City Council - Regular Meeting

Council, we have an agenda. What is your pleasure?

Move for approval, Mayor.

Thank you, Mr. Jackson. Second. Second, Mr. Payne. All in favor, if you'll raise your hands, please. Thank you. Ms. Gags now has a proclamation.

May I have Troy Quigley join me up front? This proclamation is for Juneteenth, National Independence Day. And it states, whereas on June 19, 1865, more than two years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the freedom of enslaved African-Americans, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the United States and whereas Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and stands as a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the enduring pursuit of equality and justice, and whereas the observance of Juneteenth provides an opportunity to reflect upon our nation's history, honor the sacrifices and achievements of generations of African Americans, and recognize their immeasurable contributions to our communities, state, and nation, and whereas Juneteenth encourages all people to engage in meaningful dialogue, education, and community engagement that foster understanding, unity, and respect among all residents, and whereas Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday affirming its national significance and recognizing the importance of remembering this chapter of American history, and whereas the people of the city of Kannapolis committed to advancing the principles of liberty opportunity and equal justice for all into building a community where every person is treated with dignity and respect now therefore the city of the city council of the city of canapes north carolina does here pro hereby proclaim friday june 19 2026 as juneteenth national independence day and calls upon all residents to observe this day through reflection education, and participation in the Juneteenth celebration at Veterans Park from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., honoring the legacy of freedom and strengthening our shared commitment to equality and justice for all. A witness whereof, Mayor George Douglas Wilson, on behalf of the Kannapolis City Council, has caused the great seal of the city of Kannapolis to be affixed this eighth day of June, 2026.

And we continue with Ms. Skaggs now. Speakers from the floor.

Okay, so speakers from the floor, there's going to be two opportunities for residents to speak tonight. One is for speakers from the floor, and then there's going to be a public hearing regarding the budget. If you want to make comments regarding the budget, I would just ask that you hold those until the public hearing for the budget is open. Otherwise, there's a few rules that I've been remiss in letting you know, but You have four minutes to speak. You'll see that clock on the table here. It's also at the podium. The light will turn yellow when you're nearing the end of your time. If you get at the end of your time, you'll hear a buzzer. I'm going to pull the names in the order that I received the cards. If you wish to speak, just know that when I get to the end, to the last card, that's the end of that portion, the public speaking portion. Please refrain from profanity and personal attacks. Just know that you cannot yield your time. So if you're speaking, you run out of your time. You can't yield to somebody else. If you're with a group and that group is sharing the same opinion, please designate a person to speak on the group's behalf. And then address counsel. Don't address the audience, but address counsel. Counsel most likely will not respond to any questions you may ask. Just know that they are making notes. Staff is making notes. You'll receive a follow-up to your question. All right, so speakers from the floor, the first card I have is for Ms. Shelley McBride. Tell them to say their name. Thank you. And please, when you approach the podium, if you'd state your name and your address, please. Thank you, Eddie.

Good evening. I'm Shelly McBride, 300 North Beaver Street. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, council members, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Melton, and guests. Thank you for allowing me to speak here tonight. My name is Shelly McBride, as I said. It is important for us to remember those who came before us and thank them for their contributions to Kannapolis. A welcome center would do just that. It would welcome people of Kannapolis and drive awareness for the town. A history museum would allow those of us fortunate enough to have grown up here to reconnect with cherished memories while giving visitors deeper understanding of our community. A museum would provide valuable resources for researchers, students, and authors such as Dr. Tim Vandenberg, Michael Urey, and Dr. Gary Freese, who have used local resources in their previous works. It could also pay tribute to the likes of Charles Cannon and the many ways he impacted this community. Because of his donation of the polio serum, children in Kannapolis, including me, were protected from this horrible disease. His support of the YMCA allowed memberships to cost only $1 a year, giving generations of children access to positive influences, leadership, and lifelong friendships. I'm thankful for the affordable home I was raised in on Southeast Avenue. After my father became ill and passed away, living there made it much easier for my mother to raise five children on her own. Stories like mine are part of the fabric of Kannapolis and deserve to be remembered. A history museum would help keep these memories alive. It would reconnect old friends, create new friendships, and help us understand the challenges and accomplishments of those who built this community. Through photographs, artifacts, documents, and personal stories, visitors could learn about the meal, local businesses, churches, schools, and the people who helped shape our lives. A welcome center and a history museum would benefit our local economy. It would attract visitors who would shop and dine and support the local businesses. It would be an ideal destination for school groups, weekend guests, researchers, and residents alike. We need reminders of who we are, where we came from, and who forged this path that is before us. The best way to do this is to provide a permanent home where citizens, young and old, and visitors from everywhere can experience and appreciate our history. So yes, let us provide a home for these priceless items. Yes, we need a welcome center and a history museum that's accessible to everybody. And yes, we need a place that helps keep our history alive And it feeds our soul. Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker I have is Brad Spry.

I'll move that to the budget moment. Move it to the budget moment.

Budget?

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, sir. Mike McLean.

