Last night’s Waxhaw Board of Commissioners meeting opened with a small but telling moment of confusion—one that ultimately underscored the importance of process and clarity.
Consent Agenda Confusion Clarified
Early in the meeting, a proposed 2026 schedule change appeared on the consent agenda, despite the fact that the board had already voted on and approved the 2026 meeting schedule in December. For those unfamiliar, the consent agenda is designed to bundle routine, non-controversial items into a single vote, allowing the board to focus its discussion on substantive matters.
After brief discussion, the board reaffirmed its prior decision and confirmed that the 2026 schedule approved in December would remain in effect. The issue was resolved, but it served as a reminder that even procedural items deserve careful attention.
Skate Park Repairs: Focus Before Expansion
The board also turned its attention to the town’s skate park. Town staff reported that they had consulted with skate park experts and requested $140,000 to fund a design for both the skate park and the adjacent Barnes Park.
While the board appreciated staff’s effort to seek expert input, there was clear consensus that the skate park itself should be the immediate priority. Several commissioners expressed concern that bundling the skate park into a much larger, more expensive project could delay repairs for years, rather than addressing the urgent needs of current users.
Included in the agenda packet, the proposed consulting rates were notably high:
- Consultant – $320/hour
- Expert Witness – $485/hour
- Senior Manager – $250/hour
- Project Manager I – $200/hour
- Project Manager II – $215/hour
- Project Manager III – $230/hour
- Project Manager IV – $240/hour
- Project Manager V – $265/hour
Given the scope, cost, and structure of the proposal, Commissioner Farris moved to continue the discussion to the February 10th meeting. The board voted unanimously in favor, allowing additional time to evaluate options and focus on a more targeted approach.
A New Board Majority and a Shared Agenda
This meeting marked the first gathering since the swearing-in of the new commissioners. For the first time, Commissioners Daunt and Wedra are no longer in the minority. With the entire board now composed of individuals who ran under The Waxhaw Wall banner, the board has the opportunity to begin acting on ideas that have been discussed over the past several years.
Commissioner Daunt read aloud a list of items previously discussed and agreed upon by all board members prior to the swearing-in, formally presenting them as 2026 Board of Commissioner Priorities. Some initiatives—such as opening meetings with prayer—are already underway. The priorities read into the record were:
- Add a “Board Response” line to the agenda following public comments, allowing the mayor to ask commissioners if they wish to respond after public comment closes.
- Bring the original “Option 5” parking configuration for Red Oaks Trail (as proposed by James the traffic engineer) before the board for a vote.
- Present an overview of the employee efficiency program implemented in 2024 to increase awareness among town employees.
- Include costs borne by county taxpayers in the cost-to-serve study and present the findings to the board.
- Present options for mitigating costs associated with the Town Campus project.
- Host a presentation on public banking, featuring an expert from the Public Banking Institute.
- Return the Christmas tree to the downtown area and explore planting a permanent tree to avoid annual rental costs.
- Bring forward a resolution supporting HB24, restoring local down-zoning authority, for a board vote.
- Examine Weddington’s 2025 policy imposing enhanced fees for the removal of large trees during development and consider a similar approach in Waxhaw.
- Begin working with the state delegation to implement a recall process for elected officials in Waxhaw, as exists in other North Carolina towns.
- Present options to eliminate “lame duck” decisions made immediately after elections, delaying major actions until newly elected officials are seated.
- Include representatives from each HOA once or twice per year in a board discussion focused on improving cooperation between the town and HOAs.
A Philosophic Close
During Commissioner Comments, Commissioner Daunt concluded by reading a quote that captured a broader philosophy of governance:
“The ideal state undertakes to regulate social conduct only enough to take violence out of individual competition and to prevent unfairness in personal initiative. Here is a great problem in statehood: How can you guarantee peace and quiet in industry, pay the taxes to support state power, and at the same time prevent taxation from handicapping industry and keep the state from becoming parasitical or tyrannical?”
As Waxhaw enters this new chapter with a unified board and a clearly articulated set of priorities, last night’s meeting signaled not just a change in composition—but a renewed focus on deliberate, principled governance.