Local Radar

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Flour Mill ordered demolition deadline to end with little or no progress made

web posted September 28, 2006

JOHNSTON – The demolition of the Old Flour Mill in Johnston, which has been the focal point of countless complaints from citizens and some Johnston Town Council members, is fast approaching a critical deadline for owner Alex Hamilton. Originally ordered to complete the demolition almost two years ago, Mr. Hamilton was granted extensions by the town on at least two occasions. In March of this year Mr. Hamilton was found guilty of noncompliance of the town ordinances and permits. Hamilton was ordered to finish the demolition by June 30. That deadline was extended when SC DHEC found toxic waste on the site. The deadline given by the Town of Johnston and the Edgefield County Magistrate Court was September 30, just two days away and obvious evidence shows Mr. Hamilton will not be meeting the deadline.

EdgefieldDaily.com visited the site several times over the past few weeks to see the progress, or lack thereof, being undertaken. Under the agreement reached, Mr. Hamilton was to contract with an outside contractor to remove the hazardous material and complete the other demolition by the September deadline. The site remains relatively untouched, and materials seen being transported from the location are by trucks owned by Mr. Hamilton.

Edgefield County Magistrate Brenda Carpenter, who issued the original verdict against Mr. Hamilton, said Wednesday that if Mr. Hamilton did not meet the required deadlines that it would be up to the Town of Johnston to contact the Magistrate’s Office to push the issue. “They (the Town of Johnston) would have to let me know that he (Mr. Hamilton) has not fulfilled his obligation,” Judge Carpenter said. “At that time I would schedule a show cause hearing and he (Hamilton) would have to show why he should not be fined or put in jail,” for noncompliance.

Attempts to reach Mr. Hamilton were unsuccessful. Johnston Mayor Willie Campbell was also unable to be reached for comment. Johnston Police Chief Chris Aston said the matter has been placed in the courts and his office would only act as directed by the town or the courts. “We filed the original complaint, it is now in the hands of the courts,” Chief Aston said Wednesday. “We’ll do whatever they tell us to do.”


 

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