Mike McLean, 272 Union Street South, Concord. Formerly from Kannapolis, but I've been in Concord about 50 years. Anyway, I worked for Cannon Mill in the late 60s and early 70s in the research and development department, the public relations department, and the Cannon News department. As a photographer, I was here when they decided to build the Visitor Center, which is a Suwannee theater. And when I heard that the possibility of getting the building next to where I worked 50-some years ago, setting up with Mel Kester and a group from Cannon Mills, the Cannon Visitor Center, I was really thrilled. I think it would be a great idea. There would be a lot of traffic downtown. We're over at the school right now. We don't have much drop-in visitors. I think we'd have a lot more people coming by the visitor center if it's next to the Suwannee Theater. And it's just really interesting, the history. And we need somewhere to put our history stuff. We actually have, I think, one loom left that was originally in the visitor center. It's a DSL with a jackered head that we, from the research and development department, put into the visitor center. And Cannon could do just about anything. They had machine shops, builders. They built everything that went into the visitor center. We had C.A. Cannon's desk. We had J.W. Cannon's desk. A whole lot of stuff. And right now our stuff is sort of scattered here and there. But I think with this building, we could get it all in one location and have it better preserved. And I worked with... I was a photographer. I took a lot of pictures. I don't know if anybody remembers Bale Kester, but he was over... the Art and Design Department of Cadet Mills, and me with that group worked to set up the visitor center. And I just think it was just like the answer to a dream when I heard that the possibility of getting the old Wells Fargo building was available. Because a bank at Wells Fargo, they had one on Union Street and closed it. I thought, well, I wonder what they'll do with the one in Kannapolis. Then I heard it was going to be closed. So I thought, there's a great opportunity. And thank you for listening. I didn't want to show all this stuff.

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Michael Cole. Okay. Tricia Douglas. Gary Walter.

Mayor Wilson, Council, thank you for this opportunity. My name is Gary Walter. I reside at 2301 Penner Road in Concord. City visitors' centers and museums are more than just cultural attractions. They are strategic assets for community engagement, tourism development, and urban vitality. Visitor centers and museums serve as the living repositories of a city's history, art, and natural heritage. They interpret stories from multiple perspectives, helping residents and visitors understand the city's identity and a place in a broader context. This fosters pride, continuity, and a sense of belonging. Museums in particular can function as community hubs, places for social gatherings, idea exchange and civic discourse. They attract diverse audiences, including younger generations, and help sustain cultural institutions by building trust and engagement. Visitor centers are critical for destination management and sustainable tourism. They provide accurate, up-to-date information maps and services, helping to monitor visitor flows and plan infrastructure. When museums are located in the city center, they become anchors for urban revitalization, boosting foot traffic, supporting local businesses, and enhancing the city's cultural appeal. They also create jobs and stimulate economic activity through tourism and cultural events. Modern visitor centers and museums are increasingly seen as civic laboratories, spaces that integrate heritage, of science and community dialogue. They offer educational programs, interactive exhibits, and events that can make learning accessible and engaging. A well-placed visitor center or museum ensures easy access for both residents and tourists, allowing the flexible itineraries and spontaneous discovery. This accessibility is key to making cultural experiences inclusive and welcoming. Museums have long played an important role in society. Collecting and protecting our most precious art and artifacts and interpreting their cultural value and relevance has always been critical to their mission. Equally important is documenting our history and thereby protecting our future by enabling visitors to see themselves in history's context and to be empowered by invaluable lessons from the past. The responsibility of interpreting history includes telling a complete story from more than one perspective. Gone are the days of to the victors go the spoils. The spoils in this case being control of the story told. History is complicated and it has long been understood that if we limit our understanding to one vantage point, we will be destined to repeat our missteps of the past. Museums today must tell all sides of the stories that make up our history to remain relevant. This has never been more self-evident than in today's social media culture. where it's too easy, perhaps even unavoidable, thanks to the algorithms, to live in our own echo chambers. In summary, having a city visitor center and museum important because they preserve and share heritage, strengthen community ties, boost tourism, revitalize urban areas, and serve as educational and civic spaces. When thoughtfully designed and integrated into the city's fabric, they become enduring symbols of cultural identity and economic vitality. Thank you. Thank you.

Daryl Hennett. I am down to my last three cards I just I also wanted to say for those of you are stating that you want to wait until the budget Just know that you do not have to sign up to speak for that That is a public hearing when the mayor opens that portion. Just feel free to step to the podium The next card I have is for Jacqueline Anthony Dr. Ruby Anthony white

Good evening to the mayor, city council, residents of Kannapolis and surrounding towns. My name is Dr. Ruby Anthony White. I am a born in Cabarrus County resident, moved away from Kannapolis some 40 plus years, but I'm back now. And my residence is 1561 Kingston Drive in the Little Texas area. I'm here tonight because I want to give a list of thank yous. My first thank you goes to God for having given me the vision, the wherewithal, the planning, the people, places, and events for forming Kannapolis African American Museum and Culture Center. And without him, we would have never been operating for these past 13 years. I also want to give thanks to former Mayor Hennen, Mike Legg, and the City Council for supporting us through all these 13 years. And most of all, I got to give a big thank you, thank you, thank you to the current Mayor Wilson, Mr. Milton, the City Council, City of Kannapolis for moving us forward. We finally have a home. We have operated for 13 years without a home using various locations and different venues for our programs. So again, thank you. I have with me my niece, Jacqueline Anthony, who is my president and CEO. She's urging me on to give her a few remarks here. On behalf of the board.

