Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Good evening and welcome to the July 28, 2026 regular meeting of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners. My name is Chad Brown. I serve as chairman of the board as well as commissioner of the Riverbend Township. I would like to welcome our viewers and thank Spectrum Cable and AT&T for making it possible for our citizens. For our television and live streaming audience, I would like to present our Gaston County Commission, beginning on my far right. Good evening, Scott Sheehan, Gastonia Township.

How are you doing today? This is Jim Bailey, South Point Township.

Good evening, Kathy Cloninger, Dallas Township.

Bob Hovis, Crowders Mountain Township. Good evening, Tom Kigger, Gastonia Township.

At this time, I'll ask you to please rise for the invocation of the Pledge of Allegiance given by Commissioner Cloninger and the invocation given by Commissioner Hovis.

Please bow with me. Gracious Father, we come before you tonight to conduct the business of the county. Father, help us be mindful for all of the citizens of our county and all the things and all the needs and all the wishes that we have. And Father, as we go back in the next two weeks to start school, we certainly want to be mindful for those who are still returning from vacation and coming back home in order to be ready for Gaston County Schools to start. Father, we also want to be mindful for a special group from the Cherival area that will be coming back from Wilmington. This eight and under girls softball team just won the national championship and were undefeated in the tournament play, and they'll be coming back to Gaston as we speak now. Father, be present with them, give them safe travels, and hold them in your hands as they return to us. Father, we ask all this in Christ's name. Amen.

To the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I will now call on Commissioner Hovis for proclamations, accommodations, awards, and certificates. Commissioner Hovis.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to ask Mr. Gordon Kennett to please join me here at the podium. Our recognition tonight is in reference to the annual observance of national aphasia awareness in Gaston County. Mr. Pettit is the chair of communications. An NAA ambassador and National Aphasia Association is the entity that he represents here tonight. Whereas aphasia is an acquired language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate through speaking, understanding language, reading, or writing, while leaving intelligence totally intact. Whereas aphasia is most commonly caused by stroke, but can also be a result of traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, or progressive neurological diseases. And whereas in approximately two million Americans in the United States who are living with aphasia, and whereas individuals with aphasia often face significant barriers to communication, employment, healthcare access, and community participation, and whereas Increased public awareness and understanding of aphasia can reduce stigma, promote inclusion, and support communication access for all individuals. And whereas the National Aphasia Awareness Month is observed annually nationally in June as a recognized opportunity for the resilience of people with aphasia, and honor their families and care partners, and highlight the importance of accessible communication in our communities. Now therefore be it resolved that the Gaston County Board of Commissioners hereby recognize the annual observance of national aphasia awareness and encourages all residents to learn more about aphasia and support individuals living with this communication disability. This to be adopted the 28th day of July 2026. Mr. Pettit, if you'd like to address the group, you're more than welcome to.

Well, thank you very much. Thank you very much. I appreciate it, Bob. And thank you. This means a lot. It means a lot. Almost 13 years ago, I had a stroke and could hardly communicate and immediately even couldn't understand my mother. And so it took me six and a half years before I could work enough where I could communicate well enough to work again. So this means a lot to a lot of people that I know who also have aphasia and There are about 150 people now that are ambassadors who support NAA, National Aphasia Association, and we, of those who are ambassadors, are people who want to support summer caregivers, summer speech therapists, language pathologists, and we want to get the word out. So we have a website. If you would check out the website and the NAA, learn more about us. And it's pretty interesting, I think, and you may find it interesting as well. Thank you so much. Thank you again. Thank you.

The next item will be Commissioner Cloninger. She'll be doing a commendation to commend Hunter Huss Alumni Association upon their 10th anniversary.

Good evening. So could Shea Adams, founder, president, and members of the Hunter Huss Alumni Association, please come forward.

Good.

Thank you.

Hello. Whereas the Hunter Huss Alumni Association has demonstrated 10 years of unwavering dedication and commitment to the betterment of Hunter Huss High School and its community, faithfully serving as a pillar of support while fostering pride, unity, and opportunity among students, staff, and alumni. And whereas the Hunter Huss Alumni Association has enriched student learning experiences by funding educational field trips, expanding opportunities beyond the classroom, and has demonstrated compassion and care by paying overdue student lunch balances, ensuring that students' basic needs are met, and has awarded 25 scholarships empowering deserving students to pursue higher education and to achieve their dreams. And whereas the Hunter Huss Alumni Association has supported school athletics and band programs, contributing to the growth and extracurricular excellence in school spirit, and has enhanced school culture and pride by assisting in bringing the Johnson C. Smith Marching Bulls to perform alongside Hunter Huss high school students, helping to generate a partnership with the university and create scholarship opportunities for Gaston County students. And whereas the Hunter Huss Alumni Association homecoming tailgates warmly welcome current students, staff, and alumni celebration of shared heritage and the Association has shown deep appreciation for educators by providing teacher appreciation meals recognizing the vital role teachers play and shaping future generations Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Gaston County Board of Commissioners honor and commend the Hunter Huss Alumni Association for 10 years of outstanding service, generosity, and commitment to education and community. be it further resolved that their efforts have made a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of students, staff, alumni, setting a standard of excellence and service worthy of recognition and celebration. Adopted the 28th day of July 2026. So would you like to make some comments? Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening, members of the Gaston County Commissioner Board, distinguished guests, fellow alumni, and friends. On behalf of the Hunter House Alumni Association, I would like to sincerely thank Commissioner Keiger for sponsoring the proclamation and Commissioner Cloninger for presenting it to us this evening. recognizing our organization's service to our alma mater and community. It is truly an honor to stand before you today and accept this recognition. As you already know, Gaston County Schools are underfunded and rely heavily on community support to meet the needs of our students and employees. Some schools are fortunate to have PTOs, Athletic Booster Club, and or Band Booster. At Hunter Huss, we are fortunate to have a thriving alumni association. Ten years ago, Mr. Brent Boone, who was serving as principal of Hunter Huss High School at the time, and I were conversant, and he recognized that the school could benefit from additional support and suggested that the alumni come together to form an official alumni association. Following his encouragement, I quietly completed the paperwork to establish the organization. A small group of us assembled to discuss hosting the first ever homecoming tailgate. During that meeting, I revealed that the paperwork had already been filed and we had a foundation to become an official organization. From that moment forward, the rest is truly history. Today, 10 years later, we are still committed to filling in the gaps wherever there is a need. Over the past decade, we have hosted countless tailgates and reconnected generations of Huskies. We have completed service projects both at the school and throughout the community. We have supported athletic teams, student organizations, hosted teacher appreciation breakfasts, pay overdue lunch balances for students, and stepped in to help maintain school spirit by bringing Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls Band to perform during a challenging time when our beloved band director was ill fighting cancer, may I add, and our marching band was unable to perform. But if I had to choose the one accomplishment that means the most to me, it will be providing the scholarships to deserving students as they pursue higher education. There is nothing more rewarding than helping a young person take the next step towards achieving their goals. This recognition belongs not only to one person, but to the entire community of dedicated alumni and supporters. I am grateful for those standing with me, both my presidents, first and second vice presidents, those watching online, and the more than 5,000 members of our Facebook community who continue to support our mission. Your commitment, generosity, and belief in the Hunter Huss Alumni Association make everything we do possible. As we celebrate this honor, we remain focused on the future. We are excited about continuing our work with our beloved alma mater and continuing to invest in the students, teachers, and programs that make Hunter Huss special. And while I may be a little biased, I would challenge every school to develop the same level of school pride, excuse me, Husky pride. that has fueled the Hunter House Alumni Association for the last 10 years. Thank you again, commissioners, alumni, supporters, and the entire Gastonia community for this tremendous honor. What's a Husky? Always a Husky. Thank you.

