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Roanoke Rapids council approves parade road closure, dissolves a small fund and rejects school crossing-guard cost-share
Summary
The council approved an ordinance to close Roanoke Avenue (N.C. 48) for the Christmas parade, adopted a budget ordinance to dissolve Fund 16 and transfer $62,139.34 to Fund 10, appointed James Herring to the area planning board, authorized a grant application for the Rural Transformation Grant, and voted not to participate in a 50% cost-share for Cross Safe school crossing-guard services as presented.
At its 2024-09-17 meeting, the Roanoke Rapids City Council approved several routine items and a separate motion declining the school district’s proposed 50% cost-share for a Cross Safe school crossing-guard contract.
Parade road closure: Police Chief Guyant asked the council to adopt Ordinance 2024.25 to permit a temporary closure of Roanoke Avenue (N.C. Highway 48) for the Roanoke Rapids Christmas parade scheduled for Dec. 8, 2024. The council moved to adopt the ordinance so staff could apply to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the needed closure permission; the motion passed by voice vote.
Planning-board appointment: The clerk reported that James Herring applied for a vacancy on the Roanoke Rapids area planning board (term through 06/01/2027). Council members moved and seconded a nomination that had previously been balloted; the council approved Herring’s appointment.
Grant application: Director Anderson outlined the Rural Transformation Grant (RC2 category) and said a resolution of support is required with the application due to the North Carolina Department of Commerce on Oct. 1, 2024. The council adopted the resolution authorizing submission; staff said the application did not obligate city funding at submission.
Budget ordinance: The finance director proposed dissolving Fund 16 and transferring its balance to Fund 10 to simplify bookkeeping. The staff figure for the transfer was $62,139.34; the council adopted Budget Ordinance 2024.26 to dissolve Fund 16 and move the stated amount.
Cross Safe proposal declined: The school district requested the city reimburse 50% of a Cross Safe contract to provide school crossing-guard services; the district indicated about $56,000 in contract costs versus ~$51,000 budgeted and noted current off-duty officer costs near $47,000. City staff said a memorandum of understanding was drafted but recommended exploring alternatives because the funds were not allocated in the current fiscal year and a budget amendment would be required if the city agreed to participate. Police Chief Guyant expressed reservations about the program’s fiscal suitability for the city. Councilman Strickland moved that the city not participate in the Cross Safe cost-sharing as presented; the council approved that motion by voice vote.
Other business: The city manager announced community events, a MAPS-led position classification study to begin next week and a public survey to inform the Police Chief recruitment process. The finance director gave a routine fiscal update on receipts and expenditures.
Votes: Most actions on the consent or regular agenda were approved by voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public transcript for these items.
