[13:28] Order of business like bow your head please. Most gracious heavenly father we

[13:32] come here again today celebrating the blessings that you so generously give us

[13:37] each and every day. We just pray Lord for those that are less fortunate, those

[13:41] who may not have the means that they need to see about their daily lives and

[13:45] just ask that we be able to do things to help enhance their lives, the quality of

[13:50] their lives. We pray Lord and thanks for th this this country for what it stands

[13:56] for. We pray Lord that we might have your guidance to help us in things that

[14:02] we need improvement on and celebrate the things that have been fruitful for us

[14:07] all. We ask these things in your name. Amen.

[14:09] » Amen.

[14:16] » I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[14:21] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[14:28] justice for all.

[14:37] The next item is the adoption of the business agenda. Everybody's had an

[14:42] opportunity to review it. If there's no need to make any changes in it when

[14:47] someone feels so led, we need a motion to approve it as it is.

[14:52] » May I'll make a motion to adopt the business agenda as presented.

[14:57] » Second. >> Have a motion by Mr. Stain, second by

[15:00] Mr. Bale. Is there any more discussion on the matter? There being none, all in

[15:05] favor signify by saying I. I. >> All oppose, no. The agenda will be

[15:09] approved as it is presented. Um, item four is special recognitions. I call on

[15:15] uh Chief Cook.

[15:23] Good evening, Chief.

[15:26] Good evening, mayor, council, citizens, and guests.

[15:30] For those of you who may not know me, my name is Richard Cook. I'm the fire chief

[15:34] of Rapids Fire Department. It is my pleasure tonight to present our

[15:39] promotions and newly hired firefighters thus far in 2026.

[15:44] At this time, I'd like to ask Brian Hollowell, Will Harris, Chris Boyin,

[15:48] Jared Lynch, Seth Mathy, and Matthew Pierce please come forward.

[16:06] Each of the me each of these men with the support of their families and fellow

[16:10] firefighters has worked tirelessly toward achieving their goals.

[16:15] Their dedication, commitment, and willingness to serve our community

[16:19] are qualities that we are proud to recognize. Tonight is my privilege to

[16:24] recognize each of them and congratulate them on their accomplishments.

[16:31] Brian Hollowell began his employment with City of Rapids on September 2nd,

[16:35] 2008, working with public works department. On March 17th, 2009, he

[16:41] transferred to the fire department where he had the opportunity to work alongside

[16:44] his brother Kenneth. Brian was promoted to engineer on

[16:49] January 15th, 2013 and lieutenant on July 12th, 2016.

[16:57] He holds credentials as a North Carolina EMT,

[17:02] firefighter 1 and two, driver operator pumps and aerials, fire officer one and

[17:07] two, fire instructor, and fire investigation technician. the only one

[17:13] in our department. I'll say

[17:17] throughout his career, Brian has earned the respect of his peers

[17:22] through his extensive knowledge of our apparatus and his dedication to the

[17:26] department and his strong work ethic. Tonight, it is my pleasure to recognize

[17:32] Brian for his years of service and dedication to the city of Ronald Rapids

[17:36] and to announce his promotion to assistant chief of operations. Brian,

[17:41] congratulations on your well-deserved promotion.

[17:47] [applause]

[17:52] At this time, I'd like to ask Brian's wife, Jordan, and his daughters,

[17:57] Ellie, is Aubrey Aub Aubrey

[18:02] to please come forward and prize on Brown's new badge on. And don't forget

[18:06] Charlie, the littlest one.

[18:15] decided not to. Oh, there she comes. >> Here she comes.

[18:41] Good job. >> Good job.

[18:55] Will [snorts] Harris began his career with the Ronald Rapids Fire Department

[18:57] on November 27th, 2017. Proudly following in the footsteps of his father

[19:02] BJ Harris, battalion chief of B shield, Will was promoted to engineer on January

[19:08] 19th, 2020. He holds credentials as a North Carolina

[19:13] emergency medical technician, firefighter one and two, driver operator

[19:18] pumps and aerials, fire officer one and two, and as a qualified fire instructor.

[19:23] Will also serves as a chairman of our training committee. Will has earned

[19:28] respect of his peers through his knowledge, enthusiasm, and consistently

[19:32] positive attitude. It is my pleasure to announce the promotion of Will Harris to

[19:37] the rank of lieutenant. Congratulations, WILL. [applause]

[19:46] At this time, I invite Will's brother, Maul Carris, also a firefighter with

[19:50] Gaston Fire and Rescue, to come forward and pin on Will's badge.

[19:55] Here

[20:06] we go.

[20:26] Chris Boyin graduated the Nash Fire Academy in December 2023. He began his

[20:31] career with the Runt Rapids Fire Department on April 22nd, 2024.

[20:36] He is North Carolina certified firefighter 1 and two and he is

[20:40] currently working towards his drive operator pumps and aerial certification.

[20:44] Chris is assigned to CE shift and has quickly proven himself through his

[20:47] professionalism, commitment and strong work ethic. It is my pleasure to

[20:51] announce the promotion of Chris Boyin to the rank of engineer. Congratulations,

[20:56] CHRIS. [applause]

[21:04] At this time, I' I'd invite Chris's fiance, Cheyenne Price, to come forward

[21:08] and pin his new badge.

[21:29] » [clears throat]

[21:37] » Jerry Lynch began his career with the Ron Rapids Fire Department on May 19th,

[21:41] 2014, working his way up to engineer and eventually step-up lieutenant prior to

[21:45] his departure on October in October of 2023.

[21:53] [laughter]

[21:55] Our department proudly welcomed Jared's return on February 9th, 2026. He holds

[22:01] credentials as a North Carolina emergency medical responder firefighter

[22:05] 1 and two driver operator pumps and aerials.

