Council, with Greg Lawson making the motion and Carol Cowen casting a second, based its vote on a recommendation by City Attorney Gilbert Chichester.

“The city is not obligated to refund voluntarily,” Chichester told the panel. “The city did not set the property values. We got a portion of the increased taxes. All three entities — the city, county and the Weldon school district — benefitted by the values being higher.”

Said Chichester: “Although we did nothing wrong, we did benefit from the increased taxes. They wanted the city to refund the excess amount.”

While denial of the refunds could possibly result in legal action by the University of North Carolina Center for Civil Rights, which has been representing the community since it was annexed and later de-annexed by the city, the attorney, said, he felt confident the city didn't do anything that led to the higher tax values.

Chichester said he didn't base his opinion on a decision by county commissioners last month to do the same thing. “When the property values increased, the property owners had a right to file an appeal. None of them did. They paid the taxes.”

If the matter did come to legal action, Chichester said he doubted it could be proven the tax was illegal and discriminatory, not racial discrimination but in an equitable taxing way.

Roanoke Rapids Theatre

Worsham talks to council. (Steve Dennis for rrspin.com)

In a matter related to the entertainment district and the Roanoke Rapids Theatre tonight, council heard from Welton Worsham of Four Oaks, who told them, “I do believe the Lord has a plan for the theater to be a light unto men.”

While Worsham did not outright say it during his scheduled public comment time, Mayor Emery Doughtie said following the meeting the intent of the man's talk was that the theater should be a church.

Under terms of the contract, however, the theater has to be for the intended purpose of providing entertainment.

Worsham told council, “The Lord sent me here,” and related a story about how one day, with no prior knowledge of the venue, he got in his mother's Mustang, “And drove down the road,” the car almost on empty.

After an hour and a half the car ran out of gas on Interstate 95 parallel to the theater.

Council had no comment other than Doughtie telling him they would take his comments under advisement.