Reader wonders where Rocky Mount places in the 50 safest cities list. Really

From the Speak Up,

I read with interest the news article on the safest cities in North Carolina and noted the paper featured only Nashville and Tarboro.

Rocky Mount was quite obvious in the omission from the article. I wish the paper would publish what Rocky Mount’s standing is in comparison with the others.

Editor’s note: The list of North Carolina’s Safest 50 cities was put together by a company called SafeWise. Rocky Mount did not make the list.

Ok, don’t know who called this speak up in, but they need to take off their rose color glasses and smell the roses.. Rocky Mount isn’t as safe as it once was. Anyone who lives in or around the area knows this..

We (city of Rocky Mount) was listed in the top Five Worst Crime cities in the U.S. Crime is every where in our city, and the RMPD aren’t doing enough to stop. The only crime they are really working on, are those that they can get Federal money to fight, i.e. drugs..

Where else in NC can you watch people with shopping carts push 1.5 tons ac units, sinks, Copper wiring, pipes and fireplace mantel down the road and not be stop by the cops.. I’m sure as shit; knows that, they aren’t buying these items at the local Piggy Wiggly..

Council to discuss event center funding

While an official decision on the proposed event center has not been scheduled, Rocky Mount City Council could vote Monday to move forward with plans for funding the more than $42 million project.

“I made a motion that was seconded in the past that we empower city staff to pursue funding for the event center with the latest New Market Tax Credits and EB-5 funding, so I expect that action along with discussion will take place at the meeting,” Councilman Reuben Blackwell said. “I certainly hope that the majority of the council feels this project is sound enough and fiscally feasible to begin to look seriously at our funding options for it.” (Source: Read more)

Interesting Letter to the Editor of Rocky Mount Telegram

See the letter here,

Whether it’s in Nash or Edgecombe County, it is not feasible to do this. And, speaking of location, why is this such a big secret? What is the City Council not telling us? Is someone benefiting from the sale of land for this event center on the City Council?

A City left to Rot away

Location, Location, Location

They always said location matter when you are building real estate, is this true? In case of the Event Center where is the location downtown for this money pit? Monday evening at 6:00PM - the Rocky Mount-Government Offices will have a Public Presentation and Public Comments gathering at the City Council Chambers of the City Hall Building.

however another citizen has voice there concerns.

from Speak up,

I have attended several meetings regarding funding for the event center and they keep saying the location will be downtown.

Where downtown?

At none of these meetings have we been told where which raises the question if the don’t know where then that means they must not have purchased any land.

How much is the land going to cost for building the event center with a sufficient size parking lot?

Is the event center going to be located right downtown so that people could exit the center and walk downtown to where all the money was invested for streetscape?

If the event center is not going to be located downtown so that people can walk there then I don’t see how the event center is going to help all of the effort that was put into streetscape and trying to revitalize downtown.

My concern right now before I can throw any support behind funding for the building is to know the location and what it is going to cost the city to get the land.

When is the city council going to give us information on that part of this investment in our community?

Does this person have a valid point, yes they do. Will they Buy the land at current market prices or will they take the land via Eminent Domain?

The word on the Street is,

The word on the street is the location is the current location of the old RM Wilson School building and Gym, currently a senior housing center on Marigold Street and Hill Street.

If this the location, that means they would have to tear down an senior citizen housing center? Would the Council will make like older for these seniors, yes they would..

another comment,

It is very unlikely that a special hearing, other than those required by law, would be held if it weren't for public pressure. I commend all those speaking out against such issues. Now it's time to pressure the City Council to put the issue to a referendum. Let the people decide! After all, it's our money they will be taking to spend on this perpetual expense. Some people seem to forget that the City Council has rammed things down our unwilling throats before with "for show" public hearings. Glad to see the Community Council getting some credit but let's not forget that there are a great number of individuals who share a strong opposition to this endeavor.

side note, the area around the Post Office, the city have been taken land in that area for sometime now.. via liens from having homes torn down.. just check the records at the city code enforcement office…

A positive Article on Rocky Mount, NC

A great, positive article about Rocky Mount - rich with history, & the city's potential. Worth a read https://t.co/FqHZWM8uGJ @ourstatemag

— Kristin Ruffin (@kleighru) April 9, 2014

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?

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?

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?

Where is the Event Center to be Built?

In the city's proposal, they stated the surveyor noted 5 places where the event center could be built, but gave US no indication of what area.

A small community is searching these locations out, they think they might have found three location so far.

First one is North Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC, right beside the New Sport Center, (aka the old airport) this would make a great fit..

 

 

Second one is at 800 East Virginia Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC, now this one is problematic since this a park with a King Memorial in the center of it.

