[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6108271,"mediaKeyId","2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f","parentId",2769626,"title","City manager announces upset bid, Corps cleanup, new message board, lights and Chalk the Walk event","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1789000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f&start=1789&end=1789","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f/thumbnail_1789000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6108271/Mount-Holly-City/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/City-manager-announces-upset-bid-Corps-cleanup-new-message-board-lights-and-Chalk-the-Walk-event","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108271-cf1beb40e87cf229fb8f29dc63e9bdce/orig.mp4?Expires=1776285077&Signature=KTiLhOtzczBtGVSKWubGzHHDpJK~myoItjtFCMZ5ujMSd4S1aGl47vy~et9NJ7FrKlVNE3k-HpTn0wjAEc2s616qodG4SZ8da6-W-TGlP-7iTvsMTRap7-hI4PmV2tvpYvBg~4M9Jp3pZqmmF-avemacaUsdO3kPbPCop3kEF4mkqgWvHdXVefeRzGxUmAiPjbrlPt3pWCNEgxeaFWUMkwtt-QfND8My2VTfpci~u07eNiUbP4k236wOgpXixUHptvEpWeMOeXmNPnrXaMBojb-GHpeAIkg7CbF8ZjXBrzTIAQlWMjJ~RIM1zFFmd2BjjE9XWHwyYffK22bUyABT5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mount Holly, NC","date","2025-03-25T11:07:38Z","article","Mount Holly City Manager Mister Blanton updated the council on several city matters, including an upset bid for a property, a federal cleanup project and community events.

Blanton said the first 10‑day upset bid period ended at 5 p.m. and the city received one upset bid for $815,000 from the Mount Holly Historical Society. Because of the upset, staff will re‑advertise in the gazette and restart the 10‑day upset bid period; the next deadline will be April 7 at 5 p.m. He said the original offer was $762,500 and the current offer is $815,000.

Blanton also reported public-works coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for sand and debris removal from Taylors Creek, Dutchmans Creek, and the Catawba River. He said the project is expected to take roughly three months and aim to restore waterway access by midsummer.

Other items Blanton noted: the digital message board in front of Marco's Pizza received power; the North Main lights have been installed after DOT relinquishment of a portion of North Main; and the city will hold a Chalk the Walk event at Linear Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 12.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session 03-24-2025","oneSentenceSummary","City Manager Blanton reported an upset bid from the Mount Holly Historical Society, pending re‑advertisement; US Army Corps sand and debris removal from local waterways; new digital message board power activation; North Main holiday lights; and a Chalk the Walk event on April 12.","taxTitle","Mount Holly City, Gaston County, North Carolina","taxId",52283,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6108276,"Council discusses options for downtown dumpster service and rollout-can phaseout",746,1069000,1815000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f&start=1069&end=1815","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f/thumbnail_1069000.jpg","/articles/6108276/Mount-Holly-City/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Council-discusses-options-for-downtown-dumpster-service-and-rollout-can-phaseout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108276-7390b8ac07af20308891861e2fc883a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776285077&Signature=BvXNSJFCZunr7dj9schaTE2PEWkHQvtHyXQ2zUXi82Lb8Pl4vM2Y6jHtxW-DfjIilZZVXurvwVDqL-UTJTsVDLpOgDhdpfYbtSC6Ndtf0yw55SEr87QqVYxz4JC6RoQ5IUsoALZAo4S7i5nDFl0FykAL-cLII0YagwucnK7Qni5oy82wPJUGILQG29B8lX2AAIX6JBHs9dndYBPAyIlw0Oatm3ZFBAEcfkj98vNRdZg3puUeWOkLdZQYYA49rOe6v-zIp1sEIEI-a8vdgNBRY83MVPBz-CH3i7RrQOWsFoxxxqx0XbfmKUJuD3JlJ0~v6Zq~QNXUTGcGy0kOZ-3y~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mount Holly City Manager Mister Blanton presented options and questions for council about downtown sanitation service, including whether the city should provide shared dumpsters or require restaurants to use private dumpster service.

Blanton told council that current monthly charges for the city's rollout can service are $11.91 per container. He and staff surveyed 28 downtown businesses and reported counts of containers: 16 businesses use one can, five use two cans, two use three cans, two use four cans and three use five cans. Blanton said the city does not provide dumpster pickup for the private dumpster sites behind downtown businesses; those are contracted privately with providers such as Waste Pro, Waste Management or Republic.