On behalf of the Kannapolis African American Museum and Cultural Center, we would like to first express, excuse me, our sincere appreciation in the Kannapolis City Council for approving the conceptual design phase of the former Wells Fargo building as the future Kannapolis Welcome Center and History Museum. We recognize this initiative as a significant and exciting opportunity to preserve, interpret, and share the rich history of Kannapolis for generations to come. We commend the city for taking this important step to strengthen historical preservation, education, tourism, and community engagement throughout our city. KMAC fully supports efforts that celebrate the city of Kannapolis and welcome visitors into a deeper understanding of who we are as a community. The stories of African American families, churches, educators, veterans, excuse me, laborers, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and neighborhoods help shape the identity of this city in meaningful and lasting ways. These stories deserve to be intentionally included so that the history presented reflects the full experience of Kannapolis. We believe our efforts can help activate the Welcome Center and History Museum as more than a place to view history, but as a vibrant place to experience it learn from it, and connect with it. KMAC believes the City of Kannapolis Welcome Center and History Museum Initiative and the KMAC Vision 2026 Initiative can work to preserve and present a more complete, inclusive, and meaningful history for future generations. We stand ready to partner with the city, community organizations, and stakeholders to help ensure that the story of Kannapolis is told fully, authentically, and inclusively Thank you very much for your time. Thank you.

Thank you, ladies.

Deborah Johnson.

Hello. My name is Deborah Johnston. I live at 2318 Beaver Pond Road. I'm here on behalf of the park that is not being created that was promised to us. There are many people that walk on Midlake and having a sidewalk go to the park and then having the park for the residents that live around Midlake would be wonderful. I think taking it away is the wrong thing to do. If we think about it, the town has been pushing for us to be healthy. The people who walk on Midlake have to walk in a gully. If they had a sidewalk that would go to the park, which is very big, They made the gravel to go to the park, but nothing has happened. I expected it to be last year to have the park to go in to take my grandchildren to walk there to play. It hasn't happened. We are a city who cares about everybody's health. We need to think about the older people, the young people, and those who just need a few minutes to breathe. Mental health, you can use it when you go to the park to sit there and enjoy the outside, enjoy the people in the paddle boats that was promised, the opportunity just to be outside and not worry about where you're going to walk and what you're going to do. So I ask you to reconsider about creating the park. The park is important for everyone's health. regardless of how old or how young you are.

Thank you.

Just another reminder, and my last reminder, I'm down to my last two cards. So when I call the last one, that's the end of the speakers from the floor section. And I, next one card I have is for Larry Penaloza. Budget, okay. Last card I have is Phil Goodman. Thank you.

My name is Phil Goodman, 1005 Central Drive, Kannapolis. Thank you City Council for allowing me to speak. The importance and need for a history museum in Kannapolis. Kannapolis has a unique heritage known for its resilience with changes and determination to survive. Our city has survived transformation from farmland to textile giant to a research environment. We're now experiencing unprecedented population and physical growth. Multiple races beginning with our black population have worked together for years to form a working blend between multiple nationalities and heritages to make Kannapolis what it is today. A much needed history museum preserves the past, both physical and written, which provides a resource for local and new residents as well as visitors to learn about the history of our amazing city. A museum located downtown will be a great resource to provide local history education for citizens, new residents, visitors, students, civic groups, churches, local businesses, and tour groups. A museum will support the vision of Kannapolis becoming a destination city. Such a museum will blend well and support our outdoor concerts, parks, baseball stadium, gym theater swanee theater festivals parades and local businesses as well as other activities The idea of a visitor's center and display of artifacts is not new to Kannapolis. Our city operated the visitor's center, as mentioned before, which displayed many artifacts of Kannapolis in the Suwannee Theater from 1974 to 2005. Every city has a responsibility to provide its history to its residents and anyone who visits, as well as the schools and churches. Clarification on financial resources to establish a museum is much needed. Funds were identified several years ago by city council and added to the budget to be used at a future date for a history museum. Our former mayor was part of that discussion and decision. No funds will be taken from the east side part nor the C.K. Ryder program to fund the museum project. Let it be known and clearly understood that in his past term, our previous mayor announced on more than one occasion that he was working with city council to purchase property to be converted to a museum. The last one he announced was to purchase North Kannapolis Methodist Church and convert it to a history museum. This topic was proposed by the then mayor at a council meeting in which it never received a second to even discuss. One council member clearly stated the museum should be downtown. A few weeks later, the mayor publicly announced that he had arranged with city council to purchase the above-named property for the purpose of turning it into a history museum. He later informed another organization about the so-called purchase. It is interesting that our former mayor now finds it a waste of time energy to establish a welcome center and history museum. He has also stated publicly that the funds used to build the museum would have an impact on Eastside Park and or CK Rider. That's just not true. For the first time in many years, Kannapolis has a city council that is focused on city needs and is working diligently to resolve some very difficult issues that have been neglected or swept under the carpet by the previous administration. A museum in Kannapolis is important to everyone and every aspect of our city. Let's give our community what it deserves and provide a welcome center and museum. Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, last card I have is for Bill Hallman.

