YOUR MONTHLY NEWS & UPDATES | |
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Fourth of July festivities.
City budget highlights.
Game of Cones! What's your favorite ice cream?
AND MUCH MORE!
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Food, fun and fireworks will highlight the City of Gastonia’s annual Fourth of July celebration on Monday.
The downtown event begins at 5 p.m. with live music, kids’ activities, food trucks, vendors and a beer garden. Fireworks start at about 9:30 p.m.
Monday, July 4 is also a City holiday.
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Leaving fireworks to the professionals is the safest way to celebrate Independence Day.
The Gastonia Fire Department urges everyone to celebrate the Fourth of July safely. In North Carolina, any firework that is intended to explode, spin or leave the ground is illegal.
Legal fireworks in North Carolina include sparklers, snakes, glow worms, smoke devices and party poppers.
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Reminders:
- Buying fireworks in another state and bringing them into North Carolina is illegal.
- Fireworks are not toys and should only be handled by responsible adults.
- Sparklers can burn as hot as 1,200 degrees and cause hundreds of injuries each year.
- Fireworks should only be used outdoors and lit on a paved surface away from trees and grass.
- Never point fireworks at people, pets, cars or buildings.
- Have a hose or bucket of water nearby.
Anyone caught using or possessing illegal fireworks in North Carolina can face a fine of up to $500 and/or 30 days to six months in jail.
For more information:
Chris Stowe, Gastonia Fire Marshal
704-866-6811
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By a unanimous vote, the Gastonia City Council approved the City budget for the fiscal year that begins today. At a public hearing in May, City Manager Michael Peoples called the spending plan the “most unique budget” that he’s ever worked on. | |
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Peoples also said the new budget focuses on attracting and retaining the City’s growing workforce and continuing to invest in employees, which he says are the City’s “most important resource.”
FY23 budget highlights:
- The majority of the City’s $275.56 million budget will be spent on employee wages and benefits; infrastructure and capital improvements; new equipment, vehicles and technology; facilities maintenance; and addressing homelessness.
- The budget does not raise the City’s property tax rate or electric rates.
- Small increases are included for water and sewer rates and the stormwater and solid waste fees.
- Eligible employees will still receive a $350 Christmas bonus, a 5% 401(k) match and a health savings account deposit of $750.
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City gets millions in extra federal, state funding | |
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The City of Gastonia is receiving $15.6 million as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and another $21.6 million in state funding for miscellaneous projects. Nearly every City department will receive ARPA dollars through 2026 to upgrade or enhance equipment, facilities and services.
City Manager Michael Peoples says the federal and state money will be spent on a wide range of projects across Gastonia that will improve residents’ quality of life now and in the future.
A few of the initiatives include:
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- $3.8 million for homelessness and affordable housing
- Replacing wooden playground equipment and the Erwin Center pool
- Developing a park at the former Linwood Springs Golf Course
- Improvements to the GPD Firing Range and the Skeet & Trap facility
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- Police body cameras and Tasers
- Water and sewer projects
- Constructing part of the Catawba Creek Greenway
- New signs at parks, recreation centers and greenways
- Upgrades to The Schiele Museum and municipal airport
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Some projects are included in the new City budget that takes effect today, while others will take longer to implement. Peoples says the combination of state and federal dollars will help create a "comprehensive funding approach" for current and future City projects. | |
City named a Healthiest Employer | |
The City of Gastonia is being recognized as one of the Healthiest Employers of Greater Charlotte. The awards program, offered by the Charlotte Business Journal, honors employers that emphasize worker wellness through their benefit offerings, policies and practices. | |
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Gastonia was in the top ten for employers with 500 to 1,499 employees. The City was recognized for what Deputy City Manager Todd Carpenter describes as a three-pronged approach to employee health and well-being. The three elements include the City’s on-site health clinic, an occupational nurse and the wellness program.
“These three groups offer a comprehensive approach to supporting a culture of health and well-being throughout our organization,” Carpenter says.
