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Board of Commissioners — Regular Meeting

Wake County · Board of Commissioners
Monday, November 3, 2025 at 5:00 pm · Wake County Justice Center

Regular meeting Appointments and personnelFire and EMSGrants and outside fundingHealth and human servicesTransitParks and recreationPolice and public safetyBudget and appropriationsComprehensive planData centers and large loadsFaith and cultural communitiesPublic facilitiesArts and public artEconomic development incentivesEnvironment and sustainabilitySchools and educationTax rate and revaluation

Agenda document Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved 2.Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meetings of September 15, 2025 and October 6, 2025 and the Work Session of October 13, 2025 accepted · Pass · Commissioner Thomas moved, seconded by Commissioner Waters, to the Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meetings of September 15, 2025 and October 6, 2025 and…
  2. Approved 4.National Adoption Month Proclamation accepted · Pass · Commissioner Waters moved, seconded by Commissioner Stallings, that the Board of Commissioners adopts the proclamation requested by Commissioners. The motion car…
  3. Approved 12.Public Hearing and Consideration of a Business Development Grant Agreement for Ypsomed accepted · Pass · Vice-Chair Mial moved, seconded by Commissioner Waters, that the Board of Commissioners holds a public hearing and approves a Business Development Grant Agreemen…
  4. Approved 13.Approve Stadium Lease Agreement between Wake County, Town of Zebulon, and Capitol Broadcasting Company accepted · Pass · Vice-Chair Mial moved, seconded by Commissioner Thomas, that the Board of Commissioners: 1. Approves the lease agreement between Wake County, Town of Zebulon, an…

Another 6 items passed on the consent agenda, which is a single motion covering routine business. See the list.

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Wake County commissioners take up a lease agreement for the Zebulon stadium with the Town of Zebulon and Capitol Broadcasting Company, plus $8.5 million to fund field, lighting and concession upgrades. The board also holds public hearings on a business development grant for Ypsomed and on adopting the Eastern Wake Area Plan as part of the county's comprehensive plan.

On consent, the board considers additional federal transit funding, a Durham-passed sub-recipient grant for the Sheriff's Office, more money for WakeBrook renovations, and November proclamations. The agenda also includes a manager's update on the federal government shutdown and several appointments to county boards and commissions.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Commissioners approved all three major items on November 3, each on a 7-0 vote with the full board present. They approved the stadium lease among the county, Zebulon and Capitol Broadcasting, accepted $238,164.89 in lease-termination and rent payments from the departing Carolina Mudcats into the Major Facilities Capital Fund, and moved $8.5 million from the county's general capital fund to pay for a new third-base entrance, social area, upper-level viewing and family play space, with the field meant to be ready for play by spring 2026.

The board also adopted the Eastern Wake Area Plan as a comprehensive plan amendment, after Planning Board Vice Chair Ted VanDyke reported his board's unanimous recommendation, and approved the Ypsomed grant agreement. Neither public hearing drew a speaker. All nine consent items carried on one motion. During a manager's update on the federal shutdown, commissioners heard from Mike Burger of Triad Food Industry, Catholic Charities director Barkley Sample and Ron Pringle about falling donations and rising demand at area food banks as SNAP and WIC benefits were cut. The board held no closed session.

How the votes went

Every recorded vote passed 7-0, with Chair Susan Evans and Commissioners Adamson, Jackson, Mial, Stallings, Thomas and Waters all present and voting aye: approval of the agenda, the prior minutes, the National Adoption Month proclamation, the Eastern Wake Area Plan, the Ypsomed grant and the Zebulon stadium lease. The consent agenda carried on a single motion; the minutes do not record a numbered tally for it. No vote is recorded for the Operation Green Light resolution or for the board appointments, which the minutes show as recommendations rather than final votes.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

9 members of the public spoke.

  1. Steve Rao thanked the board for supporting SNAP recipients, raised concerns about a data center in Apex and its energy needs, and said he is completing 14 years on the Morrisville town board.
  2. Martique Lorray, of Southwest Raleigh, asked that the Athens Drive library replacement be built near its current site.
  3. Heather D Patti, also of Southwest Raleigh, asked that the new library be built near the current location.
  4. Carmen Wimberley Cauthen raised concerns about the county's hospitality tax, questioning who benefits from the 2028 destination plan.
  5. Katherine Slager urged the board to keep the Athens Drive library where it is.
  6. Octavia Rainey, of Southeast Raleigh, said local food pantries would be overwhelmed by SNAP cuts and asked the county to help churches and pantries with emergency funds.
  7. Mike Burger, of Triad Food Industry in Wake Forest, said his group feeds 2,000 families a month but donations have fallen by half even as need has grown.
  8. Barkley Sample, director of Catholic Charities, said the group has distributed more than 5 million pounds of food and is seeing more families rely on pantries.
  9. Ron Pringle said food banks will have to make hard choices about which schools and shelters to keep supporting as resources shrink.