Thank you Mayor Wilson and City Council and all the others who are here tonight and Phil Goodman who asked me to come and speak. I'm in favor of the History Museum. I'm a historian, a genealogist also. My family was here in the early 1900s and I have a relative buried in the old cemetery over by where the YMCA is today. So I've got a lot of roots here. I'm also a lint head from McAddenville, North Carolina, originally. I live in Concord, 94 Low Avenue, Northwest. I have loved history, and I just want to share with you just a few days ago, literally, we had the most important visitor ever to come through Concord. I don't know if anybody knows who that was or not, but it was about 240 years ago. And his name was George Washington, within a few hundred yards of where we are today. Now, I think if there was a visitor center, he might have stopped there too and looked. I'm not sure if he would have seen what was there. But George Washington was here. It began as a great trading path that came right through here, from Philadelphia, from the Indians, and then the British got it, and then it was widened. And then so many relatives that we have here came through the Great Wagon Road, which came within 100 yards or more, right out right here where Main Street is. It's important to know that. So we have a lot of history in this area. We need to preserve our history in a museum. We need it so our students, our children can come, others who are visiting in the area can come and see what Kannapolis has to offer. When Mr. Cannon came and had the vision, began to buy the property where now we know Cannon Mills is, we know that he had a vision And that vision also went into the military because he supplied a lot for the military during World War II. And so we thank Mr. Cannon and for his heritage, for all of those good things he's done. But we know we need to preserve our history. And Phil spoke very eloquently because he knows a lot of stuff that's going on right here because he is the president of the Kannapolis History Associates. I don't know if you say that. You might not have, but I did. Sometimes I say things I'm not supposed to say, but that's all right. Because we have a vested interest with what's happening in Kannapolis, but not only Kannapolis, but in the general area of where we live. We need to preserve what we have. And we need to do it so that others can come and see and build upon the heritage that we're building upon today. And we're thankful for that. Thank you. And I just wanted to show you real quick. This is a 1770 map. Collett map, and where it comes through, and you can see right through here from Salisbury down right into where Rowan County is and ends right here in Comberes County, that's where we are today. And I want you to know that we go way back in history, and we want to preserve that history. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak tonight, and I hope you will allow that monies to go for our history museum. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

That's the last card, Mayor.

Thank you. Okay. Council, we have a consent agenda. We need a motion if we can. So moved. Mr. Payne?

Second.

Second. Ms. Berry, all in favor? Okay. Thank you. All right. We have a business agenda. We're going to acknowledge Mr. Melton now.

Mayor, thank you. This is a follow-up from our prior meetings on the budget. Ms. Jones is moving to the podium. And we're going to go through just some updates and modifications, minor modifications, to what you previously heard with regard to the budget. And then we'll be happy to answer any questions that Council might have.

Good evening. Can everyone hear me okay?

All right.

So I'm going to briefly walk you through some proposed changes that we have made to the budget since the last time we presented it in early May. I will make a note that we only have suggested changes that are applicable to the general fund budget only. So none of the other funds I'll present on. Those will be proposed and hopefully adopted at your next meeting as presented. See if I can manage the clicker. Yep. All right, so just a high-level overview of why we may have proposed changes from when the budget was first presented. These changes can take place when revenue and expenditure projections have been refined based on an additional month of actual revenue and expense data. that has become available since the budget was originally presented in early May. So it helps us result in more accurate understanding of current fiscal trends. And therefore, we're coming forward to you with a few proposed changes. So we heard from council at the special meeting in early May about the importance in establishing a goal for the Suwannee Theater to transition towards more substantially financially sustainable operations with minimal reliance on the general fund subsidy. So when the budget was first presented, if you recall, we originally had a general fund subsidy, so help from the general fund to offset operations within the Suwannee Theater of $469,983. And we are proposing to reduce this subsidy from the $469,000 to $200,000. So therefore, making adjustments to the SWANI budget by $269,000. So the goal is, again, to have the SWANI become more self-sustaining within 18 months by increasing rental and event revenue opportunities and expanding the use of the facility for more cost-effective passive recreation programming. So what does this exactly look like? So from a revenue perspective, when city manager Melton first presented the budget, the general fund totaled $89.7 million. I'm just using kind of more round numbers. And the new general fund budget is proposed at $89.8. So really an overall net increase of $51,496. And those two changes came from the following. Sales tax collections increased by $101,496. And this was based on we received our latest sales tax collections for March. Again, sales tax is normally recorded two months behind. And we had another healthy month of growth around 8.75% increase, so we felt comfortable to revise the projections for FY27 based off of what we've actually recorded this current fiscal year. And so that's an additional revenue that we're showing for sales tax collection. So that brings the sales tax revenue for FY27 at $18.54 million. And again, that's our second largest revenue stream at around 20% of the total makeup for revenues in the general fund. And we are suggesting a modification, a slight modification to Suwannee revenue by $50,000. So that would bring the total Suwannee theater budget to $310,000. And really, although efforts are underway to increase the facility rentals and expand revenue opportunities, we recommend keeping a conservative revenue forecast as this initiative represents a change in the facility's current business model and how it operates. So this approach would help us to provide a more conservative basis and hopefully actually meet those revenue targets for FY27. So as you know, we have to have a balanced budget. So what does that mean on the expense side? Again, an overall net increase of $51,496. and some proposed changes here are we reduced the amount of the contract that the city pays the Odell Volunteer Fire Department by $168,000 per a new negotiated agreement that is rate locked for the next three years at $500,000 a year. So still providing that service, it's just we revisited that agreement. And then, as mentioned, we adjusted the Suwannee Theater line items to have that overall subsidy from the general fund be the $200,000 and not the $469,000 that was originally presented. And so really, I won't go through every line item that we adjusted in the Suwannee budget, but major adjustments included reducing the talent entertainment line item, concessions, sound line item, part-time funding, and credit card fees associated. So, and I just kind of highlighted, you can see the total revenues for the Swanier proposed at 310,000 and total expenses at 510, therefore having that general fund subsidy of the 200,000. And then last, we increased special expenses by 520,000, which will set funds aside for debt service for fire protection and a satellite location for the police department in the western part of the city. And I'm happy to answer any questions. And if there aren't any, then we can open the public hearing on the budget.

