Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Ranlo Board of Commissioners: Meeting Summary, November 12, 2026

Opening and Agenda

• Mayor Corey Creech called the meeting to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation that included a prayer for Code Enforcement Officer David Lingerfelt [01:29].
• All board members were present for roll call, with Commissioner Hill attending by phone [04:59].
• The Board adopted the agenda with two changes: the swearing-in of Officer Raun Smith was moved to December, and the Code Enforcement civil penalty discussion was postponed. The motion passed unanimously [05:48].

Recognitions

• National Native American Heritage Month: Mayor Creech read a proclamation recognizing November 2026 as National Native American Heritage Month in Ranlo. It honors North Carolina’s state-recognized tribes and urban Indian organizations, and Commissioner Effie Locklear as a member of the Lumbee Tribe [06:48].
• Certificates of Service: Town Manager Charlie Hansen presented certificates to Public Works employees Chris Wright, Zachary Robinson, Carl Bird, Terry Canup and Leo Osorio. During Fall Festival cleanup they helped a vendor who fell ill: they called for medical help, packed up her booth, and came back the next morning to help her set up again [11:48].

Comments from Attendees

• A resident presented a petition about the speed humps on Joselynn Drive. He said drivers still speed over them, motorcycles go around them through the emergency-vehicle gaps, and traffic cones have stayed in the road for over a month without reflective striping [17:15].
• Public Works Director CJ Harper said the existing humps cost about $5,000 and that speed tables like those on Boulder cost about four times as much. He added that in-house striping has been delayed by crew workload [26:15].
• The Board voted unanimously to have the Public Works Director get pricing for widening the Joselynn Drive speed humps [31:02].

Old Business

• The Board unanimously approved the October 8, 2026 Regular Meeting minutes [32:44] and the October 22, 2026 Special Meeting minutes [33:10].

New Business

• Civic District Uses: Staff presented a draft text amendment to the development ordinance. It defines “religious institution” and allows a coffee shop, juice bar or tea room as an accessory use in the Civic District, without drive-thrus or full meal service as now drafted. The amendment goes to the Planning Board next [33:49]. Emily Bridges of Maylo United Methodist Church described the church’s plans for a community coffee shop. The church will look into a drive-thru with NCDOT and test interest with a coffee truck in its parking lot [38:01].
• Committee Updates [47:12]:
  • Ranlo Experience Committee: Volunteers are needed for the Senior Luncheon on November 21, 12:00 to 2:00 PM at Maylo Church, with setup on November 20. The Christmas Parade and Jingle Mingle are on December 12.
  • Ranlo Resource Network: The committee reported on its September Adult Trivia Night and October Fall Safety Adventure, where leftover food was shared with neighbors in need. Coming up: Senior Bingo with Senior TLC PACE on November 19, Adult Trivia in January 2027, and a children’s event on February 10, 2027 [50:21].
  • Police Foundation: Setup of the Ranlo Police Foundation is moving forward: P.O. box, answering service, tax filings, bank accounts, and website and stationery mockups. The committee asked permission to use the Town logo and a photo of the new police station [55:54].
• New World Interlocal Agreement: The Police Chief presented an agreement with the City of Gastonia and Gaston County to move police records from a 2009 on-site server to the cloud-based New World records system. The cost is already in the budget. The Board voted unanimously to sign the agreement [1:00:01].
• Branding and Vision RFP: At Commissioner Hill’s suggestion, the Board voted unanimously to have the Town Manager issue a Request for Proposals for a branding and vision consultant. The work will include public engagement sessions ahead of future strategic planning [1:02:36].
• Centralina Strategic Plan Proposal: The Town Manager shared a strategic planning proposal from the Centralina Regional Council as information only. A Centralina representative will present at the December meeting before any vote [1:16:35].
• Monthly Financial Report: The monthly general fund, trust account and year-to-date budget reports were presented. The independent auditor will present last fiscal year’s audit in December [1:19:35].

Town Manager’s Report

• Truck traffic: Residents report 18-wheelers missing turns near the mills and cutting through Ranlo Avenue, Crescent, Rhyne and Love, damaging yards. Staff will bring maps to a future meeting [1:21:12].
• Fire Department: 53 calls in October: 12 EMS, 9 fire alarms, 9 vehicle accidents, 13 good intent, 4 service calls, 2 structure fires, 2 vehicle fires, 1 brush fire and 1 hazmat. Crews also responded twice to cable lines pulled down by tractor-trailers cutting through the subdivision off Ranlo Avenue [1:23:49].
• Police Department: 451 events and 67 citations in October. The Chief thanked a resident for feeding officers on Halloween and gave a traffic advisory for the Toy Run leaving The Place Church on December 5 [1:25:38].
• Public Works: The Franklin Street waterline replacement is complete and Second Street is about three-quarters done, putting Phase 1 at about 60%. Upgrades at Spencer Mountain/Garden Park are finished: a new retaining wall, riprap, seal-coated asphalt, striped parking and new basketball goals [1:26:46].
• Staff holiday payment: The Board voted unanimously to approve the annual one-time holiday check for Town staff, paid Thanksgiving week, at an estimated $26,000 to $29,000. Town Attorney Nick Tosco noted that state law requires a separate process to include elected officials [1:30:32].

Comments from the Mayor and Board

• Board members talked about building ties with the local alternative school, and Emily Bridges described how local churches support school staff [1:13:50].
• Mayor Creech thanked staff and committees. He reported on outreach to state and federal legislators about grant funding for the new Town Hall, including a December 7 meeting with the incoming congresswoman and a January 16 legislative event in Gastonia [1:36:16].
• Cost-of-living raise: Commissioner Moore proposed a 3% cost-of-living raise for all Town employees, starting with the first December 2026 paycheck. The cost is about $59,000 a year, or about $29,500 for the rest of this fiscal year. The motion passed after a split vote, with Mayor Creech casting the tie-breaking vote [1:37:55].

Adjournment

• The meeting adjourned by unanimous vote [1:45:36].