ROCKINGHAM — Questions surrounding the use of private property and emergency communications for first responders were raised during the February Richmond County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Following County Manager Bryan Land’s monthly report, Commissioner Jamie Gathings questioned what he described as a potential conflict of interest involving the storage of mobile homes on Land’s family property, which belonged to his late father, Vance Land.
Land told Gathings that the county previously stored the manufactured homes built by Cavco in the Richmond County Industrial Park at the former Pee Dee Electric property on Midway Road. He said the homes were later moved to property owned by his late father at the corner of L.G. Dewitt and Beaverdam Church roads.
“We’ve already had this discussion numerous times,” Land said to Gathings. “ We’ve already discussed it with two previous attorneys as well.”
Gathings said he viewed the arrangement as a conflict of interest and asked whether the board had approved the move.
“[I] don’t have to get it approved,” Land responded.
Gathings asked whether other county-owned properties were considered when the mobile homes needed to be relocated.
“I don’t know that we’ve got a fenced-in area that’s large enough to house 100 trailers that’s secure,” said Land. “You tell me.”
Gathings suggested the board should have been given the opportunity to discuss fencing county property to continue generating revenue.
“Would you want to spend two or three million dollars for fencing and clearing property to make $1,000-$1,200 a month?” Land responded.
“You should have asked the board that,” said Gathings.
“That’s your opinion, Mr. Gathings,” Land responded.
Gathings requested copies of the county contract and Land’s contract related to the storage arrangement and said he would like “to turn it over to the attorney.”
“We’ll have some discussion on this, Mr. Gathings,” Land said.
Last September, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation began reviewing a $375,000 grant approved by county commissioners in August 2025 related to Rockingham Speedway. The grant, approved by a 4-3 vote, was awarded to a speedway vendor to pay for SAFER barriers to avoid a lien and prepare the track for 2026 NASCAR events. The review remains ongoing.
Earlier in the meeting, Gathings raised concerns about first responders not receiving full computer-aided dispatch (CAD) notes.
Land said he was unsure, but he would follow up with Emergency Services Director Bob Smith.
“I thought that just went to the chiefs, but I can verify that with Bob,” Land said.
Gathings, a volunteer firefighter with the East Rockingham Fire Department, said chiefs are not always immediately available and shared an example involving a nearby structure fire.
“I see it pop up on my alert, I jump and go run. I’m not gonna know if anybody’s in that house or if the house is vacant— because I don’t have the full CAD notes,” Gathings said. “It’s a matter of saving lives.”
Gathings said he had checked with other counties that provide full CAD notes to all first responders and suggested requiring signed agreements to prevent misuse.
“I can certainly follow up with Bob on that to see what other folks are doing,” Land said. “No problem at all.”