The injunction hearing to determine whether the city will get temporary control of the Roanoke Rapids Theatre is set for Thursday morning.

“All we’re asking for is control,” Mayor Emery Doughtie said today. “We feel like we have a better chance if we just try to get control.”

The mayor said the city would come back later to argue the remainder the of the lawsuit it filed against Lafayette Gatling.

The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 1 at the Halifax County Courthouse.

Gatling’s attorneys filed an extension on July 21 to review the suit. The extension expired 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.