The next item on the agenda is public hearings. We have a continued public hearing that is still in session. The commission will now accept a motion to continue the zoning map hearing of REZ-244 to the upcoming meeting that would pursue all problems resolved. So moved. Motion made by Commissioner Kueger, seconded by Commissioner Sheehan. All in favor? It has been continued. County Commission will now take citizens' comments on public hearing, Conditional District REZ-226, Jeffrey L. Smith, the applicant. The public hearing was continued from 6-23-2026. Ms. Jamie Leasy, Planning and Development Services, will provide a brief overview. Once she has completed her comments, citizens' comments will be taken. Ms. Leasy.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. REZ 25-04-10-00226 is a conditional rezoning request for parcel ID 190-594 and 190-596 at 1435 Union New Hope Road. the applicant and property owner is jeffrey l smith this request is to conditionally rezone from the r1 single family limited zoning district with urban standards and corridor highway overlays to the c3 general commercial conditional district with urban standards and corridor highway overlays the subject property is located south of cramerton this ortho image shows the two parcels on union new hope road surrounded by mainly residential lots zoning map shows the subject parcels are in a primarily residential area with pockets of commercial zoning in the vicinity as for the environmental features the front parcel is relatively flat and the back of the second parcel slopes down approximately 20 feet there is no flood designation on the property these are the property owners who were notified about today's public hearing these are the dresses of the property owners who received a mailed notice The case has been added to the Planning and Zoning Current Cases page on EngageGaston.com. As of today, there are no questions or concerns posted on the project web page. The site is served by a private well and septic system and accessed off an NCDOT maintained road. The intention of this rezoning request is to match the zoning designation with its current use. The property consists of two buildings that predate Gaston County zoning regulations. The building closest to the road is a 3,000 square foot structure built in 1972. And in 1981, a 5,200 square foot building was constructed at the rear of the property. This second building extends slightly over the rear property line. So as part of this request, the applicant is proposing to recombine the existing lots to improve the property's conformity with current zoning regulations. The site identifies a designated area for a future building. Any future development within this area will be required to comply with all applicable UDO standards for the underlying commercial district, as well as the requirements of the US overlay district, including setbacks, parking, and architectural design standards. This is a Google Street image of the site. The proposed site plan includes eight designated parking spaces, which satisfies the off-street parking requirement. General ordinance sections that we looked at during this review include the definition for contractor's office and equipment storage yard, and the underlying zoning district definition for the proposed C3 district. We also reviewed the conditional district definition and the table of uses in section 7.5, which confirm a contractor's office and equipment storage yard is permitted use in the C3 underlying zoning district. The applicant is requesting relief from lot grading, side setbacks, and lot width requirements, as this is an existing site and no alterations to the existing buildings are proposed at this time. The applicant is requesting relief also from the paving requirement for four of the gravel parking spaces in the rear of the building, as well as allowing the existing mature landscape to serve as a buffer. The Gaston County TRC reviewed this project on Wednesday, February 18th, and provided the following comments. EMS, Natural Resources, and Building Services had no comment. The Environmental Health Department indicated that if the application is approved, the applicant will be required to apply for existing system approval permit. And the GCLMPO stated that there are no funded transportation improvements in the vicinity. While considering the request, staff providing recommended conditions of approval for your consideration this evening. For the record, this state's parcel 190594 and 190596 will be recombined by PLAT. Per the Planning and Zoning Board recommendation, the applicant will adjust the right property line to ensure the existing landscape buffer is on the subject parcel. and the future building will be permitted in accordance with the contractor's office and equipment storage yard requirements. As for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the subject parcels are within the Area 4 Southeast Garden-Gaston Small Area Plan. The future land use designation is Suburban Development. Suburban Development consists of significant single-family residential areas that exist around commercial pockets representing a standard suburban center. The application, as presented, aligns with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. And the Planning and Zoning Board heard this case with the revised site plan at its June 1st regular meeting and recommended approval with a 7-0 vote. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I conclude my presentation. I'm here to answer any questions you or the board may have, and the applicant also has a presentation today.

Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome. Any comments from the applicant at this time?

Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the Commission. I'm John Russell. I'm a local attorney. My business address is 301 South York Street in Gastonia. I represent the applicant, Mr. Smith, also his business partner, Josh Springs. They own sister companies, Choice Landscaping and Choice Tree Service. They are both local Gaston County businesses. They've been in business for about 25 years. They currently employ about seven employees. As Jamie said, this is really a rezoning that will allow the continuation of what's been a legal non-conforming use and allow for some expansion of this property and this use in the future as the applicant's business continues to grow. I'm going to run through just a little bit of slides to explain some of the background and details of that. This is the existing buildings on the property, two garages and a small office you see over on the left. It was previously operated by Gaston Radiator Specialty Inc., so as a sort of an auto service and repair business, predated the zoning ordinance, and so these garages were built. and operated for many years in the 70s and 80s. The two buildings, as Jamie said, one's 3,000 square feet and the other's slightly above 5,200. It's currently a wooded and landscaped lot, and I've got some photos of that. these are some historic photos of the gaston radiator era when they were operating and you can see the buildings were kind of in the same a lot more automobile storage traditionally existed than what the applicant is using or proposing to use so some of the benefits of this rezoning would be to bring the property more into conformity by sort of a less intensive use if you will eliminating the interior lot line that you see in the center of the screen which where the building extends over the setback line, and in fact, over the property line, and to allow a use that's consistent with what would be, if approved, a C3 zoning. This is also the 2000 slide of Gaston Radiator, and you can see property has basically been used in existence for some period of time. The proposed rear building, if that were developed, there's not any current plans to actually construct or do that. That's a long-term plan for the business owners. They think maybe they're about two plus years away from looking at that, but it would also be for storage of their equipment, their landscaping, their tree service equipment. some degree of supplies and trucks, so that's what that would be for. It would be a metal building, it'd be in the rear, it'd be screened from the road, and it would comply with all existing setback and other land use requirements. Jamie mentioned the proposed use, contractor's office and equipment storage yard, so the current use meets that definition. We are asking for some relief on the setback requirements, but in exchange for that, um existing vegetation really screens this property from the surrounding properties the slide on the left is the left front you can see that's heavily wooded the right front is includes not only trees cypress trees but also a berm area so it's it's up that property to the right is actually owned by mr spring so he owns the property at the top or the north side of that and he agreed at the planning board to move the property line to make sure the berm and the trees will be entirely on the commercial site, not on the residential. So going forward, there will be maintained screening from any residential side. It also will help with the setback. So adjusting the property line, make sure that the right side is fully within the setback area. Here's some additional views of the right-sided screening that will be maintained. And then there's also the berm in the back of the property as well. Happy to take any questions about the proposed conditions. I've got slides of those. Basically, as I mentioned, all the conditions that are proposed are allowing the existing buildings to stay as is. No new development or expansion of the existing buildings is contemplated or would happen as a result of this. And really the conditions are to allow the property to be in compliance maintaining the existing buildings. These are the tree service and landscaping trucks that would be stored inside the larger garage so that's currently being done and that would continue under this plan. The size of these trucks are fitted for the garage and that's one of the reasons that the applicant previously leased and has been using this property. One of the conditions requires that trucks or vehicles of this size be stored inside. They may put a fence, that's a model fence that's allowed by the zoning code, so that would be permitted, but that just gives you an idea of what it looks like if the fence is developed. You can see the pocket of, with respect to consistency, there is the pocket of commercial zoning just to the north and east of this site. That section of C1 is on the west side of South New Hope Road. Directly across that is Cramerton commercial zoning. This would be consistent in allowing some commercial development in small pockets, which is under the future land use plan allowed and encouraged under both the suburban and the rural future land use designations. I pulled up just a little bit of language and I'll close with that. One of the things that Jamie mentioned is true both in suburban and in rural is that when you do have the pockets of commercial development, generally they're designated for services or things that are supportive of municipalities or surrounding land uses such as. landscaping and tree services that are called out here. The other thing that I thought was sort of helpful and relevant to this is the second goal eight in terms of the county's economic portion of its future land use plan, and if it's all right, I'll just sort of point out or read from this. While some industries have come and gone in Gaston County over time, a lot have stayed and have updated their quality of work, their quality of employment, and their skills. This update in industry offers future generations great opportunity while allowing Gaston County to market itself to new industries as being a place for longevity. I think this application meets that requirement and this goal. It's sort of a long-term small business. They've been successful, and I think allowing this rezoning will allow them to continue to do that. Again, I appreciate your attention. I'm happy to take any questions.

