They’re underfunded. To get to a 25 year lifespan on all of our streets, our Public Services staff estimate we need to resurface approximately 4.62 miles per year. The cost of that would be approximately $133,000 per mile of streets or $614,000 per year.
Read MoreAs I reflect on the completion of my second full year as a City Councilmember, I’m glad to share a list of 23 projects and initiatives we were fortunate to complete in 2023.
Read MoreI stand here today to draw a parallel between Kinston and Chapel Hill, two places that might seem worlds apart but are in fact bonded by an unfortunate thread. In Kinston, young people worry about themselves or their loved ones being gunned down in the street. In Chapel Hill, students are forced to shelter in place on their campus because of the constant threat of shootings. Though our circumstances may differ, the fear and pain we experience are all too similar.
Read MoreHighlights of this newsletter include: my thoughts on changing Kinston’s election process; a blog post on who determines what businesses come to our community; the opening of our new Fire & Rescue training center and reopening of Holloway Pool; updates on the renovations to Emma Webb Park; and more!
Read MoreThere’s a need for ready and willing leaders to put forth their time, talents, and passion to serve our community—ALL of our community—and I hope we will see those leaders step forward in this year’s election. We can, and will, create a city where all of our residents feel empowered and engaged in the decisions that shape Kinston’s future.
Read MoreRecognizing the importance of transparency and accountability in local governance, Councilmember Suggs has worked diligently to develop a framework that addresses the needs of elected officials while promoting fiscal responsibility. The last City of Kinston policy pertaining to the travel of its elected officials was passed in November 1982, and provided little to no regulations.
Read MoreAs a Kinston city councilmember, I’m passionate about fostering growth and development in our community. There are a few strategies I’d like to highlight that I think could have a positive impact in attracting new businesses and growing our local economy.
Read MoreI am thrilled to share the highly anticipated reopening of Holloway Pool! A momentous ribbon cutting celebration took place on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the pool grounds, attended by city officials, residents, and esteemed guests—including members of the Holloway Sharks swim team.
Read MoreThe City Council has agreed to assign the existing stadium lease from the Texas Rangers to the new owners, and I look forward to working with Diamond Baseball Holdings as they become the City’s new tenant at Historic Grainger Stadium. The Down East Wood Ducks team will remain an affiliate of the Texas Rangers under its new ownership.
Read MoreAs our city continues to change and grow, an important conversation is to be had around what type of businesses are attracted to our community, what type of businesses do we try to attract, and who makes the decisions on what businesses come here.
Read MoreThe City Council for the City of Kinston met on Friday, April 21 at 11:30AM to pass a resolution establishing the Historic Grainger Stadium Commission.
Read MoreIt is a pleasure to share with you my Spring 2023 Community Newsletter! I’m honored to serve as a member of the Kinston City Council, and I believe that this community newsletter is an additional avenue for me to update you on the successes and challenges our community faces and the work I do on behalf of Kinston’s 19,546 residents to address those issues.
Read MoreThis March I had the opportunity to join thousands of city officials from across the country in our nation’s capital for the National League of Cities’ Congressional Cities Conference.
Read MoreDuring its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 7, the Kinston City Council voted to approve a list of properties to be made available for purchase by interested members of the public.
Read MoreCurrently, the City of Kinston owns several hundred vacant and unused properties that it aims to put back into the hands of the community. The majority of these properties are vacant and overgrown lots. These properties present immense potential for community development, economic opportunities, and revitalization—especially in neighborhoods like East Kinston.
Read MoreI am excited that my colleagues on the city council have agreed to move forward with the hiring of a public information officer for our city. It’s important that an organization of our size has a member of our team dedicated to communicating effectively with the media and members of the public.
Read MoreThe Kinston City Council received its Annual Audit Report for Fiscal Year 2022 during its February 7, 2023 meeting and it was a positive report for the City of Kinston.
Read MoreThe City of Kinston has had several transitions in staff leadership in recent years, sparking a lot of interest in how the hiring for these positions actually takes place. I've created this infographic to help.
Read MoreIn celebration of me finishing my first year as a City Councilmember, as well as the fact that at 22-years-old I am the youngest elected official in our entire state, I've decided to pinpoint 22 projects that we've been able to accomplish in the year 2022.
Read MoreI’ve published my first Quarterly Newsletter as a member of the City Council! This newsletter details what I’ve been up to since getting elected, expounds on some recent decisions made by the council, and provides some helpful news and information about the city government.
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