Do you have any questions? You guys are good? Anybody open? Mr. Melton? Mayor? Do you have anything to say?

No.

No, Mayor. I think Kristen's covered everything. And I'll turn it over to you to open our public hearing.

All right. We're going to open the public hearing. And like Ms. Skaggs said earlier this morning, Please, if you will, keep your comments to the budget itself, okay? Thank you. We're opening the public hearing. So does anyone want to come speak now?

Just as a reminder, you do not need to be called to the podium. Just feel free to approach.

Good evening. My name is Brad Spry, and I live at 104 North Ridge in Kannapolis. and I'm here to oppose the cuts to CK Rider, the cold-hearted elimination of the brown route, and weekend service on other routes, weekend service that connects people to their jobs. Many people in our community have spoken and will continue to speak powerfully about what this means for our neighbors, but I want to put some more information on the record tonight. In 2019, the city of Kannapolis went to Raleigh and got a special law passed, Senate Bill 63, to annex over 300 acres on Old Beatty Ford Road into the Kannapolis city limits. A one-time law written just for Kannapolis. Then the city spends over $10 million on water, sewer, and a 200-foot, 300,000-gallon water tower to serve Kannapolis Crossing and overlook 85 and exit 65. Why? Because the city projects $42 million in new property taxes over 22 years. So here's what I want every citizen to understand about how our city makes decisions. When the goal is more property tax revenue, the city will go to Raleigh, get a new annexation law passed, and spend $10 million, no problem at all. But keeping public transportation running for our neighbors who need it the most? Sorry, citizens, that money just has to be cut. By the way, the bus service cut represents just seven cents on every dollar the city has spent on Old Beatty Ford Road. But come to find out, the real reason for these cuts is not low ridership. It's that the new contract to operate our current fixed route bus costs 33% more in year one than the contract that it replaced. That sticker shock is documented in the March 17, 2026 Concord-Cannabis Transit Commission meeting minutes. Notably, when that contract went out for competitive bid, the only on-demand company that submitted a proposal, Wave Rideshare, couldn't even complete the bid and was disqualified as non-responsive. The market itself is telling us something. And yet the council's answer to a contract that got more expensive is to propose replacing buses with exactly the kind of on-demand service the private sector just demonstrated it cannot deliver. If the council believes microtransit is the fiscally responsible path forward, I would ask them to consult their own records before going further. In February 2024, Rider Transit staff presented the Transit Commission with a detailed cost analysis, and their old numbers showed that microtransit costs over 11 times more per passenger than a fixed route bus. Rider staff concluded plainly that microtransit cannot, in the long run, carry more people for less money. I urge this council to restore full CK Rider funding and prove that Kannapolis is not just a cold and calculating tax collection machine, but that Kannapolis is actually a community. take the needed 2027 bus budget money from entertainment because we are not entertained when our neighbors cannot get to the doctor or post office, when they cannot get to food or reliably get to their jobs on the weekends. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening. I'm Darrell Hennin. 1106 Sunset Drive, Kannapolis, North Carolina. I have reviewed this budget carefully. This next budget is $134 million, rounded off, compared to $126 million of the current year budget. That's an increase of $8,211,000. I believe that's the largest increase in a Kannapolis budget, except for the year when Kannapolis got the COVID money. It is interesting that my guess is that the four of you who promised to cut, cut, cut, found it harder to govern than to make unrealistic promises to the citizens during a campaign. Because you are holding the tax rate at 55.95. You are increasing water and sewer by a minimum of $6.25 a month, and you're also adding another dollar for stormwater. Let's see what we get for this $8,211,000 increase in the budget. You have decided to reduce spending on transit by $669,000. You have ended weekend bus service completely. after July 1st. You have eliminated the brown route and created a disabling modification of the blue line. That means the blue line will not readily connect to the rest of the buses at the bus station. So you are attacking the most vulnerable people in our community who have no other choice to get to work, get to the doctor's appointment, or go get groceries. You will increase homelessness, hunger, and poor health in Kannapolis. The experts have told you do not do this. As the previous speaker said, he is absolutely right. Your comment in the budget that you want to go to on-demand transit is absolutely untrue. You know that it costs much, much more, and your goal is to cut transit out completely. Your approach to transit is mean, spiteful, and unchristian. You have lost the downtown hotel investment and the jobs that came with it because the developer doesn't trust you and is moving his money to another city. You have delayed sidewalk projects. We did get an intersection improvement because of a grant from our Congressman that was requested without any of your efforts except for Ms. Dixon and Mr. Jackson. We are getting a tiny, tiny increase in road repairs. The citizens were told that a list of park projects has been eliminated unless we vote to increase our property taxes by 4.5 cents. The previous plan had included all of those park projects over the next four years without a tax increase at all. You have committed to take a grant to build the Midlake sidewalk to nowhere. because you have canceled the Eastside Park and you have to return $500,000 that the state gave you. You have decided that if we agree to the increase in costs at the Suwannee Theater, now I think I just saw a $269,000 reduction in the subsidy, and instead of the three years you were going to give them to get it, The information tonight says only 18 months. There's already rumors that you want to sell, you want to get out of the business of Suwannee Theater, and that you plan to sell it. And it sounds like that you're on your course to do that. You have reduced the concert season by $175,000 that give us performances that people on Facebook say that concerts in Concord, Harrisburg, and Mooresville are much better than our concerts. You have intentionally reduced visitors to the concerts who come and support our businesses downtown. You have decided to invest $2 million in a welcome center and a museum. Why do you need a welcome center? You have cut $70,000 out of the marketing plan and you have told downtown businesses you won't help them. You have a small facility next to the gym theater that a beginning welcome center could be moved in at essentially no cost. Why are you spending millions of dollars to do that? Second, I want to say thank you because I am a strong proponent of a history museum. I always have been a strong proponent of a history museum. But there is no room in the building that you're talking about to put a welcome center plus a history museum for the Cannon family, which is badly needed, or the History Associates Museum or K-Max Museum. There's just enough, not enough space to do it. And if you try to squeeze them all in, we all know who is going to be left out. You brag about support of public safety. Why are the police being left out of this budget? It's rare to even find the word police mentioned in this budget. And when we heard all the presentations, there are no comments about the police and how they're being supported. I have seen 24 Kannapolis budgets. This is the worst budget I've ever seen for our citizens. