Moore County approves $147K taser contracts, advances UDO & rezoning, hears Davis Center and Flock concerns

Moore County Commissioners approved $147,109 in taser contracts for schools and detention centers, advanced UDO changes for schools and religious uses, set a Sept. 15 rezoning hearing for four Vass properties and heard concerns about the reallocation of $500k for the Davis Community Center and Flock concerns.

Moore County Commissioners approved taser contracts at the Sept. 1 meeting for school resource officers (SRO) and detention centers.

Moore County Sheriff Major Eric Galloway said SROs currently use Taser 7, “which are becoming more outdated.”

The Taser 7 shoots up to 25 feet, deploys two cartridges, and uses compressed nitrogen for deployment.

The Taser 10 boasts a longer range, reaching 45 feet, and its single cartridge deployment results in a wider spread of kinetic energy upon impact, potentially causing more severe dart-penetration injuries, as detailed in the May 11, 2026, Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons report by Gov.UK Publications.

PubMed’s report on the tasers shares, “Our results imply that TASER 7 and TASER 10 probes are not to be expected to cause great harm or even death when striking the head.”

The sheriff’s department requested 25 Taser 7s and 5 Taser 10s at $147,109 to equip detention center staff with Taser 7s and allow the previously purchased Taser 10s to be provided to the new SROs, along with the 5 newly purchased Taser 10s.

The new contract length coincides with the current contract and ends at the same time.

“We never want to see a taser need to used by an SRO against one of our children or grandchildren,” Commissioner Tom Adams said and asked about the frequency of use.

Galloway said tasers had been used a handful of times in the schools in the past. SROs will be required to complete training.

View Axon taser videos here.

Commissioners approved adding an amendment to the by-laws for committee meetings and the subdivision review board to require roll call for all committee meetings with reports due to commissioners each Jan. 1.

The board scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 15 to allow “by right” development of elementary, middle and high schools in RA20, RA40, and rural equestrian zones and within the same Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO) amendment, added religious uses in RA20 and RA40 “by right.”

The planning board explained that allowing schools and religious use in these zones would allow existing facilities to expand and new ones to develop.

Planning Director Ruth Pederson explained that religious organizations cannot be treated less favorably than non-religious organizations.

Without explanation or discussion, the board tabled scheduling a public hearing to move bars, taverns, breweries, wineries, dance clubs, billiards, distilleries, and pawn shops from the category of adult uses into the retail service use. This same amendment would move tattoo parlors and body piercing from adult uses to the offices and general services categories.

North Carolina General Statute 14-202.10 defines adult businesses as explained in the county commissioners’ agenda packet.

The board set a public hearing for rezoning on Sept. 15 for four adjacent properties in Vass off U.S. Highway 1. The surrounding area is zoned B2, B2-CZ, RA20, and RE. The requested zoning of B2 is compatible with the surrounding land use classification, according to the planning board.

The highway image of the four properties requesting rezoning was provided by the planning board.

The 5.12 acres at 5152 U.S. Highway 1 in Vass (Google Maps image above) is zoned as mixed-use and R&M Commercial Real Estate, LLC operated by Ronald and Michelle Jackson requested rezoning to highway commercial business (B2).

Clark Campbell of Terrapin Holdings, LLC requested three acres (image above) at 5200 U.S. Highway 1 in Vass be rezoned from highway commercial to highway commercial B2.

Daby Benjaminé Carreras of New York owns Drain the Swamp LLC and is operated by Ron Jackson in Moore County. They requested .91 acres at 5174 U.S. Highway 1 in Vass (see below) be rezoned from mixed-use to B2.

The 1.06 acres at 5168 U.S. Highway 1 in Vass (below image) is adjacent to 5174 (above image) and both are owned by Drain the Swamp and want rezoning from mixed use to B2.

The planning board will meet on September 3, 2026, to consider the above zoning requests.

Public Comment Period

Vice Chairman Jim Von Canon mediated the public comment period because Chairman Nick Picerno was not present.

The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) thanked commissioners for recognizing U.S. Constitution Week. In 1955, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution asked Congress to set aside Sept. 17–23 each year to honor the U.S. Constitution.

