2026-10-15 - Board of County Commissioners

01:59Mhm.

11:02>> Commissioners Whisenhunt and McDaniel

11:04will not be with us this evening.

11:06Persons who wish to speak concerning

11:08items on this agenda or about a matter

11:10related to county government have two

11:13options to voice their opinion.

11:15In-person attendees should complete a

11:17speaker card and deliver it to our clerk

11:20before the meeting begins. Comments are

11:22also accepted by calling 336-422-

11:251200.

11:27The public comment period will be

11:29limited to 30 minutes in its entirety.

11:31The maximum time allotted each speaker

11:33shall be 3 minutes. If there are a large

11:36number of speakers supporting or

11:37opposing the same position, they should

11:38appoint a spokesman.

11:40In its discretion, the board may vote to

11:43extend the length of the public comment

11:44period or change the time allotted for

11:46each speaker.

11:48It is expected that speakers shall

11:50behave in a manner in keeping with the

11:52decorum of a formal meeting. Speakers or

11:55audience members who disrupt the meeting

11:57will be required to leave.

12:00We will begin our meeting with an

12:01invocation from Deacon Ralph D'Agostino,

12:04Saint Leo Catholic Church, followed by

12:07the pledge of allegiance led by

12:09Commissioner Bessie.

12:12We could stand.

12:19>> Good evening.

12:20My name is Ralph D'Agostino, and I'm a

12:22deacon at Saint Leo the Great Catholic

12:23Church and a professor of biostatistics

12:25and data science at Wake Forest

12:27University School of Medicine.

12:29I want to thank the Board of

12:30Commissioners for allowing me the

12:31opportunity to to lead the invocation

12:33this evening.

12:35Today is a special day in my church

12:37because it commemorates a woman who

12:39lived in the 16th century in Spain.

12:42We refer to her now as Saint Teresa of

12:45Avila. And she has several famous

12:47writings that have been preserved for

12:49nearly 500 years.

12:51She is known for her beautiful insights

12:53into prayer, and I would like to start

12:55my invocation using her words.

12:58So, let us begin.

12:59For those of you who feel comfortable

13:01joining me, I will be praying now. And

13:03for those of you who are not comfortable

13:05with that, please do not feel obliged to

13:07join in this prayer.

13:10I would like to begin my prayer in the

13:11name of the Father and of the Son and

13:13the Holy Spirit. Amen.

13:15Come, Holy Spirit. We thank you for

13:17bringing us together tonight for this

13:19Board of Commissioners meeting.

13:21Saint Teresa of Avila once prayed,

13:25"Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing

13:29make you afraid.

13:30All things are passing.

13:33God alone never changes.

13:36Patience gains all things.

13:39If you have God, you will want for

13:42nothing.

13:43God alone suffices.

13:47And today her words are as relevant as

13:49they were when she wrote them over 400

13:52years ago. As we live in a time when

13:55every day we are confronted with news or

13:57information that could disturb us or

13:59make us afraid.

14:01So tonight I pray for peace to come to

14:04each of us present here. And I pray for

14:06a peace that is beyond understanding to

14:09fill our hearts and give us comfort to

14:12know that we are not alone as we face

14:15our daily struggles.

14:17Lord, we pray you bless each person here

14:19and help us to live our lives according

14:22to your divine will.

14:24So that what we do, we will always do

14:26with love and compassion for our fellow

14:29citizens here in Forsyth County and

14:32throughout the world.

14:33And Lord, I also pray for Commissioner

14:35McDaniel who cannot be here tonight. I

14:37pray you bring her a speedy and complete

14:40healing of any injuries she still may

14:42have.

14:43And finally tonight, I want to bring

14:45forward another saying by Saint Teresa

14:47of Avila.

14:49She once said that we pay God a

14:52compliment by asking great things of

14:55him.

14:56So tonight, in the silence of our

14:58hearts, I ask each of us to think about

15:01what that great thing might be that we

15:05may have been afraid to ask our Lord

15:07for.

15:09And take a moment in silent prayer to

15:11bring that request to our Lord.

15:14Because indeed nothing is too big for

15:17the Lord to handle.

15:19No prayer is too large, no healing is

15:22challenging, no miracle is beyond our

15:25Lord's capacity.

15:27So, I ask all those who feel comfortable

15:29to now just take a moment in silence to

15:31make that request to our Lord.

16:03We thank you, Lord, for promising to be

16:06wherever two or more are gathered in

16:08your name, and we pray these things in

16:11Jesus' name. Amen.

16:16>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

16:19United States of America

16:21and to the republic for which it stands,

16:24one nation under God, indivisible, with

16:28liberty and justice for all.

16:37>> The first item on the agenda is a public

16:40hearing on the zoning petition of Trae

16:41Co Investments from HBL to HBS. Chris

16:45Murphy, Planning and Development

16:47Services Director, will give a brief

16:48overview of the request. Mr. Murphy, you

16:51may begin.

16:58>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh this is a

17:00request of uh Trae Co Investments uh to

17:02rezone a 1-acre site on the east side of

17:05Peters Creek Parkway, south of Hartman

17:06Plaza Drive, from uh Highway Business

17:09Limited Use to Highway Business Special

17:12Use.

17:14This is the subject property shown on

17:15the Forward 2045 Growth Management area

17:17plan map. It is located within GMA 3,

17:20the suburban neighborhoods growth

17:21management area, and it is along Peters

17:24Creek Parkway just north of the county

17:27line. When I say just north of the

17:29county line, the southern property line

17:31of this property is the county line.

17:33Uh this is the subject property outline

17:35highlighted in yellow on um

17:38the vicinity map. Again, uh this is the

17:41Forsyth County Davidson County line.

17:43This is the subject property in yellow.

17:46Uh this is a daycare. This These are

17:48some apartments. There's a convenience

17:50stores, a manufactured home park, and

17:52then some additional commercial and

17:54residential development as you cross

17:56into Davidson County along Peters Creek

17:58Parkway.

18:00Subject property outlined in yellow

18:02again, you can see some of that

18:03development pattern that I previously

18:05mentioned.

18:09Uh this is the subject property shown on

18:10the South Suburban Area Plan Update. The

18:12recommended uh land use for the subject

18:15property is um commercial.

18:18So, the request is consistent with the

18:20recommendation of the plan.

18:23Just taking a look at uh several photos.

18:25This is uh looking into the subject

18:27property. The rezoning is uh associated

18:31with the building on the left. The

18:32building in the right on the right is

18:34actually in Davidson County.

18:37This was a former church. Uh this was uh

18:39the the northernmost piece was the

18:42sanctuary, and the southernmost was the

18:45um fellowship hall, um life center.

18:48So, the subject property is for this

18:51existing building.

18:53Uh this is looking west from the subject

18:55property across Peters Creek Parkway.

18:57That's a view of the manufactured home

18:59park and convenience store on the other

19:01side of Peters Creek.

19:03Uh this is looking south along Peters

19:04Creek Parkway. The subject property is

19:06on the left. That's looking at some

19:07additional commercial development

19:09towards uh Davidson County.

19:12And this is looking north along Peters

19:13Creek Parkway. The subject property is

19:15on the right. You see the zoning sign

19:16for the subject property. And this is

19:19the existing daycare center just north

19:21of the request.

19:24Uh this is the site plan. It is uh re-

19:27uh reusing the existing building. Uh

19:30they are better

19:31uh

19:32delineating uh

19:34the parking on the site. A lot of this

19:37is already existing impervious, but they

19:38are formalizing that in a better way.

19:41And this is the outdoor area associated

19:43with the indoor kennel. That's where

19:45there uh it will be a fenced-in area,

19:47but that is where um the dogs will be uh

19:51>> [clears throat]

19:51>> with the limitations that are set forth

19:53in the ordinance.