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Trisha Douglas. I live at 1437 Sherwood Drive in Kannapolis, and I was speaking to oppose the reduction in the money for the CK rider transit. I actually live on what part of the brown route that would be eliminated. I don't drive, and I would like to be able to go places, and right now I'm actually applying to get on the paratransit, but the paratransit will not operate. if you don't have a bus stop in that area. I was given information. I did email the city council and mayor and was told to contact the Cabarrus County Transit. They are only going to provide medical transportation. They don't provide transportation to the grocery stores, what I was told. They don't provide transportation if you want to go downtown and enjoy downtown. But I would like you all to consider that it's not just me, but there are a lot of people that do depend on the public transit, whether it is the bus or the paratransit, which has to operate in conjunction with the bus system. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Michael Cole, 805 Brighton Drive. I'm here to ask that you do not eliminate the brown route or cut services from the CK Rider Transit routes for the residents of Kannapolis. I'm here to speak as a parent, as an educator, as a resident. My son, Jacob, is 20 years old, and he graduated in 2024 from Northwest Cabarrus High School. My son is neurodivergent. He has autism and ADHD, which prevents him or prohibits him to perform in the ways that normal 20-year-olds perform. We are working with him to promote life skills, to be an independent functioning member of society. One of the things we've done is we've worked with Cabarrus County to help him find a job. And he did find a job. He's working right now downtown at Towel City Tavern, working in the kitchen to wash dishes. And we're so very proud of him. One of the things that we're doing to promote his independent life skills is having him provide or get himself to work independently. He struggles to remember and retain information, so driving is a difficult skill that we're working on. But he's unable to drive right now, so he depends on the Brown Route to get to work daily. He uses it to get to work. And that provides us a lot of comfort and a lot of support knowing that he's able to make it to work. He uses the Brown route to get to work as part of his independent life skills and also to go to places like Walmart or to get to doctor's appointments. This brown route helps provide him with the ability to do those independent skills and become more confident in himself and to be functioning like the people that are of his age, other peers of his age. Removing this access takes away a lifeline from him and other citizens in Kannapolis, just like the woman that we heard before, Ms. Douglas. If your goal is to build a community where everyone Everyone is able to thrive. Eliminating the brown route and taking away services from the other routes is cutting off a lifeline for people to get to work, doctor's appointments to go to the grocery store. I'm urging you to please reconsider those proposed cuts. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Larry Penaloza. I live on 928 Colondale Avenue. It is quite a shock and quite absurdity that you would try to eliminate a brown route that many people use in the community. My mother, quite frankly, she doesn't drive. She's scared to drive. She's scared to death. I tried to convince her many times to drive. And she's every day worried now because you're taking out the only transportation she has to work or to go to the doctor or to go to the store. As you just heard, someone with disabilities is trying to move up in life. Not only are you taking away the current rider's future, You're taking the future of the future riders that, like, kids today don't know about, you know, cars and everything. You know, they're slow. So the bus, you know, is a way for them to get to job or to school or whatever have you. It would be a stepping stone that you are removing from the future generations of Kannapolis that they could use to move around. Not everybody today wants to own a vehicle. It is a hassle. It is maintenance. And it is... It is a shock to come to find out that you are removing a brown bus route that every day I pass by is filled to the brim with people that go to work, that go to school, or whatever they need to do in their lives. What you are doing is removing their transportation to go from one place to another. And it is truly disappointing to see that, especially since I started riding 16 years ago. I grew up in a really poor family. We didn't have a car until I grew up and I had a car. And, you know, I became a hot rodder, you know. But besides the point is you are dismantling the backbone of this community. You are dismantling the lives of people that depend on the shroud. And I would truly want you to reflect and see that it would behoove you to please take into consideration the people that you are destroying. You're destroying lives if you take away this transportation. If you take away this transportation, you are taking away their ability to live. And unfortunately, They don't have any other means. If you take away the way to live, then how are they going to get to work? How are they going to get to the store? How are they going to get to the doctor? How are the future generations going to be able to build up to own a motor vehicle? Because it's not as simple as it was back in the day. It's very complicated. These are getting costly now. The economy is bad. People are struggling with their jobs, struggling with bills. I just saw $8 million up there for the bill, for this budget. $8 million in adjustments and... You're telling me right now, and this is not anger. It's quite shock. It's deliberate shock that you are telling me right now you are proposing to remove this bus route, but yet we have $8 million floating up here. Do you know what we could do with $8 million? I understand the importance of the history of Kannapolis. Kannapolis has been here for 100 years or more. There has been, like I just learned today, George Washington came here. That is very important to me. And I understand that we need a historic place. But, you know, if you could choose lives over, you know. history or anything else, entertainment. I just saw Cheap Trick the other day. I mean, you're telling me we have money for concert venues, we have money for downtown events at the ballpark, we have ballpark games. I mean, why can't we have the CK Brown route? Just don't dismantle the lives of people because it's just going to have repercussions that are going to be very dark for people. Not for, I mean, you people probably drive. These people don't. These people depend on that. It's their lifeline. It's their bloodline to get money, to get food, supplies, doctor visits. You're dismantling lives if you dismantle this bus route. It would behoove you to please reconsider the budget. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening, mayor and council folks. Greetings. My name is Justin Luter. I live at 1832 Mary Wynne Court here in Kannapolis. Just have one or two things to say. It doesn't fall on deaf ears, the people you're asking to bear the brunt of these budgetary cuts. You're not asking our wealthiest folks. You're asking the folks that are hurting the most. You're asking the folks, and you're talking about sales tax increases. So who's going to hurt most? Certainly, you should reconsider. A thriving city has a robust public transportation system. That's what makes it exciting. If you want a historic museum and a welcome center, it should be accessible to all. It should be a thriving bus system that people can depend on, particularly in a time where, I said it before, gas prices are not going to go down much for the foreseeable future. The city is growing dramatically. You guys all know that. So there'll just be more and more cars on the roads. A robust public transit system where people can depend on a bus to stop every 15 to 20 minutes instead of every hour to hour and 15 minutes. will make it more dependable, more enticing to new riders, and definitely generate the revenue that you so desperately are concerned for. And so I ask that you, instead of cutting transit, start a marketing campaign and reinvigorate riding public transportation. I think long term, because we are going to continue to grow as a city long term, there will be benefits of a thriving and dependable public transit system rather than short term. And again, I would say the cuts you guys are making are hurting the most vulnerable in this city, and it will not be forgotten.