Are there any citizens wishing to comment on this matter at this time? Seeing none, any questions from the Board of Commissioners? Mr. Sheehan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Russell, you mentioned about the applicant's desire to have some equipment storage on the site. Is that equipment only, or is that going to include material storage?

One of the conditions, Mr. Sheehan, allows for limited material storage, like landscaping materials, not to exceed 30 days. I don't think that's their current intention or current use, but if approved, there would be some limited material storage that could be allowed here.

Okay, and then as far as the equipment storage, is there any talks or discussion about any kind of canopy or structure to be stored underneath that, or is this all going to be open storage of equipment on the property?

The equipment is going to be inside the garages, so that would be where the location of the equipment would be.

Thank you, sir. Maybe Mr. Skiba or Ms. Lizzie, I need to ask this to them. The limited, what he's calling limited, material usage, can you better explain what that would entail?

Let me pull that slide up.

So

speaking with staff that the limit that he has for storing the quick scoring materials there is a self-imposed limit our our ordinance doesn't stop him from storing materials there so if he's saying that he's going to store a limited amount of storage there for less than 30 days that's a self-imposed limit that they're that they're bringing forward it's not something that the ordinance would stop them from storing so there's no way for us to So this is a conditional district rezoning. So if that's something that the board feels that they want to impose on the property, that there's a limited amount of storage there, then that's a condition that could be applied to this. Now, the applicant has already mentioned that they're willing to do that. So I would assume that they would be OK with that limitation. But it is something that would have to be written into the agreement and they would have to agree to.

Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Any other questions from the Board of Commissioners? Seeing none, since there are no additional comments, I would now declare the public hearing closed. Just to recap, the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval by a 7 to 0 vote, finding that it is reasonable in the public interest and consistent with the goals of comprehensive land use plan as it is provided in its services. Do I hear a motion to approve the modifications that has been given? So moved, Mr. Chairman. Motion made by Commissioner Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Kegert. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. The County Commission will now take citizens' comments on public hearings. Zoning text amendment. Ms. Jamie Comberlu, Planning and Zoning Director, provides a brief overview. Once she has completed her comments, citizens' comments will be taken. Ms. Comberlu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Text-26-05-20-00013 is a text amendment proposal to sections 2.7 and 11.7 of the UDO to update the language for common open space requirements. If approved, the amendment would effectively repeal all of section 11.7 in the UDO, and the draft text will replace it. The Planning and Zoning Board did request staff to look into this section after taking forward two requests. for payment in lieu of open space cases. The board and staff agreed that the fees being collected were not enough to make an impact, and the process was ultimately burdensome on the applicant. The first change is to chapter two. We are proposing to remove the common open space improved definition. The regulations and definition for common open space already allow for open space to be passive or active. The reason we are proposing to remove this definition is that it complicates the intent of the ordinance and is ultimately repetitive. In general, the amendments would apply to all subdivisions of land. It also takes into consideration any existing and approved greenway and trail plans in the general vicinity of sites and would allow for a reduction in the required amount of open space. The proposed text also clarifies ownership and maintenance of the dedicated open space areas and regulates what can and cannot be counted towards meeting that requirement. This table provides the breakdown of what would be required based on the number of lots being proposed as well as the minimum lot size being proposed for the development. A rounding statement has been added to the proposed text which states that any calculated value resulting in a fraction or decimal that does not correspond exactly to a value shown on the chart above shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. If a proposed development is proposing multiple lot sizes, the calculation will be based on the smallest lot in the development And the amendment would also provide a reduction in the required amount of open space for developments that are proposing lots greater than one acre. This is in an effort to incentivize development of one acre lots throughout Gaston County for the land that is being dedicated to common open space. We added in a few regulations to ensure that the land is usable and can be enjoyed by the residents of the development. There's a two thirds requirement for active recreation. This is a common term in the planning and zoning world and would include amenities such as playgrounds, courts, fields, pools, splash pads, parks, and trails. The main thing we will be looking for with this requirement is that the residents of the development are able to actively use the space. The remaining one-third of the space would then be undeveloped area, which could be either a tree save or just undeveloped spaces. The Planning and Zoning Board did recommend approval of this request with a 10-0 vote at their July 6th meeting. Staff is asking that the Board receive the staff report and presentation and then make a recommendation, or sorry, either approve as presented, approve as modified, or disapprove the request. At this time, I'm happy to answer any questions you all may have.

Any citizens wishing to comment on this at this time? Seeing any questions from the Board of Commissioners. Seeing none as well, I will now declare the public hearing closed. Just to recap, the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval by a 10 to 0 vote, finding that the request is reasonable in public interest and is consistent with the goals of the Comprehensive Land and Use Permit Plan, as well as enhance the quality of life, allowing area to absorb growth while still focusing on preservation, improving the image of Gaston County to both current and potential residents. The proposed amendment has also emphasized the importance of the natural resources encouraged to the use of environmental recreation. Do I hear a motion to approve as presented? Motion made by Commissioner Sheehan, seconded by Commissioner Fraley. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. Thank you. This concludes tonight's public hearings. The next item on the agenda is the business agenda. Are there any revisions to the business agenda or any items being pulled? Mr. Sheehan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to pull item J, please. That is all, sir.

