News Lines July 13-26 in Moore, Lee & Harnett

BONUS: Lee County Commissioner Kirk Smith on data centers

Harnett County Commissioners amended the 2026-27 budget after Senate Bill 474 was signed last week to allow them to use the 2026 property tax rates. The board approved a property tax rate of .63¢, instead of the previous .75¢.

Chairman Duncan Jaggers said he was working with the finance department to research ways for seniors to stay in their homes.

During a transportation discussion, Commissioner McKoy said traffic from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. was congested as people tried to commute to other areas. “We’re all going to be prisoners of our own homesites. It’s getting completely out of control,” McKoy said about traveling through Lillington.

Read the full story in Harnett County cuts property tax to 63 cents and seeks traffic solutions.

Humans First held a protest against data centers in Sanford’s Tramway intersection. The protest attracted honks and shouts of support at the Tramway intersection. About 25 protesters displayed signs.

On July 14, Lee County Commissioner Taylor Vorbeck resigned at the end of the meeting, citing family responsibilities. Her term was to end in Dec. 2026.

The board approved the planning board’s recommended Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO) changes for compliance under state laws but did not approve a recommendation for changing R-20 to RN20.

The change to RN20, as seen in the sketch, would have permitted larger homes, with less cushioning from neighbors to preserve privacy and peace. The conservative respect for R-20 zoning reflects the traditional rural living that neighbors said they expected.

Zoning Director Thomas Mierisch had said in a phone call that the recommended RN20 change would “pull development together” in and near the City of Sanford and Broadway, while preserving rural agricultural properties. RN20 would have allowed a 20k square feet lot with a minimum lot width of 80 feet, with shallow 12 feet rear and 12 feet side setbacks and preserves the front 30 feet setbacks. Mierisch said the new zoning would have affected about 50 to 55 lots of the county’s 30,000 parcels across all jurisdictions.

Read more in Lee County: Vorbeck resigns, county rejects RN20, funds MORE hazardous waste cleanup.

The Sanford City Council continued its discussion on funding “extra” downtown police and expanded on funding accountability at the July 14 work session. Member Charles Taylor had asked the council to review government expenses on all events to inform the public of the cost of each event, such as movies and concerts in the park. Because the city needs to be accountable and make budget decisions based on expenses and revenue. At present, there are no detailed expense reports on events that would help the council decide whether it should fund specific events in the future.

Town Manager Hal Hegwer said he would give Sandhills News the event expense reports after they had gathered the information.

The council began the funding accountability discussion with downtown.

Downtown Sanford Inc. (DSI) has a contract with the City of Sanford to partially fund the downtown police on foot patrol.

However, the state mandates that the city funds the police as a public safety service with property taxes. Extra police protection is not the responsibility of DSI.

Find details in Sanford Council demands event cost accountability as DSI draws scrutiny.

The Harnett County NAACP hosted a Q & A with the sheriff candidates in the Commons Building at the Harnett County Resource Center in Lillington on July 16. The answers revealed that voters have a choice of a 28-year Harnett County law enforcement officer as sheriff, who is over the detention center, Aaron Meredith, or a sheriff with a 48-year career of military policies, diversity experience and accountability protocols who has not worked at the local sheriff’s office, Reginald Watson.

The NAACP supplied the bulk of the questions, with a handful selected from attendees.

The one question not selected was submitted by Sandhills News and it asked how the next sheriff planned to prevent violence against prisoners.

The detention center and sheriff’s department have a history of violations.

Read the Q & A in Harnett County hears sheriff candidates’ Q & A.

The Lee County GOP announced on July 16 that Eric Davidson from the Lee County School Board will replace Commissioner Taylor Vorbeck on the Lee County Board of Commissioners. Vorbeck resigned on July 13.

On Monday, July 20 commissioners will hold a special meeting to swear in Davidson at noon.

Learn about candidates in Lee County GOP announces replacement and candidates.

Robert M. Levy shared his satire on progressives opposing data centers in the editorial, Progressives opposing progress.

On July 20, Harnett County Commissioners set protocol for the Animal Services Advisory Board, denied a rezoning request because it could lead to another vape shop, supported property tax relief for elderly and disabled homeowners, and heard public comments on vaping, development and the sheriff’s department.

Read the full story in Harnett Commissioners form Animal Advisory Board, deny rezoning amid vape shop concerns.

