Dr. J.R. Green, superintendent of the Fairfield County School District (right), urges Fairfield County Council to support the Teacher Village as Council Chairman Neil Robinson looks on. | Photos: Michael Smith
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County is one vote away from approving tax abatements for the Teacher Village, a proposed Fairfield County School District housing project intended to cater to teachers.
But what agreement Fairfield County may ultimately reach
with the school district still remain under wraps.
After spending 20 minutes behind closed doors Monday night,
County Council voted 7-0 to move forward with an ordinance that provides
economic development incentives to Gorelick Brothers Capital, a Charlotte,
North Carolina investment firm interested in building the Teacher Village.
Council members did not publicly discuss the Teacher Village
agreement. Council Chairman Neil Robinson told council members not to discuss
specifics in open session.
Seeking to assure residents over the lack of details,
Councilman Jimmy Ray Douglas said full disclosure of the agreement would come
before final reading, which could be scheduled as soon as the Sept. 9 meeting.
“This will be explained in full before we have third
reading,” he said.
In its current form, the proposed Fairfield County Teacher
Village would consist of 30 homes constructed on 22 acres the district owns
behind the district office in Winnsboro.
Teachers would receive first priority, followed by school
district employees, then first responders. Another 30 homes would be built if
the first phase is successful.
Rent subsidies of $300 per month would be reserved for
teachers only, with monthly rent ranging between $600 and $900, depending on
the home. The subsidies would come from funding included in a state budget
proviso.
Gorelick is also asking Fairfield County Council for a
seven-year tax abatement totaling about $600,000.
The final percentage of the tax abatement hasn’t been
decided. Gorelick and the county are currently haggling over what the final
percentage should be.
Another major sticking point for the county is the inclusion
of an indemnification clause.
At a joint meeting in November 2018, former Council Chairman
Billy Smith pushed for verbiage that would indemnify Fairfield County should
any litigation arise relating to the Teacher Village.
Smith also wanted an agreement to cover Fairfield’s legal
expenses should any arise. It was unclear as of press time whether or not
either condition found its way into the agreement now under consideration.
At the November 2018 meeting, Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green
said he didn’t think the Teacher Village would drag Fairfield County into
litigation. He voiced concerns that delaying action might jeopardize the
project.
“If that’s the takeaway, that’s not reasonable,” Green said.
“I don’t know how Gorelick is going to respond to this. The longer this
stretches out, the more the likelihood Gorelick pulls out.”
Supporters plead for Village
Councilwoman Bertha Goins, a major supporter of the Teacher
Village, said the project is needed for economic development and also to
provide adequate housing in Fairfield County.
Fairfield County Councilwoman Bertha Goins expresses her support for the Teacher Village at Monday night’s council meeting.
“Without going into detail, I’d say we’re looking at the
finish line. I did not take this project lightly, I did not take this decision
likely,” Goins said.
Five of the six area residents speaking in public input
spoke in support of the Teacher Village.
Fairfield Elementary teacher Theresa Wiggins told council
members the commute from her home in northeast Columbia to work is long, but
Winnsboro lacks adequate housing.
Dr. Jim Rex, former S.C. Superintendent of Education, whose
wife serves on a Fairfield County school district foundation that worked on the
Teacher Village, also spoke in favor of the housing project.
“You have the opportunity tonight to do something truly
historic,” Rex said. “I urge you not to let this opportunity pass.”
Lisa Ellis, board member of S.C. for ED, a teacher advocacy
group, spoke earlier in the week with The Voice. Ellis said she thinks the
Teacher Village and similar teacher housing projects may be more valuable to
younger teachers saddled by student loan debt.
A former Fairfield County teacher now working in Richland
Two, Ellis said higher pay is generally more important to veteran teachers than
publicly funded housing. Ellis also thinks housing subsidies might make more
sense in high cost of living areas, such as California or New York.
“Ultimately it depends upon where you are in your teaching
career,” she said. “If you’re brand new, out of college, it may be a pro for
you. (Veteran teachers) have a house, have a mortgage.”
WINNSBORO – He represents Fairfield County’s largest council
district, but Mikel Trapp has been spending the least amount of time at council
meetings.
Mikel Trapp
Re-elected in 2018, the District 3 Councilman has been
absent for six council meetings or budget workshops so far in 2019, according
to County Council minutes.
