The meeting covered a couple of things, one being the ground breaking set for July 23, 2013 at 9:30. The other thing was the cost for personnel to operate the center, which will be a cost to the county. I asked the Mission Critical Partners representative why the current personnel can’t be used in the new 911 center and he said they were not qualified and would have to be retrained. Again, this will have to be a county expense.

The state is funding most of this and we definitely need it for the safety of all of us, but this is another building to be maintained at county expense, however important and necessary.

Forrest Bray is a Guest Columnist for Rockingham County Events & News Online; Forrest spends his personal time, as it comes available, attending meetings in the County and provides his own insight and editorials into those meetings attended. We at RCENO.com, Thank Mr. Bray for his contibutions to our content. You can contact Forrest Bray via his email address bray5113@bellsouth.net.

Disclaimer: The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of RCENO.com, It’s Staff, or Contractors.

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For two and a half days, the commissions met with department heads to hear their planned savings and their needs for the fiscal year 2013-2014. This was my fifth or sixth year to attend these meetings and there is always something that stands out. One year the library director told about having two libraries – one in Mayodan and one in Madison. He said there was six acres of land the McMichaels left to erect a library. Working with the then library director for about six months, we came up with a plan that got things moving. I have been told, by the current director, that proposals for such a library had been going on for twenty-five years, which seems like a long time. I may have upset some for putting a strong push on to get this moving. I think the reason it took so long to get it going was resistance in the two towns to work as one. This was the most contentious item I gathered in all of the budget meetings I attended.

This year’s budget was presented with many sound original and saving ideas. Mable Scott proposed putting up three billboard signs on Highway 220 from Virginia to inside the city limits of Greensboro to let people know what we have to offer in ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. I think that is a good idea as sometimes people do come here by accident, as I did forty-eight years ago.

The airport request was given by Dr. Keys who is the chairman of the airport authority. There are leases that have expired and one hangar was removed as the lease ran out. The airport has the option to buy existing hangars or let the owner remove it. As the Authority has no funds to buy with and federal money can’t be used to buy these buildings, they have not much choice but to let them go. Maybe, if it has not already been done, our congressman or senator could help free up some of the federal funds.

Ron Tate, who is director of water/sewer and building projects, presented his needs for the year. The biggest thing that was brought up was the increased cost of energy with our courthouse and jail, animal shelter, and the old Wentworth school to mention a few. Someone mentioned tearing down the old school, which has been brought up before many years ago. Alumni of the school have been opposed to the idea in the past, but I don’t know how they feel now. It seems that the expense of maintaining the school could make a difference, as all county taxpayers are paying the bill.

There was one outstanding report from tax director Karen Carter about the high number of home foreclosures the county faces and the cost involved.

Overall the commissioners seemed to be a concerned about the budget and the cost.  

Forrest Bray is a Guest Columnist for Rockingham County Events & News Online; Forrest spends his personal time, as it comes available, attending meetings in the County and provides his own insight and editorials into those meetings attended. We at RCENO.com, Thank Mr. Bray for his contibutions to our content. You can contact Forrest Bray via his email address bray5113@bellsouth.net.

Disclaimer: The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of RCENO.com, It’s Staff, or Contractors.

 

TRANSPARENCY IS A FORGOTTEN WORD, IT SEEMS. THE COUNTY FORMS A COMMITTEE, GROUP, BOARD OR ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES TAXPAYER MONEY AND THE COST INVOLVED. WHEN SUCH GROUPS MEET, THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS ARE TO BE NOTIFIED AND MINUTES TAKEN. IS THIS BEING DONE? IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CITIZEN ACADEMY FOR COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS TO BRING THEM UP TO DATE. SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE QUESTION ABOUT WHICH MEETINGS QUALIFY. I WAS TOLD BY THE INSTUTE OF GOVERNMENT THAT THE ONLY MEETING THE PUBLIC AND PRESS CANNOT ATTEND IS CLOSED SESSION. CALLING A MEETING A CLOSED SESSION SHOULD NOT BE USED TO KEEP THE PRESS OUT, AS RULES COVER WHAT IS A CLOSED SESSION.

OTHER THINGS GOING ON ARE THE WESTERN LIBRARY. WHO INSPECTS WHAT PROJECT?

1- Western library: This truly is a mess with all the mud. The workers can’t do a good job and this may be the reason for mistakes. I was a general contractor for about fifty years so I know of what I speak. Underground work should have been a top priority, then grading and laying stone. This would make a clean work and storage area.

2- Inspections: This is news to me. The county issues permits and inspects Mayodan projects, while Eden issues permits and inspects Madison projects. This is a case of the two towns not wanting to join together. I wonder what effect this might have on industry that might be considering coming to Madison-Mayodan. Eden was originally three townships and they did it.

