City Council Meeting Recap

Regular Session | January 20, 2026

1. Public Forum

·       Cindy Fuller announced that the Carter BloodCare Blood Drive will now be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 10am-3pm at the Civic Center. Contact Carolyn Dent carolyndent75@gmail.com  for more information. Blood drive flyer is located at the bottom of recap.

·       Pansy Green encouraged the City to send out text alerts to notify residents of the Runaway Bay Bulletin www.runawaybaybulletin.com to ensure more residents receive accurate and timely City information.

2. Consent Items

·       Approve Minutes from the December 16, 2025 Regular Session - Approved

·       Accounts Payable (December 31, 2025) - Approved

·       December 2025 Financial Report - Approved

3. Updates from Mayor and Council Members

·       Todd Low | Parks & Recreation

Reported that the parks are looking great. Work continues on ball fields, with discussion of possibly adding a baseball team in the future.

·       Richard Griffin | Economic Development Corporation (EDC)

Shared that the EDC is seeking community input on future events, including Smoke on the Water and other possible activities. Ideas discussed included adjusting event dates and exploring new options such as monthly bingo nights. Residents interested in volunteering or sharing ideas are encouraged to reach out to Phil Reicheneker at phil@shredderzshop.com

·       Carolyn Moody | Cemetery Board

Reported that the Cemetery Board is making plans and preparations for spring maintenance and improvements.

·       Christopher Petty | Fire Department

Reported 21 calls, 5 of those being fire and the rest medical. Residents were advised about the icy weather expected this Friday and reassured that the Fire Department will continue to respond to calls while using caution on unsafe road conditions.

·       Steve Reynolds | Police Department

Reported:

·       100 citations issued – including code violations

·       2 felony arrests

·       74 warnings issued

Chief Reynolds also noted that Public Works has made significant progress addressing water leaks and sewer issues, working late hours to complete projects. With leaks largely under control, crews are now focusing on pothole repairs. Overall conditions have improved considerably compared to prior years.

·       Mayor Herman White

Provided a status update from Freese and Nichols Engineering regarding the City’s ongoing infrastructure projects. Mayor White explained that Runaway Bay has been formally awarded federal funding. Most funding operates under reimbursement-based programs, meaning the City pays eligible project costs upfront (through the City's $2 million line of credit) and then submits documentation for reimbursement as milestones are met. The funding is secured, but released in stages as projects progress. Mayor White also answered questions regarding the Runaway Bay Bulletin and encouraged residents to rely on official City sources for factual information.

📌 Coming Next:

A follow-up post will further explain the grant funding process and provide a more detailed status report from Freese and Nichols Engineering.