Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

The following is a staff-prepared summary of key discussion points and decisions from this meeting. For the complete official record, please refer to the approved minutes above.

Public Comment — Backyard Chickens / Livestock Ordinance A resident addressed the Board regarding a code enforcement notice she received related to keeping pet chickens on her property, where her family has lived for approximately 60 years.

• The resident indicated she has kept chickens since before the town was incorporated and expressed her desire to continue keeping them. She acknowledged some chickens had been escaping the enclosure and stated she was willing to add a cover to prevent that.
• The Board noted that the current ordinance does not permit chickens within town limits unless the property is in a zoning district of 3 acres or more.
• By consensus, the Board agreed to pause any code enforcement action related to chickens and livestock while the issue is reviewed further.
• Staff will prepare a revised ordinance — including restrictions, limitations, and allowances for keeping chickens or hens within town limits — to be presented at the January meeting. A public hearing will be required before any ordinance changes can be adopted.

Swearing-In of Newly Elected Officials Newly elected and re-elected officials were sworn in at this meeting following the November 2021 municipal election.

• Mayor Black was sworn in to serve as Mayor of Ranlo.
• Commissioner Trevor Hay was sworn in as a Town Commissioner.
• Outgoing Commissioner Connor offered brief remarks, thanking the community, fellow commissioners, and town staff for their kindness and respect during her six years of service.
• Note: Newly elected Commissioner Lleair was unable to attend due to a family bereavement.

Appointments — Mayor Pro Tem The Board made its annual appointment of Mayor Pro Tem.

• Commissioner Katie Fowler was reappointed as Mayor Pro Tem. Newly elected Commissioner Hay, who received the most votes in the election, indicated no objection to her continuation in the role. The motion passed unanimously.

Appointments — Centralina Council of Governments Representative The Board selected its representative and alternate to the Centralina Council of Governments.

• A commissioner volunteered to serve as the town's representative. The appointment was approved by the Board.

Appointments — Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) The Board reaffirmed its existing representation to the regional MPO, which coordinates transportation planning.

• Mayor Black was reaffirmed as the town's MPO representative and Commissioner Fowler as the alternate, consistent with prior appointments.

Appointments — Planning Board The Board established and made initial appointments to a newly consolidated Planning Board and Board of Adjustments, required under North Carolina General Statute 160D. The town must have certain land-use ordinance updates in place by June 30, 2022.

• Four members were appointed from within the town limits: Todd Kepler, Diana Palmer, Robin Connor, and Edie Lleair.
• Three alternates were appointed: Sean Skidmore, Lee Adams, and Jason Berg.
• One seat reserved for a representative from the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) was left vacant; staff will continue recruiting a candidate to fill that position, with hopes of an appointment by the January meeting.
• Terms will be assigned by random drawing at the Planning Board's first meeting, expected in January. Regular monthly meetings are anticipated through May 2022 to meet the statutory deadline.
• The motion to approve appointments passed unanimously.

UNCC Master of Public Administration — American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds Presentation Students from the UNC Charlotte Master of Public Administration program presented their research and recommendations for how the town should spend its $1.17 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) local fiscal recovery funds. The funds must be fully expended by December 2026.

• The student team reviewed federal eligibility rules, surveyed peer municipalities, and gathered local community input to develop their recommendations.
• Eligible uses under ARPA include: addressing pandemic-related public health and economic impacts, premium pay for essential workers, replacing lost government revenue, and investing in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. The team noted that broadband spending authority under ARPA applies to counties, not municipalities like Ranlo.
• The team found that Ranlo did not qualify for the lost revenue calculation for FY2020 but encouraged the town to recalculate in future years.
• High-impact, lower-cost recommendations: Direct food assistance to residents facing food insecurity (estimated ~$92,000 per month for approximately 126 families); community center renovations for ADA compliance and social distancing (~$30,000); flume (wastewater flow measurement device) improvements (~$85,300); and domestic violence training for police officers (~$200 per officer per course).
• Lower-impact, lower-cost recommendations: Personal protective equipment for police and public utilities staff (~$15,000 annually); ARPA administrative cost coverage (~$116,898); and scholarship support for Warlock Academy graduates (~$5,000 annually for five recipients at $1,000 each).
• Lower-impact, higher-cost recommendation: Replacement of manhole covers, sourced from the town's Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Plan, estimated at ~$100,000.
• High-impact, higher-cost recommendations: A 10-year water meter replacement schedule, with ARPA funds proposed to cover the first five years (~$482,000 to replace half of all meters by 2026); renovations to the town lodge to enable social distancing and future public health uses such as vaccination events (estimated $150,000–$550,000 depending on scope); stormwater improvements at Boulder Court (note: only the stormwater portion is ARPA-eligible, not roadway work); and replacement of the Burlington Avenue 8-inch aerial water crossing, identified as a high-priority item in the town's Capital Improvement Plan.
• The team noted several limitations: the U.S. Treasury's final rule had not yet been released at the time of the presentation; cost estimates may change due to inflation, supply chain shortages, and labor costs; and Ranlo is also slated to receive over $6 million from the state budget, which may overlap with some of these projects.
• The Board asked questions regarding the water meter replacement cost, options for administering a food assistance program (including partnering with local nonprofits or Gaston County), and the number of officers who would participate in domestic violence training.