Town of Ramseur grants conditional street closures for weekend festival after notice confusion

The Town of Ramseur granted contingent approval for street closures requested by the Eastern Randolph Chamber of Commerce to accommodate a food-truck festival and associated events this weekend, but the board also flagged problems with event-notification procedures.

Carol and chamber representatives explained the festival and other closings were planned and that letters had been sent to affected businesses; chamber representative Sandra Bullen asked whether a single motion could cover multiple event closings. Several commissioners said they had not received the event email in advance and discussed how agenda packets and emails were distributed. One commissioner said notices should be sent directly to the clerk and mayor to ensure timely inclusion on the agenda.

The board approved the closings with specific dates and times read into the record (including a Friday-night closure beginning at 7:00 p.m. and targeted reopening by 6:00 p.m. Saturday, subject to vendor departure), and directed organizers to coordinate with the sheriff's department and call 911 when closing and reopening the street. A list of notification recipients named in the packet included Sergeant James Moore, Amy Pal, David Neve, Diana Brower, Jesse Henry and Teresa Hatchet.

The board also adopted a proclamation recognizing National Travel and Tourism Week (May 3–9) during the same portion of the meeting, and approved rescheduling three public hearings (rezoning and special-use permit requests) for May 19 because site plans were not yet complete.

Next steps: Organizers must confirm dates and times with the clerk and law enforcement; staff will post updated agendas and distribute site-plan information ahead of the May 19 public hearing.