City Council Meeting: September 14, 2026

Meeting summary

City Council met Monday, September 14, 2026, in Council Chambers. Council held the required public hearing on changes to the water shortage conservation rules, approved applying for state funding for water and sewer line replacements, updated the 10-year capital plan, and proclaimed October Dyslexia Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Select a time to jump to that part of the recording.

Opening and agenda

• Call to order: Mayor Becky S. Smith called the meeting to order 4:31. The pastor of Long Creek Presbyterian Church gave the invocation 4:40, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance 6:55.
• Agenda: Council voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented 7:41.

Recognitions and presentations

• In memory of Randy Cosby: City Manager Josh Ross and Council remembered Randy Cosby, who worked for the City for 22 years, from 1998 until he retired in 2020, after an earlier career at the lithium plant. Council observed a moment of silence 8:15.
• Mason Wilder: Council recognized Mason Wilder, the 2026 Senior Riding World Champion at the Youth Bull Riding World Finals 9:29.

Public comment

• A resident asked the City to take better care of the cemetery on N. 13th St., saying grass clippings are being blown onto headstones 14:02.
• A resident objected to the new downtown mural, saying many people share his concerns and that he believes it could lead to the kind of conflict the area saw during past protests 15:00.
• A resident praised the mural’s artwork and asked for a free bulk trash pickup day at least every couple of months 18:15. He also asked that code exceptions granted to developers apply to residents too 19:33, that work sessions be livestreamed and posted on YouTube 20:18, questioned the cost of the ballpark 20:59, and repeated his request for numbers on City vehicles 21:27.

Consent agenda

Council approved these items in one unanimous vote 23:02:

• Minutes of the August 10, 2026 regular meeting and the August 25, 2026 work session.
• Closing the 100 blocks of E. and W. Virginia Ave. for Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 31. Council corrected the closure time to 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 22:24.

Public hearing

• Water shortage conservation (Chapter 52): Council held the required public hearing on changes to the water shortage conservation rules 23:19. City Manager Josh Ross and Operations and Special Projects Director Jamie Ramsey explained that the change adds a fourth stage, so staff can start milder restrictions sooner instead of waiting for conditions to worsen, and brings the rules more in line with Two Rivers Utilities, one of the City’s emergency water sources 24:01. No one spoke, and the hearing was closed 26:14. Council did not vote on the change at this meeting.

Council actions

• Dyslexia Awareness Month: Unanimously proclaimed October 2026 Dyslexia Awareness Month 26:38.
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Unanimously proclaimed October 2026 Domestic Violence Awareness Month 29:15.
• Water and sewer funding application: Unanimously approved applying to the State Revolving Fund (SRF), run by the NC Department of Environmental Quality, for water and sewer line projects 32:22. The areas are N. 8th St. and the 400 block of E. Florida Ave.; E. Tennessee Ave. from S. 8th to S. 11th St.; and sewer lines on the 100 block of W. Texas Ave. and from S. 11th to S. 8th St. 33:06. Engineers estimate about $3 million for the water work and $2.4 million for the sewer work 37:21. These lines need to be replaced before the streets above them can be repaved. The application was due September 30, with awards expected around February; funding may be a mix of grants and low- or zero-interest loans 35:00.
• Capital Improvement Plan: Unanimously approved an update to the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan to add these water and sewer projects, as the funding application requires 39:39.

City Manager’s report

• Downtown mural: The Ella May Wiggins Memorial Committee unveiled its mural at 12th St. and Virginia Ave. earlier that day. The City provided the wall space; the committee and its funders paid for the mural 41:15.
• Upcoming events: The 5th annual Brew & Que Festival on Friday, October 2, downtown 41:44, and Touch-a-Truck at Stinger Park on Tuesday, September 22 42:05.
• YMCA: The City is working with the Gaston County YMCA on recreation programs the City cannot offer now. The YMCA is also looking at a facility in Bessemer City, possibly at Osage Mill, as a long-term goal 42:27.
• Fire station site: Due diligence continues on about 6.1 acres on Virginia Ave. that the City has under contract from Contegra Health, including environmental testing and a title search. About 3 acres would be for the new fire station, and the rest for downtown redevelopment 43:17.
• Citizens Academy: The pilot class starts this week with six participants, with the full program planned for early next year 44:17.
• Property revaluation: The Gaston County Tax Office held a revaluation information meeting at the Allan Farris Community Center on September 10. New values are based on January 1, 2027, and the center will again serve as an appeal site 44:46.
• City website: The City is redesigning its website to meet new federal ADA accessibility rules and to make information easier to find 45:25.

Council discussion

• Several Council members said they would like the City to bring back bulk trash pickup 46:12.
• Council members thanked everyone who supported a Ward 2 community event on Saturday 46:44, praised the City’s 9/11 memorial ceremony 47:17, thanked staff for removing a fallen tree on W. Virginia Ave. 47:34, and passed along residents’ thanks for the recent repairs on 8th St. 47:45.
• Council voted unanimously to go into closed session to consult with the City Attorney and to discuss a personnel matter, as allowed by state law (G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) and (a)(6)) 49:03. The recording ends there.