ROCKINGHAM — Auxiliary police officers with the city will now be entitled to certain benefits following the approval of an ordinance Tuesday evening.
The Rockingham City Council voted to officially establish an auxiliary police division which will entitle those officers to “benefits under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act and to any fringe benefits for which such volunteer personnel qualify.”
City Manager Monty Crump said that while city staffers were preparing the workers’ compensation insurance renewal application for the upcoming fiscal year, it was determined that the city “did not have an ordinance sufficient enough to cover auxiliary police officers.”
Chief Billy Kelly said there are currently six auxiliary officers, usually uniformed, with the Rockingham Police Department — all volunteers with 5 to 12 years of experience of being an officer — who are generally used for special events and emergency situations like inclement weather.
He added that the auxiliary officers must meet the same hiring standards as paid officers, including having the same certifications.
ZONING FLIP-FLOP
A piece of property the council voted to zone for residential back in December may once again be switched to neighborhood business.
City Planner John Massey said Samuel Lyn Dunn has requested to rezone a 0.41-acre tract he recently purchased on Yates Hill Road and “desires to use it for a neighborhood-oriented commercial use.”
A building on the property has been used commercially in the past, most recently as a day care center, however the previous owner found leasing it for business difficult, according to Massey.
A public hearing has been set for the council’s next meeting May 9.
Reach William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_Toler.