BLYTHEWOOD – After a request for Limited Industrial (LI) zoning on property adjacent to Doko Park was softly introduced to Town Council Monday night as being made by a local businessman, Keith Gilstrap, Council voted 4-1 to approve it. The zoning request included two acres of Gilstrap’s 4.5 acre tract on McLean Road where he also operates a roofing company which, he said, does construction work.
Only Mayor J. Michael Ross, who voted against the request, questioned the potential problems that could be posed by an LI zoning classification next to the park.
“We know your intentions,” Ross said, “but if you sell this property, we are then opening ourselves up on those two acres. There are a lot of land use categories that come with LI that are not in CC. I assume,” Ross said, looking toward town attorney Jim Meggs, “that once we do this, it’s done and it stays that way.”
“The parcel is currently zoned Community Commercial (CC), the most intense commercial zoning district [in the town,]” Michael Criss, the Town’s planning consultant explained. “Mr. Gilstrap wants to add to this property an approximate 5,000 square foot metal building in which he will operate…wholesale preparation and distribution of insulation materials. So he’s going to go from the most intense commercial district to the least intense industrial district, but it is a land use change, and all of the land uses allowed in LI zoning would be permissible on this property,” Criss said.
Those permitted uses include the manufacturing, processing and packing of canned and frozen food, apparel, wood kitchen cabinets, perfumes and cosmetics, luggage, leather goods, pottery and other items. It would also permit outright a commercial printing operation.
Conditional uses include Garages for car repair and service, communication towers and firework stands. Manufactured home sales are allowed with a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
“I swear, we’re getting ready to open a close-to-$500,000 amphitheater in the park and, when you think about it having something zoned Limited Industrial that you could walk through the woods to,” Ross said.
The zoning request was sent to Council from the Planning Commission with a unanimous recommendation for the industrial zoning designation.
WINNSBORO – When Winnsboro resident Barry Gilbert reported that his backyard workshop on Garden Street and four of his vehicles had been burglarized during the night of Oct. 14, he was also able to give some unexpected helpful information to the Winnsboro Department of Public Safety officers when they arrived to look into the incident.
Chambers
Gilbert handed them a driver’s license that, it turned out, had been dropped by the burglar on the floor of the workshop during the burglary. Then Gilbert linked the ID to video footage his surveillance camera shot of the suspect entering the workshop with a long gun.
Armed with the suspect’s name, address and other information, the WDPS officers promptly arrested the suspect, Curtis Chambers, Jr., at his home on Hudson Street, just a few blocks from Gilbert’s home.
According to WDPS Chief John Seibles, that arrest led to the solution of several other burglaries in the neighborhood.
Chambers was charged with larceny from vehicle, burglary 2nd degree and malicious damage to property. While Gilbert said some of the stolen items were recovered, he said damage to his vehicles, computers and other items was extensive.
Chambers, who remains jailed, is currently serving a five-year probation for grand larceny from May, 2016. A separate charge of grand larceny from November, 2016 is pending.
BLYTHEWOOD – Council recently appointed new members to two of the Town government boards.
Matt Hulett, who lives in Cobblestone Park, was appointed to a three-year term on the Planning Commission. Hulett is president of SL Hulett and Associates, a commercial lighting company.
George
Alan George, who is vice president/commercial banker for First Community Bank in Blythewood, was appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Architectural Review. George lives on Langford Road.
Appointments to the Town’s boards and commissions are volunteer positions and are made by Town Council. To serve on one of the Town’s boards contact Melissa Cowan at 754-0501.
WINNSBORO – County Administrator Jason Taylor announced during Council meeting Monday evening that a lease operating agreement had been signed between the County and Brian Steed to provide both airplane repair services and flight lessons at the County airport. Steed was previously the fixed base operator at the airport in charge of managing the airport and collecting fees on hangar rentals and fuel. He was paid by the County.
Last month Council approved reorganizing the structure of the management of the airport. Under that reorganization, the airport will no longer be under the management of a fixed base operator. Those duties will be handed off to a new airport director who will report directly to the County Administration. Denise Bryan is serving as an interim director while Taylor is currently advertising for a permanent director (see posting on page 11).