[22:09] Jarrett is currently assigned to a shift and has quickly reaffirmed his value

[22:13] through his professionalism, team work, and strong work ethic. It is my pleasure

[22:17] to announce the promotion of Jerry Lynch to the rank of engineer.

[22:21] Congratulations, Jared.

[22:25] [applause]

[22:29] At this time, I invite Jared's mom, Trina Lynch, to come forward and pin

[22:33] Jerry's new bag.

[22:49] I'm not

[23:06] Seth Mafy graduated the Nash Fire Academy in June of 2022 and began his

[23:11] career with the Runner Rapids Fire Department on March 9th, 2026. He is a

[23:15] credentialed as a North Carolina emergency medical technician and

[23:18] firefighter 1 and two. Seth is currently assigned to a shift under Battalion

[23:24] Chief Gray. It is my pleasure to introduce firefighter Seth Mafy.

[23:30] [applause]

[23:34] At this time, I invite Battalion Chief Tim Gray to come forward and pin self's

[23:38] badge.

[24:05] Matthew Pierce began his career with the Ronald Rapids Fire Department on August

[24:09] 23rd, 2026. He is a credentialed as a North Carolina emergency medical

[24:14] technician and has his firefighter 1 and two. Currently is assigned a C shift

[24:18] under Battalion Chief Chris Hov. It is my pleasure to introduce Matthew Pierce.

[24:23] [applause]

[24:28] At this time, I invite Matthew's wife, Morgan Paris, to come forward and pin

[24:32] his new badge.

[24:54] If you will give these gentlemen another round of applause.

[24:59] [applause]

[25:08] » Thank you guys. Yes, sir. >> Thank you, chief.

[25:13] » All right. So, that concludes special recognition.

[25:18] I've actually got one more item of business I need to talk about.

[25:26] Where's my paper?

[25:36] So, as you know, we've been having more issues with vacant buildings in

[25:44] inside the city of Rapids. These buildings pose a threat to our

[25:49] firefighters um and in some cases a threat to the

[25:53] public. Um, we've had cases where we've had

[25:57] squatters in some of the buildings. As a matter of fact,

[26:01] yesterday I was in two of the buildings along with the PD obtaining evidence out

[26:06] of those out of said buildings that it was really I can tell you from being in

[26:10] there, it was not safe for us to be in there.

[26:14] Um,

[26:17] I know nobody here has actually crawled around in a smoke filled room and tried

[26:22] to navigate their way through something like that in 70 lbs worth of gear. Um,

[26:28] but they pose a great threat to our firefighters. And with it with there

[26:33] being more and more of them, they're getting harder and harder to identify.

[26:38] The 2018 version of the International Fire

[26:43] Code, which is the version that North Carolina is currently using, does state

[26:47] that the fire department has the authority to inspect the building. The

[26:52] fire marshall, if he deems the building unsafe, then the building can be marked.

[26:59] This right here is how the building should be marked.

[27:03] At every entrance, it is reflected. We intend probably starting next week to

[27:10] start inspections and we're going to start posting these

[27:14] signs. Now, the reason for this is is when our officers back there pull up and

[27:20] they see this sign, then they know it's a no-go bill. Unless they act, unless

[27:26] they absolutely have to, they see somebody, you know, they see somebody at

[27:31] the window, obviously they're going to save them. That's what they're trained

[27:33] to do. uh but they're not going to enter the building if they don't have to

[27:39] because it is unsafe for them. Um in years past, the way we've gone

[27:45] about this um in years past, the way we've gone

[27:50] about this is there's always been an understanding that we had buildings that

[27:54] were no-go buildings. You just you just do not enter them. The problem with that

[27:58] is there's getting to me more and more of them and it's hard to keep track of

[28:01] what's what. And specifically, I'll mention the 200 block of Avenue. There's

[28:07] several buildings in the 200 block of the Avenue that that it's not safe for

[28:10] us to go in. Um, we've recently had an incident where power was being stolen

[28:16] from one building to the other and I don't know why it didn't cause a fire.

[28:19] It it was caught. Um, we've gone so far as to help out and

[28:24] try to secure those buildings. Um, as a matter of fact, we put a chain last week

[28:28] on people's theater. Um, I was called yesterday morning and we went and the

[28:34] chain had been cut. We're doing everything we can to keep people out

[28:38] because we don't want to have to risk the lives of these men back here.

[28:42] But we're starting to get backed up against the wall. So, this is our remedy

[28:49] to that is we at least we can post it. You know, we're going to continue to do

[28:53] everything we can to keep people out of those buildings um because it's not safe

[28:58] for them. But, you know, this allows our people

[29:03] when they get there at 3:00 in the morning, because eventually one of these

[29:06] buildings is going to burn. When they get there at 3:00 in the morning and

[29:09] they see that big red X at the entrance, which is what the code states that it

[29:13] actually is posted at the entrance, then they know it's a no-go building. So, we

[29:19] intend to start that probably next week. Um, if everything works out.

[29:25] » Is that just for commercial buildings? >> Just the commercial buildings. So the

[29:27] fire code does not address residential buildings. So it's just commercial

[29:33] buildings. But I will tell you as history has shown, you know, when

[29:39] firefighters die, get injured. It's in buildings like

[29:44] that. I mean, that's that's what happens. You know, the people that are

[29:48] in those buildings, they don't come running out and tell you, "Hey, I was in

[29:52] there and I'm okay." like we teach people to do because they're not

[29:55] supposed to be in the building to begin with. And usually they're a direct

[29:59] result of a fire in those buildings. Well, that you know, well, I say maybe

[30:03] not direct, direct, indirect, but you know, could be accidental, could be

[30:08] deliberate. I don't know. Um, but we wanted to make you aware that we do plan

[30:13] to start that that process next week in case you get question on it.

