In a 5-0 unanimous vote, Macon County commissioners called for the immediate removal of Flock cameras used by county law enforcement. The cameras are to be removed as soon as possible.
Of course, that wasn’t the only hot button topic for the Commissioners. Nearly 25 county residents spoke out Tuesday on other topics as well, including the library, voter redistricting and data centers.
Surveillance controversy
Cameras were the most highly anticipated vote, and the most definitive action on the meeting’s agenda. And, the audience agreed with the commissioners’ position.
“This basically amounts to a warrantless search. You have data maintained by a company that has a contract with law enforcement,” said Bill Trick. “I am not against law enforcement but this goes above and beyond. There are a number of communities that have already stopped use of these cameras.”
He then promoted an organization call DeFLock and its website DeFlock.org that tracks the issue and offers information about the cameras and the personal data they record.
Candidate for county commissioner Dylan Castle reminded the board, “While these cameras may not have violated someone’s freedom yet, you can see the potential for abuse by anyone capable of gaining access to this data.”
“Hidden” contract and the Sheriff’s position
County Sheriff Brent Holbrooks argued in favor of the 12 Flock cameras used by the county based on the benefits realized thus far. County schools have a total of four cameras they use for security.
“These cameras are utilized daily to assist investigation of numerous crimes, including breaking and entering, larceny, abduction, and narcotic-related offenses,” said Holbrooks. “Capturing license plate information in public places does not constitute a Fourth Amendment violation.”
The sheriff also argued that private companies such as Walmart and Lowes use similar cameras for security purposes on a regular basis.
For John Shearl, the question boiled down to why commissioners were not aware of the contract, worth $47,000, between the sheriff’s office and the Flock company.
Holbrooks’ said “tag readers” were in the 2023-26 county budgets, but Shearl argued, “Tag reader is a broad spectrum and the budget didn’t reflect anything about a contract with a private company.”
Shearl contended the budget coding for the contract with Flock, originally signed in 2023, was changed from “capital” to “contract services,” with no information ever provided to commissioners. The county manager at the time was Derek Roland.
The commissioner added that approximately 80 agencies nationwide ended contractual agreements with the Flock company. “The second largest law enforcement agency in this country, in Los Angeles, let their contract expire July 11.”
Other commissioners had their concerns as well.
Commissioner Barry Breeden, applauded the sheriff’s department and admitted the topic was an emotional one. He added the technology is here to stay and the cameras are operational in other jurisdictions like Jackson County.
Commissioner Danny Antoine also was conflicted, “There are pros and cons; I am a constitutional guy so I get that side of it, but at the same time I work with kids and if one of them got abducted, I’d want the perpetrator found immediately. Like Mr. Shields said earlier, we’ve got enough stuff dividing us in this country at this point, when does it stop?”
“We have 70% of the county that doesn’t know what a Flock camera is,” said Chairman Josh Young. “I think there’s not been a lot of generalized, public information put out, but I’ve had an overwhelming amount of people tell me they don’t want the cameras.”
Following the vote to remove the cameras as soon as possible, Holbrooks said the funding would be used for overtime pay so deputies can perform surveillance and investigate suspicious activity and persons.
Four cameras located at Macon County schools will remain with the stipulation that the schools only monitor vehicles within their premises and not have them pointed at vehicles outside that perimeter. The Flock camera pictured above is located near Cartoogechaye Elementary School.
Data Centers
In other business, the commissioners scheduled a public hearing for August 11 on proposed revisions to the county’s High Impact Ordinance following the Aug. 6 planning board meeting. The ordinance directly regulates businesses like data centers.
County Attorney Eric Ridenour (left) discussed proposed changes to the ordinance while advising the audience that data centers cannot be prohibited by law.
“But what you can do is regulate,” he said. An ordinance can set restrictions that make running a data center unappealing within Macon County. This approach, he said, keeps the county operating within legal limits.
Ridenour quipped, “We’ve got this – there’s a method to the madness.”
Library update
County Manager Warren Cabe said the county is requesting aid from the state to operate an independent library. The state has not responded yet.
Cabe projected it would cost approximately $1.35 million to run the library this year. Last year, the county allocated $1.29 million.
One issue concerning commissioners centered on the Fontana Regional Library’s inability to pay employees out of its fund balance. FRL is requesting $326,000 from Macon County in order to meet payroll requirements with the understanding it would later refund $500,000. Cabe expressed unease with moving the money back and forth.
FRL Interim Chairman Bill McGaha said there is $2.7 million in the fund balance, but it cannot be accessed because the FRL is operating on an interim budget.
“We cannot pay cost of living allowances or support pay raises for three personnel,” McGaha said.
He reported that a full budget must be in place to unfreeze FRL fund balance money and operating on an interim basis prevents that. Part of the reason for the interim status is the injunction filed by Swain County that was upheld against the FRL. The suit prevents FRL from refunding surplus money owed to the counties.
Chairman Young disagreed with what he called an “in-house” policy, “I want every employee to have the raises they were promised, please don’t misinterpret that.”
Young said he would support a fund transfer from Macon County to FRL next month to meet its employee obligations.
Redistricting delayed
One last hot button issue took center stage only to be tabled to provide more time for public input.
Joe Allen, the Macon County Planning Board director, reviewed the board’s current plan for three equal districts, with one representative each, plus two at-large positions.
Shearl reminded listeners that while public input has been requested since 2023 in public meetings that are published and announced, people are still uninformed.
“The reason I wasn’t seeking any action on this issue tonight is because I am going to spend the next several months interacting with the general public and get people to understand this,” he explained.
The next regular scheduled Macon County Commissioners meeting is Aug. 11.
