Administration County Manager - Thomas B. Robinson    342-8101

G.S. 153-A makes the manager the chief administrator of county government, being responsible to the board of commissioners for administering all departments of county government under the board’s general control.  He has the following powers and duties:

·          He shall direct and supervise the administration of all county offices, departments, boards, commissioners, and agencies under the general control of the Board of Commissioners, subject to the general direction and control of the board.

·          He shall attend all meetings of the Board of Commissioners and recommend any measures that he considers expedient.

·          He shall see that the orders, ordinances, resolutions, and regulations of the Board of Commissioners are faithfully executed within the county.

·          He shall prepare and submit the annual budget and capital program to the Board of Commissioners.

·          He shall annually submit to the Board of Commissioners and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the county as of the end of the fiscal year.

·          He shall make any other reports that the Board of Commissioners may require concerning the operations of county offices, departments, boards, commissions, and agencies.

·          He shall perform any other duties that may be required of authorized by the Board of Commissioners.

This department oversees all elections at state, county and municipal levels for the County.  Main responsibilities are:

• Maintaining voting records/history    

• Verifying eligibility for qualified voters

• Issuing citizenship certificates    

• Handling candidate filings

• Auditing campaign reporting    

• Processing absentee ballots

• Certifying Elections results

Business Technology Center    N. Mark Wells, Director

The RCBTC is an e-NC Authority Business & Technology Center, which opened in 2005 to bridge the gap between technology and business management for its rural and poor population. Its services aim to support entrepreneurs with planning, management and training services and to ensure these entrepreneurs have access to information technology necessary to compete in today's global marketplace. It also evaluates, creates and manages large economic development projects (e.g. broadband, green energy, local food distribution, etc.) that support and grow an entrepreneurial climate in Rockingham County.

This department provides educational information and assistance of all phases of agricultural (production/marketing), homemaking, 4-H programs, community resources development.  Under these four areas special emphasis is given to eight national initiatives which are:

• Competitiveness and profitability of Agriculture          

• Water Quality

• Alternative Agricultural Opportunities    

• Natural Resources

• Revitalizing Rural America    

• Improving Nutrition

• Family Well Being    

• Human Capital

This department works with the County jail population by reducing the number of pretrial defendants housed there.  This is accomplished by maintenance of up to 40 electronic home monitoring devices issued by the courts; providing monitoring for less serious cases; assisting defendants in completing information on affidavits; provision counseling, employment assistance and educational assistance to clients. 
 

Emergency Services provides emergency services to the citizens of Rockingham County.  It consists of three sections which are 9-1-1 Communications Center, Emergency Medical Services, and the Fire Marshal’s Office.  Listed below are a few of the services each section provides:

The 9-1-1 Communications Center dispatches emergency calls for services from Emergency Medical Services, Rescue Squads, Police Departments, County Fire Departments, and after duty calls for Hospice and Public Health to all citizens of the county. 

Emergency Medical Services provides 24 hour high level pre-hospital patient care and emergency medical services and transportation for the county.  It operates units from Bethany, Eden, Mayodan, and Reidsville.

The Fire Marshal’s Office coordinates emergency situations and is in charge of search and recovery teams.  This office coordinates all fire districts, works with municipal fire departments, conducts fire inspections, and trains fire department personnel. 

Environmental and Engineering Services: Environmental & Engineering Services Director - Thomas G. Wagoner  342-8104

 This department performs professional engineering work involving solid waste disposal, recycling, water distribution and sewage treatment, hazardous materials and emergency response planning, and environmental health issues.  This department oversees the following: 

The Maintenance section which is responsible for building and grounds maintenance at various public buildings owned by the county;  The Rockingham County Landfill which is designed, operated and equipped in accordance with North Carolina State Board of Health, and The Water & Sewer section which is responsible for water distribution and sewage treatment. 

Facilities Projects Manager - Michael D. Smith 

The primary function of the Facilities Projects section is to carry out construction management activities to facilitate and coordinate the County, school system, and community college construction and repairs projects.  This department is to provide control of time, cost, and quality of construction and repairs for the County.  Some other functions are:

• Review plans and specifications.

• Review and analyze bids, and recommend award of contracts.

