Rocky Mount NC is number 4 on this list..

These Are America’s 10 Most Dangerous Small Cities

If you’re hoping to escape from big city crime, look elsewhere. These places actually defy the stereotype of smaller cities being safer.

After studying more than 200 small cities, we’ve concluded that Wilmington, DE is the most dangerous in terms of crime. It’s joined in this dubious honor by nine other places to comprise our 10 most dangerous small cities in America:

1. Wilmington, DE
2. Canton, OH
3. Jackson, TN
4. Rocky Mount, NC
5. North Little Rock, AR
6. Pensacola, FL
7. Daytona Beach, FL
8. Homestead, FL
8. Lauderhill, FL
10. Warner Robins, GA

Rocky Mount needs a seafood restaurant, really one just closed and sold at auction..

Some people just don’t get it, and you can’t fix stupid.

Rocky Mount had a Seafood restaurant, but lack of patronage cause them to close their doors. Also Rocky Mount, need a other restaurant is like saying they need more drug dealers.

From speak up,

I would like to make a suggestion.

Someone should open a seafood restaurant in the Madison Seafood building and call it Stony Creek Seafood and Oyster Bar.

Rocky Mount needs another seafood restaurant.

That is a great place to have a new seafood restaurant because the building has everything already there.

So they hope if they reopen it, people will come.. if people came the first time it would still be open today..

Event Center Cost on the Rise, before anything is approved.

The estimated price tag for a downtown event center has increased by $4.8 million over initial estimates in a draft report from the city’s financial adviser to Rocky Mount city staff.

In a prior report, the Chicago-based consulting firm AECOM Technical Services estimated the total costs for a 5,000-seat downtown event center would be $37.2 million.

But in a draft report submitted to city staff on March 12, the city’s financial adviser Davenport & Co. states that another $4.8 million would need to be spent on land, working capital, general contractor fees and contingency and project management costs.

Rocky Mount City Manager Charles Penny met with staff last week to discuss Davenport’s report, which outlined five different possible funding scenarios, including one that involved foreign investment in the project. (Source: Read more)

So RMT Taxpayers are you willing to pay a 15% property tax increase?

Event Center Financing Options - Prepared by Davenport & Co.

Todays Meeting Synopsis:
* Property Tax Increase from 7.5% to 15.5%(Scenario Dependent)
* Decision Sooner than later to Meet September Deadline
* Trust City Council and Staff - Per City Council Comments

http://www.rockymountnc.gov/documents/Event%20Center%20Financing%20Presentation.pdf

City to Send out Notices to Chronic Grass and Weed Violators..

from the City Email letter,

As part of the City of Rocky Mount's ongoing efforts to abate the public nuisance caused by overgrown grass and weeds, during the week of March 17, 2014, the Public Works and Water Resources Department will mail annual notices to chronic violators of the city's grass & weed ordinance. As defined in the city's ordinances, a chronic violator is any person who owns property whereupon, in the previous calendar year, the city took action at least three times to abate grass/weed violations.  The notice will advise property owners that the City will, without further notice, take action to abate the violation with the cost of such action to be charged to the property owner.

The Community Code Division has identified 550 properties that have met this criteria and where the property owner will receive a chronic violator notice. Grass/weeds in excess of 18 inches constitutes a public nuisance and is detrimental to public health, safety or welfare in that such conditions lead to unsightliness, infestation of rodents, birds, snakes, insects and decrease property values.

Residents or property owners with questions regarding these notices or the City's public health, safety and nuisance ordinances may contact the Community Code Division at 252-467-4952. You may also visit the city's website at www.rockymountnc.gov/publicworks. 

Now the problem is, the city uses this as a get some extra cash for the summertime scheme..

And they don’t measure to see if your weeds are at the 18 inch mark either. Then again the one who are doing the cutting need a horticulture classes. Cause these so-called city workers can’t tell which is which. They will mow down your Fig Trees, iris, lilac bush, tulips, and your tea rose bushes too.. If you are a garden they will cut that down too. They have to protect you from the killer tomatoes.

Which are not weeds are grass.. but these low paying workers just don’t care..

How will the Event Center be paid for?

City Council meeting March 24

Rocky Mount City Manager, Charles Penny, will present financing options for the proposed Event Center at the 2:00 PM City Council of the Whole Meeting March 24, 2014.

Rocky Mount City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting

Where

The Frederick E. Turnage Municipal Building - Committee Room, 331 S. Franklin St., Rocky Mount, NC 27802

Map

Type of Event
Community / Civic Meeting, Meeting / Conference, Public Meeting / Hearing

Age Range - Audience
All Ages

Notes

The Rocky Mount City Council meets for a work session -- "The Committee of the Whole" -- once a month or as needed. These meetings are generally open to the public, unless an agenda item requires that…

When

Monday, March 24, 2014, 2 – 4pm EDT

Community Meeting, public safely

Ward Two residents and other Rocky Mount citizens are invited to attend a public meeting on Mon., March 17, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Bread of Life Christian Church and Community Center.

According to Reuben Blackwell, Rocky Mount City Council member and representative for Ward Two, the event will include a focus on three areas important for all Rocky Mount citizens: Public safety, Downtown development and current negotiations between Duke Energy and the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency. “Charles Penny will speak on Downtown development and how it would impact the entire economy, but especially neighborhoods within the City Center. He will also discuss plans for a Downtown Events Center,” says Blackwell. “Chief Moore will discuss crime in Rocky Mount, along with crime prevention and strategies, including how we can all participate in having safe neighborhoods.”

