is just to hear public comments

[8:19] from the public about that we do have

[8:20] some

[8:26] » um first up this evening for the

[8:28] greenway expansion or for this CBDG

[8:31] grant is Jennifer Hinton. Jennifer,

[8:39] » thank you for having us tonight. One of

[8:41] the things that I love about living in

[8:43] Jackson County is the abundance of

[8:44] outdoor spaces, both land and water to

[8:47] reimburse myself in. I've worked, raised

[8:50] my family, and kept myself healthy in

[8:52] our country's our county's outdoor

[8:54] resources. Um, one of these is our

[8:56] beloved Jackson County Greenway. I use

[8:59] the greenway as a nature immersion to

[9:01] meet up with friends, to walk my dog,

[9:03] and as a connector to cycling to WCU's

[9:06] campus. For me, it is one of the places

[9:08] that I access, but for others, it was

[9:10] their main place to access. The fact

[9:13] that the Greenway is paved, has abundant

[9:16] shade, and has seating makes all the

[9:19] difference in the lives of many of our

[9:21] county's older adults, individuals with

[9:23] sensory and mobility impairments, and

[9:25] adoptive equipment, and families with

[9:28] young children, especially those with

[9:29] strollers. Um, and for some, it's one of

[9:32] the only safe and accessible spaces in

[9:35] our county to get immersed outdoors in

[9:36] nature. Um, well, I'd like to confirm

[9:39] that I am not a spokesperson for Western

[9:42] Carolina University or speaking on their

[9:43] behalf on this topic. Uh, my status as a

[9:46] faculty member in the recreational

[9:48] therapy program there with decades of

[9:50] teaching and completing scholarship on

[9:52] the benefits of nature and

[9:53] adventure-based therapy uh does overlap

[9:56] here. And part of my job is to deeply

[9:58] understand the benefits of engaging with

[10:01] the natural world and to teach the

[10:03] aspiring recreational therapists to

[10:05] understand that and to apply it. And the

[10:08] research clearly shows ways to engage in

[10:10] outdoors to boost our physical health,

[10:13] our psychological well-being, and our

[10:15] ability to cope with stress. And the

[10:18] designation of the Jackson County

[10:19] Greenway is the first and currently the

[10:22] only accessible certified nature and

[10:24] forest therapy trail in the country

[10:27] undermines the importance of this space

[10:29] for all of our county's residents and

[10:31] guests and especially those who are most

[10:33] vulnerable. The question I get most as a

[10:36] board member for Friends of the Jackson

[10:39] County Greenways is when is it getting

[10:41] longer? Uh we're so excited that this

[10:44] goal is in reach and that we'll be able

[10:46] to expand the greenway and provide more

[10:48] opportunities for everyone. The greenway

[10:51] gets heavy usage. There are days out

[10:53] there that it's hard to park. We have so

[10:54] many folks that are out there. And I

[10:56] just want to thank you for all that you

[10:58] continue to do to support the greenway

[11:00] and its expansion. It is giving back to

[11:02] our community every day and the wellness

[11:04] of our residents and I appreciate it.

[11:07] Thank you.

[11:08] >> Thank you.

[11:09] Next this evening we have excuse

[11:11] [clears throat] me Alexander Harris.

[11:17] [clears throat]

[11:20] » Good evening everyone. Um thank you for

[11:22] the chance to share my thoughts about

[11:25] the greenway and its place of importance

[11:27] in Jackson County. to give everyone a

[11:29] little background about myself. Um, I

[11:32] serve as one of the development officers

[11:34] at Western Carolina University and I'm

[11:36] on the board for the Friends of Jackson

[11:38] County Greenways, but I am not here as a

[11:41] spokesperson for Western Carolina

[11:43] University. My my views are my own. Um,

[11:45] so as a resident of Jackson County, I

[11:48] often walk on the greenway with with my

[11:51] dogs as way to relax, see friends, talk

[11:54] to neighbors, even have meetings. Um,

[11:57] when when when when I walk on the

[12:00] greenway, I see people of all ages. I

[12:02] see kids, you know, learning to ride

[12:03] their bikes. I see the elderly walking

[12:06] with their their walkers at their own

[12:07] pace and really everything in between.

[12:09] Thanks to um Michael's staff and and his

[12:13] team, their their uh counters, we have a

[12:16] pretty good estimate that there is going

[12:18] to be around 160,000 users of the

[12:20] greenway this year. Now, other than it

[12:24] being a a public good for community and

[12:26] health, there are significant economic

[12:29] benefits, um there's been a few studies

[12:31] done that estimate three to four dollars

[12:35] um generate generated through the

[12:37] greenway for every dollar spent on the

[12:38] greenway, excuse me, um through tourism

[12:41] and economic activity. We've done

[12:44] extensive surveys of Greenway users um

[12:47] most of which are uh repeat users

[12:50] monthly if not weekly and um for anyone

[12:53] who who is interested in in having it,

[12:56] we have on the record that it is the

[12:58] best investment the county has ever

[13:00] made. That's on video.

[13:03] Um, an expanded greenway not only makes

[13:07] sense in terms of the people supporting

[13:10] the people that make Jackson County

[13:12] home, it's an asset that will uh that there's no very little cost

[13:17] implication for residents and a huge

[13:20] opportunity um in terms of travel, in

[13:23] terms of community events, in terms of

[13:25] engagement. Um, and it's a space to

[13:28] offer uh amenities for for the community

[13:31] as a whole. So, thank you for all you do

[13:34] to support the greenway. And if I see

[13:36] you out there, please say hello.

[13:39] >> Thank you, Alexander. Uh, with no

[13:41] further um person signed up, is there a

[13:45] motion to close public hearing

[13:47] agreement?

[13:48] >> Second.

[13:49] >> All in favor?

[13:50] >> None opposed.

[13:52] >> Now call to order our second public

[13:54] hearing. Uh the purpose of this public

[13:57] hearing is to receive public comment on

[13:59] the consideration of the proposed

[14:01] ordinance imposing a moratorum on data

[14:04] developments development of data

[14:06] centers. Mr. Post again

[14:12] » good evening again. Um, tonight we're

[14:16] holding the public hearing as required

[14:18] for us for the board to be able to

[14:20] consider a moratorum uh on the

[14:22] construction of the creation of new data

[14:25] centers within Jackson County. Um, we

[14:28] highlighted this at the at the uh

[14:30] previous meeting when we called for the

[14:31] public hearing, but we do have a draft

[14:33] ordinance that's been online that talks

[14:34] about timelines. Uh, this would be a

[14:37] proposed year moratorum. It'll have the

[14:39] county opportunity to look into the

[14:41] issue more broadly. make sure that

[14:43] regulations that we would create, if you

[14:45] choose to create regulations, uh the

[14:47] board would choose to adopt those

[14:49] regulations, give us time to have those

[14:52] conversations as a community and come up

[14:54] with the best possible set of

[14:55] regulations uh for Jackson County. Uh

[14:59] I'll be happy to answer any questions

[15:00] the board may have.

[15:02] >> Any questions from the board?

[15:07] » One person signed up for u to publicly speak and that's Chris Hamlet.

[15:12] Chris.

[15:14] [laughter]

[15:15] [clears throat]

[15:24] Hello, I'm Chris Hamlet from Silva.

[15:28] And as far as the what you want to may

[15:31] want to consider when you're thinking

[15:32] about any sort of moratorium on data

[15:34] centers is and this goes back to a lot

[15:37] of the public coverage on them right now

[15:39] is a distinction between AI data centers

[15:43] and nonAI data centers.

[15:46] As an as a reference, a average house in

[15:50] our in our end of the uh state uses 10

[15:54] to 12 10 to 12,000 kilowatt hours

[15:57] annually. A grocery store or an old

[16:00] Walmart like what we have in town uses 2

[16:04] to 2.6 million kilowatt hours.

[16:08] a small nonAI data center, which given

[16:12] we're in the mountains and how hard it

[16:13] is to find flat land for anything, bigger than a small data center

[16:18] is not going to happen, is anywhere from

[16:21] 4.4 to 17.5

[16:24] million kilowatt hours annually. A small

[16:27] AI data center is anywhere from 8.7 to

[16:31] 43.8

[16:33] million kilowatt hours annually.

[16:36] A big big a big reason for that

[16:39] difference between a nonAI data center

[16:42] and AI data center is a nonAI data

[16:46] center we have them all the time any

[16:47] company that serves a lot of serves a

[16:49] lot of customers like our utilities Duke

[16:52] power like a CG water or our media

[16:55] companies like Optimo or Direct TV they

[16:59] all have data centers to so we're

[17:02] accessing their customer records quicker

[17:05] than people have column of concerns

[17:09] an AI data center

[17:11] and as for non AI data center like that

[17:14] it's basically access the hard drive get

[17:17] the data back there you go AI data

[17:20] center you're taking all of that and

[17:22] you're running the processor processors

[17:24] in that data center at 100% almost

[17:28] continuously

[17:30] as an analogy a noner might be running

[17:33] all the electricities all the lights in

[17:35] your outs all all the time 24/7 with AC

[17:40] to keep that with that and AI identity

[17:43] would be doing that same thing oven door

[17:45] open oven blasting space heaters

[17:48] throughout the house and a and the AC

[17:51] trying to keep up with all of that

[17:54] that's how much more heat is generated

[17:56] by an AI identity center that it then

[17:59] has to compensate for electricity usage

[18:01] and cooling and just electricity used by

[18:04] the computers themselves.

[18:08] As a result, we should be hearing from

[18:11] Duke Power and Takasiji Waller on what

[18:14] their current path current excess

[18:17] generating capacity is right now to

[18:20] service such a high demand

[18:23] and for an industrial demand because an

[18:26] AI data center isn't going to just be a

[18:28] typical electricity line coming into

[18:31] your house maybe covered in kudzu.

