Richmond County commissioners will consider seeking funds to assist in the relocation of Knit-Rite, Inc., from Ellerbe to Hamlet, which in turn will allow the company to expand operations and create new jobs.

The Board of Commissioners will review the funding application at a public hearing held during its regular monthly meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday, held in the County Administrative Building on South Hancock Street in Rockingham.

The county intends to submit an application for a Community Development Block Grant Building Reuse grant to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, to assist with the costs of renovating a vacant building in Hamlet.

Monday’s hearing is designed to inform the public the county’s intent to apply for $750,000, and to provide more detailed information about the project along with the number of jobs Knit-Rite, Inc. will create as a result of this expansion.

Other agenda items include:

• Recently, Moore County and others have issued a statement of support to demote U.S. Highway 1 from its strategic Highway Corridor Status. In alignment with Cities of Rockingham and Hamlet, the County’s Planning staff has prepared a resolution for the board’s consideration to oppose this demotion in status for U.S. Highway 1. This will be presented by County Planning Director of GIS James Armstrong at the Monday meeting.

• Six properties in East Rockingham have been placed under the status of property under condemnation on Feb. 21, with orders to replace or demolish by April 20. Of the six properties, four of the cases have been closed due to property owners meeting the order. The other two property owners are receiving an Order of Demolition and Removal.

• Sandhills Center Area Director and CEO Victoria Whitt has requested an appearance before the board for a program update and to make a formal budget request for Fiscal Year 2012-2013.

• The board will be asked to consider the appointment of Michelle Weatherly as Richmond County’s representative to the Sandhills Center Area Board.

• A resolution for refinancing of the Richmond County 2008 Judicial Center Loan by appointing BB&T Capital Markets as sole managing underwriter.

• The board will consider a proclamation to designate May 15 as “Peace Officers memorial day” and the week of May 13-19 as “National Police Week.”

• A request to approve the audit contract with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co, P.A. for the year ended June 30. The contract price is $34,500, which is the same price as the prior year.

• Richmond County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Chairman Curtis Ingram has requested the board approve the County Plan for fiscal year 2012-2013. The $220,104 program budget is to be allocated among the following providers to impact and prevent delinquent behavior in Richmond County: Project Focus/Leak Street, 4-H Adventurers, Parenting Wisely/Richmond Support; JCPC Administrative costs and unallocated funds.

— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.