Trapp has also left early on another six occasions, his
departure times ranging from 6:43 p.m. to 7:01 p.m., including Monday night
when he left before the council discussed revisions to the county
administrator’s contract.
Trapp hasn’t attended a full council meeting since May 14,
council minutes show. He couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
The public is taking notice of Trapp’s truancy.
Three residents took to the podium Monday night to voice
disapproval of Trapp’s absences.
An empty chair marks where Fairfield County Councilman Mikel Trapp normally sits during council meetings. Trapp left early for the third meeting in a row, drawing objections from Fairfield County resident Chris Griffiths (standing), who during public comments asked council members to reprimand Trapp. Seated at left is Councilman Jimmy Ray Douglas. | Michael Smith
One of those residents was Chris Griffiths, who expressed
frustration that some county residents essentially aren’t being represented.
Griffiths called upon the remaining council members to hold Trapp accountable.
“There’s nothing that anybody can do other than contacting
the governor’s office and getting that elected official removed,” Griffiths
said. “I find it very offensive that the chair for the District 3 is empty
right now and it’s consistently empty. I feel this is extremely wrong.”
“The gentleman who came up here before, I agree with 100
percent,” added county resident Jeff Schaffer. “Do something about it. You
can’t have a council member who does nothing, gets elected to sit here, doesn’t
vote, doesn’t participate and gets paid. People have to go to work every day;
if they don’t go to work, they get fired.”
Ridgeway resident Randy Bright suggested docking council
member pay as a deterrent.
“This is an embarrassment to the county,” Bright said. “I’ve
attended far more meetings. I’m a senior citizen who had a total knee
replacement earlier in the year and have missed only one council meeting. I
can’t imagine any excuse for this. You guys are too good, too smart to let it
continue.”
Fairfield County Council’s rules of procedure address
attendance, but don’t mention any penalties for violations.
“Fairfield County Council respects the State of South
Carolina’s Constitution as it relates to fulfilling the duties of office as an
elected representative of Fairfield County and our oath of office,” the policy
states. “Each member of Council should attend every public meeting as scheduled
by a majority of Council.”
Other South Carolina counties are conspicuously mum on how
they address chronic absenteeism as well.
In Berkeley County, excessive absenteeism is reviewed on a
case-by-case basis, though the council “reserves the right to take any action
it deems appropriate at that time,” according to that county’s rules of
procedure.
Georgetown County Council doesn’t specifically address
attendance, but council members can be censured for violating decorum and
debate rules.
Florence’s attendance policy merely states members shall
attend meetings and that only the chairman may excuse an absence.
Aiken County’s rules only address long term absences of the
chairman, merely stating that “state statutes” shall govern how to proceed
following “his/her inability to perform the duties of the chair.”
Traditionally, the governor may remove a council member for
committing a felony or “crime of moral turpitude,” according to state law.
S.C. Attorney General opinions generally state that local
governments possess the power to discipline its own members, including by
ejection.
But the office also cautions city and county councils to
strike a balance between enforcing the rules and not violating First Amendment
protections.
Here’s a rundown of Trapp’s attendance record for the last
three months, according to council meeting minutes. The meetings start at 6
p.m. The time of Trapp’s departure and when the meeting adjourned are noted
where relevant.
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Council recently approved
salary increases for the county administrator and clerk to council, though
votes to do so were not unanimous.
At the Aug. 12 meeting, council members voted 4-2 to
increase the pay of County Administrator Jason Taylor by 5 percent. In 2018,
Taylor received a 3.44 percent increase.
The council also voted to give Davis a 2 percent raise.
Council members Douglas Pauley and Moses Bell voted against
the increases. Councilman Mikel Trapp left the meeting prior to the vote.
There was no discussion after the votes and the meeting
adjourned.
Reached by phone this past Monday, Pauley said his nay vote
was not a reflection on either Taylor or Davis.
Pauley said they’re both excellent employees, but noted
Taylor and Davis already had received a 3 percent cost of living adjustment, or
COLA, along with most other county employees in the 2019-2020 budget.
The only exception was the sheriff’s office, whose employees
received 6 percent.
“I don’t like that they [Taylor and Davis] were compensated
in the COLA raise, and then the council chose to vote for an additional raise,”
Pauley said. “Last year we did a merit based system. That’s what I wanted to do
this year.”
