Halifax Community College and the Roanoke Rapids Graded District both received requested funds from the Halifax County Board of Commissioners today.
College
Commissioners appropriated $20,000 to the college to cover a shortfall that was created by $15,613.48 in excess legal fees and bat extrication costs of $6,500, according to a letter from Debra Smith, interim vice president of finance administrative affairs, contained in today’s meeting agenda packet.
College President Ervin V. Griffin Sr. explained to the board the college expended its own funds to cover the costs of a waterline break that caused water damage to several buildings.
“This is the first time in several years we’ve come to ask you for anything,” the college president said.
The board agreed to the appropriation.
Roanoke Rapids
Meanwhile, Doug Miller, director of operations and school facilities for Roanoke Rapids, requested $245,000 in state lottery funds for safety improvements to the old armory building beside the high school.
The school system has expended $169,000 on the project, Miller told commissioners.
The request from the school system will cover planning and design services and additions and renovations, according to the application for state lottery funds contained in the agenda packet.
Planning and design services are estimated at $60,000. Additions and renovations are estimated at $185,000, according to the document.
The armory, Miller said, was built in the late 1940s and was designed to match the architecture of the high school.
The detailed renovations will include a new fire alarm system and a new exit that lets people out beside the Catholic church. The school system is also cordoning the building in different sections and putting in new firewalls.
Two classrooms are planned for the armory, especially for the Junior ROTC program, Miller said.
The maple floors of the basketball court are still intact. “We use the auxiliary gym a lot.”
Miller told commissioners the school system also plans to use the building for community functions once the renovations are completed.
In other matters today the board:
Listened to a recreation network proposal by former Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation Director Chris Wicker.
Wicker explained the network is a joint effort to address the high instances of diabetes and obesity in the county that put it at 99th in the state.
The network has already received $45,000 to develop a master plan to address recreation needs throughout the county, Wicker said.
Funds thus far have come from the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation; a Community Transformation Grant; Halifax Business Horizons and the Halifax Convention and Visitors Bureau.
As the master plan develops meetings will be held throughout the county to assess the needs.
Opened a public hearing on the upcoming fiscal year budget in which no one from the public spoke.
County Manager Tony Brown said copies of the budget are still available for inspection at the county manager’s office, libraries and online.