Thank you, sir.

Good evening. Hi, my name is Anita Massey. I live at 728 Robin Avenue, Kannapolis, North Carolina. Thank you, Mayor and City Council, for allowing me to speak to you tonight. I'm here on behalf of the C.K. Ryder. I am a worker for Kannapolis City Schools. My school is on the Brown Route, and I'm also a bus driver. I also pastor a church in Concord, Cabarrus County. If the bus route is canceled, there are students at my school who ride the bus. If they miss the school bus, they have to ride the bus to get to school. If parents have meetings, they have to ride the bus. The transit. to get to the schools for their meetings. I also know students that go to RCCC. If the bus route is canceled, then they have to find a way to get education. There are people who go to the doctors in different places. They just need the bus route. We thank you for the history. I worked at Cannon Mills. I've been living in Kannapolis for many years, and I'm proud of what Kannapolis is doing. The city of Kannapolis is thriving, but I also think that taking out the brown route will disable us. I believe that people will have to find other ways and the people who are being cut from riding are the people who can't afford other ways. They're riding because they Not because they choose to ride. Most of them have to ride because they can't afford transportation. At our school, we're a Title I school, which means that a lot of people do not have the funds for their own personal vehicles, but they need the bus route. So I'm asking you to please keep those funds for the brown route. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

I wanted to take an opportunity to say I've been remiss in starting the timer. I do apologize. I appreciate that everyone so far has kept their comments within that time frame. And not to Mr. Irwin, I know you're coming up to the podium. I am going to start the timer for you, sir. I apologize.

