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.

Town Hall Relocation Update Staff provided a public update on the emergency relocation of Town Hall following the determination that the previous building posed serious structural and health safety risks.

• The town manager explained that the old Town Hall, in use since the 1970s, had reached a point where structural problems could not be repaired and vacating the building was the only viable option.
• Staff — including Charles Harper and Police Chief Lunceford — worked weeks of approximately 70-hour schedules to complete the move, which coincided with Tropical Storm Helene and related emergency operations.
• All essential town services, including garbage collection, continued without interruption during the transition.
• Residents were reminded that Town Hall is now located at 1825 Spencer Mountain Road for bill payments and other in-person needs.

Spencer Heights Speed Bump Update Staff provided a status update on the ongoing effort to address speeding concerns in the Spencer Heights neighborhood.

• Following earlier community input, a temporary speed bump was installed this week at the Wicklow Drive entrance to Spencer Heights.
• The board will evaluate the temporary measure over the coming month before deciding whether to make it permanent and move the process to Sun River Drive.
• Fire department personnel were specifically notified of the temporary speed bump's location.

South Fork Collective — Membership Consideration John Sirby, Executive Director of Catawba Riverkeeper and chair of the South Fork Collective, presented the organization to the board and requested that Ranlo join as a member.

• The South Fork Collective is a regional partnership of municipalities and organizations in Gaston, Lincoln, and Catawba Counties focused on three goals: improving water quality, flood resiliency, and recreational access along the South Fork River.
• Current partners include the City of Belmont, Town of Cramerton, City of Gastonia, Gaston County, City of Lowell, Town of McAdenville, Carolina Thread Trail, Catawba Lands Conservancy, Lake Wylie Marine Commission, Two Rivers Utilities, and others.
• Membership carries no financial commitment from the town. Members are asked to attend quarterly meetings and participate in collective grant efforts when applicable.
• Mr. Sirby noted that membership allowed partners to support each other's grant applications — citing a recent example where collective letters of support helped Gastonia secure approximately $10 million in grants for a creek restoration project.
• The board voted unanimously to enter into the South Fork Collective memorandum of understanding. Staff will handle all paperwork and serve as the town's representative at meetings.

Monthly Financial Report Staff presented the monthly budget and expense report for informational purposes.

• No significant issues were flagged. The report was presented as a routine update requiring no board action.

Budget Amendment 2425.5 — K-9 Program Donation Staff presented a budget amendment to properly account for a donation received for the Police Department's K-9 program.

• A $1,000 donation from Standard Distributors was received in support of the department's second K-9 officer. The amendment moves the funds from miscellaneous police revenue into the K-9 supplies line item.
• The board approved the amendment unanimously.

Budget Amendment 2425.6 — Olympian Recognition Funds Staff presented a budget amendment related to donations received for Ranlo Olympian Kaylin Brown.

• Some donations made out to the Town of Ranlo were deposited and then disbursed to Ms. Brown. This amendment moves $600 from a miscellaneous fund to the appropriate budget code to reflect that transaction properly.
• The board approved the amendment unanimously.

Budget Amendment 2425.7 — Employee Matter Staff presented a budget amendment to cover the cost of a personnel matter previously discussed in closed session.

• The amendment moves a one-time fund balance appropriation to cover the financial outcome of an employee dispute resolved during a prior closed session. Specific details were not disclosed in accordance with closed session confidentiality.
• The board approved the amendment unanimously.

Local Government Commission (LGC) Scorecard Review Staff shared findings from a productive meeting with a representative from the NC Local Government Commission, which provided long-sought clarity on why Ranlo remains on the Unit Assistance List.

• The town has been on the LGC's Unit Assistance List, a designation staff noted is not one the town wants to remain on. The LGC visit answered previously unresolved questions about how the scoring system works.
• LGC evaluations are based on data from the prior fiscal year — meaning the July 2024 determination was based on June 2023 financial data, not 2024 results.
• The town scored well in general fund and most other categories. The only issue identified was in the water and sewer unrestricted cash ratio, which scored 21 against a threshold of 14.
• That score was caused by a timing issue: the town had paid upfront for a project with NC DEQ and was awaiting reimbursement at the June 30 snapshot date, making unrestricted cash appear low. Had the reimbursement arrived before June 30, the town likely would not have been placed on the list.
• A late audit flag in the internal controls category also contributed, stemming from audit submissions that were delayed in prior years. That flag will age off the five-year lookback window in time.
• Staff indicated the town now has clear guidance on how to manage future reimbursement project timing to avoid repeating the issue.
• This item was informational only and required no board vote.

Revised Budget Adoption Staff requested the board readopt the current fiscal year budget following a technical cleanup recommended by the LGC.

• No money was moved and no policy changes were made. The revision simply converts anticipated surplus amounts into formal line-item expenditures so the budget appears fully balanced on its face, which the LGC recommends for clarity.
• The board voted unanimously to adopt the technically updated budget.

Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts Staff and board members recognized Ranlo police officers and other staff who assisted with emergency response in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.

• The town coordinated with Lowell, Dallas, and Cramerton to send a group of 10 officers to the Chimney Rock area to assist with ongoing emergency operations.
• Officers remaining in the field were expected to continue through Sunday, with some sleeping in campers, churches, or their vehicles due to conditions in the area.
• Board members praised both the officers who deployed and those who stayed behind and adjusted their schedules to maintain full coverage in Ranlo.

Faith and Blue Week Staff announced an upcoming community engagement event connecting Ranlo police officers, faith leaders, and residents.

• Events were scheduled to begin the following day, including a prayer walk Saturday at 10:00 a.m., a movie in the park Saturday evening, and Coffee with a Cop on Monday.
• Full schedules were posted on the Town of Ranlo and Ranlo Police Department Facebook pages.

Ranlo Church of God Recognition — Deferred The board had planned to formally recognize Ranlo Church of God leadership for allowing the town to use their facilities during the emergency relocation.