City Council - Regular Meeting

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Uh, good evening, good night everybody. It is around 10:26. This is the DCN Smoke Live. Uh, I said I was coming on at 10:30. uh coming on a little earlier trying to um hope people are tuned in but if not they um can uh go back and uh look at the beginning um later. Uh, I want to talk about the Rocky Mount city council appoints uh, chief budget for the and strategy uh, officer. Let me correct that. Uh, let me go back. I tell you the smartphones be putting words in uh that you don't put in here. Trying to make some corrections, y'all. Okay. All right. Um again, um this is the DCN Smoke Live. Uh going to try to be very brief, but want to touch on a couple of things. um got the press release today about the um

uh uh city uh manager Elton Daniels has appointed um Kimberly Leonard, CPA as the city of Rocky Mount's new chief budget and strategy officer effective um April 27, 20 26. Uh, let me see here. I already did that. Let me see. Hold on. Let me see. No. Hello. Um, okay. Here we go. Um, I got a couple of messages today, seen a couple of um, comments today about the position. And sometimes I wonder, am I at the same meeting that some folk are at? And sometime I wonder uh uh do I just hear things and other folks don't? And also if I didn't hear it, I record it live. See the rock and mount recorded live. So it ain't like you can't go back and listen to it and that that you miss. You can pick it up. But I found out that folk just um hear what they want to hear and say what they want to say. And I'm to the point now where I just say uh

let the chips fall where they lay because like I said at the last I would be I would just do a a maze on some of these folk. I mean cuz just get sick and tired of being sick and tired. But I'm going to get on into it. Uh what I came on for Okay. Uh city manager Elton Daniels again has appointed Kimberly Leonard CPA as the city of Rocky Mount's new chief budget and strategy officer effective April 27th, 2026. Um, the appointment reflects the city's continued efforts to address prior physical challenges through stronger budget controls and enhanced financial oversight and corrective planning measures while building a more stable and sustainable financial foundation for the future. Leonard has no Leonard brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in budgeting, organizational strategy and operational performance. Her background includes senior roles in municipal and county government where she led budget development, capital planning, performance management and cross de department initiatives, cross departmental initiatives designed to uh streng accountability and improve service delivery. Kimler brings exceptional local government experience,

strong physical judgment, and a pro proven ability to align strategic strategy with execution. Daniel said, "At a time when discipline, planning, accountability, and thoughtful resource allocation are more important than ever. This position will play a critical role in strengthening how the city develops its budget, evaluates priorities, and measures results. As chief budget and strategy officer, Leonard will lead development of the city's annual budget and capital improvement program while advancing long range planning, performance management, and strategic initiatives that strengthen service delivery. The role will also provide executive leadership with datadriven insights to support sound decision making operational efficiency and long-term sustainability. Leonard most recently served as budget and evaluation director for the city of Fedville, North Carolina, where she led the development and administration of a 315 million operating budget and a 411 million capital improvement program. Prior to her tenure with the Fed with Fairville, she served as budget manager for Penda County, North Carolina, where she supported the development of an operating budget exceeded 100 million. During her time in Penda County, she redesigned budget processes and training programs, resulting in a 17% reduction in budget amendments. a certified public account. Leonard also

holds certification as a certified local government budget officer and certified local government finance officer through the UNCC school of government. She earned her master of public administration from the University of North Carolina women. Daniel say I am honored to join No. I am honored to join the city of Rocky Mount and appreciate the opportunity to serve this community. Leonard said, I look forward to working with city leadership and employees to advance responsibility, responsible budgeting, strategic decision making and reliable service delivery for residents. Now, um, this administration, the new city manager, Elton Daniels, he's the new city manager. The former city manager, Keith Rogers, is gone. who created this mess. Unlike some folk want to uh uh uh say he's made a scapegoat, but that's cuz y'all asses ain't been paying attention. Won't paying attention. And you definitely ain't paying attention now. Because how do you um uh compare this administration with the previous? You have two new administrators. One came from LGC and you just heard the credentials of Miss Leonard. So, how in the hell do you continue to compare the two administrations?

