Larry Chalker

The City Council meeting included a virtual presentation of the 2026 Pavement Condition Survey, which detailed the status of city streets and provided recommendations for future funding and repair strategies. The council approved budget amendments for a library donation and a Safe Kids Grant awarded to the Police Department. Administrative updates were provided across various departments, including Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Main Street development, Fire, and Human Resources. Additionally, the council discussed the McCrory building project progress, ADA website accessibility requirements, and reviewed the year-to-date financial standing for the General Fund.

Key discussions during the meeting included the adoption of the business agenda and committee appointments for the Roanoke Canal Commission, Senior Center Advisory Committee, and Library Advisory Committee. The council formally accepted the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Audit Report, which indicated an unmodified opinion and an unassigned General Fund balance of 63% of annual expenditures. A major topic was the consideration of Ordinance No. 2026.06 to appropriate $71,828.00 in Fund Balance to cover additional storm response and recovery expenses from the May 16, 2025, storm, as the initial $250,000 amendment proved insufficient. Additionally, Ordinance No. 2026.07 was adopted to appropriate $3,799.00 in SHIIP Grant funds for the Senior Center. City Manager updates covered the Main Street structure inventory progress, upcoming Police Department community crime statistics meetings, progress on lighting and fencing installation at the Emry Skate Park, Senior Center programming, and the approval of a pedestrian safety project for TAP funding consideration following a fatality at a major intersection.

The meeting agenda was adopted after tabling one item and removing another. Public comments focused heavily on the recurring issue of deferred maintenance concerning city roads and recreational facilities, with specific concerns raised about the lack of a presented five-year plan. Another public comment addressed the proposed gradual increase of the rescue tax from one cent (1¢) to five cents (5¢) over five years to fund critical equipment replacement, such as a 21-year-old heavy rescue truck, noting that 96.4% of recent calls occurred within city limits. A primary New Business item involved the consideration and adoption of Ordinance 2026.01 to demolish the historically significant but dilapidated dwelling at 100 Hamilton Street due to code violations and owner failure to repair. Additionally, the Council adopted several budget amendment ordinances: Ordinance 2026.02 for a $250.00 donation from Tractor Supply to the Police Department, Ordinance 2026.03 for a $250.00 donation to the Fire Department, Ordinance 2026.04 for accepting $6,366.53 from the AFG FEMA Grant for the Fire Department, and Ordinance 2026.05 for accepting $5,067.00 in SHIIP Grant funds for the Senior Center. The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Calendar was accepted, outlining key dates leading up to the July 1, 2026 start date. City Manager updates included recognition for the Police Chief's certification, progress on cybersecurity email migration, site work completion for the Emry Skate Park, a recent ISO Survey of the Fire Department, Main Street Committee activities, exploration into a Regional YMCA, plans for windstorm damage reimbursement, negotiation of a Collegiate Summer Baseball League agreement, and updates on local development projects including Cross Creek Parkway. The Finance Director reported that General Fund year-to-date revenues exceeded expenditures by $2,258,247.30 as of December 2025. The Council concluded by entering and exiting Closed Session to discuss a personnel matter, and upon returning to Open Session, unanimously approved a 3% retroactive salary adjustment for the City Manager.

The City Council meeting included the adoption of the business agenda following the removal of Item 9. Key discussions involved approving two budget ordinances. The first ordinance adopted Ordinance No. 2026.08 for $10,500.00 to replace damaged bleachers at Ledgerwood Park, necessitated by a prior insurance reimbursement that reverted to fund balance. The second ordinance adopted Ordinance No. 2026.09 for $15,000.00 to accept a donation from Angels Closet designated for youth sports. City Administration provided updates on the Pavement Condition Study, community engagement crime statistics meetings for the Police Department, the start of the Adult Industrial League Basketball season, Library and Roanoke Canal Museum events, plans for the Emry Park Skate Park ribbon cutting and trail relocation, enforcement of sign ordinances, and the official welcoming of the Roanoke Rapids Static collegiate baseball team. The Finance Director reported that year-to-date General Fund revenues exceeded expenditures by $2,365,628.90 for January 2026. The Council convened into a Closed Session to consult with the City Attorney.

The meeting agenda was amended by removing a Closed Session item and moving it to the subsequent meeting. Key discussions involved proposed amendments to the City's Personnel Policy, identified through the implementation of the NeoGov operating system. These amendments included changes to the effective date of salary changes for 12-hour and 24-hour shift employees, adjustments to Fire Department shift employee holiday compensation rates, modification of vacation and sick leave accrual rates to align with two-decimal place system operations, and clarification of 'working days' in the Rights of Appeal section. Resolution No. 2025.14 adopting these personnel policy amendments was approved, effective January 1, 2026. Additionally, Ordinance No. 2025.41 was adopted to appropriate funds from the FY 2024 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, totaling $214,429.62, to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure. The City Manager's report highlighted staff achievements, holiday closures, upcoming submission of the 2025 Annual Performance Report, completion of Certificates of Occupancy for Stateside Landing Family Apartments, commencement of skatepark construction, implementation of "First Arriving" software by the Fire Department, future demolition ordinance consideration for the "Turtleback House," upcoming work on a new 7-Eleven site, and the Finance Department's scheduled independent auditor presentation in January 2026. Finance Director Johnson reported that year-to-date revenues exceeded expenditures by $2,085,950.22 for November 2025.