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  Who is in charge? County Council moves forward on Calliham project without votes web posted June 23, 2010 EDGEFIELD – With work beginning on the remodeling of the lower section of the Calliham building to make room for new county office space, there have been more questions than answers as to who is in charge of the project and who made the decision to place individual bid requests for the work to be performed online by the county. Several attempts to meet with County Administrator Alton Brown on Tuesday were unsuccessful, a call to County Council Chairman Monroe Kneece went unanswered, and county council members who did respond gave disturbing answers to serious questions as to who is in charge. County Council Vice-chairman Willie Bright said Building Director Mike Reed was tapped to be the general contractor for the job. “That’s true,” Bright said. When asked when a vote was taken to forego placing the project, estimated to cost the county between $600,000 and $800,000, out for bids to legitimate commercial contractors Mr. Bright said, “I believe it was just understood that he (Reed) was going to be the general contractor.” Asked specifically whether a vote was taken to approve a floor plan, design scheme, blue prints, and other aspects of the job Councilman Bright said, “I don’t recall a specific vote, no.” District 2 County Councilman Rodney Ashcraft gave a similar answer when asked the same question. “I don’t recall there ever being a vote on any of it,” he said. Merriwether Councilwoman Genia Blackwell said Sunday that her earlier request was that the council would not move forward until the architectural firm 2KM, hired to provide the plans and specifications, was able to present plans for review. That was agreed on by the council and County Administrator Alton Brown was directed to have 2KM furnish the requested plans. That has not happened, and yet Mike Reed has issued on the county website requests for bids on the subcontract work with his oversight. Vice-chairman Bright said the only thing the county council gave consent on was allowing Building Director Mike Reed to place the replacement of the roof out for bid which was approved by council. “Other than the roof, that’s it,” Bright said. Vice-chairman Bright then said it was his understanding that the bids for the subcontract work would be brought before the county council at their July meeting. When asked who approved the work to be placed out for bid Mr. Bright said, “they decided to do it (place Reed as the general contractor) because we could probably save $100,000 or more.” “Who is ‘they’”, Edgefield Daily asked. “Council,” Bright replied. When asked who decided that was the path to be taken Bright replied, “ummm, I don’t know”. Asked when the vote was taken to place Mike Reed as the General Contractor Mr. Bright said, “I don’t know. I can’t recall a vote.” Councilman Bright was then directed to the floor plan, non-existent blue prints or building plans, and the designated “Scheme E” used in the presentation of bid requests. “If there is a scheme E it is safe to assume there was a scheme A, B, C, and D too. So when was the vote taken on this floor plan?” Edgefield Daily asked. “That’s right,” Bright replied. “All of the questions you’re asking me, I can’t tell you,” Bright said, “because I don’t know.” Bright then again added that there has been no vote “to make Mike (Reed) the general contractor. It was just common consent mostly”. Edgefield Daily asked, “Who’s in charge?” Bright responded, “(County Council Chairman) Monroe (Kneece) I guess.” Councilman Bright then said it was his understanding that 2KM did submit additional floor plans and approval was given. “Who approved them?” Bright was asked. “I don’t know,” he said. Asked if the plans had to be approved before the council could approve the bids being placed for advertisement Bright said only, “I agree.” The date of the floor plan being presented to bidders is dated June 15, 2010, at least two weeks after the last county council meeting and no plans or decisions on the building have been placed on the agenda for approval in any of the previous meetings. “I don’t think it was a decision like you are talking about, it wasn’t a formal vote,” Bright said. “I think the council was polled,” adding, “All the council knew” that Reed was going to act as the general contractor. Bright was reminded that “polling” of the council on a decision is not permitted under State Law. All votes and decisions of the county council must be taken in open sessions. “I don’t know,” Bright said. “I think the best thing for you to do is see Alton (Brown) and Monroe (Kneece). They’re the chairman, and um, I guess they had a hand in doing this”. Mr. Bright said he would not deny that there has never been a formal vote on the issues talked about. Presented with a reading of one of the ”scope of work” specification units Mr. Reed placed out for bid on the county website Councilman Bright admitted, “you can’t bid nothing like that.” Bright said he has had similar problems with Mr. Reed sending items out for bids including painting the courthouse and the roof of the Calliham building. Mr. Bright suggested that we contact County Administrator Alton Brown and County Council Chairman Monroe Kneece, “They’re the ones in charge,” he said. “I just don’t know.” “You are the Vice-chairman are you not?” Edgefield Daily asked. “I am,” Bright replied. ”Well, as such you should know what is going on.” Councilman Bright responded, “I guess I should, but I don’t.” Edgefield Daily will try to contact and interview Mr. Kneece and Mr. Brown again on Wednesday. At this time, county council members Ashcraft, Blackwell, and Bright confirm that no vote to place Reed as General Contractor has been taken nor has a similar vote for him to place the work out for bids has been approved by the county council, much less a vote on the plans he is using to solicit bids. Messages left at the State Labor, License, and Regulation (LLR) for comment were not returned concerning the process untaken by Edgefield County and the several positions that Mr. Reed seems to be acting. At this time Reed, according to information provided, is acting as building director, assisting tax assessor, and now as a general contractor for a county commercial building project, when no person under state law can hold more than one position in a county government. © Copyright 2010
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