Condolences Goes Out To Mother Lois Lewis Wife Of Pastor Malcom E. Lewis & The Entire Diggs & Lewis Family Of The Late Gregory Diggs Laurinburg NC

Condolences goes out to Mother Lois Diggs Lewis & the entire family of the late Gregory Diggs Laurinburg NC.

Gregory Diggs is the brother of Mother Lois Diggs Lewis who is the wife of Pastor Malcom E. Lewis who is the pastor of Anderson Chapel MBC Macclesfield NC and St. Stephens MBC Goldsboro NC. They reside in Nash County.

Visit Lawrence Jackson Funeral Home Inc. for more information.

Edgecombe County Commissioners Meeting Monday February 7, 2022 7:00 PM

AGENDA

REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY

FEBRUARY 7, 2022 AT 7:00 P.M.

IN THE CARMON AUDITORIUM

 COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING

TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

******************************************************************************

1.         MEETING CALLED TO ORDER.

2.         SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.

 

3.         PRAYER.

 

4.         MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL.

January 3, 2022; January 11, 2022

 

5.         SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS.

            A. Julius Moody, CSBG Director and Nichelle Cole, Executive Director, NEED,

     Inc. presentation of CSBG Work Plan. (Attachment #1)

B. Twin County Opioid Settlement Committee – Presentation of needs related to

     the opioid crisis. (Attachment #2)

C. Introduction of Connor Pippen, West Edgecombe Ruritan Scout Troop 587 and

     candidate for a Citizens in the Community Merit Badge. (Attachment #3)

D.  Michelle Etheridge, Interim Health Director, to present COVID-19 update.

      (Attachment #4)

 

6.         PUBLIC PETITIONS.

·      Public present should state name and address for public record. (limit 3 minutes)

·      Mr. Evans to read public petitions submitted via email or postal mail.

 

 7.        OTHER BUSINESS:

            A. Consideration of approval of budget amendments. (Attachment #5)

 

                 (Recommended action:  Approve budget amendments as presented.)

 

            B. Consideration of approval of change of mileage reimbursement rate.

                  (Attachment #6)

 

                 (Recommended action:  Approve as presented.)

 

            C. Consideration of Sheriff Atkinson’s request to sell service weapons. (Attachment

      #7)

 

     (Recommended action:  Approve request.)

 

  8.       APPOINTMENTS: (Attachment #8)

            A. ABC Board.

                       

  9.       AFTERLISTS AND RELEASES FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

10.       CONTRACTS FOR REVIEW AND/OR APPROVAL.

11.       DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOR REVIEW.

            A.  Water and Sewer update.

            B. Monthly Financial Summary.

            C. Vehicle needs for Sheriff’s Office.

           

12.       MANAGER’S REPORT.

            A.  Workforce Development indicators.

            B.  QVC update.

            C. Proposed date for Commissioners Retreat – March 21^st.

            D. Update of FY 20 and 21 audits and fiscal improvements.

            E. Sales Tax report.

            F. Introduction of new Maintenance Director.

   

13.       COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT.

 

14.       ATTORNEY’S REPORT.

15.       CLOSED SESSION.

            A. Economic Development. [N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(4)]

 

16.       ADJOURN MEETING UNTIL MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2022 AT 7:00 P.M.

Condolences Goes Out To The Entire Family Of The Late Gerald Wayne Abrams Sr. Pinetops NC

Condolences goes out to the entire family of the late Gerald Wayne Abrams Sr. Pinetops NC.

Gerald was the founder of Abrams BBQ.

Visit Carlisle Funeral Home Inc. for more information.

Press Release: RMPD Investigates ATV Crash

Rocky Mount, N.C. – On February 4, 2022, at approximately 4:00 p.m., officers responded to a single motor vehicle crash involving an ATV near the intersection of Nashville Rd and Bethlehem Rd. When officers arrived, they located a juvenile who sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the crash.

The juvenile was making a left turn onto Hammond Street from Bethlehem Rd and ran off the road to the left, traveling down an embankment submerging the ATV in the Tar River.

The juvenile’s Uncle, 30-year-old Antwon Lowe, was riding with the juvenile on a separate ATV when this incident occurred. He was charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of A Minor and the Illegal Operation of an ATV on a roadway. Both ATVs were seized.

Over the past months, the Rocky Mount Police Department has investigated motor vehicle crashes and careless and reckless operations involving ATVs. Unfortunately, the crashes resulted in multiple operators and passengers of these vehicles being seriously injured.

ATVs are prohibited from operating on public streets and highways per North Carolina General Statute 20-171.19 to ensure the safety of all motorists.

About Rocky Mount: The city of Rocky Mount, located in the Coastal Plains of North Carolina, was incorporated in 1867 and lies in Edgecombe and Nash Counties. Rocky Mount is a two-time All-America City on the Tar River. Serving as the Gateway to Eastern North Carolina, the city’s 875 employees serve approximately 58,000 residents daily.

The city’s mission is to advance community well-being, safety and quality of life by delivering excellent public services and actively collaborating with the community towards a fulfilling and inspired future for its citizens. As a publicly-owned utility, the city of Rocky Mount is committed to safe, reliable service for its customers and operates in Nash and Edgecombe counties, providing customers with electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater (sewer), refuse, recycling and/or stormwater services.  To learn more, visit www.rockymountnc.gov for news and updates.

