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.

White Goods and Bulk/Brush Pickup Ordinance The Board held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance amendment to establish a formal schedule for bulk item and brush pickup, replacing the previous informal arrangement.

• Under the new ordinance, bulk items and white goods (large appliances) will be picked up once per month at no charge on the scheduled date.
• Residents who need an additional, unscheduled pickup may request one for a fee: $25 for white goods; $25 for bulk items over 50 pounds; $15 for bulk items under 50 pounds.
• The Board voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance. Staff noted the effective date would be set for April 14, 2021, to allow time to notify residents of the change.

No-Parking Ordinance Amendment The Board held a public hearing on an ordinance amendment to prohibit parking on certain town streets, primarily to address public safety concerns — including fire trucks, ambulances, and garbage trucks having difficulty navigating narrow roads.

• The draft ordinance includes a general prohibition on parking on any street 18 feet or less in width, which serves as a catchall for streets not specifically named in the ordinance.
• Streets were added to the no-parking list based on board consensus and resident requests. Streets added by resident petition included Strawberry Lane, Ryan Street, Love Street, and Crescent Avenue.
• After discussion, the Board agreed to remove Strawberry Lane, Crescent Avenue, and Monterey Park Drive from the list, as those streets are wide enough to accommodate parking without creating safety hazards. Love Street and Ryan Street were confirmed to remain on the list due to documented access problems for emergency vehicles.
• Fire department representatives noted that Love Street is particularly narrow and that fire apparatus has struck parked vehicles' mirrors while attempting to pass through.
• The Board voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance as amended.

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Discussion and Financial Policy Staff presented a draft Financial Policy Manual for the Board's review, prepared in advance of upcoming budget work sessions and a scheduled meeting with the NC Local Government Commission (LGC).

• The draft policy includes a reserve and fund balance target of a minimum 30% fund balance, with a goal of reaching 50% or higher — consistent with comparable towns in the region.
• No vote was taken on the policy; the Board was asked to review the document and provide feedback at a future meeting.
• Staff noted the policy will help demonstrate to the LGC in June that the Town has a sound financial plan in place.
• A special budget work session was scheduled for March 25, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. to continue budget discussions.
• The April 8, 2021 regular meeting was set to begin at 6:00 p.m., with a public hearing on additional ordinance updates as the first order of business.

Town Manager's Report The Town Manager provided updates on several ongoing town initiatives and employee matters.

• Two American Red Cross blood drives are scheduled at the town lodge on March 19 and March 31, 2021. Residents may sign up online.
• A community cleanup event is tentatively planned for Saturday, April 22, 2021, in partnership with the NC Department of Transportation, which will supply bags, gloves, and materials.
• Gaston County provided COVID-19 vaccines to 15 town employees, bringing the total of fully vaccinated town staff to over two-thirds of the workforce.
• Public works crews responded to a sewer line break, working approximately 12–13 hours overnight into the following afternoon to resolve the issue.
• The Ranlo Police Department responded to 566 calls in February 2021, compared to 272 calls in February 2020 — more than double the call volume year over year.

Recreation Programs The Board discussed the possibility of restarting youth recreational sports programs and activities for senior residents.

• The Mayor raised the idea of offering a T-ball program after observing a sign-up event in a neighboring town. The Board discussed potentially partnering with the City of Lowell rather than independently organizing a league, given budget constraints and the current status of the town's recreation committee.
• Staff agreed to contact Lowell's city manager to explore partnership options and will share information with residents who may be interested.
• A commissioner suggested planning a drive-through appreciation event for senior residents in May, in recognition of Senior Adult Month. No formal action was taken; the idea was flagged for further planning.