[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6582440,"mediaKeyId","3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14","parentId",3091731,"title","Residents urge commissioners to preserve library funding and sustain domestic-violence services","audioSeconds",1470,"startMs",6150000,"endMs",7620000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14&start=6150&end=7620","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14/thumbnail_6150000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6582440/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Residents-urge-commissioners-to-preserve-library-funding-and-sustain-domestic-violence-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582440-8c35049a186ea6385ca980c0cf9cd520/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196283&Signature=EK0s-wAdYxjNn3c9Yp3WcYi-ExhpNWM-PSli20GIAorRFCPSkaeOaK~~wpNwMvBneeEgO86Sq7AsXMYy-EYbAf7nWeKdM7gMlSIvGV5E4NPorUf1gZuxWxP4HSZuuLE4mODqqXPMpTRyosHuLHt04Ic7q4s7rDLfCgEIeZll3j7u8CVjNxvRxKYbFvIh2zOgaYLvDL58rw~xNQe-zHh7j~xSDL8cAjq~-L6HYdT1ezgSlkq-EwnLnV2pOK5zXMgh2U~mHl9FM52WOk~HX76iXbcsal8bdpsoerKth~6kgkKPKw~SzuidrG~4HxDh9AgBMpqTUSqcUvsiJ9944cSJpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gaston County, NC","date","2025-04-23T00:05:46.583Z","article","Several residents used the citizen-recognition portion of the April 22 Gaston County Board of Commissioners meeting to urge the board to maintain or increase funding for the public-library system and to continue support for domestic-violence survivor services.

One speaker who identified themselves by address detailed the scope of services provided by Hope United Survivors Network and the Lighthouse Children's Advocacy Center, and said the organizations provide crisis-response services, shelter referrals, court advocacy, housing assistance and safety planning. The speaker told the board: \"These services save lives. Please let them continue to do so.\" (speaker listed in transcript by address; name not provided.)

Several other residents named themselves and described personal connections to county libraries and to survivors' services. Christine Robinson of Alpine Lane and Gina Robinson of Firestone Street told the board public libraries are essential community resources that provide free access to books, internet-access computers, printing and career-assistance services. Gina Robinson, who described herself as a survivor who used local services, said advocates' help was instrumental in her safety and recovery.

Emily Thomason said adaptive tools available through the library system helped her daughter, who has dyslexia, and described the libraries as a source of free resources including audio-coupled books and materials for school projects. Amanda Memrick and Amelia Mimrich testified about libraries' roles supporting job searches, GED preparation, maker spaces and local programming; Memrick noted Gaston County's per-resident library funding is below national averages and appealed to commissioners to restore or increase funding.

Commissioners and staff responded that no budget proposal had yet been presented to the board and that earlier comments about proximity of branches were illustrative; County Chair Chad Brown and other commissioners said they read public feedback into long-term budget deliberations. Commissioner Bob Hovis noted high attendance at a library book sale and recalled past public reaction when service hours were reduced.

Ending: Speakers asked the board to consider the community, educational and life-saving roles of libraries and survivor-service providers as county staff prepare a proposed FY26 budget for presentation to the commission on May 13.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gaston County Board of Commissioners April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents at the Gaston County Board of Commissioners meeting urged the board to maintain funding for the county library system and to continue financial support for domestic-violence services, citing education, access to technology and life-saving support for survivors.","taxTitle","Gaston County, North Carolina","taxId",4853,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582446,"Votes at a glance: rezoning, trail plan, CPACE authorization and Project Nexus incentive approved",733,5377000,6110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14&start=5377&end=6110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14/thumbnail_5377000.jpg","/articles/6582446/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-rezoning-trail-plan-CPACE-authorization-and-Project-Nexus-incentive-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582446-ddcab562f863f491e565e56c8fae2748/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196283&Signature=mEXcCuSwTprXeqOXiZYugIX2rKkkIPvl9owVDeUoM0hKY8wX6hYDGx1GqTVLMnUhkVMwZ~14J9iE3SlrBk7mHll0YTKzl4wlJN-QRAj~DmLs-UjN6lNgCAo~0Lq5D4bSgLHnJnvqWr0rotRaNhWpJ657zQF9j3-WaNkUD4YlxKgfs3dD0n1eLt3b3~nxO4wghYKfpkDolc6XsSaeMTvPNbTytwW-JlcPoWvpMR91~JSN8750NlN6OaESVadDs-AAeLQwbFXAvGEeT-rAX81C~2TajjVkUgiXqXrRiLZ4n2IFqFENnpNYX6Q79~dylIhSSPLUJ0IRfxrk-L0n5n9fhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gaston County Board of Commissioners completed several formal actions during its April 22 meeting, voting unanimously on multiple public-hearing items.