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L-R: Wanda Flowers, Wellness; Judy Smith, Human Resources; Melody Braddy, City Manager's Office | |
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Each employer that applied for a Healthiest Employers award received numeric scores on a range of health- and wellness-related issues, including health insurance, paid leave, programs to address employee mental health and burnout, wellness programs and COVID-19 protocols.
One example praised by the judges is the City’s annual walking challenge. More than 100 City employees registered and completed a record-breaking 35,860,220 steps during the six-week timeframe.
“Our approach to the health of our employees is long term,” Carpenter says, “with the goal for the employee to enjoy a long, healthy and active life.”
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City receives 12 state workplace safety awards | |
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Safety is one of the City’s core values. And a dozen City departments and divisions were recently presented with safety awards from the North Carolina Department of Labor.
The state uses two award levels, gold and silver, to encourage employers and employees to prioritize workplace safety. The award criteria include the number of days missed because of an on-the-job injury and a comparison to the safety record of similar industries or professions.
Gold Awards:
- City Manager’s Office (sixth consecutive year)
- Fire (fourth consecutive year)
- Financial Services (second consecutive year)
- Public Utilities/Electric (second consecutive year)
- Public Utilities/Wastewater Treatment (second consecutive year)
- Public Utilities/Water Treatment (second consecutive year)
- Public Works/Building Maintenance (second consecutive year)
- Schiele Museum (second consecutive year)
- Technology Services
Silver Awards
- Housing and Community Engagement
- Parks and Recreation
- Public Works
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Assistant Chief Matthew Young accepted the award for the Gastonia Fire Department. | |
Stephanie Scheringer and Eddie Neely received the award for Public Utilities/Wastewater. | |
David Wilkes accepted the award for Technology Services. | |
The awards were presented by N.C. Commissioner of Labor Josh Dobson. Congratulations! | |
Police promotion and swearing-in ceremony | |
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Promotions for four Gastonia Police officers and a civilian employee were recognized, and badges were officially pinned on 18 new officers at a swearing-in ceremony held June 22.
It was GPD’s first in-person swearing-in ceremony since January 2020. The ceremony had been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the officers who were sworn in have been on the force for several months or even a couple of years. Likewise, the promotions had already taken effect.
Adrienne Walker has been promoted to captain, with Joe Costner, David Rowland and Josh Wood sworn in as sergeants. Emily Burr has been promoted to records manager.
Chief Travis Brittain told the new officers that they have chosen a profession that is “trying, challenging and difficult, but the most rewarding profession that there is.” He added that they were not just joining a police department, but are joining a family.
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Josh Wood's sergeant badge was pinned by his son and wife. | |
The new officers who were sworn in and officially received their badges are Will Anderson, Griffin Benfield, Ethan Brown, Jacob Byrd, Dylan Cobb, Vincent Costner II, Jamond Hill, Madison Inman, Alex Ledford, Eden Mullinax, Joshua Robinson, Madison Sanders, Fred Sibby, Tyler St. Clair, Courtney Stegall, Tysen Stephenson, Toby Stewart and Matthew Whisnant. | |
The swearing-in of new officers was done in groups of six. | | |
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Congratulations to:
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Tyler Davis, Housing and Community Engagement; Alvaro Jaimes, Police; Cherie Jzar, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Adrienne Hall Walker, Police; Dana Williams, Human Resources. All recently graduated from Gaston Together’s Civic Engagement Leadership Program. The program is designed to be a “learning laboratory” to connect, grow and support a diverse network of effective and engaged civic leaders in Gaston County.
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Synthia Kearney, Fire, who was a guest speaker at the 2022 Professional Women’s Association Luncheon, where the theme was “Breaking Barriers.” The recent event was sponsored by the Gaston Business Association. A photo is below.
