Town Council
Form of Government
- Provides legislative direction and establishes policy
- Adopts the annual budget, levies property taxes, and makes appropriations
- Sets the overall vision and direction of the organization
- Identifies and communicates community priorities
- Appoints a Town Manager and Town Attorney
- Appoints members of advisory boards and commissions
- Makes independent decisions based on statutes and their understanding of community issues
Mayodan Town Council Authority
The Town of Mayodan operates under the council-manager form of government, which recognizes the Mayor and Town Council as the governing body. The Mayor and five Council members are elected at-large by the public on a nonpartisan basis. All members serve part-time, with the Mayor elected for a two-year term and Council members elected for staggered four-year terms. Regular municipal elections are held every two years in odd-numbered years.
Through this form of government, the Council provides leadership through legislative direction and policy development for the benefit of the community. Council members are leaders and policy makers elected to represent the citizens of Mayodan and to focus on issues that are responsive to community needs.
Town Manager Authority
The Town Council appoints a professional Town Manager to carry out its policies and ensure efficient operations. The Town Manager serves as the chief executive officer of the Town and is responsible for implementing the goals and directives established by the Council.
- Administers day-to-day operations of the Town
- Faithfully executes policy and ordinances adopted by the Council
- Accountable for delivery of services and functions provided to the community
- Attends all Council meetings, providing guidance and professional recommendations
- Prepares and submits an annual budget and financial reports
- Has authority to hire, discipline, and terminate Town staff
- Serves at the pleasure of the Town Council
Council Meetings
The Mayodan Town Council holds regularly scheduled meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 210 West Main Street.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Members of the public are welcome to provide comments related to items on the agenda or of a general nature. Citizens may sign up to speak prior to the meeting. Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes, and the Council allocates a total of fifteen (15) minutes for public comments during the meeting.
Town Council
List of Services
-
Mayor Dwight LakeList Item 1
Term Expires: December 2025
Biography: Background and Experience
I am a graduate of UNC–Chapel Hill with a degree in Business Administration and retired after a 30-year career as a purchasing professional, including 17 years with Volvo Trucks. I was first elected to the Mayodan Town Council in 1999 and re-elected in 2003. In 2007, I was elected Mayor and re-elected in 2009. From 2005–2011, I served on the Board of Directors of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, and I also served on the Board of Directors of the Rockingham County Partnership for Economic Development. In 2009, I was elected to the Board of Directors of the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
I returned to the Mayodan Town Council in 2021 and was selected by the council to fill the Mayor’s position in 2024. That same year, I was elected Secretary of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council. In 2024, I was also re-elected to the North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors and appointed to its Executive Committee in 2025.
Community Involvement
I am a past President of the Madison-Mayodan Jaycees and a past District Director of the North Carolina Jaycees. I have also served on the boards of the Madison-Rockingham Rescue Squad and the Rockingham County Education Foundation.
Personal
Sheila, my wife of 45 years, and I are proud parents of two grown daughters and grandparents to four wonderful grandchildren. I have been active in church choirs throughout my adult life and have enjoyed singing Messiah with the Mozart Club in Winston-Salem for many years. More recently, I’ve discovered a new passion for playing pickleball.
Phone Number: (336)- 453-4006
-
Mayor Pro-Tem Buck SheltonList Item 2
Term Expires: December 2027
Biography: Buck Shelton has served on the Mayodan Town Council since 2022 and currently holds the role of Mayor Pro Tem. With more than 20 years of public service through his career with the United States Postal Service, Buck brings strong leadership and a commitment to serving others. He is also the founder of UncleBucksWorld Productions, a small business specializing in drone photography, videography, and digital marketing.
Active in the community, Buck supports local events and initiatives that highlight Mayodan’s spirit, including cultural programs at Elliott Duncan Park and downtown revitalization projects. He and his wife, Tara, owner of Dan River Insurance, have been married nearly 30 years and are proud parents to their daughter, Courtney. Together, they enjoy small-town life with their “grand pup” Kiwi and remain dedicated to ensuring Mayodan continues to thrive for generations to come.
