RSS
  
|
The two pages gave an outline of what was required in any proposal and hoped to seduce participation with the temptation of economic growth with a big dose of stardom.
The document tells how the Northeast Partnership — a state-sponsored alliance of 16 counties dedicated to economic development — was seeking to recruit “nationally-recognized music artist, Randy Parton, to expand his show in North Carolina’s Northeast Region and to establish the Randy Parton Theater, with the potential for location of up to six music theaters” in the area.
A copy of the request for proposals outlines Watson and the Northeast Partnership’s vision: “Randy Parton, brother of country music megastar Dolly Parton, has the ability to bring nationally-recognized entertainers to perform broadcast-quality shows to the proposed entertainment district. In addition, the entertainment district is expected to attract high-quality service and support businesses, including major hotels, motels, restaurants, as well as significant cottage and mom-and-pop business opportunities. Randy Parton Productions and his family contacts can also be instrumental in recruiting hotel developments, restaurants, etc., to support the entertainment district.”
In retrospect, several of the participants have noted the request itself was a smokescreen. Parton had no theater of his own. In fact, he had been playing at one of the theater’s in his sister’s Tennessee theme park.
Additionally, Parton would bring nothing to the table except a visit by Dolly Parton and a small cadre of other Nashville stars for the groundbreaking ceremony. But in November 2004, many officials in Northeast North Carolina were scurrying to meet the Dec. 3 deadline for proposals and earn their chance to dip into the waters of musical stardom.
Roanoke Rapids was quickly in line. Hit hard by the collapse of the textile mills, city leaders were looking for fresh industry to revitalize the economy.
On Dec. 3, 2004, a letter would be delivered to the Northeast Partnership offering the “Roanoke Valley” team’s proposal and plans for a Dec. 6 presentation in Raleigh.
The letter points to the advantages of the Valley — “Our Interstate 95 advantage and proximity to major population centers makes the Roanoke Valley an attractive location for the development of The Randy Parton Theater and future music and entertainment district ... We can meet all infrastructure and related site development needs and we offer the professional capacity and energy to partner to make this project a reality.
The letter is signed by Roanoke Rapids Mayor Drewery Beale, Tourism Authority Director Lori Medlin, Chamber of Commerce President Brenda Blackburn and Halifax County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ronald Baker. A signature space for the Halifax County Board of Commissioners was left blank. When asked about the missing signature, county sources explained the county supported the project but it “wasn’t a county idea. It was always the city’s plan.”
In a separate letter addressed to Watson by Beale on Dec. 2, 2004, the mayor wrote, “I can assure you the city of Roanoke Rapids will be an instrumental partner in the public-private partnership that will be so critical to this project.”
The proposal to Parton and the Northeast Partnership painted a picture of minimum problems.
The public utilities would be secured by local governments at “no cost to the developer.” A planned project development district would finance much of the infrastructure including parking facilities, streets and sidewalks, street lighting and landscaping. “The development district will generate revenues to pay for these improvements, therefore defraying the costs to the developer.”
Turning to the issue of land, the proposal offers a 226-acre site valued at $2.5 million. “The Roanoke Valley team is committed to acquiring the site and making it available to The Randy Parton Theater and music entertainment district. This will significantly offset costs to the developer,” reads a copy of the proposal secured by The Daily Herald.
The offering makes one other promise: “We will also use the Roanoke Valley’s legislative delegation to support state funding to offset initial operating costs. Given the potential economic impact of The Randy Parton Theater and Entertainment District, especially to an Enterprise Tier One Area, state and other funding to offset initial costs is very feasible.”
From the start, the documents show a willingness to provide financial incentives and support for the project with little tangible response except for the hope for success and the belief in the Parton name and the Northeast Partnership’s promises.
The formal pitch for the theater and Parton’s endorsement was made on Dec. 6.
On Jan. 13, 2005, a little more than a month later, the city and the Partons would sign the letter of intent setting in motion the theater’s construction.
The first mention of the project in the city council records comes in the minutes of a closed meeting on Nov. 30, 2004.
The entry is succinct: “City Manager (Rick) Benton briefed Council on the proposal for the entertainment center project and indicated a presentation would be made in Raleigh on Monday (Dec. 6).”
On Dec. 14, 2004 the closed session minutes reflect a report by Benton on the Randy Parton Theater project. No details were given nor was any action taken.
On Jan. 11, 2004, the theater was again part of the city council’s closed meeting.
The minutes reflect Benton briefing the council on a Jan. 10, 2004, meeting on the project. “He presented Council with copies of financial information related to the project and a letter of intent to move forward with the project,” the minutes secured by The Daily Herald reflect.
Then came the decision:
“Following discussion, (a) motion was made by Councilman (Reggie) Baird, seconded by Councilman (Jon) Baker and unanimously carried to authorize the mayor and city manager to sign the letter of intent regarding the Parton Theater Project and move forward with its recruitment.”
The letter of intent would commit the city to Parton’s cause to the tune of $1 million and set the community on the path to a $21.5 million bond issue, a state of the art theater and problems.
The Daily Herald’s Behind the Curtain series continues Sunday with more on the city’s closed meeting notes, financial expenditures and the legislature’s role in the Randy Parton Theater.
Comments