Um, I got a call today. Not a call. I got a message, couple of messages today and seen some comments. Well, people talking about they um um didn't see the salary. Well, obviously you weren't paying attention. Um um can't comprehend or just don't give a damn. Um, and I'm going to play it in a few minutes, but I'm looking at the comments on the City of Rocky Mount page. Just going to read some of the comments. Uh, uh, Will Kendra says, uh, God speed. Rich Winger, who used to work for Rocky Mount, went to Wilson, came to a meeting the other week. Andre had to check him. Uh worst thing was the one that uh when we were doing the electric cities thing, that's how we found out about electric cities. Had end up being that true tabernacle back here in the early 2000s after the flood. And that's when we learned that um about the electric cities and and and the deal that was made and the buns. I'm trying to find a list of the bun holders that I had. Um, you got a uh a CJ Jonah said, "Welcome abroad." Uh, Deborah Hunt last says, "We'll count on you, Miss L. You have quite the challenge ahead of you. We pray for your success." You have a Jesse Strange, a name I've seen many times. You better cross your tees and dot your eyes when the books go bad. Again, counselor is going to be looking for a scapegoat. See, that's the that's the

poop right there. as some of that Rocky Mount concerned citizen crowd always got to throw in a damn negative. You got a black city manager. You got two strong uh uh uh white uh females who are very very very qualified. Uh um and and the probably the best you could have in the position in this time to get Rocky Mount back on track and then you post some stupid ass mess like this. Uh, Frank Bandandy, I thought they had a hiring freeze. They should fire a few managers before they hire some anyone. Again, obviously, this person is not paying attention, can't comprehend, or don't give a damn cuz I'mma play it a little bit. Um, but I always figured out that it takes money to make money. So, even if it was not a hiring freeze and you need somebody to do the job to get you out of the mess, what's the damn problem? Um, who this uh Michelle Johnson said, "Welcome to the jungle. More poop. Hide more, find more, balance out poop. I didn't see a salary poop. Welcome Earl Jones. Uh uh uh uh uh come to every meeting. He talking about where's the cuts? He the same one that came to the meeting, the last meeting with those uh uh figures about other towns, what they were paying

and what Rocky Mount paying and Ruben Black had to put his ass in check. Ruben told him to look it up. Oh, no. He wanted Reuben to tell him where to go find it. No, you brought the poop. Then you bring back the facts. You folk just say stuff and then when somebody challenge them, they can't bring no receipts. Crazy. Um, see is there anything else I want to share before uh um I see the budget regression. I see some numbers here. Not going to even try to um uh u figure that out. Maybe I can get somebody on to tell me what that mean. Um I trying to figure out stuff. Um it says uh uh fiscal year 2026 budget adopted budget 292669 650 advised budget was carry forward 310,694 802. Then it's got the currently revised uh uh FY2026 budget 278,953 322 and then it says uh fiscal year 2027 the apartment request 256,000 568 158. Now I'm not going to even try to fool with that. Maybe I can get somebody to come on. But listen to this right here though. This is what I want you to do. Listen to this. So it's the the rate adjustment times

the number of accounts we have times our percentage of coherent um normal percentage of completion of election. Yes. Um so we yeah we so we are you backing it um out to um where in this call has identified the percentage of collections that we can help we get on these type of accounts. So um so that's where that collection

and thank you Mr. Manager for sending the um email. I didn't get the chance to read it because I just received it when I got here but received sending an email with the collection information. So if you can um help me, what is our current collection rate? I know as you just raised it on April 1st. So we we don't have any data on what um going forward our collection rate, but what is the current collection rate that Miss Paul gave you?

The um the percentage that um that she provided us is 98% 92%. very um based on these most recent months. Um but it's normally you once we you have t every it the further out we get we collect some more. So it it ranges around 96% in normally and right uh right now we're at 94.

So you're basing the uh 2.2 at 92% collection rate. Um that's the um the percentage that uh that we're using is 94%. 94%. So things more conservative.

So with the 15% increase, you think we're going to go up 2% in our collection rate cuz one of the things that I'm very concerned about is overestimating revenue. And I I think you spoke on that to the LGC as well that it won't be happening anymore. And we on a tight leash with the LGC. you're watching everything we do. So to approve that we're going to receive that type of revenue based on our collection rates current and you're saying with a 15% increase you're expecting us to get some 2% more in collections. No council going at around a 94% collection rate. what we anticipate being is 98% once we have uh reconciled everything and we continue for the next several months of collection.