Phone Number: (336)-453-3112
-
Council Member Doug CardwellList Item 3
Term Expires: December 2027
Biography: I am a lifelong resident of Mayodan. I graduated from Madison-Mayodan High School and continued my education at Rockingham Community College by earning a diploma in Automotive Mechanics. I served eight years on the Planning & Zoning Board. I was a former Board Member and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and helped build houses throughout Rockingham County. I was a charter member of Mayodan Preservation League. I spent forty-eight years in the workforce, most of which was in Mayodan. I retired in 2020. I was elected to the Mayodan Town Council in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023.
My wife, Cathy, and I have been married for fifty-two years. We have one adult daughter, Michelle and one granddaughter, Anna. Michelle and her husband Bob make Mayodan their home, carrying on the generations of my family who have always lived in Mayodan. I am a member of Mayodan First Baptist Church, but currently play guitar in the Ignite Band at Madison United Methodist Church. I am a musician in the Madison-Mayodan Fellowship Choir. My hobbies include woodworking, classic car restoration, and playing guitar.
As a member of the Mayodan Town Council, I feel it is my responsibility to serve all the citizens and pride myself on making decisions that are best for the citizens and the Town. There are so many things here that make Mayodan the wonderful place where I grew up and continue to call home. I pledge to do all I can to maintain that and work to make future improvements that will make Mayodan even better.
Phone Number: (336)-613-5137
-
Council Member John MillerList Item 4
Term Expires: December 2025
Biography: John Miller was appointed to the Mayodan Town Council in February 2024 to fill a vacancy. A lifelong resident of Western Rockingham County, he moved to Mayodan after graduating from pharmacy school in 2014. In addition to his career as a retail and clinical consultant pharmacist, John has served with the Mayodan Fire Department for more than a decade in a variety of roles. He has also taken pride in coordinating the annual Madison-Mayodan Christmas Parade for the past several years.
Outside of his official roles, John, his wife Rebecca, and their two sons can often be found supporting community events, enjoying Mayodan’s parks, or making memories together at their home on Mountain Street. He values the small-town character that defines Mayodan and looks forward to continuing to serve the community in meaningful ways.
Phone Number: (336)-613-5804
-
Council Member Letitia Goard
Term Expires: December 2025
Biography: I was born and raised in Western Rockingham County and graduated from McMichael High School in 1994. My husband, Charles, and I are proud to be raising our two daughters, Nora and Carolyn, in the same community that shaped us.
Serving on the Town Council has given me the opportunity to promote transparency, encourage open discussion, and prioritize fiscal responsibility in local government. Over the past four years, I’ve worked alongside my fellow council members to maintain financial stability while moving forward with key capital projects that support growth and strengthen our town’s infrastructure.
I am dedicated to guiding our community toward responsible growth while preserving the small-town values that make this such a special place to call home.
Phone Number: (336-552-4905
-
Council Member Melanie Barnes
Term Expires: December 2027
Biography: Melanie has been a proud resident of Mayodan for 35 years and has owned and operated her downtown salon for the past 20 years. She has served on the Western Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Board and the Madison-Mayodan Recreation Commission Board, and has been actively involved with the Downtown Mayodan Merchants Association. Through her work, Melanie has consistently fostered a spirit of collaboration among local business owners and residents.
As a council member, she is focused on improving infrastructure, enhancing community services, and promoting economic development. Passionate about community growth and public safety, Melanie is dedicated to ensuring that every voice in Mayodan is heard and valued.
Outside of her service, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family. Much of her free time is happily devoted to supporting her two children in their many school activities and sporting events. She looks forward to continuing to serve the community and making a lasting, positive impact in Mayodan.
Phone Number: (336)-453-6044
