ROCKINGHAM – The Richmond County Commissioners conducted a busy and productive session during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 1st.
Following Chairman Kenneth Robinette’s call to order and the invocation by Pastor Tommy Hill, an open forum opportunity to address the Commission was utilized by representatives of the Ashley Chapel Community Organization. Citing recent developmental achievements at the Ashley Chapel Community Center, Nick Nicholson, Willie Johnson, and John Harrington were requesting consideration for an allotment of $25,000 to continue the progressive efforts thus far demonstrated at the Center. Specific budgetary items that are needed were provided to the Commission.
County Manager Bryan Land was then called upon to make presentations of Governor’s Volunteer Awards to Robin Roberts, president of the VFW Auxiliary, and a coalition representing the local VFW Post 4203 for their respective efforts, particularly in regard to the ongoing support of military veterans and related activities.
Proclamations were approved for the recognition of military veterans in tandem with Memorial Day activities; National Prayer Day on Thursday, May 3rd; older Americans Month; and, in accordance with the 1962 Congressional decree, National Police and Peace Officers’ Week May 13th – 19th (Peace Officers’ Day is Tuesday, May 15th).
The new county emergency management complex on Midway Road is set to be completed with its construction on May 6th, host a dedication ceremony on June 6th, and then open for operations on June 12th.
Land reported that other projects of note are also proceeding on schedule. The Highway 220 expansion, county water line connections, Cordova gym, and the Enviva Industry facility on Highway 177 North in Hamlet that is set to open in February of next year were all mentioned.
Michelle Weatherly of the Sandhills Center presented a general overview of her facility’s operations, noting that they had requested no additional funding beyond the norm since for 14 years. The Sandhills Center currently serves a nine county area, augmenting the services of local law enforcement agencies, social services, and other crisis-intervention organizations.
Ms. Weatherly reported that a new facility providing 24 hour emergency assessment services for juveniles would soon be constructed on Fayetteville Road/Highway 1 North in Rockingham near the intersection with Aberdeen Road. The building will be 25,000 square feet and will offer 16 beds specifically designed for family-centered services to accommodate youths in crisis.
The generosity of the Cooper McLaurin family was noted in conjunction with their cooperation with the City of Hamlet in determining appropriate usage of the McLaurin Center property.
Manager Land indicated that the recent hazardous waste collection project was quite successful. The April 14th event yielded over 6 tons of material, most of which was paint.
Year-end budget adjustments were approved for general fund departments as well as a correction to the solid waste budget.
A budget work session was scheduled to be conducted at the airport facility on Tuesday, June 5th at 1:00 p.m., and the monthly meeting for July was scheduled for Tuesday, July 10th.
A postponement of property evaluations was approved for 2024, re-establishing an eight-year schedule for this process.
Of particular concern to the Commission was the seemingly never-ending plague of littering on the county roadways. Manager Land reported that no less than 948 bags (9 tons) of solid waste material were collected during 260 hours of service in 29 different areas of the county, and he and Commissioner Jimmy Capps discussed ideas as to approaches that might alleviate the problem to some degree.
The Richmond County Board of Commissioners meets at the Justice Administration Center at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month unless otherwise decreed.
