Residents addressing the Martinsville City Council Tuesday pleaded for members to return to unity, and keep campaign promises.
“I hate to see the city officials bickering with each other,” said Joey Hairston Jr. He added that he was sick when he read about the turmoil between council members and the perceived rift between Mayor LC Jones and Vice Mayor Aaron Rawls.
Before reading and hearing about the issues, Hairston said he thought “the city was going in the right direction. Now, all the sudden I feel like it’s turned backward. We need to do some serious talk about who’s going to come in” after the election, “and we really need to pray for them.”
Hariston said he is concerned about the impact it has on the city.
“Maybe y’all don’t really care,” he said. “I care about the city. I think as a citizen, all this bickering back and forth, needs to hush.”
He urged voters to think about the future of the city when making choices in the November election. “We have to give serious thought to who will come in and who we will get (vote) out,” he said, adding that issues between council members are confusing.
“God is not the author of confusion. He is a just God,” Hairston said. “Every last one of us in this room, we live in Martinsville (and) one God is the maker of all. If we sit here and play like we all this and that, that ain’t nice. I’m very upset. I just cannot take this. God is not in no confusion. Look at ourselves more closely again in the mirror, and ask is God pleased with us? I think He’s not.”
Hairston encouraged city officials to remember, “if you can’t keep peace, don’t break it. I love you whether you love me back in return, because you can’t do nothing about it. I’m not the greatest person to get along with and I’m not the most evil.
“God is not pleased with me or you either one with the things that’s going on. We need to overcome setbacks and move on,” Hairston said. “Rise above … We talk about unity …, it’s sad how things have gotten in the last few months. Please, please if there’s any way possible, come back together.”
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Stephanie Mills said that during Rawls and Jones’ campaigns, “I heard one of two things: Unity or we are here for the people. When was the last time you were in the neighborhood checking on our residents?
“It’s only when you are asking us to vote with you that we hear for you,” she said, adding that she feels the city is picking and choosing the local businesses it supports. Mills asked if there would be a replacement for the lost Family Dollar as “many on the west end depend on that store.”
She urged the council to focus on bigger issues the community and its residents are facing at the September 10 meeting.
Also at its meeting Tuesday, the council:
*Discussed school board nominations and give an update on the comprehensive plan. Several citizens also asked for unity between the council members.
“We had more of an extensive conversation over our comprehensive plan,” said city manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides. This is something it is needed for the city to take a look at their future plans. “It is required by the code of Virginia.”
The development of the plan is structured, and the plan is being developed by the Berkley Group, which presented a look at the cities standing at the previous council meeting. The kickoff for the plan will start in October, and is looking at being adopted in 2026.
The plan is covered by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, but the city will need to raise a little $86,642.72. “I think with the defeat of reversion it has become even more critical to lay this foundational map,” said council member Tammy Pearson. Pearson believes that the plan will help move the city towards a positive future “I’m very excited about this.”
The original $100,000 was allocated from these funds, but the council voted to provide additional funding to make the comprehensive plan.
*Three names were provided for the school board: Tony Jones, Michael Kirby, and Jonathan Martin. Interviews will be held on September 23 to help decide the best fit.
*The name of the Industrial Development Authority was also changed to the Economic Development Authority.