• Develop and maintain schedules and monitor compliance.

• Coordinates response to technical issues of design, construction and code compliance including the recommendation or procurement of consultants or other resources.

• Oversees all construction phase activities relative to the project.

• Reviews and recommends approval/denial of all contract changes

Finance:   Assistant County Manager/Finance Officer - Michael W. Apple

The Finance Office is responsible for maintaining county accounting records, disbursements, receipts, deposits of money, management of debt service, and preparation of annual audit.

Governing Body                              Pamela M. McLain, MMC, Clerk to the Board  342-8102

Rockingham County’s Board consists of five members elected at-large for staggered four-year terms. This Board serves as Rockingham County’s general governing body, and major responsibilities lie in three functions:

• Establishment of overall fiscal policy through its budgetary powers,

• Regulation of private conduct through its ordinance-making powers, and

• General administration.

The Clerk to the Board is officially responsible for the County seal and the retention of official records. 

Library:  Library Director - Michael P. Roche    627-1106 The Rockingham County Public Library services the informational, educational, and recreational needs of all citizens of Rockingham County and of many citizens from surrounding counties of Stokes, Caswell, Guilford, and the State of Virginia.

Branch libraries are located in each incorporated town in the county: Eden, Madison, Mayodan, Reidsville, and Stoneville.  The library administrative office is also located in Eden.  The Outreach Services, the main computer equipment, and the cataloging department operate from the administrative office.

The Library provides the following services:

*         Answering reference questions.

*         Special programs for adults and children, such as film showings and story hours.

*         A special literacy program.

*         Outreach services consist of the bookmobile, Drop-In Library for children, and the Special Outreach Service to the homebound and aged.

*         Other services include voter registration, interlibrary loan, registering Senior Citizens with I.D. cards, and making copies for patrons.

Rockingham County Personnel Policies which govern recruitment, selection, employment, and conditions of employment;  maintenance of an effective and responsible work force;  and establishing and maintaining custody of personnel files on all county employees.

Safety & Risk Management administers loss prevention activities according to Federal and State law in conformity with generally accepted risk management principles and continuously analyzes loss trends and strives to provide the strategic planning and expertise required to reduce County losses and maximize savings.

The Planning Division functions include issuing zoning compliance for new construction, reviewing plats for new subdivision and development in the county, studying and recommending long and short range planning needs for the county including zoning, transportation, economic development, infrastructure, land use, and environmental priorities.  The mechanism for implementing such recommendations and for insuring the County has controlled, balanced growth is through the development of planning ordinances and regulations.  The Rockingham County Planning Board, which is composed of one (1) citizen from each of the eleven (11) townships, directs the planning staff in identifying needs and formulating policies for governing growth in Rockingham County for the ultimate purpose of promoting the public health, safety and general welfare of its citizens.

The Inspections Division performs building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections on all new construction in the county to insure that all local, state, and federal construction codes are met.  Inspections at various stages of construction are made on a regular basis for insuring code compliance.

Public Health:    Local Health Director II - Glenn L. Martin  342-8140 The Public Health Department is organized and functions under the General Statutes and Administrative Procedures Code of North Carolina. The Department operates many identifiable service programs for Rockingham County citizens.  Several of these are nursing services and some are carried out by Environmental Health personnel.  The Public Health Nursing Services range from hypertension screening and immunizations, to comprehensive care of acutely ill

persons under the Home Health Care guidelines of Medicare.  Environmental Health services range from solid waste surveillance to inspections of schools, restaurants, nursing homes, and hospitals.  All programs meet guidelines promulgated by the North Carolina Department of Human Resources.

  The Department functions under the direct supervision of the Board of Health (a group of eleven (11) county citizens appointed by the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners), and organized in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes.  This Board approves budgets and operational policy for the department in accordance with law or state guidelines.

Public Information Office       Ginger T. Waynick, PIO/Webmaster

The Public Information Office performs a wide variety of activities including writing and delivery of press releases to local media;  Design and publication of informational materials such as brochures and booklets; technical assistance to committees and other groups on an as-needed basis;  Development and execution of educational campaigns for various departmental efforts;   Research for and writing of grant proposals for various projects and departments, and;  Maintenance of the county website. 

