Yes, Roanoke Rapids, there will be a Christmas parade.

Mayor Emery Doughtie announced during tonight’s city council meeting that Citizens Community Bank has given a donation that will provide the funding for the parade.

Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon will organize the parade. A date has not been set. “We owe you a great deal of gratitude,” the mayor said to Simeon.

An organizational meeting will be held next week, Simeon said following the meeting.

In other matters tonight:

Council approved an amendment to the city’s cemetery rules and ordinances that make it mandatory that graves shall not be less than four feet. The amendment also requires that remains be enclosed in a vault or urn. Urn vaults are only required for wooden or biodegradable urns.

Public Works Director Larry Chalker said in a memo to council the amendment was to clarify variations in burial types, those being burials in a casket or wooden box without a vault and burial in the ground with no vault.

Chalker said he talked with funeral homes in the community, which agree with the amendment.

Police Chief Jeff Hinton presented a certificate to Sergeant Mike Moseley for obtaining his intermediate law enforcement certificate.