ROCKINGHAM – Several positive reports and accolades were given at the regular monthly meeting of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners Tuesday evening. But a serious issue affecting the local community was also addressed by the Board.
Alan Thompson of Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams and Co., P.A., gave the commissioners an executive summary of the firm’s recent audit of the county financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2017.
“The main thing you hire our firm to do is to issue an audit opinion on the financial statements,” Thompson stated following a high-level review of the audit. “As a whole, we issue an unmodified report which is a ‘clean report’ with no significant findings…it’s a good report in terms of compliance, statement of financials, etc.”
At the end of the auditors’ presentation, Kenneth Robinette, Chairman of the Commissioners noted, “I want to thank the staff for working very hard, obviously this is a useful report card and a great audit. Everyone should be pleased and we thank the staff on a job well done.”
In more serious news, Bryan Land, County Manager, brought a resolution to declare an “Opioid Crisis” in Richmond County.
“Richmond County continues to experience an alarming increase in the number of opioid prescriptions filled, opioid-related deaths, and other factors related to the national opioid crisis,” Land said.
The resolution was recommended by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
Land went on to say in the resolution that, “not only is this crisis impacting the health of our community but it’s impacting our families, law enforcement, and practically every segment of our society.”
The crisis, according to Land, “must be addressed and abated.” The commissioners approved the resolution unanimously.
Appointments to the Health and Human Services Advisory Board were brought by Land to extend the terms of the board for an additional three years. Serving and willing to continue if reappointed were Aletha Lanier, RN (Nurse), John Stevenson, MD (Physician), Bryan Land (County Manager, Public Member), Dr. Dale McInnis (Richmond Community College President, Public Member), Shirley Fuller (Public Member) and Carolyn Walker (Public Member). The appointments were approved by the commissioners.
In his monthly update, Land said that the winter weather has slowed progress slightly on projects being completed across the county but that all projects are still progressing well.
Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held Saturday April 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Department of Social Services. This is an opportunity for citizens to bring old paints, oils, lubricants, batteries, and herbicides so they can be collected for proper disposal.
Land announced that Sheriff James E. Clemmons has been nominated for President of the North Carolina Sheriffs Association. Clemmons currently holds the office of First Vice President in the association.
“This is another great achievement for our folks in Richmond County,” Land concluded.
Martie Butler, Management Analyst/Economic Developer, reviewed the recent award of Rural Exporter of the Year that was presented to Therafirm, Knit-Rite of Hamlet last week by the Governor of North Carolina. Butler reviewed the history of the company and its expansion and move into the export business that has blossomed over the last few years.
Butler presented a short slide show that included pictures which highlighted where the company began to where it is now with a modern state-of-the-art facility in Hamlet.
Also present at the commissioners meeting was Michelle Byrne, International Accounts Manager for Therafirm. Byrne is credited with being the driver behind the export business growth for the company. Ironically, Byrne was unable to attend the award ceremony last week in Raleigh as she was out of the country attending a trade show in Dubai working on additional export opportunities.
“Congratulations Michelle, I know you worked very hard, it’s great to have a company like Therafirm, Knit-Rite in Richmond County,” Robinette said in comments directed to Byrne. “It’s rewarding to see Richmond County companies growing, expanding, doing well and getting national recognition.”
Sandra Ridley brought requests to the board for approval of the 1) Richmond County Assistance Policy, 2) policy for procurement and disbursement as well as 3) project ordinance for the 2017 North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) Urgent Repair Program.
The purpose of the program according to Ridley is, “to benefit low and moderate-income families with special needs to address an imminent threat to health and safety”.
“We always get more applications than we have funding,” Ridley noted.
On February 28, at the Cooperative Extension Office, meetings will be held with anyone interested in the program to begin the application process. In addition to the commissioners meeting, other communication methods will be used to try and get the word out to all the community. The program requires that any projects be under contract before the end of the year and the program has to be closed out no later than Feb. 14, 2019.
For additional information on this meeting, contact the Richmond County Administrative Office at 1401 Fayetteville Road, Rockingham at 910-997-8200.
