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Rocky Mount council approves grants, contracts and a sewer agreement; several members recused on funding votes
Summary
The Rocky Mount City Council approved multiple budget appropriations, grant and loan agreements, a wholesale sewer contract and contracts for planning and consulting work; several council members recused themselves on items tied to outside nonprofits.
The Rocky Mount City Council approved a package of ordinances, grants and contracts, including housing repair grants, funding to support homelessness services through an outside organization, a building reuse grant and related loan and nonprofit agreements, a wholesale sewer purchase agreement with the town of Nashville, a comprehensive land-use-plan contract and updated banking authorizations.
Key actions approved by the council included:
- A project ordinance appropriating $700,000 from the State Budget Appropriations Fund for additional distribution of grants administered through the city's housing repair and rehabilitation programs. Motion: Councilman Knight; second: Councilman Joiner; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- A project ordinance appropriating $300,000 from the State Budget Appropriations Fund to distribute grant funds to an outside organization to address local homelessness. Motion: Councilman Jabaris Walker; second: Councilman Harris and Councilman J.T. Walker were recorded as seconding. Councilman Richard Joyner recused himself from this vote because of his position with the charity in question; the ordinance was approved by voice vote.
- Authorization to execute a Building Reuse Grant Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Commerce for $375,000 for Memorial Hospital and to execute a loan agreement with OIC. Motion: Councilman Joiner; second: Councilman Jabaris Walker. Councilmen Knight and Blackwell recused themselves from the related votes; the agreements were approved and the mayor and city clerk were authorized to execute the documents.
- Approval of a nonprofit agreement with OIC for $175,000 (allocated $100,000 for a construction trade program and $75,000 for Youth Connect). Motion: Councilman Joiner; second: Councilman J.T. Walker. Councilmen Knight and Blackwell again recused themselves; the agreement was approved.
- Approval of a wholesale sewer purchase agreement with the Town of Nashville. The council noted the original agreement dated May 1985 and that the contract provides for successive 10-year renewal terms. Motion: Councilman Joyner; second: Councilman Harris; outcome: approved.
- Award of the RFP for a comprehensive land-use plan, Imagine Rocky Mount 2050, to Benchmark CMR Inc. for a total cost not to exceed $180,250. Motion: Councilman J.T. Walker; second: Councilman Joiner; outcome: approved. Staff said the process will be open and include public and council engagement led by Development Services.
- A resolution updating banking authorizations at PNC Bank to include the city manager and the finance director as primary authorizers for depository accounts and treasury management services. Motion: Councilman Knight; second: Councilman Harris; outcome: approved.
- Authorization of a street closure at 709 Lincoln Drive between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on July 19, 2025. Motion: Councilman Joiner; second: Councilman Knight; outcome: approved.
The council also postponed a public hearing to the July 28, 2025 meeting. Several routine consent items (minutes, bid awards and resolutions) were approved by voice vote.
Where members recused themselves, the meeting record identifies the recusal but does not provide a recorded roll-call tally in the transcript. The mayor and city clerk were authorized to execute contracts and agreements as listed.