Taylor’s base pay prior to July 1 was $129,297.52. The
combined COLA and merit raises totaling 8 percent translates to $10,343.80,
which would elevate Taylor’s pay to $139,641.32.
Taylor’s base pay is slightly below the U.S. median of
$142,674 for county administrators, according to a 2019 survey conducted by the
International City/County Management Association, or ICMA
The ICMA study found that the median salary rose 2.3 percent
from 2018, and that more than 81 percent of county administrators received a
merit raise, COLA or combination of both.
BLYTHEWOOD – The Town of Blythewood has vacancies on three
government boards and is seeking volunteers to fill the positions.
“It’s a great way to serve your community,” Mayor J. Michael
Ross said. “We have many individuals who, each year, dedicate their time and
expertise to shape the future of boards and commissions and nonprofit
organizations in our town through board service. Board members provide the
critical intellectual capital and strategic resources necessary to strengthen
communities,” Ross said.
The current vacancies include: Planning Commission – 1
vacancy; Board of Zoning Appeals – 2 vacancies and Board of Architectural
Review- 1 vacancy.
The planning commission makes recommendations to Town
Council on zoning and annexation issues; reviews and approves all new
subdivisions and is involved in comprehensive planning to improve the health
and welfare of the public.
The board of zoning appeals reviews land use issues,
including proposed variations from the Town’s zoning ordinance; special uses
that require review to determine compatibility with adjacent properties and
appeals of decisions made by the zoning administrator.
The board of architectural review reviews applications for
certificates of appropriateness in the Town Center and Architectural Overlay
zoning districts.
To express interest in serving on a Blythewood board, email
contact information along with the board being applied for to:
cowanm@townofblythewoodsc.gov.
County’s $26M Blythewood Land Purchase Hinges on Rezoning of 1,300 Acres
BLYTHEWOOD – In a cliff hanger vote Monday night, the Blythewood planning commission failed in its effort to make a recommendation to town council regarding a request from Richland County to rezone 163 acres west of I-77 to Limited Industrial Two (LI-2) zoning. The three parcels that make up the 163 acres are currently zoned Development District (D-1).
The 163 acres are part of 1,300 acres that Richland County
is proposing to purchase for about $26 million for use as an industrial park it
has dubbed ‘Blythewood Industrial Park.” Three years ago, Blythewood council
rezoned about 600 of the 1,300 acres from LI-1 zoning to LI-2 at the county’s
behest. Approximately two-thirds of the 1,300 acres is located in the town
limits of Blythewood and one-third in Richland County.
Because the vote ended in a 3-3 tie, the motion by
Commissioner Rich McKendrick to recommend approval of the rezoning failed and
the issue will now go forward to council with no recommendation for or against
the rezoning.
McKendrick’s motion followed a motion by Commissioner Ed
Kesser to defer the issue until town officials could sit down with Richland
County officials and determine what he called appropriate restrictions and
traffic patterns for the park that would be beneficial to Blythewood.
That motion died for lack of a second.
Cobblestone resident Philip Martin holds the schematic of the planned industrial park (see below) as he questions proposed traffic patterns into the industrial park that would affect the proposed traffic circle on Blythewood Road at the entrance to Cobblestone Park. | Barbara Ball
Tim Duerr, Manager of Research for the County’s Economic
Development Department, addressed the rezoning Monday night, saying the county
has been working to bring an industrial park to this site for several years.
“This is one of the last untapped labor-draw areas in the
state for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers),” Duerr said. “If this is not
developed, there are two other counties that will capitalize on it.”
A statement released by Richland County simultaneously with
the Planning Commission meeting said the proposed industrial site is one of the
largest in the area and would give the county a competitive advantage in
attracting big-name companies.
Duerr said the park, as proposed, would accommodate 5.9
million square feet of office and class A technology and manufacturing space.
The press release went further, saying the Blythewood Business Park could be
transformative for the Columbia region – creating jobs, providing controlled
growth and increasing tax revenue.
Ed Parler, the town’s Director of Economic Development, said
that while he believes the industrial park is the highest and best use for the
property, he pointed out that only the county would benefit from the tax
revenue, since the Town of Blythewood does not have a millage.
The statement issued by Richland County said the park has
been 20 years in the making. Lucent Technology considered it for a premier
campus beginning in about 1999.
