Gastonia City Council Regular Meeting – April 1, 2025

The Gastonia City Council met on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included awards, proclamations, public comment, committee reports, a public hearing on an economic development incentive, and adoption of resolutions regarding state transportation projects. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Awards & Proclamations

• Southwest Middle School Boys Basketball Team received a Certificate of Recognition for an undefeated season and winning the Gaston County Championship. Coach Prince thanked the council and encouraged players to aspire to greater achievements.
• Proclamation: NC 811 Safe Digging Month (April 2025) – Presented by Councilman Demetri Koutsoupias to Adrian Certain, Division Manager of Electric Utilities. The proclamation noted that in 2024 the North Carolina One Call System received 2.8 million notification requests and transmitted over 15 million requests. Council accepted the proclamation unanimously.
• Proclamation: Lineman Appreciation Day (April 18, 2025) – Presented by Councilman Jim Gallagher to Adrian Certain, who brought four linemen: Cody Crichton, Jonathan Jenkins, Jack Le Lungsey, and Brandon Phillips. The proclamation highlighted linemen’s year-round dangerous work and mutual aid provided to western North Carolina after storms. Council accepted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Leonard Martin (Fourth Ward resident) spoke during Public Expression. He criticized Councilwoman Cheryl Littlejohn (absent) for not attending ward events and failing to address issues. He reported that a drug house at 918 North Cleveland Street remains open, selling fentanyl, and that a drug house at Weldon and Ransom was closed that day due to police action. He also complained about severe potholes on Ransom Street (a three‑foot‑wide hole) that damaged his car, and asked the city to either fix streets or pay for vehicle damage. He requested that Councilwoman Littlejohn be censured for using her platform to advance her business (holding a food bag distribution at her own business location). Mayor Franks noted the pothole location for follow‑up.

Committee Report

• Arts Committee Report (presented by Councilwoman Jennifer Stepp, chair):
  • The mural at Armstrong Park (near New Hope Road and Gardner Park) is nearly complete.
  • The visual arts show during Gaston Max was a success; budget for FY 2025‑26 was reviewed.
  • Action item: Change the grant cycle from calendar year (January–December) to fiscal year (July–June) to align with state statute. To avoid overlapping cycles, the next grant cycle will begin in July 2026 (not July 2027 as initially misstated) and run through June 2027. The current cycle ends December 2025, creating a one‑year gap. The committee voted 8‑0 to recommend this change. Council voted unanimously to approve the recommendation.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (9 items):
  1. Setting a public hearing (May 20, 2025) for closure of a cul‑de‑sac at Reverse Curve Street.
  2. Resolution to recognize retirement of Police K‑9 Rico and declare surplus to handler Corporal Alex Burns.
  3. February 2025 monthly financial report.
  4. Resolution to recognize $5,000 Electricities Smart Communities Grant (budget amendment).
  5. Resolution to increase hotel occupancy tax revenues and distribute $400,000 to Gastonia Tourism Development Authority.
  6. Resolution to recognize $2,500 NRPA How to Coach Kids Grant.
  7. Resolution to recognize $14,000 from Gaston County Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
  8. Resolution to recognize asset‑forfeiture funds ($103 from state, $1,321 from DOJ) and surplus sales ($11,446).
  9. Resolution to award contract to Parks Auto Group for 14 Ford Police Interceptor SUVs ($593,362) for the Police Department.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing – Project Peacock Economic Development Incentive: Kristy Crisp, Director of Economic Development, presented. Project Peacock is an established U.S. company expanding to the East Coast at 1245 Shannon Bradley Road (Gaston Commerce Center). They will invest $2 million, lease 70,000 sq ft, and create 25 jobs at average county wage (~$52,000). The city proposes a standard Level One local incentive grant (100% of property taxes on real property and machinery/equipment for 5 years, with taxes paid upfront). Gaston County has already approved the same grant. Council asked clarifying questions about job types and fire code coordination. The public hearing was closed, and the resolution was approved unanimously.
• NCDOT Project Updates (Randi Gates, Director of Transportation): Presentation on the draft 2026–2035 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which NCDOT is accepting public comments on through April 4, 2025. Two key Gastonia projects face delays:
  • Project U‑5961 (Union Road Widening): From Osceola Street to Nibblick Drive, widening to four lanes with multi‑use path and sidewalk, total cost $46.3 million (including $5 million city match delivered in 2017). The draft STIP delays right‑of‑way/utilities from 2025 to 2027 and construction from 2028 to 2031.
  • Project U‑6138 (NC 279/US 29/74 Intersection Improvements): Addition of a right turn lane at North New Hope Road and Franklin Boulevard near Wendy’s, $2.95 million total. The draft STIP only funds preliminary engineering; no funding for right‑of‑way, utilities, or construction is programmed. Council expressed frustration over repeated delays and their impact on development decisions. Councilwoman Barber noted senior communities along Union Road with safety concerns. Councilman Gallagher argued the turn lane could be done cheaply since utilities were already moved. Council also discussed the broader need for New Hope Road widening (project not in current STIP) and asked that a future resolution address that. Councilwoman Stepp and Barber supported sending resolutions to NCDOT. Council unanimously approved two resolutions: 1) Supporting timely implementation of Union Road widening; 2) Supporting full funding and timely implementation of the right turn lane project. The city will also send a future resolution on New Hope Road widening.
• Other STIP projects mentioned: Franklin Blvd eastbound lane (let June 2025, $14.4M), Franklin & Broad intersection (let Sept 2025, $14.4M), I‑274/275 intersection (construction let 2027), Gastonia signal system upgrade (28 of 145 signals complete, full completion by end of 2025).

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approval of the Arts Committee recommendation to align the grant cycle with the fiscal year, starting next cycle July 2026.
• Unanimous approval of all Consent Agenda items.
• Unanimous approval of the Project Peacock economic development incentive resolution.
• Unanimous approval of two resolutions regarding NCDOT projects:
  1. Resolution supporting timely implementation of Project U‑5961 (Union Road widening).
  2. Resolution supporting full funding and timely implementation of Project U‑6138 (right turn lane at New Hope and Franklin).
• Staff directed to bring a future resolution on the widening of New Hope Road to a subsequent meeting.
• Council also discussed: a request for a chart of ongoing planning projects (Councilman Koutsoupias), appreciation for free art class at Alchemy (Councilman Gallagher), a request for pre‑meeting agenda briefings (Councilwoman Stepp), and numerous upcoming community events announced.