[30:19] » Thank you for your work on that. >> NO PROBLEM.

[30:24] » [applause]

[30:29] » ITEM FOUR IS SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS. We have one individual, Mr. Brodsky had

[30:33] signed up. Uh

[30:50] » Good evening, members of council. My name is Arfan Brodsky and I live at 936

[30:53] Eastn Street in Rono Rapids. I want to begin tonight by reading a poem. It was

[30:58] written by Martin Neuer, a German pastor who lived through the Third Reich and

[31:02] who to his lasting regret waited too long to speak.

[31:06] First, they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a

[31:09] communist. Then they came for the socialists and I did not speak out

[31:13] because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did

[31:17] not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews

[31:21] and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and

[31:26] there was no one left to speak out for me. I'm Jewish and that poem's not

[31:30] history for me. It's my family story. My mother's name is Shiffra. She was named

[31:35] after her paternal grandmother, also Shiffra, who was hanged in the woods

[31:38] near her home in Poland by Nazi sympathizers during World War II. Her

[31:42] crime was being Jewish. She didn't die in a camp. She died close to home in a

[31:47] place she knew among people in her community who decided that she no longer

[31:51] deserved to live. My son's name is Joseph. He's named after Schiffer's

[31:56] husband, her Joseph, who survived the Holocaust. He survived not because the

[32:00] world was just was just, but because the villagers around him were afraid to come

[32:03] for him. He had been a decorated war hero in World War I. He fought for his

[32:08] country and he killed many men. And so they hesitated. That hesitation was a

[32:12] difference between his life and his death. I carry those names with me every

[32:16] single day. And because I carry them, I can't be silent when hate speech is

[32:20] allowed to stand without consequence in this or any community. I want to be

[32:24] historically clear about something because clarity matters here. Adolf

[32:27] Hitler did not begin with the Jews. The Nazi regime's machinery of persecution

[32:32] and murder was built in stages. It began with people the regime labeled

[32:36] defectives, people with physical and mental disabilities who were subjected

[32:40] to forced sterilization and ultimately to systematic killing. It expanded to

[32:45] include gay men who were imprisoned and sent to concentration camps. It then

[32:49] swept up the Roma people, the gypsies, who were persecuted, deported, and

[32:53] murdered in numbers that Europe is still reckoning with. The genocide of European

[32:57] Jews, what we now call the Holocaust, was not the spark. It was the direct

[33:01] result of a society that had already learned step by step to dehumanize

[33:05] people in categories. That's what unchecked rhetoric does. It doesn't stay

[33:09] where it starts. It teaches cruelty and then it spreads. That's why I'm standing

[33:13] here tonight. You see, the mayor's wife made racist and xenophobic comments. She

[33:18] has not apologized, not once, not in any form. And Mayor Emory Dowy, the elected

[33:23] leader of the city, waited a full week before offering a response that by any

[33:27] honest measure was too little, too late, and too carefully worded to mean very

[33:32] much at all. That's not leadership. It's damage control. And our community

[33:36] deserves to know the difference. Mayor Dowy, your time is up. I also want to

[33:41] speak directly to the council. Your silence is not neutrality. Silence in

[33:45] the face of racist rhetoric is a choice, and our community sees it. Your combined

[33:49] statement doesn't mention the mayor's wife by name or even her comments. It's

[33:52] simply a generic statement that didn't really let anyone know where you stand

[33:56] on this specific issue. When talk of dissolving the police department came

[34:00] about, each one of you made it a point to take an individual stand and make

[34:04] individual public statements in open session supporting our municipal police

[34:08] force. It's really telling that none of you were brave enough to attach your

[34:12] name to a comment directly condemning the mayor's wife or the lack of

[34:15] leadership our mayor showed by staying silent for a full week while the

[34:19] national media picked up this story and ran with it, further disgracing our

[34:23] city. I want you all to take a step back and

[34:26] think, would you handle this the same way if your spouse said what Ivon Dowy

[34:30] said? Would you handle this the same way if your spouse had years worth of

[34:35] anti-Muslim xenophobic rhetoric plastered all over her public Facebook

[34:38] profile? There's no path forward for Ron Oak Rapids with Emory Dowy as our mayor.

[34:43] A leader who cannot promptly, clearly, and sincerely condemn hate speech,

[34:48] including hate speech from within his own household, has forfeited the trust

[34:51] this office requires. I'll be back. I'll be back the next meeting and the one

[34:56] after that and every meeting that follows until Mayor Dowy resigns or is

[34:59] otherwise removed because Ne Mueller's great regret was that he waited and I

[35:04] prefer to live my life without regrets. I brought my children here to watch me

[35:08] speak to listen to the message because it's important. It's important as Jews

[35:12] to stand with everybody. And my children, they're anti-racists as well.

[35:16] And when racist rhetoric is spread in their schools, when they hear it, they

[35:19] have the responsibility to speak out and to take action. and is large people. My

[35:24] son is 11 years old, 5 foot seven, 175 pounds. And he has an active instruction

[35:30] to actively go after anybody who says anything racist in front of him.

[35:36] You need to go, Mayor Dowy. You need to go. Thank you.

[35:54] » [clears throat]

[35:59] » While these uh individuals are making their way out, we have one uh individual

[36:04] that has signed up for unscheduled public comment. And we had some people a

[36:09] while back that um didn't know you had to sign up. So that's why I'm letting

[36:13] everybody know that would like to speak, you know, just by coming in and and

[36:17] signing up. And we welcome you to do that. you have three minutes, not like

[36:21] five when you're on the agenda. So, soon as everyone gets settled back down,

[36:26] we'll move on with that part of the meeting. Okay. Okay. Okay.