“For reasons not related to the site, the project did not
advance, but the state and region knew that this was an asset that should be
pursued when the time was right,” the statement said. “The right time arose
several years ago and the Richland County Economic Development Office began
working to gain control of the property and perform the critical due diligence
necessary to evaluate the merits of the site…the site remains a premier
location for businesses and industry because of rapid residential growth in
Northeast Columbia, robust infrastructure, availability of large tracts of land
and success of other business and industrial parks in and around Blythewood. It
is accessible from two interchanges on Interstate 77,” according to the
statement.
Duerr said the park is fully master planned, incorporating
green spaces, natural areas and large buffers between it and the Ashley Oaks residential
neighborhood.
Kesser asked why the county prefers LI-2 zoning over LI-1
for the proposed industrial park.
“The LI-2 zoning district allows a wider variety and greater
intensity of manufacturing uses than the LI-1 zoning district,” Town Administrator
Brian Cook said.
It is those more intense uses that Kesser and several
citizens expressed concern about Monday night.
“You open it up to LI-2 and you’re opening it up to lots of
kinds of manufacturing,” Kesser said.
Attorney Stuart Andrews, who lives in the Middlefield Lane
area, was one of seven members of the community who addressed the
commissioners.
“There is not general opposition to the park from my
neighbors if it has lots of green space and heavy buffers,” Andrews said. “But
I would urge you to exercise care about many of the uses listed. Let’s not just
open the door to everything. Some of those allowed [uses], we don’t consider
good neighbors – textile mills, steel fabrication, wood product manufacturing,
copper recovery, sheet metal, small arms manufacturing, aircraft manufacturing
…”
Andrews suggested the zoning content of LI-2 should be
changed to eliminate the more intense manufacturing uses.
“To be a first class project, it has to have a first class
process,” Andrews said. “Richland County has not been open with you. At the
January, 2019 county council retreat, Jeff Ruble, Director of Richland County’s
Office of Economic Development, was a lot more specific and informative than
they have been in either of their presentations to you,” he told the
commissioners. “It’s really a disservice. At the retreat, Ruble identified the
Blythewood Industrial Park as the signature project for Richland County for the
last 5-10 years. And it’s going to be in our back yards.”
The issue was tabled by a 4-2 vote in July after
commissioners and the public complained that while the county’s economic
development staff had presented detailed plans for the industrial park to town
council in executive session, it had failed to adequately apprise the commissioners
and public of those details.
Commission Chairman Donald Brock asked Town Administrator
Brian Cook to pull Ruble’s retreat speech up on the overhead screen. In the
12-minute clip, Ruble likened the prospects of the park to Volvo – a company
with 4,000 employees in two million square feet of office space.
“If we’re looking at six million square feet of office space
[in the Blythewood Industrial Park]
, we could be looking at even more
employees,” Andrews said. “You can’t have that kind of impact on an area
without it effecting everywhere else. We want to be involved in the process. We
think it’s important to be at the table.”
Andrews said he wants the town government to look at ways to
protect the community’s interest.
“The property should not be rezoned, then have negotiations
about restrictive covenants afterwards,” he said. Andrews also recalled the
incentive-rich Mack Truck deal in Winnsboro.
“After all the incentives were used up, Mack Truck walked
away. I understand that Richland County would like to have an ideal list of
recruitment targets. But if we change the zoning and then try to restrict
covenants, Richland County doesn’t have to participate,” Andrews said.
Duree insisted that the kind of manufacturing the county
wants to recruit is smart, clean manufacturing with high paying, technical
jobs.
“All these jobs are what most communities are trying to
recruit,” Duree said. “
“Industrial parks can
be done in a first class way if that expectation is built in to it,” Andrews
said. “Let’s not chase industry we don’t want.”
Sandy York of Ashley Oaks neighborhood questioned whether
the alternative to the industrial use of the 1,300 acres would be another 3,000
homes.
“Get the town’s tax base up first, then a commitment from
Richland County,” Roberta (Bobbie) Young said. “We have to make sure the rules
and regulations are in place.” Young said she would like to see the commission
slow the process down for now.
“I’m in favor of LI zoning, but before I’m ready to commit
to a specific zoning,” Kesser said, “I think there needs to be some more work
done on the front end with regard to convenants, restrictions, traffic, etc.
I’m fearful that if we don’t, we’ll get in a position where, yes, we go to the
table, but we’re not the 800 pound gorilla here in Blythewood.”