Blanton described examples from nearby municipalities: Gastonia provides municipal dumpster services subsidized in part by a municipal service tax and charges roughly $50 per business for shared dumpster service; Belmont uses a cooperative waste program with annual charges that range from $300 to $500; Bessemer City provides twice‑weekly pickup for rollout cans. Blanton said offering dumpster service would require the council to define the downtown district boundaries, secure access easements for dumpster pads on private property, and negotiate services with third‑party providers.

Council members raised several points: Mister Huff and Mister Meadows supported exploring shared dumpsters and noted operational efficiencies and aesthetic benefits of eliminating many small rollout cans. Mister Meadows asked staff to explore an ordinance that would require restaurants to have dumpster service. Miss Harris asked whether the city would take on the cost; staff said no, not currently, and that existing conversations (for example about a Holland Building pad) had not produced an agreement. Mister Blanton said he would check existing budget items and follow up with additional research and recommendations.","Council discussed whether the city should offer or subsidize dumpster services downtown, the need for easements, and possible ordinance requirements for restaurants; staff to research options and funding.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6108279,"Council approves budget to buy three downtown properties after failed motion to withhold funds",355,896000,1251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f&start=896&end=1251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f/thumbnail_896000.jpg","/articles/6108279/Mount-Holly-City/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Council-approves-budget-to-buy-three-downtown-properties-after-failed-motion-to-withhold-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108279-e0e74a58944cc6cb812be040cf45aa90/orig.mp4?Expires=1776285077&Signature=OWwK~m7tePjG8ZeksePYIhj1jiPmibSeULGhxHlDAWZGDcLpq-lQoZbcG~l4aIHdSe5vG7rmI8LlIp7bwdKnub1DAWEDOZCs1yOPogJqzCRwHAMbKX9Ue-UF~styiWez2KbWZvadk~D79BoY6ZppkVihBk6kY3MUlON94fu291QCq3WIGzuJz3J5UY1sr87Hn6Rc2aD6pF5Zc2imwln-jG-bKNYUf7eiWmVy4KImpM1CmfcIfXG1yrsDio03VRCa59xxFY1N8WuRtGVfsQg8EcVkCR~P~8k-Zq3AputYZ5KVL9uh6B5RAClagIU-X0k33PqOASB0WZMcxL-WFoANpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Holly City Council voted to approve budget amounts covering three downtown property purchases after rejecting a motion to withhold funding.

Councilman Reeves moved — and Miss Harris seconded — a motion to not move $3,500,000 from the unassigned fund balance to the general fund for purchase of the properties. The motion failed; Reeves and Harris voted in favor of withholding funds while Mister Meadows, Miss Shoemaker, Mister Craig and Miss Huff voted against withholding.

Staff then put forward purchase amounts for three transactions: $995,179.59 to Dean N. Stroop for 120 East Central Avenue; $2,160,304.49 to Mister Stroop for 128–138–140 East Central and 200 Municipal Lane; and $423,953.54 to SPCS Properties. Staff asked the council to approve a budget amount to reflect those totals. Mister Huff made the motion; Mister Craig seconded.

The council approved the motion to budget the purchase amounts. The final recorded vote on that motion was 4 in favor (Mister Huff, Mister Meadows, Miss Shoemaker and Mister Craig) and 2 opposed (Miss Harris and Mister Reeves). One council member earlier had described a vote to withhold as effectively defaulting on an obligation; that comment was part of the discussion preceding the successful motion.