Public comment ranged from the Athens Drive library replacement to the county's hospitality tax to a proposed data center in Apex. Food-bank leaders spoke separately, later in the meeting, during the manager's update on the federal shutdown.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.

Speaking at this meeting

Public comment runs 5:30 to 6 p.m. at the first regular meeting of the month and 2:30 to 3 p.m. at the second. Speakers get three minutes. Written comments can be submitted online between 9 a.m. and noon on the day of a regular meeting.

Wake County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Jump to an item (36 on this agenda)
  1. Meeting Called to Order: Chair Susan Evans
  2. Pledge of Allegiance
  3. Invocation: Commissioner Tara Waters
  4. Items of Business
  5. 1.Approval of Agenda
  6. 2.Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meetings of September 15, 2025…
  7. 3.Operation Green Light Resolution
  8. 4.National Adoption Month Proclamation
  9. Consent Agenda
  10. 5.Accept and Appropriate Additional Sub-Recipient Grant Funds from the…
  11. 6.FY26 Federal Transit Administration CARES Act Funding Agreement and F…
  12. 7.Appropriation of Additional Funding to Support WakeBrook Renovations
  13. 8.Proclamations for November 2025
  14. 9.Tax Committee Recommendations for Gross Receipts Penalty, Refund Requ…
  15. General Public Comments
  16. 10.General Public Comments
  17. Regular Agenda
  18. 11.Public Hearing on the Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment 01-25 to…
  19. 12.Public Hearing and Consideration of a Business Development Grant Agre…
  20. 13.Approve Stadium Lease Agreement between Wake County, Town of Zebulon,…
  21. Manager's Report
  22. 14.Federal Shutdown Update
  23. Appointments
  24. 15.Fire Commission
  25. 16.Go Triangle Board of Trustees
  26. 17.Health and Human Services Board
  27. 18.Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
  28. 19.Library Commission
  29. 20.Open Space and Parks Advisory Commission
  30. 21.United Arts Grants Panel
  31. 22.Upcoming Vacancies for December 2025
  32. Other Business
  33. 23.Reports from Advisory and Regional Boards
  34. 24.Other Reports from Commissioners
  35. Closed Session
  36. Adjourn

Agenda items (36)

