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  Ashcraft discusses “uncomfortable” issues in county budget at Town Hall meeting web posted May 21, 2010  MERRIWETHER – County
Council District 2
Councilman Rodney Ashcraft held a Town Hall meeting at the Merriwether
Middle School Thursday night where he highlighted the current budget
debate taking place by the county council and his strong belief in
government transparency. Melding the two issues together, Councilman
Ashcraft said that is why he has been “asking the tough questions”
during the budget debates, even though they may be “uncomfortable
ones”. “However, these are questions that should be asked for two reasons,” Councilman Ashcraft said. “One, because they’ve never been asked before, and two because these uncomfortable questions need to be asked so that the stewards of our tax dollars are armed with information that is accurate.” Councilman Ashcraft said that is why, “I trade personal comfort for hard knowledge and ask the tough questions of those who are asking for taxpayer funds.” He said he considers all funding requests to be “worthy of consideration, and scrutiny.” Any funds expended by the county on any aspect within the budget - within or outside of the county government realm - “must stand on its own merits and must be beneficial to the greatest number of Edgefield County citizens.” Ashcraft, a six-year veteran of military service in Europe and the Middle East, said he will continue to fight for the citizens in District 2 and the entire county by making the process of local government more transparent and accountable. He encouraged residents to call him and provide their input on how better to serve the district and the county. Another issue address is the need for replacement patrol vehicles for Sheriff’s Deputies. Councilman Ashcraft said he has studied the matter in depth and that three of the patrol cars used by the “road patrol” (deputies responding to 911 calls) are beyond their recommend “use life”. By the end of the coming fiscal year that number grows to five. In the next two fiscal years that number grows to ten. The following year that number grows ever further. “In the last two meetings, we haven’t been very successful on that,” Ashcraft said. “But we still have one council meeting left where we’re going to vote on the budget and those considerations will definitely be made then.” One of the things Councilman Ashcraft pointed out was, “I’ve been told by some that the recommended life of a patrol car was just that, recommended.” However, from a fiscal accountability side Ashcraft said, “Personally I feel that if there is ever an accident where there is great bodily harm and that vehicle is past its ‘recommended usage life’, all of a sudden ‘recommended’ becomes a key point with an attorney in court.” Ashcraft said he felt it was important to keep such a high liability, “off of the county and those vehicles that need to be replaced should get replaced”. Merriwether District 5 County Councilwoman Genia Blackwell, who also attended the meeting, agreed. One of the issues brought forward during a question and answer period was the term “pursuit vehicles” during the debate on the patrol cars. “Is there a difference between a pursuit vehicle and one that is responding to someone on 911 saying someone is breaking into their house?,” one man asked. Councilman Ashcraft said no and agreed with the wording used by Sheriff Adell Dobey referring to them as “emergency response vehicles”. Staying “ahead of the curve” in keeping patrol vehicles up to date was one of his main goals, Councilman Ashcraft said. “I think it is important to put the money where it is needed most.” Another issue brought up during the question period was from a Springhaven Drive woman who said she was fearful of the advancement of the City of North Augusta into the Merriwether area. “It seems everyday I see them (North Augusta Police) patrolling our area. I think they need to stay in North Augusta not Merriwether.” Councilman Ashcraft and Councilwoman Blackwell stated North Augusta had purchased property along Five North Road for a new park complex and since the city owned it they automatically annexed it into the city limits. “But they have no business being there (Murrah Road and Springhaven Drive) beyond that,” Councilman Ashcraft said. Several complaints were raised about the rezoning of the Hagler property on Five Notch Road. Councilwoman Blackwell said she and Councilman Ashcraft fought against it, “and I don’t know why that got passed.” Ashcraft and Blackwell brought up a Planned Development ordinance that has already received a first reading, although it is being revised at this time, which would limit zoning changes. Merriwether Planning Commissioner Rodney Ingle was present at the meeting and explained that if adopted, “It would stop something like the Hagler type situation.” Ingle said, “It would be much more restrictive on a developer.” Councilwoman stated that even without the ordinance, “Council could have prevented the Hagler situation, but, that was a 2-3 vote on that and mine was no.” Councilman Ashcraft was the other dissenting voted. Councilman Ashcraft said that on most issues he has “blinders on” as far as how other council members view things and that he focuses on the issue and makes the best decision that represents the view of his constituents. “Unfortunately, sometimes that’s on the minority side of council,” he said. “I try to do what is best for all the people.” Another woman spoke up saying, “I hope you two (Ashcraft and Blackwell) stay on (County Council).” She said that people should vote for those who will set aside the politics as usual and “do the job”. That was the problem in not just local politics, but those at the state and federal level. “There’s got to be a change,” she said. “There’s a whole lot wrong in Edgefield County,” she said. “That’s part of what I was saying earlier,” Councilman Ashcraft said. “It’d be great if everybody on the council thought alike and it was the right way, you would feel like you fit in. But doing things the way I believe is right is different from the majority most of the time. You do it because that is what you were elected to do.” Dea Baldwin, Republican candidate for State House District 83 also attended the meeting and said she was very interested in hearing the concerns to the Merriwether area, which encompasses the district. “I’ve been in you neighborhoods,” Mrs. Baldwin said, “and I just wanted to get a better understanding of the concerns here as they are so different from North Auugusta.” The meeting broke down into an informal sit-down cross discussion of the issues. Before the meeting broke up Councilman Ashcraft thanked everyone for attending and offering their input. © Copyright 2010
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