Before a Thursday night public hearing on the county and city's possibility to join efforts to build a solid waste transfer station, a public forum will be held to give concerned citizens a chance to discuss the proposal with Halifax County and Roanoke Rapids officials.

That forum will be held at 5 p.m. in the cooperative extension auditorium in Halifax. The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m.

“The transfer station and the theater are two of the biggest considerations we have right now,” interim City Manager Ed Wyatt told council at its work session this afternoon. “This issue is larger than life. It's certainly a viable alternative.”

Wyatt said officials from the county and city agreed the forum before the public hearing would be a good way to help citizens learn about the project.

Mayor Emery Doughtie said following the meeting he wants to see the public hearing center on the county's and city's proposal to join efforts, not necessarily the final three locations the city has chosen for building the transfer station on.

While the county entering into the partnership offers a fourth alternative, the current county landfill site in the Aurelian Spring area off Highway 48, the mayor said he wouldn't necessarily say the locations the city has been considering have been scrapped. “I want to see the public hearing deal with partnership. The public hearing is about the concept.”

Engineers for the city and county suggested the public forum before the hearing. “It's frustrating for the people to come to a hearing and all they can do is sit down after they speak,” Doughtie said.

In other matters today:

Wyatt was administered the oath of office for interim city manager.

Hinton presents Evans his weapon and badge.

Interim police Chief Jeff Hinton presented Lieutenant Barry Evans with his service side arm and badge upon the announcement of the 27-year veteran's retirement from the department.

Jenkins is presented his certificate.

Hinton presented Sergeant Daniel Jenkins his advanced law enforcement certificate.

Wyatt announced with the retirement of Richard Parnell as public works director, Danny Acree would serve as public service manager and Larry Chalker would serve as property maintenance manager.