ROCKINGHAM — Earlier this month at the Richmond County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Jamie Gathings questioned County Manager Bryan Land about what he knew regarding 400 acres purchased by Digital Realty in late July.
“I know very little. We’ve had conversations such as water flows and wastewater flows, but as far as dealing with Digital [Realty] and those folks, they sent Martie [Butler] an email… I think a day after everything became public, they sent Martie like an introductory email and reached out and said they were looking forward to doing business with Richmond County,” Land said.
“We’re trying to schedule some other meetings with them to have some further conversations,” Land said.
Gathings then asked Land if he knew about the property being sold.
“A group’s had an option on it for… well over a year probably,” Land said.
“So they had an option on it for over a year?” Gathings asked.
“These are obviously individual land sales, you know, that take place every day in the state of North Carolina. We weren’t involved in it at all,” Land said.
Gathings then questioned Land about when he first learned the property was under contract.
“The problem I have is, I’m tired of being beat up by the citizens of not knowing what’s going on in the county. You’ve been knowing, I know for a fact, that you knew the land went under contract, June the 22nd,” Gathings said.
Land responded, “No, I did not.”
“Would you like me to read the email?” Gathings asked Land as he pulled out a paper containing an email he said had been sent to Land’s county email address.
“Under contract?” Land questioned.
Chairman Jeff Smart hit the gavel as members of the audience could be heard calling for Gathings to read the email.
Gathings proceeded to read an email sent to Land and Public Works Director Jerry Austin on June 21 from Kraig Wasleben of Rogers Consulting.
According to the email as read by Gathings, Wasleben said Nataelli Holdings, a client of Rogers Consulting and a Maryland-based real estate development and investment company, had the property under contract, along with the Sassafras Timber property to its north. Wasleben asked officials to confirm the known existing sewer capacity passing through the state property.
Gathings then read Land’s June 22 response to Wasleben, in which Land had copied Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump and Economic Developer Martie Butler. In the response as read by Gathings, Land welcomed the news that Wasleben’s client had the property under contract and said Crump was copied because the city provides wastewater service to the property. Land also mentioned previous conversations with city officials regarding available wastewater treatment capacity and capacity at the Pine Hill pump station.
Land said the group referenced in the email was not Digital Realty.
“Yeah, this was a totally different group, Commissioner Gathings,” Land said. “This was the same group that had it under an option for well over a year. This was not Digital Realty.
“In economic development, you have to reach with other municipalities that are serving utilities on it,” Land said.
Gathings continued to question Land about whether commissioners should have been informed that the property was under contract.
“But the bottom of the line you knew. June 22, this land was under contract to be sold. You never informed the board,” Gathings said.
“It’s essentially been under option for well over a year,” Land responded.
“Mr. Gathings, we’re just gonna have to agree to disagree on this,” Land said. “Mr. Chairman, can we please proceed to the next item?”
“I would like to finish. I am a commissioner, I would like to finish with my email,” Gathings said.
Gathings continued reading from Land’s response before returning to his concerns about questions commissioners have received from residents.
“We[‘re] getting bashed by these people and I’m tired of it,” Gathings said.
Land said there are state laws governing information related to economic development.
“Mr. Gathings, there are general statutes in place that count for economic development and we can’t provide that information for you guys,” Land said.
“I would like to finish, Mister Land… Mister Land, you work for this board — we don’t work for you,” Gathings said.
“I didn’t say you did, sir,” Land responded.
“I’m tired of these people coming to me, asking me about stuff going on that you fail to inform this board. It has got to stop. You have got to let us know…,” Gathings said.
“Are you telling me you want me to break economic development general statutes?” Land asked Gathings. “Is that what you’re telling me?”
Land then turned to County Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Khan to read the statutes.
“I would just note that there are times when some matters are to be discussed publicly, but that is a matter that I think is more for the commission to discuss with their employee at the appropriate time—what level of communication they would like to see on matters. That’s all I would weigh,” Shah-Khan said.
Gathings reiterated his concerns about being able to answer residents’ questions.
“The last I remember, the county manager works for the board, and the board works for the people. I am voted in by these people. If they come and ask me a question, I’d like to be able to answer it,” Gathings said.