No ordinance or resolution number was recorded in the transcript; the purchase amounts and payees were read into the record by staff during the meeting.","After a failed motion to withhold $3.5 million, Mount Holly City Council approved budget amounts to buy three properties totaling about $3.58 million; vote was 4–2 in favor.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6108284,"Council reviews planning commission appointment process as vacancy remains",606,310000,916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f&start=310&end=916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f/thumbnail_310000.jpg","/articles/6108284/Mount-Holly-City/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Council-reviews-planning-commission-appointment-process-as-vacancy-remains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108284-3444776a814b57922eda67cc6a6a5c80/orig.mp4?Expires=1776285078&Signature=cAgGXk3VCIoeryZ90UsNBA0~RwMlBE1vUvUKwgHr8VZsFo1rygIQta41U6YALQfsH36c1Fhp5JLQGaznRcWRlNcLNRWHstRMUKlj7IwQaUPFUYRGRyAJcWYyqmmRAvFhsQxLkwTN7fgQv~v-s8BtihwhAY6ELigAdn30WsqL8XqjHsewKeODUVuZlIznHSe879f2V2HM9SlbddX6dMFklGbfrBLBvxgxS32ZcADfsSc8Q6bKeMC7hynzLEvmnCOD586z3EefEWZSGyQGk6ulGh20HAKmiIXPalL-LMAFCgo7BVsu14Jg0ytGSkq8D6LDTBuBnyUiknkN4yC3DeuNWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff outlined the process the planning commission has used for the past 10 years to fill vacancies and asked the council whether it wants interviews or a different approach.

Staff member Mister Beal told the council the vacancy opened Dec. 13 after Miss Nichols declined reappointment. He said the city typically advertises through social media and the water bill, and that application numbers can vary widely — sometimes six months without interest and other times as many as 15 applicants. Beal said staff screens applicants and forwards the top candidates (about five when many apply) to the planning commission, which conducts public interviews and then nominates and votes. He said the item is usually placed on the consent agenda for council action but can be pulled for discussion.

Beal told council there were currently six submitted applications, one of which had since withdrawn, leaving five applicants available for consideration. Council members asked about term limits and training: members noted the city had invested $1,000–$2,000 annually on training for planning board members and discussed the possibility of limiting members to two terms with a one‑year break before reappointment.

Council members also debated using ranked-choice voting versus Robert's Rules of Order for nominations. Mister Meadows said Robert's Rules is simpler and more transparent for nomination and selection. Staff agreed to prepare recommended language and a template for boards and committees and return to council with options.","Council and staff discussed the planning commission vacancy and the city's decade-long applicant-interview process; staff reported five current applicants and proposed formalizing rules for board appointments.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6108287,"Mount Holly council approves six new public artworks for Creative Spaces initiative",52,245000,297000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f&start=245&end=297","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769626-126326dea039ec2e2970ddb8f108b92f/thumbnail_245000.jpg","/articles/6108287/Mount-Holly-City/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Mount-Holly-council-approves-six-new-public-artworks-for-Creative-Spaces-initiative","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108287-f6f8d8d3a6d93c7af346de06ace1d3e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776285078&Signature=Bt8VwT7w-8VRNXxXqh51nTyBLxGtV2ZvkrTWvO7smoW46mLDwmpgATW63jbKn-836ju~VSzR1bEC8-z0xd6ScXjbIwd0njCFKU~FNR9Xpeui2s3AEc2WjOMVFWqhGdptV5UUzyHWfu2zI2x3w5dary4p1t4-onmkNwi4tdvavqmbk8hHp86Y1PgbEV1etXa2~RsfQ6p3WwJm5OH1uhmwYXmvNsr63SBe1nxphcB2CaeTbjixbjJR7xGOoPJlM1tOHeJUar4-M5aOjmkCTzX3Xb0XUl2h3D8FEyUc58kCL1cU6RhgXkCJpUi~42XQleRvRjtUHiUkLh6xLK6PoCjE6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Holly City Council on the evening approved adding six artworks to its Creative Spaces initiative and accepted two new installation locations, the council was told.

Paul Lowe, the presenter, said the six works would be added to four existing locations and two proposed locations: Hock Park and Arts on the Greenway. He told the council that if approved the pieces would be changed out or reinstalled by June 30 and that Parks Advisory Committee recommended approval.

Councilman Craig moved to approve the works; Councilman Meadows seconded the motion. The council voted unanimously to adopt the recommendation.

The council packet and the Parks Advisory Committee recommendation were cited as the basis for staff's recommendation. Lowe offered to answer council questions during the presentation.","The Mount Holly City Council unanimously approved adding six works to the Creative Spaces public-art program and two new locations, with installations planned by June 30.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City manager announces upset bid, Corps cleanup, new message board, lights and Chalk the Walk event

Council discusses options for downtown dumpster service and rollout-can phaseout

Council approves budget to buy three downtown properties after failed motion to withhold funds

Council reviews planning commission appointment process as vacancy remains

Mount Holly council approves six new public artworks for Creative Spaces initiative