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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The City of Cherryville Regular Council Meeting was held on July 13, 2026. It opened with news and announcements from Cherryville Mayor Wade Stroupe.
Cherryville NC, Regular City Council Meeting - July 13, 2026
Ashley Reep (WNN)
Stroupe first mentioned the success of the various events held around the city in the past month. Whether it was Juneteenth or Cherryville’s multiple celebrations and ceremonies for America’s 250th, each one seems to have grown tremendously. Councilmember Jon Abernethy also commented on the festivities, saying how impressive it was that the public works department kept everything spotless despite crowds of over 10,000 attending the Independence Day Celebration.
The next announcement from Mayor Stroupe is that W.B. Beam Intermediate will remain open for the 2026-2027 school year. He was quick to praise the hard work of the Cherryville Education Alliance for researching and representing the community's thoughts on this issue. There will be a special meeting of the Gaston County Commissioners on July 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM to discuss funding options for Gaston County Schools. For more on this, read our article here covering Beam remaining open.
Next, it was mentioned that there was some confusion about the city's intentions regarding the reclamation of graves in the city cemetery. While the process for doing so was discussed at the last work session, the city did not intend to reclaim any plots. However, they do encourage anyone who has a plot that will not be filled to contact the city and participate in the buyback program. They also noted that a feasibility study is needed to gauge when the cemetery will need additional space.
Councilmember Janice Hovis wrapped up the news by providing an update on the Cherryville Historical Museum. She mentioned Mike Jones would be volunteering his time to redo the Sports Hall of Fame Display.
The floor was then passed to City Manager Brian Dalton, who gave an update on Cherryville recreation. Firstly, the success of the Dixie Youth Softball programs was noted. Two of the three teams have advanced to state, with the third still able to advance to the tournament depending on the results of their next game. The Post 100 American Legion Junior Team defeated Shelby and will advance to the Junior Legion State Championship. This will be held in Cherryville starting Saturday, July 18, 2026. The city has also received positive feedback from parents about its volleyball program, with many saying it was well run.
With no one signed up to speak during public comment, the city moved to the agenda items. The Central Business Ordinance was brought forward again, with a public hearing scheduled for the next council meeting on August 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM. This ordinance change has been worked on by Steve Patton, the city's marketing coordinator. According to Dalton, the proposed version of the ordinance will be available on the city’s website shortly for viewing. This ordinance will apply only to areas in the downtown business district and will enforce measures such as repairing broken windows and other beautification standards for the city.
The second item to be discussed and voted on was the proposed change to the speed limit on Main Street. While it is currently 25 MPH, the council agreed that this was too high. They voted unanimously to lower the speed limit on Main Street from the intersections of Elm Street to Depot Street to 20 MPH. This led to further discussions of needed changes to Main Street, where it was noted that people often drive down South Oak Street in the wrong direction. They considered adding signage to better mark the one-way road, given the lack of a sign at the intersection.
Dalton then updated the public on the progress of the newly purchased Cherryville Police Department’s remodel. They expect the police force may be moved in during the latter part of August. They are currently preparing to place the generator on the concrete slab, which was poured recently. While the department plans to use the second floor for evidence, they will have to hold off on using it as a training room for now. A lift or elevator will need to be installed to comply with ADA requirements and use the space for that purpose.
He then moved on to say that City Hall’s ongoing renovations are proceeding as expected. Within one to two months, the floors and painting on the main floor should be completed. GEMS will be moved from their current station at City Hall to the Fire Department. This is because work on that portion of the building is to begin soon. The city has received commentary on the poor condition of the parking lot between City Hall and the new Police Department. Once renovations on both buildings are complete, they plan to redo this as well.
The force main for the Ballard Pump Station was completed, and the new 200 HP pump was being finished last week. This means that all the city's pump stations have been at least partially refurbished. A voluntary water restriction was previously issued, and with the various rainfall events, the basin and creek appear to be doing well. As a result, there are no plans to enforce mandatory water conservation at this time.
Lastly, issues about Cherryville’s water lines were discussed. Highway 150 water lines from Mountain Street to Delveiw Road are due for replacement, and the project will be major. The installation process for this 12" main is estimated to last 240 days, which would cause traffic delays during this period. However, the council still needs approval for the work because it is on a state road. With this in mind, the process likely will not begin until next year. Secondly, the water line that was to be installed by Terrace Estates may not be paid for by the company. As part of the development agreement, the water line was supposed to be installed by the contractor; however, due to rising costs, they are putting the project on hold. City Manager Dalton mentioned this to say that if they do not install this in the near future, the city would need to consider doing so itself.
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