The fees that the airport generates yearly, about $61,036, will now be used to cover the $60,000 salary of the new Director.
“We’re bringing the airport back into the County as a department as opposed to leasing or contracting the whole airport out to a fixed base operator.” Taylor said. “We’ll have a manager in house, use all those fees to pay that person’s salary and then rent back space to Brian Steed and treat him more as a vendor and allow him to use space for mechanic services and things like that.”
According to Council’s Request of Action, the airport was deemed to be sub-par in safety levels and overall professionalism by an operational assessment performed in June.
BLYTHEWOOD – Several months ago Council asked the Planning Commission to look into the practicality and planning of a system of multi-use trails in the Blythewood area and Town Administrator Gary Parker brought that suggestion back to the Commission Monday evening.
“We had someone from LandPlan South come to a meeting and review the pros and cons of such a system,” Parker told the Commissioners. “The thought that occurs to me is that you might want to recommend to Council that perhaps a multi-use trail committee should be appointed,” Parker said.
“Even though I believe in this and I think this is a great thing to do, it is a very difficult thing to do and one of the reasons is that it’s very difficult to acquire easements and rights of ways,” Parker said.
Multi-use trail systems were one of the major goals of the 2005 Master Plan to make a pedestrian and biker friendly Town Center. The total estimated cost to construct all 17 trails proposed under the Master Plan would run $23,409,000 and, according to Town Planner Michael Criss, if money were not an object, the project could be completed in the range of 3-5 years.
“I think the first question that needs to be asked is, ‘Is that the best use of $23 million of town funds?’ That’s expensive,” Commissioner Donald Brock said. “You look at some of these numbers, it’s a big number, especially for a town that doesn’t generate any tax revenue.”
Due to the exorbitant cost, Council recommended the Commission focus their short terms goals on trails T-11: from Boney Road to the Park Area, T-12: Creech Road Extension, T-13: Langford/Fulmer, T-14: Round Top Trail and T-15: Beasley Creak Greenway. T-11 gained the most favor from the Commission.
“If it were me, it would go from here to the baseball park, I think that was one of the trails listed there. A lot of children come to the park to use the playground,” Commission Chair Bryan Franklin said. “They use the library and that would be nice for them to commute on a bicycle.”
The Commission did not vote on the matter, but will be seeking volunteers for the committee. Anyone wishing to volunteer on the Town’s trail committee should contact Town Hall at 754-0501.
WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County Coroner’s Office, along with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, are investigating a pedestrian fatality which occurred on Pumphouse Road in Fairfield County at approximately 9:30 PM, on October 16, 2017.
Coroner Chris Hill states that Darrius Lamont Hamlet, age 25, of 5465 Reservoir Road in Winnsboro died from injuries received when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle. Hamlet was walking East on Pump House Road and the driver of the vehicle was also traveling East when the accident occurred according to Corporal Bill Rhy with the S. C. Highway Patrol.
The incident remains under investigation by the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol.
BLYTHEWOOD – Every election year, The Voice offers space for the candidates for Blythewood Town Council to present their platforms, backgrounds and generally say why they are running for office. While the field opened with five candidates Sept. 5, Courtney Leavitt, a Cobblestone Park resident, dropped out of the race last week, issuing a prepared statement explaining, “It is with heavy heart that I share with you my decision to withdraw from the town council race. With my current work environment and commitments to external activities, I feel as if I would not be able to give full effort towards Blythewood and the town council seat.”
All four of the remaining candidates have submitted their campaign information for publication. That copy is printed here as submitted and not edited.
Donald Brock
Brock
Hello, my name is Donald Brock, Jr. and I’d like to speak to every voter about why I’ve decided to run for Town Council. When my family moved to Blythewood in January 2016, I had already made the decision that I wanted to be involved in the community. I have two young children (7 & 5) and felt that Blythewood offered positive influences to their lives that other places in and around Columbia could not. And it was up to me to make that happen. I want to be a voice for those who have smaller voices, for those who will feel the impact of decisions as they grow and mature. My children (and others throughout the community) are the future of Blythewood and it’s up to us to lay a solid foundation. I want to be a part of that foundation and that’s why I’m running for Town Council.