But I think what you're saying is it's 92% in the current month and you give it a 90-day period of time and it clouds closer to 98%. We're using 94% as a projection to come up with $610,000 that we're asking for reclassification.

That's that's correct. Um but also to um maybe put your to put your concerns at ease is for each of these for these months that are in um fiscal 26 that we're in now. All of these funds are going towards the reserve. So we're we're not increasing any expenditures. If you see each each one of these um is um either um going um it's either going towards reducing a revenue that we now believe is overstated or it's going towards rebuilding the reserves in um in those accounts. And depending on if you you flip through the actual entries depending on which type of account we're using it's it's doing that. It's not increase expenditures at all. So this the intent of this agenda I is to um illustrate that the increases for this fiscal year are going towards um building reserve or taking care of um some of those situations where we probably did overestimate the revenues. And when she was saying reserves, she's saying uh basically fund balance. So balance adding the fund balance.

Yeah. But I just my my question and my concern is basically on the 2.2. You said that is based on 98%. Is that what you said? Collection because I I heard I heard 92. So help me understand look motion in a second. You're you're asking about 2.2 and a projection into the forward in the next year. No, it's not. It's that project which is a more appropriate question for budget and and I'm and I'm absolutely 100% where you're tracking and I want to know all these answers too, but but I'm not sure how that Let me explain how it helps. Please break it down in a short break.

We have historically overestimated our revenue. That has been said a numerous amount of times. We're saying, and you help me if I'm incorrect, that by June, are you saying by June because of the utility hike, the 15%, how much are we going to collect by June?

We um the the additional changes are u the one the one mill and um but that but that goes towards other other things. So the the change in the operating budget is to increase operating budget by 610,000. Okay. Based on how much this this utility hype, how much are you expecting to collect by by June?

No. Yeah. No, I'm saying how much in Dallas are we expected to collect my Let let me pull this up that we can look at because this is important, mayor, because we was we was told we was told at the meeting about us over 89 revenue.

I look I absolutely agree. It's 100% important. I don't know how it's germanine to the $610,000 uh appropriation increase that we're talking about in terms of a budget amendment. Uh, we got a motion in a second and I want to hear all the answers and the collection rate, all those things are incredibly important. But we've had our staff say, look, we anticipate 92% collection based on the last 3 months. Um, if you extend that out 90 days into the future, that rate has been 96% and we expected to get to 98%. In order for her to come up with $610,000, she is conservatively estimating 94%. of of which I I think I feel like all the questions have been answered. So what I'm asking is how is the $2 million conversation helpful in getting this program?

So we're saying in gas we're estimated to um collect $34,000. Is that correct? 300 3004,000 in gas. We're we're we're um looking to collect between now and June 1st, June 30th. June 30th. Okay. So, we're in a shorter months now where gas is not being used as much. So, that $34,000 that we're expect to collect. Now, how are you quantifying that?

The the rate increase times the number of accounts times um the 94%. Just let me just be clear the 94% is a conservative estimate. We feel strongly that we'll be 97 or 98%. So the 94% is very conservative. It's just not increasing our uh expenditures at all. This is just revenue received. So if we don't receive that revenue, we'll present another budget that recognizes that revenue. The the point is that when the LGC was supposed to and mention stuff about uh uh over projections for revenue that was based on us using that as a balance the budget because we had expenditures that is not the case here. This is the case where we're just trying to recuse recognize sorry the additional re and putting it back to our reserves.

Okay. Oh, so historically that 304,000 in gas that we projected that we will receive, right? How have because you said that's on the based on the collection rate. Is that based on these months? Historically during these months we received um a certain amount of money that's um close to this 304,000 plus a 15% increase. And what have we historically received during these shoulder months in in gas collection? It's based on the collection rate which you just stated, the accounts that we have based on the time period that we currently Yeah. certainly on 94%.

