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  Merriwether voters back Councilwoman Blackwell in opposition to rezoning 4 to 1 web posted October 30, 2009  MERRIWETHER –
Merriwether County
Councilwoman Genia Blackwell held her town hall meeting Thursday night
with County Councilman Rodney Ashcraft at her side as he represents a
portion of the Merriwether community. Councilwoman Blackwell thanked
everyone for attending and announced that County Council Chairman
Monroe Kneece would not be in attendance due to having a procedure
performed on his back. After introducing other officials in attendance
Mrs. Blackwell methodically covered the issues related to Merriwether
at the county level. The current rezoning and fears of annexation of
Merriwether into North Augusta topped the list of concerns from
citizens.Prior to taking questions Councilwoman Blackwell gave an update on the new county administrator’s position saying that the county council is not ready to select a candidate at this time. Due to choosing four candidates to interview, and only two showing up, “We actually decided to interview more. So what we’re going to do is go through the process of looking at more resumes and we will then select from those resumes for further interviews.” No timetable was given for the process.  The meeting then
turned to the Hagler Properties that are currently
being voted on to approve zoning changes, changing one parcel where the
company is located to industrial from general development and an
adjoining five acres from residential into light commercial. “I have
voted against this and I will tell you why,” Councilwoman Blackwell
said. “The people who have reached out to me, I would say one but not
more than two handfuls that all stated they did not want this. I
haven’t had anyone call me and say ‘I want this’.”Mrs. Blackwell said that it was her duty to express the voice of her constituents, “and vote against it”. She also informed the crowd that the final reading would be held on November 3 at the county council meeting and that currently it has been passed twice on a 3-2 split vote. One man spoke up and asked Councilman Ashcraft his position on the rezoning. “I voted against it, Genia (Blackwell) voiced her concerns to me and I trust her opinion and I trust what she says about how her constituents feel about it.” Mr. Ashcraft said another influence on his vote was the make up of the area and he felt that placing an industrial and commercial property in the middle of a residential area did not make sense. Several homeowners in the immediate vicinity of the Hagler business stated that they were against the zoning change citing loud noise at all hours and the bright lights. “I live on adjacent property,” one man said adding the bright lights and noise was “incompatible” and informed Mrs. Blackwell, “I want you to continue to vote no on this.” Another man, who moved to the area several years ago, living near the proposed zoning changes, said he was against the change. Shortly after he moved into a home on Murrah Road Extension a government run housing project was constructed and lowered his property values greatly. “I think that if you do this (make a zoning change) you’re going to set a precedent that will lead to more and more of this,” he said. Mrs. Blackwell stated that was a concern she shared. “I’ve stated that if we do this we’re opening a Pandora ’s Box and we will see a flood of people wanting to change their zoning”. Councilwoman Blackwell also pointed out that Mr. Hagler has stated in meetings that he has no plans for the property he wants to rezone. One woman spoke up and asked why there was a request to rezone if there were no plans. “That’s a very good question,” Mrs. Blackwell said, adding that she felt a request for a zoning change should be accompanied with solid plans “in hand” so “we know what we are approving”. She noted once the zoning has been changed the property can be sold and just about anything could be placed there. She also noted that a corner lot next to the five acres went up for sale right after the first two readings to approve the change. Mr. Hagler paid $125,000 for the five acres, but after the zoning change the property would rise in value to at least $500,000, and could go even higher as the only commercial property available in the Merriwether community. A woman who identified herself as an employee of Hagler Systems said she too lives near the property and she is grateful for the bright lights as it shines into her yard, “since we don’t have street lights”. She respectfully disagreed with the vast majority who were speaking out against the rezoning at the meeting saying that the company employs close to 60 people and about 40% of those are living in Edgefield County. The question of annexation was raised by an unidentified man and the new park planned by North Augusta. Councilwoman Blackwell said she is aware of the planned park on property that extends from Five Notch Road to Murrah Road. She said the park is expected to get under development in the next few years and would be done in stages. The property has already been annexed into the city limits of North Augusta, she said. There was also another concern with property on the corner of Murrah Road and Martintown Road called Plantation Point. Mrs. Blackwell said that the developers have already been to the planning commission about commercial and residential development there and that the plans show future development that would tie it into annexed areas on Gregory Lake Road that