[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.