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Residents urge city action on boarded homes, election integrity and longer comment periods
Summary
Three residents urged the Kinston City Council to address a long-standing abandoned house and drainage issue, raised concerns about the recent mayoral election certification under state law, and asked that public-comment time be extended to five minutes.
Three residents used the public-comment period at the Kinston City Council meeting on Jan. 20 to press the council on neighborhood safety, election certification and citizen participation.
Janette Blue, who identified herself as living at 615 Marcella Drive, said an abandoned house at 507 Marcella Drive has remained unboarded during the five years she has lived nearby and that open doors and windows make her feel unsafe. She also asked the city to clear a drainage ditch behind her property that causes standing water during heavy rains; she said past complaints took months to elicit a response and that fencing issues had been cited as a barrier to action. Blue said the former Teachers Memorial School has been closed and boarded up for about three years and inquired about the city's plans for that site.
Quarla Blackwell of 804 Chestnut Street raised concerns about the recent mayoral election, asserting that "the election process lacked integrity" and that the mayor was not legally certified according to the North Carolina General Statutes, and urged the council to deliver on campaign promises including audits and homelessness policies.
Tharol Branch of 1204 Macon Street congratulated Mayor Kareem S. Moore and thanked former Mayor Don Hardy, then asked the council to consider restoring five-minute public-comment periods (from the current three minutes). Branch described past advocacy that he said had cost him personally and urged the council to consider all Kinston citizens when making decisions.
The council did not take immediate action on any of the specific requests during the meeting. Citizens seeking follow-up on property maintenance or drainage were not provided a deadline on next steps during the public-comment period. Blackwell's assertion about election certification was raised as a comment to the council and was not resolved or addressed with a formal response during the meeting.
