2026-06-22 - Special Town Council Meeting
Summary
Built from the approved minutes first, then the auto-generated video captions for added detail. Caption names and numbers may be misheard; the minutes are the official record.
Official minutes
- Special meeting called for 4:30 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers; Mayor Bennett called it to order at 4:34 PM. Present: Mayor Pro Tem Horn, Lane, Ring, Woodcock, Town Manager Dearmin, Town Clerk Lynette Hendrick, Fire Chief Smith, Finance Administrator Watson and Collins.
- Closed session under NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4) (property acquisition) entered at 4:35 PM on a motion by Horn, seconded by Lane, unanimous. The council reconvened in open session at 4:44 PM; no action was taken in closed session.
- Ordinance 896, amending the 2025-26 budget for election costs ($20,118.21 in county invoices against $13,500 budgeted, the Town's first cycle with partisan elections): moved by Lane, seconded by Ring, unanimous. See November 2026 Municipal Election.
- Forsyth County Sheriff's Office contract revision, a reduction of $8,670 because the night shift differential will not be approved for FY 2026-27: moved by Woodcock, seconded by Horn, unanimous. See Sheriff Office Contract Revision.
- Resolution 912 superseding Resolution 901 on the data center: the manager reported the developer's written commitment to petition for annexation. Lane moved, Horn seconded; Woodcock voted in opposition and it passed three to one. See Project Iron Spur Data Center.
- Adjourned at 5:16 PM on a motion by Horn, seconded by Lane.
Added detail from the video captions
- Special meeting of the Town Council on June 22, 2026, called to order at 4:34 p.m. (29:07) and adjourned about 1:11:48.
- Terry M. Bennett presided; Town Attorney Hugh Campbell was absent (family event) but available by phone.
- Roughly 42 minutes of meeting, most of it on the data center resolution, which passed 3-1.
Time on topic (from transcript timestamps; approximate, includes side talk and audience noise):
| Topic | Minutes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Project Iron Spur Data Center | 20 | 47% |
| Closed session (real property acquisition) | 10 | 23% |
| Public Trust and Transparency | 5 | 12% |
| Fiscal year 2025-26 budget amendment (election costs) | 4 | 9% |
| Sheriff's Office contract revision | 2 | 5% |
| Call to order, attorney note, adjournment | 2 | 4% |
Call to order and closed session
29:07-39:59
- Eddie Horn moved, and Mark Lane seconded, to enter closed session under G.S. 143-318.11, as the captions describe it, to discuss a potential real property acquisition (the minutes cite subsection (a)(4), property acquisition). The voice vote was in favor (the captions do not capture each vote).
- On return the mayor said no action was taken in closed session. The property is not identified in the captions. The stretch from about 30:00 to 39:30 is room noise only.
Fiscal year 2025-26 budget amendment, Ordinance 896
40:25-44:40
- Homer Dearmin said final Forsyth County Board of Elections invoices arrived June 10 totaling about $20,118 for the election cycle, against $13,500 budgeted. The captions give the primary at about $15,411 and the general election at about $4,707, so the town was roughly $6,618 over. The captions call the primary "March 2025"; the year is probably misheard.
- He said the county's switch to partisan municipal elections under a local act raised the odds of a primary and the town budgeted more than usual. Doing nothing would be a Local Government Commission budget violation, so he proposed adding $6,700 from fund balance to the elections line.
- Motion by Mark Lane to adopt the ordinance, second by Anita K. Ring; approved unanimously. This is background for the November 2026 Municipal Election.
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office contract revision
44:43-46:24
- The manager said the county told the town June 11 that the contract the council adopted June 8 had to be revised: the county commissioners did not approve a proposed night-shift differential, cutting the contract by $8,670 (personnel and percentage-based benefit costs). No other changes.
- Motion by Michael Woodcock, second by Eddie Horn; approved by voice vote.
Project Iron Spur Data Center
46:36-57:46, 59:21-1:06:10, 1:09:54-1:11:15
- The manager read the item: after Resolution 901 (April 2026, opposing the project), the town received written commitments from the developer's representatives (captioned "DRS group") to voluntarily petition for annexation of the project into Rural Hall and to put that commitment in a legally enforceable written agreement. Draft Resolution 912 would supersede 901, acknowledge the commitment, withdraw the town's formal opposition, express support while reserving the right to keep evaluating impacts and benefits, direct town representatives to discuss annexation, fiscal impacts, community benefits, infrastructure and environmental matters, and preserve the council's ability to act later. He made no recommendation either way.
