Randleman board names Connie Peeler interim city manager; mayor outlines strong fund balances

The Randleman Board of Aldermen on April 8 unanimously appointed City Clerk Connie Peeler as interim city manager while the board conducts a search for a permanent manager. Alderwoman Melissa Allred Blalock moved to nominate Peeler; Alderwoman Kimmy Williams seconded the motion and the board approved it. Mayor Gary Betts administered the oath of office.

The action came at the start of a meeting in which Mayor Betts also delivered a financial briefing. He said the city uses fund accounting to track near-term inflows and outflows and reported an available General Fund balance of $7,430,966 and a total fund balance of $9,213,803. "The General Fund is the chief operating fund of the City of Randleman," Betts stated as he summarized recent audits and accounting work.

The mayor told the board the city has no additional debt since Jan. 23, 2023; the water and sewer fund had an unrestricted net position of $2,740,341 at year-end, with an increase in net position of $573,100. Betts listed recent and ongoing audits for fiscal years 2021–2024, an implementation of a Smart-Fusion accounting/billing system, and other cost-saving measures, including a garbage contract with Asheboro Service that he said saved the city about $50,000 annually. The board approved the consent agenda by motion.

Why it matters: The board's interim appointment ensures continuity in day-to-day operations while a search proceeds. The finance figures the mayor presented — notably an available fund balance equal to about 115% of General Fund expenditures, according to his summary — indicate the board is operating with a sizable reserve relative to its reported expenditures.

The meeting packet shows the board also approved routine consent items and heard departmental updates before adjourning. The board said it will continue the city manager recruitment process; no timeline for hiring a permanent manager was provided.