[18:34] It's going to be one of these big metal

[18:37] frame

[18:39] uh and lines with multiple lines coming

[18:42] off of it that has these giant airways

[18:45] which you see going up and down the

[18:47] mountains

[18:49] and obviously the tea water we've seen

[18:52] how low the CG gets. If you if you've

[18:55] driven along river road where where the

[18:59] water facility is that provides water

[19:00] for a good porta and a good part of this

[19:04] local area. We've seen how low that

[19:06] water gets sometimes.

[19:08] Think how much more that would have to

[19:10] get used by a data center that has to

[19:13] cool a lot of uh computer equipment

[19:17] that's running

[19:19] extremely high. Thank you.

[19:23] >> With no further

[19:24] people signed up for public comment. Is

[19:26] there a motion to close uh the second

[19:28] public hearing? So moved

[19:29] >> and a second.

[19:30] >> All in favor? I.

[19:32] >> None.

[19:34] Go ahead and call to order our regularly

[19:35] scheduled meeting. Uh first up this

[19:38] evening is pledge of allegiance.

[19:39] Everybody stand

[19:49] to the republic for which it stands. One

[19:52] nation under God, indivisible, with

[19:56] liberty and justice for all.

[20:04] » Welcome everyone. Uh first up this

[20:06] evening we have uh the approval of the

[20:11] agenda.

[20:15] Everyone's had a chance to look over it.

[20:17] Uh if they would please uh if there's a

[20:19] motion on the table for approval.

[20:22] >> So move.

[20:22] >> A second.

[20:24] >> Second.

[20:24] >> All in favor?

[20:25] >> I.

[20:26] >> None opposed. Moving on now to our work

[20:29] sess or minutes. Um we've got our work

[20:31] session minutes and our regularly scheduled minutes from August

[20:36] 4th. If everybody's had a chance to look

[20:37] over those and there's a motion, I'd

[20:39] like to hear it.

[20:41] >> And second.

[20:43] >> All in favor?

[20:44] >> I.

[20:45] >> None opposed. Moving on now to uh

[20:49] administrative reports.

[20:51] Uh this week I have nothing to report.

[20:54] Um it's been kind of a slow couple

[20:58] weeks. So does any other commissioners

[21:00] have anything to report this week?

[21:02] >> Uh yeah, I attended the NRA down at our

[21:06] new um

[21:10] » I want to say fairgrounds. What? Charles

[21:12] Elders Event Center. And uh they served

[21:15] it was really phenomenal. It it went on

[21:18] a long time. U a lot of good people

[21:21] there to mingle with and they they

[21:23] actually served which is remarkable.

[21:26] They had prime rib au that was

[21:29] delicious. Baked potato and a salad and

[21:31] they served over 800 people in 44

[21:35] minutes. That is unbelievable.

[21:39] But it it was a good time and great food

[21:42] and uh it was for a good cause.

[21:45] >> Yep. I enjoyed it as well. Uh when the

[21:48] auction started, I figured out that most

[21:50] of those people have deeper pockets than

[21:52] me.

[21:53] [laughter]

[21:54] >> I have one more thing, too. I went to

[21:57] the Savannah Fire Department meeting

[21:58] yesterday and they are getting their new

[22:01] engine pumper. Um it'll be about a year

[22:05] and a half for them to actually make it

[22:08] and have it back to us. And it'll be

[22:10] their first four-wheel drive. And I

[22:13] posted it on my um Facebook, but it's uh

[22:17] replacing a was it an 82 or 83?

[22:20] >> 83, I think.

[22:21] >> 83 model. So um the county matched 250

[22:25] with 250 that uh Kevin got from the

[22:29] state Kevin Corbin.

[22:32] So congratulations to Savannah Fire

[22:34] Department and that's goes to a worthy

[22:36] cause.

[22:38] >> Absolutely.

[22:41] » If not, I'll turn it over to County

[22:43] Manager King and his report.

[22:52] I wanted to bring you up to speed on um

[22:55] actually all the projects, so it'll be a

[22:57] little bit longer list. Uh the Whittier

[22:59] Heritage Ground, of course, it was a a

[23:01] really good event. The NRA also they had Thomas that again just through the

[23:05] Great Smoke Mountain Railroad had a a

[23:07] good event for those eight days. Um no

[23:10] really issues with facility as far as

[23:13] the utilization and I'm kind of looking

[23:15] forward to this fall to see how many

[23:18] more events we can get down there.

[23:20] Speaking about that, we are still

[23:22] working on the water situation. Um the

[23:25] water is the potable water is there but

[23:28] uh working through with uh Cherokee on

[23:32] putting in the main line for the

[23:33] sprinkler system. So during all of those

[23:35] events we had a firewatch scenario which

[23:38] we had multiple folks working out with

[23:40] that um process but we want to get that

[23:44] going um quickly. So, within the next 20 days, 25 days, we're supposed to be

[23:50] finishing up and doing the the test on

[23:52] the sprinkler system and activating that

[23:55] system with the new water coming from

[23:57] the Cherokee utility.

[24:00] Um, also with that and we're kind of

[24:02] gearing up for the first year, so we'll

[24:06] be sending out our fees for the

[24:08] demolition of the remainder of the

[24:10] building, uh, which will be happening in

[24:12] January of 27th.

[24:14] And then uh we're also sending out RFPs

[24:17] for the new facility um that's going

[24:21] next to that which will be going online

[24:23] hopefully in spring of 2027. So we are

[24:27] working through all of those different

[24:29] pieces to kind of get that laid out. But

[24:31] I did want to let you know that is all on there. It is on there our project

[24:36] um that online so anybody can look at it

[24:39] and kind of see where we are in in the

[24:41] time frame. [sighs and gasps]

[24:43] uh the wittier fall apart. They weren't

[24:46] active today. So, we had been working

[24:49] through a lot of different punch list

[24:50] items with the contractor and I think

[24:53] all of those have been settled and so

[24:55] should be open to the public.

[24:58] >> That's good. I have one question on

[24:59] that. Have [snorts] you thought about

[25:01] moving that gate lower down to the road

[25:04] so people go up there and don't tear the

[25:06] pavement up trying to turn around?

[25:10] >> It's going to be relocated.

[25:13] Yeah. Okay. I just because it's brand

[25:15] new pavement and I went up there to

[25:17] check it out and [snorts] didn't know it

[25:18] was still closed and the pavements get

[25:21] where they're

[25:23] power steering. All right.

[25:27] The uh second part community park we did

[25:32] um got for bid for that. We did not get

[25:34] enough qualified biders. So the bid

[25:36] documents are being redrafted and will

[25:39] be sent that back out probably in the

[25:41] next 30 days. Um so when we get those

[25:44] we'll bring them back for your

[25:46] consideration. [snorts] Um web village.

[25:50] Um so we did get the CDB in our which

[25:53] we've been talking about grant 2.5

[25:55] million plus the half million from

[25:57] Goldman Leaf and then the addition of

[25:59] the 750,000 that the county has put in.

[26:02] Um what we're looking at is just kind of

[26:05] looking at the best options because it

[26:07] involves getting far property pure water

[26:10] tank and then looking at all the you

[26:12] know the attributes of trying to get it

[26:14] back to facility. So we are trying to do

[26:17] a multiaceted approach. We've identified

[26:19] two properties. Also, we're looking at a

[26:21] third option where it would better

[26:23] benefit not only the Webster area but

[26:25] also the Koi area with an increased

[26:28] capacity and may not cost it may cost

[26:31] the same

[26:33] when looking at it. So, anyway, it's

[26:36] taking just a little bit more time to

[26:37] put together, but um I think that this

[26:41] process through this study will, you

[26:43] know, will be the beneficial for the

[26:45] most people. So, [gasps]

[26:48] uh, there will be a, um, groundbreaking

[26:51] in October for the Gibbons section of

[26:55] Webster Village because they do

[26:57] currently have enough water pressure for

[26:59] their segment of it. So, there is going

[27:01] to be a a groundbreaking ceremony and I

[27:04] think y'all will be invited to that. So,

[27:07] >> when will that be?

[27:08] >> U, I think it'll be on side.

[27:12] >> Yep.

[27:14] >> It'll be in October.

[27:15] >> October. I don't know the specific date.

[27:18] [snorts]

[27:20] » The

[27:21] >> How long is that going to take? Are they

[27:23] given an estimate?

[27:24] >> Uh I think they said 18 months. Usually

[27:26] it's either 18 or 24, but I'm pretty

[27:28] sure they said 18 on that one.

[27:35] Any other questions? Okay. Uh the

[27:38] administration building, we did have a

[27:40] topping out ceremony um back on the 6th

[27:43] of August. And so that was a really good

[27:46] event. Venomware did a great job and

[27:48] they are doing a great job. It's coming

[27:50] up rather quickly. So, uh, it'll

[27:52] probably slow down a little bit once

[27:53] they get undercover, but I am grateful

[27:57] for all the the men and women that have

[27:59] worked on that project. They they've

[28:00] really done a great job so far. [sighs]

[28:03] Um, detention facility, which is on your

[28:06] agenda tonight, so I may not save I may

[28:08] save that for later on agenda. um

[28:12] the uh a new project. So the cashers

[28:16] transfer station we did do get get the

[28:18] money from

[28:20] uh the state on that one and we are have

[28:25] gotten back the RSQs for the engineering

[28:28] firm. The only engineering firm we did

[28:30] receive was Miguel and Associates who

[28:32] did the initial PE um when we did the

[28:36] project. And so with that said, with it

[28:40] being a professional service, we can go

[28:42] ahead and and let them start uh the

[28:44] design process. So that be coming up and

[28:48] that's of course laying out the a new

[28:51] transfer station. You know, we're

[28:53] working with um the forest service to

[28:56] expand the footprint of that area of the

[28:59] permit area. And so it's just a it's

[29:01] going to be a little bit of a tedious

[29:03] type of u negotiation I guess or through

[29:07] the process but it's so it's going to

[29:08] take a little more time but it is on a

[29:11] good at this point. We've gotten letters

[29:14] both from uh forest service and all our

[29:18] state partners the for dinner and things

[29:20] like that. So I think everything is

[29:22] progressing. Um right now we still do I

[29:25] don't have a budget uh for that. So, we

[29:28] had the initial budget. When we get a

[29:30] little bit more in the programming

[29:31] piece, uh we we'll kind of bring you

[29:33] more up to speed on where we are at.