[36:32] » So, if anybody else wants to comment in public uh comment, just see the clerk

[36:37] now and and get signed up. >> So, if anybody wants to speak, see the

[36:42] clerk signed up and you'll be welcome to speak. Uh Miss Briggs, I believe, is

[36:48] first.

[36:51] Good evening. >> Good evening. Thank you. My name is

[36:54] Amanda Briggs. I'm the president CEO of the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of

[36:58] Commerce. I hit heavy on that regional because I'm not just Lake Gaston. I do

[37:02] cover five counties. That one of those being Halifax. I did want to come here

[37:07] tonight and make a special announcement. About two hours ago, I got off the phone

[37:10] with Congressman Don Davis. Um he is coming to the Lake Gaston area on

[37:16] Friday, September 4th at 9:30 a.m. at the chamber office to do a meet and

[37:21] greet with small business owners. So it is not a campaign stop. He is literally

[37:26] coming to hear from the small business owners. So I wanted to make that

[37:31] announcement and let anybody know that if you would like to come and attend,

[37:34] share your successes, share your struggles, um anything that you would

[37:38] like to talk to him about, please do so. So again, that's um Friday, September

[37:43] 4th at 9:30 at the Chamber of Commerce in Lake Aston. That's it.

[37:49] Okay. Thank you very much. And Mr. Garrett

[38:08] » [sighs]

[38:13] » Mayor, members of city council, I'm Jim Garrett.

[38:17] Mayor, I'd like to say congratulations. That was um quite a heroic

[38:24] demonstration. You standing up for your wife. I know she's a private citizen and

[38:30] she has no bearing on your job and I think it's commendable.

[38:36] I'm asking for the city manager to resign because I see it's a clear double

[38:41] standard in our leadership. The mayor's wife is a private citizen. She made

[38:47] comments on Facebook. The city manager issued an official statement about these

[38:53] these comments and all of you signed them.

[38:58] Now a city ploy employee, the city librarian has entered the same fight.

[39:03] She identified herself as the librarian. She criticized the mayor. She said the

[39:09] mayor should give away all of his pay. And she um supported calls for his

[39:15] resignation. The city should have a clear policy

[39:20] separating personal politics from city employment. I've not seen any statement

[39:26] distance dist distancing yourselves from the comments that Mr. Bronzk's wife, I

[39:33] believe, who is the city librarian, made on Facebook, the city manager can um can

[39:40] publicly address the speech of a private citizen like the mayor's wife. Why is

[39:45] there no clear standard when city employees bring their position to the

[39:51] same controversy? The manager decided to start policing

[39:57] Facebook and her job to hold everyone accountable. The manager has a record of

[40:04] inconsistent leadership. I have lost confidence in the city manager and I'm

[40:10] asking for her resignation or for you all to replace her. Thank you for your

[40:15] time. >> All right. Thank you, sir.

[40:21] That's all the names we have. Is there anyone else at this time that would like

[40:24] to speak? Okay.

[40:30] We will move on to the approval of the 8 August 18th, 2026

[40:37] minutes. Need a motion to approve them.

[40:41] Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve the city council meeting minutes

[40:47] of August 18, 2026. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tim Bryant.

[40:54] Do you hear a second to Mr. Second by Mr. Jackson?

[41:00] There any discussion? There being none, all in favor signify by saying I.

[41:05] » I. All oppose, no. Minutes would be approved as they are presented.

[41:10] Item eight. Under new business, I'd call on the deputy finance, Miss Ror.

[41:20] Good evening, mayor and council. Just one budget amendment for you this

[41:24] evening. So, I would direct you to ordinance number 2026.42.

[41:29] The city has received a donation or sponsorship from Bright Speed in the

[41:34] amount of $15,000 in support of our city's Main Street program. So, we ask

[41:40] that you approve 2026.42 to accept that $15,000 donation.

[41:46] » All right. You hear the finance director. We need a motion to approve

[41:50] this. >> Make a motion for me

[41:54] to $15,000 for sponsorship to support the main

[41:59] street. >> Okay. The motion is made by Mr. Bale.

[42:02] Second to the motion. >> Second.

[42:04] » Second by Mr. Strickland. Any more discussion? There being none, all in

[42:08] favor signify by saying I. >> I.

[42:10] » All oppose, no. Motion will be approved. Thank you, ma'am.

[42:15] And next, we move on to the city manager's report,

[42:19] Mr. Train. >> Good evening, mayor and council. And I

[42:21] will ask um for our main street director to um share some more information about

[42:26] the main about the sponsorship from Bright Speed as well. But um the just a

[42:33] few items to note here. The Twilight Festival is scheduled for Friday,

[42:37] September the 18th at Centennial Park. It's a community event. Uh the Halifax

[42:42] County Board of Commissioners will hold its on the road tour and um have its

[42:47] meeting on September the 21st here in Reno Rapids in this building at 5:30

[42:52] p.m. Also, another community event that's coming up is the NC DOT by annual

[42:58] fall litter sweep um scheduled September 12th through the 26th. There are

[43:02] resources available through NCDOT for state roadways and we want to encourage

[43:08] and uh ask community groups to come together and [snorts] whether it's

[43:11] picking a day or a couple hours each day or do something to help um clean up

[43:17] litter throughout the city. Um during that time frame,

[43:21] uh the police department held a community meeting last night at Shiner

[43:25] Wreck. We were able to get record attendance so far as requested. So I

[43:28] want to thank everyone for coming out. Um, it was well attended, good

[43:32] conversations were had. Um, and it really shows that people care. And um I

[43:38] commend our police chief and his and his command staff and and all of our police

[43:43] officers and um administrative assistants uh for their work in and and

[43:50] relaying the needs of the community and really understanding that many of the

[43:55] problems that are faced are community problems, not necessarily police

[43:58] department problems or city of Venic Rapids problems, but um having those

[44:03] open conversations leads to better results.

