Mayor Mitch Colvin made it clear Monday from the outset of the Fayetteville City Council meeting at City Hall, which drew a full house of people who signed up for a public hearing about data centers.
“We’re going to maintain the decorum of the room,” Colvin said. “If you are unable to do so, you will be asked to leave. There’ll be no exceptions tonight, so we hope that everyone can be here to express themselves. We will refrain from personal attacks, disparaging comments towards specific individuals or one another and we’ll respect each other.”
Apparently, some speakers didn’t get the memo.
“We had an election where Mitch Colvin and the corrupt gang of six…” Zachary Traylor began his three-minutes, and the mayor quickly called out Traylor. “No sir,” Colvin told Traylor. “There’s not going to be any personal attacks, no name calling. So, whatever that is, you can talk privately to me about that. We’re not going to waste citizens’ time or our time. You’re allowed to speak about the topic, which is data centers.” Traylor said his peace, and then flipped his middle finger to the mayor and those on the dais.
Speaking at a public hearing is not a license to be disrespectful or for personal and disparaging verbal attacks or other socially unacceptable behavior. The mayor was right. Decorum and respect, no matter your passion about anything, matters.
Something you can’t argue about at the City Council meeting Monday was a report from Craig Harmon, a senior planner with the city, about how the city is attempting to set rules and regulations for data centers. “The guy up there, he could have been speaking French to me,” Carrol Olinger told the council about Harmon’s presentation. “I didn’t understand a gosh darn thing he said. He said a thousand alphabets.” Harmon described data centers with countless acronyms, which many of us are not familiar with. Not even the council, I would hazard a guess, understood every acronym.
Arguing with some people can be an exercise in futility. Most of us believe what we believe, and seldom can we be persuaded to change, despite someone else’s opinion or point of view. We can argue ad nauseam, but sooner or later, both sides just have to agree to disagree.
“Hey Bill, just a short thank you for following Nate Horne and giving him some recognition,” Jerry Peele wrote in an email about my August 5 column on the 15-year-old’s recent record-setting 29-30 – 59 at Highland Country Club. All the credit to Nate Horne, who can play the game.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Mr. Jackie Lewis,” Cumberland County Extension Director Lisa Childers wrote in a recent email about the Cumberland County farmer. “Mr. Jackie will be remembered for his devotion to the youth of Cumberland County, especially his support of our youth livestock program. There was truly nothing he and [wife] Ms. Debby wouldn’t do to support a child.” Jasper “Jackie: Wade Lewis Jr. died at age 74 on August 5. A funeral was held August 9. Lewis was interred at Wiley Autry Cemetery in Autryville.
If you like barbecue and all the fixings, then consider stopping by the Lee Furniture parking lot at 4120 Raeford Road from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 21. That’s when the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is holding a fundraiser for Special Olympics of North Carolina. Plates, according to sheriff’s Lt. Mickley Locklear, are $10 each, including potato salad, coleslaw, and a dinner roll. Orders of 10 plates or more, if you wish, will be delivered, but you will need to place those orders by Monday. Call 910-824-4220. You also can purchase a 50/50 raffle ticket. You can make checks out to NC Special Olympics. I covered Special Olympics athletes for many years in my days at The Fayetteville Times, and they are athletes who competed with heart.
Coming Sunday: About data centers from those who know.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
