Neighbors press Wendell officials over persistent generator, landlord‑tenant concerns in Cobblestone neighborhood

Residents of the Cobblestone neighborhood raised repeated concerns during public comment about a tenant who runs an emergency generator overnight and alleged disruptive behavior and property damage.

Ronaldo Oliveria told the board that neighbors had repeatedly called non‑emergency police and that the generator "runs all night long." He asked whether the town could direct repeated police calls away from 911 and seek court intervention through the district attorney to address chronic nuisance issues.

Neighbor Keith Davis said he lives behind the property and described efforts by the owner, Robert Sweet, who has pursued eviction in court, but said the tenant — identified in the remarks as a long‑term problem — remained and that the generator was being run past the 9 p.m. cutoff established in the town’s noise ordinance. Davis said the tenant had large dogs and was altering the house, creating a neighborhood disturbance.

Town staff and police clarified the limits of municipal authority. Planning staff said Wake County Inspections is reviewing whether the property's electrical hookup is safe and proper and that code and minimum housing standards can be pursued through inspections. The town confirmed the Wendell Police Department conducts nightly checks at 9 p.m. when officers are available to enforce the noise ordinance, and staff emphasized the matter is primarily a landlord–tenant civil issue. The manager and planning director said the town would continue enforcing the noise ordinance and building code matters where applicable but could not directly substitute for a landlord eviction process.

The board did not take formal action; staff said they would continue noise ordinance enforcement, building/inspections follow‑up and police checks and encouraged the property owner to pursue civil remedies for eviction.