19:56The request is consistent with the

19:57parcel specific commercial land use

19:59recommendation of the South Suburban

20:00Area Plan Update.

20:02Additionally, the request is consistent

20:04with the recommendation of 2045 to

20:06prioritize denser higher intensity

20:08development along growth corridors and

20:10within activity centers.

20:12And the request would allow for adaptive

20:14reuse of an underutilized building along

20:16a major thoroughfare.

20:18This was heard uh by the Planning Board

20:20at their August 13th, 2026 public

20:22hearing.

20:23There were no speakers in opposition,

20:25and following the public hearing the

20:26Planning Board did vote unanimously to

20:28recommend approval of this request to

20:30the Commissioners.

20:31And with that, I'm available to answer

20:33any questions.

20:35>> Questions?

20:39This is a public I'm sorry.

20:43Okay. This is a public hearing. Speakers

20:45will have up to 15 minutes total to

20:48speak in favor of this request and up to

20:4915 minutes total to speak in opposition.

20:53Is there anyone wishing to speak in

20:56favor of the petition?

21:01Come forward.

21:07Need to state your name and address for

21:09the record, sir.

21:13>> So, it's Jeff Brinker,

21:153218 Pinsby Road, Winston-Salem, 27106.

21:20So,

21:21>> [clears throat]

21:22>> I've been working with the

21:23with the future owners

21:26of the kennel, and I'd like to point out

21:28a couple things. I was out for the

21:30briefing,

21:32but I did watch it

21:34and have some responses to some

21:36questions that were raised.

21:38Regarding the outreach,

21:40>> [clears throat and cough]

21:40>> excuse me.

21:41You know, we

21:43adhered to the UDO requirement to

21:46send letters out to all of the adjacent

21:49residential owners.

21:51property owners. The question was

21:53raised, I believe, about the

21:56notification to the

21:58tenants adjacent in the adjacent

22:00apartment buildings.

22:02We're not aware that the owner did or

22:05did not do that for those for those

22:07tenants.

22:08We did not. Our requirement was to reach

22:11out to the property owners.

22:13We had communicated with both planning

22:15department as well as the commissioner's

22:17office and did not hear any further

22:19guidance or suggestions that we should

22:21do that.

22:22>> [clears throat]

22:23>> We attempted to be as transparent as we

22:25could and reach out to everybody.

22:27to include the Davidson County residents

22:30that are within the 500 ft. So, we

22:32actually did that as well.

22:34There was signage [clears throat]

22:36posted.

22:37So, anybody

22:39traveling that road would be well aware

22:41that there was a zoning case in progress

22:43and could have looked it up.

22:45We did actually hold an outreach meeting

22:48on the 23rd of June.

22:51Nobody attended.

22:53We haven't heard any opposition. So, I

22:54just want to kind of be clear about

22:55that.

22:57Same thing I'd like to address,

22:58>> [clears throat and cough]

22:58>> excuse me, is the site itself.

23:01The

23:03the building and or the I don't know if

23:05you can still see that or not. The

23:06building and the

23:08outdoor enclosure area

23:10are some 200 plus feet away from the

23:13property line.

23:14Uh that it is the property line that it

23:17butts the um

23:19apartment complexes. That is the

23:21residential

23:22uh property that abuts this property.

23:24So, there's some 200 ft. It's another 50

23:27ft from that property line to the

23:29nearest apartment. So, 250 ft away.

23:34In between that,

23:35uh there's currently on the apartment

23:38side, there's a type two 20-ft type two

23:40buffer yard

23:41with vegetation uh in place.

23:44We're we are required to to put in a

23:47type three buffer yard of 40 ft on our

23:49side. So, there's going to be 60-ft

23:51buffer yard in between there.

23:54So, I want to make sure to point out

23:55that just spatially, this thing is

23:57pretty far away.

23:59Lastly, it's not like uh it's not like a

24:01overnight kennel outdoor where dogs are

24:03barking and so forth like you might find

24:05at the Humane Society or something of

24:07that nature.

24:09This operation [clears throat] is

24:10supervised. The animals are required to

24:13be supervised um

24:16to meet the requirements for the outdoor

24:19uh

24:19outdoor enclosure rather.

24:21>> [clears throat and cough]

24:22>> Excuse me.

24:23The um

24:26the the primary hours that those that

24:28there will be dogs out there will be

24:30from 8:00 till 6:00 just like is

24:32stipulated in the ordinance.

24:34So, there's def- definitely

24:36not an all-night component to that. If

24:38there are dogs that are boarded

24:40overnight at at the indoor portion of

24:42the kennel that need to go outside,

24:44that'll be 100% supervised all the time.

24:46So,

24:48dogs will not be just out there left to

24:50their own devices, if you will.

24:52Uh with that, I um

24:55I wanted to present that and see if you

24:56had any questions for me in in the in

24:58the meantime.

24:59>> Any questions?

25:04Thank you.

25:04>> Okay, thank you.

25:08>> Is there anyone else here wishing to

25:10speak in favor of the request?

25:16Okay.

25:20Is there anyone here wishing to speak in

25:22opposition to the petition?

25:28Hearing none, I declare the public

25:30hearing closed. Is there a motion?

25:34>> I move that the zoning map amendment F

25:371673 including site plan and special use

25:40district permit be approved on the basis

25:43of the following.

25:45The proposed special use zoning map

25:46amendment as petitioned by Treyco

25:48Investments to rezone a 1-acre piece of

25:50property from HBL, which is highway

25:53business limited, HBS, which is highway

25:55business special use, with the uses

25:58listed in the ordinance, is consistent

26:00with the recommendations of the 425 2045

26:03comprehensive plan, and is reasonable or

26:06in the public interest because of the

26:08following reasons. Number one, the

26:10subject property consisting of a

26:12building that was formerly used as a

26:13church

26:15is located at 5307 Peters Creek Parkway

26:18along a major thoroughfare south of

26:20Harman Plaza Drive, is adjacent to

26:22properties zone HBS, LI, RM-18S, and

26:25RS-9 with adjacent uses of a child

26:29daycare center, commercial uses a

26:30convenience store, manufactured housing,

26:33and apartments. Two, the proposed HBS

26:36zoning is primarily intended to

26:37accommodate retail services and

26:39distributive uses that require high

26:41visibility and good road access and that

26:44cater to passing motorists in growth

26:45management areas two, three, and four.

26:48Three, the proposed site plan features

26:50reuse of the former church buildings as

26:52an indoor kennel with an outdoor

26:53enclosure surrounded by 5-ft vinyl

26:56fence.

26:57Number four,

26:59the site is located in growth management

27:01area three and has access to public

27:02water and sewer. And number five, the

27:05proposed use is consistent with the

27:07Forward 2045 comprehensive plan which

27:10recommends commercial use along major

27:12thoroughfares where infrastructure

27:14already exist and the South Suburban

27:16Area Plan update which recommends

27:18commercial use for this property.

27:24>> Is there a second?

27:27>> I'll second.

27:28>> Motion by Commissioner Parker, second by

27:31Commissioner Landwehr. Further

27:32discussion?

27:38>> Um

27:39first [clears throat] I thank you the

27:39petitioner for going into the detail

27:41regarding the uh

27:43the notice uh and I have to agree that

27:45she certainly did follow precisely the

27:48letter of the requirements. Um

27:51this um

27:52I was asking questions cuz this reminded

27:54me of a case that I had seen in the

27:57Southwest Ward when I represented that

27:59uh ward on the the City Council in which

28:02I dropped the ball

28:04um because they um uh

28:07a

28:08a kennel was coming in

28:11um

28:12uh

28:13as it turns out immediately adjacent to

28:16uh property on the backside that was

28:18residential in nature.

