ROCKINGHAM- The City of Rockingham met for their regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening.
Following an invocation by Rev. Ronnie McLean, pastor of Freedom Baptist Church, the Board approved the consent agenda. Rockingham Mayor Steve Morris brought a request before the Board to approve the sale of the old library located at the corner of South Lawrence and Leak Streets. City Manager Monty Crump explained the process, with the sale being planned for Thursday May 24, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in Council Chambers at Rockingham City Hall.
According to Crump, “The successful high bidder will have to provide 10% of the bid by cash or approved check.” The sale will then require Council’s final approval during their meeting on June 12, 2018. Councilman Hutchinson asked, “This property is zoned commercial?” Crump replied, “Yes it is, we’ve already had some interest and have shown the building.” The board unanimously approved the request.
Mayor Morris brought a request for consideration on an order to authorize sale of surplus and unclaimed property. According to Morris, the list of items includes automobiles, heavy machinery, office equipment, and even bicycles to be auctioned. The Board approved a motion to hold the sale on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Rockingham Public Works Complex located at 800 Rockingham Road.
In business brought by City Planning Director John Massey, the Board first heard a request for the rezoning of 5.9 acres of property located at 149 Hudson Street on Roberdel Lake from “Open Space" (O-S) to “Rural Residential” (R-20).
The request was submitted by William Currie IV. According to Massey, “Mr. Currie owns the property and is interested in building a house on it.” Massey explained that the O-S boundaries we’re created almost 40 years ago before digital mapping technology was developed. The O-S zone was originally intended to help protect and preserve environmentally-sensitive areas. “The highest part of the property is actually zoned O-S, which doesn’t make any sense,” said Massey. The City has been working on properly re-delineating the boundaries of the O-S zoned areas for the past 10 years. This land is located in the last of the O-S zoned areas to be re-delineated.
The newly-drawn proposed zoning for R-20 would follow the high water mark. “The Planning Board reviewed this request last Tuesday night and they recommended unanimously to rezone as proposed and the city staff concurs with that recommendation,” Massey stated. The board followed with the setting of a public hearing on the matter for Council’s regular May meeting.
The second request from planning was to set a public hearing for an ordinance to adopt the updated Pee Dee Lumber Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Massey began by reminding the council that “Both the federal and state governments require us to be a part of an adopted hazard mitigation plan in order to remain eligible for certain types of grant funding.” He noted that back in 2012, the county got involved and developed a plan using grant funding for a multi-jurisdictional effort.
“Donna Wright with E-911 Richmond County facilitated the process, secured the funds, and hired a consultant. My hat’s off to her, I really appreciate the work she put into it…it’s made my job much easier,” Massey stated. Additionally, Wright coordinated the participation of four counties and the municipalities within those counties. The board set a public hearing for their May meeting.
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.
