Much as I suspected, that $50,000 state appropriation for private Herring-Ellis Cemetery caught the City off-guard. Here’s how the Wilson Times described the exchange when State Representative Ken Fontenot appeared before council to tout state budget details:
A quick yes. Kudos to Mayor Carlton Stevens for nipping that stunt in the bud and securing authorization to devote the entire amount to Vick Cemetery, a historic city-owned burial ground. I look forward to discussions about how this generous appropriation can best be utilized.