28:20Um but it was owned by a single

28:23association and so the notice only went

28:27to a one registered agent um who so far

28:31as we know never got the notice in time

28:34and certainly didn't distribute it to

28:36any of the um

28:37of the occupants of the

28:39uh the

28:41you know, for all practical purposes

28:42condo property there.

28:43Um

28:45and so I'm sensitive to

28:47uh the issue of adequate notice in the

28:50case of outdoor

28:53kennel activities particularly. The

28:56specifics of this are quite different

28:59as I've had the opportunity to review.

29:01It's not an evening quiet environment.

29:04[clears throat]

29:05And there is

29:08you know some real space and some real

29:10buffer between the nearest apartment

29:12building

29:13and the and the kennel so max concerns

29:17been satisfied and I appreciate you

29:19addressing them.

29:22>> Further discussion.

29:26Case been moved and seconded all in

29:27favor indicate by saying I.

29:29>> I.

29:30>> All opposed.

29:32It passes unanimously.

29:34The next item on the agenda is a

29:36resolution declaring the Forsyth County

29:38Board of Commissioners intent to close a

29:41portion of Hope Dale Drive and calling a

29:44date for a public hearing at a later

29:45time on this matter.

29:49Is there a motion?

29:52>> Approved.

29:53>> Okay.

29:54>> Second.

29:57>> All right, motion by Commissioner Bessie

29:59second by Commissioner Parker.

30:02Any discussion?

30:05Hearing none all in favor indicate by

30:07saying I.

30:07>> I.

30:08>> All opposed.

30:11Passes.

30:16>> [clears throat]

30:18>> So at this point a public hearing on

30:19this item will be held on Thursday

30:22December 3rd 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in this

30:25room.

30:26The next item on the agenda is approval

30:28of the minutes for the regular meeting

30:30of October 1 2026. Is there a motion?

30:32>> Move approval.

30:36>> All right, motion by Commissioner Parker

30:38second by Commissioner Bessie Bessie. Is

30:41there discussion?

30:43All in favor indicate by saying I.

30:45>> I.

30:46>> All opposed. It passes.

30:48Okay, unanimously.

30:50The next item on the agenda is our

30:52public session. Madam Clerk, do we have

30:54any calls or cards?

30:58>> Vice Chairman, we have 12 speaker cards

31:00and we don't have any callers.

31:02>> Okay.

31:05All right, again uh each speaker has up

31:06to 3 minutes um and we have a 30-minute

31:10uh

31:11time clock going.

31:13So, you may proceed.

31:16>> The first speaker is Albert Noda. Please

31:18come forward, state your name and

31:19address for the record.

31:22>> Uh my name is Albert Noda. My address is

31:244814

31:26Bent Ridge Lane in Clemmons, North

31:28Carolina.

31:34Uh the purpose of uh today's

31:36presentation is uh to to start the

31:39process forward of developing dedicated

31:42pickleball courts at Tanglewood Park.

31:45Um

31:47in 2020

31:48uh I came to and did a presentation, a

31:51briefing for uh pickleball courts.

31:54And uh

31:55what happened eventually was that is uh

31:58the nine courts were developed at uh

32:00Joanie Moser Park.

32:02But first I want to acknowledge a few

32:03things. Number one, I want to thank Don

32:06Don Martin and uh the commissioners for

32:09uh approving that development. Uh um

32:12that was a tremendous development and

32:14progress in terms of pickleball within

32:17the county.

32:18Uh also there's a gentleman who is um

32:22the director of Parks and Rec for

32:25Forsyth County. His name is Chris

32:27Weavil. We've worked [clears throat]

32:28with him over the last 5 years on all

32:31the developments that have occurred uh

32:33in the He's been tremendous in all the

32:35things he's been doing. Uh, there's also

32:37four people that were integral to all

32:40those courts you see out there in

32:42Winston-Salem, as well as the courts at

32:44Joanie Moser Park. Uh, there's a Laura

32:46De Sink, there's a Gary

32:49uh, Helman, and Mike De Sale, and

32:50myself. Uh, we've been

32:53integral in getting all those courts

32:55done. We've been out measuring things,

32:58taking pictures, providing data

33:00evaluations, and everything over those

33:03uh, that time period.

33:06Uh, in general, uh,

33:08what we said back there, and it hasn't

33:09changed, is pickleball is in a huge boom

33:13phase. Uh, back then it was the fastest

33:15growing sport in the United States.

33:17And today, uh, that back then they were

33:20talking about 6, 7, 8 million players.

33:23Today, they're talking like 80 million.

33:25Now, I think that's overblown, but we're

33:27getting we're moving in that direction.

33:30Okay.

33:31Um,

33:34Yeah. Okay. Okay. Uh, Joanie Moser Park,

33:38um,

33:39with that we we started that that

33:41process in 2020. It opened in 2023.

33:45Uh, if you go by there any day of the

33:47week, Monday through Sunday,

33:50365 days a year, even on Christmas and

33:53New and New Year, you will see players

33:55there. In the morning, you see them in

33:57the afternoon, late evening, you'll see

33:59it before the sun goes down, you'll see

34:01them on Saturday and Sunday. We have an

34:04organization app called Team Reach.

34:06It's it's site specific. It's for

34:08organizing play at various locations.

34:11And we started that in 2020 using a

34:13tennis app.

34:15If you look for Joanie Moser Park,

34:17there's over 2,000 players alone for

34:20that park that participate in that app.

34:25I think that's it.

34:26Uh,

34:27Flying Tiger Wood Park,

34:29well, if you look around at all the

34:30different sites,

34:32the one of the biggest problems they

34:33have is there's not enough space for

34:35more than nine or 10 courts.

34:38If you at

34:40Tanglewood Park,

34:41the layout and you'll see it in a

34:42minute. We have a layout where you can

34:45have up to 18 courts and and as many as

34:4724 courts, but what I have

34:49shown it will will be up to 18 courts.

34:52>> Could you wrap it up, sir? Your time is

34:53up.

34:54>> My time is up. All right, thank you.

34:55>> Thank you.

34:56>> Um

34:59But you all have the packet so you can

35:00look at the pictures.

35:02Thank you.

35:10>> The next speaker is Rob Yoder. Please

35:12come forward, state your name and

35:14address for the record.

35:22>> Good evening.

35:23My name is Rob Yoder. I live at 118

35:25Crafton Street here in Winston-Salem,

35:2727101.

35:30Good evening, chair, commissioners.

35:33I rise to speak on two issues and I'll

35:35keep them so I'll keep them short.

35:37The first is for an issue that will also

35:39be addressed by other speakers who are

35:41more researched and qualified than I am.

35:43So, I'll only offer my strongest urging

35:46that county commissioners should always

35:48strive for transparency and

35:50accountability.

35:52These are the cornerstones of our

35:53democracy and when they are lacking, the

35:55community fills in the blanks.

35:58Regarding my second topic, I want to

36:00formally thank you all for denying the

36:02Rural Hall data center rezoning request.

36:05Several of you said you aren't against

36:07data centers, but want to decide where

36:09they belong.

36:11Right now, the zoning ordinances make

36:13that decision for you.

36:15The UDO defines a computer data center

36:18as a type of services A,

36:21which is a low intensity use with one

36:24parking space per 7,000 square feet.

36:27It is allowed with only a staff zoning

36:29permit in 15 districts, including

36:31[clears throat] every industrial

36:32district. It requires no hearing,

36:35no vote by this board, and no

36:37use-specific standards.