J.

Just being on that, it's still here as well, the financial management services budget to appropriate funds purchasing FY27 vehicles to approve reimbursement declaration of $4.2 million, the total appropriation maximum of $4.129151 to be financed. The total amount financed was reduced by $528,410. Do I hear a motion to approve the business agenda with item J being pulled?

Some of you. I'm sorry?

OK. What did you like to pull?

Pull. Aye, please. Aye. Aye.

Any other things need to be pulled?

I don't know if we need to pull A, this proclamation I was going to do tonight since nobody was here to receive it. We can do it at a later date. Is that OK?

Need to be pulled or just continue? We won't have to pull that one.

OK. That's good. Thank you.

Do I hear a motion to approve the business agenda with items J and I pulled from the consent agenda? Motion made by Commissioner Sheehan, seconded by Commissioner Bailey. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. The next item is approval of the minutes. You were provided draft minutes of the regular meeting of June 23, 2026. Do I hear any revisions to approve the minutes as presented?

Motion to approve is presented, Mr. Chairman.

Motion made by Commissioner Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Bailey. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. The next item on the agenda is citizens' recognition. A portion of the board's agenda is set aside for the purpose of allowing citizens the opportunity to offer comments and suggestions. The comment period is not intended to require the commission or staff to answer any question or provide a response questions requiring a response shall be answered as soon as possible through the county manager's office tonight uh... citizens comment be limited to three minutes as i call your name please step to the podium state your name and address for the record and the first citizen to speak is mrs kimberly falls

What do you mean?

Good evening. My name is Kimberly Falls. I live at 417 East Florida Avenue in Bessemer City. I grew up in Gaston County. And after I got married, my husband and I chose to move back to Gaston County because we wanted our children to go to Gaston County schools. And today, I deeply regret that decision. A few moments ago, the opening prayer asked that you be mindful of the needs of the citizens you serve. Tonight, I'd like to ask you that those words not end with the prayer, let them guide the decisions you make for my son, Beckett. Beckett is not a faceless number on a budget report. Beckett is an 11-year-old boy with autism, global developmental delay, mixed receptive expressive language disorder, a high risk for elopement, sleep disturbances, and a highly restricted diet due to sensory processing challenges. Because of these disabilities, Beckett is entitled to services and supports under federal law. These protections are not optional. They are Beckett's civil rights. Before Beckett was diagnosed, I brought cupcakes to celebrate his birthday in his Head Start class. I noticed a desk separated from the rest of the classroom with a stack of puzzles. Before I could even ask about it, another child said, that's Beckett's desk. I was devastated. At that point, I considered homeschooling Beckett, but I was told I wasn't qualified or experienced and that I would be depriving him of resources. What resources? Puzzles? It doesn't take a master's degree in education to know that that is unacceptable. This past year, I worked as a one-on-one education assistant in Gaston County Schools. What I witnessed was heartbreaking and not just isolated to my son, Beckett. Too many children with disabilities are being left behind. These aren't cracks. These are chasms. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA, isn't just an idea. It is federal law, and it establishes the rights of students with disabilities to receive a free, appropriate public education. There are 4,708 students with disabilities in this district. Beckett is one of them. These students are among the community's most vulnerable, yet too many families feel neglected. Different is not less. And every one of these children, including Beckett, deserves dignity, opportunity, and an education that meets their individual needs. On April 30th, I withdrew Beckett from Gaston County Public Schools. Not because my family can afford to live comfortably on one income, but because I cannot accept the future that the current system was offering Beckett. Parents should not have to leave their careers because they believe their child cannot receive an appropriate education in their public school. I choose my words carefully tonight because I want this conversation to stay focused on the children. But please don't mistake my professionalism for satisfaction. I am deeply disappointed by what many families in this district have experienced. You are public servants and we are the public who have elected you and appointed you to serve. Beckett's Special Olympics shirt says, push yourself to be great. If Beckett is expected to push himself every day despite the challenges he faces, then I ask you to hold yourselves to that same standard. Push yourselves to do better. for Beckett and for the other 4,707 children who are counting on you. Thank you.

Doug Morgan.

Hello, I'm Doug Morgan. We live at 3148 Yosemite Drive in Gastonia. I have a grandson that's autistic, so he's going into third grade, Knox Riddle. I think Mr. Hovis knows him. We're just now learning a lot about autism. One thing I do know, if you have 100 autistic kids, you have 100 different autistic kids. They need different things at different times. He's going to Hawk's Nest right now. We met with my daughter and I, and my son-in-law met with Chris Mills last week. to kind of go over. And I realize this is more of a school board situation, but the funding starts here and heads to the school board. So what I want to ask tonight is just y'all's consideration to advocate for more funding for the EC program, if it can be earmarked where it makes sure it gets to the EC program for the teachers and the assistants. I think the classroom where Knox was in last year had 20 children. He was in that. And it worked well. He's got a couple. About half his subjects he needs more additional help with. The other half, he's just about at grade level. But if you have 20 neurotypical children for one teacher, I think last week they were talking about maybe having a class with 30 students with one teacher, EC students. There's no way possible that one teacher can handle, be able to work with 30 kids that need that much extra help. So I'm not sure what the solution is. But I would implore that y'all just try to come up with some extra money. I'm just scratching the surface because Knox is still young, that the state provides funding for 12%. And my understanding is we're at around 15% to 16% EC students in Gaston County. So there is a section that is going to need some extra funding. So anyway, thank you all for your help. Thank you.

Ms. Ann Helms.

Good evening. Ann Doss Helms, 123 Big Bird Street. Since the last time you met, America celebrated its 250th anniversary with parades and fireworks and hundreds of white supremacists parading through our nation's capital wearing the modern equivalent of a Ku Klux Klan hood. I think we all saw the Reuters photo of a black woman sitting on a subway surrounded by masked men who are out to declare to the world that they consider her less American, less worthy of rights and dignity, and maybe less human than they are. I had to wonder, is that how it feels to be a black person in America and in Gaston County? Because the point of the mask isn't just to avoid personal responsibility. It's to make people wonder who's smiling at you during your normal life and putting on the hood after hours. Is it someone who has power over your career, your finances, your child's school? your police department, maybe even your county government. I'm not calling you guys racist. I don't even think that's a meaningful label. We all grew up in a culture with deep roots in white supremacy and we can't change that. All we can control is our actions because racism is like kudzu. If you're not working constantly to cut it back, it keeps spreading. Six years ago, some of you said that after listening to people across this county, you understood that having a monument to the lost cause of the Confederacy outside this courthouse is wrong. Because let's be clear, the Confederacy fought to preserve a system where black people were held in bondage, forced to work, beaten, raped, sometimes murdered, all without consequence because they were defined as less than human. Six years later, oh, how that kudzu has grown. We have national leaders who claim the right to treat people as less than human, sometimes because of their skin color or birthplace, sometimes because of their beliefs. We have people who are not ashamed to preach and practice white supremacy. And we have a board of commissioners that's gone awfully silent on the monument. I can't know what goes through your head when you walk past the monument. Maybe you inwardly hold your nose and roll your eyes. Maybe you smirk and puff out your chest a little. It doesn't matter. Because if you're willing to tolerate a symbol of racism in the seat of our government, you're playing for team white supremacy. Thank you.