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Employee Focus is a great place to share City employees’ personal and professional accomplishments. Please send the info to:
Sharon Foote
Employee Focus editor
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Council updates goals and objectives | |
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Think of it as the City of Gastonia’s priority to-do list through 2024. The City Council has approved an updated list of 58 goals and objectives.
Some are projects with a specific end date. City Manager Michael Peoples told the Council that other objectives don’t change, such as fiscal responsibility, workforce development or the City’s DEI goals.
The 2022-2024 list covers an expansive range of City services, from major road projects and parking to revitalizing neighborhoods and partnering in community-wide initiatives to end homelessness. A few new goals were added this year because of large one-time federal and state appropriations.
Goals and objectives of particular interest to City employees:
- Study and recommend solutions to address building space needs in City Hall, Garland Center and at least a half-dozen other City buildings.
- Develop a five-year master capital improvement plan for all City facilities.
- Expand and relocate the Employee Health Clinic, combining health and wellness facilities.
- Attract and retain qualified City employees with a focus on professional development and leadership, inclusion, retention, communication and productivity.
See the City's new goals and objectives
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Active Shooter training at The Schiele | |
The Police Department conducted an Active Shooter training last month for employees of The Schiele Museum. | |
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Until the COVID-19 pandemic, GPD regularly offered this training for local businesses, houses of worship and City departments. From 2017 to 2019, the Police Department provided Active Shooter training to more than 3,000 local residents.
As a result of recent news events, The Schiele asked that employees get a refresher course on the topic.
The one-hour training includes four segments: what an active shooter situation is, what to do during an active shooter situation, what to expect when first responders arrive, and de-escalation training to help a person in crisis before they decide to become an active shooter.
Instructors were Brian DiYorio, Thomas Doby, Jackie Quinley
(in photo) and Jason Sarratt, all of Police. GPD is considering holding fall sessions available to all City employees.
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Free legal, financial services and life-tips | |
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You may know that the City of Gastonia offers access to free Employee Assistance Program counseling. But did you know that the City also provides access to free legal services, financial services and work-life resources?
MYgroup offers free legal advice over the phone, as well as one free 30-minute appointment with a local attorney and an average 25% discount for most ongoing legal services.
MYgroup also offers free financial counseling appointments, discounted credit reports and educational materials.
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And MYgroup’s free online portal gives you instant access to a wealth of information on parenting, aging, working, balancing and thriving.
Other free benefits you’ll find on the portal:
- Monthly online seminars
- More than 100 streaming audio files and 100 video files on a wide range of topics
- Searchable databases for child care, elder care, pet sitters, certified financial planners, volunteer opportunities and more
- A savings center with discounts up to 25% on name-brand items
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For info on all of the above, go to:
www.mygroup.com
Click on My Portal Login > Work-Life
Username: cityofgastonia
Password: guest
Check it out!
More about EAP and Work-Life Services for City of Gastonia employees
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July Wellness Challenge
Easy – Fun – Weekly raffle prizes!
Passport to Wellness is a four-week challenge to raise awareness about making healthy choices.
The Passport scorecard has five sections: physical, intellectual/spiritual, nutritional, occupational/financial, social/environmental. Each section contains different activities that you can choose to complete your journey to overall well-being.
So easy you can do it on vacation!
Complete five activities from each section (25 total activities) to be eligible to win a $25 Darden dinner gift card. And there are weekly raffle prizes just for participating.
Register for the July Passport to Wellness Challenge
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What’s the largest minority group in the U.S.? People with disabilities.
The Centers for Disease Control reports 26% of Americans have a disability. That’s 61 million people.
The CDC defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that affects one or more major life activities. That can include mobility, hearing, vision, self-care and cognition. Only 5% of Americans with disabilities use wheelchairs.
An additional 7.2 million children ages 6 to 21 have been diagnosed with a learning disability, or 15% of all public school students.
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. It extended civil rights protections to people with disabilities and sought to prevent discrimination against disabled people in the workplace and public schools.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
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July is National Ice Cream Month. To celebrate, City employees revealed their favorite summertime treats.
