The following is a staff-prepared summary of key discussion points and decisions from this meeting. For the complete official record, including the approved minutes once available, please visit the meeting record page.
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].
Full Meeting Recording: Watch the full Regular Meeting of the Board on YouTube