Sean Bates.

Am I down to eight seconds already? Sean Bates, 201 West Franklin. I do appreciate always giving the address publicly to make sure anybody knows how to get ahold of us. It's a great practice. So I'm gonna be pretty brief here tonight. Thank you for listening, everybody who's here. So I noticed that on the agenda we were gonna give a proclamation for 250 years. of this nation. Now, the one thing I want you to think about is 250 years ago, wasn't considered part of this nation, wasn't considered actually people here. Those that look like me, those that look like all of you had all the rights. 250 years ago, you guys are actually giving respect for people standing up against oppression. But you hold us down and you see it as something bad now. So it's kind of a skewed view, I think, if you uplift because they fought against their oppressors. But because we speak out against things like this monument, you make sure you ignore it and you show it no credence. You actually speak against it. You tell us how It's a good day for Gaston County when this monument is told to stay in place. You do the same thing when the people beg you for money for schools and you choose to give less than half of what they're telling you they need. They are telling you what they need, but in order to hold the supremacist view, you tell them you are not going to get that, so you have to come back and beg us for more. At some point, either just admit that what is not what is seen is less than or actually take into consideration the people that you have chosen to represent and you have chosen to run for because you want to create a better society and actually uplift the people. See what can be done. Have the hard conversations. Nobody wants to be against each other. We all want to be in this community together and uplift one another so that it is a better place for everybody. So if you can, just think about that. Thank you.

201 West Franklin. My name is Deanna Graham, Vice President of the NAACP Gastonia Branch 5394B. Why am I here? I'm here because I'm tired. I'm tired of asking the Gaston County Commissioners to remove their Confederate monument that sits at the entrance of this courthouse, a place that's supposed to represent equal justice under the law. We're tired of seeing racism and bigotry reflected in the continued protection of that monument. Symbols communicate values and the decision to keep the monument standing continues to send a painful message to many in this community. The first three words in the Constitution's preamble is, we the people. You see, when those words were written, black people were excluded from that promise. We had no voice. We had no seat at the table. We had no power to demand accountability. But oh, how history has changed. And we do have a voice. And we intend to use it. So let me be clear. We're not asking you to raise taxes. We're not asking you to even change the budget. What we're asking you to do is for that budget pie, we're asking you to change how you allocate what's in that budget. We're asking the Board of Commissioners to rethink how the existing budget is allocated. Right now, public safety receives nearly twice the funding of public education. We believe education should be funded much closer to the same level as public safety because the greatest investment in public safety is encountered long before they see a police officer. It's in the classroom. And Commissioner Bailey? When you stated in the last meeting that the school-to-prison pipeline is not real, that shows me that you're speaking from, and with all due respect, a white man's perspective and your lived experience. There is too much documentation on school-to-prison pipeline. My suggestion is that you Google that. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Stephanie Hartman, and I live at 1223 Oakwood Avenue. And this is Sammy. I'm a parent here in Gaston County. Tonight I brought my son with me. He's one of the children behind the budget discussions you've been having. One of the children behind the spreadsheets. One of the children behind last month's budget decision to reject school board request for 3.3 million for exceptional children's services. I've seen your budgets, now I'm showing you my kid. Some of you said it was a budgeting issue, a funding issue, a process issue, but for parents like me, it's something much simpler. It's an accountability issue. I don't care which line item you fund. I don't care what department gets reduced. I don't care what accounting mechanism is used. I care whether my child gets the services he is legally entitled to receive. And I care whether the adults elected to serve this county are willing to fund those services. because here's the reality north carolina caps state funding for exceptional children at 13 percent of school districts population when a district has more students with disabilities than the state funding stops the children do not Federal law still requires children to provide evaluations, sorry, schools to provide evaluations, therapies, specialized instructions, accommodations and support services for every eligible child. Those obligations do not disappear when funding runs out. When the state doesn't cover the full cost, local districts are forced to observe the difference. 94 out of 115 counties have to pick up that tab. That is why local funding also matters. The county cannot control what happens in Raleigh, but it can decide whether children in Gaston County receive the resources that they need when state funding falls short. This is not a debate over numbers on a spreadsheet. This is not a fight between the county and the school board. This is about whether children with disabilities are treated as a priority or an expense. Tonight, as you look at my son, I ask you to remember that children like him are not percentages. They are not budget lines. They are not political talking points. They are children. And one day, future generations will look back at decisions made in this room. They will ask whether we invested in children when they needed it most. They will ask whether we stood up for children with disabilities when fending fell short. They will ask whether we had the courage to confront the difficult parts of our history or whether we left those burdens for someone else to carry. They will ask what we did in the face of inequality. They will ask what we did in the face of racism. They will ask whether we are willing to move forward when we knew better. Accountability is not about what we say you devalue, it is about what we fund.

Naria Philpott.

246 North New Hope Road, Naria Philpott. Everything happens for a reason. When I look around this room, I see hope. For Gaston County. I see people who care. And people who believe in a better future. Today, Gaston County is hopeful. And today, Gaston County is happy. Thank you.

Just touch your pride of.

Good evening. My name is Dr. Tasha Prieto. I live at 1136 North Alexander Street. I was born in North Carolina, spent a large part of my childhood at Grandma's in rural North Carolina, and I'm a property owner here in this county. My family history in North Carolina dates back to the 1700s, so you know I have my fair share of racists, just like most families with history going back that far. I'm here to again voice my discontent regarding that Confederate statue glorifying racism outside. To say that we are leaving that statue up to honor our war dead is to dishonor veterans like me and to dishonor those Americans who actually served America. Because let's be real, the southern side was not the American side in that war. We should only honor those soldiers who truly fought for America and American ideals. To say that it is a tradition to have that statue ignores what is happening elsewhere in the state. Prior to 2020, there were a handful of racist statues on the grounds of our Capitol in Raleigh. Today, they are gone. I was just there last week and I saw it for myself. The Capitol grounds are no less beautiful without monuments to racism. In fact, they are far more beautiful without them. So my question for the current members of the Gaston County Commission is, if our state leadership can own up to a serious error in judgment on the part of our ancestors, then why can't you? Thank you. CHRIS RODGERS.

Brittany Elkin.