Letters to The Telegram,

James E Williams wrote a letter to the Telegram, claiming the Event Center would make RMT a model City.. I think he’s a bit delusional.

The citizens of Rocky Mount need to know that the leaders of this town have already done their studies and visited others cities that have done related things and are very successful. If Rocky Mount listened to naysayers and their negative comments, we would be living in a ghost town.

The new Southern Bank Business Center coming to downtown Rocky Mount should prove how important revitalization can be to the growth of a city.

Michael T. Bryant, the regional executive for the bank’s western region, which includes Rocky Mount, said “We are proud to make this investment in Rocky Mount – particularly in downtown Rocky Mount. We believe having a vibrant downtown would benefit the entire community and look forward to a shared future of prosperity. Our bank officials are pleased with the direction downtown Rocky Mount is headed, the revitalizing effort, and we desire to give back to that cause.”

If James has lived in RMT, for a lone time.  He should know by now that Banks don’t last long in this City. Also When Roanoke Rapids got their Theater, everyone said the say thing. Back to the Bank building, I still have to wonder how much longer BB&T will allow them to grow, before taking them over.. Also just how many empty bank building are downtown now?

Building Buildings don’t make a city great, it never has and never will. If this was the case our city would be still on the Rise and not a downward spiral.

Currently we can’t even keep the business we have. Golden East mall is almost an empty shell of a business, Home depot is gone, and it $4 million dollar building sold for $1.4 million and will soon be a church, like we really need another on in the city. Longhorn Steak house has closed, and it sit empty. Many more business has close down or move out of the city. Why one ask, high rent, and Utilities bills. That the Wal-mart  Plaza, a unit’s rent is near $3,500/ month add Utilities and other business expenses, one wonder how you can make enough to stay open. Also Ole Navy in the same plaza has recently close too.  Rocky Mount even has lost a few fast food joints.

We don’t need retail, we need industries, and manufacturing businesses, which at one time RMT had. They left mostly due to high utilities.. When they left many jobs left with them. If the City Council was serious about getting Rocky Mount back on the Rise they would seeking these Companies out..

They want to put in a Dog park,

Yes the City Parks Dept. wants a dog park in Rocky Mount, NC.

Parks and Recreation Director Kelvin Yarrell said he is hoping a large crowd will attend the meeting that will start at 6 p.m. in the council chambers on the third floor of City Hall. The first meeting in February gave a crash course in the development of the park and tonight’s meeting will be a step forward.

Yarrell said people will be selected for the development committee board, members will determine dates for site visits and discuss fundraising options.

As one expects, this decision is drawing a lot of criticism.  

We have senior citizens who cannot buy food and cannot even pay their electric bills. We have kids who are going hungry. We have gangs who are committing crimes and dealing drugs.

We have so many things wrong that we need to work on to make this city better.

Do we really need to spend $50,000 for dogs to have a walkway when we have so many other things wrong in this city?

This person has a very valid point.

The city had parks, where benches and shelters that are falling apart, over ran with trash, walking hazards. In some cases, you can find evidence of people having sex in them. I.e. used condoms everywhere.  Especially Battle Park and the Park on River Side Dr. 

Then again it’s not only the citizens of RMT have sexing in those parks, even the RMPD personal do it too, in the city vehicles.

I can only guess someone connected to someone in the Parks dept., need some extra income.

They just need some fencing, and they can place this park at Battle Park or Sunset Park, just enclose a section of it. No need for a new park. Sunset Park has some fencing already in place just need to add a bit more. Sunset has shelters and benches already. Savings.

I guess the city will also have to flip the bill on a drinking water system too. if this happens will the citizens have to paid for the water usage at the park? Will there be enforcement poop picks up. I guess the fines for failing to scoot your pooch’s poop could help cover the cost of the park. f

However what about the legal issues that comes alone with this type of park. Who is really responsible if a dog at the park attacks someone or another dog?

REPUBLICAN DIRTY TRICKS

***DO (NOT DONATE) TO A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE UNTIL***
***YOU CONFIRM THE SITE!***

Up Coming Events of Interest

Downtown Live Line up for this year.

Parks and Recreation for the City of Rocky Mount has announced the Downtown Live! dates and bands for 2014.
May 15 – Band of Oz
May 29 – Jim Quick & Coastline
June 12 - The Voltage Brothers
June 26 - Fantastic Shakers
July 10 - The Craig Woolard Band
July 24 - Fantasy
August 7 - Hip Pocket
August 21 - The Tams
September 4 - Liquid Pleasure
September 18 - The Embers

 

Keep up with local events by liking “Discover Downtown Events” on Facebook..

ICYMI: Knight acquitted of charges stemming from legislative protest

Photo credit (http://www.wral.com/news/local/image/1936377/)

Andre Knight was one of many who were arrested during the NAACP Moral Mondays protest that happen in Raleigh. While charges against him were dismiss, which they should be. However some locals Rocky Mount Citizens thinks his actions are unbecoming of a council member and is an embarrassment on the City as a Whole.

RMT Citizen wants an investigation into the Event Center

It would seem that a local citizen is calling for the Telegram to do a full in-depth investigate in to who owns the property that is being considered for the Event Center.

However, this isn’t new. There are a few groups who are doing that very thing. One group is searching into who on the City Council might own property or  buying property in the said area.

As to date , according to the City Council no location has been picked.

One group think they have found a few areas that the Center could be built, click here to see them. The surveyor stated there was 5 places where this center could be built..

So back to the question at hand who owns the land? Where will it be built?