And what have we historically received during these shoulder months during these months that you're projecting that we're going to receive 304,000? I don't have the dollar amount here, but the percentage is usually higher than 94%. That's why we're being conservative on our estimates. So the percentage rate is typically in the 97 96 range, but we're being conservative saying 94

dollar amount. I understand the percentage but dollar amount during these show months. What have we have have we historically received during these this period of time because what was said too was that we have gone from one year where we had reduced income and revenue and then the next year we even raised it higher. So I need to know historically what have we received so during these shoulder months and what have we received? Now, when I say shoulder months, these are the months that historically people are not using gas during the cold months. So, we said we received 304,000. Historically, what have we received during those months?

Council Robertson, I don't have the historical data in the packet today. Okay. Okay. So, I'm going to I'm going to let it go, but if you co-sign them, it came to us from Ken. You looked at it. You're putting your name, your credentials that co-signed it and you said this is the amount of money that we're going to receive based on your on the collection. Yes, the best the the best estimate. Yes, the best estimate.

I am saying that. But also what I'm saying is this agenda item is setting those additional funds aside to rebuild the fun mountains. There's no there's no additional expenditures that are being made. It's um it's to offset some of those revenues that we do believe were overestimated and and so that's that's the purpose of it and we will uh I believe you know I believe based on information you know I have today that this is a good number. I will also be tracking this stuff. So, uh, and being able, you know, to, you know, provide, you know, what our, um, you know, how well we're meeting our expectation.

Appreciate it. Wow. Wow. Wow. We're going to get there, y'all. I I played that part first, so maybe more people come on, but we're going to come up on the uh on the uh budget uh uh salaries and all that. But um I I just don't understand. Andre gonna say it right here though. Maybe he's not, but he gonna say it later.

Yes, real quick. And and we stated earlier in our meeting that these numbers are being vetted and they're not being overestimated and um historically normally we collect 96 to 97% taxes, 98% of utilities. I'll be collecting the rears and so by June we will have collecting February through May. So at this point I would like you to call question. All right Mr. SC questions been called. All in favor say I. I. All oppose like sign.

All right. Item 14 is consideration of personal pay classification amendment as follows. And I I want everybody to know and and to understand that we've had extensive conversation with this matter. Uh this move this request is both budget and cash flow neutral. In other words, what that means is the FTE another department. It is unfilled and the rate of pay is consistent with what we're currently spending. So this is budget and cash flow neutral. Reclassification is uh listed below. The range is consistent 122 with the reclassified range. This time I'll receive a motion to adopt the resolution. So move motion made by Councilman Knight. Is there a second?

Second. Second made by Councilman Blackwell. Is there any need for discussion? Yes. Councilman Robertson. I was recognized. Okay. everything that I heard from the LGC um sitting there. Um they put us on a short lease and they um you know if we had one hiccup then we we risk being taken up. So out of respect for them I would like to um table this and get approval from the LGC before we vote on this.

Okay. There's a table. Is there a second for the table? There is no second. So I've got a motion and a second. Um all in favor please say I. All oppose sign. Yes sir. Again I just don't understand why Charles think somebody is going to change their motion. They got agree to it. This tableabling mess and all that foolishness. Why do he think uh those that made the motion is going to accept his amendment to a motion and a table to a motion? I I just don't understand

question. I did. Um I wanted to um I I as we discussed earlier uh heartburn about this at first but hearing uh from our manager and clarity around this. Um Mr. Manager if you could just to the public um speak to operationally how this helps us uh not to be able to find ourselves in the pitch that we found ourselves in.

Yeah. The goal is to find someone uh with who's qualified and has experience in local government uh budget and strategy to make sure that moving forward when the city is going through budget processes that our our numbers are are accurate uh based on the best information that we have available. Uh as the mayor pointed out uh this is not uh creating uh a a net new position. It is freedom license position that Arley currently have. And with regard to our uh marketing communications director, uh the assistant city manager that I hired several months ago has been uh doing dual roles and will continue to do roles as a part of our restructure. So in essence, the assistant city manager has been the communication director for the last several months and understands that that's going to be a permanent role for him. So you have the savings in that uh in that position as well.

