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 County and town leaders gather at Intergovernmental Meeting web posted January 29, 2010  JOHNSTON – Local
officials and elected
representatives gathered together Thursday evening in Johnston for the
annual Edgefield County Intergovernmental Meeting hosted by the
Edgefield County Council. Chairman Monroe Kneece was unable to attend
the meeting due to recent surgery so Vice-chairman Willie Bright
stepped in as host.After a short dinner and fellowship County Council Vice-chairman called the meeting to order and thanked everyone for attending. Councilman Bright said it was a good thing to bring all government bodies together once a year to be advised on what the county, municipalities, various departments, and the local Legislative members are undertaking.  South Carolina State
House member Bill Clyburn (D - Dist 82: Left) spoke
first to give an update on the current budget process currently
underway in the State House. “Needless to say, that we’re having some
budget problems in the state,” he said. “We started the year off in
08-09 with a budget of $6.8 billion, and before the year was over with,
we were to deal with a budget 09-10 with a $1.3 billion cut.”Rep. Clyburn said having to go into a year with that type of cut is “devastating” because of the deficit but he is hopeful, “things could be done” to try to offset the shortfall he said was linked mainly to not receiving the sales tax revenues that were projected. This year, Rep. Clyburn said, “it is hopeful that they (the estimated revenues) come in under (projections) because it’s hard to go back in and make up those deficits.” As an example Clyburn alluded to the budget cuts Edgefield County had to make, over $600,000, in last year’s budget with almost half being funds cut by the state. One of the things he suggested was taking advantage of the “stimulus money” offered by the Federal Government. “We need that money,” he said. The House is working hard on the budget and “at the end of the day”, Clyburn said, “I hope there’s some good news.” Specifically to Edgefield County, “I have made a commitment,” Rep. Clyburn said. “I have been talking to people on the Northside and people on the Westside, and there is a strong feeling of their water system.” Stimulus money could be used to bring much needed waterlines to the area, he said, adding that not only would it help to expand the infrastructure but also provide jobs. “So I want to put all my friends here on notice, I am committed and I’m going to try very hard to get water on the Northside and water on the Westside.” Edgefield Mayor Ken Durham spoke next starting off by thanking the county for making the meeting possible. He recognized Rev. Lloyd and Herbert Yarborough, two members of the Edgefield Town Council in attendance, saying, “most of the time we see eye to eye, but when we don’t we do it friendly.” Mayor Durham said the local governments and departments work well together and he was thankful for that. He stated that he remained “positive” in his attitude and on the outlook of things for the coming year. He also pointed out the local merchants of Edgefield and the association with the town. “We invest in them because when they prosper we prosper,” he said, through business licenses. According to a recent meeting with the merchants association, their sales were up this year over last year. “In the economy we’ve had here recently, I think that says a lot.” Johnston Mayor Willie Campbell took the podium and recognized Town Councilmen Tommy Burton, Frank Nicholson, Morris Holmes, and Buddy Smith and thanked them and the rest of the council for passing a balanced budget for the past two years, “which was a difficult task, but we did it,” he said, adding he was looking for a better budget this coming year. He thanked the Department of Commerce and the Edgefield County Water and Sewer Authority for making upgrades to sewer lines in portions of Johnston possible. HE also thanked the town employees for their performance in their duties and ended his comments with, “I believe in my heart, there is a light at the end of this tunnel if we keep prayer in out lives.” Trenton Town Administrator W. A. Harvey stood in for Mayor Helen Summer, who was ill and could not attend, and stated that the Town of Trenton was in good financial shape and had taken in more in revenues than it has expended and they looked to continue on that path by using conservative principles. However, that did not stop the town from being able to upgrade things in the town including a new fire department service truck, scheduled to be delivered in the near future as well as a new patrol car for the Chief of Police. The town also purchased new Christmas decorations for the town square and made upgrades to the Trenton Library, including new heating and air systems and upgrades to the second floor with is now being rented out as office space. The only setback the town has seen is a water pipe breaking during the recent cold weather that has caused significant damage and carpets and tiles had to be replaced in the Town Hall. However, even with the unexpected expenditure, the town was still in goof fiscal shape. Next on the agenda was Edgefield County Hospital Administrator Pat Robinson who gave a glowing report on all of the things taking place at the hospital as well as eight new specialists now providing services at the hospital. Mrs. Robinson stated that she hoped to use Edgefield Mayor Ken Durham, who had to leave shortly after he spoke, as her, “show and tell”. He recently had shoulder surgery at the hospital and is now receiving rehab services there as well. The hospital is branching out and has recently opened a physician office in Ridge Springs which is doing well, she said. A recent survey by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was undertaken and the lead surveyor informed Mrs. Robinson that the Edgefield County Hospital was, “by far the best critical access hospital that that team had ever surveyed,” which was met by a round of applause. The reason for the great review was the level of patient care and professionalism observed at the facility. Edgefield County School Superintendent Dr. Mary Crenshaw said the students in the system were “doing fine” because of the support from local businesses and that two of the seven schools in the district met the requirements for Annual Yearly Progress and test scores were up. Budget cuts were taking its toll on the district with some teachers having to be let go in the current fiscal year which increased class sizes. She thanked Rep. Clyburn for working hard to bring funding to the school systems and was hopeful for the upcoming fiscal year even though they are expecting more cuts in the coming year. A main concern was the dropout rate in Edgefield County Schools, “Dr. Crenshaw said. Currently the rate is 32%, which translates into one third of all students leaving the 8th grade failing to graduate. “But a majority of our students are doing great, but that is a concern.” Fred Humes of the Economic Development Partnership spoke on the economy saying the last eighteen months has been some of the worst in recent memory and that Bridgestone Firestone in Aiken County was producing 25,000 tires a day before the downturn and cut production in half. Currently they are gearing back up and are nearing their past production levels. Humes said he saw that as a promising indicator. He saw of the recent $3 million expansion at Parksdale Mill in Edgefield which will provide 16 new jobs as good news adding that the Department of Commerce was actively involve in the work to make it happen. More meaningful was that the expansion came in a textile mill which over the years has seen jobs moved out of the country. Demand for locations to relocate by companies seems to be on the rise with 80% seeking to move into existing buildings rather than waiting on a building to be constructed, Mr. Humes said. In Edgefield County, Mr. Humes said, “we don’t have one.” Several other speakers gave reviews and outlooks before the meeting was adjourned. Sen. Shane Massey arrived at the meeting later and addressed the attendees; however, we were unable to cover his comments due to deadline issues. © Copyright 2010
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