The Gastonia City Council held a regular meeting on January 3, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kirlin presided in the absence of the mayor. The meeting opened with an invocation by Councilwoman Jennifer M. Stepp and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Pro Tem Kirlin.
City Council meeting. Welcome this evening. I'm Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kerlin sitting in for the mayor, who unfortunately is still out sick. But we are all praying for his rapid recovery. And that being said, let's move on with the invocation. I believe Councilwoman Step is going to give that tonight. If you are so inclined and would like to, please bow your head and pray with me. And we're going to have a new year's prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the nice warm weather that you have blessed us with these past few days. We thank you for a time of celebration and refreshment during the holidays and time to be with friends and family. For those who were lonely or sick or struggling during this time, we ask for a special measure of grace, mercy, and healing. We thank you for our freedom and opportunities provided to us in the country in which we live. We thank you for our staff who work so hard to protect and to serve our citizens and for the leadership of those who work tirelessly to make our city the best place it can be. We pray for all our citizens and that 2023 will bring us all good health, prosperity, and joy, that we will come together as a community to help one another, be kind to one another, be understanding of one another, and love one another. That we will all remember that together we are better. Gastonia is better. We are filled with joy and are grateful to God for the privilege of seeing another year. I pray that this year brings renewed hope, restoration, happiness, goals, achievements, and much new inspiration and energy for us all. I pray 2023 is a year fully loaded with happiness and that it brings us many blessings. Let us let go of the old and make place for the new and wait with great anticipation to see what God's plan for us is and his provision. May 2023 bring us new opportunities, chances, places, and friendships. May the peace of the Lord that surpasses all understanding be our portion this year. And let us remember as we face the good times and the challenges in the new year that God is always with us and we are able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Let us hold on to God's word and hide it in our heart and use it as the measuring stick for all we do. Let us be unceasing in prayer. Let us awake each day with faith thankfulness in our hearts and celebrate even the smallest victory. And let us also be grateful for the obstacles which build our faith and character. Let us celebrate one another and serve one another in love. And as we begin a new chapter in our story, let us play our part and play it well, always striving to do the next right thing and to glorify you. Use this as your instruments in this new year and fill us with your spirit. And finally, we ask for your discernment and wisdom as we conduct our business tonight and represent those who have put their trust in us. We ask all these things in your holy name. Amen. Thank you. That's right for the Pledge of Allegiance. My pledge of allegiance to the fly of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. You may be seated. Before we adopt the agenda, could I uh get a motion to excuse the mayor? So moved. Second. Thank you. Uh all those in favor, please indicate so. Thank you very much. Okay. Moving on to the adoption of the agenda. What are the wishes of council? Move to approve. Second.