 

 

Third is English Road, Rocky Mount, NC right across Nash General Hospital off of Winstead Ave. which was recently widen by NCDOT.

 

 

Do you know of two more location??

I know of one..  this is right next-door to the recently public-private redevelopment project area known as the Douglas Block..

 

 

Could this be the future home of the Event Center??

Rumors has it that Andre Knight might profit from the Event Center.

in a comment left on a story on Dailyhaymaker, a commenter levy the following,

Andre Knight continues use racist tactics to intimidate anyone who opposes him much the same way Barber does. Rumors are that Knight and a partner are buying up properties where the proposed “event center” will be built. He also does not live in the ward that he represents. This was brought to light a few years ago and even though it was proven that he did not live in his “bachelor pad” nothing was ever done to remove him. He and his cronies are the main reason Rocky Mount will never recover and grow no matter how much money they throw away down town. Who wants to go any where down there if you have to fear for your life every time you get out of your car.

If this is true then there is clear conflict of interest here.

Locals voice their concerns about the potential event center funding.

A new group called the Community Council has formed in Rocky Mount, which is focusing on the City’s plan to build a Event Center somewhere downtown. The group recently held it first (no media allowed) meeting this pass Wednesday (2/5) at the Braswell Library.

The topic was the Event Center cost and taxes.

Residents questioning the wisdom of building an event center in Rocky Mount are raising concerns that city officials will have to raise property taxes to cover its costs.

They said they are worried that possible other funding sources identified by a consulting firm would not generate anywhere near enough dollars to cover the annual debt and operating costs of the center.

And they said some of the potential funding options outlined in a report to the city by AECOM Technical Services out of Chicago aren’t feasible, or would require approvals from elected officials that aren’t likely. (Source: Read more)

A local Citizen had this to say,

meeting at the Library on Wednesday. Skip Carney secretary of the group was on FM 99.3 Thursday morning and he said the media was not invited. I called in and said although the media was not invited they could have attended. However anyone, don't have to be media, can record meetings held in a public facility and they are backed by The Open Meetings Law Statue.

I find it quite interesting this paper and WHIG-TV has not reported on the Wednesday's meeting. So what is going on? Is the group receiving special privilege? I know they can get it from WHIG-TV, but is it the case with this paper?

Since The Community Council said they wanted to educate the citizens, why did they not invite the media? Well my ignant opinion is they didn't want to expose who attended the meeting and didn't want to share what they talked about. SMDH!

He is correct members of media could have attended and took notes the old school way, pad and pen. After all the meeting was open to the public.  I guess today media don’t know how to do it “old school”, they are lost without their digital records and video cameras.

Now another person is also correct in there assessment of the Event Center,

If the event center is such a great idea, why hasn’t some private investor built one in Rocky Mount?

After all, we do have U.S. 64 and I-95.

Obviously it is not a good investment so there is not one private investor interested.

Why build an event center here?

So, is the Event Center a great ideal or just a waste of time and money?

Community Council–Organizational Meeting

Braswell Memorial Library – Warner Meeting Room
727 N Grace St
Rocky Mount, NC 27804

February 5, 2013 at 5:30pm

Please join us for an informational meeting regarding the Community Council.  Learn more about our purpose and mission.  Opportunity to suggest future research and opportunity to volunteer.

Click here for a calendar link.

Facebook RSVP or Email RSVP to  info@TheCommunityCouncil

Please Like us on Facebook  -  http://www.facebook.com/TheCommunityCouncil.org

Please note the room cannot exceed 85 people and no press allowed.

Rocky Mount Event Center next Step

Via the Rocky Mount Government FB page.

Question asked,

When will the next community Meeting concern the Event Center be held?

Answer,

No community meeting has been scheduled. The next step will be the presentation of a financial plan in March. An agenda will be posted on the City's website closer to that date.

So does this mean that the community of Rocky Mount will or will not get it’s chance to air their opinion on this project.

Rocky Mount Christmas Parade

I was browsing the photos that David Hahula took of the Rocky Mount, NC Christmas Parade this year. Every shot was great, showing just how the diverse our city is. The Parade feature groups from all over the city. From School Band to City employees and every day citizens.

It would seem that city was truly enjoying it self that day.

Click here to See the photos,

however the first photo is a shocker, lady on a float take a phone, really. The phone call could have waited. 

Where and How much land will be taken via Eminent Domain for this Center?

Coming in 2014 or 2015

he Rocky Mount City Council received a formal report on a Market Feasibility Study for a potential Event Center, likely located in Downtown Rocky Mount. The Study and presentation slides have been made available by the City and are available for review at the City website, as well as on the following page at the YPN site - http://wp.me/p25EFx-8q