[29:38] Uh the new another new project is the

[29:42] aquatic facility at Cash Recreation

[29:46] Center. So, y'all did allocate funding

[29:48] in this year's budget for an initial

[29:50] design. We have gotten a designer. they

[29:55] have got have went through the process

[29:57] of doing some geotech. So we are

[29:59] starting that process that process has

[30:01] started. So I just want to let you know

[30:04] uh kind of where we are with it. So

[30:05] we'll be bringing back some planned is

[30:08] probably going to take four to six

[30:09] months to get those plans you know kind

[30:11] of good but then we'll be bringing it

[30:14] back for your consideration.

[30:16] Uh the Canada community development

[30:18] which has also allocated some funding

[30:20] for some renovation. Um, we're going to

[30:23] be using utilizing county staff to work

[30:25] on that project. Um, so that will

[30:27] probably be starting this fall. Uh, so

[30:29] if you get anybody from the community

[30:31] asking questions that we do, we did have

[30:33] too many set aside. Not much, but we are

[30:35] going to be utilizing some of our county

[30:37] staff to do some renovation assembly.

[30:41] And then kind of with that is the Kend

[30:44] Fire Department. We are still in um

[30:47] process of finding property. So, uh,

[30:50] that still is on the books, but we are

[30:53] just still trying to identify a piece of

[30:55] property that would make it a good fit.

[30:59] So,

[31:01] and I think that's it for right now. Any

[31:04] questions?

[31:05] >> How many projects total is that?

[31:07] >> Uh, 11.

[31:10] Sorry.

[31:10] >> Do you have a dollar amount?

[31:13] >> It's on the website. [laughter]

[31:15] >> Just wanted everybody to be aware we're

[31:17] doing a lot right now. Yeah.

[31:19] >> Uh, I have just a few questions.

[31:21] >> Okay.

[31:21] >> Uh, down at the fair grounds,

[31:25] Whittier Heritage Heritage Grounds. Um,

[31:29] someone brought up to me that the event

[31:33] was great. Everything's great, but when

[31:35] they went outside, it's pitch black. Can

[31:37] we get some lights to some

[31:40] lights to go up outside so people could

[31:42] see to get back to vehicles?

[31:44] >> Yeah. You know, we really didn't address

[31:45] it. I guess um early on we did have a

[31:48] plan but we did not engage any you know

[31:51] civil engineering group to do it because

[31:53] we were going to do the uh we're not

[31:55] going to put pavement on there because

[31:57] it would there's just not enough area

[31:59] for place for storm

[32:01] >> water

[32:03] fairgrounds

[32:04] >> but um the lighting piece will take us

[32:08] >> lights is what they were concerned about

[32:10] just you know the lights on the outside

[32:12] of the building when they got out is

[32:13] pitch black. Yeah.

[32:16] >> And

[32:17] >> a lot of people walking through the

[32:18] field down to their

[32:19] >> Yeah.

[32:19] >> truck. You'd think they were serving

[32:21] alcohol in there because they were

[32:23] [laughter]

[32:23] >> stepping in holes and stuff.

[32:25] >> Okay.

[32:26] >> Including me.

[32:29] » Uh let's see. Then the administrative

[32:32] building, how long is that going to take

[32:34] to complete?

[32:35] >> Uh be July of 2027 is the anticipated

[32:39] time.

[32:42] [snorts]

[32:44] Hey, you won't be there for that.

[32:46] >> Oh, I didn't want to bring I missed one.

[32:50] So, a couple of them actually did. Um,

[32:52] with the detention center, we also have

[32:53] the justice center

[32:55] uh renovation and that one we've been

[32:59] trying to trying to wait. Um, we kind of

[33:01] had to switch it up a little bit because

[33:03] we are looking at trying to decrease the

[33:05] cost of it because between the two

[33:07] facilities, the detention center and the

[33:09] justice center all had allocated 15

[33:12] million. And so, um, the tent center ran

[33:16] a little bit over, but there's still

[33:19] money available for the renovation. So,

[33:22] we're trying to scale it back for u

[33:25] hopefully getting not having to do the

[33:27] sprinkler system, which would save a lot

[33:28] of money and also uh looking at

[33:31] reutilizing some of the downstairs as

[33:33] well. So, we're still working on it and

[33:35] we still think we can make it happen,

[33:37] but it just taking a little bit more

[33:39] time.

[33:42] get a GMP on the middle school yet? I

[33:45] know we're looking for that.

[33:49] » We're we're so [sighs] with the middle

[33:52] school. Um

[33:55] we're not going to have a DMP by the

[33:57] time y'all need, you know, to vote on

[34:00] I'm putting it on.

[34:02] >> Yeah.

[34:03] >> They were within a couple of weeks last

[34:05] we talked.

[34:06] Well, the the designer the design team,

[34:09] which is at Pinnacle, um was supposed to

[34:12] have a a um design ready by the 27th of

[34:15] August, but in the meantime, they've

[34:19] then they've switched it to a different

[34:20] location.

[34:22] And so with on on the pad to try to

[34:24] minimize some of the retaining walls,

[34:28] which is driving cost, which they have

[34:29] eliminated all the retaining walls. So

[34:32] that that was a positive. But the actual

[34:35] design safe.

[34:36] >> Do what?

[34:36] >> How much is that going to save?

[34:38] >> I don't know. But it I know it saved

[34:40] some, but we don't know yet. But you got

[34:43] to get better. You can't just have a

[34:46] piece of paper and say, "Yeah, give me a

[34:47] price." So, you got to have a little bit

[34:48] more um analysis of exactly what the

[34:52] design is to get a good number. So,

[34:55] [snorts] there's not really good We can

[34:57] give them estimates like they have, but

[34:59] not anything concrete.

[35:03] Well, their estimates is the reason

[35:04] we're in the shape we're in.

[35:06] >> Yeah.

[35:11] » Originally.

[35:13] [snorts]

[35:16] » Yeah.

[35:18] >> All right. With no uh further reports,

[35:20] uh we have move on to our informal

[35:23] comments by the public. Up tonight, we

[35:25] have Jennifer Lawler.

[35:32] Quick reminder that um this is a a time

[35:35] for us to listen, not respond to

[35:38] comments or questions, and the time

[35:40] limit is up on the screen. Um each

[35:43] speaker gets three minutes.

[35:44] >> Okay,

[35:45] >> with that, Miss LOL.

[35:47] >> All right. Good evening. Thank you for

[35:48] giving me the opportunity to speak

[35:50] tonight. I want to begin by saying that

[35:52] I support the proposed one-year

[35:53] moratorum on data centers. I believe a

[35:55] one-year pause is reasonable approach to

[35:58] give our elected officials time to

[36:00] understand how data centers can affect

[36:02] our community before making decisions

[36:04] that could have long-term consequences.

[36:06] The issue I am most concerned about are

[36:08] the flot cameras installed throughout

[36:10] our community. My concern is the scope

[36:13] of surveillance these cameras create and

[36:15] the lack of consent and transparency

[36:17] surrounding the collection and sharing

[36:20] of this information. According to the

[36:22] recent article published by the Sila

[36:24] Herald,

[36:26] 17 Jackson County officers have access

[36:28] to the data collected by these cameras.

[36:30] We are told that the information is only

[36:33] retained for 30 days. However, that

[36:36] information is also being shared with

[36:38] approximately 280 other agencies.

[36:42] What does a 30-day retention really mean

[36:44] when information collected about the

[36:46] people in our community can be accessed

[36:49] or shared across such a large network of

[36:52] agencies? I did not consent to have my

[36:55] movements recorded because I drive

[36:56] through town. I did not consent to have

[36:59] a record created of where my vehicle

[37:01] travels, when it travels, and

[37:03] potentially having that information made

[37:05] available beyond our own local law

[37:07] enforcement. We have a system already

[37:10] operating in our community that many

[37:12] residents did not know about, did not

[37:14] have an opportunity to to discuss and

[37:17] did not consent to. I want to be clear.

[37:20] I am not opposed to law enforcement or

[37:21] public safety. I support both. And I

[37:25] want to be equally clear about what I am

[37:27] asking the board to do. I am asking you

[37:30] to remove those flot cameras. Other

[37:32] communities and surrounding counties

[37:34] have listened to their residents and are

[37:36] removing these systems because of

[37:38] community concern and push back. I

[37:40] believe our community deserves the same

[37:42] consideration.

[37:44] We should not have to accept increased

[37:45] surveillance simply because the

[37:47] technology exists. The proposed data

[37:50] center moratorum shows that this board

[37:52] understands the importance of taking a

[37:54] step back, gathering information, and

[37:57] considering the long-term impact on our

[37:59] community before moving forward. I am

[38:01] asking you to apply that same

[38:03] consideration to the flock cameras.

[38:05] Protecting our community should not

[38:07] require sacrificing the privacy of the

[38:09] people who live here. Please support the

[38:12] one-year data moratorium and please

[38:13] listen to your residents who are asking

[38:16] you to remove the flock cameras. Thank

[38:18] you.

[38:22] » No one else signed up for public

[38:23] comment. We'll move on to our consent

[38:25] agenda portion. And first up this

[38:27] evening with the finance report is Miss

[38:28] Fox. [snorts]

[38:37] Good afternoon.