Their recommendations range from homemade vanilla by Robert Scopa of Police to this mouthwatering milkshake in a jar, a favorite of Candice Jordan of The Schiele Museum.
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Battalion Chief Synthia Kearney spoke June 9 at the annual Professional Women’s Association Luncheon. The event highlighted women in our community who are breaking barriers. | |
A day before her second birthday, this little girl and her dad were cooling off at the Lineberger Park splashpad. | |
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When you are out and about in Gastonia, what do you see?
Take a photo and send it to:
Sharon Foote, Employee Focus editor
Communications and Marketing
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KGBeautification at the Farmers Market | |
Garden-fresh produce isn’t the only thing you’ll find at the Gastonia Farmers Market. Employees from Keep Gastonia Beautiful, along with Public Works and Parks and Recreation, have been busy updating the facility. | |
Pull up a rocking chair and relax in the section near the back that has a front-porch vibe. Or sit on a newly-blue church pew beneath the bee mural. Juliann Lehman of Housing and Community Engagement/KGB, says it was her desire to add some personality and create an inviting place that the community can enjoy. | |
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The bee theme continues outdoors with steel “screens” made by Gaston College welding students. The old tractor was donated by Car Fare in Gastonia.
The Farmers Market is at 410 E. Long Avenue. It is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through October.
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Commissioners School keeps cool | |
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Keep Gastonia Beautiful staff were busy recently creating hands-on experiences for students in the Commissioners School of Excellence. Funded by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, the summer program helps 60 rising 10th graders learn about Gaston County and their roles as future leaders.
Hot weather changed KGB’s plans for outdoor activities. Students moved indoors where they stenciled picnic tables that KGB will donate to local community gardens.
Participants also helped prepare hundreds of educational packets about bees and earth bracelets that KGB will present at elementary schools.
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See how traffic signs are made | |
Did you know that the City of Gastonia makes 1,200 street signs each year? In addition to creating brand new signs, the City replaces all signs when they are 15 years old. And there are more than 15,000 Department of Transportation-approved designs to choose from. | |
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Watch Justin Moore and Omar Dameron, both Sign Technicians with Public Works/Field Operations, make a warning sign about a sharp left turn on Green Circle Drive.
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Gastonia has 2,440 named streets and more than 17,000 traffic signs inside the City limits. | |
City vehicle keeps on trucking | | |
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Rather than retire a Gastonia Fire Department brush truck, the vehicle has been given new life. Brush trucks are smaller than fire engines and can take water and equipment off-road when fighting brush fires or other fires in rough terrain.
The pickup truck sports a decorative wrap that promotes the City and the Honey Hunters. Steve Huss and Jeff Hamm, both of Public Works/Equipment Services, designed and fabricated the portable sprayer system including a self-contained water tank and misting fans. The truck will be used in parades, at the ballpark and at other City events.
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Fourth of July Celebration
- Monday, July 4
- 5 to 10 p.m.
- Rotary Pavilion in Downtown Gastonia
- Food trucks, vendors, entertainment and KidsZone start at 5 p.m.
- Live music from the Bantum Rooster band begins at 6 p.m.
- Fireworks begin around 9:30 with patriotic music
- Bring your own lawn chairs or blanket
- Hosted by City of Gastonia and Gastonia Parks and Recreation
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Forest Ecology Tour
- Schiele Museum
- 1500 E. Garrison Blvd.
- Through Aug. 12
- Mondays through Fridays (weather permitting)
- 10:30 a.m.
- A guided tour of the nature trail
- Learn about ecological communities in local forests, streams and ponds
- Includes a walk through the Catawba Indian Village and The Farm
- Included in admission to The Farm
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Summer concert
- Friday, July 8
- Rotary Pavilion, 111 N. South St.
- Deejay begins at 6 p.m.