Appointment · 9Procedural · 8Consent agenda · 6Staff or committee report · 4Public hearing · 2Minutes approval · 1Resolution · 1Proclamation or recognition · 1Other · 1Contract or award · 1Discussion item · 1Closed session · 1
  1. Meeting Called to Order: Chair Susan Evans
    Procedural
  2. Pledge of Allegiance
    Procedural
  3. Invocation: Commissioner Tara Waters
    Procedural
  4. Items of Business
    Procedural Fire and EMS
  5. 1. Approval of Agenda
    Procedural Fire and EMS
    accepted · Pass · Commissioner Thomas moved, seconded by Commissioner Stallings to the Approval of Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:
  6. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meetings of September 15, 2025 and October 6, 2025 and the Work Session of October 13, 2025
    Minutes approval Fire and EMS
    accepted · Pass · Commissioner Thomas moved, seconded by Commissioner Waters, to the Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meetings of September 15, 2025 and October 6, 2025 and the Work Session of October 13, 2025.The motion carried by the following vote:
  7. 3. Operation Green Light Resolution
    Resolution Police and public safety
    The board adopts a resolution supporting Operation Green Light, a veterans-support initiative.
  8. 4. National Adoption Month Proclamation
    Proclamation or recognition Fire and EMS
    accepted · Pass · Commissioner Waters moved, seconded by Commissioner Stallings, that the Board of Commissioners adopts the proclamation requested by Commissioners. The motion carried by the following vote:
  1. General Public Comments
    Procedural
  2. 10. General Public Comments
    Procedural Data centers and large loads
    Six residents speak on topics including a proposed data center in Apex, SNAP cuts, the Athens Drive library replacement, and the county's hospitality tax.
  3. Regular Agenda
    Other
  4. 11. Public Hearing on the Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment 01-25 to Adopt the Eastern Wake Area Plan
    Public hearing Comprehensive plan
    A public hearing on adopting the Eastern Wake Area Plan as an amendment to the county's comprehensive plan, PlanWake.
  5. 12. Public Hearing and Consideration of a Business Development Grant Agreement for Ypsomed
    Public hearing Economic development incentivesGrants and outside funding
    A public hearing on a business development grant agreement with Ypsomed, a medical device manufacturer.
    accepted · Pass · Vice-Chair Mial moved, seconded by Commissioner Waters, that the Board of Commissioners holds a public hearing and approves a Business Development Grant Agreement with Ypsomed subject to the terms and conditions acceptable to the County Attorney. The motion carried by the following vote:
  6. 13. Approve Stadium Lease Agreement between Wake County, Town of Zebulon, and Capitol Broadcasting Company
    Contract or award Budget and appropriationsParks and recreationPublic facilities
    The board approved a stadium lease agreement among the county, Zebulon and Capitol Broadcasting Company, and accepted $238,164.89 in lease termination and rent payments from the Carolina Mudcats into the county's major facilities fund.
    accepted · Pass · Vice-Chair Mial moved, seconded by Commissioner Thomas, that the Board of Commissioners: 1. Approves the lease agreement between Wake County, Town of Zebulon, and Capitol Broadcasting Company, subject to terms and conditions acceptable to the County Attorney; and 2. Accepts and appropriates $238,164.89 in lease termination payments and rent payments from the Carolina Mudcats into the Major Facilit…
  7. Manager's Report
    Staff or committee report
  8. 14. Federal Shutdown Update
    Staff or committee report Health and human services
    The county manager's office updates the board on the federal government shutdown's effects on county services, including SNAP and WIC.
  9. Appointments
    Appointment Appointments and personnel
  10. 15. Fire Commission
    Appointment Appointments and personnelFire and EMS
    The Fire Commission has one resignation, Bob Overton, and four vacancies; the commission recommends Barrett Penny for the South Region Alternate seat.
  11. 16. Go Triangle Board of Trustees
    Appointment Appointments and personnelTransit
    Vivian Jones completes her term on the GoTriangle Board of Trustees; the board considers reappointing Chair Susan Evans as its commissioner appointee.
  12. 17. Health and Human Services Board
    Appointment Appointments and personnelHealth and human services
    Veterinarian Patrice Jananne O'Connell completes her term on the Health and Human Services Board; the board considers reappointing psychiatrist Myleme Harrison.
  13. 18. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
    Appointment Appointments and personnelFaith and cultural communitiesPolice and public safety
    The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council has four vacancies and recommends Marrilynn Johnson to fill its Member of Faith Community seat.
  14. 19. Library Commission
    Appointment Appointments and personnel
    The board considers reappointing Laura Wahl as the Library Commission's District 3 representative.
  15. 20. Open Space and Parks Advisory Commission
    Appointment Appointments and personnelParks and recreation
    The board considers reappointing Donna Friend as the Open Space and Parks Advisory Commission's District 2 representative.
  16. 21. United Arts Grants Panel
    Appointment Appointments and personnelArts and public artGrants and outside funding
    The United Arts Grants Panel has one vacancy in District 7; Jacqueline Jones completes her District 3 term, and Commissioner Cheryl Stallings recommends Irina Mohammed to succeed her.
  17. 22. Upcoming Vacancies for December 2025
    Appointment Appointments and personnelTransit
    December brings reappointments across eight municipal and county boards, including the Energy Advisory Commission, GoTriangle, and planning and zoning or adjustment boards in Fuquay-Varina, Morrisville, Rolesville and Wake Forest.
  18. Other Business
    Discussion item
  19. 23. Reports from Advisory and Regional Boards
    Staff or committee report Comprehensive planData centers and large loadsEnvironment and sustainabilityParks and recreation
    Commissioner Thomas asks the board to review notes from the Growth and Sustainability Economic Development committee's discussion of data centers; Commissioner Jackson highlights public comment on the county's parks and recreation comprehensive plan, open through mid-November.
  20. 24. Other Reports from Commissioners
    Staff or committee report Faith and cultural communities
    Commissioners report on Veterans Day events, library programs, cultural celebrations in western Wake County and ribbon cuttings for housing authority projects.
  21. Closed Session
    Closed session
  22. Adjourn
    Procedural

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