Brittany Elkin, 3012 High Ridge Court. On May 12th, Commissioner Sheehan publicly stated that there was an error in the 2023 schedule of values and that correcting it during the next reappraisal could generate approximately $15 million in additional revenue each year. I'd like to thank him for making that statement because it prompted several citizens to spend hundreds of hours reviewing public records, obtaining county data, and conducting our own independent analysis. We did not rely on rumors. We relied on the county's own data. And using that data, we calculated aggregate sales ratios. our analysis found that residential properties received tax values that were about 95% of market value. Commercial and industrial properties, approximately 67. And commercial and industrial properties that sold for more than $2 million were at approximately 61% of market value. Today, the county released different percentages using median ratios, I assume, and changed the explanation from an error to an intentional judgment call made because of market uncertainty. If the county believes that our analysis is incorrect, then show us the work. Release the calculations, the assumptions, and the methodology behind today's public statement so that every taxpayer can evaluate the evidence for themselves. Because the more we've learned, the more questions we have. So I'm going to ask some of those publicly. When the county purchased 803 North Oakland Street for 7.5 million, its own 2023 tax records valued the combined parcels at approximately 2.87 million. When it purchased 823 North Broad Street for 1 million, the county's tax value was 225,900. Did those purchases made in 2023 prompt anyone to re-examine whether commercial property assessments accurately reflected market value? If they did, when? And if they didn't, why not? When did county officials and commissioners first become aware that there may have been a problem with the schedule of values? Was it at the May 2025 meeting with the Board of Equalization and Review? Or was it before that? Why were taxpayers never notified? Today's statement from the county says commercial and industrial property was intentionally valued approximately 6.5% below residential property. Will the county release those calculations to support that and let us know exactly what sort of analysis was used? What safeguards are being put in place to avoid this again next year? Transparency should not require citizens spending hundreds of hours reviewing public records before the government is willing to explain its own decisions. And finally, to the citizens here tonight, those watching from home do not take my word for it do not take the county's word for it review the documents for yourself they are available on a Google Drive that will be shared on the Gaston County Education Alliance

Good evening, commissioners. I'm Charlie Killian from Riverbend Township. 1312 Killian Road. Man, my heart's beating fast. I've got to be completely honest. When I walked in tonight, I thought that clipboard was an attendance sheet, not a speaking sheet. So I got my first lesson of the night. I always read the top of the page. I basically came here just to try to learn, listen to the citizens, and I just want to listen to the neighbors. um i'm getting a really really good idea of how business is handled and it's your guys's job is tough i can see that by that gosh 100 page report right there just for this one meeting so i really appreciate you guys service thank you i'll give my time back

My name is Samantha Easters and I live at 205 Red Oak Court. Tonight we want to talk about transparency and accountability. We also want to remind the public that we have the right to ask for both from our elected officials. Asking questions is not making an accusation. Requesting public records is not an attack. When decisions involving millions of taxpayer dollars are being discussed, asking for a clear explanation is responsible citizenship. at the may 12th meeting county officials discussed a problem involving how commercial and industrial properties were valued during the 2023 property re-evaluation an estimated annual difference of approximately 15 million dollars was referenced the county has now clarified that it did not fail to collect taxes that had already been billed it says the issue was how property values were set and how the overall tax responsibility was divided among homeowners commercial property owners and industrial property owners We acknowledge that distinction, but collecting nearly all the taxes that were billed does not answer whether the property values used to create those bills were accurate or fair. Over the past several months, we have requested and reviewed public records concerning the 2023 property reevaluation. We have not received all the records requested yet. County officials have said that additional records are still being reviewed. Here's what the records received so far show. The county compared the tax values placed on certain properties with the prices those properties actually sold for. For the properties included in that analysis, homes were valued at approximately 98% of their sales prices. Commercial properties, 69%, and industrial properties, 52%. That does not mean that every property was valued at those exact percentages. It also does not, by itself, prove the county's total financial impact. But it shows a substantial difference between how closely home values and business property values matched actual sale prices. The public deserves to understand why. The county's recent statement says commercial and industrial values were approximately 6.5 lower than residential values. However, it has not explained how that figure was calculated or how it relates to the much larger differences shown in the records that were reviewed. A taxpayer also presented an analysis in May 2025 claiming that commercial and industrial properties had been valued too low. He estimated an annual difference of around $12 million. Records identifying the affected properties, the calculations behind the estimates, whether homeowners carried a greater share of the tax responsibility, and what changes were considered. For those requests, the county responded that no records were responsive to the request. In plain language, the county did not provide written records answering those questions. That does not prove no one discussed the issue. It means that the county did not provide records showing what was reviewed, how conclusions were reached, or what solutions were considered. The county says that this was a professional judgment made during an uncertain real estate market. If that judgment was supported by evidence, the public should be able to see this evidence. I will now turn this over to Taylor Sanders who will explain why that documentation matters.

I'm Taylor Sanders, 523 Lakeview. All right. The county has explained that commercial property values were difficult to estimate in 2023 because the market was still changing after the COVID-19 pandemic. That may be true. We aren't saying professional judgment was unnecessary. We are asking to see what supported that judgment. When the county values a business property, such as a store, office building, apartment complex, warehouse, or factory, it may look at how much money the property could reasonably produce. That requires the county to make decisions about issues such as How much of the building may remain empty? How much will it cost to operate? How much income could the owner expect to receive? How much would an investor likely pay for that income? Gaston County's rules allowed the person valuing the property to choose from a broad range of possible numbers. Different choices within those ranges could produce very different property values. However, the county has not provided records showing which numbers were used for the properties, involved, why those numbers were selected, or what market information supported those choices. Professional judgment may be necessary, but when those decisions can greatly increase or decrease a property's tax value, there should be written records explaining how the decisions were made. Without those records, the public cannot independently determine what happened. The county says it used unaccepted, or I'm sorry, the county says it accepted appraisal methods and best information available at the time. Those statements may be reassuring, but they are conclusions. They are not underlying evidence. The public deserves to see those studies, calculations, market information, and written explanations supporting those conclusions. Maybe the financial impact was 12 million per year. Maybe it was 15. Maybe a complete review would produce a different figure. That uncertainty is exactly why transparency and accountability matter. The county now says the issue is not missing tax money, but how the total responsibility was distributed. That raises an important question. If homes were valued much closer to their sale prices than commercial and industrial properties, did homeowners carry a greater share of the county's total tax responsibility than they would otherwise would have? The public deserves a clear answer supported by records. We are approaching another property reevaluation. Before another system for valuing property is approved, the public deserves to know better. What was the evidence supported in 2023's decision? What was the financial effect? How was the tax responsibility divided among property owners? What changes are being made before the next reevaluation? We are not here to accuse anyone of bad intentions. We are asking for documentation, clear explanations, and accountability. We are allowed to ask these questions, we are allowed to record, request records, and we are allowed to expect answers from those entrusted with our tax dollars. It's not disrespect, it's democracy. Thank you so much.

Ms. Heather Brown.