[38:38] >> Afternoon.

[38:40] >> I'll go the highlights for the month of

[38:42] July. The general fund revenues

[38:44] collected six million $1,929.

[38:49] That's 5.52% of budget. The average for

[38:53] the year is 8.33%. So it's under 2.81%

[38:57] this time.

[38:59] The expenditures on the other hand are

[39:01] 10,429,630.

[39:05] That's 10.32% of budget. So they're over

[39:11] 8.33% by 1.99%.

[39:15] Currently the revenues are $4,427,71

[39:20] less than expenditures.

[39:24] The abalone taxes and NCVTS taxes

[39:27] collected. The abalorum tax 1,375,161

[39:34] 2.9% of the budget. The public safety

[39:37] adorum tax 346,152

[39:41] which is 2.77% of budget. The NCVTS

[39:46] motor vehicle tax 183,368

[39:50] that's 9.13% of budget. And the prior

[39:53] year average tax $77,045

[39:57] that's 25.68%.

[40:00] Currently at the end of July we had

[40:03] accounts receivable recorded for FY26

[40:07] in the amount of 4,580,987.

[40:11] We will continue to get those revenues

[40:13] in till the middle of September.

[40:16] the we received the sales and use tax

[40:19] distribution an amount of $1,997,86

[40:25] that's for April sales that amount is

[40:29] 5.57%

[40:30] more than we received in July of 2025

[40:35] the article 46 distribution was 220,569

[40:41] and the average increase for the fiscal

[40:43] year at the end of April 7.2 29%.

[40:48] The landfill disposal fees 70,696

[40:52] that's 2.29% of budget and the prior

[40:55] year disposal fees

[40:58] 7,327

[40:59] that's 9.77% of budget.

[41:05] The growth revenues for FY27

[41:10] uh the code enforcement in July over

[41:13] collection amount estimated by 5.8 88%

[41:16] and the rest is over by 7.17%.

[41:22] [snorts]

[41:24] The general fund contingency balance at

[41:27] the end of July 2,152,323.

[41:35] I'd be glad to answer any questions on

[41:37] the report.

[41:39] >> Questions for Miss Fox?

[41:42] If not, we'll move on to our budget

[41:44] ordinance amendment and project

[41:45] ordinance amendment.

[41:48] >> The first amendment is for

[41:51] appropriation from fund balance for the

[41:54] amount remaining at the end of FY26 for

[41:58] SEC capital. That amount's $576,559.

[42:10] They do have a project ordinance

[42:11] amendment

[42:13] that's for the detention facility

[42:15] project fund.

[42:17] It's a increase in construction cost of

[42:20] 1,795607

[42:23] decreasing contingency.

[42:26] Uh we're moving the from proceeds of

[42:29] loan decreasing that amount by 8 million

[42:32] 514810

[42:34] and increase and transfer from capital

[42:36] reserve for 9 million 56 596607.

[42:41] » Any questions about either budget

[42:44] ordinance amendment?

[42:49] » Thank you.

[42:50] >> Moving on now we'll go to tax collector

[42:52] and refund reports and Miss Brooks.

[42:59] Good evening. So for the month of July,

[43:02] the current taxes collected was

[43:04] $1,763,53.

[43:08] The delinquent taxes collected were

[43:11] 109,717.

[43:14] The total collected for the month was

[43:16] $1,947,216.13.

[43:21] There were refunds of $2,24747

[43:26] and releases of $7,240.24.

[43:31] » Any questions?

[43:33] >> Questions for Miss Brooks?

[43:34] >> Thank you.

[43:35] Uh, is there a motion to

[43:38] approve the consent agenda as presented?

[43:42] >> So move

[43:42] >> and a second.

[43:44] >> Second. All in favor?

[43:45] >> I.

[43:46] >> None opposed. Moving on now to new

[43:48] business and offer to purchase for Pine

[43:51] Creek Community Building and Mr. King.

[43:59] So in your packet is a offer to purchase

[44:02] the Pine Creek Community Building from

[44:05] Mr. [clears throat] James

[44:07] Renowski

[44:09] uh for $30,000.

[44:11] Uh a little bit of background on this.

[44:13] Um he had made a request or he sent a

[44:16] request in. We did a utilization

[44:18] report on the um the community center.

[44:22] It is kind of inactive. I think they had

[44:25] like three people a year rent it. So it

[44:28] is

[44:29] really by that cow pasture.

[44:31] >> Yes.

[44:33] >> That used to be my grandmother's. She

[44:35] grew up there. That was their land.

[44:36] >> Yeah.

[44:37] um

[44:40] that he you know he his big thing was I

[44:43] think he repurchased the old school

[44:45] concrete school so I think he actually

[44:47] lives in that and we refurbished it so

[44:50] he wants to do the same thing with this building as well but it'll be more

[44:55] of a historical significance

[44:58] um anyway I guess the question would be

[45:01] one would you want to entertain the

[45:03] offer um kind of knowing that the

[45:06] community has not been utilizing it in many years. Um, so it's at the

[45:12] pleasure of the board. So,

[45:14] >> is there anything we could use it for?

[45:17] >> It doesn't have a water or sewer, I

[45:20] don't believe. So,

[45:21] >> more people are going to Glimble. This

[45:25] just more central. This one's I

[45:28] understand the reasoning for having it

[45:29] out there in the past. It's just kind of

[45:33] said it's in the middle of a cow pasture

[45:35] and there's not that much traffic

[45:37] towards it um or involvement with it. I

[45:41] know a couple people that may

[45:45] live near there, but I mean more often

[45:47] than not they're using

[45:50] library or something closer to town.

[45:53] >> How long has that building been there?

[45:55] >> You don't know.

[45:56] >> I can't ask.

[45:57] >> Much property is with it. Just much

[46:00] property.

[46:01] >> Um, let's see. I did have a sorry it is

[46:05] definitely left less than an acre. Uh,

[46:10] I think in your packets

[46:14] [snorts]

[46:20] doesn't give me oh five half an acre.

[46:30] I mean, I'm not opposed to it. Um, I'd

[46:32] like to

[46:35] speak with the people I guess maybe the

[46:36] last people that have rented it. Will we

[46:40] just

[46:42] >> Is it Yeah. Is it an annual thing where

[46:45] they same people

[46:48] go there?

[46:48] >> No, it's just pretty much open-ended.

[46:50] There there's one I guess she's the

[46:52] custodian of it and basically she's the

[46:54] one that runs it out but we we checked

[46:57] on the utilization like say there's been

[46:58] three in 2025 and think three been three

[47:02] in 2026

[47:04] >> I'm kind of wonders if they have like a

[47:06] annual there's no annual event event or

[47:09] anything

[47:10] >> local family or something have their get

[47:12] together there

[47:14] >> reunion something

[47:16] >> very small usage

[47:18] >> do they have water and sewer out there

[47:20] in that uh shed on the right. Not shed,

[47:23] that building on the right for equipment

[47:26] for farming.

[47:27] >> No,

[47:27] >> they don't.

[47:30] >> There's a creek that runs

[47:33] >> like 20 ft past it that all their cows

[47:36] go to.

[47:37] >> It's not like they're even.

[47:41] [snorts]

[47:41] >> So, there's no plumbing whatsoever in

[47:42] the building

[47:43] >> from my understanding. I've actually not

[47:45] been out to see it. So,

[47:46] >> I was there, but it was a long long long

[47:48] time ago.

[47:50] didn't know

[47:52] >> tax value.

[48:02] [laughter]

[48:03] [snorts]

[48:05] [sighs]

[48:06] It says it's got a a value of $67,527

[48:12] and the building and the land is at

[48:14] 40,380.

[48:16] But

[48:17] >> so

[48:17] >> that's not taking consideration the

[48:20] >> shape of it. I mean I don't

[48:24] >> if he improves it then

[48:30] » tax

[48:36] using

[48:37] >> I'm not opposed to it. I just think that

[48:38] we need to

[48:41] maybe contact those three people and

[48:43] see, you know, what they're using it for

[48:45] and

[48:46] >> get something out.

[48:48] >> Yeah. And let let the rest of the people

[48:49] around there know.

[48:53] » Maybe let's table it till

[48:54] >> Yeah.

[48:55] >> next time.

[48:56] >> Yeah. is I think that I mean it's

[48:59] explained to the community that they may

[49:02] not get to use it but it will be

[49:04] preserved possibly hopefully

[49:07] >> he'll use it go in and fix it up and

[49:09] everything but who knows

[49:14] » but they do have electric

[49:16] >> yes

[49:19] [snorts]

[49:21] >> okay we'll get some more information on

[49:23] that before we make a decision um moving

[49:25] on Now to the detention facility, GMP,

[49:29] Mr. King.

[49:33] So [sighs and gasps] in your packet, we

[49:36] did go throughout the bidding process

[49:39] and got a GMP back of construction cost

[49:42] of $8,796,67

[49:46] and the ownership cost is 800,000 for a

[49:49] total of 9,596,607.

[49:56] So, and this is for your consideration

[49:57] for approval. U

[50:00] >> we already allocated that money.

[50:02] >> So, this is the budget amendment that

[50:04] you just did was taking it from the

[50:06] capital reserve fund and putting it in

[50:08] the budget to pay for it. So, there's no

[50:09] loans that will be

[50:11] >> we set aside a big chunk of talking

[50:13] about separate.

[50:15] >> We remove the loan proceeds

[50:19] and substituted capital.

[50:23] >> Yeah.

[50:24] How much over is what? 1.4 was higher

[50:28] than the estimated.

[50:29] >> Yeah. Yeah, it was. I mean, we just kind

[50:31] of separate in half on on the actual

[50:34] allocation. Um, so it is running a

[50:36] little bit higher. Not not much higher.