- Asked whether the draft commits the town to work with the fire department, the manager said "public safety" in the draft is meant to include fire and EMS.
- Mayor's case (his statements): he said the project has changed except that it is still a data center across the road: three buildings, not four; larger setbacks; no razor-wire fencing. He said the land will be sold (he put it at about 95%) whether or not it becomes a data center, that the county commissioners decide the rezoning, that if the developer closes and the land is annexed the town would take in 130-plus acres of land value, and that without annexation the town gets nothing. He warned the land could instead be rezoned for 300-plus starter homes that would not pay for town services, and cited Winston-Salem's mayor as saying the city has plenty of water. He said he got about 50 emails running roughly two to one in one direction (the captions are unclear which; context suggests in favor of keeping Resolution 901).
- Annexation pledge: a speaker (not identified in the captions) said the developer's pledge had been reviewed, is binding and is "a contract, so to speak," while noting the town attorney was not present. That is the speaker's description; the agreement itself is not shown in the captions.
- Council members' reasons (speakers not labeled in the captions): one member said the only reason for the vote was financial, that it is the only way to protect the town if the county approves, that the member would pass on every message sent against the project to the commissioners, and that a vote for 912 is not a call saying the town supports it. A later speaker, referring to what Councilwoman Ring had said, said the council needs options and does not want to be left "holding the bag" if the commissioners approve. This member cited rising service costs, the choice between cutting services and raising taxes, an unfinished county fire district contract that "doesn't look favorable" to the town, and a claim that the project would help lower taxes. The member also said state Senate Bill 730 on data centers, if enacted, would not require the developer to change its plans.
- Opposing view: Michael Woodcock read two points from the city-county planning board: the proposal is inconsistent with the Rural Hall area plan update's mixed-use recommendation and with the 2045 recommendation to protect neighborhoods from nonresidential encroachment. He said nothing had changed since the last meeting, so he was not changing his position. The audience applauded. The mayor noted the planning board vote on the county rezoning was 7-2.
- Vote: motion to adopt Resolution 912 (mover not identified in the captions), seconded; discussion was called for and none followed. Voice vote: three in favor, one opposed, so adopted 3-1. The mayor does not vote except in a tie. The captions do not name the individual votes; Woodcock's stated position matches the one no vote, and Eddie Horn, Mark Lane and Anita K. Ring make up the rest of the council.
- The county commissioners, not the town, decide the rezoning. See the county page Project Iron Spur Data Center Rezoning (F-1669).
Public Trust and Transparency
57:48-59:21, 1:06:10-1:09:54
- During the data center discussion an audience member challenged the mayor on transparency. He replied that he learned of the project in a late-night call, held a town hall within days, and has held seven meetings, two of them at the public library, and invited emails; he said the opposition had dominated until the last meeting, when supporters also spoke.
- Audience members repeatedly spoke out, clapped and cheered. The mayor ruled them out of order, said raised hands do not give a comment period because this is not public comment, and threatened to clear the room. A council member told the audience to get its facts, and an audience member said the council was misrepresenting.
- Closing remarks (the mayor): he said he had tried to stay neutral because the council represents all 3,500 residents, "not just a few that want to be loud," and that at the planning board meeting most of those present did not live in the town. An audience member answered "Everyone votes against you." This is the claim of those speakers; the captions do not show who they are.
Adjournment
1:11:19-1:11:48
- Eddie Horn moved to adjourn, seconded by Mark Lane; approved.
Further issues from the minutes
- Project Iron Spur Data Center
- November 2026 Municipal Election
- Sheriff Office Contract Revision
- Public Trust and Transparency
Sources
- Approved minutes: https://www.ruralhall.com/api/blob/gb?gb=CfDJ8FrqSqLo8IxNr9uPO3mLntLSHzgQzEuYwf11ZIb77WeIGsxLdtWi7yF-G3R52GN2orE-SDCKkwE64Vv4RDrxEjnzdWMeOcr705NXFSqIpEEBWBJqMxIJcKEfP2gHJ8WrAaFlmszvpIJJffOmcEC3Nxhk02Zs57iTedSUR4agrdPY9EhjIBTHyQbWUO9zn2Ggaxh2IHtujFS1z4Xv-GisTBIl_9y6IsBd7i0jrF8pUPI09KIrJ10sOQpda3eFt3VBRUbGJa3hncSPnhqT8uS6iLWtg7Ub2Mjo-dq5B0ILFEPi
- Video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=3_M4surA8iA
Video
Transcript
These are auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard.
