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Board of Commissioners

February 26, 2026 ·6:00 PM Final ·Regular Meeting 6:00 P.M.

Courthouse

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 60 items

  1. 1 CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ▶ jump to 0:06
  2. I. PRESENTATIONS (Limited to 15 Minutes)
  3. A. PRESENTATION - FY24-25 GASTON COUNTY AUDIT: - Ms. Kelly Gooderham, Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. 25-607 ▶ jump to 3:22
  4. II. PUBLIC HEARINGS ▶ jump to 17:49
  5. A. Public Hearing - RE: Commissioner Bailey - Building & Development Services - Zoning Map Change: Conditional District REZ-25-06-09-00230, Jason Cagle (Applicant); Property Parcel: 182805, Located on Hickory Grove Rd., Gastonia, NC, Rezone from the (R-1) Single Family Limited Zoning District with (US) Urban Standards and (CH) Corridor Highway Overlays to the (CD/C-3) General Commercial Conditional District with (US) Urban Standards and (CH) Corridor Highway Overlays 1. Receive Citizen Comment 2. Close Public Hearing 3. Accept Motion 25-571 approved Pass ▶ jump to 18:54
  6. B. Public Hearing - RE: Commissioner Bailey - Building & Development Services - Zoning Map Change: Conditional District REZ-26-01-09-00241, Crown Towing - Chuck Armeen (Applicant); Property Parcel: 185406, Located at 4904 Wilkinson Blvd., Gastonia, NC, Rezone from the (C-3) General Commercial Zoning District to the (CD/C-3) General Commercial Conditional District 1. Receive Citizen Comment 2. Close Public Hearing 3. Accept Motion 26-037 disapprove Fail ▶ jump to 28:55
  7. C. Public Hearing - RE: Commissioner Keigher - EDC - To Amend Resolution No. 2025-264 to Include a Gaston County Level Three or Level Four Incentive Grant and To Authorize a Two-Year CIP Incentive Grant Pursuant to NC.Gen.Stat. 158-7.1 for Project DELOREAN 1. Receive Citizen Comment 2. Close Public Hearing 3. Accept Motion 26-044 approved Pass ▶ jump to 51:13
  8. D. Public Hearing - RE: Commissioner Keigher - EDC - To Approve a Gaston County Level One Incentive Grant Pursuant to N.C.Gen.Stat. 158-7.1 and To Authorize Gaston County to Enter Into an Economic Development Agreement (EDA) with Project Explore 1. Receive Citizen Comment 2. Close Public Hearing 3. Accept Motion 26-045 approved Pass ▶ jump to 54:12
  9. E. Public Hearing - RE: Commissioner Keigher - EDC - To Approve a Gaston County Level One Incentive Grant Pursuant to N.C.Gen.Stat. 158-7.1 and To Authorize Gaston County to Enter Into an Economic Development Agreement (EDA) with Project Helms Deep 1. Receive Citizen Comment 2. Close Public Hearing 3. Accept Motion 26-046 approved Pass ▶ jump to 55:24
  10. F. Public Hearing - RE: Commissioner Keigher - EDC - To Authorize a Gaston County Level One Incentive Grant and Approve the Conveyance of Approximately 9.03 Acres of Land (Lot 4) at the Apple Creek Business Park Pursuant to N.C.Gen.Stat. 158-7.1 and To Authorize Gaston County to Enter Into an Economic Development Agreement (EDA) with Project Tech 1. Receive Citizen Comment 2. Close Public Hearing 3. Accept Motion 26-049 approved Pass ▶ jump to 56:53
  11. III. BUSINESS AGENDA
  12. A. AGENDA REVISION/APPROVAL ▶ jump to 59:03
  13. B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ▶ jump to 62:06
  14. 1. To Approve the Minutes of: - Regular Meeting of December 9, 2025 - Organizational Meeting of December 9, 2025 26-035 approved
  15. IV. CITIZEN RECOGNITION (Limited to One Hour; Sign up Prior to Start of Session; Comments Limited to 3 Minutes) ▶ jump to 62:33
  16. V. CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 66:36
  17. A. Commissioner Hovis - County Manager - To Accept Departmental Budget Change Requests as Information 26-051 approved Pass
  18. 17 Approval of the Consent Agenda approved the Consent Agenda Pass
  19. B. Commissioner Keigher - County Manager - To Transfer $3,209,843.77 from Gaston County Schools’ Capital Allocation Balance to the General Fund for One-Time Additional Operating Allocation 26-080 approved Pass ▶ jump to 68:04