Bells Across America: DAR invited the public to join in the ringing of the bells on Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. to recreate the bell-ringing scene in Philadelphia when the Constitution was first signed. This will take place in front of the Carthage Courthouse at the Charters of Freedom. DAR may wear their colonial attire.

The American Legion celebrates the U.S. Constitution with a contest for high school students to earn scholarships. Learn more: American Legion Post 296 announces speech contest.

Von Canon announced that 13 citizens registered for public comments.

Ellis Domenech of DeFlock Moore County on Facebook said Florida banned Flock cameras, and that Texas put a hold on them. He discussed protecting women and that Flock cameras were a threat because of officer misuse.

Debbie McGovern, a member of Indivisible, said she agreed with Ellis. She said Flock did not stop crime or make the community safer. She said hacking would occur in data storage in the cloud, not in the appliance. She said that there was a chilling effect when they knew they were being photographed and that Indivisible may move where it protests.

Matt Wolf said the military population was at risk because Flock cameras had facial recognition capabilities. He asked if the commissioners were given a full brief of the camera’s capabilities prior to approving the contract and purchase. He said if the commissioners did know of the facial recognition capabilities that they were guilty of violating fourth amendment rights.

Amanda T. said one day each of the commissioners would say they were always against ALPRs. She said Picerno had run his 2020 campaign on the slogan, “government is the problem, not the solution.” She said at the Flock camera informational meeting that Picerno laughed and said, “You don’t get to vote on every little thing.” She continued with statements on each commissioner, berating their beliefs in limited government.

Bill Britton said that six days ago he sent questions to the county economic development partnership and commissioners about expanding the airport. He said the amount of pledges was not $1.7 million but was $900k when the commissioners allowed the tourism development authority to award the airport $300k. He asked them if they would have awarded the $300k if they’d known of the erroneous number. He questioned how long Sky West would last with only one trip going in and out, not three. “I mind very much being lied to…This project has been hyped.”

Kurt Thompson spoke about the commercialization of the airport. He said larger airports made the idea less than favorable. He said the Village of Whispering Pines had given commissioners a formal resolution of opposition that asked them to cease and desist efforts to commercialize the airport.

Loretta Maness of Robbins said she wanted the commissioners to reconsider selling the Davis Community Center in Robbins to the highest bidder. She said the center was not sitting unused, that her church used it and friends recently used it to celebrate a birthday. She did not understand how the $500k allocated by the state for refurbishing the center was moved to funding the county’s water infrastructure. She said the center was a historical structure built to serve the community. Read how commissioners voted on nonexistent Davis Center funds in Moore County votes to seek Davis Center repair bids despite $500k grant redirection.

Harry Brower of Robbins said he attended Davis School in 1965. He said the Davis Center was always in use with sports and various activities. “It would be a shame if this was stripped away from Moore County. It would be a great thing for you to rescind.”

David C. said he supported law enforcement and trained them in tactical defense, but government officials could still misuse ALPR technology.

Phillip Davis of Robbins asked the commissioners to partner with Davis Community Center Incorporated to preserve the historic uses of the property, not offer it for sale to the highest bidder. They have 425 verified signatures. He said a private owner would not preserve “the genuine needs of Northern Moore County.”

Nelson Brower of Robbins said the Davis Center, previously the Davis Elementary School, had plenty of use prior to its doors closing. He said the Davis Center was the community center for Robbins, High Falls and Westmore communities.

Bob Kisinger of Aberdeen said Flock cameras had legitimate uses for finding missing people, but unlimited government surveillance was an issue. “How much surveillance should the government be allowed to conduct on innocent Americans?” He provided a list of over 100 municipalities halting or reviewing ALPR use and said after he’d printed the list another 50 had canceled the ALPR use.

During commissioner comments, Adams asked the county manager to provide a copy of the resolution they’d approved regarding the Davis Center funding. About the airport funding, he said they had not been lied to, that they had verbal commitments and the funding raised was $1.7 million and now the economic development authority is now collecting written financial commitments.

Commissioner John Ritter said on Aug. 19 that he became a great uncle to a baby girl, Charlotte.

The next meeting is a special meeting on Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.

Aug. 2, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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