Transcript
24:14We were talking about a second ago.
24:55What's up?
25:25This is not
26:25Is that why?
26:44I'm
26:48sure
26:49there
27:05But they are
28:46>> [snorts]
29:07>> like to call this meeting of the uh
29:09Royal Hall Town Council special meeting
29:12to order at 4:34.
29:18First item uh
29:21to entertain a motion that the council
29:24enter
29:25into close session
29:27general statute 1343-31811
29:35>> parenthesis a parenthesis 5 to discuss
29:37and provide direction to staff regarding
29:39the negotiation of the price and other
29:41material terms related to a potential
29:43real property acquisition.
29:46All right, we have a motion by Mayor Pro
29:48Tim Horn. Do I have a second?
29:51>> Second.
29:52>> Second by Councilman Lane. All those in
29:54favor?
29:55>> I
29:56>> I
29:56>> Okay.
30:37Hey,
31:43I feel like
32:17I have
32:22that way.
32:48Stop.
32:52Stop.
33:23Thank you.
33:35He told me to be here.
34:16That's like
34:44Don't like to be on
34:51We have
35:14where is that?
35:34But I
36:17Oh yeah.
36:33social.
37:20Oh yeah.
37:36So you look
37:49>> Yeah. Yeah.
38:00She doesn't want to see that.
38:24Not sure there's water.
38:47Oh yeah.
39:25Okay.
39:59Okay. Um, there was no action taken in
40:02closed session, so we're back on to our
40:05special meeting. Also, I want to uh go
40:08ahead and let you know that Hugh
40:10Campbell, our town attorney, is not
40:12present today. He had a family emergency
40:14or a family event that he had to go to,
40:18but he is available for uh a call if I
40:21need him or we need him.
40:25All right. Uh attachment one, fiscal
40:28year 2025 26 budget amendment. Uh
40:33>> thank you,
40:33>> manager. Council, as you're aware, back
40:36on uh June 8th at your regular meeting,
40:39we had a budget amendment for several
40:41items um to close out the current fiscal
40:44year. However, on June 10th, we received
40:48the final election invoices from the
40:49Forcy County uh Board of Elections,
40:52which totaled $20,118
40:55for 2025 election related expenses. Um,
40:59when the county switched to a partisan
41:02election under the local act in the
41:05North Carolina General Assembly, we were
41:08informed last year that we could
41:09anticipate additional election related
41:11expenses given the potential for a
41:14primary. So, we did budget more than we
41:16normally budget for elections. We
41:18budgeted $13,500
41:21for elections in the current year
41:22budget. The general election expense
41:25totaled $4,76.73.
41:29So if we'd only had the general
41:30election, we would have saved around
41:33$9,000.
41:34However, uh because of the multiple uh
41:38candidates from multiple parties, we
41:41were required to have a primary election
41:42in March 2025.
41:45And the invoice that we received on June
41:4710th for that primary election was for
41:49$15,41148.
41:53So the 1541148 plus the $470673
41:58totaled $20,11821
42:02which is higher than our budgeted amount
42:05of 13,500
42:07by a total of $6,61821
42:11because elections are not budgeted
42:13within a department. If we did nothing
42:16it would constitute a budget violation
42:17under the North Carolina local
42:19government budget and fiscal control
42:21act. So, it is necessary to allocate
42:23additional resources to cover the total
42:26election expense. I have proposed a
42:29budget amendment for you that is
42:30attached in your agenda packet that
42:33would allocate an additional $6,700
42:36to our elections line item and we would
42:39pull that from appropriated fund
42:40balance. So, it would increase your
42:43total uh fiscal year budget from
42:456,183987
42:47to 6,18987.
42:51It is a small amount. Uh but if we did
42:53nothing, we would be subject to a
42:55violation notice from the LGC and
42:58required to identify that as a financial
43:00performance indicator. So I figure it's
43:03worth the work to amend the budget to
43:05reflect the actual election cost. So our
43:07recommendation is to adopt the proposed
43:09budget amendment.
43:12>> Okay. Any questions to um town manager?
43:18>> None.
43:23Um,
43:25so the primary cost, the actual cost of
43:29the primary was how much, Homer?
43:32>> $15,41148.
43:35>> The primary
43:36>> for the March 2025 primary election.
43:40I did um send counsel and I think
43:42everybody saw that because we've had
43:44some individual discussions around that
43:46breakdown which I emailed to you all
43:48back on June 10th along with a copy of
43:50the invoices from Forcy County. But for
43:52county did provide a thorough breakdown
43:54of the election expenses for both the
43:56primary [snorts] and general election.
