[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6482331,"mediaKeyId","5669796-bee713d552738183153af7f2f2d53820","parentId",5669796,"title","Council discusses options to honor fallen Nash County deputy; staff to gather community input and cost estimates","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2525000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5669796-bee713d552738183153af7f2f2d53820&start=2525&end=2525","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5669796-bee713d552738183153af7f2f2d53820/thumbnail_2525000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6482331/Rocky-Mount/Nash-County/North-Carolina/Council-discusses-options-to-honor-fallen-Nash-County-deputy-staff-to-gather-community-input-and-cost-estimates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482331-8ada997c6ac9c930661d9cc8207b7a82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202315&Signature=Bi0a2NO1tcgyzYbu6Dlk6n2g1UlvSVSyGOWLfmEEDUzWHQbAVlBf0KhA~VII4LNezwpcEuu6jH5P0J6xjWYLWlF~~kGtXLFvHNPtlyifxD1iMCSF5jVLHFQgOutvfktXuEy7gT~E-JbApX99~fL3V2pFER8TfopIMESaJndDi3eUBv9p0Ei70TPABLZTvegSbFOr4jpbFJPhfzcSVaUaI0HfCSV-4sAV-FR-rE2FBQuZ1wgNN8AmINYI-HgS1M4kMcW2js6qloKvapJN00zETlUKkwR7BcT3E1e~LIIMG3hc4nP8iwpYRAIZo5vOki6PU~YkL63Y5zr-ZXJ36jZC9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rocky Mount","date","2025-08-22T11:04:33Z","article","City staff presented a request Aug. 25 from the Nash County Sheriff’s Department asking the city to approve a resolution supporting the naming of the bridge at US Highway 64 and US Highway 301 in honor of fallen Deputy Jared Allison.

Donald (city staff) summarized the NCDOT requirement that the local governing body where a bridge is located approve a resolution supporting an application to name a state-maintained bridge. Donald said Deputy Allison sustained severe injuries in a collision while on duty on Thanksgiving night 2020 and died Dec. 1, 2020. Donald told council Rocky Mount has 48 NCDOT bridges and approximately five remaining unnamed bridges staff considered significant.

Staff presented three options for council consideration: approve the request as submitted (support the bridge-naming application), erect a stone or wall monument at a highly visible city location such as Battle Park, LK Junior Park or Sunset Park, or pursue other commemorations (for example, naming intersections or other features) and gather community input. Donald took questions and said staff would research process and cost alternatives and follow up with the sheriff’s office.

Several council members supported a visible monument and suggested expanding the concept into a public-safety memorial that could honor fallen police and fire personnel who died on active duty. Council members also flagged the precedent and equity questions around dedicating a limited number of bridges and noted the difference between city-owned streets and state-maintained roads, which would require NCDOT approval for a street name or bridge dedication. One council member noted prior memorials in the city (MLK memorial and Veterans Memorial) were largely community-led and fundraised, and that a new dedication might use a different funding approach if placed in an existing park.

Next steps: Staff will collect community input, identify visible and appropriate locations, develop cost estimates and report back to council with options and recommendations. No resolution or vote was taken on Aug. 25.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council. Special Called Committee of the Whole Meeting, August 25","oneSentenceSummary","Nash County requested a bridge be named for Deputy Jared Allison; Rocky Mount staff presented alternatives including approval of the bridge-name request, a monument in a visible park, or other commemorative options and will collect community input and cost estimates before returning to council.","taxTitle","Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina","taxId",5685,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6482335,"Rocky Mount staff outline plan for downtown \"social district\" with labeled cups, signage and sanitation plan",2068,657000,2725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5669796-bee713d552738183153af7f2f2d53820&start=657&end=2725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5669796-bee713d552738183153af7f2f2d53820/thumbnail_657000.jpg","/articles/6482335/Rocky-Mount/Nash-County/North-Carolina/Rocky-Mount-staff-outline-plan-for-downtown-social-district-with-labeled-cups-signage-and-sanitation-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482335-2aac0ef00f26cdbab02c9d92b426bb8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202315&Signature=aUPToNNfQwNRtfmumERrjdBjWfarCK4yHOlOhhSaP0S4b08a1DsMhnHdgP-eQZRne8bXX78cpOlBVsWsoLJHmVTLF7TzCjaLqCx3SDRNUp3885bxvaFDQe6BRipvup69Lb3l5OgLNuI11k98cQjbx88MHPDts8CBqb5P0rNOwoPFYM~bKp3-vuQ8G5IcdWPoBBNOtG7As3Md3fEMA-HLs8BtfA7ZJMvXKPDTFMIv3BUumFbW8~EAm35XH62vb5fH7WFOYrGpdHEK5TLUo60SP~C0kEdDxXVK~KS8752hn9QOfoB4LnPslwxzE0UcuycKMAJyo3QWaP1TMQD~CGqb1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a proposal Aug. 25 for creating a downtown social district in Rocky Mount, a designated area where people 21 and older may openly consume alcoholic beverages purchased from participating ABC-permitted businesses.

Assistant City Manager Nikki Hill summarized legal and operational requirements for social districts established under state law and described a proposed local approach: \"Some of the key requirements of social districts, we have to adopt a local ordinance. Businesses that participate the ABC permitted businesses that participate have to have labeled drink containers. They have to be non glass and no larger than 16 ounces,\" Hill said. She described signage, a maintenance and sanitation plan, business opt-in, and an approval/notification process involving the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (NC ABC Commission).

