ROCKINGHAM — The city council has given the go-ahead for the demolition of another abandoned house.
A demolition ordinance was unanimously approved at the July 8 meeting for the property at 111 Willow Road, off of East Washington Street.
Rockingham Fire Chief Harold Isler said the brick house caught fire and burned just before Christmas of 2024. Although the house was being lived in at the time, Isler said there was no power and firefighters believe the fire was started by a propane cylinder.
Assistant City Manager John Massey said proceedings were started in January and the city has had no contact with the property owners, listed as Khounesy and Leuth Phouangphrachanh since that time.
“Obviously a very dangerous dwelling in its current condition,” Councilman Bennett Deane said before moving to approve the measure.
Mayor John Hutchinson commended Massey on the work put into identifying and removing dilapidated houses “before they become a big problem in the city.”
Although it wasn’t on the agenda, the council also approved a resolution to establish a program to monitor the city’s computer systems for employees who may be looking at pornography.
City Manager Monty Crump said there has never been such an issue, adding that it should have been adopted by Jan. 1.
“The General Assembly can’t pass a budget two years in a row,” Crump said, “... but they have time to pass these resolutions and put requirements on cities and counties.”
Prior to that vote, Crump said the city was looking into having a drone “fireworks” show for Independence Day in the future.
The reason the city doesn’t organize a traditional fireworks show, Crump said, “is because we don’t have the place to have one.”
Crump said the city is “exploring” having a drone show in 2026 during Plaza Jam, which will be July 2.
“I’m sure it won’t be cheap — nothing is,” Crump said. “Fireworks shows are expensive too.”
Recommendations Sought for Board Appointments
There are two openings on the city’s Historic Preservation Board and an open mayoral appointment to the Rockingham Housing Authority, according to Hutchinson.
“Sometimes it takes special folks with an interest in history… to serve on this board,” said Deane.
Hutchinson recognized the years of service on the Historic Preservation Board by the late Randy Warren, who passed away July 1.
Resident Complains About Trucking Traffic
Lewis Eakes addresses the issue of noisy engine braking on Fayetteville Road during overnight hours at the July meeting of the Rockingham City Council.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
City leaders may soon look into adopting an ordinance banning engine braking — or “Jake braking” — in the municipal limits.
The term Jake Brake, though often used to refer to all engine braking, is a registered trademark of Jacobs Engine Systems.
Lewis Eakes stepped up to the podium during the public comment section of the meeting to address the noisy issue.
Eakes said he often hears the engine brakes — from midnight-4 a.m. — from his home on Fayetteville Road, between Long Drive and Greene Street, where the speed limit is 35 mph before dropping to 20 mph upon entering the downtown area.
“It’s a flat terrain, there’s no hills” Eakes said, referring to the area of Fayetteville Road between Long Drive and Greene Street. “The Jake Brake was designed…to help trucks manipulate hills so they didn’t destroy their brakes and rotors.
“It’s unnecessary,” Eakes added.
Deane concurred, saying, “It’s a nuisance.”
“It doesn’t seem like they should be having to use it in a 35 mph zone … but they are jamming on it to make that turn at Greene Street,” Deane said.
The problems aren’t coming from trucks shipping for large retail outlets, but rather independent trucking companies, Eakes said, based on his observations.
If nothing else, Eakes said the city could use the ordinance to generate revenue — if it was enforced.
Many municipalities have enacted ordinances to prohibit engine braking, including Ellerbe and Hamlet in Richmond County.
Hutchinson said this was the first time the issue has been brought to the city’s attention, adding that the board will “look at it.”
Councilwoman Holly Howe was not present at the July meeting.