43:59Okay,
44:02any comments?
44:04Seeing none, I'd entertain a motion to
44:07do the fiscal year 20 2025 through 2026
44:12budget amendment
44:14for
44:16the election.
44:16>> Mayor, I'll make a motion to adopt
44:18ordinance 896, amendment to the fiscal
44:21year 202526 budget.
44:24>> All right, we have a motion by
44:25Councilman Lane.
44:26>> Second.
44:27>> Second by Councilwoman Ring. Any further
44:31discussion?
44:33Seeing none, all those in favor?
44:35>> I
44:35>> I
44:36>> I
44:36>> Okay, unanimous.
44:40We'll move back to town manager Dearman
44:43to uh for Scythe County Sheriff's Office
44:45contract revision.
44:47>> Thank you, Mayor. This is another item
44:49that should look very familiar because
44:51you just adopted this contract back on
44:54June 8th. Uh however, on June 11th, we
44:58were informed by the county that the
45:01town would need to sign an updated
45:03agreement to reflect a reduction in the
45:05overall cost of the sheriff's office
45:06contract due to the county commissioners
45:09not approving a proposed night shift
45:11differential in the proposed contract
45:14for uh municipal law enforcement
45:16services. When they eliminated that
45:20night shift differential, that also
45:21resulted in a reduction in the personnel
45:23costs. um and any of the corresponding
45:26percentagebased benefit costs which
45:29resulted in an overall reduction to the
45:31contract of $8,670.
45:34Um given that I would advise and
45:36recommend that the council approved the
45:38updated agreement with the precise
45:40county sheriff's office and I'll I'll
45:42reiterate that there are no additional
45:44changes to the contract just those
45:46reductions in benefit allocations.
45:51Any um questions,
45:54comments?
45:58I would entertain a motion to accept the
46:01Force County Sheriff's Office contract
46:03revision.
46:06>> I'll make the motion.
46:08>> Motion by Councilman Woodcock.
46:11>> I'll second.
46:12>> Second by [clears throat] Mayor Prom
46:13Horn. Any further discussion? Seeing
46:17none, all those in favor? I
46:22Okay.
46:33Next item
46:36would be attachment three. [snorts]
46:39Um the data center discussion. I'm going
46:42to have uh town manager Dearman to
46:47read what we're here for.
46:50Thank you, Mayor Council. Following the
46:53adoption of resolution 901 in April of
46:562026, the town received written
46:59commitments from representatives of the
47:00DRS group expressing the developers
47:02intention to voluntarily position
47:04petition for annexation of the project
47:07into the town of Rural Hall and to
47:09memorialize that commitment through
47:11legally enforcable means or a written
47:13agreement.
47:14The attached draft resolution uh
47:17prepared at the or with the
47:19understanding that a majority of the
47:21council supports this direction is
47:24intended to provide a framework for
47:25council discussion in light of that
47:28additional information that has been
47:29received.
47:31The proposed draft resolution 912 would
47:34supersede resolution number 901
47:37and acknowledge the developer's written
47:39annexation commitment. It would withdraw
47:42the town's formal opposition to the
47:43project and express the council's
47:45support for the project while reserving
47:47the right to continue evaluating
47:49potential impacts and benefits. It would
47:52direct town representatives to engage in
47:54discussions regarding annexation, fiscal
47:56impacts, community benefits,
47:58infrastructure, environmental
48:00considerations, and other matters
48:02affecting the town of Rural Hall. And it
48:05would preserve the council's ability to
48:06take future action should circumstances
48:09warrant.
48:10As this is a council um driven or
48:14directed initiative, I am not making a
48:17recommendation either way other than
48:19that you discuss the impact of the new
48:20information that you have received and
48:23determine your position as a town
48:24council as outlined in the proposed
48:27draft resolution 912.
48:31Okay. [clears throat]
48:33All right. We're going to open this up
48:35for discussion before I ask for any
48:37motions or anything. Um um I'm just
48:42going to start I'll start out with a
48:44couple of things and why are we here? Um
48:48when there's a res uh already a
48:50resolution 901 was put out. Resolution
48:54901 was uh adopted at our uh very first
48:58meeting after uh we found out about the
49:01data center. This project, in my
49:04opinion, has changed just about
49:06everything except two things. It's still
49:09a data center and it's located across
49:11the road. Everything else pretty much in
49:15that original plan has been changed to a
49:18pretty good extent of different changes.