  20. C. Commissioner Keigher - DHHS - Health Division - To Accept and Appropriate Additional Federal Grant Funds Received from the NC Department of Health and Human Services - Women’s and Children’s Health Section/Nutrition Services Branch for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Public Health Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (100% Grant Funds - $32,522) 26-050 approved Pass
  21. D. Commissioner Keigher - DHHS - Health Division - To Approve a Resolution to Direct the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds and Appropriate $402,350.00 (Year 1: $162,600.00, Year 2: $239,750.00, Total: $402,350.00) 26-071 approved Pass
  22. E. Commissioner Keigher - DHHS - Health Division - To Approve a Resolution to Direct the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds and Appropriate $352,500.00 (Year 1: $342,500.00, Year 2: $10,000.00, Total: $352,500.00) 26-072 approved Pass
  23. F. Commissioner Keigher - DHHS - Social Services Division - To Accept and Appropriate Funds from Partners Behavioral Health Management for Reimbursement of Foster Care Placement Costs in the Amount of $11,025.00 (No Additional County Funds Required) 26-067 approved Pass
  24. G. Commissioner Keigher - EDC - To Authorize an Agreement with The North Carolina Railroad Invests Grant Program on Behalf of Fit Precast LLC (Project Willow) 26-047 approved Pass
  25. H. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Accept the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025, Gaston County Audit as Information 26-040 approved Pass
  26. I. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Award Bid for Financing and Cost of Issuance up to $6,606,000.00 for Rolling Stock and Equipment to PNC Bank, National Association, to Approve the Attached Budget Change Request, and Installment Financing Agreement with Financing Terms and Debt Payment Obligations Through June 1, 2028 26-043 approved Pass
  27. J. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Accept as Information the January 2026 Property Tax Refunds Less than $100. These Tax Refunds Should Be Recorded in the Board’s Minutes. (Total NCVTS Refunds - $1,819.83) 26-052 approved Pass
  28. K. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Approve the Appropriation of Unified Fire Protection Service District Fund Balance for Distribution to Alexis Fire Department in the Amount of $5,629.00 for Water Damage and Mold Discovery 26-064 approved Pass
  29. L. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Approve the Appropriation of Unified Fire Protection Service District Fund Balance for Distribution to Hugh’s Pond Fire Department in the Amount of $46,250.00 for Concrete Work 26-070 approved Pass
  30. M. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Approve the Appropriation of Unified Fire Protection Service District Fund Balance for Distribution to Gaston County Firefighters Association in the Amount of $13,000.00 for the Purchase of One Respirator Fit Tester to be Used by Fire Departments in Gaston County 26-083 approved Pass
  31. N. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Appropriate Accumulated Interest Earnings and Unspent Proceeds from the FY2023 Vehicle Financing Proceeds ($408,591.47) in FY26 26-068 approved Pass
  32. O. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Appropriate Accumulated Investment Earnings from March 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025 ($2,863.57) and Accumulated Investment Earnings from July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025 ($4,277.92) in FY26. Total Appropriation $7,141.49 26-069 approved Pass
  33. P. Commissioner Hovis - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Appropriate General Fund, Unassigned Fund Balance and Transfer it to the Community Investment Fund per Financial Policies ($11,950,047.00) 26-081 approved Pass
  34. Q. Commissioner Shehan - Financial and Management Services - Grants (Veterans Services) - To Accept and Appropriate Grant Funds from the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the Grant Program for County Veterans Offices - Round 2 for FY2026 ($20,000) 26-038 approved Pass
