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County Council swears in new members – tackles hot issues web posted January 7, 2009 Below: Rodnay Ashcraft (L) and Genia Blackwell (R)   EDGEFIELD
– The Edgefield County Council
swore in its two newest members Rodney Ashcraft, District 2, and Genia
Blackwell, District 5, Tuesday night along with the re-elected
incumbent members. Shortly afterwards the county council embarked on a
near three hour meeting. Prior to the business meeting getting underway
Chairman Kneece was re-elected as Chairman followed by a 3-2 vote to
re-elect Councilman Willie Bright as Vice-chairman. Councilman Ashcraft
received two votes for the position. The first order of business was to amend the current fiscal year budget with a reduction of $100,000 due to funding cuts from the state. Among the cuts was just under $10,000 for assessors in the Tax Assessors Office to perform reassessments that are due by 2010. Councilman Rodney Ashcraft questioned if the county cut the funds for the assessors as budgeted would that lead to the possibility of those workers having to file for overtime to complete their work costing the county more in the long run, upwards of $12,000. County Administrator John Pettigrew said it was possible but that it was more likely that the overtime would not come until next fiscal year and felt that the Assessor’s Office would not miss the money this year. Councilwoman Genia Blackwell asked how much of the county council’s $150,000 contingency fund was returned to the general fund last year. Mr. Pettigrew said he was not sure but believed it was in excess of $60,000. Currently the fund, even after the cuts, would remain at well over $85,000 with six month to go in the fiscal year. “So we’re well ahead of where we were last year at this time,” she asked. “That’s correct,” Mr. Pettigrew stated. Mrs. Blackwell said she was uncomfortable cutting any employee’s pay to balance the budget when the council could use contingency funds and still leave more than $14,000 a month for discretionary spending. Mr. Pettigrew said that the budgeted money was not a part of the budgeted pay; it was there if the workers needed to work a 40-hour week rather than their scheduled 35-hour week. He said that the extra time would more than likely be need in the upcoming fiscal year than the remaining part of this fiscal year. The council then voted to approve the cuts by a unanimous vote. A second ordinance scheduled for a third reading was the lease on a hanger at the Trenton Airport with Western Carolina Aviation LLC. Just prior to the meeting the council was informed that the group seeking the lease had not legally formed the corporation and the third reading was postponed until the February meeting until the legal issues could be worked out. Under New Business Mr. Dennis Brite addressed the council leveling rather serious charges against Mr. Bettis Rainsford and Mount Vintage Devolvement due to lack of guaranteed infrastructure. That issue is covered in a separate report that can be found here. In other business the county council reappointed Henry Kowaleski, Jack Tiller, and Virginia Weaver to a second term on the Edgefield County Hospital Board and made new appointments of Dr. Sam Hair and Richard Bohn to their first terms by unanimous vote. Planning Commission members were also reappointed at the meeting that included Fab Burt, Tracey Freeman, Nadine Horne, Roger Timpson, and Rodney Ingle. Councilwoman Blackwell abstained from the vote citing Mr. Ingle being a family member that was appointed by her predecessor Councilman Joel Hudson. Chairman Kneece announced that he had made the following appointments to the committees of the county council. Administration: Kneece and Blackwell Finance: Kneece and Blackwell Roads and Bridges: Dorn and Ashcraft Recreation: Bright and (former councilman) Kitchens: This appointment was said to be legal due to Mr. Kitchens’ ability to stay on until the term expired. Economic Development: Kneece and Bright Building and Grounds: All council members Three River Waste Authority: Kneece and Administrator Pettigrew Tri-County Solid Waste: Kneece and Bright GLEAMS: Bright Hospital Board: Blackwell Planning Commission: Ashcraft Fire Board: Ashcraft Transportation: Bright Piedmont Tech: Dorn Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Dorn Senior Citizens Commission: Ashcraft © Copyright 2009
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