ROCKINGHAM — A public hearing and vote on a land trade between the county and New Life Church Ministries tops the agenda for the Richmond County Board of Commissioners’ next meeting.

If approved, the county would receive 26.25 acres of property at 575 Airport Road and the ministry would receive the former Rohanen Middle School’s 11.36 acres, including the buildings, located at 252 School St. in East Rockingham, according to a legal notice.

County Manager Bryan Land said there are currently no plans for the church’s lot but said in an interview last month that “it does provide us a nice piece of property for future industrial development.” In April, the Board of Education voted to declare the Rohanen property “surplus,” which allowed the county to purchase it for $100 in June.

The Rev. Gary Richardson with New Life, who also runs Place of Grace Rescue Mission on the property, opted to withhold comment on his plans for the former school until after the hearing and vote.

The taxable value of the Rohanen property is $1,330,890. The taxable value of the two buildings on New Life’s property is a total of $800,351, according to county tax records.

Also to come before the board:

• Kim McCall will speak about a dispute with Barnhill Contracting Company over the Mingo Mine Pit during the open forum for public comments.

• a vote on the Emergency Medical Services agreement between Richmond County and FirstHealth of the Carolinas.

• a request from the Richmond County Public Library Board for commissioners to reappoint Carol Linker, Judy Ormsby and Susan DeWitt.

• a vote on a $1,348,000 bid from Southern Contractors to construct a new 40,000 square foot shell building (which will have the ability to expand another 40,000 square feet if needed) on 177 Enterprise Drive, Rockingham. The county will request $1 million from the North Carolina Department of Commerce to fund the project.

• a vote to adopt the signing statement regarding issues mentioned in the memorandum of understanding between the county and the N.C .Department of Health and Human Services.

The meeting, rescheduled due to the Independence Day holiday, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2674 or [email protected].

Daily Journal file photo Richmond County would trade the former Rohanen Middle School property for land and buildings owned by New Life Church Ministries if favored following a July 10 public hearing.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/web1_rohanenschool.jpgDaily Journal file photo Richmond County would trade the former Rohanen Middle School property for land and buildings owned by New Life Church Ministries if favored following a July 10 public hearing.

Gavin Stone

Staff Writer