Why it matters: If adopted, the district would change how alcohol is consumed and managed in the core downtown area, requiring new city signage, sanitation services and business participation agreements; staff said the measure is meant to increase foot traffic and support downtown businesses while maintaining public safety.

Core implementation details staff presented include a recommended initial boundary covering the core downtown (presented in a map staff showed), mandatory labeled clear cups no larger than 16 ounces that display the business name and pour date, sidewalk decals and large maps with “you are here” indicators, boundary signage with hours and law-enforcement contact, and a sanitation and maintenance plan owned by the city and participating businesses. Staff recommended operating hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. as the initial schedule, noting municipalities studied by staff seldom extended hours past 11 p.m.

Staff recommended beginning stakeholder engagement in September, holding targeted listening sessions the week of the 15th–17th for business owners, churches and the public, drafting an ordinance and management plan for council approval, submitting the management plan and ordinance to the NC ABC Commission, and launching promotion and signage with a target launch date of Oct. 31, 2025. Hill said some nearby municipalities the city reviewed reported increased foot traffic for events and no spikes in crime tied to social districts; staff emphasized the need for \"a robust stakeholder engagement approach.\"

Council members and public commenters pressed staff on sanitation costs, potential impacts to downtown churches and special events, interaction with private-property social districts (which staff said can be established directly with the NC ABC Commission), enforcement and how the event center would participate. Hill said the event center is inside the initial boundary and could participate; Sergeant Derek Cooper (police alcohol enforcement officer) will be part of the implementation team responsible for enforcement and outreach.

No ordinance was adopted on Aug. 25. Staff will return to council with an ordinance, management plan and a recommendation after stakeholder engagement and the design of signage and communications.

","Assistant City Manager Nikki Hill outlined a proposal for a downtown social district that would let adults consume alcohol in a defined public area in labeled non-glass cups, require an ordinance and management plan, and begin stakeholder engagement in September with a target launch on Oct. 31, 2025.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6482340,"Rocky Mount staff propose city code changes to allow beekeeping beyond agricultural zones",819,260000,1079000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5669796-bee713d552738183153af7f2f2d53820&start=260&end=1079","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5669796-bee713d552738183153af7f2f2d53820/thumbnail_260000.jpg","/articles/6482340/Rocky-Mount/Nash-County/North-Carolina/Rocky-Mount-staff-propose-city-code-changes-to-allow-beekeeping-beyond-agricultural-zones","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482340-1efe947051a2ab048d3cccceb62da461/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202315&Signature=haguMP5R34vosHjCKE4QIOPqMbl1ZqrWVNj3Zt85FrKOn2-LaJS7TVS6lkJbE84JCkZZU02lnD6lRa3TJ9lfqNGWwdCDkNCTLxMIDRiFNa~EyD2iKokTw~vOeXhQkvQErPWK7QIIxdu4rAPJ49INxm1qlM74kOvsFmsvEkT2eN1eYj2pUaDZ8GJ5OA6B2z0lJ02-lR6nRXyVTDbIeIaUDTZR84FDyLYWvKnfmQpkLoa6DfEvv4GRS-upTUQ7pD-YenjdrKbh5jaiH-6AtoBA8d1jnVuh2-YESDXeBVjBm6DVTXuAzw3~fc~3b6Rjtbx9CFfzaW0Vv92yUmLcrsm5Fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a draft amendment to the Rocky Mount city code on Aug. 25 that would expand where residents may keep honeybees and add permitting, inspection and safety requirements to align local rules with state law.

Assistant City Manager Joseph (staff presenter) told the council the city’s current ordinance restricts beekeeping to agricultural (A1) zoning parcels, while state statute allows beekeeping on many kinds of parcels. \"The proposed amendment does align with best practices. We did consult with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture,\" Joseph said. He described permitting, siting and inspection requirements intended to promote public safety.

Why it matters: The change would legalize and regulate hives that some residents are already operating and standardize requirements across the city so local regulation conforms to state law.

City staff said the draft would permit rooftop and ground-level hives on a stable, secure foundation; would prohibit placement in front yards; would set minimum setbacks from property lines and adjacent residences; and would allow additional hives for larger lots (an extra hive per additional 5,000 square feet). The proposal also calls for a barrier to reduce drift from hive entrances, an on-site water source for bees, and an annual inspection by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture with results provided to the city’s animal services unit. If hives are not maintained safely, animal services would require the owner to remove them or remove them through city processes.

Several residents and council members commented during the discussion. A speaker who described attending a recent honeybee event praised the city for public education. Other commenters asked whether rooftop hives would be permitted; Joseph answered, “Yes. It would allow for keeping [hives] on a roof or at ground level.”

Next steps: Staff said the item will come back for formal action at the council’s next meeting in September if council is comfortable moving forward. No formal vote or ordinance adoption occurred at the Aug. 25 session.

Provenance: City manager introduction and Joseph’s presentation began the discussion of the proposed amendment; council questions and public comments appear later in the same segment. The draft ordinance is awaiting placement on a future council agenda for formal consideration.

","City staff presented a proposed amendment to Rocky Mount’s city code to align local rules with state statute on keeping honeybees, add permitting and safety standards, and bring existing permitted hives into compliance; council will consider the ordinance at its September meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council discusses options to honor fallen Nash County deputy; staff to gather community input and cost estimates

Rocky Mount staff outline plan for downtown "social district" with labeled cups, signage and sanitation plan

Rocky Mount staff propose city code changes to allow beekeeping beyond agricultural zones