On July 21, the Sanford City Council approved over $11 million in incentives for a confidential $600 million medical project, approved annexations and reviewed rezoning proposals that continue the city’s expansion into Tramway and toward Bruce Coggins Road.

After a public hearing, the council approved grant funds for economic development incentives for “Project Sol.”

BONUS: Lee County Commissioner Kirk Smith relayed in a phone call about his editorial submission that the zoning director said it was likely Sanford could only handle three data centers at the Lower Moncure Road site, not 11.

Sandhills News had reported on the data center application that the renderings indicated 11 data centers in total due to the title DATA CENTERS and the number of proposed buildings at the Lower Moncure Road location.

Smith said the other buildings in the rendering were for the industrial park, Helix Ventures.

Helix Ventures, according to their website, is a “partnership marketing agency that builds sponsorship programs, runs performance campaigns, and implements AI-enabled sales architecture.”

“Project Sol” is reportedly considering the Helix Ventures site in Moncure.

Sandhills News had reached out to the planning department for details but still has not received replies from those emails and phone calls.

Below is Smith’s editorial submission:

The following questions do not represent those of the Lee County Board of Commissioners.  These questions, I sent June 23, 2026, to the On-line Petitioner opposing the Helix Ventures and Point One Data Center on Lower Moncure Road.

“Thank you for your extensive review of the Rezoning and Uniform Development Ordinance process.

Question #1 – Is this “petition” a presentation for a Grand Jury as it implies something nefarious?

Question #2 – Who will foot the bill for a professional review of the existing data center ordinance?

Question # 3 – Who will foot the bill requiring an independent review from a variety of professionals as it pertains to: noise, power, fire safety, emergency response, stormwater, water/wastewater, and neighboring-property impacts?

Question #4 – Are you planning to oppose the future development of the neighboring properties owned by the Raleigh Executive Jetport, as they pursue aviation-based manufacturing facilities?

Question # 5 – To maintain “equal in the eyes of the law,” thus avoiding our fines becoming “arbitrary and capricious,” do you support raising all Code Violation fines from $100 to $10,000?

Question # 6 – Loudon County, Virginia’s is the world’s leading location of data centers, How do you explain their ability to maintain operations without drying up the Potomac River or creating devastating power blackouts?

Question # 7 – For every $1.00 paid in property taxes by the average homeowner in Lee County, they incur approximately $1.40 in county services; for every $1.00 paid in property taxes by industry they incur approximately .45 cents in County services; (Using Loudon County’s numbers) for every $1.00 in property taxes paid by their data centers they incur approximately .04 cents in County services.  How do you propose we fund future needs to cover Lee County’s continuing growth?

Question # 8 – With the current lawsuit brought against Chatham County’s data center moratorium by the developers at the proposed Moncure Mega Site.  Who will fund Lee County’s legal defense and/or any potential financial penalties against the County, if we enact a moratorium?

Question # 9 – How do you justify petition signers from outside Lee County?

Question # 10 – Why should I take seriously the over 2,000 signatures (many outside the County) as Lee County’s population is pushing toward 68,000 residents?”

To this date, the above questions were never answered.

As always, I shall remain in search of our God given Liberties.

Kirk D. Smith

With open communication from both sides of the data center debate, facts could easily answer questions for the public and leaders, elected and hired, to make informed decisions that will affect the county for decades.

Read the rest of the story in Sanford approves $11M incentive for $600M medical project, advances Tramway growth toward Bruce Coggins Road.

Moore County Commissioners reviewed acreage available for major subdivisions, heard concerns over Flock safety cameras and Eastwood Fire Department funding, and learned schools face $167.6 million in facility needs at the July 21 meeting.

Moore County has three zoning classifications that allow major subdivisions.

Learn the details in Moore County highlights limited subdivision land, school facility needs reach $167.7M.

The Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) hosted the July 23 Corridor of Opportunities with four panelists from Lee and Harnett counties.

Moderator Ben Tobin of the TBJ opened the discussion. He asked about the different approaches Lee and Harnett counties had in response to data centers.

Read the Q & A highlights in Triangle Business Journal hosts Lee & Harnett counties Corridor of Opportunities event.

Harnett County Sheriff candidate Reggie Watson shared his campaign platform.

Read the article, Harnett County needs an overhaul: Meet Sheriff Candidate Reggie Watson.

July 26, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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