Gaston County commissioners again failed to approve an ordinance which would require those planning mass gathering events on county property to first register with the county sheriff or other county officials.
The five commissioners present at Tuesday's meeting voted unanimously to approve the mass gathering ordinance, which would require groups of 25 or more people to notify county officials ahead of assembling on county property.
Commissioners Tracy Philbeck, Bob Hovis, Chad Brown, Kim Johnson and Board Chairman Tom Keigher voted to approve the measure.
Two commissioners, Vice Chairman Allen Fraley and Commissioner Ronnie Worley, were absent Tuesday night, which means the ordinance will be considered again at the board's March 23 meeting. It will need a simple majority on that date to pass.