36:39There are no restrictions on noise, on

36:42generators, battery storage, cooling

36:44equipment, or decommissioning.

36:47The UDO definition was written for a

36:49server building, not a campus drawing

36:52hundreds of megawatts of power.

36:55The county attorney's caution earlier

36:57this month about the downzoning law is

37:00fair.

37:01It is a real constraint in this state,

37:04but it is not the end of the

37:05conversation.

37:07Professor Adam Lovelady, the Albert and

37:09Gladys Coates Distinguished Professor of

37:12Public Law and Government at the UNC

37:14School of Government, published an

37:16analysis of data center zoning on

37:18September 16th,

37:20uh last month. He identified standards

37:23that arguably are not downzoning.

37:25These include equipment placement and

37:28screening, buffering within existing

37:31setbacks,

37:32lighting, fencing, building design, and

37:35operational limits, like noise.

37:38He also notes that noise rules adopted

37:40under general ordinance authority are

37:42not zoning, so the downzoning limits do

37:45not apply.

37:47And state law lets counties require

37:49environmental impact statements for

37:51major projects.

37:53Timing matters.

37:55Under the permit choice rule, any

37:57complete application filed before new

37:59standards are adopted is reviewed under

38:02today's rules.

38:03So, I respectfully ask the board to

38:06direct staff to do three things.

38:08First, draft use-specific standards for

38:12computer data centers, including

38:14decommissioning, as we already require

38:17for solar farms.

38:18Second, prepare a countywide noise

38:21ordinance and an environ- environmental

38:24impact statement ordinance.

38:26And third, issue a formal interpretation

38:29of whether a campus-scale facility with

38:32onsite generators and battery storage

38:36fits our existing definition.

38:38>> Sorry, your time is up.

38:39>> I'll be forwarding you all his uh

38:41analysis

38:42>> Thank you.

38:43>> Thank you.

38:49>> The next speaker is Olivia Olivia Doyle.

38:52Please come forward, state your name and

38:54address for the record.

39:01>> Olivia Doyle, 112 West Devonshire. So, I

39:04am here on behalf of Hate Out of Winston

39:05to restate the requests of the Price

39:08family,

39:09um which they stated on video including

39:11an apology, the $2,500 blessing that

39:14they accepted, um and accountability for

39:16future Queen Juneteenth pageant

39:17participants. As far as I'm aware, these

39:19requests remain unmet. I'm restating

39:21them here.

39:22Um further,

39:24as uncomfortable as it is as it is,

39:26uh I'm here to push back on Dr.

39:28Woodbury's claim that Hate Out of

39:29Winston is a terrorist organization. Um

39:32I recognize the racial tension that

39:34comes with me as a white woman sharing

39:36leadership in a black-founded

39:37organization. Miranda and I actually

39:39talk about it a lot.

39:40Um but the act of demanding an account

39:42balance for funds designated to public

39:44school graduates is not relevant to this

39:46tension, especially considering that

39:48Miranda was the Hate Out member who

39:49called Dr. Woodbury first about all of

39:51this on July 6th. And Miranda asked me

39:53to communicate this as she couldn't be

39:54here tonight. Uh quote, "She reached out

39:57to you on July 6th, black woman to black

39:59woman, and you accepted the call. She

40:01called to consult with you about

40:03allegations made against your you and

40:04your organization, and since we haven't

40:06gotten clear answers which satisfy the

40:07Price family's requests and the

40:09community's question about scholarship

40:11funding, we are now asking what happened

40:13to the money." End quote.

40:15We've demanded answers from Dr. Woodbury

40:17specifically though not exclusively,

40:19because we've also filed FOIA requests

40:20with WSFCS and reached out to UNCF

40:23because you are a core representative of

40:25Queen Juneteenth, but because also your

40:26claims

40:28between email, phone calls, and news

40:29reports appear to be inconsistent. For

40:32example, you called us terrorists in an

40:34October 2nd email to Yes! Weekly, and

40:36then in the press you said that your

40:38words were prompted by a signal text

40:39that was sent on October 4th, two days

40:42later, by somebody who isn't even a

40:44member of Hate Out. Beyond that

40:45contradiction, if the 2025 scholarship

40:47wasn't given due to the financial woes

40:49of the school district, which you stated

40:50in a phone call, why would you say that

40:52in a public statement it wasn't awarded

40:54simply because it wasn't guaranteed to

40:55the runner-up?

40:57This is the part that I do not

40:58understand.

40:59Is it not in the interest of the pageant

41:02to hold the school system accountable

41:04for scholarships that they committed to

41:06through 2029,

41:08but seemingly before they even had the

41:09money and apparently the financial

41:10management skills to make that

41:12commitment?

41:14Or is the problem that it's impossible

41:15to hold the school system accountable

41:16for the pageant's advertised $30,000

41:18winning scholarship because there is no

41:20formal written contract between the

41:22pageant and its partner institutions.

41:23That's my assumption based on a

41:25statement that WSFCS sent the press.

41:27Why was the pageant's winning

41:28scholarship tied to an understanding

41:31with McManus and apparently nothing

41:32else?

41:33When funding is tied to children's

41:34educational opportunities, why would it

41:36not be accounted for in a formal

41:38obligation between the funding parties?

41:40These are legitimate questions about

41:41financial management choices that have

41:43real impacts on local students'

41:44educational opportunities, but my own

41:46questions aside, Hate Out has three

41:48demands. Fulfill the request of the

41:50Price family.

41:51Push WSFCS as a board as as a

41:54commissioner to to produce the financial

41:56documents saying exactly how much money

41:58remains for their UNCF partner

41:59scholarships, and push them to produce a

42:02plan to ensure that these scholarships

42:04continue to be funded because these

42:05scholarships are a good thing. But the

42:07lack of a formal agreement or the school

42:09system's fiscal incompetence are not

42:10acceptable reasons for not giving them.

42:16>> The next speaker is Nekoyia Gudin.

42:19Please come forward, state your name and

42:21address for the record.

42:30>> My name is Nekoyia Gudin. I live at 1805

42:33Falcon Tree Court, apartment C,

42:34Winston-Salem, 27127.

42:36I am here as a member of Faith Action

42:38Winston-Salem to state two points.

42:40First, it is not an act of terrorism to

42:42ask for the receipts behind the HBCU

42:43scholarship that was not awarded in its

42:45full form in 2025 or 2026.

42:49Second, community members' main question

42:51still hasn't been answered. What happens

42:53to the money that was supposed to fund

42:54the $30,000 Queen Zija scholarship?

42:57Advocates have been told that the

42:59scholarship was not awarded in 2025

43:01because the winner chose not to attend

43:03an HBCU. And it was never guaranteed to

43:05the runner-up. However,

43:07a recorded phone call between

43:09Commissioner Weatherspoon and Lashanda

43:10Price indicate that due to the financial

43:12woes of the school system, there was not

43:14even money for the 2025 winner. Whether

43:17the money wasn't given because the

43:18winner and the runner-up were ineligible

43:20or because the school system's financial

43:22crisis left the money unavailable hasn't

43:24been fully explained.

43:26Advocates recently reviewed a statement

43:28from the school system saying that WSFCS

43:30and UNCF agreed to increase the number

43:32of scholarships

43:34and extend the term of the MOU to 2029

43:36with the hope that it could reinstate

43:38reinstitute more organized district-wide

43:41employee giving campaign. And in 2025,

43:44district experienced significant

43:45financial crisis

43:47and did not engage in a new employee

43:49giving campaign. The statement makes it

43:51sound like the school did commit to the

43:53scholarship

43:54before it even had money for

43:56The statement also says that the

43:57pageant's winning scholarship came from

43:59an understanding with Superintendent

44:00McManus.