Good evening, commissioners. I'd like for you to take a minute and imagine this for me. Let me set the scene. Imagine you're leaving for your dream vacation to Aruba. Your passport is packed. Your sunscreen, swimsuits, flip flops, and sunglasses are all ready to go. You can almost feel the warm sun on your face. The plane lands, you step off, you're ready for paradise. Instead, you're greeted by a sign that reads, welcome to Iceland, current temperature 23 degrees. You have no winter coat, no boots, no gloves. You are completely unprepared for the reality that awaits you. In just 15 days, that's exactly how many Gaston County educators and students will begin the school year, expected to succeed without what we need. Students will arrive excited to begin a new school year. But some schools will begin the year without all the staff they need. Not because there aren't children to teach. Some of our schools will begin the year operating at only 75% of the staffing. Teachers, counselors, and music teachers. And one of the hardest hit areas is exceptional children, students who often require the greatest level of support. That funding was requested. It was a separate line item. It was presented to you. You chose not to fund it. Last month during your special session, you voted to fund only $5 million of the $11.3 million requested by Gaston County Schools. The public was not given an opportunity to speak before that vote, nor at your clandestine meeting two days previous. Tonight is one of the first opportunities we've had to tell you what that decision means. The newspaper headlines celebrated the $5 million you approved. But the story our schools will live in, and I will live in, is the $6.3 million that you chose not to fund. Nearly 85% of the children in Gaston County schools attend public schools. If education is truly one of the county's highest priorities, your vote should have reflected that. It did not. Somewhere along the way, we have normalized teachers creating Amazon wish lists just to stock our classrooms. Those wish lists were meant to help with extras of crayons, tissues, not to become a substitute of adequately funding public education, of not adequately. Wish lists, they were never intended to become a substitute for resources that we need to educate children. Today, many classrooms are expected to function with aging to broken technology. Just imagine if we were to ask a sheriff's office to hold a bake sale to hire deputies, to have bullets, to have ammo. Imagine asking firefighters to create Amazon wish lists before responding to a fire, or EMT to have Amazon wish lists before they answer that next 911 call. We would never accept that standard, nor should we, of another essential public service. Why have we accepted it for public education? We've reached a point where generosity is being asked to do the job of government. I am grateful for every church, every business, every friend who gives. But generosity should be a blessing, not a strategy. Every budget reflects priorities. Every vote has consequences. People are talking. Parents are talking. Teachers are talking. Business owners, the community are asking questions and paying attention. And just like my grandmother used to say, you made your bed, now you have to lie in it. Come November, the people of Gaston County

The next item on the agenda is approval of the consent agenda. Do I hear a motion to approve the consent agenda with items I and J pulled? Motion made by Commissioner Keegar, seconded by Commissioner Sheehan. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. Items pulled from the consent agenda, item I. Commissioner Bailey.

Yes. What I am wanting to do, and it's got nothing to do with this actual I itself, anything that comes through DHHS, I would like to see pulled and scrutinized because of the county manager and the finance director said a lot of our mandatory spending through DHHS is tied to federal and state requirements, correct? I would like everything scrutinized through there because our DHSS budget is so enormous compared to other counties. I would like to know why that we're spending so much over there where other counties are the same size as spending half of our funds. And I don't know if we could address each of this actually one tonight, but I'd like to know if that's tied to any type of required federal or state funding that we're required to keep staff on to provide services to not just our county, but surrounding counties in South Carolina.

I'm happy to speak to that. The item specific is WIC, so Women, Infant, and Children. So it's a federal program, 100% grant funded, required for us to participate in. Obviously, some of the other items, when you take grants, sometimes there's requirements for that one. This one is separate from that, considering that it's WIC, Federal Funded Program. Obviously, any kind of grant that we get could have some sort of requirement that would require local funds, but this one does not.

I want to ask this, I guess, because we will have to vote on it since it was pulled. That's a direct report to you or to someone in the staff? Yeah. If they'll just make sure that that gets looked at, and we can consider each item from the health department a bullet point back out to what the funding is.

Is that OK with you, Commissioner?

We will vote on that, though. We will have a motion made by Commissioner Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Sheehan. Any discussion?

All in favor?

It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. The next item is item J, Commissioner Sheehan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Manager, just briefly going over this list of the replacement vehicles, based on the number per department, historically, have we basically aligned with the same numbers? What has the previous history been as Jim's typically getting eight at a time. Is county getting seven at a time? I'd like to know where we have been trending.

Sure, so this is the majority of the categories for your fleet aside from DSS and health. This year there's no replacements for DSS and health. These are all vehicles that meet the stated threshold for mileage, years of service around vehicles. This is a typical list, if that's what you're asking, I believe. for replacement. Some year we have more. You know, it's a $4 million year. Anywhere between three to five is typical. I think last year we were three and a half, and we've been as high as five. Ambulances are obviously very expensive, so the more you have of those that are replaced at one time, then obviously the higher the cost. The rest of the vehicles are pretty standard in terms of county PD and the sheriff's office, as well as building inspections.

James.

Yeah.

Thank you, sir. Another question. Chief Lamphere, would you mind? Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir.

How are you, sir? Good. Your top three items on your list are the M2 and the two F600s. Can you explain to me why the number got to where it was on the M2? Is that pretty standard? Is this upfitted in a different way? I would just like to know a justification behind that number, please.

The M2, as I'm sure you know, is a freight line or medium-duty ambulance. There's only one of those being replaced this year. The price of those has gone up significantly since post-COVID times. I know they're very expensive, but we use those for approximately eight years. We don't even think about replacing those until they have at least 250,000 miles. And by the time it actually gets replaced, they're usually pushing 350 to 400.

Thank you, sir. And is this number fully upfitted?

Yes. Is it the current cost? Is that what you're asking?

fully upfitted, ready to be in operation.

I'm sorry. It's turnkey except to the extent of the medical supplies and equipment that go in it. Yes.

Perfect. Thank you, Chief. Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's all I have.

Mr. Bailey. Yes. I was looking at that list also. And most everything is freight liners and Fords. I mean, expensive, high-end Fords. Do we shop around to see if there's any alternatives to try to save the county money on some of these? I mean, you've got one vehicle that's over $600,000.

Yes, sir. As far as our medium duties, we've tried different brands in the past. The Freightliner's held up the best. We get the best warranties on those. We have a $250,000 warranty. 50,000, 250,000 mile warranty on those. The fleet services is very familiar with them. They have parts for those. I think that that's probably our best shot for medium duties. With respect to the other ones, we haven't tried any Rams or Dodges lately, but we have tried Fords and Chevrolets. And I like Chevys too, but we've had a lot better luck with the F-Series Fords. And as far as the vans, if you remember back a few years, we had some Mercedes Sprinters, and we had a bunch of problems with those. So we've done really well with the Ford Transits. But as far as shopping around, we always buy these off the North Carolina Sheriff's bid or the HGAC Houston Galveston area buying cooperative.

Mr. Sheehan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Chief, one more question. I know lead times in the past have been a real challenge. Are these units? scheduled out long term or what's the lead time to get these approved?

It will probably take us at least a year to get these.

Yes, sir. And that's on all three of the big ticket items, correct?

Yes. And it's been up to two and a half to three years in the past post-COVID. But that's coming down quite a bit. But it'll be the better part of a year from the time we order these.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In a motion to approve item J as presented.

So moved.

Motion made by Commissioner Keegar, seconded by Commissioner Fraley. Any discussion? All in favor? All the ayes? 5-1. 6-1, sorry. Appointments. Commissioner Fraley.

Mr. Chairman, the Gaston County Planning and Zoning Board, Vicki Sperling.

