Rockingham PD awarded $30K grant; board appointments approved

ROCKINGHAM — City leaders on Tuesday voted to accept a $30,000 grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program for the Rockingham Police Department.

Chief George Gillenwater said the funds would be used to purchase data terminals for five of the department’s cars.

The department was awarded the grant because of having an officer serve as the district liaison for the GHSP.

Most recently, that was Marcus Ricks, who recently left RPD for another department. He replaced former chief Billy Kelly, who served as liaison for several years until his retirement in 2021.

Darius Ellison is the department’s liaison to the GHSP, but he will not be district liaison, according to Gillenwater.

Mayor John Hutchionson and City Manager Monty Crump remarked that the grants have brought in around $250,000 to the department over the past decade, saving city taxpayers from the burden of expenses.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Prior to that vote, the council approved the appointments of Bruce Stanback and Brandon Thrower to the Planning and Zoning Board. They will be filling the seats vacated by Brent Neal and Antonio Evans.

For the past two meetings, the council has not been able to make appointments to the Historic Preservation Board.

In June, the council reappointed Marty Goodman and Randy Warren to the Historic Preservation Board. However, there are still three open seats.

Assistant City Manager and City Planner John Massey said the UDO calls for a seven-member board, but it has been functioning with five because it is a challenge to find qualified members.

Brian and Nicole Darling had been suggested, as they have renovated and sold three historic homes in the city and are currently working on their fourth. However, Brian Darling pointed out that, although they spend about half the year here, they are still residents of Florida.

Last month, the council also appointed Jason Coen to the ABC Board to replace Malcolm McLester. Earlier this year, the board had appointed Councilman Bennett Deane to the position, but that decision was rescinded at the next meeting. Greg Leberth, who is currently on the board, was appointed to serve as the chairman.

Angela Watkins, director of Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham, was also reappointed to the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors.

At the July meeting of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, Caroline Thomas-Goodwin was appointed as an ETJ representative and Tim Long as an ETJ alternate member of the Rockingham Board of Adjustments.

The council was also introduced to attorney Brady Herman of Chapel Hill-based Brough Law Firm.

In June, city attorney Benny Sharpe stepped down after serving several years in the capacity since replacing Melanie J. Carroll. Sharpe has practiced law for about 60 years.

Crump said that Brough specializes in local government and has represented the city in recent cases, including the sales tax dispute with the county.

Brough attorney T.C. Morphis has represented the city of Hamlet for several years.

Local lawyer Ray Herndon will also serve as a city attorney, assisting in title searches and other localized matters.