Gastonia City Council Meeting - January 20, 2026
Gastonia City Council Meeting - January 20, 2026
The Gastonia City Council met on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Gaston County Courthouse Public Forum Room. The meeting included recognitions, a proclamation, presentations on water quality and opioid settlement initiatives, public comments, and votes on a drone ordinance, weapons surplus, consent agenda items, annexation/rezoning, and a downtown sign budget amendment.
Awards & Recognitions
- Ashbrook High School Varsity Football Team: Recognized by Councilwoman Donyel Barber for an undefeated regular season and winning the Big South 5A/6A Conference Title in October 2025. Coach Darius James accepted on behalf of the team.
- Black History Month Proclamation: Mayor Richard Franks proclaimed February 2026 as Black History Month. Recipients included Mrs. Bettye Canada, Pastor Carolyn Dewberry, Pastor Wilbert Davis, Pastor Daimon Rawlinson, Pastor Pat Parker Reid, Ms. Tasha White, and the Ebonyfest Juneteenth Committee. The proclamation was accepted and placed into the official record unanimously.
Presentations
- NC One Water Best Tasting Water Award: Mr. Don Garbrick presented the award to the City of Gastonia’s Two Rivers Utilities for the second consecutive year. Gastonia placed first among 15 utilities, including Raleigh and Winston-Salem, with diverse taste testers from Raleigh, Charlotte, Rockwell, and Denver. Mr. Ed Cross, Division Manager, accepted the plaque and credited the water treatment plant’s upgraded low-pressure submerged membranes and the team’s dedication.
- Gaston County Opioid Settlement Initiatives: Assistant City Manager Quentin McPhatter, Prevention Strategies Manager Stephanie Jamoulis, and Assistant Health Director Abigail Newton provided an update. The City of Gastonia is slated to receive $3 million over 18 years, which is being directed to Gaston County via an interlocal agreement. The county expects over $41 million total, with $14 million received to date and $8.4 million allocated to approved projects. Overdose death rates in Gaston County remain above the state average, but EMS overdose responses declined in 2024-2025 due to naloxone saturation. Funds support prevention, treatment, recovery, and youth mental health programs. New initiatives in 2026 include a mobile treatment unit and a countywide media campaign.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bishop David Tucker, Dr. Benjamin Hinton, Pastor Dickie Spargo, and Shane Davis: Representing a coalition of 87 churches, they requested city support for a three-night crusade at CaroMont Health Park (the baseball stadium) scheduled for March 19-21, 2026, with a preparatory prayer night on March 18. They asked for use of the venue for four days and the city’s stage. Pastor Spargo committed to training volunteers under staff supervision to operate the stage. The speakers emphasized unity and positive community impact.
- Lee Henderson and Olivia Henderson: Family members of Derek Manigault, who was killed in a police encounter on January 10, 2026. They demanded transparency, accountability, and the firing and criminal charges of the involved officers. They expressed fear and trauma in the Black community and called on the council to stand for truth and justice.
- Wavy Williams (with Deacon Alan Heiss): Representing Temple Baptist Church, which operates a warming station. He praised the city’s support for Unity Baptist Church’s warming center but highlighted a transportation gap: individuals are released at 7 a.m. with no place to go. He requested the city provide transportation, showers, and laundry services, and also consider summer cooling stations.
Discussion Items
- Public Safety Committee Report (Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gallagher):
- Drone Ordinance: Proposed ordinance to regulate unmanned aircraft on city property. Launching and recovering drones is prohibited on all city property except at Martha Rivers Park and Linwood Springs Park. Operators must comply with park rules, cannot interfere with public safety incidents, and cannot carry pyrotechnics or projectiles. The ordinance also covers model aircraft. Park rules may be further developed. Motion to approve passed unanimously.
- Weapons Surplus and Trade: The Police Department requested authorization to declare 386 M400 rifles as surplus and trade them, along with unclaimed property and court-ordered weapons, to purchase 25 N15s. The trade-in value is $53,800. The new rifles will be used for active shooter and civil unrest response. Motion to approve passed unanimously.
Consent Calendar
All eight consent agenda items were approved unanimously without discussion:
- Resolution to set a public hearing date (February 17, 2026) for closure of portions of Adams Avenue, Robinson Street, and an alleyway.
- Resolution to authorize a $500,000 Helene Recovery Fund application for Linwood Springs Park.
- Resolution recognizing $186,000 from sale of 608 N. York Street as CDBG program income (with budget amendment).
