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.

Concession Stand at Town Athletic Fields A resident, Wade Morton, appeared before the board to request continued use of the town's concession stand building during youth sports seasons, as he had done the previous year.

• Mr. Morton operates the stand at his own expense, selling prepackaged items such as freeze pops and water during YMCA youth sports events (flag football, T-ball, and similar activities), and does not charge children who cannot pay.
• Staff clarified that the board had previously voted approximately two years ago to allow use of the concession stand building for prepackaged goods only — not cooked foods — which limits the town's liability and eliminates the need for a food service inspection.
• The board confirmed that the existing vote covers Mr. Morton's request and no new vote was required. The board expressed support for his continued participation.

No-Parking Sign on Strawberry Lane Resident Jamie Jones of 104 Strawberry Lane came before the board to raise concerns about a "No Parking Anytime" sign that had been posted on Strawberry Lane earlier that same day.

• Mr. Jones stated the sign was installed based on a complaint from a single resident, with no public notice, no opportunity for affected residents to comment, and no documented history of accidents, traffic complaints, or fire access issues on the street.
• He noted that Strawberry Lane is a dead-end street and, by his measurements, wide enough for vehicles to park on both sides while still allowing a fire truck to pass through the middle.
• Mr. Jones requested either a moratorium on enforcement or that the matter be revisited at the next meeting, and indicated he intends to bring a petition signed by the majority of residents on the street.
• Town staff advised the board that it cannot legally direct that an existing ordinance or posted sign go unenforced, but that the board could vote to remove the street from the parking restriction schedule if it chooses to reverse the decision.
• The board agreed to place the matter on the agenda for the next regular meeting, where residents will have the opportunity to present a petition and speak on the issue. The sign remains in effect in the meantime.

Public Comments — Recognition and Community Feedback Several additional residents addressed the board during the public comment period.

• Resident Drew Warr of 1616 Allegheny Drive commended the new banner honoring Ranlo's Olympic gold and silver medalist, Kayn Brown, installed at the corner of Highway 7 and Spencer Mountain Road. He credited Commissioner Connor with spearheading the effort.
• Mr. Warr also thanked Town Manager Charlie Hansen for personally following up on a utility billing autopay issue raised at the prior meeting and for sharing information about upcoming improvements to the billing system.
• Mr. Warr noted that Ranlo is not represented in the current Gaston County tourism magazine and encouraged the board to be intentional about promoting the town's story as new leadership settles in.

Gaston Cares Community Health Fair Representatives from Gaston County Public Health and Oak Street Health appeared to announce an upcoming free community health fair coming to Ranlo.

• The health fair is scheduled for January 22nd, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Ranlo Lodge. It is the first health fair Gaston Cares has brought to a municipality outside the City of Gastonia.
• Approximately 15 vendors are expected, including healthcare providers, the Gaston County Public Health Department, Gaston YMCA, Gaston EMS, Caretegra, and others. CVS/Oak Street Health will provide flu vaccinations and on-site health screenings.
• The event is geared toward seniors and families and is free to attend. Organizers plan to distribute flyers through local churches and community networks to reach residents who may not use social media.
• Commissioner Connor assisted with coordinating the event. The board encouraged organizers to connect with Commissioner Lleair, who works closely with Ranlo's senior population.

Board Rules of Procedure The board considered and formally adopted its Rules of Procedure, and took a separate action to repeal the prior rules that had been embedded in the town's code of ordinances.

• A motion to adopt the Rules of Procedure was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.
• A second motion to adopt the accompanying ordinance repealing the old rules from the code of ordinances was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.
• Staff highlighted Rule 27B, which governs public comment periods going forward. Key provisions include: speakers must give their name and address; remarks are limited to three minutes; no person may speak more than once per period; disruptive conduct is prohibited; and all remarks must be directed to the board as a whole rather than to individual members.

Town Website Overhaul Town Manager Charlie Hansen and Commissioner Hill presented a proposal to redesign the town's website to make it more user-friendly and transparent for residents.

• The proposed redesign would include department pages with staff photos and descriptions, interactive tabs tracking active town projects with status updates, and an integrated suggestion and complaint form routed to the appropriate department with a goal of responding within 48 hours.
• The overhaul is also intended to coincide with upcoming improvements to the town's utility billing and autopay systems.
• The board expressed general support for the direction. Staff indicated they would bring screenshots and a preview to the board before any changes go live on the site.