It's because it's me. It's okay. My name is Zach Irwin. I live at 903 Applewood Avenue in Kannapolis. I didn't know who would come out to speak tonight. I didn't have plans myself of speaking tonight. But with regards to this budget and with regards to the people that I've heard from today, one of which is a former student of mine who probably didn't know I was here until now, one of which is the parent of a former youth of mine. both of which their families depend on public transportation. I want to introduce a quote to the conversation from former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey to just kind of help dwell on these debates over public transit. This quote from Hubert Humphrey says, it was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children, those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly, and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped. As we reflect on that quote, I want you to think about where we choose to allocate funds, who is it going to benefit? Is it going to benefit those that are in these areas of life, in these walks of life that have the most critical needs? Is that the test and the portrayal that we are putting forth in our efforts? The budget is a reflection of priorities. So I want you to reflect on what your priorities are and what is being spoken through this current budget. And if you feel satisfied with the current budget as it is and the message that it sends, then I urge you to pass it. You've been elected to do so. However, if you take time to reflect, to look back over this, which you have the time to do over the next two weeks, And ask yourself, is this the image, is this the signal of priorities that we want to send to the public? And you don't find that answer in the affirmative, in the positive sense, then I encourage you to do what a few have asked today and to reflect on those priorities. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir.

Good evening. My name is Willie Rash at 404 Iris Circle. I'm also the pastor at Centerview Baptist Church. The Brown Line runs through our community, and a number of people use that. So I want to speak about the transit for just a moment, if possible. I attended the last meeting when the budget was presented. I appreciate that. It was very helpful. And I know that new leadership has new priorities. That's part of what voting is about. And so I listened to the overview. A number of the things in the budget got increases. Some of those were small increases. Some of them were larger increases. A number of things got cut. And when you got to the transit, it was a glaring 47% decrease that just stood out over everything else that was presented, in my opinion. And perception is everything. It comes across as if the new priorities are going to be balanced on the backs of those who are less fortunate. And I don't need to go back over what everybody else has already said. There are people that rely on transit, and that's all they have. And to take that away or to make transportation more expensive for them to get to work or to get to the grocery store or to get to the doctor is not going to be helpful for them. If they can't get to work, obviously they're not going to be able to pay their rent, their utility bills, and they'll have to rely on other sources to pay for that. As a church, we get calls often to help people with utility bills, so we're on the other end of those folks who need help. And to take away one of the ways to get to work is going to impact their housing, and that is going to impact the need for more low-income housing instead of less. And it's just an important thing to keep that in mind as you talk about your priorities and list your priorities in the budget. My wife and I brag about Kannapolis everywhere we go, and to our family who no longer lives here, And the things that the city offers and the entertainment things we've enjoyed, the concerts, the movies. We used to take our kids to the movies all the time. They're now grown and we don't get to do that anymore. But all those things are good. Having a park on the east side of town would be great as well. It would be near my house. We enjoy those things as well. But to take away the transit and it would, in my opinion, even though we enjoy it, it would be better to to lower the entertainment part of the budget if it's going to take away people's ability to get to work in the doctor and the grocery store. I believe the hospital spoke against this. The Cabarrus Health Alliance spoke against this because they are on the other side of that. They know who uses the bus and how helpful it is for them. And so my perception in listening to your plans for transit in the future is it's not a real solid idea. We're thinking about Ubers. We're thinking about other ways of doing the bus. It just sounds like you don't have a plan, which, again, is perception. is a lot that says we're just going to do without it as we get on down the road. I don't think that's a good idea. I hope that you'll reconsider. It does need to be improved, obviously, but it doesn't need to be taken away. And the brown route is the first start of that. So I'll close with this. For a city not to seek the care of those that are less fortunate is not to enjoy the favor of God. And so I hope that you will reconsider that. the best you can to help keep that transit going in some form or fashion. Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Mark Spitzer. I live at 2115 Gulf Crest in Kannapolis. I've spoken to the Council many times. I'm thankful for the opportunity to do that again. I have listened carefully to the conversations tonight and in the previous sessions. And I'm not going to take even three minutes and 30 seconds to tell you that I back very much reinstating the money for the transit system, for the Brown Line, and for all the various ways that the bus lines support our people. That's all I've got to say. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else? Is there anyone else who wants to speak? Okay.

My name is Louise Cruder. My address is 1122 Concord, and that's in Concord. I'm not a resident of Kannapolis, but also I have to use the brown bus sometimes for me and my family. A lot of people in our community have to use their brown bus, so I'm just asking to reconsider about their brown bus.

Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else? One more time, anyone else? Okay, I'm going to close this public hearing. I will tell you that we're not taking any action on this tonight. I think everybody understands that. It will be at the next meeting two weeks from today. All right. Mr. Melton?

Mayor, I don't have any more to add tonight. Thank you. So no more report from me this evening.

Nothing else. Okay. Any council members have anything to say? You have anything, Mr. Jackson? No one has anything to say? Okay. Then we need a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Okay. All in favor? We are now adjourned. Thank you for coming.

Thank you.