49:21Brought this back for the council to
49:24consider.
49:25uh
49:27several um and I'll turn it over to
49:30y'all in just a second, but just things
49:32that have come up. Um
49:35it started out and the news is still
49:38reporting that it's a four building. It
49:40is a three building. Um they've uh
49:44increased the setbacks. They've changed
49:47the way the fencing and I'm just going
49:48to hit some of the highlights and we can
49:50get into more discussion because every
49:53council member has had the opportunity
49:55and has taken that opportunity to look
49:58at all the revised plans and ask any
50:00questions of the developers that
50:03[snorts] uh if they had questions on the
50:05new um uh architectural re renderings
50:09and the type of fencing. It has been
50:12stated that that it was going to be
50:15razor wire fencing. There is no razor
50:17wire fencing. That was probably never an
50:20intent, but that was one of the big
50:22things that's come up. But as we
50:25discuss, I'll bring up more items as um
50:29as we get into this discussion. Want to
50:31make sure that everybody's got the
50:33opportunity to look over it and ask
50:37anything you'd like. Okay. I'll turn it
50:41over to the
50:43>> So
50:45the section on
50:47on
50:50the transportation utility public safety
50:54[snorts] service delivery considerate is
50:56that part of the for the fire department
51:00anything in here
51:02specifically given the authority for him
51:04to work you know
51:08that part of it. Do we have anything
51:10about
51:13any commitments to work with the fire
51:15department?
51:15>> That's that's what that language is
51:17intended to convey.
51:18>> Okay, that's what I thought.
51:21>> Public safety. [clears throat] When you
51:22say public safety, a lot of folks assume
51:24you're talking about law enforcement,
51:26but that encompasses fire and EMS as
51:28well.
51:28>> That's what I wanted to [clears throat]
51:29confirm when I read it.
51:32>> Okay.
51:53>> [cough]
51:53[clears throat]
51:56>> again. Um, why it's quiet, I'll go ahead
51:59and throw out some of the things. I I
52:01say there's uh only two things that's um
52:05actually not changed. Uh one of the
52:07things we know that property is going to
52:09be sold. Uh we know it's uh uh feel
52:15pretty much 95% sure it's going to be
52:17sold whether it's a data center or not.
52:20Here's uh some of my thoughts on that.
52:23Uh and I have first of all I want to
52:26recognize and thank everyone because I
52:28have not responded to the 50some emails
52:31I received. Uh but I will tell you that
52:34the emails are 2 to one.
52:39[snorts]
52:39Two to one and I've got them all right
52:42here and I'm sure I'll get a public
52:43records request for them. So I've
52:45already got them printed out for you. Uh
52:48two to one. when I state say two to one
52:50that's for the resolution and the other
52:54is against the uh change in resolution.
52:59Some of the things that um um has come
53:01up um we know the land's going to be
53:05sold.
53:06We know that uh right now uh we have the
53:10commitment that it would be annexed into
53:13the town of Royal Hall. What does that
53:16do for the town of Royal Hall? a lot of
53:18things. Uh my last mayor's meeting and I
53:21even um it was quoted by me and I did
53:24say that if we're if they do get this
53:27project and it wasn't annexed, Royal
53:30Hall would get nothing out of it. And
53:32that is true. That goes to the county.
53:35But if it's annexed into the town of
53:38Royal Hall, then um uh the way this is
53:42written up at closing
53:46uh if the project is approved. Now,
53:49let's keep in mind,
53:51the county commissioners is the ones
53:53that going to make a decision on whether
53:55this is going to be reszoned. But if it
53:57is reszone from the county commissioners
54:00and they uh they buy that property at
54:03the closing, we will u uh be meeting to
54:08uh accept that land as a part of Royal
54:12Hall. So I've been questioned several
54:16times, well this thing's going to be
54:18built out. It's going to be years. Royal
54:19Hall's not going to they're not going to
54:21get anything. Well, the land does have a
54:24value. I can't tell you what the value
54:25is going to be. That'll be decided after
54:27it's sold, but the town would reap the
54:30benefits of the 130 plus acres of land
54:34that would come into rule hall.
54:38If this is not does not go through,
54:43I'm pretty confident in saying we know
54:46it's going to be developed.
54:48And I'm I'm going to steal a comment
54:50that the u I think it was the chairman
54:53of the force county planning board said
54:56and I've said it years and years and I I
54:59may even say he took that idea from me
55:01but you u uh the comment was be careful
55:06of what you wish for
55:09and I've used that many of times. I've
55:12also uh used another comment um if you
55:16don't grow you will die.
