Commissioners keep 'water only' rule for county auditorium, ask staff for after‑hours cost options

The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners agreed on May 28 to maintain a 'water only' rule in the Norman Lo auditorium to protect carpets and upholstery after staff described a recent coffee spill and cleanup challenge.

Commissioners discussed enforcement and recommended replacing paper door signs with a permanent, professional sign. They acknowledged enforcement will be practical rather than strict and suggested staff and commissioners politely remind visitors of the rule when necessary.

The board then debated whether to permit after‑hours use of the auditorium. Options included requiring a county employee or a facilities staff member to be present to secure the building, charging an hourly after‑hours fee to cover overtime/call‑in pay, and clarifying which departments would provide IT/AV support. Commissioners said that before changing the current policy (which had been 'no nights/no weekends'), staff should obtain cost estimates, consult the union on overtime or call‑in arrangements, and identify which job classifications would oversee after‑hours events.

Staff were asked to prepare a follow‑up report with recommended fees, a staffing plan (including potential call‑in rates), and sample signage for the board to review. The board also signaled it would consider limited carve‑outs for county department needs (for example, sheriff’s training) if appropriate safeguards and staffing arrangements are in place.