October 19, 2026 Rockingham County Board of Commissioners Meeting
AGENDA
1. Meeting Called to Order by Chairman Barrow
2. Invocation
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Recognition
A. Rodney Cates, Emergency Services Director
Request Approval for Resolution honoring EMS Training Manager Justin Stewart's thirty
plus years with Rockingham County EMS.
5. Request approval for the October 19, 2026 Agenda.
6. Consent Agenda
Consent items as follows will be adopted with a single motion, second and vote, unless a request
for removal from the Consent Agenda is heard from a Commissioner
A. Benjamin J. Curtis, Register of Deeds
Request approval of the Resolution Authorizing the Rockingham County Register of Deeds
to Temporarily Transfer Records to an Off-Site or Out-of-County Location for Reproduction,
Repair or Preservation.
B. Ben Curry, Community Development Director
Request approval of the reappointment of Bernie Parnell to the Rockingham County
Planning Board with his term ending October 18, 2029.
C. Todd Hurst, Tax Administration
Request approval of Tax Collection and Reconciliation Reports for September including
refunds for September 23, 2026 thru October 6, 2026.
D. Adam Barr, Senior Planner
Request approval for Case 2018 TA: To consider a Text Amendment to the Unified
Development Ordinance to establish specific development standards for the use of data
processing facilities.
E. Mandy McGhee, Finance Director
1. Requests approval to appropriate funds from the sale of property/donation proceeds to
purchase two double-stack washer and dryer units for the laundry room at the Animal
Shelter. The existing units are approximately 15 years old and require service multiple
times per year, resulting in delays in processing laundry and maintaining daily operations.
Replacing the existing equipment with two new double-stack units will improve efficiency,
reduce service-related disruptions, and allow staff to maintain continuous laundry
operations throughout the business day, even when one unit requires maintenance or
repair.
2. Request approval to appropriate $20,790 of fund balance in the Vera Holland
Community Center Special Revenue Fund to cover the VHCC floor replacement.
F. Melissa Joyce, Fire Marshal
Request approval of the reappointment of the Relief Fund Board for the Fire Departments
(2026). Terms to expire December 31, 2026.
G. Sylvia Cox, President, Rockingham Community College
Request approval of the appointment to the Rockingham Community College Board of
Trustees for the open term ending in 2031.
H. Lance Metzler, County Manager
Request approval of the amendment to the Public Comment Period Orders of Conduct.
I. Stephanie Kingston, Human Resources Director
Request approval to revise the Personnel Policy 5:6, Employee Benefits - Tuition
Reimbursement
J. Justin Thacker, Deputy Finance Director
Request consideration of approval to transfer $100,000 from project RS2709 and $78,000
from project RS2710 to transfer into project code RS2711 for additional monies needed for
teacher laptops. The overall scope and the amount of laptops changed from the original
budget of $1.2 million. Additionally, $500,000 was added to the teacher laptop project on
the September 21, 2026 meeting; however, it was known that more funds were needed
and the school system was identifying where to pull the additional funds.
K. Captain Kristy Disher
1. Request approval to increase the Sheriff's Office budget in the amount of $37,770.00
for the Bureau of Justice Assistance Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) grant that has
been awarded May 14, 2026. The BVP Grant Award is $9,517.90 for the purchase of body
armor and the grant requires $9,517.90 in matching funds which will be met with the
appropriation of available Federal Forfeiture Funds. An additional appropriation of
$18,734.00 of Federal Forfeiture funds is being requested to cover the cost of concealable
carriers, special threat plates, outer carriers, and shipping/handling costs of the vests. A
total of 20 vests will be purchased.
2. Request approval due to the updated Noise Ordinance Policy that was adopted on
October 5, 2026 by the County Commissioner's, to purchase 8 of the REED R8050 Dual
Range Sound Level Meters. They will be distributed to the 4 Lieutenants and 4 Sergeants
on Patrol. We have done our research with Nicklaus Duncan and he provided these would
be the best for our situations. They are $220 per device totaling $1,760.
3. Request approval for Lieutenant Steve Perkins who retired effective October 1, 2026
from the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office with 28 years of service. He is requesting to
purchase his duty weapon for $1.00 per County Policy and NCGS 17F-20.
L. Caleb Tilley, Engineering and Public Utilities Director
Request approval of the agreement that allows Rockingham County to serve as the
required NCDOT permit holder for gas lines associated with the Renewable Natural Gas
project on NCDOT right-of-way. NCDOT requires a public entity to serve as the permit
holder. The gas lines remain solely owned and operated by WB Rockingham LLC, which is
responsible for All construction, maintenance, permitting, and associated costs. The
agreement protects the County by requiring the Developer to defend, indemnify, and hold
harmless the County, its Commissioners, officers, employees, and agents from claims,
damages, costs, and liabilities associated with the gas lines and encroachment.
M. Rhonda Hooker, Library Director
Request approval of the reappointment of Diane Parnell for the Library Board of Trustees.
Her term will end October 18, 2029.
N. Susan Washburn, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
Request approval of Regular Meeting Minutes for the October 5, 2026 Commissioners
meeting.
7. New Business
8. Public Hearing
A. Emily Luther, Parker Poe
Request approval of the Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the County of
Rockingham, North Carolina, Approving the Issuance of Bonds by the Public Finance
Authority for the Benefit of Piedmont Affordable Senior Housing Foundation Holdco I LLC.
B. Adam Barr, Senior Planner
1. Case 2026-16: Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning) - A request to rezone a (+/-) 17.1
acres parcel of land from Light Industrial (LI) to Residential Agricultural (RA) -
Conventional Rezoning. Applicant: David Simpson, Jr. - Tax PIN: 8902-04-93-0169
located at 310 Elm Grove Church Road - Reidsville Township.
2. Case 2026-14: Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning) - A request to rezone a (+/-)
504.15 acres parcel of land from Residential Agricultural (RA) to Residential Mixed -
Conditional District (RM-CD) - Conventional Rezoning. Applicant: Dalton Investment
Group, LLC - Tax PIN: 8902-04-93-0169 located at 1329 Ellisboro Road - Huntsville
Township.
9. Commissioner Comments
10. Adjourn
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