Rochelle Small-Toney Resigned As Rocky Mount City Manager So Why Would Someone Say She Was Fired?

The noise around Rochelle Small-Toney has been quite interesting. Some say she was fired. But I have never heard of anyone getting fired and then continue to have ties with the entity. It is sad that the discussions on the local Social Media pages, TV and Radio stations are not dealing with the facts but talking about issues from an opinion standpoint.

Small-Toney to step down as city manager

Small-Toney leaves post after tumultuous tenure

Small-Toney to be paid nearly $205.7K in settlement with city

Over $205K settlement brings Small-Toney’s tenure to end

About:

The DCN News Blog Online TV try to bring factual information to the people about issues and people.

Rocky Mount Housing Grants Concerns What Is Real And What Is Perceived?

I have been receiving some inquiries about the grants conversation and my response is that I listen to the noise and then I follow what all say and then see how the conversation play out to see if someone in position of power respond with what should be or should not be. Because I have not been at the table, don’t know how the process works, I can’t give a factual response. I base my responses on issues based on the facts as received. Because I don’t have the documents to how certain things suppose to be, I just wait until the facts come out. What I do is listen to how the council, city attorney respond and an entity that can either agree or disagree with him.

I was asked is the city giving out the grants wrong. What I got out of the noise is that some folk are mad about meetings were not announced, lack of transparency and how persons were chosen to receive the grants.

It is sad that the discussions on the local Social Media pages, TV and Radio stations are not dealing with the facts but talking about issues from an opinion standpoint.

The following are some articles about grants:

Councilmembers defend $805K in housing grants

Housing grant initiative spurs backlash

Residents criticize, question funding for housing grants 

Family rebuts insinuations of impropriety about relative with past record slated to receive city housing grant

Legal experts say council subcommittee meeting should have been open to public

About:

The DCN News Blog Online TV try to bring factual information to the people about issues and people.

Arnold Gordon Bray and Thomas Walker: Small-Toney a trailblazer who fought the good fight

The DCN News Blog Online TV response: Interesting article however so many folk will not read it because they don’t subscribe to the paper. Articles like this need to be talked about on the local TV and Radio Stations however they have other ulterior motives. But all they have to do is talk about it all and not just the part they want known because of their personal agendas.

Rocky Mount is a wonderful place with an opportunity to grow in immeasurable ways. However, it seems that it cannot retain progressive leaders to counter a history of reluctance to change.

The impetus for the timing of this joint editorial is the fact that Rocky Mount currently has successfully run off our city manager, Mrs. Rochelle Small-Toney. Both of us see this effort as similar to the leadership’s unwillingness to accept former Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Jackson six years ago — too much, too quickly and too much pressure on people: change.

Neither of us knew Rochelle before she arrived, but after knowing her story, we were both impressed by who she is. We thought we should share our view.

Our city manager was a tenacious business leader, having been an assistant city manager in several larger cities. Like anyone who does a tough job, she has a trail of people who did not like her. Even with nay-sayers, she thrived and continued to be recommended for better and higher positions of authority.

Rochelle’s “haters” here began throwing darts from the moment she was publicly announced. The hate and effort for removal intensified when an audit turned up improprieties of more than 22 years in Rocky Mount. Most issues centered around the absence of ethics and policies of more senior council leaders — leaders who will be here when she is gone. (Read more)

City panel hears complaints about long waits at downtown railroad crossings

The DCN Online TV response: Interesting topic something that has been going on for years and years. The train track not only is the dividing line when it comes to the Twin County and it’s racism but when the train is sitting still Black and Whites can’t cross the tracks. Funny I was in Wilson yesterday on Nash Street and I was like wow Amtrak has the street blocked. However I made a right turn on a street and was able to go around. It will be interesting to see how the problem is solved.

Complaints about CSX freight trains sitting halted for extensive periods of time on the railroad tracks downtown came up during Thursday’s meeting of the Central City Revitalization Panel.

Specifically, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Farris asked city Public Works Director Brad Kerr why the freight trains, in particular, are allowed to sit downtown and block vehicle crossings for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, with no movement at all.

Kerr was before the downtown improvement and preservation advisory panel to make a presentation about proposed projects in the heart of Rocky Mount.

Kerr spoke briefly about an on-hold, roughly $5.5 million pedestrian crossing that would be an elevated structure above the railroad tracks downtown. The proposed crossing did not remain on a 2021 list to receive federal transportation funding.

After Kerr spoke about the proposed crossing, Farris, who serves on the panel by virtue of his position, brought up the subject of the CSX freight trains.

Kerr replied, “We don’t have any legislative control over that. We have made CSX aware of those concerns. I have had conversations and emails myself with their public liaison.”

Kerr told the panel that the feedback he received is that the Florida-based railroad company, which has a rail yard in the southern part of Rocky Mount, has changed how it operates.

“The trains are longer now and so the only way for them to switch up, because of the length of the trains, is to use part of that track,” Kerr said. “And that seems to be contributing to why the delays are longer than they used to be, from what I understand.” (Read more)