Town of Ranlo Board of Commissioners

Meeting Summary – Regular Meeting: August 13, 2026

Meeting Recording: Town of Ranlo YouTube Video

1. Call to Order, Roll Call & Meeting Agenda

• Opening: The meeting was called to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer (18:48).
• Roll Call: Mayor Pro Tem, Mayor Robin Connor, and Commissioners Doug Moore, Ronnie Walls, Walker, and Shet were present (20:07).
• Agenda Amendment: The Board unanimously voted to amend the agenda to add Item 14 under New Business: an intent resolution to apply for the NC State Water & Sewer Asset Inventory Assessment (AIA) grant program (20:40).
• Previous Minutes: Minutes from the July 9, 2026, regular meeting were formally approved (22:56).

2. Traffic & Neighborhood Safety

• Speed Bumps on Jocelyn Drive:
  • Following a neighborhood petition signed by over 60 residents, the Board reviewed options and placement plans for five speed bumps spaced approximately 300 to 500 feet apart (including near the playground) (24:05, 25:43, 26:16).
  • The Board voted to approve proceeding with the installation quote (approx. $4,125), with modifications to include cut-outs to allow safe fire truck and emergency vehicle clearance without damaging equipment (27:13, 29:28, 30:16).
• Uniform 15 MPH Speed Limit (Mountain View, Spencer Heights, Woodside & Ranlo Ave):
  • Staff and HOA presidents from Mountain View, Spencer Heights, and Woodside recommended establishing a uniform 15 mph speed limit across the neighborhoods to replace inconsistent postings (30:45, 32:33).
  • The Public Works Director noted this plan will replace old signage with approximately 80 retroreflective 15 mph signs and 80 “No Parking” signs spaced roughly every 300 feet (hardware estimated at $9,500) (35:17, 37:36).
  • The Board directed staff to draft an official town ordinance establishing the 15 mph limit for these developments and extending through Ranlo Avenue (38:48, 40:08).

3. Public Facilities: Community Building Repairs

• Structural Damage & Safety Hazards: Staff presented photos showing extensive structural rot beneath the front threshold, door frame, deck joists, and access ramp caused by water pooling against the building over the past 19 years (41:16, 43:00, 44:39).
• Board Action: To protect public safety, the Board voted to keep the Community Building temporarily closed and instructed staff to solicit formal bids from licensed contractors for a comprehensive turnkey restoration while also exploring state and local repair grant opportunities (45:50, 49:21, 50:33).

4. Ranlo Experience Committee & Upcoming Town Events

• Budget Status & Schedule:
  • The Experience Committee reported working within its existing budget balance of $14,074.77, which will fund town events through the fall (52:40, 53:20).
  • The committee plans to transition community events to Saturdays starting in 2027 to better accommodate working families and regional visitors (1:01:58).
• Event Highlights:
  • July 17 Miltown Night Review: Brought out hundreds of residents, a 35-vehicle car show, food trucks, and live music (1:03:04).
  • Upcoming August 21 Miltown Night (“Back-to-School Bash”): A free family field day featuring games, DJ/karaoke, temporary tattoos, a juggler, food trucks, and school supply donations from the UAW Freightliner union (53:53, 56:51, 1:04:18).
  • Senior Thanksgiving Dinner: Budgeted at $500 to feed local seniors, complete with clean comedy entertainment and wreath-making crafts (54:38).
  • Fall Festival & Holiday Parade: Planning is underway with rides via TC Amusement, 100 painting pumpkins, hayrides, and holiday parade trucks and characters (55:23, 56:04).
• Committee Vacancy: Following the resignation of member Zion McKenzie due to schedule changes, the Board announced an open seat on the 7-member Experience Committee. Residents interested in volunteering can submit an application via the Town Manager’s office (1:05:18, 1:06:01).
• Senior Resource Event: A senior bingo and health resource event hosted with the Department of Health and Human Services was announced for Tuesday, August 27, at 10:30 AM at the Lodge (1:07:26).

5. Financial Approvals & Grant Resolutions

• Budget Amendment FY 26/27-2: Unanimously approved an amendment recognizing $2,190 in community donations ($2,000 raised by the Police Department calendar project and $190 in Experience Committee car show receipts) and directing the revenue to community policing and event supplies (1:09:01, 1:11:35).
• Monthly Financial Report: Town Manager Hansen noted the operating budget is in solid standing two months into the fiscal year (1:11:55).
• State Water/Sewer AIA Grant Resolution: Unanimously passed an official resolution of intent to apply for NC State Asset Inventory Assessment grant funding (up to $500,000 for mapping and assessing underground water and sewer infrastructure with a 15% local match) prior to the late-September application deadline (1:13:57, 1:15:55).

6. Town Manager’s Report & Administration Updates

• Removal from State Unit Assistance List (UAL): After 6+ years on North Carolina’s state financial watch list, Ranlo has officially been removed from the UAL thanks to consecutive clean audits, improved fiscal stewardship, and budget transparency (1:17:22).
• Safety Awards: Public Works and Administration received three NC Department of Labor Gold Safety Awards (1:16:57).
• New Website Launch Date: The new official Town of Ranlo website—featuring modern navigation, project status dashboards, and an interactive events calendar—is scheduled to go live on September 14 (1:18:50).
• Cybersecurity Grant: The North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) has granted Ranlo 3 full years of free municipal cybersecurity consulting and monitoring services (1:20:02).
• Paving Plan: Staff is re-evaluating the 10-year street resurfacing and repaving plan to rebid priority neighborhood projects (1:19:30).

7. Police & Fire Department Reports

• Police Department: Responded to 619 calls for service in July, issued 17 citations and 10 warnings, and made 8 arrests (1:20:36). The Chief thanked volunteers from The Potter’s House and community members for making National Night Out a success despite the rain (1:20:54, 1:21:20).
• Fire Department: Logged 57 total calls in July (including 22 EMS calls, 3 structure fires, 8 motor vehicle accidents, and 7 hazmat calls) (1:21:48). Over the summer, the department collected school supplies for local students and reminded residents to take heat-exhaustion precautions during extreme heat days (1:22:12, 1:22:45).

8. Town Hall Design & Board Business

• New Municipal Complex Design: The Board reviewed architectural perspectives for the exterior roofline tower on the planned Town Hall / Police Station facility (flat roof, pitched roof, and round “lighthouse” rotunda design), leaning toward the round/pitched architectural concepts for final drafting (1:27:23, 1:31:10, 1:32:27).
• Community Recognition: Recognition was given to local Ranlo family members Levi Melvin and his children on their appointments as head basketball coaches at Ashbrook High School and North Gaston High School (1:33:45).