[44:07] Uh the next meeting uh will be scheduled for Monday, October the 19th at the

[44:12] First Pentecostal Church on Becker Drive. Um and more information will come

[44:17] about that soon. Uh the police club will hold its cornhole tournament on

[44:23] September the 19th at TJ Davis. Um this is a fundraiser for their Christmas for

[44:27] kids um program that benefits our community. Um, for more information,

[44:33] please contact the police department about it. In the planning development

[44:36] department, they've been uh busy and also expanding um reviewing plans and

[44:42] progress out at the Cross Creek subdivision on 125. Uh there's

[44:47] infrastructure that's near completion and ready for new single family

[44:51] residential homes to be built. Um during or probably at one of our next meetings,

[44:55] uh we'll ask council to consider approving and accepting the streets. um

[45:00] that are proposed for the by the developer for city um inventory.

[45:06] Um parks and recreation is planning for the annual 5K and fun run and walk u to

[45:12] be held Saturday, September the 19th. The race will start and end at the

[45:16] Dominion Day use park at the end of Oua Avenue and the registration is available

[45:20] at www.rronoccanal.com.

[45:25] The senior center in addition to their regularly scheduled activities has some

[45:29] other special events taking place including grief support with Nancy Hugs

[45:33] at 2:00 September the 3rd and the 19th. Hearing life screens will be held on

[45:38] Octo September the 9th. Medicare appointments September 21st.

[45:44] ECU health screens September 29th. And coming up on October the 1st will be the

[45:50] annual aging expo held at Kirkwood Adams. [snorts] the fire department um

[45:56] is well chief changed but uh they're sporting it's now September 1st which is

[46:01] also lymphoma awareness month and the department will maintain its tradition

[46:04] of wearing the slime green colors to increase the awareness of firefighter

[46:08] cancer risks that um plague the profession

[46:12] and also September is uh suicide uh awareness month and so uh we've received

[46:19] uh some armbands to remind folks and also to promote the 988 emergency line

[46:25] or the health line um for anyone in crisis. Um Public Works is preparing for

[46:30] loose leaf collection season that will begin on November the 1st. They are

[46:34] assisting in securing vacant residential structures recently completed 217 Monroe

[46:39] and 126 Wilin Streets. [snorts] Uh and I'm in finance and HR. Um we've been

[46:45] facilitating the issuance of the um law enforcement bonuses that have been

[46:50] directed by the general assembly through the state bureau of investigation. This

[46:54] is part of the state's adopted budget. Um so there is a level of effort

[46:58] involved um with the city administration in that in addition to preparing for our

[47:03] fiscical year 26 audit services and uh closing out that fiscal year. Uh the

[47:10] city will observe the Labor Day holiday on Monday um September the 7th. So most

[47:14] of our facil most of our buildings or city offices will be closed. Believe is

[47:19] parks and recreation open TJ will be open that day. And then our next

[47:24] regularly scheduled um council meeting will be Tuesday the September the 15th

[47:29] at 5:30 p.m. And um Miss Thomas, are you prepared to to share some information? I

[47:36] I didn't want to leave you out, but um want you to share about First Fridays

[47:41] and the Bright Speed sponsorship

[50:48] subject to your questions. That concludes my report.

[50:54] Um, if I could make a comment on the uh meeting that we had over at Chhatt uh

[51:00] recreation department last night. I know you came in and police chief is he's not

[51:05] going to make make any comment. Is it okay if I do something on it right

[51:09] quick? It it was a good group of people there. It was it was pretty much full

[51:15] and um people asked a lot of good questions and it was very um easy to

[51:21] discern that the individuals that were there were very much interested you know

[51:26] we we've had some some comment about uh defunding or doing away with our police

[51:31] department to me and and Mr. Strickland and Mr. veil where they also it seemed

[51:36] like they were very much interested in uh enhancing our police department if

[51:41] anything much less doing away with it. So um they asked some really good

[51:46] questions. Uh they were very sincere about um the difficulties that they had

[51:53] experienced and it it wasn't in just one area of town. It was several areas that

[51:58] did people, you know, some live downtown, some live across 158. And um I

[52:04] thought it was I've been to a couple of those meetings. I thought it was by far

[52:07] the best one. And uh the chief and the captains that were there u provided good

[52:13] information for the people. And I mean, I felt like I got something out of and I

[52:18] think the people that came did also. So I I think if he can continue those

[52:22] meetings that they would um have have continued better uh attendance in people

[52:28] coming and um how how do you get the um material you need for the fall litter

[52:35] sweep? How do you get that from public works or where

[52:40] » uh there is a um request through you can make a request through the county um DOT

[52:47] office >> the county

[52:48] » through their maintenance office

[52:53] » I don't have the information in front of me

[52:54] » would it be possible for public works to kind of give us some spots that really

[52:59] needed I know I know one that pops into my mind is out where Henson Street comes

[53:04] out on 10th street in that curve Yeah, it's always it's always a bad place

[53:08] there. You think that's possible? >> I'm sure we can come up with some uh

[53:13] areas that state roads um that would benefit from that.