[50:38] It's still within, you know, that

[50:39] definitely the parameters of what we

[50:42] discussed, but um yeah.

[50:45] >> So remind the public a little bit about

[50:48] it's going to be building on. Correct.

[50:50] >> Yep. And we have Venoi here. they can

[50:53] come up

[50:53] >> and the fact that we've been having to

[50:56] transport our inmates to other

[50:58] facilities and pay for all that and it's

[51:00] quite expensive.

[51:02] >> Correct. Yes, we have.

[51:03] >> Yeah, this is kind of a reactive thing

[51:05] that would we needed been have done,

[51:08] >> right?

[51:09] >> It's adding um I think 40 bits or 40.

[51:14] Even with us moving out of here or the

[51:16] administrative side moving out of this

[51:18] part of the building, you the sheriff's

[51:20] office still going to need the extra

[51:22] space.

[51:23] >> Yes.

[51:23] >> Yeah.

[51:24] >> There's going to be a lot of room in

[51:25] here when

[51:27] >> all the sheriffs will be utilizing all

[51:30] of this section and the downstairs will

[51:33] be will be more for detention. So, and

[51:36] be the sheriff.

[51:39] Any

[51:41] specific

[51:42] >> any questions for

[51:44] you?

[51:45] >> I just want, you know, a little bit of a

[51:47] refresh for the public of what y'all are

[51:49] doing.

[51:50] >> Yeah.

[51:51] >> Well, we it's actually been a really

[51:53] good process. Um, COP Architecture out

[51:56] of Knoxville was the design team uh

[52:00] along with Venoi and we've had a really

[52:03] good process that we've worked through

[52:06] and you know kind of merging the two

[52:08] facilities together, the current

[52:09] facilities down there with the new it's

[52:12] been a challenge um you know trying to

[52:14] get everything working together and

[52:16] looking at the 904 plan which is like

[52:19] the smoky back systems. It's been

[52:22] challenging to kind of work through that

[52:24] process. So, some of this money is

[52:26] actually going to be for maintenance

[52:27] type of issues that we would had to do

[52:29] anyway on the current facility. So, like

[52:32] the some of the roofing, some of the

[52:34] HVAC

[52:35] control are going to have to be merged

[52:37] together. So, a lot of this is is kind

[52:40] of

[52:42] >> remodel as well.

[52:43] >> Exactly. So,

[52:45] >> who was the design team?

[52:47] >> Cop

[52:48] out of Knoxville.

[52:49] >> Out of Knoxville. Yes.

[52:52] >> Do we ever resolve the generator issue?

[52:55] >> I can't remember.

[52:56] >> Say that one more time.

[52:57] >> Generator issue.

[52:58] >> Yes. That was a part of that 904 um

[53:01] piece. You have to get it and that's I

[53:04] always call it division of facility

[53:05] services, but it's I don't know what the

[53:06] new acronym. Anyway, the state detention

[53:09] service folks, we have to work for them

[53:12] to get almost anything done with a

[53:13] detention center. You have to get

[53:15] approval from them through a permitting

[53:17] process. So, it's been kind of tedious

[53:20] kind of work through the different

[53:21] >> operators have been shuffling around for

[53:24] a couple years now. So, let's do that.

[53:27] >> Yeah. Now, now we're on a good path. We

[53:29] do have a uh in this process reason it

[53:32] cost a little bit more in the design

[53:33] piece is because of the amount of land

[53:36] that was never put in when the facility

[53:39] was built. So, this is be new for us.

[53:44] >> How big is the new portion of the

[53:45] building square footage? 4200 square

[53:48] feet

[53:54] » footprint and then it's got the two

[53:55] stories.

[53:56] >> Oh, okay. Thinking

[53:59] that's a a square foot per person.

[54:05] » Yeah,

[54:07] >> sure.

[54:07] >> It's good. Yeah, I'm glad we able to

[54:09] refra. It's been a long time since we've

[54:11] initially unless I missed something, but

[54:14] >> No, it's been a bit. It's been a while.

[54:16] currently smaller than the arena that

[54:18] we're be putting up

[54:19] >> next spring. So,

[54:21] >> are we using utilizing property we've

[54:24] got back here already?

[54:26] >> Yeah. And it's going to be u there's

[54:29] going to be some, you know, they've come

[54:31] up with a good plan on like the

[54:32] utilization for the back piece. So,

[54:34] getting construction folks in while

[54:35] trying to keep the inmates and prisoner

[54:38] population segmented. So, right now

[54:40] there's been a good plan developed

[54:42] throughout this process, too. So all

[54:44] that had to be taken care of sometime.

[54:47] >> It's been wonderful working with the

[54:48] sheriff and his team and figuring that

[54:50] all out.

[54:51] >> Yeah.

[54:51] >> Exciting to get it started.

[54:53] >> Good deal.

[54:53] >> Do we Darlene, do we know or Kevin do we

[54:56] know how much we've spent as far as

[54:59] taking inmates out of the county?

[55:02] >> I can get a number for you.

[55:04] >> Okay. Is it a you think it's a lot of

[55:06] money?

[55:07] >> Big number.

[55:09] >> Yeah, that's I mean going forward I

[55:12] think

[55:14] Sheriff, how many do you have usually

[55:16] going out of the county?

[55:19] >> I've got 13 out of county right now with

[55:22] three in DC. So about 16.

[55:25] >> 16 out of county right now.

[55:26] >> 16 total out of county.

[55:28] >> I would say changed

[55:34] around, but it's not only the cost of

[55:36] housing out of county, it's the cost

[55:38] transport.

[55:39] >> Transporting them. Housing and

[55:41] transporting them. Yeah. What's the

[55:43] average daily cost across

[55:45] >> 5060 $60 a day

[55:49] >> per inmate to house them?

[55:52] >> $60 a day. I'm only repeating it so

[55:54] people that are listening can hear.

[55:56] >> Yeah.

[55:56] >> The month of June was spent almost

[55:58] $22,000

[56:01] for inmates.

[56:04] And the sheriff just said in the month

[56:05] of June they spent almost $22,000

[56:09] and for inmates housing and

[56:11] transportation

[56:12] out of the county

[56:15] >> just housing

[56:16] >> housing alone.

[56:18] >> Yeah.

[56:22] Is there a motion to approve the GMP for

[56:25] the detention center?

[56:26] >> So moved

[56:27] >> and a second.

[56:28] >> Second.

[56:28] >> All in favor?

[56:29] >> I.

[56:30] >> None opposed.

[56:32] Moving on now to the bond order

[56:34] authorizing the issuance of 105 million

[56:37] general obligation school bonds.

[56:39] [snorts]

[56:40] [clears throat] Mr.

[56:40] >> King

[56:52] you want to read that.

[56:54] Chairman Lson introduce the following

[56:56] bond order copies of which have been

[56:58] made available to the board of

[56:59] commissioners. bond order authorizing

[57:01] the issuance of $105

[57:03] million general obligation school bonds

[57:06] of the county of Jackson, North

[57:07] Carolina. Whereas the board of

[57:09] commissioners of the county of Jackson,

[57:11] North Carolina, has uh ascertained and

[57:14] hereby determines that it is necessary

[57:16] to pay the capital cost of constructing,

[57:18] improving, and renovating various school

[57:20] facilities for Jackson County Public

[57:22] Schools, including but not limited to

[57:24] Smoky Mountain Middle School, Smoky

[57:26] Mountain High School, Blue Ridge School,

[57:28] and the school bus bus garage. acquiring

[57:31] equipment and furnishings required

[57:32] therefore acquiring land right ofway and

[57:36] easements in land if necessary and

[57:39] constructing public infrastructure

[57:40] improvements related thereto and whereas

[57:42] an application has been filed with the

[57:44] secretary of the local government

[57:46] commission of North Carolina requesting

[57:48] local government commission approval of

[57:50] the general obligation bonds here and

[57:53] after described as required by the local

[57:55] government bond act and the clerk of the

[57:57] board of commissioners has notified the

[57:59] board of commission commissioners that

[58:00] the application has been accepted for

[58:02] submission to the local government

[58:04] commission. Now therefore, be it ordered

[58:06] by the board of commissioners of the

[58:07] county of Jackson, North Carolina

[58:09] [snorts] as follows. Section one. In

[58:11] order to raise the money required for

[58:13] the purposes described above, in

[58:15] addition to any funds which may be ava

[58:17] made available for such purpose from any

[58:20] other source, general obligation school

[58:22] bonds of the county are hereby

[58:25] authorized and will be issued pursuant

[58:28] to the local government finance act of

[58:30] North Carolina. The maximum aggregate

[58:32] principal amount of such general

[58:34] obligation school bonds authorized by

[58:36] this order will be $105 million. Section

[58:40] two says taxes will be levied in the

[58:42] amount sufficient to pay the principal

[58:44] and interest of the general obligation

[58:46] school bond. Section three states a

[58:48] sworn statement of the county's debt has

[58:51] been filed with the clerk of the board

[58:52] of commissioners and is now open uh to

[58:55] public inspection. Section four states

[58:57] the bond this bond will take effect when

[59:00] approved by the voters of the county at

[59:03] a referendum scheduled for November 3rd,

[59:05] 2026.

[59:07] The foregoing bond was order. What? The

[59:10] foregoing bond order was introduced by

[59:12] the bo board of commissioners of the

[59:14] county of Jackson, North Carolina this

[59:16] day, 18th day of August 20 26. Um,

[59:23] I'll turn it over to Mr. King.

[59:25] Basically, this is stating that

[59:29] just make sure there's nothing else in

[59:31] um that we're putting a bond on the

[59:34] ballot for the

[59:38] balance of all the projects that have

[59:41] not already been allocated. So, we've

[59:43] already allocated the money for the

[59:46] middle school. We've already allocated

[59:48] the money for the Blueridge school

[59:52] improvements. They're not 100% of the

[59:55] [snorts]

[59:57] projects, just the cafeteria or just the

[1:00:00] gymnasium at Blueridge School. Correct.

