Citizens urge action on homelessness, library tech, nonprofit contracts and museum funding
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Summary
Several citizens used the Oct. 28 Gaston County commission meeting to call for county action on homelessness among students, library digital‑equity upgrades, clarity on Camp Sertoma’s contract and parcel status, and restoration of museum and fire‑service capacity.
Multiple speakers used the Oct. 28 public‑comment period to press the county for action on social‑service and community issues.
Digital equity and library computers: Don Michael described 16 new library workstations that remain unavailable to the public three years after the project began and said 12 library PCs still run Windows 7, a system Microsoft stopped supporting in 2020. He urged the county to synchronize library and school technology procurement and cybersecurity contracts so libraries and schools share upgrade cycles and security standards. Michael asked the county to treat libraries as partners in education rather than an afterthought.
Camp Sertoma and county property/contract questions: Alan Ruthier, representing Camp Sertoma (a special‑needs summer camp operating on county property), said an agenda item about sale of part of parcel ID 170825 is not on the meeting packet and that Camp Sertoma believes its county contract (contract control number 2012‑393) still has about seven years remaining. He asked county staff to follow up and provide clarity to the nonprofit about the parcel and the contract status.
Homeless students and school–county coordination: Deanna (Diana) Graham and Sean Bates, representing the Gastonia NAACP, urged the county to act on behalf of more than 600 students reported as experiencing homelessness in Gaston County schools. They criticized the 2024 elimination of the county’s community‑support services division and called for immediate cross‑jurisdictional collaboration among city governments, the school system, faith‑based and nonprofit partners, and county officials; asked for investments in job training, affordable housing and mental‑health supports; and requested transparent, measurable accountability between the commission and the school board.
Museum funding and nonprofit support: Brent Messer urged the board to restore funding for the Gaston County Museum, saying recent budget cuts have reduced staff capacity and that the museum’s collections—including a recently donated set of works—merit continued public investment. He noted the museum’s budget is a small fraction of county spending but vital to cultural preservation.
Board of Equalization and appraisal schedule: Brian Wyeth, chairing the Board of Equalization & Review, reminded commissioners that a schedule of values for the next reappraisal must be consistent with the North Carolina Machinery Act (citing N.C.G.S. Section 105‑317) and urged careful review of appraisal data that will be presented in 2026 for the 2027 reappraisal.
Fire department manpower: Joshua Brown, an East Gaston fire chief, urged the county to address firefighter staffing and manpower needs, citing response‑time and staffing concerns during multi‑unit incidents and upcoming ISO inspections.
Speakers asked for tangible, traceable next steps from county staff. Several asked the board to restore or reconfigure funding and coordination mechanisms for services delivered to vulnerable residents and students; others requested specific follow‑up communications explaining contract status and plans for technology upgrades.
