The Town of Ronda has formally taken the first step toward dissolving its municipal government, beginning a process that could end the town’s incorporation dating to 1907.
The Ronda Board of Commissioners, with a 3-1 vote, adopted a resolution of intent to voluntarily dissolve the town during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, under provisions of North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160A, Article 32, Part 3.
Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Reece, and commissioners Chris Nelson and Matthew Foster voted in favor of the resolution. Commissioner Bobby Munsey voted against the action.
Also during the meeting, Gerald Masterson was reappointed as a town commissioner after the recent death of Commissioner Helen Porter. He had previously been appointed as mayor.
The resolution outlines a series of steps the town must complete before a final decision on dissolution can be made, including preparing an impact statement, holding public hearings and developing a plan for distributing the town’s assets and liabilities.
Under the resolution, Ronda must prepare and release an impact statement by Jan. 11, 2027. The statement will detail the financial, operational, legal and service-related implications of dissolving the municipality.
After the impact statement is released, the town clerk must publish notice that the document is available for public inspection at the clerk’s office. The notice also must provide information about the time and place of public hearings.
The town is required to hold at least two public hearings on the proposed dissolution and the impact statement. An additional public hearing must be held on whether to adopt a resolution of dissolution.
The board may then consider a final resolution to dissolve the town at a regular meeting separate from the required public hearing.
The resolution also calls for Ronda to develop a plan for distributing its assets and liabilities, subject to approval by the North Carolina Local Government Commission.
Story: https://thewilkesrecord.com/