Rocky Mount officials questioned over decision to hold council retreat at resort hotel

The council recently approved the trip, planned for April, by a 4-3 vote. But it has raised concerns over cost as well as traveling during the coronavirus pandemic.

"We should go on retreats because I think it's an opportunity for us to come together and also learn about different communities, but this is just not the time," said Councilman Lige Daughtridge, who voted against going to Asheville.

But Councilman T.J. Walker voted to have the retreat in Asheville because of that city's knowledge about affordable housing. His constituents can't wait until a 2022 retreat for ideas to expand and improve affordable housing in Rocky Mount.

"People are suffering every day, and people can't continue to wait," Walker said. "On top of COVID and the pandemic, they can't continue to wait for City Council to find solutions for affordable housing."

Daughtridge said the economic difficulties of Rocky Mount residents need to be considered before officials take a trip to a luxury resort in the mountains.

"Right now, people are hurting. There are some industries that are doing well, but there are a lot of other industries that are not doing so well, and people have lost their jobs," he said. "Is it right for us to go out of town or retreat to one of the most premier properties in North Carolina to talk about housing – [an] ironic thing to talk about – and we have people here who are suffering?"

Sources told WRAL News that, historically, the city manager plans the retreats. City Manager Rochelle Toney-Smalls didn't respond for a request for comment Tuesday.

Rocky Mount resident Samuel Battle spoke out against the retreat during Monday night's City Council meeting.

"I don't know how much it costs. I'm looking on Facebook. I'm hearing it costs $300 or $400," Battle said. "We can do [the retreat] at the events center."

WRAL has submitted a public records request for the budget and the costs of the retreat.

David Joyner, general manager of the Rocky Mount Event Center, said he couldn't estimate how much it would cost to host the retreat locally.

"As with any event, there is no way of knowing the costs of an event until the event is planned and booked," Joyner said.

"I've only been to visit the Grove Park Inn – I've never stayed there – so I know it's a nice place. But it is the Grove Park Inn the only place in Asheville?" Daughtridge said "My choice is to have it in the Rocky Mount Event Center and supporting our local businesses to provide us with food.​"

"Originally, I was all for the event center. I think it's great to stay at home and to be able to support our event center," Walker said. "But Asheville has an established community land trust that we're looking to bring here to the city of Rocky Mount."