[53:16] » Okay. I mean, that's that's something anybody

[53:19] that can walk and bend over can do. Uh that's that's a good project and and you

[53:24] get you get immediate benefit from it. I mean, you don't have to wait and see see

[53:28] how it's going to look. As soon as you get finished, it looks nice. Does

[53:32] anybody else have any questions? >> Yes. Okay,

[53:36] » Kelly, where are we at for second

[53:42] » demolition? Uh the we have a order um for the

[53:49] demolition and removal. The owner of the property has not complied with that

[53:53] order. uh the city council if should desire we can

[53:58] uh we have the authority to complete the uh remediation which is demolition in

[54:04] this case. Um the planning department did solicit bids um back in April and

[54:11] did receive uh a bid in the matter of $500,000 for the demolition.

[54:17] Um at this time um that project is not funded. Um, and

[54:25] that's where that stands at this point.

[54:30] » Well, what do we got to do? >> Appropriations by city council in the

[54:36] form of a budget amendment would be appropriate.

[54:40] » Can I Well, Mr. Davis came back several months

[54:44] ago. Um, Representative Davis, he told us he could not help us if it

[54:50] was a private building. What would happen if we were able to to

[54:55] reach out to the owners and purchase it from them? Then it would be our building

[55:02] far as would it at least open up an opportunity for us to get some funding?

[55:08] We don't know we get it, but is that is that possible?

[55:12] and and maybe you can't answer that question right now.

[55:14] » That's a that's a dangerous choice for the city council to make until unless we

[55:20] are certain 100% that we're going to get that funding. Um that's a that's a

[55:28] dangerous choice. I think it I think it would be trivial for us to to take it

[55:32] into our possession, but then suddenly now we do have that liability. um you

[55:37] know, as it is now, you know, if if I hate to say it, but and I feel like

[55:42] I'm I'm maybe giving in to some kind of, you know, social media kind of whatever

[55:49] you call it, catastrophic kind of theories, but if the building were to

[55:53] fall down today and hit somebody, that's not the city's problem. It's not our

[55:56] It's not our property. Just because something happens in the city of Renick

[56:00] Rapids, it is not the city or our liability carrier or our problem.

[56:06] um if the city owns that building, it is absolutely our problem.

[56:12] And so I I'm I'm you know, if we had some kind of of absolute guarantee and I

[56:17] don't know how I don't know the the the function of facilitating that to where

[56:22] we have that level of guarantee, I I don't see otherwise we would we would be

[56:27] there and it would be taken care of. But um

[56:31] without that I would strongly discourage that from becoming city property because

[56:38] we are accepting a huge liability. Um, and

[56:44] you know, to to the to the I I guess going to the the original question, you

[56:48] know, we could clean up and and I think we

[56:51] we've kind of talked about this before, but just to put a fine point on it, the

[56:54] the city has would have the authority through various statutes to condemn and

[57:00] clean up a lot of properties that are derelict, you know, um

[57:07] that have become a public nuisance that um are in need of demolition. or repair,

[57:12] we have that ability to do that. We could very quickly bankrupt the city

[57:16] doing that. Um because those costs fall on us. And kind of like we've talked

[57:20] about before, the only way that you get those costs, you know, we could could we

[57:25] do a budget amendment and take $500,000 out of fund balance and demolish that

[57:30] building? Yes. Um I certainly would not suggest that. um if you ever were to do

[57:37] that or if you were to use any other kind of funding funding mechanism and

[57:41] and like I say, you know, unless you're going to our our budget is is our

[57:46] budget. There's really not really any give there. Um so you're so there's only

[57:50] two places else that well there's only one place else that the city could get

[57:54] funding um this fiscal year and that would be the fund balance. Um, you know,

[57:58] in a longer term program, could the city, and I I even hesitate to say it,

[58:02] but could the city raise taxes to fund demolition efforts? Yes. Um,

[58:10] you know, so unless there's some kind of outside grant or somebody that's going

[58:15] to give that money to the city, however the city is paying it, the assumption I

[58:20] think should be is that that is money that is going to that would be spent by

[58:24] the city that is not going to come back. Um, you know, the idea that, you know,

[58:30] you're going to go out and demolish a building and essentially create a vacant

[58:35] lot. Um, what does the value of a vacant lot at the corner of Second and uh, Reno

[58:42] Avenue have? Probably not very much. Um, certainly not $500,000

[58:48] um, worth. Um, and so, you know, it's we're we're kind of back at that that

[58:53] same kind of question when you have when you have aging buildings like this.

[58:59] And it's one of the reason, and I know I always say this, it's one of the reasons

[59:01] that our building codes are so that that modern building codes are so important

[59:06] is because one of the reasons why we

[59:12] require developers to build buildings in a certain way is so that they have a

[59:18] they have a a normal lifespan and that we don't have to worry about them during

[59:24] that lifespan becoming derelict or um because of, you know, shoddy

[59:29] construction or something like that becoming a a burden that's then borne by

[59:34] the public at large. Um, and so, you know, these obviously, you know, we all

[59:39] know that that that those buildings on Reno Avenue um are

[59:45] very old. They're certainly older than than I am. Um, and you know, they were

[59:51] when they were built, I I don't know, you know, what somebody had in mind as

[59:56] far as their their normal lifestyle, their their their

[1:00:01] um lifespan. Um, thank you. Um, I don't know. I don't know what folks had as far

[1:00:06] as their their lifespan, but obviously, you know, it it has come to the end of

[1:00:10] that. Um, and you know, does it need to be demolished? I think we all agree that

[1:00:15] that yes. um you know with with the with the level of asbestos contamination in

[1:00:20] there, there is no there's no other solution. You can't you can't remediate

[1:00:24] that. You got to go down to the you got to go down to the floor and if you're