55:19And um
55:22my concerns and I think some of them on
55:25the council and and I'm not going to
55:27speak for you. The concern that uh
55:31there's going to be that land is great
55:33for development of starter homes just
55:37like Chandler Place is across 52.
55:41It would not be anything to reszone it
55:43to put 300 plus homes over there. Now,
55:49uh, would it be in the town limits of
55:51Rule Hall?
55:53That would be a decision that the
55:54council would make, but I can tell you
55:57from our, uh, 300 and some homes,
56:01servicing them is not going to be a tax
56:03benefit for this town.
56:07So, with that being said, um
56:12>> well, the property is going to be sold
56:16and
56:18and now the property is going to be sold
56:21and and and I'm I'm just throwing this
56:24out to the council and it's the
56:26developer's right to build whatever. It
56:28is a mixeduse and we can talk about the
56:31count the planning board. It was um what
56:357 to2 and that doesn't surprise me
56:39because they were looking at the legacy
56:41plan. The legacy plan was planned uh uh
56:44goes back a lot before you even talked
56:46about data centers before you talked
56:48about loves and stuff over here. Um
56:54I've looked at the property.
56:57People say why is that that's too nice
57:00of a land for a data center.
57:03It has a sub power station. It has
57:06higher powered transmission lines. It
57:08has the water coming. One of the biggest
57:11concerns is water and power. The city of
57:14Winston Salem, the mayor quoted and uh
57:18that the city of Winston Salem has
57:20plenty of water to sail. Duke Energy
57:24will have to make the decision on how
57:26much power has come.
57:28I've been a said that the developer
57:31can't answer questions. Well, I kind of
57:34understand that also. He can't tell us
57:37who's going to be there because he
57:39doesn't know.
57:41The same as I've got a building in
57:43Durham for lease right now. I don't know
57:45who my tenants going to be in next
57:47month.
57:48>> But you get to choose it.
57:50>> But um you should be demanding
57:53transparency.
57:54>> Transparency. I'm about as transparent
57:56as I can get. That's why I'm standing
57:58here. Well, the biggest laugh of all I
58:02always hear. But anyway,
58:05um
58:07it's more it's about as transparent. Let
58:09me tell you in April, how did you find
58:13out about the data center?
58:15>> I got a letter.
58:18Well, you were late because we we put
58:20out a notice very quickly because at
58:228:30 one night I received the call. By
58:25the Monday of the next uh week, three
58:28days later, I uh created a town hall
58:32meeting,
58:34a mayor's town hall meeting. I had two
58:36meetings that month plus a council.
58:38There have been seven meetings to hear
58:42your opinions
58:44>> and um
58:47I I've sat in the seven meetings
58:50and up until the last one it was the
58:53same thing every meeting except the last
58:57meeting the ones that were for it did to
59:01come out and we started hearing other
59:04comments. up to that it was pretty much
59:07a one-sided.
59:09It was put out
59:12to send emails. I have the emails.
59:17I don't know how much more transparent
59:19you want.
59:21>> The developer the developer has put this
59:25out to us.
59:27If the county decides to do it and we do
59:31nothing, we get nothing.
59:34So that's my spill on it until some of
59:37the council wants to speak on it.
59:44>> I think y'all done very good
59:46representing. I've seen that they listen
59:49to the people.
59:51I I saw it at the uh zoning uh meeting a
59:55couple of weeks ago.
59:57>> Do not sell yourselves short. The only
1:00:00reason I am placing this vote has to do
1:00:03with financial. And if they don't
1:00:05approve it, this goes away. But it is
1:00:08the only way to protect us with the
1:00:12money. And I I you do have a right to
1:00:15disagree. But I don't get a vote. And
1:00:17that's the unfortunate thing. and I will
1:00:21share every message you have sent
1:00:24against it. I promise to the
1:00:26commissioners. I have talked to them.
1:00:29But all I'm doing is making sure that
1:00:32what are we going to do after on the
1:00:3431st if it if it's gone through.
1:00:38We're stuck. But y'all are the ones.
1:00:41They listen to you. I know that you do
1:00:45not want it. All we're trying to do is
1:00:48in case at least we're getting something
1:00:51off of it. If not, it's going to be
1:00:54there. And whether we do this or not,
1:00:56the commissioners are not, they're
1:00:59paying attention to everything, but they
1:01:02are definitely not going to say, "Oh,
1:01:04Ruh Hall's in support. It's a done
1:01:06deal." That's not how it works. But you
1:01:08people, I've seen how you've come
1:01:11together and you do what you got to do.
