Rockingham commissioners make spending decisions

The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners made a few difficult spending decisions Monday night.

Despite Commissioner Bobby Stanley’s concerns over the amount, the board gave permission to begin a six-month space-needs study. The $81,500 contract was awarded to TFF Architects to examine each county-owned building, assess the space needs of each county agency and match them accordingly. County Manager Tom Robinson argued in favor of the study, saying that the county has “so many buildings, and quite frankly, we’re not using some of them very well.“

Stanley commented on the timing of the decision, pointing out that this fiscal year’s budget was only 21 days old.

The board acted on another expense, one that was cut out of this year’s budget to balance it. In May, the Rockingham Community College presented a list of capital needs to the commissioners. Roof repair, accommodation for the Early College High School, a driving pad and a new chiller was requested. Tight budgeting allowed for none of those requests to be met, but a recent inspection of the chiller indicated it was inefficient and unlikely to survive the summer. RCC President Robert Keys asked commissioners for an appropriation to pay for the estimated $190,000 upgrades. The board approved a transfer of $175,000 from the capital needs fund to RCC to replace the chiller and reserve the amount left over to cover any other expenses the rest of the year.

The commissioners also heard an update of progress made by the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee. Committee subgroups are considering operating costs, community partnership, building construction, the shelter’s role with county Animal Control and fundraising. The board gave approval to retain a professional, former marketing director and current Elon graduate student Julie Swanner, to lead the fundraising campaign.