The Town of Blythewood is a growing community; a community that has held true to itself for many years.
With that, I want to encourage the town to invest in itself and offer “Blythewood First”, a platform that encourages the community to better itself through collective action and accountability.
As a member of the Planning Commission, we have fought diligently to prevent residential overdevelopment. We have up zoned multiple parcels throughout the town to prevent “vinyl villages” from popping up. As a Council member, I want to continue working with our Planning Commission to discourage tract building. Our town takes pride in our open and flowing neighborhoods. I want to encourage builders to offer larger lot sizes, more open/green space, incorporate desired amenities and instead of just building homes, let’s build lifestyles.
Another one of the challenges our town faces is a lack of recreational outlets. We have a fantastic baseball/softball community, but one of the major issues facing this community is a lack of fields. Unfortunately, some children are turned away each year and I find this unacceptable. In the past, Richland County Recreation Commission (RC) has been asked to procure additional facilities and those requests have fallen on deaf ears. I propose we form the Blythewood Recreation Department, a subset of Town Hall that’s charged with the task of procuring and managing our own facilities. Not only recreation facilities, the multi-use trail system that’s being proposed currently would fall under this department. If the RC will not invest in Blythewood, then perhaps it’s time Blythewood divest itself from the RC and frankly, invest in ourselves!
I want to create more community-focused events, utilizing our best asset: Doko Meadows. More concerts, festivals, etc. will only enhance lives and encourage those living outside Blythewood to come visit. Our children need more recreational outlets, whether that be indoor or outdoor. We clearly have to invest in the youth of the community.
Vote Brock on November 7th!
Brian Franklin
Franklin
I’m Brian Franklin, a candidate for the Blythewood Town Council,
Education:
Attended Richland School District Two schools here in Blythewood: BHE and Spring Valley, 1973-1986
B.S. Biology, The Citadel, 1990
Master of Health Administration, Chapman University, 1996
Master of Strategic Studies: US Army War College, 2011
Town Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tempore, Whitakers, NC, 2002-2004
Chairman, Town Zoning Board, Whitakers, NC, 2000-2002
Work Experience:
US Army Officer, 1990-2014
Retired Army Officer/Stay-At-Home Dad, 2014-2017
Currently: Department of the Army Civilian, Shaw AFB, Sumter, SC
Family:
Married to the former Desdemona (Dusty) L. Herman of Toledo, Ohio (retired Army officer). We have eight children — five girls and three boys.
Candidate Statement:
As a Blythewood native, I have always advocated for our Community. Whether it be our local schools, our community parks or our town government, I have taken active roles in their improvement over the years by serving as a volunteer on the Parent Teacher Organizations, as a baseball coach and scout leader, and most recently as the Chairman of the Blythewood Planning Commission. I would now like to use that volunteer experience to serve as a Town Council Member and help guide our town as we grow into the future.
Blythewood is a vibrant, friendly and growing community situated in a strategic location in South Carolina. Located just a short drive from the SC beaches, Charleston, Charlotte and the mountains, Blythewood is a perfect place to start a business, raise a family or simply retire. As such, we attract numerous businesses and developers to help us grow. This growth often happens quickly, and this predicament is where I see our three biggest challenges:
Growth is outpacing our infrastructure development.
Rapid growth is saturating our schools.
Our parks and recreation facilities are in need of expansion.
If I am elected to the Blythewood Town Council, I will:
Continue the work I have started as the Chairman of the Town Planning Commission by ensuring smart and controlled growth in accordance with the Master Plan and ensure the transportation infrastructure keeps pace with the massive residential and business growth.
Assist in establishing partnerships to create walking trails, expand our baseball/softball/football facilities, and improve our playground/exercise areas. We have the potential to capitalize on our recent Dixie Youth Little League (softball/baseball) and Pop Warner Football successes to become a perennial “host site” for these income-generating events.