Purchasing:  Purchasing Specialist:  Gail M. Priddy  342-8111

Register of Deeds: Register of Deeds Rebecca B. Cipriani  342-8820  
           e-vault:  search online records
           ROD Informational website

            The Office of the Register of Deeds for Rockingham County contains the largest depository of official and permanent records in the County, including:

• All land record documents in Rockingham County (i.e. – deeds, deeds of trusts, leases, contracts):

• All certificates of births and deaths occurring in Rockingham County;

• All marriage licenses issued in Rockingham County;

• All notaries public commissioned in Rockingham County;

• All armed forces discharges recorded in Rockingham County;

• All Uniform Commercial Code fixture filings; and

                  All other types of documents presented for recording (i.e. – satisfaction documents, underground utilities, assumed   name certificates, powers of attorney, hazardous waste disposal documents, corporation documents, assessments of water and sewer authorities, bankruptcy records, official bonds, farm names, farmland districts, grave removals, historic landmarks, tax waivers, limited partnerships, strays, will renunciations, etc. recorded in Rockingham County)
            Records are recorded and indexed according to North Carolina General Statutes, North Carolina public policy mandates, and local ordinances. Fees are set by the General Assembly and detailed in the General Statutes.
            

Sheriff's Office:   Sheriff - Samuel Scott Page   634-3232 The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for maintaining law and order within the County.  It is divided into seven (7) divisions: The Communications Division is the heart of the Sheriff’s Department.  They answer all calls, interprets the urgency and need of the call, and dispatches the information to the proper person such as road deputy, detective, or animal control officer.  The dispatcher records the date, time, and nature of the call.

The Patrol Division patrols an assigned area of the County.  They answer complaints and investigate crimes in the assigned area.  They serve all subpoenas, civil papers, warrants, and jury notices.  This division does house security checks for people on vacation or in the hospital and for businesses, escorts funerals, assists stranded motorists, and assists surrounding agencies in emergency situations.

The Detective Division is responsible for in-depth investigations of major crimes against people and property with crimes against people having top priority.  A detective interviews complaints, interviews suspects and witnesses, evaluates indictments, and prepares information for the District Attorney’s Office for courtroom trials.  This division is also responsible for narcotics investigations and spends a great deal of time in an undercover capacity and surveillance.

The Jail houses all prisoners within the county while providing their food, clothing, and medical needs.  This division provides security for the courtrooms, transports prisoners to and from court, transports all mental patients and alcohol patients to State Hospitals, and transports all prisoners to the State Systems.

The Administration Division maintains arrest records, investigation records, a file of served and unserved warrants, and gun permits.  Civil summons and relating information are updated and maintained in the Records section.  Such programs as the Neighborhood Watch Crime Prevention, Crimestoppers, and Victim Assistance come under this division.

The Animal Control Division answers all animal control complaints and calls within their area.  They listen to disputes regarding animals and advises laws and procedures for settling disputes and working out problems.

The Day Reporting Center provides judicial officials with another sentencing option for intermediate offenders.  It consists of a pre-trial release program to include electronic house arrest and a case management program.

Social Services:   County Social Services Director II - Larry K. Johnson  342-1394 The Department of Social Services provides a wide array of both public assistance programs and pure service programs.  Public assistance programs include Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), State/County

Special Assistance for Adults, Title IV-B Adoption Assistance, Title IV-E Adoption Assistance, Title IV-E Foster Care, State Foster Care, State Foster Care Benefits, Crisis Intervention, Medicaid, and Special Assistance for the Blind.

There are twelve (12) mandated services currently required to be available in all counties under the Social Services Block Grant.  These services are Adoption, Child Day Care, Family Planning, Foster Care of Adults, Foster Care of Children, Protective Services for Adults, Protective Services for Children, Chore or Homemaker Services, Health Support Services, Individual and Family Adjustment Services, Chore Services for the Blind, Adjustment Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

In addition to the mandated services there are 23 other services that are considered optional and are offered based on county need and available resources.  Because of lack of funding, Rockingham County Department of Social Services only concentrates on the above mandated services.

to exercise public powers conferred under provisions of the Soil and Water Conservation Law of North Carolina.  Our responsibility within Rockingham County is to conserve the soil, water, and related natural resources.

