ROCKINGHAM — One commissioner is questioning what he sees as a conflict of interest involving County Manager Bryan Land.
Following Land’s monthly report to the Richmond County Board of Commissioners during the meeting on Feb. 3, Commissioner Jamie Gathings asked the manager about homes being stored on the manager’s family property.
Land confirmed to Gathings that the county previously had a contract to store the homes — manufactured by Cavco in the Richmond County Industrial Park — at the old Pee Dee Electric property on Midway Road, but they have since been moved to Land family property at the corner of L.G. Dewitt and Beaverdam Church roads.
County GIS records show the property is still listed as belonging to the late Vance Land, the county manager’s father, who passed away in March 2025.
The dragway had previously leased the lot for parking at a rate of $20,000 annually, but owners decided not to renew the agreement after complaints from the promoters of Street Outlaws in late 2024.
County Manager Bryan Land delivers his monthly report to the Richmond County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
“We’ve already had this discussion numerous times,” Land said, “and we’ve already discussed it with two previous attorneys as well.”
Gathings told Land that he sees that as a conflict of interest and asked if the move was approved by the board.
“(I) don’t have to get it approved,” Land rebutted.
“When they had to move them, did you offer to put them at any other county property?” Gathings asked.
“I don’t know that we’ve got a fenced-in area that’s large enough to house 100 trailers, that’s secure” Land said. “You tell me.”
“So, shouldn’t you come to the board and ask the board if we want to put a fence in so we can continue to make money?” Gathings asked.
Land replied: “Would you want to spend two or three million dollars for fencing and clearing property to make $1,000-$1,200 a month?”
“You should have asked the board that,” Gathings said.
“That’s your opinion, Mr. Gathings,” Land retorted.
Gathings asked to see the contract with the county — as well as Land’s contract for the storage — to which Land said, “We’ll have some discussion on this Mr. Gathings.”
Prior to that exchange, Gathings asked why all first responders did not receive computer-aided dispatch (CAD) notes.
Land said he wasn’t sure about that and would check with Emergency Services Director Bob Smith. He added that he thought CAD notes went to the department chiefs.
Gathings, a volunteer fireman with the East Rockingham Fire Department, said that “chiefs ain’t always on the job.”
The commissioner gave a hypothetical example of a structure fire being near his home, “and I see it pop up on my alert, I jump and go run, I’m not gonna know if anybody’s in that house or if the house is vacant, because I don’t have the full CAD notes.”
“It’s a matter of saving lives,” Gathings said.
He added that he’s checked with other counties, which give all notes to all first responders, adding that they could sign an agreement stating if they share any notes, they could be removed from the list of recipients.
Land said he would follow up with Smith to see what other counties are doing.