Thank you. Council Knight, I'll recognize you. Then, Councilman Forest Walker,

before you get the Benedict, I said the LGC must have two faces because they telling the manager, Cheryl, and your staff and at least five or six of us hearing something different. They must have two faces. And you explained to us in the back and you committed the whole purpose behind this and the LGC which some said the LGC wouldn't take the uh plan. Mr. Candid wouldn't uh recommend the plan but they accepted the plan first. And so um I just want to say Mr. Manager of Staff keep doing what you do. You heard what Reverend Henderson said. you know, let's keep the pace and and just, you know, believe we're going to get out of this and we are. And so again, Yelton and your team, thank you. Thank you for doing what it's hard to do, but you're doing the right thing. Thank you.

Okay, that moves on to uh Councilman George Walker recognizing. Uh TJ asked a question. Madam, I'm going to move on to item 15, which is consideration. Please say I all oppose Lan. And we stated earlier in our meeting that these numbers are being deaded and they're not being overestimated and um historically money we collect 96 to 97% of taxes 98% of we collecting a rears and so by June we would have collected February through May. So at this point I would like you to call questions.

Questions been called. All in favor say I. I. All oppose like sign.

All right. Item 14 is consideration of personal pay classification amendments as follows. And I I want everybody to know and to understand that we extensive conversation with this matter. Uh this move this request is both budget and cash flow neutral. In other words, what that means is the FTE is another department. It is unfilled and the rate of pay is consistent with what we're currently spending. So this is budget and cash flow neutral. Uh reclassification is uh listed below. The range is consistent 122 with the reclassified range. This time I'll receive a motion to adopt the rest push. Motion made by Councilman Knight. Is there a second?

Second. Second made by Councilman Blackwell. Is there a need for discussion? Yes. Councilman Robertson. I was recognized. Okay. Everything that I heard from the LGC um standing there um they put us on a short leave and they um you know if we had one hiccup then we we taking our rest. So out of respect for them I would like to um table this and get approval from the LGC before we vote on this. Okay. And there's a table. Is there a second for the table?

There is no second. So, got a motion and a second. Um, all in favor, please say I. All post like sign. Yes, sir. Council motion passes away. I did. Um I wanted to um I I had as we discussed earlier uh heartburn about this at first but hearing uh from our manager and clarity around this. Um Mr. Manager if you could just to the public um speak to operationally how this helps us uh not to be able to find ourselves in the pitch that we found ourselves in before.

Yeah. The goal is to find someone uh with a who's qualified and has experience in local government uh budget strategy to make sure that moving forward when the city is going through budget processes that our our numbers are are accurate uh based on the best information that we have available. Uh as the mayor pointed out uh this is not uh creating uh a net new position. It is red position that Arley currently has. And with regard to our uh marketing communications director, uh the assistant city manager that I hired uh several months ago has been uh doing dual roles and will continue to do roles as a part of our restructure. So in essence, the assistant city manager has been the communication director for the last several months and understands that that's going to be a permanent role for him. So you have the savior in that uh in that position as well. Thank you,

Councilman Bar Walker.

Before you get to Benjamin, I said the LGC must have two faces because they telling the manager Sher and your staff and at least five or six of us hearing something different. They must have two faces. And you explained to us in the back of the whole purpose behind this and the LGC which some said the LGC would take the uh plan. Mr. Kennedy wouldn't uh recommend the plan but they accepted the plan at first and so um I just want to say Mr. Manager staff keep doing what you do. You heard what Reverend Henderson said, you know, let's keep the faith and and just, you know, believe we're going to get out of this and we are. And so again, Yelton and your team, thank you. Thank you for doing what is hard to do, but you're doing the right thing. Thank you.

Okay, that moves on to uh Councilman Joris Walker recognizing. Uh TJ asked a question. have dark. I'm going to move on.