REZ-00206: Christopher S. Long (Southside Church Road parcel)
Planning staff presented REZ-00206, a conditional rezoning request to change a C-3 general commercial parcel with corridor overlays to R-2 single-family moderate with a minimum lot size set at 17,860 square feet (the existing lot area). Planning staff said the request was inconsistent with the comprehensive land use plan but supported because adjacent residential uses already existed. The planning board unanimously recommended approval. The board approved the rezoning; motion by Commissioner Bob Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Jim Bailey; clerk recorded the vote as unanimous.

Carolina Thread Trail amendment: Stowe Connector
Commissioners approved an amendment to the Carolina Thread Trail master plan to add the approximately 1-mile Stowe Connector Trail on the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden property. The Carolina Thread Trail Executive Committee and the Belmont City Council had previously approved or endorsed the amendment; the Gaston County Planning Board recommended approval 8-0. Commissioner Scott Sheehan moved approval; Commissioner Jim Bailey seconded. Vote: unanimous.

CPACE participation authorization
The board approved a resolution authorizing Gaston County to participate in a Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditures (CPACE) program. Donnie Hicks, executive director of the county Economic Development Commission, said the enabling legislation had recently been signed by the governor and that CPACE is designed to help commercial property owners finance energy- and water-efficiency or green-energy retrofits with longer-term, lower-interest financing. The board recorded unanimous approval; motion by Commissioner Bob Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Scott Sheehan.

Project Nexus: Level 4 incentive grant
The board approved a resolution to authorize a Level 4 economic development incentive under North Carolina General Statute 158-7.1 for \"Project Nexus,\" a company for which Gaston County is a finalist.

According to the EDC presentation, the company anticipates creating about 701 jobs at an average salary of about $52,000 and a total company investment of roughly $435 million, of which about $100 million would be the purchase price for an existing facility (on the tax rolls). The resolution referenced a $268 million investment figure; EDC staff explained the total investment submitted to the state is larger. Donnie Hicks said a local decision by the company was expected by June, with operations targeted for the first quarter of 2027. The board approved the authorization unanimously; motion by Commissioner Bob Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Scott Sheehan.

Ending: The votes were recorded as unanimous by the clerk on each item. Several of the items had prior Planning Board or executive-committee endorsements; staff noted that final permitting, financing arrangements and company selection remain contingent on follow-up steps.","At its April 22 meeting the Gaston County Commission approved multiple items: a conditional rezoning for a 0.41-acre parcel (REZ-00206), a Carolina Thread Trail master-plan amendment to add the Stowe Connector, county participation in a CPACE program, and a Level 4 incentive grant resolution for Project Nexus (finalist).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582450,"Commission approves Crowder Springs day-camp rezoning, allows park-model cabins with stay limits",755,4618000,5373000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14&start=4618&end=5373","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14/thumbnail_4618000.jpg","/articles/6582450/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Commission-approves-Crowder-Springs-day-camp-rezoning-allows-park-model-cabins-with-stay-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582450-dff9b1ce10e4dd82b50fcd05cbd79162/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196283&Signature=URTQndF4EoNzO7JiXI1NvcXwkPDhBOoh64WJ9nZwhb6mSZtGLQ7PfRyhe7~~36bbG2BrsxvpGMZ7B1gZZsr2Gtbi4r4gahBax3B3aYoqbVepvQl-jPtG-3OBQwsIrxQ4w2EVUTE4c2kOeiFQ5AmGU75KLb~LN7XdeMw0fHuQb56TH5o1I29gGgbjqBVWzyhL2njLp6tPZ-6HS8Y~8sJ0P9KOlFm39lBycfudx447u~hZpizIf1J3XHiZUSA3-GD9mzsrFKY1oFfRzh0cv-lWUXbgEq25rzwDMUQBtzkTxQ4LC1ILW8s0GJuhhVyaGzLt4hoJwGeiQIaQBzl16b4EzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gaston County Board of Commissioners approved a conditional rezoning April 22 for the Crowder Springs day-camp property that will allow park-model cabins and a set of recreational uses while placing limits on the length of individual stays.

Jamie Kimberlou, director of planning and zoning, told the board the applicant requested the rezoning because park-model cabins are technically classified as recreational vehicles under the Unified Development Ordinance and the property's existing camp and retreat uses needed explicit zoning authority to host them. The property is on Linwood Road and Misty Lane, outside Gastonia city limits, and is operated as a camp and retreat center with existing buildings and access.

The conditional rezoning allows uses including conference, retreat and event center; summer camp and retreat center; sporting facilities; camping and recreational vehicle park; miniature golf; paintball and laser-tag facilities; small-house community; and special events facilities. The staff-recommended conditions read as included in the agenda packet and require that all uses meet applicable supplemental UDO regulations and that areas designated as tree-save remain undeveloped.

Planning staff said the rezoning would enable the owner to use park-model cabins as an alternative, more affordable building type. The planning board had unanimously recommended approval at its March 31 meeting.

During the public hearing and discussion, commissioners and staff raised concerns about long-term occupancy patterns for cabin or RV-style units. Commissioner Hovis asked whether existing rules limit how long an individual can stay. Planning staff noted there were no specific long-term occupancy limits in the application as presented and pointed to building-code and UDO rules that address permanent structures; the planning board and applicant agreed to a condition to prevent long-term residency.