An unidentified woman said she moved to Blythewood from
Summerville, about 10 miles from the Volvo plant.
“You would not believe the explosion of houses and road
deterioration, four-story storage units on every corner and houses all over the
place. Please, be careful in making a decision that could turn Blythewood into
Summerville,” she said. “Backed up traffic at 9 and 10 in the morning and at 2
in the afternoon.”
After Kesser’s motion failed to get a second, Rick
McKendrick made a stand for the rezoning.
“I think there’s a
level of comfort doing nothing. But until we rezone this, to a zoning it is
contiguous with and that Richland County has spent time and treasure studying,”
McKendrick said, “I think there is a flip side to ‘pump the break’ and ‘make
sure we have a seat at the table.’ We have a seat at the table. This is a
fantastic opportunity that might take 30 to 40 years to build out. But if we
don’t rezone the property, we might be here a year from now fending off D.R.
Horton that wants to put a lot of houses here.”
“So I’m going to make the motion to recommend approval of
the rezoning,” he said.
The nays rolled out first – Erica Page, Ed Kesser and Sloan
Griffin. The yays came from the other end of the table from Brock, Derrek Pugh
and McKendrick.
Town Council will take the first of two votes on the rezoning on Monday, Aug. 6, at The Manor.
Officials from the County, Winnsboro and Central Midlands Council of Government discuss revitalization with Zion Hill and Fortune Springs area residents. | Photos: Barbara Ball
WINNSBORO – “If we don’t get something done here tonight,” Robert Davis told a crowd of Zion Hill and Fortune Springs Park area residents, “it’s our own fault. Officials from the town, county and the Central Midlands Council of Government (CMCOG) are here to help us.”
Davis was speaking to residents who had been asked by county officials to gather in the renovated Fairfield High School building for the purpose of contributing information that CMCOG could use to create a master plan for Winnsboro.
For some in the community, the mention of yet another plan for the town immediately caused skepticism to ooze.
“I have three or four folders at home where officials have come to my area with a plan, started work, tore down a few houses, then left. Will this be a designated plan?” Betty Gunthorpe, a resident of the Cemetery Street neighborhood across town from Zion Hill, asked. She also wanted to know, “Why Zion Hill?” and “How did Winnsboro get like this?”
Resident Robert Pinkney recalls how Zion Hill used to be.
Chris Clauson, Fairfield County Community Development Director, answered Gunthorpe’s first question, explaining that this particular plan would, indeed, be different. He said the creation of the master plan is a required first step for the county and town to apply for thousands of dollars in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG’s) that can then be used to revitalize areas in neighborhoods overcome with blight caused by such things as dilapidated houses, crime, neglected parks and crumbling infrastructure.
Gregory Sprouse, Director of Research, Planning and Development for CMCOG answered Gunthorpe’s second question.
“I appreciate what you’re saying,” Sprouse, said. “To your point, we want this [Zion Hill] to be a starting point for how we can move similar types of projects into other areas of the town that need the same type of commitment. CDBG funds must be spent to benefit low to moderate income populations based on census data, and Zion Hill and the Fortune Springs area fit that criteria.”
While Gunthorpe’s third question stumped the planners, Clauson set conversation in motion as to how things could be turned around.
“Tonight is the first phase,” Clauson said. “We’ve been out in the community talking to residents and gathering data. We’ve seen some things. Now we’ve called this meeting to get input from you about what you think is wrong in your neighborhood and what you want changed. We want to know what’s going on, what are the issues, the opportunities, the challenges. We want to hear about traffic issues, infrastructure, lighting, town services, transportation (transit), public safety and issues with health and education, so we can pair them up with potential grant funds to fix the problems.
“The point tonight is to determine what the potential projects are and to set priorities for them,” Clauson said. “The problem we’ve heard the most about is dilapidated houses and other structures that are deserted and falling in. They’re eye sores,” Clauson said. “But we have to create the master plan for revitalization before we can apply for the funds to deal with the houses.”
During the course of the evening, residents began to pour out their worries and frustrations, including what they perceived to be poor code enforcement, the inaccessibility of Zion Park, poor responses from the Sheriff’s department and town hall and nothing being done about houses falling into disrepair.
Chris Clauson, director of the County’s community development, leads revitalization discussion.