All right. So, all these folks that got all the damn answers ought to do your research. And it's simple. All you got to do is go back and look at the video of the meetings. And then if you can't comprehend, ask some damnbody what was said. It just tickles the hell out of me. Grown folk, educated folk that say and do some of the ignorant mess I have ever seen. But it's because uh they're listening. It's the culture in Rocky Mountain. the culture. They listening to the noise on uh uh uh uh uh reading the noise on Rocky Mount concerning citizens uh uh uh that's creating the culture and has created the culture in Rocky Mount is shut down. Somebody new started. You got the special seas over there. You got the safe negroes over there that's pushing the special seas agenda. Uh, it ticks the hell out of me when I go places and people talk to me about uh what's going on in Rocky Mount and then when I explain to them, it ain't like you're here and they well when they in my presence they get it. Now, I don't know what they do after they leave me, but they act like they sincerely get it when I explain it to them. Especially uh uh about the the car

uh uh uh they talked about the car that Andre Knight uh supposedly had bought and then they found out that it was his son car. Then you have folks say, "Well, he bought it for him. But damn, don't you buy for your children? Even if that was the case, but his son works. Now, I don't know who Card is. Don't give a damn who Card is. All I know is a black man that works and like he has his own business. If he can't buy whatever the hell he want, then what the hell he working for? See y'all focusing on the wrong folk. I just don't get it. Yes, I do. I get it. It makes no sense. You will not give the current staff, the current uh city manager. Uh uh now he's hired a chief budget and and uh um strategy person. Uh you got the finance director uh that came from LTC. two are probably the most qualified you'll probably find, but at least uh uh the most qualifying uh uh uh at at this current time to be able to uh uh uh attempt to get Rocky Mount out of the financial crisis because they have the experience. But see, it's going to be the role that the citizens play in order for them to uh um get the city where it needs to be.

Um I'm just waiting. Some said uh uh the city don't have a plan. Uh where the cuts and all that. Well, damn. You talk about LGC. Well, they got to have a plan. You talking about they under their watch. You got to see the council me Monday. You just had one two weeks ago. You getting the the reports. That's something we weren't getting when Keith Rogers was here. But no, y'all ain't like y'all are the staff. Y'all want to call the shots. Some of the council members want to call the shots as if they know the numbers and how to do the dayto-day operation. It just tickles the hell out of me. And there's some listening to the noise and the poop coming from Rocky Mount Consered Citizens, WHITV, WNCR TV, Rocky Mount Consered Citizens, other individuals and then think they can uh uh come up with a plan. All they focusing on is cut salaries and cut what they want instead of giving the the staff and the city manager a chance to do their job. Well, you've been fighting trying to kill Andre and Ruben's

integrity and character for 20 plus years. The folk were silent even on the council because they played into that culture and it almost cost you the city. OIC, Andre Knight, Ruben Blackwell were not named in the audit. And again, y'all been they been they've been had y'all heads for 20 plus years. Y'all to be damn tired. I'm tired of being tired of watching y'all be ignorant when the facts are out there, but you don't give a damn about the facts. I can see if you were children, but you grown folk and just mad. You're mad and just keep poop stirred up day after day, day after day. Same old repeating the same old miss videos post pictures same old poop day after day when you going to get tired. I'm just gonna see uh uh uh what take place Monday at the council meeting. Uh um just see how things play out. See where the council members stand

right now. Uh, I I'm just sitting back watching what the C council members do because that's the key. If they going to pull together, are they going to continue down the same path that Keith Rogers had them on? And then when I hear Charlie Robinson talk about uh uh see that's why they got us that's how it got us here. Uh uh uh that right there when um Andre and uh TJ had some words. Um you're right. That's what got us there because that's been the culture. And anytime black folk black folk come after black leadership been me today all day when black folk help other folk special seeds try to discredit discredit our black leadership. The ones that speak truth to power because of y'all safe negroes are jealous of them. You rather lose it all. Hell, they just give it to y'all and let you see what happened if LGC did take over. cuz I seen what happened in Princeville and other places cuz I was there.

But it is just sad when you got to fight on the inside and you got to fight on the outside for ungrateful negroes, safe negroes. And I ain't elected official but been fighting and fighting and fighting for all black elect officials in Edgeon County that stand for something cuz all of them don't stand for nothing. But I'm not limited to Etchon County either because I'm a member of a 23 county organization plus uh uh uh life fully paid member of NAACP which covers the state NAAC uh uh the Democratic Party which covers the state and all them ain't right neither. But see I speak up and speak out. I have no privile enemies only primitive interest. I don't care whether you family or who does not matter cuz I'm not dependent. A lot of folk want a hand out. Some of these folks want to hand out. And if truth be told, I bet some of the ones complaining probably don't ain't pay that damn light bill. Most of the time the ones that that cry the loudest are the ones that ain't doing what they supposed to do. It's like when a family member die, them the one that cry the loudest cuz they ain't done their part. Like Andre said and don't blame me. I've done my part. Have you done your part? And then these safe negroes get mad because they scared to speak truth to power and got to go along with specialties and all that. No.

