With the city set for an injunction hearing later this upcoming week, Roanoke Rapids Mayor Emery Doughtie says he would most likely OK a show that is planned for the Roanoke Rapids Theatre in September.
The show, set for Friday, September 24, features the Easy Street Band, a regional act which blends country, rock and the band’s originals. The show, which starts at 7:30 p.m., was booked by the band’s management and an outside facilitator. Tickets are being sold through Ticketmaster.
“He must be confident he’s going to be here a month from now,” Doughtie said of Lafayette Gatling, who the city is suing to regain control of the venue.
Doughtie said, however, he doesn’t have a big problem with letting the promoters go ahead with the show should a judge grant the injunction, which would allow the city to control the theater as litigation continues. “As far as I’m concerned, if it’s a benefit to the community, it depends on what it would demand from us.”
If the city felt the promoters were demanding too much officials might have a problem with it. “If it’s a legitimate act we would let it go on,” the mayor said.
At this point, anything is better than nothing, the mayor said. “It may be too late to book the theater for Christmas shows. You can’t have but so much. If I was running it, I would want to hit the ground with my feet running and get some benefit from it.”
Meanwhile, Doughtie said today it appears the city will go to court on the matter some time this week. He said an email from the city manager indicated City Attorney Gilbert Chichester was optimistic a judge would hear the case this week.
Gatling’s attorneys filed an extension on July 21 to review the suit. The extension expires Monday.
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.
