Municipal Equation Podcast

Data centers have made frequent headlines as communities have taken varying positions on them. For some, concerns about environmental impact, energy consumption, noise, property values and other angles have led to leaders to say their town is not the place for them, while other communities have worked with data center developers and granted approvals for their development after exploring the essentials. On this episode, we talk with Statesville City Manager Ron Smith about the conversation and steps taken in his community with regard to a data center slated for a near-future groundbreaking and what advice he has for other local governments as the topic continues to make rounds.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is the federal legislation requiring equal access to jobs and public places for people with disabilities. It also applies to the public digital realm, like with government websites and apps -- and deadlines are coming up for local governments to get into compliance. The League has been putting out info to help municipalities understand and meet the federal requirements ​and has a hub on its website with resources and explanations​. For this episode, we've put it into conversational form with an expert answering common questions and offering tips to understand the why, how and when.

North Carolina's public records law is one of the most valued on the state books, but there's a lot to know about it between the basics and the interesting quirks. NCLM Assistant General Counsel Baxter Wells, our guest on this episode, knows the gamut of questions that come up about public records law -- what constitutes a public record, what does not, how direct messages on government social media and other newer forms of communication are treated, what responsibilities exist with old records, what happens when government agencies run afoul of the law, and so on. Let's dig in.

Like in other fast-growing states or regions, housing affordability can be a difficult, sometimes persistent, issue for North Carolina communities. Wilmington, in the southeast, is no exception, but it's among cities working on the issue with priority and results that are expanding local options. On this episode, we ask Mayor Bill Saffo, chairman of the NC Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, about the nature of the issue in his area and how local efforts and partnerships have made a difference.

The League's Municipal Equation podcast closes out 2025 with a through-line on the year, with takeaways from monthly episodes and their common feature of people working as one to advance all. Since its inception, Municipal Equation has been about idea-sharing and exploration of local government's many interesting stories. We'd like to thank all of our expert guests and you for being such a supportive and responsive audience with great feedback and ideas for future content. Together, we released our 100th episode this year! Municipal Equation is available through your preferred podcast service.