“It can be a very arduous process to condemn these houses and clear them out,” Mayor Roger Gaddy explained. “The laws are on [the property owner’s] side. It’s a very costly process. Before we can do anything, we have to find the property owner, who frequently lives in another state, and send two registered letters,” Gaddy said. “Then, after they open the first letter, they won’t sign for the second one. It’s extremely frustrating. But if you don’t go through the process, you put the town at risk of being sued.”
But solutions were also presented. Clausen explained that the County is making some headway in eliminating blight by tearing down those dilapidated structures that have come under the county’s ownership through tax forfeiture.
County Administrator Jason Taylor explained that the county has acquired more than 100 structures over the years through the forfeiture land trust, and has begun tearing those structures down. He said the county is also trying to acquire others that it doesn’t own that need tearing down.
“But you have to have the money to do this or it’s just a dream,” Taylor said. “A CDBG will give us $500,000 to work with to get property owners to sign the properties over to us so that we can tear them down.”
Taylor’s plan includes more than just tearing down the houses. He said the lots that remain after the houses are torn down could be leveraged to accommodate new affordable homes in the neighborhood.
“Once we tear the houses down, we have all these empty lots throughout the town with water, sewer, electricity, sidewalks and roads ready to be built on. When you build a new subdivision, you spend most of your money on roads, sewer, water, those kinds of things that these lots already have,” Taylor explained. “So we have reached out to Habitat for Humanity. Once we get ownership of all of this, we hope to bundle the lots and work with Habitat or some other developer to come in and put new houses on them.”
Other discussion centered around problems at Fortune Springs Park – lack of tree pruning, soil erosion, sidewalk needs and more.
There were also poignant testimonies of a once thriving neighborhood that is now at the mercy of crime.
“I grew up on Zion Hill and nothing’s the same anymore,” Robert Pinkney told the planners. “You used to know everybody and feel safe. My house has been broken into five times and I finally had to go find the thieves myself and get my own things back – three TVs, two lawn mowers, two weed eaters and more,” he said. “We don’t get any help.”
While some of the complaints residents relayed to the planners were raw and difficult for city and county leaders to listen to, it was what the organizers had come to hear.
“I’ve been to these community meetings all over the state,” Newman told the 60 or so residents in appreciate of their participation, “and the turnout here is amazing. Haven’t seen anything like it.”
“We have some competitive projects here,” Sprouse said, “and we will be submitting our application for a neighborhood revitalization grant in September.”
According to Taylor, together, the town and county are eligible to apply for four $500,000 CDBG grants each year, one each for the county and the town for infrastructure in the spring and one each for the county and town for community revitalization and enrichment in the fall.
“Working together,” Taylor said, “we can do a lot”
Asked by one resident, what MCOG’s track record is for getting CDBG money,” Sprouse answered with a smile, “it’s good.”
“We are committed to getting some of that money in here,” Clauson said. ”And we will be having more meetings like this one for future projects if we are successful with this.”
Before the crowd dispersed, Ridgeway Town Councilman Don Prioleau, who is also the president of the Fairfield High School Alumni Association, invited those attending to take a tour of the renovated school building to see first-hand what revitalization can do.
After the meeting, Prioleau pointed out that the school has been almost totally restored to its original state through the efforts of its former students and with no government help.
“The building is now beautiful and useful. It offers meeting space for community meetings such as this one,” Prioleau said. “It’s a wonderful asset to the community now. The renovation of our school is something we worked long and hard to accomplish and we are very proud of it,” Prioleau said. “I’d like to see that for this whole Zion Hill community, for the whole Town of Winnsboro.”
BLYTHEWOOD – Last December, town council awarded $17,360 in hospitality tax revenue to Bravo Blythewood to organize a four-night Spring concert series with the purpose of bringing visitors to the town. During Monday night’s town council meeting, Mayor J. Michael Ross presented Bravo Blythewood’s final report on the series. It revealed that the concerts not only failed to bring many visitors to town, but that Bravo Blythewood lost $18,140.53 on the four concerts.
And if that wasn’t enough to raise the mayor’s and council’s ire, there was more. No one showed up at the meeting to answer for the loss.
The four concerts were performed in the Palmetto Citizens’ Credit Union Amphitheater in Doko Park April 27, May 3, 10 and 17.
In the application requesting hospitality funds, event manager Sara Ballard projected revenues of $46,054: $17,360 from H-Tax funds; $11,000 from sponsorships; $1,500 from food vendors, $14,560 from beer/wine sales and $1,634 from juice and water sales.