[1:00:03] >> But this isn't 100% for the middle

[1:00:05] school either. We hadn't allocated.

[1:00:07] >> We've allocated enough to build the

[1:00:10] school. The school there's a little bit

[1:00:13] of a variance in that, but this would

[1:00:15] finalize

[1:00:16] >> the school was the supposed to be the

[1:00:18] whole done deal.

[1:00:20] Ball fields, all that.

[1:00:23] originally

[1:00:25] >> correct

[1:00:25] >> people need to understand that

[1:00:28] >> but the GMP has come in or not the GMP

[1:00:30] [clears throat]

[1:00:31] the estimates have

[1:00:34] gone up

[1:00:36] >> in here

[1:00:37] >> and

[1:00:39] what will happen is

[1:00:42] if this is not passed or if the voters

[1:00:45] choose to not proceed with this $105

[1:00:48] million bond we will have a middle

[1:00:51] school

[1:00:52] We will have a Blue Ridge gymnasium, but

[1:00:55] we won't have a bus garage. Uh there

[1:00:58] will be no fields at the school.

[1:01:00] And

[1:01:03] the cafeteria at Blige is is in

[1:01:06] question.

[1:01:07] >> No, the middle school was it

[1:01:10] 60 or was it 70 something?

[1:01:12] >> I think it's 70. It's a little over

[1:01:14] >> 72 just for the school and if we

[1:01:17] included the fields it was 10

[1:01:19] >> 108 was

[1:01:21] >> and I mean we're still working the

[1:01:23] process on trying to get it

[1:01:27] cheaper but you know this you know steel

[1:01:31] is expected to go up 6% a month. I mean

[1:01:34] there just there's a lot of things you

[1:01:35] know

[1:01:36] >> concrete is going up. So, you know, the

[1:01:39] more time it's spent on it, it may or

[1:01:41] may not go be able to decrease. That's

[1:01:44] what I'm saying.

[1:01:45] >> And the taxpayers need to realize that

[1:01:47] your taxes will go up if you vote for

[1:01:50] this.

[1:01:51] >> That's true.

[1:01:52] >> You know, if this goes on the um ballot

[1:01:55] and you vote for this, your taxes will

[1:01:58] go up almost $50 for every hundred,000

[1:02:02] and same if you want to say $150 for

[1:02:05] every 300,000. So it's it's about4ome

[1:02:08] dollars for every h 100,000. So people

[1:02:12] need to understand that your taxes will

[1:02:14] go up again if you vote for this.

[1:02:17] >> Yeah.

[1:02:17] >> We also understand every time we put it

[1:02:20] off, [clears throat] it's just going to

[1:02:21] cost more in the future.

[1:02:22] >> I don't think we need a middle school.

[1:02:24] We need to fix up what we got.

[1:02:27] >> But where is that money going to come

[1:02:29] from? Without a bond, we don't have

[1:02:31] money to fix any of that up. Period.

[1:02:34] where where we're going to get promoting

[1:02:35] them

[1:02:36] >> and then it may surpass what we've

[1:02:39] already allocated in terms of bringing

[1:02:41] those schools up to where they need to

[1:02:43] be.

[1:02:44] >> Well, so I mean I sympathize with both

[1:02:47] sides know it's going to it's going to

[1:02:49] hurt people

[1:02:50] >> but what we're looking at is the future

[1:02:53] and without education Jackson County has

[1:02:57] a very bleak future.

[1:02:58] >> Well, we'll still have education.

[1:03:00] They'll just be K through eight. Our our

[1:03:04] schools are busting at the seams. Where

[1:03:05] you going to put them? We're gonna have

[1:03:06] to

[1:03:06] >> We don't have enough teachers the way it

[1:03:08] is. Who's going to teach them?

[1:03:09] >> I'm not going to argue that fact.

[1:03:11] >> Who's going to drive the buses? We don't

[1:03:12] have enough bus drivers. Who's going to

[1:03:14] clean the schools? We don't have enough

[1:03:15] custodians.

[1:03:16] >> And as the schools deteriorate, less and

[1:03:18] less teachers want to work there. So, I

[1:03:20] mean, it's it's a double-edged sword. We

[1:03:22] either do it or we don't. And we sit

[1:03:24] back and watch them fail. So

[1:03:28] >> where we have more of what's happened

[1:03:30] last years,

[1:03:32] >> which is half done projects that have

[1:03:35] been put off and put off and put off

[1:03:37] >> and something that needs to be very

[1:03:38] clear is if the people are taxed to

[1:03:40] death like you're talking, it'll be up

[1:03:44] to them. I mean, they'll be the ones

[1:03:45] making that decision. There's a lot of false information going

[1:03:49] around right now.

[1:03:50] >> It it's in their hands. It's not in our

[1:03:52] hands. a lot of false information

[1:03:54] stating that we're we're voting on it.

[1:03:56] We're spending the $105 million, but the

[1:03:59] fact of the matter is they need to get a

[1:04:00] little bit educated and look into this

[1:04:03] stuff before they start posting things

[1:04:05] that's not accurate because if they're

[1:04:07] little bit educated, they would know

[1:04:09] whether they want to vote for it or

[1:04:10] against it.

[1:04:11] >> Right.

[1:04:12] >> So, and it's up to the people. I mean,

[1:04:16] >> is it really up to five people sitting

[1:04:17] behind this desk? I agree. It's up to

[1:04:19] the people, but the people in they they

[1:04:22] work and live their own life,

[1:04:24] >> you know, if they don't sit up here, the

[1:04:26] majority of them.

[1:04:27] >> And when they go to the poll and they

[1:04:29] see something on there for the kids,

[1:04:31] they're going to think, "Oh, great."

[1:04:32] They're going to vote for it and not

[1:04:33] realize how much your taxes are going to

[1:04:35] increase. And that's what I worry about.

[1:04:42] » Okay. Uh the application has been

[1:04:44] submitted to local government commission

[1:04:46] and accepted

[1:04:48] to move forward to the commission and

[1:04:50] what I worked up for you is what the

[1:04:53] impact will be on the taxes.

[1:04:56] The

[1:04:59] local government commission required you

[1:05:00] to do it on a 20-year deal with a safe

[1:05:03] harbor interest rate of 5.344%.

[1:05:08] So that's what the application has to be

[1:05:11] filed on. So

[1:05:14] that would bring the per $100,000 to

[1:05:18] 5260. But over the 20-year period, you

[1:05:22] can see where the tax rate starts at 526

[1:05:26] and at year 20 it decreases to 2.2

[1:05:31] cents. Yeah, most of us will be dead by

[1:05:33] [laughter]

[1:05:37] » I mean even even in year three you're

[1:05:40] going to 4.89. So it decreases every

[1:05:44] year.

[1:05:45] >> Yeah. Yeah. That's the good side of it.

[1:05:47] But right now y'all are going to be

[1:05:49] paying out the nose. If now it's $5260

[1:05:52] for every hundred,000.

[1:05:54] >> But that that that actual amount will

[1:05:57] depend on what the we sell the bonds

[1:06:00] for. Right now they're selling from 3.5

[1:06:03] to 3.7%.

[1:06:05] So it could be a lot less than this.

[1:06:07] >> This is just the highest maximum amount.

[1:06:10] >> Well, and you know something that we

[1:06:12] discussed was doing two separate bonds.

[1:06:15] One you raising a concern about the

[1:06:17] middle school which is is a I mean valid

[1:06:21] concern for sure. Um

[1:06:24] you know we could have had two separate

[1:06:25] bonds. One fix the schools that we had.

[1:06:29] >> Mhm. Um and then one for the to finish

[1:06:33] up the middle school and you know

[1:06:35] looking back on it that might have been

[1:06:37] what we should have done but the

[1:06:38] consensus was that we

[1:06:40] >> meeting was to do it together do nothing

[1:06:43] >> um

[1:06:44] >> but we also didn't know that the

[1:06:45] building of the middle school was going

[1:06:46] to jump from

[1:06:48] >> 50 60 million tound

[1:06:51] >> we did have 109

[1:06:53] whatever it is

[1:06:54] >> it is very frustrating I mean

[1:06:57] >> within a year it jumped that It it's

[1:07:00] very frustrating

[1:07:03] to be given the numbers,

[1:07:06] you know, originally and which it was

[1:07:08] just estimates and then a year later or

[1:07:12] whatever it was less than a year when we

[1:07:14] had our joint meeting was likeund.

[1:07:17] It was no it was triple. It was way

[1:07:20] upund

[1:07:22] >> 30 something.

[1:07:23] >> Do you double your prices on funeral?

[1:07:25] [laughter]

[1:07:27] >> No. No. But uh you know

[1:07:31] I don't know where we where they went

[1:07:33] wrong. I I feel like we have been led

[1:07:36] on. It's

[1:07:39] and it's it really [snorts] gets on my

[1:07:41] nerves that we have been because now

[1:07:43] we're backed into a corner and we have

[1:07:45] to make a decision

[1:07:47] u you know as we see fit and then that's

[1:07:50] if it does go on the ballot then the

[1:07:52] voter will also have to make the

[1:07:55] decision as they see fit. Um,

[1:07:59] and it's just one of those things.

[1:08:00] >> I mean, if I could talk to every single

[1:08:02] voter and let them know, if we knew that

[1:08:04] we every single voter would be aware

[1:08:07] before they got to the polls of what the

[1:08:09] repercussions were, then and they still

[1:08:12] voted for it, then okay, I'm all for it

[1:08:14] because I'm for that, but they're not

[1:08:16] going to know.