And see, if you ain't dedicated and don't understand that folk don't want to see a black man speak truth to power. You scared for your life, then you don't need to be at the table. You need to go on on. You need to go somewhere, sit down and shut the hell up and get out of the way cuz you're dangerous. But I know who y'all come. I tell folks, you going to run for some edge com and nationality and abroad that affect me directly or indirectly, you better talk to me. We ain't got to be on the same team, but you better talk to me so we can know where we coming from cuz I'm a stand on the side of right. So don't be trying to put me in no category because I talk to certain folk. If you talk to them certain folk, you'll find out I hold folk accountable. No matter who it is, unlike y'all, y'all just all over the place with this one, this minute, that one, the next. You the last person you talk to. I see it in the meetings. Folks sitt in there. uh they be going after the counselor and when the council member say something that makes uh uh wake them up, they on their side. Then next time I might be in the art say something stupid, they they with them. I watch folk. I like to see facial expression. That's why I might be in the me. I ain't going to be online unless I just have to. I want to be in the room so I can see folks facial expression and the whole room. The city don't show the whole room. I show the whole room, but I've been on long enough. Been on

quite been on an hour 55 minutes. Then 5 minutes of that was silence. But you got to meet Monday night. No, Monday 4:00 cuz it's on uh the second uh Monday is uh 4 uh 7:00. The fourth Monday is 4:00. So, the mean will be 4:00 on Monday. I looked up their gender tonight, but it was not online. Um, but I know they will be giving a report on uh where they stand and that's the main thing. See, because you're getting the full report now where you couldn't get no report from uh uh Keith Rogers and then Negroes and the General Arnold Gordon Bra whatever his name wrote all in the paper. I ain't do respond to that yet in writing. I did a piece on it last week, but I want to do a piece and send it to the newspaper. Uh uh where he wrote his column, man. Ain't seen a negro to but one meeting. Talking about using uh Keith as a scapegoat when this negro end the damn meeting. Uh I remember one night it was a meeting. He gets up and walk out. Everybody got up and walked out except Andre, Ruben, and Richard. Negro wouldn't respond to nobody. Somebody using him as a scapegoat. It is what it is.

The audit says what it is, but y'all got your own audit. You love them when it first came out, but when it came out, you didn't like what was in it because it didn't mention OIC, Andre Knight, and Ruth. And y'all still stuck on stupid. But it's okay. It's all going to work out. And I just want to be around to see it because Rocky Mount is going to come back better than it was before. better than it was before it became a black majority. It's got everybody pissed off. Safe negroes jealous. But see, the real issue is in back in the day, the good old white boys didn't have to go to the meeting. All they had to do was pick up the phone and call the city council and get whatever they wanted. But see, because now because it is a black majority, actually a super black majority, but it ain't a super black majority when you got uh uh uh um some of the blacks that is all over the place. So I don't know why they worry about it's a super black majority but that's the problem. They cannot pick up the phone and make decision

like they did when it was not a black majority until uh recently when you had two blacks and two whites going against the other three three blacks and now you got three blacks going against the other two blacks. So we shall see. But um you educated folk, I'm talking about black folks that don't see what's going on. That the special C's want to uh hold y'all just where you are and you don't understand. But it's all good because it's going to work out at the end of the day because the city manager Elton Daniels and the two staff uh members are uh the chief budget and strategy person uh the finance person and the rest of the staff is going to work it. So get ready. Get ready. for a rude awakening because uh they going to stir up the poop and shut y'all down. All y'all naysayers and uh negative folk doing nothing but hurting yourself. At the end of the day, you won't have nobody to blame but y'all. just continue the culture and continue to go down the path of Keith Rogers. Y'all have a good night. Good morning.

This has been late night live the DC in smoke.