- Live music begins at 7 p.m. by On the Border – Eagles tribute band
- Food trucks, beer and wine for sale on site
- Bring your own lawn chairs
- Presented by City of Gastonia and Gastonia East Rotary
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Keeper Talks
- Schiele Museum
- Through Aug. 12
- Mondays through Fridays
- 1:15 p.m.
- Meet the animals of the Schiele and the animal keepers
- Different animal is featured each day
- Included in admission to the museum exhibits
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The Summer Sky Tonight
- Schiele Museum
- Mondays through Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
- Saturdays 12:30 p.m.
- Discover the stars, planets, and other celestial events visible in the summer night sky
- This interactive show is different every time
- $5 per person
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Summer concert
- Friday, July 22
- Rotary Pavilion, 111 N. South St.
- Deejay begins at 6 p.m.
- Live music begins at 7 p.m. by Island Time – Jimmy Buffett tribute band
- Food trucks, beer and wine for sale on site
- Bring your own lawn chairs
- Presented by City of Gastonia and Gastonia East Rotary
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Weather Proof
- Schiele Museum
- Saturday, July 23
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Meteorologists, weather instruments and hands-on activities as we explore the wonderful world of weather
- $3 per person in addition to museum exhibit admission
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One World, One Sky
- Schiele Museum
- Saturdays 11:30 a.m.
- Explore the night sky with Big Bird, Elmo, and a friend from China named Hu Hu Zhu
- For ages 2-7 and their adult star-guides
- $5 per person
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Carolina ‘Cue
- Schiele Museum
- Featured exhibit
- Pig out on the science, history and culture of barbecue!
- Included with museum admission
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The Farm
- Schiele Museum
- Barnyard animals plus heritage buildings, gardens and the science and history of local agriculture
- $3 per person
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Ryan Bridges, Construction Worker, Public Works
Adrian Certain, Assistant Division Manager, Public Utilities/Electric
Travis Morton, Crew Chief I, Public Utilities/Maintenance
Quason Murray, Refuse Collection Equipment Operator, Public Works/Solid Waste
Hannah Oates, Laboratory Supervisor, Public Utilities/Water
Chris Parham, Crew Chief, Parks and Recreation/Maintenance
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Robbie Bryson, Police Officer III, Police/Support Operations
Mike McKay, Captain, Fire
Brian Pruett, Building Codes Administrator, Development Services
Benjamin Roper, Police Officer III, Police/Field Services
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Global Garbage Man Day was a couple of weeks ago, part of National Waste and Recycling Workers Week. Here are two Public Works/Solid Waste employees who help keep our City safe and clean! | |
Cedric Lowery goes by C Low. In the 21 years he’s worked in Solid Waste, he says he’s done it all: emptying trash carts, collecting excess trash piled on the curb, picking up brush. He says the best part of his job is when young kids come out. Lowery lets the kids stand on the back of the stopped truck, while he makes sure they are safe. “They love that,” he says. He says he also likes talking with the customers on his routes. | | |
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Solid Waste driver Ethan Shaw also likes interacting with customers, especially the kids. “The kids love the trucks,” he says. They like watching how the garbage truck works and want Shaw to honk the horn. He has worked for the City for six years and drives the garbage trucks with a single lift arm, dubbed “one-armed bandits.”
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Thank you to this month's content contributors! | |
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Steven Alvey, Human Resources
Mary Elliott, Communications and Marketing
Wanda Flowers, Wellness
Rick Goodale, Communications and Marketing
Christine Ingle, Parks and Recreation
Cherie Jzar, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Juliann Lehman, Housing and Community Engagement
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Steve Maskol, Technology Services
Emma Pasour, Schiele Museum
Michael Peoples, City Manager's Office
Jackie Quinley, Police
Chris Stowe, Fire
Malik Zeigler, Human Resources
All ice cream lovers!
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What do you think of Employee Focus?
Like an article that you read? Have a story suggestion?
Contact Sharon Foote in Communications and Marketing
at [email protected] by the 20th of each month.
Employee Focus is sent electronically during the first week of each month.
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