Second. Seconded by Commissioner Hobart. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. Commissioner Sheehan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have two. Gaston County Planning and Zoning Board, member Sean Ray has requested to be shifted from the Terrible Township to Gastonia Township position for that role. Second.

Seconded by Commissioner Fraley. Any discussion? All in favor?

It is unanimous, Madam Clerk.

Second was Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. Application received from Mr. Dickie Spargo.

Second. Seconded by Commissioner Hovis. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. Commissioner Bailey.

Yes, let us have one tonight, Mr. Chair. It's Animal Care and Enforcement Advisory Board. Application received and recognizing Mr. Blake McLean.

Second. Second. Seconded by Commissioner Sheehan. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. Commissioner Kroniger.

I have no appointments.

Commissioner Hovis. Mr. Chair, I have none as well. Commissioner Kieger.

Reappointment of Sue Chen to the Health and Human Service Board and Pat Rudisill to Historic Preservation.

Seconded by Commissioner Hovis. Any discussion?

All in favor?

It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. I have one for the Gaston County Fire Commission. Application received from Mr. Blake Buchanan. Second. Seconded by Commissioner Fraley.

Any discussion? All in favor?

It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. I have one full board appointment for the Quality of Natural Resources Committee. Application received from Mr. Edwin Springs.

Second.

Seconded by Commissioner Keger. Any discussion? All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. I have one for a chair appointment. It's designated to the 2026 NCACC Annual Conference Voting Delegate. Conference attendees were Commissioner Hovis, Commissioner Kueger. Do you care, both of them voting, or just? Any way you care to be the delegate? Commissioner Kueger, you?

I'm fine with it.

So have a second.

Second. Second for Commissioner Keager from Mr. Sheehan to be the voting delegate, Commissioner Hovis being the attendee, non-voting until needed.

And a motion made by myself, seconded by Commissioner Sheehan.

Any discussion?

All in favor? It is unanimous, Madam Clerk. Committee reports. Commissioner Fraley?

None, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Sheehan? None at this time, Mr. Chair. Commissioner Bailey?

You said committee reports?

Committee reports.

Okay. Commissioner Conninger?

No reports.

Commissioner Hovis?

I have none, Mr. Chair.

Commissioner Giger? No, sir. County manager? No report. County attorney? Nothing to report, sir. Other matters?

Mr. Chairman, I would like to address a current policy requiring individuals who speak during public comments to provide their home address. This board has heard from multiple people who have said they do not feel safe providing this information. In particular, we've heard from women who have expressed concern about publicly disclosing their home address simply because they wish to speak before elected officials. As someone who's consistently advocated for the safety and protection of women, I believe I have the responsibility to take those concerns seriously. I also believe that as a board, we have a responsibility to listen when members of the public tell us that one of our policies makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. i understand why it's important for the board to have some information about individuals speaking before us in particular when someone is a resident of gaston county can provide an important context when we are considering matters that directly affect the citizens of this county however i do believe requiring speakers to publicly provide their home address is necessary to accomplish that purpose we can i do not believe Okay, let me go back. However, I do not believe that requiring speakers to publicly provide their home address is necessary to accomplish that purpose. We can determine whether someone is a county resident without requiring them to publicly disclose where they live. This is a reasonable change that preserves the information that the board needs while also respecting the legitimate safety and privacy concerns that have been brought to our attention. I hope that the entire board will enjoy me in recognizing those concerns and support this change. Therefore, I move that the board directs the county attorney to prepare amendment to these rules.

Anybody have disagreement to that on the rules of decorum we can change?

Mr. Attorney, if you could change that in the rules of decorum, that we will no longer allow it on the speaking requirements, but if they wish to put it down, they more than will.

Yes, I will prepare an item for the board's consideration in the next regular meeting.

Thank you, sir. Yes, I meant to say that.

If they can still write it down, if that's okay. If they can do the Gaston County.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes. I had a conversation with somebody yesterday. a few days ago, there was a meeting recently for the largest 15 school districts in the state. And one of the things that was discussed in it was what they shouldn't be like. And that was Gaston County. And it's not just the commissioners. This is the top 15 in the state. They were talking about the the school board not being transparent, the superintendent not being transparent with where the money is going. We had a little, I guess, a board that met with them and tried to discuss a lot of that. That's not taking the responsibilities from us as a board. We have a fairly new superintendent. I think he is trying to fix some things. And my main concern uh... is funding for the schools and i think everybody's aware that on this board and in the audience but uh... the main thing we we have a uh... a school board uh... and we have a the superintendents and his staff uh... that request money each year my daughter's a teacher another lot of teachers is that here has spoken also having enough stuff in the classrooms for the children uh... has has been I just found out my daughter's like, Dad, all the money you give me is a tax write-off. I wasn't aware of that. I said, I could have been using a tax write-off for the past few years because I give her so much money. I'm sure a lot of the people in here give to your classrooms also. We shouldn't have to do that. I think it's this board's responsibility to fund our schools and I don't know where to go from here. I'm one person on this board. I'm not talking any bad about any. Everybody has their reasons on why they do certain things. My reason is because of some of the people that what they've talked to about tonight was they born and raised here in Gaston County. Their kids want to come to go to school here. Some have chose to pull them out of the schools in Gaston County. I don't like seeing that. We're losing good teachers because of supplements. The numbers are real. North Carolina average is $6,000. Ours is around $4,000. New Hanover County is over $9,000 on average. I'm not trying to compare our stuff to Mecklenburg County because their budgets are extremely much larger than ours. I look at counties that are similar to us. So, you know, you look around, we're losing teachers to other counties, either smaller counties that make less money than we do, and they're giving more teacher supplements. I think as a board, we do need to address this. We need to look at this. I don't know what we can do this budget year. I don't know. But I think that needs to be one of our biggest priorities for next year is to fund the schools more. That's it.

Any other matters come before the board at this time?

Seeing none. Mr. Brown, I'd like to just. Mr. Keger. Mr. Bailey brought up New Hanover. And for decades, the two counties that we're compared to, because we've got the similar size as Buncombe and New Hanover, people need to realize that those two counties bring in hundreds of millions of dollars that come from tourism, from the beaches and the mountains and the ski. We don't have that type of revenue coming into Gaston County. And I just get tired of us being compared to those two counties regularly when they have so much more coming in in tourism. Just a tidbit.

You don't mind? Mr. Bailey. No, Mr. Keter, I totally agree with you. And that's one of the things I did my research on New Hanover County. Their tax rate's 30 cents. It's 20 cents less than ours. Their budget's not much more than ours because, you know, they have a 30 cents tax rate. You know, we need our tax rate where it's at. I'm not complaining about that because our income is not as much as theirs. If it was, I would say drop our tax rate 20 cents. But, yeah, from what I've actually talked to some of the people down there, and that's the reason why a lot of people, they live in the outlying areas of New Hanover County because their tax rate is so low.

Any other matters? Seeing none, this concludes tonight's meeting for tonight. Our next work session is Tuesday, August 11, 2026, here in the Harley B. Gasson Junior Public Forum Courthouse. Thank you for watching. If you have any questions, comments, please telephone our clerk, Donna S. Buff, at 704-866-3196. Good night, Hank.

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