[1:00:28] going to build something back up, build something back up. But um

[1:00:33] there's [clears throat] there's just it it's the city's real option unless

[1:00:39] there's unless you know the state creates some kind of program tomorrow,

[1:00:44] you know, some I don't know, you know, some um wealthy

[1:00:50] benevolent millionaire wants to uh give us give us some money to take care of

[1:00:54] it. Um, you know, other than, you know, something coming from outside,

[1:00:59] um, the only way that the city funds demolition out there is by either

[1:01:04] essentially taking from savings or creating new revenue to that level. And

[1:01:11] I, like I say, that's that's the dilemma that that that we're all in. And

[1:01:17] you know, it's one of those things where, you know, I think

[1:01:20] and and and maybe this is kind of getting outside of my role as city

[1:01:23] attorney, but you know, I know that folks want solutions for that. And I

[1:01:30] think sometimes they think that because there is no that they haven't seen any

[1:01:34] solution out there, because we haven't found the magic bullet or that maybe

[1:01:38] there is a magic bullet out there that we're just choosing not to use. Um,

[1:01:42] that's that's not the case. if we if we had some

[1:01:47] way of of solving this problem, I I I am pretty certain that the city would go

[1:01:52] down that road and do it. Um, so I don't know that that may be more than than we

[1:01:56] were looking for, more than I I have to say. I don't know if the city manager or

[1:01:59] the uh planning director has anything that that I may have missed or that you

[1:02:03] may think needs to be added. I'll just echo that we continue to look for and

[1:02:08] pursue remedies for that building and it has changed ownership since uh council

[1:02:16] uh adopted the ordinance on it. Um I think that the owner of record has maybe

[1:02:23] corresponded with the planning department one time but now at this

[1:02:27] point we don't hear back from any from we don't the current owner has been

[1:02:33] unresponsive. um on the level of effort for that

[1:02:36] building. >> I have a question. How many bids were

[1:02:39] submitted uh with the demolition? >> I I don't know. I think there could have

[1:02:44] been two, but >> two

[1:02:45] » uh is there is there any hope of getting a third or fourth?

[1:02:50] » Reasonable hope on that. >> We can rebid the project and see what we

[1:02:54] come up with see what the return is. Um we have advertised and that forbid a few

[1:03:01] times but because of the anticipated cost we do have to follow state

[1:03:06] procurement processes and receive a certain number of bids and then perhaps

[1:03:10] and if you still don't receive a certain number then you have to readvertise and

[1:03:14] upset. Um and so it could be a lengthy process uh that we're willing to pursue

[1:03:19] on that. that the struct standalone buildings like residential homes or

[1:03:24] standalone buildings are much easier, but when they are uh when there's party

[1:03:28] walls and shared walls, there's also structural conditions that you have to

[1:03:32] be aware of and concerned about is um in those scenarios. But

[1:03:38] um we'd be glad to pursue um additional bids for that property.

[1:03:45] » Can we get a consensus on that? Maybe just going to get

[1:03:49] try the bid process one more time. >> So, you're saying you put it out for bid

[1:03:53] or do you contact each you pick out people in contact or you just advertise

[1:03:58] we want to bid on demo demo in this building?

[1:04:00] » There has to be a formal um bid procedure uh advertisement and scope of

[1:04:04] work. So, um we would have to follow the general statute guidance and our in our

[1:04:10] procurement policy on that. Um and a council action is not necessarily

[1:04:15] required since you've already adopted the the order for the demo and

[1:04:20] clearance. And so um we can again pursue that um with the cost of advertising

[1:04:27] um as part of the process. >> For some reason I was thinking it was

[1:04:31] 250,000. I don't know where I got that number.

[1:04:33] » That that figure was >> when you told me five I went wild.

[1:04:36] » That figure was shared several years ago.

[1:04:38] » Okay. um >> inflation

[1:04:41] » and and the majority of the costs have to do with the wood, the disposal of the

[1:04:46] material there. It's a lot of brick, metal, wood um and those materials

[1:04:52] assuming assuming contamination uh have to go to uh asbestous receiving landfill

[1:04:59] um under certain treatment conditions. And when she when the city manager says

[1:05:05] assuming contamination, it's not we assume that it's contaminated. It's that

[1:05:09] the law requires us to to assume that they are contaminated. That is it's it's

[1:05:14] not it's not a well, we're just guessing they are. No, we know that they are. And

[1:05:19] so because some part of that structure is, the law forces us to treat all of

[1:05:25] the materials that come from that site as being contaminated. So it's not like

[1:05:29] somebody can sit there and kind of shift through and say, well, you know, this is

[1:05:33] this is asbestos contaminated, but this this part over here isn't. We are

[1:05:37] required by law to assume that all of it >> and a lot and and that is because the

[1:05:43] unsafe conditions of the building don't allow a full asbestous survey to be

[1:05:48] conducted uh where all the materials can be tested.

[1:05:54] And generally before in in under the normal process or the routine process,

[1:05:58] you have to remove the asbestous before you're issued a demolition permit. But

[1:06:03] the unsafe conditions warrant that you're it's you're not able to go in and

[1:06:08] effectively remove the asbestous containing materials um prior to

[1:06:13] starting demolition activities. So everything has to be treated as

[1:06:17] asbestous through approved methods uh through environmental services.

[1:06:25] The walls, I understand, are like eight bricks wide, thick. So, you know, it's

[1:06:31] probably it's probably not going to fall when the roof continues to go down. So,

[1:06:37] I mean, we we might be looking at 30 or 40 more years unless we get a violent

[1:06:41] storm or something. Everybody on this council and probably

[1:06:46] the people that work for the city and and then anybody else that has people

[1:06:50] that come from out of town They want to know what's going on

[1:06:54] downtown. So, I think we need to continue to to

[1:06:59] try every angle to see if there's any money that can come from somewhere.