The USDA, Soil Conservation Service, works hand-in-hand with the District to provide personnel and technical assistance to farmers, individuals, groups, organizations, or units of government in Rockingham County.

Examples of technical assistance include soil survey interpretations and conservation plans.  Planning aid is given in agricultural land use, grassland management, wildlife, recreation, woodland, and other uses of land.  Experts in agronomy, biology, forestry, soils, and engineering are available through this agency.  A major mission of this office is to reduce erosion of soil and improve water quality.  Since erosion occurs on cropland and developing areas, more assistance is provided in these land uses.

  Tax Department:    342-8280    Karen Carter, Tax Administrator

  The Tax Department mails, receives, and processes thousands of abstracts; makes assessments of regular and business personal property and public service property in the amount of over 2 billion dollars; and sends over 65,000 tax bills and collects in advalorem, fire and dog license fee in excess of 15 million dollars.  This department is also responsible for the following:

·          Collects delinquent taxes

·          Prepares tax certifications for attorneys and other individuals wishing to know how much tax is owed on property, real or personal or both.

·          Provides bond letters

·          Sells Schedule “B” License (Privilege License)

·          Keeps up with sales transaction of all real estate in the county for state and local tax purposes

·          Handles all transfers of real estate through deeds, wills or special proceedings for the transfer of ownership for tax purposes

·          Makes map changes for any parcel of land due to transfer of ownership or subdivision

·          In listing process keeps up with thousands and thousands of vehicles, mobile homes, motorcycles, utility trailers, farm equipment, business equipment,  and all personal property in Rockingham County

·          Assists the public in locating property, determining the ownership of property, determining the value of property, and determining the boundary lines of property

·          Assists the public with property value problems, estate problems, deed and book information, title search, and other land related information

·          Keeps up with boundary lines for fire districts, school districts and 5 cities

·          Provides information and tax billing for cities within the county

·          Keeps up with improvements, demolition, value changes of all real property in the county

Veterans Services:  Veterans Services Officer - Wanda Lane  342-8449

This Veterans Service Office interviews veterans and assists them in completing applications for pensions, disability compensation, hospital treatment, loans, educational assistance, and other benefits.  Listed below are other duties of the officer:

• Makes visits in homes, hospitals, and nursing homes

• Assists dependents and survivors of veterans in applying for pensions, burial benefits, scholarships, and insurance benefits

• Assists applicants in obtaining evidence required to provide eligibility

• Assists in arranging admission of eligible veterans to Veterans’ Administration hospitals and in obtaining medication and sickroom equipment

• Acts on behalf of applicants in preparing appeals to the appropriate Veterans’ Administration offices

The Veterans Service Office is responsible to the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners and the County Manager but operates under the general supervision of the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs as provided by North Carolina General Statute 165-6.  The County receives a small subsidy for the operation of this office.

Youth Services:     Youth Services Director Tara Pierce   342-5756    The Youth Involvement Program is an agency of the county whose purpose is the intervention with youths from age 7 through 17 and their families to prevent initial or further involvement with the juvenile or criminal justice system.  This service is provided through a counseling staff who works therapeutically to help the clients and their families reduce the factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency.

They help in resolving personal and interpersonal crises and in reducing problematic behavior at home, school, and community settings.  They also help the clients in developing skills and personal resources necessary for effective functioning as members of society.  Teen Court is a peer sentencing program designed to provide an alternative method of dealing with first time, non-violent offenders who have committed misdemeanors and minor traffic violations.  The program is based on the idea that peer pressure in the court setting will have a more immediate and meaningful effect upon the individual than the traditional juvenile justice approach.

The professional staff of the Youth Involvement Program consists of the director, a secretary, and home/school counselors.  The program is funded through federal, state and local sources and two governing bodies influence the scope and direction of the program.  The eleven member Board of Directors serves in an advisory and supportive capacity while the Rockingham County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Task Force assesses the needs of youths in Rockingham County and makes recommendations to the County Commissioners for state funding of programs which serve these needs.  Both the Board and Task Force are appointed by the County Commissioners.