While there is still the question of who will ultimately control the Roanoke Rapids Theatre, one question may soon be answered when Public Works Director Richard Parnell presents cost estimates to City Manager Paul Sabiston on lawn and landscaping upkeep at the venue.
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Currently, dandelions grow in the small green area in front of the theater and a similar area that divides one of the roads from the paved area where busses once dropped off visitors.
Grass is growing through parts of the pavement and, while the request doesn’t mention upkeep of the building, there is mold on parts of the building and the some portions of the roof appear to need cleaning. The city did both before L&M Hospitality signed an agreement to buy the building through a lease to buy deal, which the city last week ended.
Parnell declined to discuss the figures with rrspin.com until they are presented to the city manager.
Clearly, if the city should take control of the theater, the duties of lawn upkeep would fall back to public works as would the maintenance on the building, with Parnell using his staff as well as inmate labor.
“We’ve been asked what equipment we would have to have, how many men it would take to cut the grass and landscape and mulch the beds,” Parnell said.
What ever happens, the issue of the grass at the theater needs to be addressed, he said. Asked if the theater fell in the same category in the nuisance ordinance as other parts of the city, Parnell said, “My answer would have to be, ‘yes.’”
The city has already taken over maintenance of Wallace Fork Road to Aurelian Springs Road and Carolina Crossroads Parkway, which means cutting the rights of way, which has been done once. “As activity picks up we will put more effort on a routine schedule,” he said.
Meanwhile, the issue of who will control the theater remains under negotiation, Mayor Emery Doughtie said today. “If we move to regain control it should not be long term. We’re not going to sit and not do anything.”
The city has not ruled out Lafayette Gatling continued involvement in the theater, the mayor said. To do so, however, Doughtie said, “He will have to show us more evidence that he’s able to fulfill whatever agreement we come to. We’re trying to come to that agreement.”
