The Roanoke Rapids Theatre says it can make its nearly $197,000 payment to the city by the end of the week, City Manager Paul Sabiston told council tonight.

Lafayette Gatling owes the city for his February payment and has not made his March payment. The total Gatling owes is $196,406.98, rrspin.com first reported last week.

In an update contained in the agenda packet, the city notes additional information requested by Bank of America has been forwarded. “We hope to hear something from the bank next week regarding the request for more flexible payments,” the memo says.

A spokesperson for Bank of America in Charlotte declined comment this afternoon, saying the matter was a private issue between the bank and its client despite a public entity being involved.

Mayor Emery Doughtie said following the meeting if the payment is not made, the city will have to look at the contract and see what recourse it has. “We don’t want to say pay when you can and we’re not trying to kick him out. We’d be in a better position to bargain if we didn’t have Bank of America.”