44:02Does this mean that the the pageant

44:03scholarship and in the case of the 2025

44:05runner-up and 2026 winner,

44:08Black students' financial support for

44:09their education was guaranteed by

44:11nothing more than a verbal agreement.

44:13Was this ever Was this understanding

44:15ever formalized in writing?

44:17In a document that WSFCS can be held

44:19accountable for following regardless of

44:21their financial problems? That had

44:23nothing to do with the Queen Juneteenth

44:24participants' achievements.

44:27WSFCS said they're working to exhaust

44:30the funds in their account with UNCF.

44:32They have not stated how much money is

44:33left for the existing scholarship

44:34payments, future scholarships, or what

44:37the plan is to keep these scholarships

44:38alive going forward. These are funds

44:40specifically for high-achieving black

44:42students in our school system like

44:43Laquoya Price.

44:45The Price family contacted Hate Out this

44:47summer asking for us to help hold the

44:48pageant accountable for the $30,000 that

44:50was not awarded in 2025.

44:53For the communications which led Laquoya

44:54to believe that she was entitled to that

44:56$30,000. And for a remaining $2,500

44:59blessing that the family agreed to

45:01receive from Commissioner Woodbury's

45:03nonprofit.

45:04As Advocates, we're here to reiterate

45:06the Prices family's request. We're

45:08asking all commissioners to push WSFCS

45:10to produce the budget documents which

45:12state exactly how much money remains for

45:15the UNCF partner scholarships.

45:17And to produce a plan to ensure that

45:19these scholarships continue to be

45:20funded.

45:21Thank you.

45:25>> The next speaker is Alan Jones. Please

45:28come forward, state your name and

45:29address for the record.

45:42>> Thank you. I'm Alan Jones, 3930

45:46Westridge Meadow Meadow Circle in

45:48Clemmons.

45:50I want to just address a subject

45:53of the potential

45:55building of an asphalt plant in

45:57Clemmons.

45:59And it's reality

46:01in the problem of the reduction in

46:04property value which has been studied

46:07for this plant

46:09to lower from 12.7 to over 50%.

46:14I look at that as a real problem. The

46:18radius studied was up to 3 miles.

46:22This tax adjustment

46:24will affect this county in property

46:27taxes.

46:29The reasons for this decrease is for

46:31because of nuisance and pollution

46:35up to 90 decibels of noise from the

46:39trucks up to 200 a day, odors, smoke,

46:43and dust, health [clears throat]

46:45concerns

46:46from the soot and potential respiratory

46:49and health issues which are commonly

46:53known

46:54associated with that type of production.

46:58And lastly, because of buyer demand.

47:01And it is suggested that this type of

47:05plant have at least a 1,000-ft

47:08buffer to any residence and there is

47:12precedence in North Carolina

47:15that this type of plant

47:17has a boundary buffer of 1,500

47:21ft.

47:22I bring it to you because of the

47:24potential loss obviously in tax income

47:28and my potential loss

47:31on the value of my property of 40 to

47:3350,000 dollars. Where do I recover that?

47:37From the city?

47:39From the county?

47:41Where do I recover the loss of putting

47:44that plant in a residential community?

47:48Thank you.

47:50>> [applause]

47:58>> The next speaker is Aaron Gibbons.

48:00Please come forward. State your name and

48:01address for the record.

48:09>> Aaron Gibbons, 4720 Kinnaman Road,

48:11Winston-Salem.

48:14My wife and I are raising a 4-year-old

48:16son, a 2-year-old daughter, and another

48:18daughter that's due in December.

48:21Our home is 1,300 ft from the proposed

48:24uh Maymead asphalt plant at 6010 Gunclub

48:27Road.

48:28We oppose this location.

48:31We are asking you to take our concerns

48:32seriously.

48:35I'm a woodworker by trade, and I

48:37actually built my own our own house um

48:40on this property.

48:41We have a massive investment um

48:44a massive amount of time and energy

48:45invested into this property to make it

48:48our home.

48:50Um the gentleman before me spoke on

48:52property value loss and things like

48:54that.

48:56Even though that'd be a massive loss to

48:57move away um in property value,

49:00that's not really our concern. My

49:02concern is our children.

49:03We're not going to raise them in a

49:05environment that could potentially have

49:07pollutants, um

49:08airborne particles, and toxins flying

49:11through the air.

49:13We do like our property. We'd love to

49:14stay there. I've got a lot of um you

49:16know, emotional ties to this to this

49:19plot of land.

49:21Please use every lawful tool available

49:24to the county to support a thorough a

49:26thorough review,

49:27a public air permit hearing,

49:30written answers to responses to our

49:33respon- um to the responsible agencies.

49:36Once this plant is built, our neighbors

49:38will live beside it every day.

49:41Please help us get these questions

49:42answered while there's still time to act

49:45on these matters.

49:47Please help us protect the place we call

49:49home.

49:51THANK YOU.

49:53>> [applause]

49:59>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFFREY BANKS.

50:01PLEASE come forward, state your name and

50:02address for the record.

50:10>> Good afternoon,

50:11Commissioners. My name is Jeff Banks. I

50:14live at 175 Cog Hill Drive,

50:17Winston-Salem,

50:18North Carolina.

50:19Um

50:21I would like to thank Mr. Parker for

50:23coming out Sunday and

50:25listening to our

50:27concerns.

50:28I live approximately within 600 ft of

50:31the proposed plant.

50:33My backyard sits there and right now,

50:37that's what we have to look at is

50:39leaves. Whenever leaves come down in a

50:41month or so,

50:43it's going to be right there for us to

50:45see.

50:46Um

50:48The narrative is that

50:50in the papers with a person that

50:52infiltrated our group, right now No

50:54Asphalt Clemens, is that we really

50:57didn't have a concern about this plant.

51:00That we had to have him come in to sort

51:03of rile us up.

51:05Well, that's untrue.

51:08Me and my wife was visiting Gun Club

51:10Road. We have a storage unit there and

51:12we went past it on June 6th

51:15and there was a sign up saying that

51:16there was a proposed plant there.

51:19I wouldn't have seen it, but my wife was

51:20with me, so she saw it and had to tell

51:22me.

51:23We went back, I took a picture of it.

51:26From that day, we have been

51:28putting it out to the community groups.

51:31We saw other people

51:32form talking about it. We got together

51:36and started meeting at the library.

51:38I had no clue about this fake Chris.

51:41When we found out about fake Chris that

51:43was in our group, we immediately kicked

51:45him out due to his

51:47being untruthful not us not knowing who

51:49he was. We didn't know if he was working

51:51for Maymead or whoever. That's what we

51:53were worried about so we kicked him out.

51:55I believe it was right after a meeting

51:56that we had here that happened. So,

52:00the thought that we had to be riled up

52:02and we had to have somebody come in and

52:05coax us to doing this is untrue.

52:08I have a passion. I've lived at this

52:10location for over 20 years.

52:13Uh

52:15love Clemmons. I never would have

52:16thought that I we've been shot at. They

52:18had the gun the firing range right there

52:20beside the proposed plant.

52:23I've worked in my backyard and

52:25next thing I know I got a letter saying

52:26that two houses down from me had bullet

52:29holes in it and uh one up the street so

52:31they had a big uh

52:33thing to do about that but the Village

52:35of Clemmons came through for us then

52:38and whenever they uh had to do the final

52:40permit they denied it and there's no

52:42longer a fire firing range in our

52:45backyard or backyard so I'm no longer

52:46getting shot at which is good. Um

52:50and

52:52that's what I want now. I'm we're

52:54wanting help.