Besides the town’s contribution, the event only brought in $8,618 ($3,568 from beer/wine sales, $2,000 from sponsorships, $2,000 from Martha Jones, president of Bravo Blythewood and $1,050 from vendor fees).
The projected revenue fell short $7,000 on sponsorships, $450 on food vendors; $10,992 on beer/wine sales and $1,634 on juice and water sales.
“I’ll just say I hope this wasn’t their major fundraiser,” Ross joked, then turned serious.
“Why is no one from Bravo Blythewood here tonight?” Ross asked. Buddy Price, a Bravo Blythewood board member, had been in the audience but left before the agenda item came up.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see where their projections were way off,” Ross said. “And some expenses I would question. I’m not an event planner, but there are some things that, well, I can see where they lost some money,” he continued.
“I see Sara Ballard [the event planner] is not here,” Ross said, scanning the audience. “But I would have thought someone would be here. I don’t understand why they aren’t here to answer our questions. Gosh! We gave this money for them to bring people [to town]. So who do we ask?”
“This is not good,” Councilman Eddie Baughman interjected
According to Ballard’s report, she was paid $8,000 to organize the event. She was not paid (according to the final budget) a $1,000 bonus that was listed in the projected budget. Ballard was paid $1,000 for Facebook promotion – $900 to her company Broadstreet Consulting, LLC, for Facebook advertising and $100 for Facebook ad management. No breakdown or receipts were provided for any of the Facebook costs.
In addition to lower than expected attendance, expenses ran amok in several areas, including $9,200 for sound system and lighting equipment that had not been included in the projected $46,054 event budget, and $4,315 for hired staff that was projected to cost $640.
Ross ran through the list of losses, focusing on beer and wine sales and sponsorships.
“But the one that is mind boggling to me is the sound costs. Sound was not even budgeted, yet they spent $9,200 on it,” Ross said, raising his voice.
“You add these three losses up and that’s $26,000,” Ross said. “And they still haven’t paid the town the $3,000 they owe us for the venue (amphitheater).”
“We have an unbelievable facility out here and the sound has been great for other events,” Ross said.
“Their expenses were astronomical – $10,000 per night plus expenses,” Baughman commented. “It could have been done for half that cost.”
“When they applied for this money, what were we thinking,” Councilman Larry Griffin asked. The audience and council laughed.
“They were projecting a much larger audience,” Baughman said.
Ross laid partial blame for the lack of attendance squarely on Ballard’s advertising choices.
“They spent $1,100 on advertising in the Northeast News!” Ross grimaced. “I don’t know what the answer is, but I’m very disappointed that Sara Ballard is not here for us to at least be able to ask her some questions,” Ross said.
Ballard stated in her final report that Bravo Blythewood took the hit for the loss.
Bravo’s contribution to the event, Ballard stated in the final report, had been budgeted at $4,000; however, $20,140.65 was ultimately required to cover total expenses. Consequently, Bravo anted up $16,140.65 to cover that loss.
A note on Bravo’s ‘budget to actual’ report states that Jones donated $2,000 in personal funds to cover certain checks written.
Despite the five-digit financial losses, Ballard stated in her report to Council that Bravo Blythewood overwhelmingly believes the event contributed positively to the quality of life in the Blythewood community and has committed to hosting another series next year.
That same commitment was not forthcoming from Council.
“It would be hard for me to approve this kind of money for them again,” Baughman said.
BLYTHEWOOD – After meeting recently with the Doko Meadows Park Foundation, Town Administrator Brian Cook suggested Monday evening that council might want to discuss priorities for additional park features.
Constructing an area in the park for a farmer’s market, Cook said, would most likely be the top priority and a close second might be sound baffling for the back of the amphitheater. Council generally agreed on both points, but the sound baffling received more discussion than the market.
“Wasn’t the number for sound baffling something like $7,500?” Mayor J. Michael Ross asked Steve Hasterok, Events Director for the Manor.
Councilman Eddie, who is a member of the Park Foundation, answered the question.
“I don’t know about the price,” Baughman said, but he questioned the need for sound baffling at all. “Other than being outside, down by the lake, I was in here (the Manor) Saturday night and there was no issue in here with the music that was going on in the park. I couldn’t hear it.”
Baughman also suggested that instead of the baffling being something that the park foundation pays for, perhaps the town would take on that cost.