And lastly, I will continue to be an advocate for our community to attract new businesses into our Town Center while maintaining our small town feel. Growth is inevitable, but we owe it to our current residents to control it so everyone feels comfortable living, working and playing in Blythewood.
Thank you, and I ask for your vote on November 7th in the Blythewood Town Council election.
~Bryan S. Franklin
Larry Griffin
Griffin
Larry D. “Griff” Griffin is just that; a quiet storm and a force to be reckoned with. He is his family’s bulwark of strength, and he humbly serves his community as an advocate for history, mentorship and most of all, he displays compassion. “GRIFF” as he’s passionately called, is a native of Blythewood, SC born to the proud parents of Nettie Griffin Benson and the late Truzell Alfonso Kelly.
“GRIFF” received his education in the Richland School District #2, and he attended the historic Bethel-Hanberry High School until it closed in 1970. He then went to Spring Valley High School in Columbia, SC where he graduated in the top 3rd percentile in his class of over 400 in 1972.
“GRIFF” went on to further his education at Grambling State University, (Grambling LA) and SC State University (Orangeburg SC) where he majored in Business Administration and minored in Economics.
Larry D. “GRIFF” Griffin is a very successful business professional (owner); yet he’s very connected to and passionate about the community. He has been actively serving the community for over 35 years, and continues to make his mark, especially through-out the town of Blythewood. Presently he serves on the Town Council. “Griff serves as President and one of the organizers of the Athletic Alumni Association of Bethel Hanberry (BHAAS). Larry passionately serves on several boards and serves as the Executive Director of Macedonia Baptist Church food bank which is affiliated with Harvest Hope. Of all the areas that he serves, one of his most fulfilling pleasures is making and impact in the lives of young males as a mentor.
“Griff” is married to his childhood sweetheart Leanora, for over 45 years. He is a great inspiration to many, But his greatest inspiration besides Leanora, are his 3 children; Stacy, Christopher and Jennipher (son-in-law James) and 2 grandchildren Caleb and Jordan.
Larry D. “Griff” Griffin’s platform and the “Why” in seeking reflections is simple. I am willing to “Be a voice for the people,” in the expansion cycle in order to see growth in the town and community of Blythewood. There is still some unfinished business.
Michelle Kiedrowski
Kiedrowski
Michelle Kiedrowski, Candidate for Blythewood Town Council, 2017
Education:
Bachelor of Science – Business Management (BSB/M); University of Phoenix, 2007
Masters of Information Systems (MIS); University of Phoenix, 2012
Political Experience:
Blythewood Planning Commissioner, 2015-2017
Work Experience:
Michelle is an Information Technology Professional with a focus on the government sector in healthcare and law enforcement. She currently works as a Project Manager and Business Systems Analyst. She is also involved in the internal aspect of the business where she designs and implements change management processes throughout the organization.
Family:
Married to Dustin (Dusty) Kiedrowski of Havre, Montana. They have no children, but focus much of their attention on nieces and nephews.
Candidate Statement:
Blythewood has proven to be a place worthy of calling ‘home’ and believe it to be an exceptional place to live and grow. I have been serving on the Planning Commission for two years and would like to make a greater impact. It’s easy for people to think because Blythewood is small it does not require as much attention. I think because it is small it needs more attention. Infrastructure has to be defined and considered with every presentation and vote.
As a Planning Commissioner, I recognize three challenges we face every time we review an agenda item, those are:
Controlling growth. Blythewood’s potential for growth is exponential, but if the infrastructure is not in place for that growth, it can do more harm than good.
Balancing history with the opportunity for new history to be made. It’s never easy to decide what should be preserved and what should be replaced for the current and future needs of the citizens.
Standing firm with the Master Plan and Comprehensive Plan. I believe these plans can be flexible, but not to the point the original ideals are lost.
If elected to Town Council, my commitment to the Town of Blythewood is to take one issue at a time, listen to citizen’s perspective, and remember the current Master Plan and Comprehensive Plan is our guide. I believe each issue brought before any board or government entity deserves its own attention.