52:56Mr. Parker came out. He's heard our

52:58cries. I opened invitation for anybody

53:00to come out. We'll talk to you. We'll

53:02show you the violations that this

53:05company's got isn't for

53:07a residential neighborhood being 500 ft

53:10away from it.

53:12Uh

53:13these are the families.

53:15Thank you. I appreciate the time and

53:19that's it. I think THAT'S ABOUT IT.

53:21>> [applause]

53:28>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREA VAIL. PLEASE

53:30COME FORWARD. State your name and

53:32address for the record.

53:39>> [clears throat]

53:40>> Andrea Vail, 4370 Bridal Path,

53:43Winston-Salem. I'm following up on my um

53:46September 17th comments. Um good evening

53:50commissioners. Thank you for giving me

53:51the opportunity to speak. And of course,

53:54I want to send my very best to

53:55Commissioner McDaniel.

53:57Um today I have a records question. In

54:002004,

54:02city-county planning staff proposed a

54:05text amendment UDO 112 to require a

54:08special use permit, larger setbacks, and

54:12a buffer for asphalt and concrete plants

54:14in general industrial districts.

54:17The planning board recommended approval,

54:19and the packet included draft ordinances

54:21for Winston-Salem, Kernersville,

54:23Lewisville, Walkertown, and Clemmons, as

54:26well as the county.

54:28The Winston-Salem um city council

54:31approved a revised version on April

54:3419th, 2004. According to this board's

54:37minutes of May 10, 2004, the board

54:40continued the public hearing so the

54:43plants could be notified.

54:46Um according to the minutes of May 24,

54:492004, after hearing from industry

54:52representatives, the board remanded UDO

54:54112 to the planning board for full

54:57review and revision by a vote of five to

55:00one. Um

55:02some of you served on the board, and you

55:04may remember it.

55:06Today an asphalt plant in Clemmons

55:08general industrial district is permitted

55:11with a zoning officer's permit and

55:12carries no use specific conditions.

55:15Residents have searched the villages um

55:18minutes and found no record that

55:20Clemmons ever adopted UDO 112. Um had a

55:24version of this amendment been completed

55:27and carried to municipalities, the

55:28standards um it described might have

55:32prevented what we're experiencing now.

55:35So, I have three requests, which are

55:37only questions. First, could the clerk

55:41to the board or planning provide any

55:43record of what happened to UDO 112 after

55:47the May 24, 2004 remand, including

55:50whether the planning board reviewed it,

55:52and whether a revised version came back

55:55to this board. Second, um does the

55:58county hold any record that UDO 112 in

56:02any form has sent um

56:05that it sent to the municipalities,

56:07including Clemmons. And third, if there

56:10is none, um could staff tell us how the

56:13municipalities were informed, um and why

56:16didn't it move forward. Um we're not

56:18asking for decisions to be made tonight,

56:20but we are asking for the record,

56:23please, um so that residents and the

56:25village can understand what happened.

56:28Thank you.

56:30>> [applause]

56:35[applause]

56:37>> The next speaker is Robin Smith. Please

56:39come forward, state your name and

56:41address for the record.

56:53>> Good evening, commissioners. Uh my name

56:54is Robin Smith. I live at 807 Academy

56:57Street in Rural Hall.

56:58Forsyth County UDA already separates

57:01entities by scale and impact. A

57:03restaurant with a drive-through is a

57:05different use category than one without.

57:08And there are three categories for group

57:10care facilities. In healthcare, a

57:12doctor's office is owned general office

57:14or limited office, while hospital is a

57:16different use type with different

57:18zoning. There are even separate zoning

57:20for hospitals with helicopter pads. All

57:22have doctors, nurses, patients, and

57:25similar equipment and services. Some

57:27might say a hospital is a hyper-scale

57:29doctor office.

57:31But no one would argue they belong in

57:33the same category because a hospital

57:35scale

57:36and supporting infrastructure have far

57:38greater impact on the land and

57:40surrounding area. The same logic should

57:42apply to hyperscale data center

57:44campuses.

57:46In 2010, the county combined

57:48services A

57:50I'm sorry, services business A low

57:52intensity, which included data centers

57:55I'm sorry, data processing and computer

57:57related services with services personal,

58:00which included beauty and barber shops.

58:03The stated reason was that these

58:05services are very similar in their

58:07current definitions, their impact on

58:09adjacent uses, and their parking

58:11requirements.

58:12That may have been true in 2010, but

58:14that is not true today. The current UDO

58:17does not reflect the obvious

58:18differences, falling far short of

58:21setting appropriate zoning standards for

58:23hyperscale data center campuses.

58:25The reason most often given is a fear of

58:27down-zoning claim and litigation. But

58:30services A was never written for

58:31facilities this size as noted earlier,

58:34so a separate category would clarify the

58:37ordinance but not take away existing

58:39use. A new services, let's say

58:41hyperscale high impact category, could

58:44apply only to facilities above a

58:47threshold higher than any facility in

58:49the county today, measured by power

58:51draw, building size, or acreage. That

58:54way no existing building would be

58:56reclassified or made non-conforming.

58:59The standards for service hyperscale

59:02uh high impact could draw on conditions

59:05of the Loudoun County best practices.

59:07Standards a county very familiar with

59:09hyperscale data centers has recommended

59:11and are hard to call unworkable. A

59:14temporary pause would give the county

59:16time to get this right. No data center

59:18projects are active or approved in

59:20Forsyth County right now, so our

59:22situation is very different from Chatham

59:25County. The Winston-Salem Journal

59:27reports that at least two hyperscale

59:29proposals are likely to resurface

59:31notably after the midterm elections

59:34including another attempt in Rural Hall

59:36where I live.

59:37In July some of you said how sad it was

59:39to see what has happened to the Rural

59:40Hall community. You have the authority

59:43to pause, study, and and adopt a proper

59:45use type for hyperscale data center

59:48campuses with standards based on expert

59:51unbiased guidance.

59:53Doing so would spare communities what

59:55Rural Hall has endured and continues to

59:57endure. Thank you.

1:00:00>> [applause]

1:00:05>> The next speaker is Beth Norman. Please

1:00:07come forward, state your name and

1:00:08address for the record.

1:00:15>> Okay.

1:00:17>> Beth Norman, 3609 Commodore Court,

1:00:20Clemmons, North Carolina.

1:00:23I have in front of me two complaints

1:00:26filed with our DEQ against um may the

1:00:29plant Maymead's one in Boone and one in

1:00:32Jefferson.

1:00:34My I have concerns about our the way our

1:00:36DEQ is handling these complaints.

1:00:39The complaints, I'm going to speak of

1:00:41them together. One was for smell causing

1:00:45burning of the eyes. The other was for

1:00:47extended operating hours

1:00:50um for dumping hazardous waste material

1:00:53uh material in the creek and dust and

1:00:55odor emissions.

1:00:58The way these complain complaints are

1:01:00handled, they're turned into the DEQ.

1:01:03The DEQ reaches out and contacts them.

1:01:07They start an investigation.

1:01:09They may look back at um prior

1:01:14um

1:01:16evaluations of the prop the plant.

1:01:19And

1:01:20that that could be 2 years back.

1:01:23The next thing that happens when they

1:01:25look at the plant if the evaluation of

1:01:27the plant was good two years prior that

1:01:30the DEQ calls Maymead.

1:01:34They call the company that has a

1:01:35complaint filed against it and ask them

1:01:40if there's a problem at their plant.

1:01:45Does anybody find that um rather

1:01:48strange?

1:01:50Or absolutely maddening.

1:01:54The plant gives vague responses. Oh, I'm

1:01:58not aware of that or no, there were no

1:02:00malfunctions at the time of the

1:02:02investigation.