would give the North Augusta the ability to expand the city limits the way to Murrah Road along Martintown Road, a mile further into the Merriwether community. In order for that to take place, she said, a 350 acre parcel would have to be purchased, but was shown as possible “future development” on the submitted plan. Another man stood and spoke about the plans of North Augusta to take over Merriwether and based his assessment on being involved in several communities where annexation took place. “What they do (North Augusta) is come in and blow smoke, tell you how great it’s going to be, and they don’t do it. I’m telling you, it’s no good.” Building and Planning Director Mike Reed answered some questions on how annexation could take place. In one example he said it would take a majority vote of those involved, however, in certain circumstanced it takes over 70% to make it possible. He said the city can buy property and annex it without a vote and municipalities have been known to take over old railroad beds and then use that to connect other property to the city. Another man spoke us saying they “we need to be a part of the process” when it came to zoning. “We need to have a say.” Mrs. Blackwell said that was the reason a survey was being handed out (during this conversation) “To find out your concerns and be able to stay in touch with you on these issues.” Of those who returned the completed surveys, 30 voted against rezoning the Hagler property and 8 were in favor. Of the 38 who returned the survey, only one supported zoning changes and annexation into the city of North Augusta Councilwoman Blackwell said after the meeting. The attendance was estimated at 55 to 60 participants, 7 of which were public officials and two members of the press. The survey was only given to residents of the Merriwether District at the meeting. Another question was raised about stopping North Augusta from taking over which brought up a discussion of Merriwether incorporating. “That is an option,” Mrs. Blackwell said, but one that would have to come from the people. The man that brought up the suggestion stated after the meeting he would be willing to lead the effort. He has already garnered names on a petition to stop the current decisions taking place. Roger Timpson, Vice-chairman of the Planning Commission, stated that he realizes that there was going to be a growing need for eventual commercial development in the Merriwether area as the population continues to increase and he wanted to see that take place with the community’s involvement so that what is approved “is not offensive to you.” He stated that the process must move through the planning commission first and invited people to attend the meetings held on the second Thursday of each month. After the process in completed there it moves on to the county council for three readings for approval Other residents spoke up and inquired if the final vote on the Hagler rezoning was open to the public. “Yes”, Mrs. Blackwell said, “all meeting of the county council are open to the public,” adding that the next meeting was this coming Tuesday night at 6 pm at the county council chambers on Jeter Street just behind the courthouse. One man spoke up and asked how all this could have already have taken place and he was just finding out now and suggested the information be put online where people could read it. That prompted another woman to speak up, “A lot of this stuff needs to be advertised more. I know EdgefieldDaily.com does get commented against a lot, but a lot of us would be in the dark if it wasn’t for that man. I tell you it helps. It helps this end of the county. They can say what they want to, but this is where we get our information from. It ain’t in our newspapers, I’ve quit taking the Edgefield paper, you might as well. This end of the county pays taxes and this end of the county needs to be heard.” Several of those around her nodded in agreement. Councilwoman Blackwell also thanked the other officials who attended the meeting, Ray Johnson who represents the Merriwether district on the Water Authority and the Fire Board. Mrs. Blackwell said, “And I want to say Merriwether has the best fire department in the entire county.” Merriwether Planning Commissioner Rodney Ingle and Rodger Timpson from District 2 were present along with Building and Planning Director Mike Reed. Elected officials in attendance were State Sen. Shane Massey and Bettis Academy County Councilman Willie Bright. She also thanked Publisher Suzanne Derrick of the Edgefield Advertiser for attending. Councilwoman Blackwell also thanked Edgefield County Sheriff Adell Dobey for the outstanding job he and his deputies perform. She alluded to several recent burglaries in the area and said Sheriff Dobey has at least one deputy, “sometimes two,” who are in the general area around the clock. “They all do an outstanding job,” she said, and apologized for not being able to provide for additional coverage in the current budget. “We had to cut $625,000 from the budget,” she said, hindering her support of hiring additional deputies to increase patrols. After all questions were addressed the meeting adjourned into one on one conversations with individual council members until everyone departed. After the meeting Councilwoman Blackwell said she felt the meeting was very productive and felt that she hopes it will make other county council members take note of the effects that their votes have on her constituents. © Copyright 2009
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