1:01:15This is not has anything to do I'm not
1:01:19calling them and saying I'm for it now.
1:01:22We're doing the financial best thing for
1:01:24this town and that's all it is.
1:01:28>> Okay. All right. Um and
1:01:31>> uh I am for the people I
1:01:34>> need don't
1:01:38uh
1:01:40>> we're
1:01:42um
1:01:45>> okay we're going to move forward. There
1:01:48is no discussion at this meeting. Um
1:01:50>> I'd like to make it my remarks if that's
1:01:54>> the discussion is with this council.
1:01:59Go ahead,
1:02:00>> Michael.
1:02:00>> Um, two bullet points brought up at the
1:02:03city county planning board. The proposal
1:02:06is inconsistent with Roy Hall area
1:02:08updates recommendation for mixeduse
1:02:09development of the subject property. The
1:02:12request is inconsistent with the
1:02:15recommendations for 2045 to protect
1:02:18neighborhoods [applause]
1:02:21from inappropriate nonresidential
1:02:24encroachment.
1:02:25>> Yes. [snorts] And as you said yourself,
1:02:27nothing's changed to the last meeting,
1:02:28so I'm not changing.
1:02:32[applause]
1:02:38>> Okay.
1:02:41>> Mayor.
1:02:43>> Yeah.
1:02:44>> All right. [applause]
1:02:44>> If I may, [cheering]
1:02:46I'm I'm sure there's not a person in in
1:02:48this room that wishes we didn't have
1:02:49this dilemma ahead of us. Me being one
1:02:53of them.
1:02:55But I I think even as I had stated when
1:02:58we voted on the first resolution, we
1:03:01need to have options not knowing how
1:03:03this will go since we do not have that
1:03:05final determination.
1:03:08As Councilwoman Ring said, I don't want
1:03:11to sit here by chance that the
1:03:15commissioners for foresight county
1:03:16approve it, leaving us holding the bag,
1:03:20not receiving anything in return. And
1:03:24that's not saying they're going to
1:03:25approve it or not. We don't know.
1:03:28But we also have to realize the state
1:03:31that the county is in financially.
1:03:34And you also have to realize that's
1:03:36affecting the town of Ro Hall as well.
1:03:39The cost of everything. Cost of us
1:03:41providing services to the town is
1:03:45consistently going up. The only way to
1:03:49address that is to cut services andor
1:03:54raise taxes. I don't think any one of
1:03:57you in the town of Royal Hall want to do
1:03:59either one. I don't.
1:04:02>> And then um the the also on the table is
1:04:06a new contract for the fire district
1:04:07that foresight county is working on that
1:04:11is still yet to be determined and
1:04:12finalized.
1:04:15It doesn't look favorable to the town of
1:04:18Rural Hall
1:04:20to continue the level of service we're
1:04:22providing not only to the town of Ro
1:04:25Hall but to the fire district
1:04:28once again. Do we raise taxes? Do we cut
1:04:31back services? These are all things that
1:04:33are if not happening today, they will
1:04:36happen in the very near future. it will
1:04:38happen anyway.
1:04:39>> So, in one respect,
1:04:41>> the money that we potentially stand to
1:04:45receive
1:04:46>> from a data center being across the
1:04:48street would assist in a lot of those
1:04:52issues
1:04:53to help the town survive.
1:04:57>> The um Okay.
1:05:01>> All right.
1:05:04the
1:05:05>> has anyone uh we have the SB730 Senate
1:05:10bill that's uh passed the house went
1:05:13through the Senate and is back in the
1:05:14house to be passed that I don't know if
1:05:17y'all are familiar with that bill but it
1:05:19is addressing data centers and all the
1:05:22guidelines that have to be uh the state
1:05:25uh once that goes passed it will become
1:05:28effective immediately. I've asked point
1:05:30blank to the developers, where do they
1:05:34stand if that bill is passed?
1:05:37They are right dead in it. They will not
1:05:39have to make any changes to uh to be in
1:05:43line with what the state is requiring.
1:05:45So that's a that's a point to keep up.
1:05:48Um, also the um
1:05:55>> our community
1:05:57>> the road the the land across the road is
1:06:02outside of our town limits and I and uh
1:06:08[applause]
1:06:10>> well you're clapping now but you weren't
1:06:13clapping last year when we raised taxes
1:06:17And
1:06:21>> uh I'm telling you here, this project
1:06:25will help lower taxes in this town.