1:02:05No one lays eyes on these plants. No one

1:02:08goes to investigate the complaints.

1:02:11Based on Maymead's reply to the DEQ,

1:02:15the complaints are closed.

1:02:20I also have a current violation against

1:02:23the Mount Airy plant in North Carolina

1:02:26for visual visible emissions records

1:02:30that indicate daily average production

1:02:32is 155.52 tons

1:02:37per hour higher than what is acceptable.

1:02:43This is from our DEQ who advises the

1:02:46office in writing to apply to them, tell

1:02:50them the cause of the violation, and

1:02:52what was done to rectify the situation,

1:02:55and what will be done to ensure this

1:02:57type of violation does not occur in the

1:03:00future.

1:03:02Maymead is investigating their own

1:03:04plant. They are replying at expecting

1:03:08the company to fix it themselves. No one

1:03:11is checking behind them to make sure

1:03:14this is done. This is a company who

1:03:16tells you they are a family, community,

1:03:19and that they follow the law.

1:03:23Then the wording gets better from our

1:03:25DEQ. Each day you continue to operate in

1:03:28violation may constitute additional

1:03:32violation.

1:03:33>> Ma'am, your time is up. If you could

1:03:34wrap it up.

1:03:36>> Thank you, ma'am.

1:03:38>> [applause]

1:03:44[applause]

1:03:45>> Ma- Madam Clerk, before we proceed, how

1:03:48many more speakers do we have?

1:03:50>> We have two cards left.

1:03:52>> Okay.

1:03:53Is there any objection from the

1:03:56commission to indulging the last two

1:03:59speakers here?

1:04:00All right.

1:04:01Okay.

1:04:04>> Sarah Gerard, please come forward. State

1:04:06your name and address for the record.

1:04:14Hello, my name is Sarah Gerard. Um my

1:04:16address is 216 West Banner Avenue.

1:04:19Um I

1:04:21came tonight because I

1:04:24there's never been a more imp- important

1:04:26time to fund local programs to make sure

1:04:29that the most vulnerable among us have

1:04:31access to food, housing, um safety,

1:04:34clean air and water, and a community

1:04:37they can thrive in. Um federal cuts in

1:04:41uh to our social safety nets um

1:04:44is specifically in the big beautiful

1:04:46bill.

1:04:47We haven't even felt the full effect of

1:04:49that yet, but we cut SNAP, we cut

1:04:52Medicaid, and in a roundabout way we've

1:04:54cut Medicare.

1:04:55>> [snorts]

1:04:56>> Um all of that under the guise of

1:04:58cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. I know

1:04:59that's not y'all's purview, but um

1:05:03um really that money went to children,

1:05:05elderly, people with disabilities, and

1:05:08their working families, uh Uh, over 60%

1:05:11of who live paycheck to paycheck.

1:05:13And,

1:05:14um, even if you don't need those type of

1:05:16funds, it's going to affect you,

1:05:18especially people that live in rural

1:05:19areas. There's cuts to rural hospitals.

1:05:23Many,

1:05:24um,

1:05:25many hospitals rely on

1:05:28the Medicaid payments that their

1:05:30patients, um, use. So, if they don't

1:05:32have that, those people end up being in

1:05:34the emergency room. And also, we don't

1:05:36have the facilities for people that

1:05:39can't afford to go.

1:05:41Um, and then the snap benefits our

1:05:45farmers rely on those snap benefits. It

1:05:48goes, um,

1:05:50those low-income folks use that money.

1:05:53It goes directly to farmers. Um, that

1:05:56affects, so that's affecting both our,

1:05:58our food supply and our, um,

1:06:01health care system. We all rely on that.

1:06:04Even if you do have enough, most of us

1:06:06are one major medical diagnosis away

1:06:08from poverty. Um, my older brother just

1:06:11was diagnosed with ALS this past year.

1:06:13And we have a very large family. So, we

1:06:16can do that. And they have, he and his

1:06:19wife have, you know, they've built money

1:06:21over the years and all that kind of

1:06:23stuff. But, at this point, they would go

1:06:26bankrupt because it, he's going to, he's

1:06:29starting to rely on 24/7 care. Um,

1:06:34and, you know, my family can handle

1:06:37that. I'm from a very large family. Most

1:06:39people don't have that kind of safety

1:06:40net. So, I'm concerned about them. And I

1:06:44know all this takes money. And I'm

1:06:45asking you to prioritize local social

1:06:49safety nets and, and get creative in

1:06:52looking for the money.

1:06:53Um, it's not data centers. Um,

1:06:56we have many old money foundations in

1:06:58Forsyth County. Um, many who built,

1:07:01built their fortunes off the labor of

1:07:03enslaved people. And with your help, I

1:07:06would like to see um I would like to

1:07:10help them see that it is both moral and

1:07:12correct and better for everyone in our

1:07:14community if um they start the

1:07:17redistribution of that wealth or

1:07:20directly fund um our schools, our

1:07:24healthcare system. Uh we can't rely on

1:07:27the federal government anymore. They

1:07:28have gone full fascist and

1:07:32>> Thank you, ma'am.

1:07:32>> All we have is our community.

1:07:34>> You could wrap it up.

1:07:34>> Yeah, that's it. Or I could go on, but

1:07:38thanks. [laughter]

1:07:39Uh and I appreciate all y'all do. I

1:07:41really do. I know it's not an easy job

1:07:43trying to do a budget for the county. Um

1:07:46thanks.

1:07:48>> [applause]

1:07:52>> The last speaker is Marcy West. Please

1:07:54come forward, state your name and

1:07:56address for the record.

1:07:59>> Thank you. Marcy West, 331 Carolina

1:08:01Circle. Also a candidate for County

1:08:03Commissioner in Forsyth County District

1:08:05B. Forsyth County Commissioners are

1:08:08stewards of our money, our resources,

1:08:12and our people, okay? It is a very

1:08:15important that we get resident input to

1:08:18make our decisions on how we steward the

1:08:21resources of our county.

1:08:24It is extremely clear. I want to make

1:08:26sure that people understand that the

1:08:27vote that was taken by this board

1:08:30related to a moratorium was not against

1:08:33a moratorium. It was actually a vote

1:08:36against hearing from the public, having

1:08:39a public hearing, having experts here,

1:08:42having other communities that have felt

1:08:44brave enough to set a moratorium to

1:08:47allow the research and the research to

1:08:50be done on these things. I urge you guys

1:08:52to reconsider that and actually pass a

1:08:55moratorium so that we can study hyper

1:08:58data center data cells. One of the

1:09:01things I pointed out before, I want to

1:09:03point it out again.

1:09:04The code we are using to identify data

1:09:07centers was last updated in 1985

1:09:12and it was discontinued in use in 1997.

1:09:16We clearly have not updated this portion

1:09:19in a very long time. It is important

1:09:22that we actually be very detailed in our

1:09:25zoning descriptions and you can see why

1:09:27with the asphalt plant and the data

1:09:30centers conversation. We really need to

1:09:33actually spend that time doing that. I

1:09:35can tell you in my past community, I was

1:09:38the chair of a zoning advisory board

1:09:41where we had to give recommendations for

1:09:44rewriting our zoning that had not been

1:09:46rewritten since 1928.

1:09:49It's crazy when you wind up not keeping

1:09:51up with things. You wind up with

1:09:53contradictions that you shouldn't have

1:09:54in there.

1:09:56So, it it is just important that we take

1:09:59the time to listen to our residents,

1:10:02have the public hearing. We will clearly

1:10:04not be sued for having a discussion on a

1:10:08moratorium.

