Philip D. Brown

Richmond County Daily Journal

As the staff of the Rockingham Housing Authority continues to work through a long backlog of issues with the quality of facilities and compliance with federal regulation, an audit of its 2009 financial activities could be drawing near.

RHA Executive Director Angela McGill told the agency’s board of directors the current management “is still trying to close that chapter in the next 30 days.”

The year of 2009 was a tough one for the agency.

After a joint investigation was opened into the financial activities of the agency by the federal and local governments, former Director Gracie Ingram was first suspended then fired by agency’s board of directors.

The former chairman of that board, Bruce Stanback, who was then employed as the director of an afterschool program for the agency, was also fired by the interim director.

Interim Director Jim McCaskill also worked to update records on such diverse sets of records as rental payment records, employment histories and financial activities.

Among his findings he announced to the board of directors was the existence of a bank account registered to a non-profit agency called the Richmond County Enrichment Corporation, with Ingram and Stanback as the signatories.

The agency only retook control of the account in June 2009, after there was difficulty getting the previous signatories to relinquish their names from it, the board was told.

Neither have been charged with a crime, despite a federal grand jury convening in Greensboro to meet on the matter, and Ingram being named as a co-conspirator in a state conspiracy case against her former subordinates at the agency. The charges were eventually dropped.

Stanback maintained his innocence in the local media, and mounted a failed run to be Mayor of Rockingham after the investigation was opened.

Charlotte Attorney Will Terpening maintained Ingram’s image, and called the investigation slanderous.

In other business Tuesday:

The board received updates on the facility upgrade projects it has underway.

A stimulus-funded roofing project for 52 buildings was reported to be closing out, and work to be more than three-quarters complete on a stimulus-funded unit restoration project for three Gore Street buildings.

A $154,000 project to fix trip hazards, damaged concrete, repair the JFK Drive basketball court and complete landscaping is also about to get underway, as well as a $75,000 project to replace playground equipment in several of the agency’s neighborhoods.

McGill pointed to the importance of these upgrades, citing a recent inspection grade of 44.

“We hope to see some improvement ... at least a score of over 65,” she said.

McGill also announced the agency would open Falling Creek pool to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Aug. 2. A $2 per person fee will be charged to compensate for the price of hiring lifeguards.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.