Tom MacCallum

Richmond County Daily Journal

Richmond County will prepare an ordinance to consider the establishment of a Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program which would allow for the creation of individual Voluntary Agriculture Districts in the county.

Paige Burns, horticulture agent, Richmond County Cooperative Extension Service, presented a sketch of the program Monday night to county commissioners.

Chairman Kenneth Robinette asked James Armstrong, county planner, to work with Burns on creating an ordinance.

Many counties across the state offer the program to farmers who can accept the designation for a farm and can withdraw whenever they wish.

In her presentation, Burns said the state had become number one in the nation when it comes to annual loss of farmland to development.

Even so, she said agriculture is still the number one industry in North Carolina which accounts for some $70 billion in annual production.

By establishing a VAD ordinance, Burns said the county would be recognizing the importance of agriculture in the county.

In addition to offering some protection to farming, the VAD would require that purchasers of nearby land be informed that such land was adjoining a farm with activities related to farming such as raising crops and animals.

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Other items related to county business Monday night included:

n Lisa England appealed to commissioners to consider more ways to provide recreation for children and adults in the county.

n Ed O’Neal presented a large eagle print to Tonia Hildreth, Richmond County Veterans Service Officer, for her years of dedicated service to local veterans. There are over 6,000 served by her office.

n After a public hearing, commissioners approved rezoning of property at Old Cheraw Highway and Rosalyn Road from Rural Residential to Heavy Industrial.

n Commissioners approved a resolution in support of the N.C. 4-H Museum and History Center to be established at Millstone 4-H Camp. N.C. 4-H has more than 239,000 active youth involved in its programs, 18,000 volunteers and nearly one million alumni.

n Commissioners approved an application for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to seek $17,591 in the form of Edward Byrne Local Justice Assistance Grant for automatic rifles, shotguns and accessories for deputies.

n Armstrong said the Cole Foundation grant of $300,000 for the East Rockingham Initiative has been reduced to $200,000. The county asked for and received the last $100,000 from the grant for the program.

n County Manager/Director of Development Rick Sago reported that Big Rock Sports has sent out its first shipment from the new distribution center in the county’s industrial park on the U.S. 74 Bypass.