[1:07:05] » Now, you said you going to follow up on the Brownfield cleanup and assessment

[1:07:11] grant. >> Yes. Um,

[1:07:15] as part of the Brownfield Coalition, there's a meeting next week that will

[1:07:19] discuss the 27 application period. >> Any reason why they decline 2425

[1:07:29] 26? >> Those reasons? Well, it's a very

[1:07:33] competitive program through the United States Environmental Protection Agency

[1:07:37] and um they're regional applications and so people all over the United States

[1:07:42] review different locations. our applications have been competitive um

[1:07:48] but there's not enough money to serve all and so um those grant applications

[1:07:54] um are typically for a 3 to 5 year um period of performance and

[1:08:02] um we work with the upper coastal plane

[1:08:06] council of governments um because the regional applications are determined to

[1:08:12] be the most success successful option And so um there is feedback that has

[1:08:19] been shared with the applicant, you know, with applicants as far as we'll

[1:08:23] learn more about what we need to do to improve our application. Um but again,

[1:08:28] it's it's a very competitive program. Um buildings all across the United States

[1:08:32] are experiencing similar conditions. um they were built 100 plus years ago and

[1:08:37] and um but really the the owners failing to maintain and then neglecting their

[1:08:45] properties is how we end up where we are. and and you know and I kind of said

[1:08:50] it but she kind of said it too and I I think it is something to kind of keep in

[1:08:53] mind is the kind of course of of building over the the 20th century and

[1:09:00] the 21st century and that this is a problem that is not is not unique to

[1:09:06] Reno Rapids. It's a problem that that a lot of towns our size and smaller have

[1:09:11] in that you have um a a significant amount of especially commercial

[1:09:19] um structures that were built in the middle

[1:09:23] part of the 20th century and they they've just reached the end of their

[1:09:27] lifespan. And um you know because like cities in

[1:09:33] our case have have built out and kind of moved away from their main streets um

[1:09:37] because of the cost of remediating a building versus just building something

[1:09:41] new. um

[1:09:44] you kind of end up in in these situations where you have an an aging

[1:09:50] um main street in our case and in a lot of cases that um

[1:09:56] the the costs just make it proative probitative for even the for for the

[1:10:01] owners to remediate. And at that point, you know, that there comes a point where

[1:10:07] the exposure to them is, you know, that there's there's nothing

[1:10:11] that you can do. I think we've talked before about when something is held by a

[1:10:15] LLC when it's and and that's the only asset. Yes, I would we would love to be

[1:10:21] able to go after um the individuals involved in the LLC, but the fact of the

[1:10:26] matter is is you generally cannot do that. Not not for a liability such as

[1:10:31] this. Um, if courts allowed you to pierce the corporate veil in scenarios

[1:10:37] like this, you wouldn't have LLC's. There would be

[1:10:41] no there would be no point in that that corporate protection. Um, is that fair?

[1:10:45] Is that right? In this case, it really does, you know, hurt a city like ours in

[1:10:51] that um, you know, a a the an LLC can own or a a corporation or

[1:10:59] corporate entity can own a piece of property like this with no other assets

[1:11:03] and basically say, well, you know, it's a there's we don't have any other

[1:11:06] assets. We just have liabilities. Um, and so that that really, you know,

[1:11:12] constrains our our ability to be able to um

[1:11:17] recover anything. You you can't get blood from a turnup. Um and and you

[1:11:22] know, unfortunately, regardless of what what some people may want or or may, you

[1:11:27] know, depending on how you look at it, be just, you know, we're not going to be

[1:11:31] able to go out and and drag the members of that LLC and and throw them in jail

[1:11:37] or or threaten them in any way to get them to to do that. That's just not

[1:11:40] something that legally we have the tools for in in this state

[1:11:44] or in in the country. Um, and so anyway, that like again that that may be kind of

[1:11:49] getting outside of of the kind of specific instance we're talking about,

[1:11:54] but that's the [clears throat] that's the context that we're in. So,

[1:12:00] » okay. Thank you, Mr. Davis. Anything else needs to come before us tonight?

[1:12:06] Mayor, I'd like to um suggest I think I've talked with a couple of council

[1:12:12] members about this upcoming um fall litter sweep and I think this would be a

[1:12:20] great opportunity for us to assist our citizens in getting our areas cleaned

[1:12:28] up. Um Mr. Manning, I think it was said that you could provide bags or something

[1:12:34] from the county. Is that correct? >> Oh,

[1:12:39] » from DOT house for state first roads. >> Okay, great.

[1:12:43] » It's Mr. Love. >> Um,

[1:12:46] I just like to put the word out if we have organizations that are willing to

[1:12:52] do some community cleanup during the during that time. They've designated

[1:12:57] September 12th through the 26 to please

[1:13:02] do so. let me know personally if we have other council members. I think Mr. Bale

[1:13:09] and Stain had possibly agreed. We'd be happy to come out and help do some work

[1:13:15] and, you know, help beautify our city. I don't know what we can do, how much

[1:13:22] difference it'll make, but if it's only two or three yards that we get done,

[1:13:28] it's going to make it look better than, you know, we not doing anything. and we

[1:13:33] invite other community groups to join in and let us know if you need the bags or

[1:13:39] whatever and we can set a schedule as to where we want to work during those some

[1:13:46] of those days. Thanks. >> I like that idea.

[1:14:01] motion. Second second

September 1, 2026 - City of Roanoke Rapids Regular Meeting Live Stream

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