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Cherryville, NC (WNN)—On Tuesday, August 26, the Cherryville City Council met for its regular work session. During the meeting, council members approved new policies about federal funding and labeled equipment items as surplus. The council also discussed infrastructure projects in town.
The first item that was discussed was Cherryville's need to adopt new policies for handling federal funds for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) grants. City Manager Brian Dalton clarified that this change came after the city got a $3 million federal grant to connect water with Cleveland County and a $300,000 Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA) grant to check water and wastewater systems.
Dalton pointed out that when the city receives federal grants, they have to follow specific rules about buying things and dealing with conflicts of interest. These rules are different from the local ones they follow. For example, federal guidelines say contracts worth $250,000 or more need sealed bids, while the city used to set this limit at $500,000.
The regulations will prevent elected officials, city employees, or their family members from getting contracts. Dalton noted that while Cherryville didn't have to follow these federal guidelines in the past, a federal check after giving out funds made it necessary to implement them. The council approved all 52 pages of the federal compliance rules.
The next item that was discussed was city-owned equipment for surplus and sale. Public Works Director Chris King listed several items: - a 2000 Ford F-150 pickup truck - a dresser loader bought used to clean up after Hurricane Hugo - a trailer with flat tires unused for about 20 years - a John Deere Gator utility vehicle that won't run and needs a new seat and a 2000 GMC truck with a Caterpillar engine taken out of service in January 2023.
Public Works Director Chris King speaking at the city work session meeting. August,26th ,2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
King said they'll sell these items through an online auction open to buyers nationwide. People can ask questions, and bids will extend in the last few minutes to boost participation. Council members saw photos of the equipment. The city has made enough money in past auctions to buy new equipment, such as a dump truck. The council motioned to declare the equipment surplus and approved the auction.
Council members discussed current and future infrastructure work in Cherryville. They focused on the turn lane planned at N Cherry St and Highway 150. Poles are already in place, and trip wires have been set. Progress on this project with the North Carolina DOT has taken six years.
Brian Dalton shared that the city patched the roads near Ferris Fab on Friday. There were plans to patch other roads, but rain has slowed down those repairs. The new Ballard Station main pump should come sometime in October. The city has also been planning to get a new sewer force main to help regulate water pressure. Dalton mentioned it needed to be replaced as it is in pretty bad shape, and is worried the force main won't be able to handle a new pump.
Mayor H.L. Beam mentioned that he and Brian Dalton went to the DOT in Shelby, NC, to discuss the water line going down Highway 150. Dalton noted that instead of tearing up the road, the city tears up the sidewalks and puts the water line under them. The DOT ultimately agreed that it was a good idea. Beam says Cherryville may get a new road and sidewalks at the same time.
Dalton says, "This project will be completed in phases. Phase 1 will be from Mountain Street and Highway 150 to Delview Road. Phase two will be from Delview Road towards Food Lion. Phase three will involve turning off Highway 150 onto Delview Road and going around the North Drive area, tying to the new line that was put in 10 years ago."
Councilwoman Janice Hovis talked about what she learned at the recent ElectriCities conference she attended. The conference featured speeches from the CEOs of Duke Energy and ElectriCities. The CEOs mentioned the rising demand for steady and reliable energy to run data centers. They discussed that the best continuous supply of energy would be through nuclear power, not renewables. One of the CEOs pointed out that the Catawba Nuclear Station ranks as the most efficiently run station in the country.
Councilwoman Janice Hovis speaking at the work session meeting. August,26th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
There were also discussions about the potential placement of a major data center in western North Carolina, but that has not yet been announced.
No one from the council or staff had further questions. After addressing all agenda points and with no new business discussed, the meeting was adjourned.
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