[1:08:17] >> Now,

[1:08:19] have we approved the verbiage of what's

[1:08:21] going to be on the ballot on the actual

[1:08:23] ballot? That'll be the next

[1:08:25] >> the next resolution that's on your

[1:08:27] agenda right now.

[1:08:28] >> Probably vote for this or taxes will go

[1:08:30] down in 20 years

[1:08:33] >> on that. Is there is it show a clear

[1:08:35] increase on the next one?

[1:08:39] >> What what is

[1:08:39] >> the disclosure will show the increase

[1:08:42] and it'll be posted tomorrow on the

[1:08:43] website.

[1:08:44] >> So I mean

[1:08:48] » people people do need to know. I know,

[1:08:50] but it's it's just like the swimming

[1:08:52] pool. And that's one thing that keeps

[1:08:54] sticking in my mind. People voted for it

[1:08:57] >> and it it was done. But who did they

[1:09:00] blame? The commissioners. They blamed

[1:09:03] the commissioners.

[1:09:04] >> Well, and that's fine.

[1:09:05] >> That that is the truth. I heard it all

[1:09:07] over.

[1:09:08] >> But you can't sit here and go, "Well,

[1:09:10] I'm not going to vote on this because I

[1:09:12] don't want to be blamed for it."

[1:09:13] >> Well, that's called history. I'm just

[1:09:15] looking at history.

[1:09:16] >> But you you're you're worried about

[1:09:18] something. Well, they don't know

[1:09:20] thinking of well and that's fine.

[1:09:22] >> And that's where it goes back to, you

[1:09:24] know, the false information that's going

[1:09:26] around on Facebook and everywhere else

[1:09:28] is that we're actually voting on the

[1:09:30] money.

[1:09:31] >> If somebody would get on there and

[1:09:32] actually put on there what we're

[1:09:34] actually voting for and actually educate

[1:09:36] the people on how to vote, then that it

[1:09:39] would make sense. But the stuff that I'm

[1:09:42] reading don't make a lick of sense to me

[1:09:43] because we're not voting on the money.

[1:09:45] And just to be straight honest, I don't

[1:09:47] know how I'll vote as a voter in

[1:09:49] November, but and just like for you,

[1:09:51] you'll be voting for it. We're all going

[1:09:53] to be voting for it.

[1:09:54] >> Yeah. And ultimately, isn't it the

[1:09:56] voters's responsibility to educate

[1:09:58] themselves on what they're voting on?

[1:10:01] You know, if if they're not willing to

[1:10:03] take that responsibility

[1:10:05] then, I mean, how do you make them? You

[1:10:07] can't.

[1:10:08] >> In politics,

[1:10:09] >> you have to offer them choice. In

[1:10:11] politics, there's been a thousand times

[1:10:12] I wished I had a vote as a as a voter on

[1:10:16] some sort of object. And I, you know, I

[1:10:18] thought this was a no-brainer. And I'm

[1:10:21] with you. It may very well fail because

[1:10:24] of the increase, tax increase. Do I want

[1:10:26] tax increase? Absolutely not. Uh because

[1:10:30] I know how much I've already figured it

[1:10:32] up on how much I'm going to have to pay

[1:10:34] extra. But I think it's it's worth

[1:10:37] giving the community the option

[1:10:41] to say yes or no and then it won't be

[1:10:44] your fault. It won't be our fault. It

[1:10:46] will be their fault.

[1:10:48] The ones that voted yes and

[1:10:51] [clears throat] there's nothing that

[1:10:53] >> that we can do about it. And I do agree

[1:10:55] with you. The former commissioners, they

[1:10:57] did get the blame for the sure did. Um

[1:11:01] but there again, the people voted for it

[1:11:05] and they do need to be educated. Um, so

[1:11:08] whatever we have to do to get people

[1:11:10] educated, send out mailers, whatever we

[1:11:12] need to do, but I agree with you on that people need do need to be educated

[1:11:17] on what they're voting on.

[1:11:20] >> They'll be published in the paper as

[1:11:22] well.

[1:11:24] >> I mean,

[1:11:25] >> well, well, they have to. I mean, if we

[1:11:27] pay for

[1:11:28] >> this is a this is what they'll get and

[1:11:31] it'll have the exact wordage. It won't

[1:11:33] be uh a news story that they publish.

[1:11:36] It'll be what we give them.

[1:11:40] They can't just publish what they want

[1:11:41] when we give them a a letter that they

[1:11:43] have to publish.

[1:11:49] » Yeah, I I agree. You know, they're the

[1:11:51] Blue Ridge Schools.

[1:11:52] >> Then where does the money from come from

[1:11:54] to fund the teachers and the gyms and

[1:11:58] the buses

[1:11:59] >> and buy the buses?

[1:12:00] >> You're talking about the new school and

[1:12:01] the middle school.

[1:12:02] >> Yeah.

[1:12:04] >> This goes on and on. Well, the seventh,

[1:12:06] sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from

[1:12:08] the other schools will be moved to the

[1:12:10] middle school. But there again, I do

[1:12:12] agree with you. The power bill, the you

[1:12:15] know, the upkeep, that'll be something

[1:12:18] that you you guys will have to come up

[1:12:21] with. Not me, but assuming it passes.

[1:12:25] >> Yeah, assuming it passes. But um

[1:12:28] >> you're going to have to reduce your

[1:12:29] finger wheels any [laughter]

[1:12:32] donate money.

[1:12:35] >> If I had it, I would.

[1:12:38] But our schools are outdated very much.

[1:12:41] So we want the existing schools. I think

[1:12:43] we can all agree on that that we need to

[1:12:46] get them, you know, up up to shape.

[1:12:51] >> And if it was my choice, I would say the

[1:12:53] state would allow us to have a penny

[1:12:54] sales tax increase. That way it's based

[1:12:56] on usage and you're getting captures

[1:12:58] from tourism, not just locals. It's it's

[1:13:01] a

[1:13:01] >> Yep.

[1:13:02] >> a a better way of

[1:13:05] >> earning money.

[1:13:07] >> Well, think about the nickel.

[1:13:08] >> Yeah.

[1:13:09] >> You know, the penny is no longer. So,

[1:13:13] all that money just either goes into

[1:13:16] wherever or is just disbanded.

[1:13:20] >> Where's GS15C sitting now? like 501 115C

[1:13:25] 501 that governs sales tax for schools,

[1:13:29] but I think it's geared towards teachers

[1:13:31] and

[1:13:32] >> it's it's toward capital.

[1:13:35] >> The 501

[1:13:40] I'll I'll look it up again, but I was

[1:13:42] thinking the 500 or 501 was geared

[1:13:44] towards teacher salaries for certain

[1:13:46] districts of less than 100,000 people.

[1:13:50] >> I'll look at that.

[1:13:52] the sales tax we get on based our

[1:13:54] capital

[1:13:56] >> right this is a special school district

[1:13:59] tax

[1:14:00] >> basically

[1:14:03] » and also I want to address the fact

[1:14:08] that

[1:14:10] you know we've been

[1:14:13] I've seen so much stuff people sent me I

[1:14:17] don't even have social media but people

[1:14:19] send me screenshots of stuff that This

[1:14:21] board has done this, this board has done

[1:14:23] that, county manager's done this, county

[1:14:26] manager done that. The simple fact about

[1:14:30] it is

[1:14:31] every piece of property

[1:14:34] that we that the county and I say we the

[1:14:37] county has purchased has come before

[1:14:39] this board

[1:14:41] and to my knowledge it's been unanimous,

[1:14:44] right? every time every project that's

[1:14:47] been done

[1:14:50] has come to this board that and it's

[1:14:54] been pretty much unanimous. The only

[1:14:55] thing that wasn't unanimous was our

[1:14:57] budget. I feel like you know this board

[1:15:00] we've been on the same page on several

[1:15:02] things and

[1:15:05] I don't know where the misinformation is

[1:15:07] coming from where it's but it's just

[1:15:10] unreal. It's not Mark Leon. It's not

[1:15:13] Todd Bryson. And this this whole board, has voted on

[1:15:16] everything,

[1:15:18] all the projects, all the properties,

[1:15:20] everything that we have purchased

[1:15:22] >> going up to the amount it went up to. It

[1:15:24] wasn't unanimous. It was prior to that,

[1:15:26] >> but not after that.

[1:15:28] >> Correct. I'm I'm talking about other

[1:15:29] properties and other other projects that

[1:15:32] we've we've done outside of this. And

[1:15:35] >> many of them have come in under budget.

[1:15:37] >> Yeah. I mean, and it's good things for

[1:15:39] the county. We're we're we've been

[1:15:41] behind for years

[1:15:43] >> creating revenue streams that were never

[1:15:46] there before.

[1:15:47] >> Yeah.

[1:15:47] >> So

[1:15:48] >> to help offset the costs of

[1:15:52] and this is to me I mean my vote on this

[1:15:57] side this is a win for

[1:16:00] every student in this county. And

[1:16:04] >> yeah,

[1:16:05] >> and just so the public is aware.

[1:16:09] Are you guys able

[1:16:11] to authorize a purchase of any property

[1:16:14] without our consent?

[1:16:16] >> No.

[1:16:17] >> Okay.

[1:16:19] Have you ever authorized a purchase

[1:16:23] without our consent?

[1:16:24] >> No.

[1:16:26] >> Yeah. So, or other board the other

[1:16:29] board's consent.

[1:16:30] >> Darlene's case. [laughter]

[1:16:32] Um, so you know, I really wish people

[1:16:35] would quit getting on Facebook and

[1:16:39] believing what they hear and get in here

[1:16:41] and sit down in one of those chairs and

[1:16:42] actually listen uh instead of u

[1:16:47] vote these three out and I'm not even

[1:16:49] running for commissioner. [laughter]

[1:16:52] I'm done.

