The Gastonia City Council met on February 6, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included public expression, a consent agenda of 15 items, three public hearings for façade grants, and consideration of a use and operating agreement for FUSE Stadium. Council also approved nominations to the Planning Commission and went into closed session.
Evening, everybody. My name is Richard Franks. I'm the mayor of Gastonia, and on behalf of the council, I want to welcome you to the night's meeting. February the 6th, 2024. I will now call the meeting to order. And I'm going to change up a little for the invocation. Pastor Jackson, would you stop? Step to the microphone there and lead us an invocation. Let us have a word of prayer. Gracious Lord, our heavenly father. It is again that we are calling on thy holy and righteous name. As the City Council of Gastonia come to discuss business of the city, we pray that you would guide us, lead us, and help us in every way that we do tonight. And we love you. We thank you and bless each and every one that's here and those who may be on their way. In Jesus' name we do pray. Amen. Councilwoman Barnaby. I pledge allegiance 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. Everybody should have uh the agenda in front of them. Are there any corrections, additions, or deletions as the agenda is presented? Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we accept the agenda as presented. Second. Second was made by Councilman Odom. All those in favor. It's unanimous. Next on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from January 16th, 2024, which was a regular council meeting. Strategic planning retreat session one, January 19th, 2024. Strategic planning retreat session two, January 20th, 2024. Do I have a motion to accept? Motion to approve. Second. Second by Dr. Curling. All those in favor? Unanimous. Next on the agenda is public expression. We have two people signed up. Uh you will each have five minutes. And uh the council members cannot address you, and you cannot address each of the council members. So we'll start with Miss Roberta Fell. Good evening. My name is Roberta Fell and I live at 1654 Village Court. I know it is late in the process for me to be weighing in, but this is due to the fact that the city pursued a new tenant for the stadium in secrecy, and citizens such as myself were not given the opportunity to give our opinions. It is truly upsetting to me that the city would basically make the same deal with the new owner as we had with Mr. Bellamy. When we are paying for a tenant's electricity, water, sewage, solid waste, etc. It adds up to the taxpayers holding the bag for hundreds of thousands of dollars just for these utilities, not even including what we are paying for the facility itself. Yes, I have heard it puts heads in beds and creates growth and benefits for all, but research shows that it is not true.