The applicant's representative, Jubilee, described typical stays: \"Most of our stay in the June through August is 4 nights, 5 days. Then we host retreats throughout the year with church groups, sororities, [and] foster camps,\" and said the operation is primarily short-term recreational programming.

The board added a condition limiting individual stays (the board described the condition as a 10-day maximum stay for recreational units) and voted to approve the rezoning with those amendments. The motion was made by Commissioner Bob Hovis and seconded by Commissioner Scott Sheehan; the clerk recorded the vote as unanimous.

Ending: With the rezoning in place, the property can site park-model cabins in specified areas on the approved site plan and continue to operate as a camp and retreat center under the listed uses and supplemental regulations; new structures and uses will still require applicable permits.","The Gaston County Commission approved a conditional rezoning for the Crowder Springs Day Camp to allow park-model cabins and other recreational uses, with a condition limiting stays to short-term visits (applicant said typical stays are four nights, five days).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582454,"Gaston County finance advisers report strong bond sale, $125M–$150M CIF capacity over five years",874,2952000,3826000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14&start=2952&end=3826","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091731-213bcfea29867328dd643080eba06d14/thumbnail_2952000.jpg","/articles/6582454/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Gaston-County-finance-advisers-report-strong-bond-sale-125M150M-CIF-capacity-over-five-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582454-ef6931e34ba906083a172473b1de625b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196283&Signature=m2EmW1Yw52JlVSQOyZBI-TxJ90VL--CC2nMmzAcyv~O2pzEnIMFg9uuLtMWrWkF01E-Kllh9bQNHW6H~p3qC4qElWHkNx6caljFE66YZ48NgJTYXapxwPJh45hL9zv4RqpIjJMgMONnUChxc34BSUtQ0Z1wO00lPSVPyH-tiyF6CgNwoOwQEGnNvickLss37aHWXk3bpf3yACmEPTHyzY~ZsY7WsMYBzCuYtGX8KNYyjoYY22Riq15DUoGw7RLlePQB5sNQyFkOr2KkTx5aVFIsATsluBXvCfXtBkOy~RHK46iNQlNUTOVWdUes8~pQTLnSjslvYpAvKB8XnuqztIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gaston County Board of Commissioners heard an update April 22 on the county's recent general-obligation bond sale and on the Community Investment Fund (CIF) capacity for future capital projects.

In a presentation, Doug Carter, finance advisor with Dec Associates, told commissioners the county sold the remaining $190 million of 2018 voter-authorized school bonds at an all-in cost “just at a 4.01%” for 20-year money and described the sale as well-timed in the market. Carter said the sale reflected investor confidence in the county and the strength of staff's presentation to rating agencies.

The update said the county holds a AAA rating from Moody's and an AA+ from Standard & Poor's. Carter and colleagues credited county management and staff for preparation in meetings with the agencies and for conservative financial modeling that underpins the CIF.

County staff and the advisers explained that the CIF receives dedicated capital revenues, including certain sales taxes and general-fund contributions, and that it segregates capital financing from operating funds. The presentation said the county currently contributes about $17 million annually from the general fund to the CIF and that debt-affordability modeling, using conservative assumptions, shows capacity for approximately $125 million to $150 million of additional debt over the next five years.

Advisers and staff said the model is timing-sensitive: issuing debt earlier or later affects available capacity. They listed possible future projects discussed by commissioners and staff, including jail expansion, a public-safety campus, school capital needs beyond the recent bond sale, and Gaston College facilities. The advisers noted management and the commission could consider restoring or increasing contributions into the CIF to expand capacity.

\"We use conservative assumptions to come to that $125 to $150,000,000,\" Carter said of the affordability model.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how timing and contribution levels affect capacity. County manager and finance staff were present to answer operational questions and to emphasize that further project-specific budgeting and prioritization would be required before any new authorizations.

The presentation concluded with an offer from advisers to return for additional briefings and to answer detailed questions from commissioners and staff.

The board did not take a formal vote on policy at the meeting; the session was an informational briefing to update commissioners on the bond sale outcome and the CIF model.

Ending: County staff said they will incorporate the presentation into future budget and capital planning sessions; commissioners and staff signaled they will use the conservative affordability numbers as they consider project timing and any proposed additions to the CIF.","Financial advisers told the Gaston County Board of Commissioners the county’s recent $190 million general-obligation bond sale drew strong investor demand, supporting the county’s high credit rating and leaving an estimated $125 million to $150 million in Community Investment Fund capacity for the next five years under conservative assumptions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge commissioners to preserve library funding and sustain domestic-violence services

Votes at a glance: rezoning, trail plan, CPACE authorization and Project Nexus incentive approved

Commission approves Crowder Springs day-camp rezoning, allows park-model cabins with stay limits

Gaston County finance advisers report strong bond sale, $125M–$150M CIF capacity over five years