Lynda Smith, during a scheduled public comment section, requested that council review a document signed by nine people directly affected by what she described as excessive soil erosion coming from an unmaintained ravine.

The ravine runs from Marshall to Carolina streets between the 300 and 400 blocks, she said.

Smith has had several meetings on the matter since around the first of August that initially began with an inquiry to Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District. She was then pointed to the public works department, which she said told her the city had no responsibility.

She has also talked with Rightmyer Machine Rentals about stabilizing the cliff of the ravine, which the company believed was undercutting the property. “I don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to put piling in,” she said, saying later, “There's nothing on the side of my fence.”

If there are no repairs, Smith said of the fence, “It's going to fall into the ravine.”

Public Works Director Larry Chalker said following the meeting the city will investigate. The city has been waiting for a natural gas line to be relocated before exploring the matter.

While there is some form of erosion there, Chalker said the city will have to determine whether it is current erosion or whether it originated in the past. “If we feel like the city is responsible, we will find a way to take action. We've got to find out who's responsible for what.”