Dr. Dale McInnis, President of RCC, Addresses the Rockingham City Council Tuesday Evening
ROCKINGHAM- The Rockingham City Council held their regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening May 8. Mayor Steve Morris opened the meeting, followed by an invocation led by Rev. Gene Alexander, Pastor of First Assembly Of God Church.
The council held a public hearing to take comment on a proposed financing contract. The city plans to borrow $6.1 Million for interim financing. This money would be used to fund acquisition, construction, and equipping of the new RCC Downtown Campus to be located on the former RW Goodman Co. property. Dr. Dale McInnis, President of RCC, spoke in favor of the loan request and noted, “We appreciate the hard work of Mr. Crump and the entire city council, Mr. Mayor, thank you for your vision in bringing this issue up to begin with.” McInnis continued, “We are excited. The comments from our students, employees, and the entire community have fueled our enthusiasm to move forward…We look forward to making this vision a reality.”
Following the approval of the construction loan, Monty Crump, City Manager, told the council that the construction phase was expected to be 12-14 months. Crump said, “At the end of that time, the construction loan will be converted to a permanent loan of 25 years as projected now in the amount of $5.1 Million for the long term financing.” The proposed loan would be through USDA Rural Development. No further action was needed at this time as this was an information sharing hearing only.
A public hearing was held on the proposed 2018-2019 city budget. A total of ten people spoke on concerns of the proposed elimination of funding for a full time director for the community theatre. Several of the speakers were board members and others had participated in previous theater productions. All of the speakers had a passion for the theater and a deep concern over the future without a full time director.
Lynn Blake from Hamlet commented on her gratitude for the city’s support of the theatre for the last 41 years and noted, “I’ve been involved with the community theatre here since I was cast in Beauty and the Beast last year and that was an absolutely positive experience.” Blake noted the director (Shelly Walker) put in 15-20 hours per day during that production and is “extremely competent and very professional.” Blake, who has a long resume’ of theater work and opera herself said, “Rockingham has what I consider to be a jewel in the community theatre.”
Glynnis Hagins, Richmond Community Theatre Board Member addresses City Council
Richmond Community Theatre board member Glynnis Hagins, of Hamlet spoke and also expressed gratitude for the city’s support of the theatre with many years of funding for a full time director. Hagins commented, “The funding of this position has allowed a small town such as Rockingham to have a vibrant theatre and arts program for 41 years. Besides the full time director, every other member of the Richmond Community Theatre organization is a volunteer.”
Following the many other speaker's pleas for reconsideration, the council members had a chance to speak. While they indicated support for the theatre, they noted a need for budget cuts. Councilwoman Denise Sullivan reminisced, “When I think about you all in the theatre, I think about Dr. Langley”. Dr. Langley was principal of Rockingham Junior High School for many years and championed a fine arts program that included a Fine Arts Week with an immersion of the arts each year for the students at his school. Sullivan, speaking of her history as a teacher at the school said, “As we did our fine arts program he always told us as teachers that when we fail to show the kids the beauty of the arts, we are raising a society of barbaric people”. Sullivan indicated that some of that failure can be witnessed in society today. “As a councilperson, I fear myself that if we take away the funding of the full time position, we’re going to lose this community theatre,” Sullivan said.
Councilwoman Denise Sullivan expresses concerns over the elimination of the full time Community Theatre Director Position
Ultimately, the budget vote was taken with all members voting for the proposed budget as presented with the exception of Sullivan, who ultimately voted against the final budget due to her concerns with the elimination of the full time director position. Her “NO” vote created an eruption of applause from the theatre supporters present at the meeting.
According to Mayor Morris, the city does provide additional funding for the theatre, including providing utilities, insurance heating and cooling as well as building maintenance. The elimination of the full time directors salary (approximately $45,000 plus benefits) will reduce about half of the annual expenditures the city incurs associated with the theatre.
In other business, the recent sale through public auction of the former City of Rockingham Library located at 302 Leak Street was approved with the winning bidder being Mr. & Mrs. William L. McDonald in the amount of $71,000.
In closing comments, Councilman Bennett Deane noted “Affair on the Square” will be held this Thursday, June 14 in Downtown Rockingham and encouraged everyone to come out for this event.
The Rockingham City Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For additional details about this meeting contact Rockingham City Hall at (910) 997-5546.
