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Council Connection: 9.14.26 Meeting Recap

Council Connection: Recap from Forest City Board of Commissioners Meeting September 14, 2026

Watch the meeting   |   Download the agenda

  1. Public comments from two people concerning the urban archery hunting ordinance and utility billing.
  2. Grant Stratman was sworn in as police officer for the Forest City Police Department.
  3. Mayor Steve Holland and Fire Chief Billy Samuel expressed their gratitude to the emergency responders who assisted with the Main Street fire on August 31, 2026. Five responded from Shingle Hollow Fire Department, 7 from Spindale Fire Department, 8 from Sandy Mush Volunteer Fire Department, 5 from Rutherfordton Fire & Rescue, 4 from EMS, 10-11 police officers, 3 from Town of Forest City Electric Department, and at least 20 other Town of Forest City staff and personnel. Bostic Volunteer Fire Department covered the fire station while FCFR employees were at the fire, Sandy Mush brought its tanker truck, and Rutherfordton assisted with its ladder truck.
  4. Proclamation Honoring the Life, Service, and Legacy of Earl Thompson. Earl served 24 years on the Board of Planning and Adjustments. The plaque was accepted by Earl Thompson, Jr.
  5. Council voted 3-1 to approve the Chapter 13 Ordinance Update, which included the following updates:
    1. Section 13.1 regarding consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces
    2. Section 13.2 regarding begging
    3. Section 13.3 regarding the discharge of firearms
    4. Section 13.4 regarding non-firearm distance weapons
    5. Addition of section 13.4.1 permitting deer archery hunting
  6. Council approved the request to award Assistant Chief Chris Weeks his service weapon upon retirement.
  7. Council approved call for public hearing on October 5 for the rezoning request for property at 210/204 S Broadway St, 221 S Powell St, 209 S Powell Street, and 207 S Powell Street. The request is to rezone the property from C-2 (General Business) to C-T (Commercial Transition) to retrofit multifamily into the existing structure at 210/204 S Broadway St for upper story residential units and commercial downstairs.
  8. Council approved call for public hearing on October 5 regarding a text amendment to the UDO Chapter 4, Special Requirements and Appendix, Definitions, to add and define Mobile Food/Beverage Vendors (Food trucks) in the Town of Forest City UDO. Since Mobile Food/Beverage Vendors are temporary, they are viewed as temporary uses which only allows them to set up on a given property for a maximum of 45 calendar days. The new ordinance would allow them to stay for 180 calendar days.
  9. A 1994 F700 Dump Truck w/ hydraulics and snowplow from Street Department was declared surplus.
  10. Council approved the resolution to Accept State Revolving Loans for Water and Sewer System Resiliency Improvements Project. Subsequently approved Capital Project Ordinance and Agreement for Engineering Services for Water System Resiliency Improvements Project, and approved Agreement for Engineering Services for Sewer System Resiliency Improvements Project.
  11. Council approved budget amendments to the Parks and Recreation Fund to allocate a $200 donation from Pie Safe to Mooneyham Public Library in honor of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and $60,083 for a Smithco sprayer at the golf course.
  12. July and August monthly financial updates provided by Finance Director Roxanne Stiles
  13. Manager's Report from Dr. Mason included updates on the following:
    1. The FCFR retaining wall replacement project has been completed.
    2. Notification of the upcoming repaving of Franklin Drive. Odom Engineering is currently soliciting bids for the paving; construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026.
    3. Updates on the ongoing Public Works facility parking lot repaving, which will add 50 spaces in front of the building. Completion is anticipated by the end of October.
    4. Arlington Street sewer rehab project is currently underway.
    5. The new Farmers Market building is expected to be completed by the end of October, with landscaping and paving to follow in November.
    6. Notification that the Town was awarded an Economic Development Administration Grant for the construction of the new electric substation. The grant awarded $7,798,480 and required a 20% match, which is being provided by Dogwood in the amount of $1,942,120. The total award between the EDA Grant and Dogwood amounts to $9,740,600.
    7. Notification that the Town is participating in Turn the Towns Teal, a national awareness campaign for Ovarian Cancer.
       

The next regular Board of Commissioners meeting will be on October 5 at 6PM at the Cool Springs Administrative Offices.