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WENTWORTH — In his first month on the job, Rockingham County’s new manager spent a lot of time at the conference table in his office — not the ample, executive-style desk across the room.

Lance Metzler said he’s trying to send two messages: He has no personal agenda and his door is always open to residents with problems or questions involving county government.

“Literally, I’ve been sitting at this table every day meeting citizens, staff and commissioners,” Metzler said in a recent interview. “It’s because I want to get to know the community. My first step is to try to understand everything, or as much as I can, about their views and every function and goal.

“Oftentimes, managers are not accessible. ... And a lot of times, what citizens appreciate is when someone is there to listen. You might not always have the solution, but you can listen and understand.”

Metzler took the reins of county government Dec. 5, after the county Board of Commissioners hired him to fill the shoes of veteran manager Tom Robinson, who retired last year after nearly a decade in the role.

Metzler, 41, will be paid $132,500 a year and get a car allowance of $600 per month. He came to the job from Montgomery County, where he served as that county’s chief executive for seven years.

Montgomery, where Metzler grew up, boasts a population of about 27,500 residents — less than a third that of Rockingham County’s. But Metzler faced some of the same issues there as those he’ll confront at Governmental Center in Wentworth.

And he performed admirably during his tenure, said Jackie Morris, chairman of the Montgomery board.

“He is a hard worker and passionate about administering county business,” Morris said, adding that one of Metzler’s attributes is a strong commitment to county residents.

Metzler got his start as a manager in Kingstree, S.C., where, at 23 he was the youngest town manager in the state.

Later, he served as chief administrator in Virginia for another small town and for Northampton County in the Eastern Shore area.

Metzler’s accomplishments in Montgomery County since 2005, Morris said, include helping to form a partnership with neighboring Moore County to build a 3,000-acre business park on the county line, the Heart of North Carolina MegaPark.

Metzler plans to put similar stress on economic development for Rockingham County, walking a careful line between protecting the rural landscape and bringing jobs to the area: “The type of industry in a rural setting needs to be eco-friendly, that can co-exist with that rural character.”

Rockingham County faces a tough budget year in 2012, with some revenue sources likely stagnant.

But the finances appear well-managed, Metzler said, with little pressing need to spend heavily on such projects as new buildings.

“I think Rockingham County is in a very stable financial position,” he said. “Capital needs, it appears, have been taken care of in the short and fairly long-term — the animal shelter, the courthouse, the jail, the administration building. ... (But) future needs must take into consideration the schools and the community college.”

Deciding what to do and when will be up to the commissioners, he said.

“One of the first things I hope to do is have a retreat with the commissioners so they can set their goals,” he said.

“I’ll have some clear direction as to what they want, and then (county) departments can have a clear direction for what I’m expecting.”

Metzler said that he and his fiance, Gwen Roseman, are looking forward to forming a blended family when she moves here from Wilmington, where she works as a flight attendant. They each have two school-age children from previous marriages.

Metzler said that in his short time on the job, he has gained confidence that he made a good choice in coming to Rockingham County. He’s hoping county residents feel the same way about him.

Contact Taft Wireback at 373-7100 or taft.wireback@news-record.com