Lafayette Gatling’s Roanoke Rapids Theatre debt could reach $1,066,765 by December.
Mayor Emery Doughtie believes the matter will be settled before then.
Gatling’s current debt to the city, as of Tuesday, is $473,950, according to figures provided by the city. That is the difference between payments received from March 1, 2009, to May 1 — $1,446,327 — and the amount due from March 1, 2009, to August 1.
The last payment the city received from Gatling was $35,000 in March.
“Obviously, it’s out of my control,” Doughtie said today. “I’m confident (the matter will be settled) before then.”
The mayor said the city should be able to request a hearing in civil court for the week of August 23. That hearing would center on an injunction included in the lawsuit the city filed against Gatling. “We hope we get favorable treatment and get control back.”
Having control of the venue, even though the matter may still be in litigation is important to the city because it can at least begin to have shows.
The city has received interest from numerous people, some qualified with talent to run venue. “We’ve had a wide array of people call.”
The mayor said the city can’t just physically remove Gatling from the theater because it is the same situation as any landlord and tenant arrangement, “If you physically remove him you’re going to be in trouble. It’s frustrating to us. We must abide by the law.”
The seven page civil lawsuit contains four evidence exhibits which include the notice ending Gatling’s contract with the city, a letter demanding the property and past due rent back, the lease agreement with the city and the contract for Gatling and L&M Hospitality to buy the 8.822 acres of land on which the venue is located.
The city contends in the lawsuit it entered valid contracts with Gatling through the lease and agreement to buy the land. The city says it has complied with the terms of the documents and that Gatling has committed material breaches of the documents while the city has given notice they have not been corrected.