1:06:30>> And um
1:06:36>> well,
1:06:37>> and then I would I would I would advise
1:06:40y'all to get your facts before
1:06:47I'm I'm going to tell you.
1:06:52>> Hey,
1:06:54>> I'm going to call this to order. You're
1:06:56out of order. If this meeting will
1:06:59continue, we I will call the vote here.
1:07:01I'm I'm trying to discuss this with the
1:07:03council. This is going to be a council's
1:07:06decision.
1:07:08>> Um,
1:07:11>> let me tell you. say, let I'm just going
1:07:13to uh and I'm not going to get back to
1:07:15answering questions. I said our legal
1:07:17council wasn't here. This has been
1:07:19reviewed. It is a binding. It will it is
1:07:23uh a contract. so uh to speak. Um
1:07:28>> let me tell you, like I said, I have
1:07:31spent a lot of time, a lot of hours,
1:07:34and I I'm not going to argue with with
1:07:38you about it because this is the
1:07:40council's decision.
1:07:42>> Okay.
1:07:46>> Who here?
1:07:49>> I I was not there and it was
1:07:52misrepresented.
1:07:54All right, I'm going to clear the room.
1:07:57Have you ever had a room cleared?
1:07:59>> I'm I telling you.
1:08:03>> I'm You listen. You listen.
1:08:07>> Okay.
1:08:09>> All right.
1:08:11No, I don't. Raising hands does not get
1:08:14a comment period. This is not public
1:08:16comments.
1:08:26Okay,
1:08:29I just want to mention one other thing
1:08:31and uh to the council. I've heard at a
1:08:35lot of our meetings and like I said,
1:08:37I've been uh we've had seven meetings.
1:08:39There was two at the u at the public
1:08:43library. So, there's been a lot of
1:08:45opportunity to voice opinions, voice
1:08:48concerns. I've received the emails and
1:08:50I'm uh got them all here. I know y'all
1:08:53have gotten a lot of emails. It was um I
1:08:57I had to actually call uh someone and
1:09:00ask them what in the world am I getting
1:09:02all these emails for. I didn't realize
1:09:04it was posted online to send all of us
1:09:07emails. But we did get them. And I hope
1:09:09you've had an opportunity to read them.
1:09:12Uh, and I've said all along, I said it
1:09:14at the first meeting, I would try to
1:09:16stay neutral in this because I have to
1:09:18represent and this council has has to
1:09:21represent every citizens in this town,
1:09:24not not just a few that want to be loud.
1:09:29Um,
1:09:31and I'm I'm
1:09:34You can say whatever you want. I The
1:09:36town has 3500
1:09:39residents.
1:09:41>> Okay. Everyone votes against you.
1:09:43>> Well, and that's fine. And you know
1:09:45what? Work on it.
1:09:48>> Um, no, I'm not selling out.
1:09:51>> I'm not selling out. Okay.
1:09:54>> All right.
1:09:57>> Yes. If you live in the town
1:10:00>> All right. If you let
1:10:12[laughter]
1:10:14>> Okay. All right. Well, I'm glad you
1:10:18actually I'm glad you did have that
1:10:19stand up and and at the uh planning
1:10:22board meeting at that majority of the
1:10:24people there did not live in the town of
1:10:27Royal Hall. And we know it. You know it
1:10:29as well as I do. Okay. I am going to uh
1:10:33um I'm going to ask for entertain a
1:10:36motion. I'm going to entertain a motion
1:10:40to move forward.
1:10:44>> Mayor, I move to make a motion to move
1:10:47to adopt resolution 912.
1:10:51>> We got a motion. We have a second.
1:10:54>> Second.
1:10:54>> I have a second. Is there any
1:10:56discussion?
1:10:59Further discussion
1:11:01seeing none. All those in favor signify
1:11:04by saying I.
1:11:05>> I. I.
1:11:06>> All opposed.
1:11:08>> I.
1:11:08>> So that was 3 to one. [applause]
1:11:15>> All right. That's
1:11:19>> all right. I'd entertain a motion to
1:11:21adjurnn.
1:11:22>> Make a motion to adjurnn. Motion to
1:11:23adjurnn by Councilman or Mayor Pro Tim
1:11:27Horn.
1:11:27>> Second.
1:11:28>> Second by Councilman Lane. All those in
1:11:30favor
1:11:30>> I
1:11:44app.
1:11:48>> Oh.
