Commissioners approve $50K for new tables at Richmond Senior

ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Board of Commissioners last week approved a $50,000 budget amendment for upgrades to a school cafeteria.

Chairman Jeff Smart said the request came from Richmond County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Ferrell a few weeks earlier to replace the tables at Richmond Senior High School.

According to County Manager Bryan Land, the current tables are about 20 years old.

Smart said Ferrell thought the $50,000 should cover the cost, but it may wind up being cheaper.

Funding for the project will be coming from the district’s sales tax proceeds.

The first action taken by commissioners was the approval of a proclamation for National Social Work Month.

Social Services Director Theressa Smith presents a proclamation for National Social Work Month.

William R. Toler - Richmond Observer

The proclamation was presented by Social Services Director Theressa Smith.

The theme for 2026 is “Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.”

According to Smith, Richmond County Department of Social Services has 26 social workers in Child Protective Services, eight in Adult Protective Services in three in the Quality Assurance Department.

“For the month of March, our social workers decided that they wanted to do some projects in our community,” said Smith. “Instead of us acknowledging them, they wanted to give back to our community.”

Several social workers participated in Read Across America earlier this month, and last week served spaghetti plates at ReFreshing Living Waters Ministry.

Smith said social workers are also: collecting pet food to donate to the Richmond County Animal Shelter; collecting canned foods and ramen noodles for the Our Daily Bread food pantry; distributing toothbrushes and toothpaste to local children through the Bright Smiles program.

“So, they’re really trying to get out in the community and give back instead of … asking for anything from anyone else,” Smith said.

There were also several budget amendments passed without discussion included in the consent agenda:

• $1,933, from the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, to help eligible Piedmont Natural Gas customers with heating costs through PNG’s Share the Warmth
• $11,500, from a foster care reimbursement, to provide extended benefits and services for youth ages 18-21 who meet state criteria
• $48,000, from interest on investments, for mobile data terminals for 12 Richmond County Sheriff’s Office vehicles

Also in the meeting, commissioners approved a $50,000 budget amendment for the East Rockingham Fire Department, and tabled a decision to spend $35,000 on a feasibility study regarding a regional jail in partnership with neighboring Scotland County.

NOTE: This story has been updated to rework the lede and to insert a link to a previous story. 4:18 p.m. 3-18-26.