3- Wentworth will be getting a new post office, according to the post office representative Marla Williams. I asked her face to face if it was going to happen and she said yes. The deal is that Wentworth will furnish the building and the post office will operate it on a half day basis.

Forrest Bray is a Guest Columnist for Rockingham County Events & News Online; Forrest spends his personal time, as it comes available, attending meetings in the County and provides his own insight and editorials into those meetings attended. We at RCENO.com, Thank Mr. Bray for his contibutions to our content. You can contact Forrest Bray via his email address bray5113@bellsouth.net.

Disclaimer: The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of RCENO.com, It’s Staff, or Contractors.

The free Spay/Neuter benefit is available at the Rockingham County Animal Shelter if you show proof of government assistance. If you need help, call the shelter at 336-394- 0075 to set up an appointment for your pet.

All adopted animals are spayed and/or neutered and this is part of the adoption fee. Spaying and neutering is the only way to control over- population of pets, as it prevents unwanted litters. So have your pet spayed or neutered as this helps long term cost to the community with fewer pets ending up in the shelter.

Spayed and Neutered animals are less prone to a variety of diseases, are better behaved, have fewer public health issues and we have fewer homeless pets and fewer animals in the shelter.

As the shelter was being built, many businesses and individuals gave very willingly to help make the shelter possible. Since the shelter opened in May 2011, many individuals, businesses, and animal lovers have continued to donate money and supplies to help with the care of the animals. Credit must go to the volunteers who help with the shelter.

While the shelter is primarily funded by taxes, donations help significantly. Donations can allow the shelter to house animals longer, buy additional supplies, bedding, cages and help with any unforeseen issues that might arise.

Now that the county has this beautiful animal shelter and word has spread about how well it operates, more businesses are giving support to the shelter. This month’s drawing will be for 2 flights donated by Bethany Aviation. For tickets call Kevin Baughn or Brittany Hughes at 394-0075 or Andrea Jenkins at 210-3561 for information.

Forrest Bray is a Guest Columnist for Rockingham County Events & News Online; Forrest spends his personal time, as it comes available, attending meetings in the County and provides his own insight and editorials into those meetings attended. We at RCENO.com, Thank Mr. Bray for his contibutions to our content. You can contact Forrest Bray via his email address bray5113@bellsouth.net.

Disclaimer: The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of RCENO.com, It’s Staff, or Contractors.

The first meeting was held at 5:00 pm for a presentation introduced by Ronnie Tate, county public water and sewer director. A company called ABM gave a presentation of ways that can improve the cost of operating government buildings. This was presented as a way that would save tax money to offset the cost of improvements.

Their proposal was to make a study of insulation, windows, HVAC, solar, geothermal, lighting retrofit, and ways to tighten and seal buildings. ABM would be responsible for bids and contractors. There will be no cost to the county for the study unless the proposal is accepted. This is a beginning, but there are many more things that can be done. One thing that was not mentioned was ceiling heights, but in my opinion anything over eight feet is a waste of energy.

This meeting was adjourned till 6:30.

Larry Johnson received a much deserved Human Services award for the fine job he does with that department.

Bobby Stanly gave his economic report and advice to the commissioners, which was well received.

Police Chief Reece Pyrtle with the Eden police department, along with other speakers, talked about PSRC (PROJECT SAFE ROCKINGHAM COUNTY). This is a group that meets once a year and advises those that have been in trouble to let them know that if they keep getting in trouble, they will be hunted down and punished. This took place last year at the Ag building and the offenders had to listen to many speakers in law enforcement from all over the county and surrounding counties.

County health director Glenn Martin gave his annual Child Fatality report, which is sad when we consider what happens to children.

The county manager Lance Metzler gave the commissioners a list of board member appointments for approval. The commissioners then went into a closed session.

Forrest Bray is a Guest Columnist for Rockingham County Events & News Online; Forrest spends his personal time, as it comes available, attending meetings in the County and provides his own insight and editorials into those meetings attended. We at RCENO.com, Thank Mr. Bray for his contibutions to our content. You can contact Forrest Bray via his email address bray5113@bellsouth.net.

Disclaimer: The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of RCENO.com, It’s Staff, or Contractors.

Bobby Stanley gave the commissioners some advice on the value of Broadband and quoted a lot of dollars. It was nice of him to be concerned for the BB. The commissioners have been concerned for some time, but the money was not available. It usually ended with any broadband cost being the responsibility of the company furnishing the service to pay for it.

Forrest Bray is a Guest Columnist for Rockingham County Events & News Online; Forrest spends his personal time, as it comes available, attending meetings in the County and provides his own insight and editorials into those meetings attended. We at RCENO.com, Thank Mr. Bray for his contibutions to our content. You can contact Forrest Bray via his email address bray5113@bellsouth.net.

Disclaimer: The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of RCENO.com, It’s Staff, or Contractors.