ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – The Rockingham County Board of Supervisors moved to allocate $90,000 to renovate the Briery Branch Community Center at last night’s meeting.

The organization that manages Briery Branch is awaiting potential grant money for the project, but county finances have been needed for the initial upgrades. That prompted a tense discussion before the 5-2 vote, with Supervisors Rick Chandler and Sallie Wolfe-Garrison dissenting.

Supervisor Leila Longcor, who oversees District 4, where the community center is located, protested that funding the early phases of the renovation project is necessary for the grant money to be awarded.

“We have already evaluated this site, and we have been told that it increases our chances with this block grant if we go ahead and work on this building,” Longcor said.

Garrison raised concerns about the perception of mishandling public funds.

“This is the third instance, we’re doing this again, and I will say that the expectation of mishandling public funds is now a consistent standard in Rockingham County after three, if this is what you’re proposing to do,” Wolfe-Garrison said.

Other board members were quick to point out that previous actions related to funding the renovations had been carried out legitimately in open session.

“Every one that has been granted has been in the open,” Board Chair Dewey Ritchie said. “We five didn’t just sit back in a room and make that decision, everybody heard what was requested and asked for. So, Ms. Garrison, I take some offense at that, saying that’s the perception.”

Following the vote, Vice Chair Joel Hensley made another motion declaring that county staff would handle grant processes with consultation from the tourism industry, which the board voted to pass unanimously.