ROCKINGHAM — Ledbetter Lake property owners gave Richmond County commissioners a standing ovation when the board voted to approve a special assessment to pay for repairs to the dam Tuesday night.
Pete Ussery was the first to speak in the second public hearing on the assessment. Ussery not only lives on the lake but headed up cutting stumps in the lake years ago. He also developed upscale condos on the old mill site.
“We need water. I repeat, we need water in Ledbetter Lake,” he said. “I feel like a ‘no’ vote will probably cost the tax base around that lake.”
Ussery said that loss would be comparable to a major manufacturing firm moving out the county.
Other property owners — including Dr. Kimberly Lingler, Brian Fournier, James McClanathan and James Tate — were also in favor of the assessment.
“I don’t think there’s a soul in this room that believes it’s a 100 percent fair assessment,” McClanathan said.
County documents show that those with waterfront property along the lake will be paying an annual assessment of $5.68 for each foot of shoreline to pay for dam repairs.
The project, expected to take up to 10 months to complete, is estimated to cost around $2.7 million: $1.8 million for the actual work; with the remainder being legal fees and interest.
“I think the private solution is the best solution,” said Bill Purcell, representing Queensdale LLC.
While others agreed, they say that option just wasn’t working out.
“We’ve tried for three years to get everyone involved,” said Fournier. “If this assessment does not pass, I fear we will lose the lake forever.”
Like Ussery, Fournier said the county could lose 50 percent of its tax base, as well as future development, if something isn’t done.
“If we could fund it privately, then we should do it,” Tate said. “But let’s not forget about the public impact.”
Even commissioners, especially Ben Moss, said private funding would be the best option.
“I would love to see this thing go private, but we promised to help you,” said Commissioner Thad Ussery, referring to the special legislation requested and granted — with support from former Sen. Gene McLaurin and Rep. Ken Goodman — to allow the county to step in.
With that, Ussery made a motion to approve the assessment, with Moss being the lone ‘no’ vote.
“In my opinion, I didn’t agree with the way it was presented,” Moss said after the meeting. “There was just too many variables there. I think the private solution is the best way.”
Prior to the public hearing, commissioners presented the Rockingham Ponytails All-Star softball team with a resolution of recognition for their winning of the 2015 Dixie Softball World Series Championship in July.
Commissioners also voted to:
• approve the acceptance of a $250,000 grant to the Richmond County Health Department from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services for each of the next five years to implement two teen pregnancy prevention programs;
• approve a proclamation recognizing September as Richmond County Emergency Preparedness Month;
• adopt a resolution supporting the Stepping Up Initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jail.
Reach reporter William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_Toler.