- Resolution recognizing $2,500 NRPA Coaches Training Grant (with budget amendment).
- Resolution recognizing $5,000 N.C. League of Municipalities Safety Grant for security cameras at the Active Adult Center (with budget amendment).
- Resolution granting an easement to Duke Energy for a GOAB pole at Substation 18.
- Resolution awarding a $1,236,627.23 contract to Carolina Power Systems for a redundant automatic transfer switch at Long Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Gastonia ABC Board Travel Policy Update.
Regular Agenda
- Jake Long Road Annexation and Rezoning (RZ File #202500476 & ANX File #202500206): Senior Planner Maddy Groce presented a request to annex and rezone 0.456 acres at 606 Camp Rotary Road (owned by Steven A. Broom and Kristin L. Epley) from Gaston County R-1 to City of Gastonia RS-12 (single-family residential, minimum 12,000 sq. ft. lots). The property is adjacent to the Arcadia subdivision (annexed in June 2024, planned for 450 homes). The rezoning is consistent with the 2050 Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-0. Council voted unanimously to close the public hearing, approve the annexation and rezoning, and adopt a statement of consistency and reasonableness.
- Proposed Downtown Gastonia/Active Adult Center Sign: City Manager Michael Peoples presented a proposal for a digital sign at the corner of S. Broad St. and Main Avenue, serving both the municipal service district and the Active Adult Center. A budget amendment of $15,000 from the MSD fund, matched by $15,000 from the Gastonia Travel and Tourism Development Authority, was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of the January 6, 2026 meeting minutes.
- Unanimous acceptance of the Black History Month proclamation into the official record.
- Unanimous approval of the drone ordinance.
- Unanimous approval of the weapons surplus and trade resolution.
- Unanimous approval of all eight consent agenda items.
- Unanimous approval of the Jake Long Road annexation and rezoning, including the statement of consistency.
- Unanimous approval of the budget amendment for the downtown sign ($30,000 total).
- The council received public comments and presentations; no formal votes on the crusade request or warming station concerns, but the city manager indicated prior coordination with the pastors.
- Next meeting: Regular City Council Meeting on February 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. My name is Richard Franks. I'm the mayor of the great city of Gastonia. On behalf of the City Council and myself, I'd like to welcome you to the January 20th 2026 meeting. I will now call the meeting to order. Our invocation Councilman Casupius. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Please bow your head and join me in prayer should you feel so inclined. Gracious and loving God, we come together today with hearts full of hope and gratitude. We thank you for the gift of life and health for the blessing of our city and for the dedicated dedication of our law enforcement and first responders, our staff, and all who serve our community with integrity and care. We are thankful for the opportunity to gather to serve and to make a difference as we do not take these blessings for granted. We ask that you guide our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Help us to truly listen to one another, to learn from one another, and to work together in a spirit of unity and respect. May we be open to new ideas, bold in our vision, and faithful in our commitment to a brighter tomorrow for everyone. We lift up in prayer those among us who are in need, those facing difficult times, and those carrying heavy burdens. May we continue to pray for one another, to support one another, and to be a source of comfort, strength, and hope in every circumstance. May we also lift up our youth, especially those here in attendance this evening as we celebrate their accomplishments and bless them for a brighter future. May they be guided by you to be role models and grow into outstanding citizens of our community. Heavenly Father, we give you glory and praise, and we pray that you fill this room with encouragement, positivity, and purpose. Inspire us to uplift one another, to lead with compassion, and to strive each day to do better, be better, and serve better. Thank you for bringing us together to dream to grow and to move the vision of this city forward. We ask all of this in your holy name. Amen. Next up, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance and Pastor Spargo, will you lead us? One nation, under God, indivisible. Can I have a motion? Can I have a motion to excuse Councilwoman step from tonight's meeting? So moved. We have a motion. Can I have a second? We have a second by Councilwoman Drear. All those in favor, it's unanimous. Everybody should have in front of them a copy of the agenda. Are there any corrections, amendments, or deletions to the agenda as presented? Having none, I'll take a motion to approve. I move that we approve the agenda. We have a motion. We have a second. Have a second by councilwoman Drear. All those in favor, it's unanimous. Everybody should have a copy of the regular city council meeting from January the 6th, 2026 in front of them. Can I have a motion to approve? We have a motion by Councilwoman Barber. Can I have a second, please? Have a second by Councilman Silverman. And next up is the hardest part of this whole agenda. We need to vote. Oh, I didn't have a vote because I was thinking of that, what I had to say. All those in favor, it's unanimous.
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