1:10:10The moratorium that Commissioner Bessie

1:10:12proposed was a 6-month moratorium.

1:10:16It gave any place that had a vested

1:10:19right the ability to move forward. So,

1:10:21it's not a situation that would compare

1:10:23to the other community where they were

1:10:25sued.

1:10:27I think we should have in in some people

1:10:28who are from some of those communities

1:10:30that have passed the moratorium and say

1:10:32why they feel safe and comfortable doing

1:10:34that. I do not think that we can be

1:10:36afraid. You can hear that there is a

1:10:39desire by these residents to be heard

1:10:42and to have somebody protect them and

1:10:44that is a job of a county commissioner.

1:10:46Thank you.

1:10:52>> [applause]

1:10:57>> I want to thank everyone who the time to

1:10:59come out here tonight to speak to this

1:11:01body. I appreciate very much your

1:11:03comments.

1:11:04Madam County Manager, at this time,

1:11:06please continue with the remainder of

1:11:08the agenda.

1:11:09>> Thank you, Vice Chair, and good

1:11:10afternoon. Good evening, Commissioner

1:11:12staff and guests. The agenda items

1:11:13before you have been briefed and

1:11:15hopefully questions answered. Agenda

1:11:17item number five is an amendment to the

1:11:19fiscal year 27 budget ordinance to

1:11:21appropriate fund balance resulting from

1:11:22fiscal year 26 sales tax revenue for

1:11:25Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools.

1:11:27The fiscal year 26 adopted budget

1:11:30included $19,741,068

1:11:33from Article 46 sales tax. Actual

1:11:36Article 46 sales tax revenue in fiscal

1:11:39year 26 was $21,021,665.86,

1:11:44meaning $1,280,597.86

1:11:49needs to be appropriated and transferred

1:11:51to Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools.

1:11:53These funds must be used for teacher

1:11:55supplements, and the schools will be

1:11:56responsible for distributing any share

1:11:59payable to the charter schools.

1:12:01>> Is there a motion?

1:12:02>> Move approval.

1:12:04>> I'll second the motion, but I do have

1:12:05questions.

1:12:06>> Okay. Um well, motion by uh

1:12:09Excuse me.

1:12:12Motion by Commissioner Parker and second

1:12:15by Commissioner Bessie. Discussion?

1:12:21>> Um

1:12:22>> [clears throat]

1:12:22>> I was asked this question by a

1:12:24constituent and could not give them the

1:12:27precise answer.

1:12:29Um

1:12:30the um

1:12:31uh the funding that um by which we will

1:12:34increase what the school system is

1:12:37getting

1:12:38uh from um the Article 46 sales tax

1:12:40revenues.

1:12:42Uh will that be going in a lump sum?

1:12:44Will it be going over time?

1:12:46>> Um that should go to them as a lump sum.

1:12:49>> Right.

1:12:50And

1:12:51are there restrictions on how they spend

1:12:54the funds,

1:12:55uh

1:12:56whether they again do a lump sum

1:12:59catch-up payment or whether they do

1:13:02uh a a salary supplement increase over

1:13:06time? Uh is is it clear that uh these

1:13:10funds are not to be used simply for

1:13:12one-time bonuses? Um can you tell us a

1:13:15little more about the details?

1:13:17>> Yeah.

1:13:19>> [clears throat]

1:13:19>> Commissioner I see it. No,

1:13:21again, I think it's the board's uh

1:13:23expectation that this would be used for

1:13:26um supplements. There's I I don't think

1:13:28there's any direction from the board uh

1:13:32from the county to the school system

1:13:33that they need to pay this money out

1:13:35immediately. Um I I know in the past

1:13:41there there has been some discussion of

1:13:43they should, you know,

1:13:45the the they they can use this to kind

1:13:47of

1:13:48build up a little bit of a fund balance

1:13:50so that and when the when sales tax

1:13:53comes down or, you know, um when when

1:13:57sales tax price projections are lower

1:14:00than

1:14:02than what they what they could have

1:14:04been, they could use they could dip into

1:14:06that reserve at that time to kind of

1:14:07keep the supplement going.

1:14:09>> So the the bottom line answer to the

1:14:11question is that

1:14:13uh it's not required to be paid out now.

1:14:15It's not required to be paid out this

1:14:16year as long as it goes into a reserve

1:14:19that can only be used.

1:14:20>> It's always been our our expectation

1:14:22that they would put it in the into it

1:14:24would be reserved for supplements.

1:14:26>> For for uh

1:14:27teacher salaries, educator salaries.

1:14:29>> That's supplements.

1:14:30>> Okay, thank you.

1:14:33>> Further discussion.

1:14:36>> I do just want to make a point of

1:14:38clarification that it is

1:14:41not just educators, only the teachers.

1:14:44So it's not for all of the educators in

1:14:46Winston-Salem for Forsyth County.

1:14:48Ideally, it would be we would figure

1:14:50that part out. But, it's just if you're

1:14:53a teacher.

1:14:54>> It's actually, I think, everyone that is

1:14:56actually on the teacher pay scale. And

1:14:58there are a lot of people, like other

1:15:01positions other than the title teacher.

1:15:03But, it's everyone on the teacher pay

1:15:05scale.

1:15:05>> Yeah, you have to Exactly. You have to

1:15:06be qualified.

1:15:07>> Yes, ma'am.

1:15:09>> Further discussion.

1:15:12All in that favor indicate by saying I.

1:15:15>> I.

1:15:15>> All opposed. It passes unanimously.

1:15:18>> Agenda item number six is an amendment

1:15:20to the fiscal year 2017 budget ordinance

1:15:22to appropriate funds from Blue Cross and

1:15:24Blue Shield of North Carolina. This item

1:15:26appropriates $4,000 to the Department of

1:15:28Public Health to be used to support the

1:15:30Cribs for Kids Safe Sleep Program.

1:15:33>> Move approval.

1:15:35>> Okay, motion by Commissioner Parker. Is

1:15:37there a second?

1:15:38>> Second.

1:15:39>> Second by Commissioner Linville.

1:15:41Discussion?

1:15:45All in favor indicate by saying I.

1:15:47>> I.

1:15:48>> All opposed. It passes unanimously.

1:15:51>> Agenda item number seven is a resolution

1:15:52awarding and authorizing execution of an

1:15:54agreement for the purchase and

1:15:55installation of replacement 911

1:15:57communications consoles at the Forsyth

1:16:00County Emergency Services Backup Center

1:16:02to Ergo Flex Systems Inc. doing business

1:16:04as Zizbic Systems in the amount of

1:16:07$176,952.38.

1:16:10This purchase has been budgeted and

1:16:12appropriated within the Emergency

1:16:14Telephone System Special Revenue Fund.

1:16:17>> Move.

1:16:17>> Second.

1:16:18>> Okay, um motion by Commissioner Bessie,

1:16:21second by Commissioner Parker. Further

1:16:23discussion?

1:16:25All in favor indicate by saying I.

1:16:27>> I.

1:16:28>> All opposed. It passes unanimously.

1:16:31>> Agenda item number eight is our report.

1:16:33It's the Partners Health Management

1:16:34Quarterly Report for quarters three and

1:16:36four.

1:16:38>> Move to receive reports.

1:16:41>> Second.

1:16:42>> Okay, um motion by Commissioner

1:16:44Lindville seconded by Commissioner

1:16:45Bessie. Further discussion.

1:16:48All in favor indicate by saying I.

1:16:49>> I.

1:16:51>> All opposed, passes unanimously.

1:16:53>> That is all of our agenda items, Mr.

1:16:55Vice Chair.

1:16:56>> Okay.

1:16:58Hearing no objection, we are adjourned.