City Council Meeting, August 10

The City Council meeting of Rocky Mount on August 10, 2026, focused heavily on utility service issues, including public concerns about utility disconnections and the tragic deaths linked to power outages. Several residents voiced strong emotions about the city's utility billing practices, disconnection policies, and the need for more compassionate and transparent governance. The council discussed the financial challenges facing the city, including tax collections and utility billing problems. A key procurement-related action was the approval of a resolution for the settlement of fiscal year 2025-2026 taxes due and collected, authorizing the revenue collector to proceed. The council also approved an encroachment agreement with Dylan Supply Building LLC and an amendment to downtown investment grants with Duke's Properties and Construction LLC. A significant policy decision was the unanimous motion to place a moratorium on utility disconnections until a revised utility policy could be developed, reflecting the council's response to the ongoing utility crisis and public outcry. No new funding was allocated at this meeting, but the council emphasized the need for further information and policy review before future actions.