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 Investigation of Recreation Funds underway, use of Road Maintance fees called into question web posted September 1, 2009 COUNTY – EdgefieldDaily.com has confirmed that an investigation into the Edgefield County recreation department revenues associated with the concession stand at Bettis Park is underway. The investigation was launched after Sheriff Adell Dobey received an anonymous letter two weeks ago asking his Office to investigate in order to, “prove no wrong doing of breech of trust, fraud, and embezzlement.” According to an email from Edgefield County Recreation Director Nick Wates, Debra Barley runs the county owned concession stand during football and baseball games and the money made is deposited into the account of the “Mount Cannon Baptist Group,” correctly identified as the Mt. Canaan Baptist Association. The money earned from concessions at Bettis Park is to be deposited with the county under county ordinance, but no such deposits have been made since 2006. Edgefield County Council Vice-chairman Willie Bright denied the money was being deposited with the Mt. Canaan Association at a Town Hall meeting on August 19. Bright said the money was placed into “an account” but it did not go to the church. Bright stated it would be used, “toward something at Bettis in order to get volunteers to get them to work it”. But recent revelations have brought about another concern of another church group, this one closely associated with Edgefield County Councilman Norman Dorn, who also seems to be enjoying special treatment and use of county funds with no explanation for a park owned by the church group. On Tuesday of last week, county road crew workers were used to transport two sets of bleachers to the Northside Park from Bettis Park for a church sponsored youth rally on August 29 upon the request of a “Rev. Gordon” that was approved by County Administrator John Pettigrew and County Recreation Director Nick Wates. The county workers are now in the process of taking the bleachers back to Bettis Park, also at the expense of the county. The function was not advertised for the general public nor was it a county sponsored recreational event making the use to county workers, county equipment, county property, and use of county funds questionable for a private church function. It was discovered that this is not the first time the county road crew workers have been used to transport bleachers for church functions at the park. The bleachers have been moved there for similar church functions “several times”, one email from Dir. Wates read. The question of the use of county road crew workers comes under even closer scrutiny as all funding allocated for the road maintenance department is obtained from a $20 per vehicle tax imposed by county ordinance to fully fund the road maintenance department for the upkeep of county roads. By law, that would exclude the county road department workers from being used to perform any task other than the upkeep and maintenance of county roads unless a private group or citizen requesting the work be performed paid the county for the use of manpower and use of county vehicles. It is unknown at this time if the current use of county workers and expenditures of county funds at the Northside Park will be folded into the investigation currently underway by the Sheriff’s Office. At this time the initial investigation is being conducted by the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office on the Bettis Park situation. If any improprieties are found the case will be turned over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for further investigation. The Sheriff’s Office can ask for an audit of recreation funds and other funds used in association to the county recreational parks and road maintance funds used for recreational activities. © Copyright 2009
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