[1:16:53] >> Yeah. Is there a motion on the bond

[1:16:55] order authorizing uh the issuance of 5

[1:16:59] million general obligation school bonds?

[1:17:06] » So move

[1:17:07] >> and second.

[1:17:10] >> All in favor? I

[1:17:11] >> I

[1:17:13] >> Okay, one opposed. Motion carries. Uh,

[1:17:16] moving on now to the resolution R26-13,

[1:17:20] the bond order for school bonds and

[1:17:22] setting the public hearing. And Mr. G.

[1:17:25] Okay,

[1:17:26] I'll read this one as resolution of the

[1:17:29] county of Jacksonville regarding bond

[1:17:31] order authorizing the issuance of

[1:17:33] general obligation school bond setting

[1:17:35] public hearing their own and directing

[1:17:37] publication of notice of said public

[1:17:39] hearing. bond order entitled bond order

[1:17:43] authorizing the issuance of 105 million

[1:17:46] general education school bond of the

[1:17:48] county of Jackson North Carolina has

[1:17:50] been introduced at a meeting of the

[1:17:52] board of commissioners of the county of

[1:17:54] Jackson North Carolina on the 18th day

[1:17:57] of August 206 whereas the board of

[1:18:00] commissioners desire to provide for the

[1:18:02] holding of public hearing of their own

[1:18:04] September 1st 2026 and the submission of

[1:18:07] a statement of debt and a statement

[1:18:09] disclosure in connection therewith as

[1:18:12] required on local government the local

[1:18:15] government bond act. Neither will be it

[1:18:18] resolved by the board of commissioner of

[1:18:20] the county of Jackson, North Carolina at

[1:18:22] the public hearing on said bond order

[1:18:24] shall be held on the 1st of September

[1:18:27] 2026 on the justice administration

[1:18:29] building room A20141

[1:18:32] Grand South Cove Road, North Carolina at

[1:18:34] the at or about 6:30 p.m. Further

[1:18:38] resolved that the clerk board of

[1:18:41] commissioners is hereby directed to call

[1:18:43] copy of said bond order to be published

[1:18:45] with the notice of such hearing on the

[1:18:48] form prescribed by law in a newspaper of

[1:18:51] general circulation in the county on or

[1:18:54] before the 26th day of August 2026. Be

[1:18:58] it further be resolved that before the

[1:19:00] public hearing the finance director is

[1:19:02] hereby directed to file sworn statement

[1:19:05] of debt with the local government

[1:19:07] commission and the clerk of the board of

[1:19:08] commissioners in court to set 159-55 of

[1:19:11] the North Carolina Zimmerman statutes

[1:19:14] file board of commissioners and local

[1:19:16] government commission of North Carolina

[1:19:18] and post online statement of disclosure

[1:19:21] in accordance with section 159-551A

[1:19:25] of the general statutes of North Inana

[1:19:27] be it further resolve that the

[1:19:29] resolution shall become effective on the

[1:19:31] date of it adoption

[1:19:36] that is there a motion for R26-13

[1:19:41] uh bond order for school [snorts]

[1:19:44] bronze and setting public hearing on

[1:19:47] September 1st.

[1:19:50] >> What time? 6

[1:19:51] 6:30 p.m.

[1:19:55] » at 6:20.

[1:19:57] >> It can be. We have others that day, too.

[1:20:00] So 6:30.

[1:20:01] >> Okay. So that's the reason it says on or

[1:20:03] about.

[1:20:03] >> That's what I order.

[1:20:05] >> Okay.

[1:20:08] Is there a motion?

[1:20:09] >> Move

[1:20:10] >> and a second.

[1:20:11] >> Second. Madam clerk.

[1:20:13] >> Commissioner Hooper.

[1:20:14] >> No.

[1:20:15] >> Commissioner Bryson?

[1:20:16] >> Yes.

[1:20:16] >> Commissioner Smith?

[1:20:17] >> Yes.

[1:20:18] >> Chairman Lson?

[1:20:19] >> Yes. Moving on [clears throat] now to a

[1:20:21] special event uh youth arts festival hay

[1:20:24] ride ordinance [snorts] OS or O2026-01

[1:20:30] Mr. King. So this is a ordinance

[1:20:33] carrying the traffic for the hay ride

[1:20:36] hayride sorry for the youth arts

[1:20:39] festival on Saturday September 19 2026

[1:20:42] from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm uh from WBI to

[1:20:47] Haywood Road and to Green Energy Park um

[1:20:51] and it's just our annual hay ride. So

[1:20:54] >> is there a motion for the hay ride?

[1:20:56] >> So moved

[1:20:57] >> and a second.

[1:20:59] >> Third.

[1:21:01] >> Mr. Smith.

[1:21:02] >> Yes.

[1:21:02] >> Commissioner Bryson,

[1:21:03] >> yes.

[1:21:03] >> Commissioner Hooper,

[1:21:04] >> yes.

[1:21:05] >> Chairman Leson,

[1:21:06] >> yes.

[1:21:07] >> Uh, and then lastly this evening, we

[1:21:09] have the data center moratorum ordinance

[1:21:12] 02026-02.

[1:21:16] Mr. Post

[1:21:17] finishing strong tonight.

[1:21:19] >> Yes, sir.

[1:21:20] >> Five minutes.

[1:21:22] >> I have

[1:21:24] maximum minimum [laughter]

[1:21:28] >> at the very most.

[1:21:30] So, I know we've talked about this uh

[1:21:33] previously at the work session calling

[1:21:36] for public hearing on this a few weeks

[1:21:38] ago, but uh really this document sets

[1:21:41] out the the legal um standard for how we

[1:21:45] call for moratoriums. And part of what

[1:21:48] we do is we describe the moratorum. Uh

[1:21:50] it's going to it's supposed to be a year

[1:21:51] moratorum if approved tonight starting

[1:21:54] tonight on the 18th and running till

[1:21:57] August 18th, 2027.

[1:21:59] Within that, we also have some

[1:22:00] benchmarks that we've identified of the

[1:22:02] types of um activities that will go on

[1:22:04] and the expectation of why we're going

[1:22:06] to what we're going to do over this year

[1:22:07] period as we explore and understand

[1:22:10] better the impacts of data centers and

[1:22:12] what the county's response might be to

[1:22:14] those. So, it involves uh doing some

[1:22:17] hearings a board level for general

[1:22:19] comments. We'll be bringing some

[1:22:21] experts, at least one that that has some

[1:22:24] background in data centers specifically

[1:22:26] uh to speak to the boards and um and

[1:22:29] then you know expect that to happen uh

[1:22:33] simultaneously to the planning board

[1:22:35] reviewing what other ordinances are out

[1:22:37] there in North Carolina, what other

[1:22:38] communities are doing and at the

[1:22:40] beginning of the year starting to talk

[1:22:42] about the drafting of regulations and

[1:22:44] certainly by um the um August deadline

[1:22:47] for the planning board and the uh and

[1:22:49] the board commissioners to hold public

[1:22:51] hearings for considerations of possible

[1:22:53] regulations that may be next year.

[1:22:56] >> This be next year.

[1:22:57] >> Good deal.

[1:22:57] >> Yeah. Moving in. So that's the basis of

[1:23:00] the of the uh of the of the moratorum.

[1:23:04] And what this says we won't be issuing

[1:23:06] any permits related to development um of

[1:23:09] u uses for data center as defined

[1:23:13] herein. Uh so that's the basis of the of

[1:23:16] the moratorum. I'll be happy to answer

[1:23:18] any questions that the board may have.

[1:23:20] [snorts]

[1:23:20] >> I know there's a couple places in the

[1:23:23] county already that has a data center.

[1:23:24] Boston West is one if they were to

[1:23:27] relocate to another.

[1:23:29] So I think you know

[1:23:32] what why the mortorium is probably

[1:23:34] really appropriate in this day and age

[1:23:36] is once you get a data center into your

[1:23:38] jurisdiction you know they that that's

[1:23:40] when we get into this issue that we've

[1:23:41] had before about um creating

[1:23:43] nonconformities and is it a down zoning

[1:23:45] and do we have the ability to make

[1:23:47] changes to that. So right now we're not

[1:23:49] aware of and Baltimore west is actually

[1:23:50] in Webster's zoning jurisdiction right

[1:23:52] now not in the county's zoning

[1:23:53] jurisdiction. That's why I think we have

[1:23:55] some space to to to have an impact on

[1:23:58] this issue. That's different than

[1:23:59] >> Yeah.

[1:24:01] >> Actually, last time I knew they were out

[1:24:03] still out in Dillsboro out there.

[1:24:05] >> Okay, we can check.

[1:24:07] >> Yeah.

[1:24:10] >> Any additional questions for Mr. Poston?

[1:24:12] If

[1:24:12] >> not, I'll seek a motion for approval.

[1:24:15] >> I'll move

[1:24:16] >> and a second.

[1:24:17] >> Second, Madam Clerk.

[1:24:19] >> Commissioner Hooper.

[1:24:20] >> Yes.

[1:24:20] >> Commissioner Brson? Yes.

[1:24:22] >> Commissioner Smith?

[1:24:23] >> Yes.

[1:24:23] >> Chairman Lson?

[1:24:24] >> Yes.

[1:24:25] >> Thank you very much.

[1:24:27] There's no need for close session and uh

[1:24:30] I guess no comments from the press this

[1:24:32] evening or questions. Uh quick reminder,

[1:24:35] we have a several

[1:24:38] uh public hearings on September 1st uh

[1:24:41] work session on September 1st at 7 and

[1:24:43] then our regularly scheduled meeting

[1:24:45] September 15th. With no further

[1:24:48] business, is there a motion to adjurnn?

[1:24:50] So move and a second.

[1:24:51] >> All in favor? I.

[1:24:53] >> None opposed. Oregon.

8/18/2026 - Regular Meeting

Agenda

Transcript