Richmond County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth Robinette tried to set the record straight Monday on the proposed tower code amendments.

The tower code wasn’t actually up for discussion Monday night, the board was simply to set a public hearing for it’s next meeting March 1, which it did, but Robinette wanted to clarify things for some of the members in the audience who are against the amendments to the ordinance.

“AM/FM radios that already exist are grandfathered into this ordinance,” Robinette said. “The only time the fee will apply is if you increase the height of the tower or construct a brand new tower.

“When we were asked to look at this ordinance we were just trying to protect the property values of adjacent property owners,” he added. “For HAM radio towers, the $150 fee is only for towers that are 50 feet or higher.”

Robinette asked County Planner James Armstrong if there were any HAM radio towers over that 50 feet in Richmond County, and said if anyone is aware of them, to let the board know.

“Again, all towers existing are grandfathered in,” he said referring to the HAM radio towers already in Richmond County. “We’re just looking out for the health and safety of the citizens in Richmond County. And I just wanted to clarify some things because there’s been a lot of misunderstanding.”

The public hearing for the tower ordinance will be held during the March 1 commissioners meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the county administration office. A copy of the ordinance with the proposed changes will be available on the county’s Web site www.richmondnc.com.

During the meeting, County Manager Rick Sago announced that the Fox Road Waterline project is getting closer to becoming a reality. He said the county will begin advertising for bids this coming weekend and make their pick sometime in March.

Also during the meeting, Health Department Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell presented the board with the 2009 Community Health Assessment, which is available for viewing at http://publichealth.southernregionalahec.org/Richmond/.

The commissioners voted to approve a budget amendment to establish a budget for Child Support program renovation costs at the Department of Social Services. The board also approved a request from county aging services to accept stimulus money, and approved the Cole Foundation Grant for $13,500 for the annual senior Christmas party, hosted by the County’s Department of Aging Services.

Robinette said, while discussing the senior’s Christmas party, that this party is dedicated for the seniors and that next year, anyone with a political campaign will not be invited at the event if they’re going to use it as a political platform. He said he received calls from senior citizens following this year’s party and said next year that would not happen.

The board also voted to proclaim February as Black History Month.

Prior to the commissioners meeting, the commissioners met at the county Cooperative Extension office to receive the “Report to the People” from interim director Paige Burns and her staff of agricultural agents.

The report included updates on leadership development, livestock, poultry, 4-H youth development, 4-H adventures as well as family and consumer science.

Former director of the county’s co-op Clinton McRae, who is now the South Central District Extension Director, said they will be interviewing for the position of director in March and following the hire of a director, they’ll fill the vacancy for Family and Consumer Science agent.

The board’s next meeting is set for March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building located at 125 S. Hancock Street, Rockingham.

Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com.