ROCKINGHAM — City Council unanimously approved a tolling agreement which puts mediation on hold for six months while Richmond County, Rockingham and Hamlet discuss a solution to the dispute over the sales tax distribution method.
“Hopefully, something positive will come out of this,” City Manager Monty Crump said. “It would give us a little room to negotiate with the County before we move forward.”
Hamlet’s City Council also signed the tolling agreement Tuesday night.
The tolling agreement allows for an opportunity for the cities of Rockingham and Hamlet to work on a potential settlement that could involve revenue sharing without the discussions being admissible in a future lawsuit, as it would be if the discussions were had during formal mediation. All six municipalities in the county have called for county government to undo the damage of the ad valorem sales tax distribution method.
Councilman Bennett Deane asked Crump about the statute of limitations on the agreement. Crump answered that the agreement stops time from counting against the statute of limitations, and added that nobody is in jeopardy of “running out the clock.”
“Even without this tolling agreement, we have substantial time to bring a lawsuit,” Crump said.
Mayor Steve Morris reiterated that they now have six months to work out a satisfactory agreement.
Councilwoman Denise Sullivan clarified at these meetings are only about the sales tax dispute and not over the breach of contract involving the establishment of the 9-1-1 center. Crump said these issues are all connected and the same thing, but for individuals who are “bent out of shape” about the language involved, it’s concerned specifically about the sales tax.
Rezoning request
Assistant City Manager John Massey presented a rezoning request from Hudson Paving Inc. to rezone 4.8 acres located at 195 and 201 US Highway 74 Business West.
City staff recommended that the Council review the proposed rezoning request and that the property will be rezoned as requested by the applicant.
A public hearing has been established for the May meeting of City Council.