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.

Employee Holiday Bonuses The Town Manager brought forward a recommendation for employee Christmas bonuses, noting that town employees had worked exceptionally hard throughout 2020 — including the police department responding to more than twice the normal call volume and public works operating without inmate assistance since March.

• The board discussed bonus options, including the traditional one week's pay or a flat $750 per full-time employee. The Town Manager noted that the town skipped both its cost-of-living adjustment and a mid-year bonus in July due to pandemic-related economic uncertainty.
• The Town Manager confirmed the town is in a strong financial position, with over $2 million in its general fund capital management account, over $300,000 in the power bill capital fund, and sales tax receipts up 7–11% compared to 2019.
• A motion was made and approved to award a $775 net bonus to each full-time employee and a $250 bonus to each part-time employee. The $775 amount incorporates the meal/lunch voucher that would normally accompany the annual employee Christmas dinner, which could not be held this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

St. Paul Street Grinder Pump Maintenance Fee The board considered eliminating a $17 monthly maintenance fee that had been assessed to certain homeowners served by grinder pumps since a May 2016 board vote.

• Three new grinder pumps were recently installed on St. Paul Street, following earlier replacements on Ron Circle. With the new pumps in place, ongoing maintenance costs are expected to be significantly lower.
• A commissioner noted that the original fee was established after community meetings with affected homeowners, who agreed to pay it to cover upkeep of the older pumps. With new equipment installed, the fee is no longer justified.
• The board voted unanimously to discontinue the $17 monthly maintenance fee for those homeowners.
• Staff also discussed working toward connecting all grinder pump units to town-supplied electricity so homeowners are not personally responsible for the cost of powering the pumps.

South Ranlo Water Improvement Project — CDBG Infrastructure Grant The board held a public hearing and took action on a $2 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to replace aging water lines in the southern portion of town.

• The project proposes replacing approximately 16,600 linear feet of 2- to 6-inch diameter water lines, along with associated valves, fire hydrants, and service reconnections. None of the targeted streets currently have fire hydrants.
• Priority streets identified in the application include Booker Street, Neely Street, Redlands Drive, Long Avenue, Branch Street, Crossway Circle, Second Street, North Franklin Street, Church Avenue, Ryan Street, Ryan Place, Ranlo Avenue, Crescent Avenue, Love Street, and Burlington Avenue.
• The Town Manager reported that the CDBG coronavirus relief application (a separate grant) was submitted the previous Friday — just before the program stopped accepting applications. Letters of support were provided by Senator Kathy Harrington, Representative John Torbett, Gaston County Health Director Steven Eaton, the Adult and Aging Services administrator, and Gaston County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Booker.
• The board approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Glenn Black, Town Manager Jonathan Blandon, and Public Works Director Jason Green to execute and file the CDBG infrastructure grant application on behalf of the town.
• Commissioners expressed interest in pursuing a future phase of water line improvements in the Alpine area, where lines are similarly aged and have experienced repeated breaks.

Holiday Decorating Contest Mayor Black proposed a town-wide Christmas decorating contest to boost community spirit, given the cancellation of the annual Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas parade, and other holiday events due to COVID-19.

• Residents would be encouraged to decorate their homes, with judging planned for around December 7. Winners would be announced at the December board meeting.
• Prizes discussed were approximately $75 for first place, $50 for second, and $25 for third. Board members and town officials would be excluded from competing.
• The contest will be promoted on the town's Facebook page, the fire department's page, and the Ranlo community social media page. Town staff would handle judging.
• Town Christmas lights are planned to be turned on November 30, the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Gindle Lodge — COVID-19 Capacity Update The Town Manager informed the board that the governor's revised Phase 3 executive order reduced indoor gathering limits from 25 to 10 people.

• The board directed staff to contact all current Gindle Lodge renters to inform them of the 10-person cap and offer a full refund to any renter who does not wish to proceed under the new limit.

Fire Station Update The Town Manager provided an update on the new fire station, which was nearing completion.

• The fire department is expected to begin using the facility by November 20, though some appliances are on back order and will not arrive until December.
• A formal grand opening or open house is being planned for early 2021, once COVID-19 conditions allow for a public gathering.

Thanksgiving Holiday — Town Services The Town Manager noted that town offices will be closed November 26–27 for Thanksgiving. Garbage pickup will not be delayed, brush pickup will continue on Wednesday, and regular service will resume Monday, November 30. Utility cutoffs will also proceed as scheduled beginning November 30 to avoid delays in December billing.