“After all, the town would benefit from the baffling because we would be able to rent both venues out at the same time – the amphitheater and the Manor – if we had the baffling,” Baughman said.
“Actually, I would think that the greater problem we would have with two events at the same time would be parking more than the sound,” Ross said. “And are you saying that we put up the baffling and if the band was playing in the amphitheater, that you would not be able to hear it from outside the Manor?” Ross asked.
No one on council was sure of the answer.
“Maybe we’ll try to come up with a dollar figure for the baffling and see if we think that it’s worth the cost,” Cook said.
“Whoever provides a bid, let us go and see exactly what they’ve done in the past and is it working.” Councilman Brian Franklin said. “If it doesn’t block enough of the sound, then that’s a lot of money to spend for nothing. You’re going to have a very angry bride when she hears that banjo playing.”
BLYTHEWOOD – Derek Pugh has been appointed to a vacancy on the Blythewood Planning Commission. Pugh previously served on the Board of Zoning Appeals. According to his bio, Pugh enjoys mapping out strategy for the town with other community leaders.
A resident of Abney Hills neighborhood, Pugh previously served as the Programming Supervisor for Richland County Recreation Commission where he designed, implemented and supervised summer camp and after school programs.
Pugh holds a Bachelor’s degree from Benedict College and a Master’s degree from Webster University. He will serve a three year term as a commissioner.
Carol Allen, right, owner of Laura’s Tea Room, announced that she will bring a consignment store to the former fire station in downtown Ridgeway. Her daughter, Kelly Quinn, and grandson, Seamus, who are visiting from Ireland, will be helping with the store opening. | Barbara Ball
RIDGEWAY – Continuing concerns about how Ridgeway’s new water tower turned out, prompted an executive session at the beginning of the Town Council meeting Thursday evening.
‘Contractual Matter regarding Civil Engineering of Columbia (CEC),’ was the stated reason on the agenda for the executive session.
Following the session, Councilman Rufus Jones made a motion to hire an independent surveyor to measure the height of the town’s new water tower which was constructed by CEC. The tower sits adjacent to Geiger Elementary School.
“We continue to have concerns about the height of the new tank,” Jones said. “And we want a representative from CEC to be present for the measuring.”
In a follow up interview with The Voice, Councilman Dan Martin said the measurement is needed to determine whether there is a discrepancy between the height of the town’s new water tower and the old one.
“If the new tower is shorter than the old tower,” Jones said, “that could adversely affect the water pressure for the town’s customers.”
The motion passed 4-1 with Councilwoman Angela Harrison voting against.
Allen Leases Fire Station
A second discussion in Executive Session resulted in a unanimous vote in public session to accept a request from Ridgeway resident Carol Allen to lease the former fire station at 170 S. Palmer Street, commencing Aug. 8.
Allen, who owns Laura’s Tea Room down the street in the same block, said she plans to open a consignment shop ‘of sorts,’ but will not have enough room for booth rentals.
“But we will welcome individual consignments, crafts and handmade items. We also plan to feature an assortment of nice pet items, plus we’ll carry some neat things that we don’t have space for in the Tea Room,” Allen said.
“I guess I need to get together with my tea gang and decide exactly what we’re going to do over there, but I’m looking forward to having sort of an open air market as we roll those big bay doors up every day,” Allen said.
Business License Fee Up
Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution to amend Ridgeway’s Business License Fee schedule by increasing fees 20 percent.
“The Town has not adjusted the business license fee schedule for cost increases or standard inflationary factors since the fee schedule was originally adopted,” the resolution stated.
Councilman Dan Martin said the across the board fee increase is necessary to cover some of the increase in costs of providing services in the town.
Rates are predicated on the class of the business and the income generated. The lowest fee is $48 for $0 to $10,000 in income, plus $1.35 per thousand or fraction thereof over $10,000.
There are also specific daily license fees for peddlers and a $5 license fee for a yard sale.
Persons or firms not licensed by the Town of Ridgeway must provide proof of a minimum $2,500 performance bond before they can receive a permit to work in the town.
Councilman Jones pointed out the difficulty in monitoring the contractors who come to Ridgeway and provide services.
Mayor Cookendorfer agreed.
“I try to keep an eye on trucks, etc. in town, and when I approach them, they typically go to Town Hall and secure a business license for Ridgeway,” Martin said.