  35. R. Commissioner Brown - Hope United Survivor Network - Family Justice Center - To Accept and Appropriate Donations Received from October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 Totaling $95,373.99 26-039 approved Pass
  36. S. Commissioner Bailey - Office of Capital Improvements - To Award a Construction Contract and Authorize the County Manager, or his Designee, to Execute said Contract with Rushing Contracting Group, Inc. for the South Point Access Phase 4 Project in the Amount of $1,877,400.36 26-025 approved Pass
  37. T. TABLED 2/26/26: Commissioner Brown - Office of Capital Improvements - To Award a Construction Contract and Authorize the County Manager, or his Designee, to Execute said Contract with W.C. Construction Company, LLC for the Courthouse 5th Floor Upfit Project in the Amount of $12,103,097 and Appropriate $9,500,000 from the Community Investment Fund; and Approve the Reimbursement Declaration 26-060 tabled Pass
  38. U. Commissioner Brown - Office of Capital Improvements - To Approve a Qualifications Based Selection and Authorize the County Manager, or His Designee, to Execute a Professional Services Contract with ESP Associates, Inc. for Special Inspections and Materials Testing for the Gaston County Courthouse 5th Floor Upfit Project 26-065 tabled Pass
  39. V. TABLED 2/26/26: Commissioner Brown - Office of Capital Improvements - To Award a Construction Contract and Authorize the County Manager, or his Designee, to Execute said Contract with Cinderella Partners, Inc. for the Administrative Annex Upfit Project in the Amount of $1,740,335.80 26-066 tabled Pass
  40. W. Commissioner Hovis - Office of Capital Improvements - To Amend Gaston County ARPA Grant Project Ordinance 2021-264, to Approve Additional Funding ($56,617) for Tryon Elementary Waterline Extension and Lowell Elementary 26-074 approved Pass
  41. X. Commissioner Hovis - Police Department - Retirement Commendation - To Award the Service Side Arm and Badge to Retired Assistant Chief Jonathan D. Cole 26-056 approved Pass
  42. Y. Commissioner Hovis - Police Department - Retirement Commendation - To Award the Service Side Arm and Badge to Retired Captain William P. Downey 26-057 approved Pass
  43. Z. Commissioner Cloninger - Public Works - To Authorize the Purchase of Buffer Property Adjacent to the Gaston County Landfill for $345,000 as well as Associated Closing Costs and Direct the County Attorney to Draft Any Necessary Documents and Authorizes the County Manager, or Designee, to Execute Said Documents for Closing Purposes 26-036 approved Pass
  44. AA. Commissioner Cloninger - Public Works - To Approve a 5-Year Lease Extension for the USDA Farm Service Agency, Property Owned by Gaston County Located at 1303 Dallas-Cherryville Hwy., Dallas 26-054 approved Pass
  45. AB. Commissioners Brown & Keigher - Register of Deeds - To Appropriate Restricted Automation Preservation Fund Balance to Fund Record Vault Expansion ($8,000) 26-062 approved Pass
  46. AC. Commissioner Brown - Tax Collections - Uncollected Real Estate Taxes and Lien Advertisement ($12,146,555.18) 26-053 approved Pass
  47. AD. Commissioner Fraley - Tax Collections - Pursuant to G.S. 105-381, the Tax Collector Requests that the Listed January 2026 Tax Refunds be Made. (Releases and Refunds - $6,192.88; Overpayments - $183,601.26; VTS Refunds - $1,873.82; Grand Total - $191,667.96) 26-063 approved Pass
  48. VI. NON-CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
  49. A. TABLED 2/26/26: Commissioner Brown - Public Works - Adoption of an Ordinance Reforming Parking Regulations on County-Owned Property - Chapter 16 of the Gaston County Code of Ordinances 26-028 tabled Pass ▶ jump to 67:03
  50. VII. ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 67:34
  51. VIII. ITEMS ADDED BY MAJORITY VOTE FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
  52. IX. APPOINTMENTS ▶ jump to 73:15
  53. A. Appointment List - Current Expiring Terms/Vacant Positions 26-058 approved
  54. X. REPORTS
  55. A. Commissioners Committee Reports
  56. B. County Manager’s Report ▶ jump to 74:44
  57. C. County Attorney’s Report
  58. 57 page break
  59. XI. OTHER MATTERS ▶ jump to 76:01
  60. XII. ADJOURNMENT ▶ jump to 76:39