Thank you, and I ask for your vote on November 7th in the Blythewood Town Council election.
If you have any additional questions, please contact me at mkiedrowski55@gmail.com or call 803-227-0520.
WINNSBORO – A South Carolina Law Enforcement Department (SLED) spokeswoman confirmed in a telephone conversation with The Voice on Tuesday that SLED is investigating Winnsboro Department of Public Safety officer Lt. Peter Jackson in connection with an assault on a prisoner who, with his hands cuffed behind his back, was brought in to the County’s Detention Center by Jackson. The prisoner, Andrew Campanelli, 31, who listed his address as the Good Samaritan House, had been arrested for allegedly throwing two bottles of Mountain Dew at a convenience store clerk when she told him his ID was out of date.
The Voice got a tip five days later, on Oct. 13, that Jackson might be under investigation by SLED for assaulting Campanelli.
Eight days after the incident, on Monday, Oct. 16, The Voice requested reports on the incident from WDPS and the Detention Center video from both Deputy County Administrator Davis Anderson and WDPS. Seibles released a sketchy 4-line report about the Mountain Dew incident, but there was no mention in the report that Campanelli had been unruly or assaulted Jackson during the arrest.
An attached supplemental report released by WDPS about the Oct. 8 Detention Center incident contained no copy other than the officer’s name, age and other personal information at the top. There was no mention of the alleged assault at the Detention Center. It was also ambiguous as to whether Jackson was the victim or the assailant.
When pressed on Tuesday, Oct. 17, for details about the Detention Center incident, Seibles said he could not provide a narrative of the officer’s reported assault on Campanelli and also did not make it clear whether such a report exited. However, Seibles also said that he could not release the incident report to The Voice while SLED is investigating the incident.
However, while SLED might use the incident report in its investigation, that does not preclude WDPS from providing them to The Voice, according to Bill Rogers, Executive Director of the S.C. Press Association.
Section 30-4-30 of the S.C. Freedom of Information Act states:
(D) The following records of a public body must be made available for public inspection and copying during the hours of operations of the public body…without the requestor being required to make a written request to inspect or copy the records when the requestor appears in person:
(2) all reports identified in Section 30-4-50 (A) (8) for at least the fourteen-day period before the current day.
Section 30-4-50 (A) (8) includes incident reports – those reports which disclose the nature, substance and location of any crime or alleged crime reported as having been committed.
According to S.C. law, the incident report about the alleged assault at the Detention Center involving Lt. Peter Jackson and Andrew Campanelli comes under this provision. According to the state statute, those documents should be provided upon request.
On Tuesday, Oct. 17, Seibles told The Voice that it was the officer who was assaulted by Campanelli and that Jackson was not arrested, faced no discipline for the incident and is still on duty.
“I haven’t received any complaints about the incident, so it wouldn’t give me any reason to look at the officer,” Seibles said.
On Wednesday, Oct. 18, WDPS released a full incident report prepared by Jackson that outlined how, when Jackson brought Campanelli into the Detention Center and asked Campanelli to stand against the wall to be searched, Campanelli refused.
“I placed my hands on his right arm,” Jackson reported. “At this time, the offender jumped in the air, swinging his head back intentionally, hitting me below my left eye. At this time, I pushed the offender to the wall. The offender hit the wall and it caused a laceration to the left side of his chin. The offender was placed in the cell.”
Along with the incident report on the Detention Center incident, Seibles also provided an expended version of the Mountain Due incident, in which Jackson reported new information – that Campanelli became irate when Jackson picked Campanelli up to take him back to the convenience store for identification.
While Seibles said he did not receive any complaints about the incident from anyone, including the Detention Center or his officers, Anderson said he received four reports on the incident as well as a video provided by the Detention Center.
“I turned the video over to the Sheriff (Will Montgomery) and he made the determination to turn them over to SLED for investigation,” Anderson said.
Asked if he had viewed the video, Seibles said he had not.
“I left it alone. I didn’t want to impede SLED’s investigation,” Seibles said.
Campanelli was charged with Assault and Battery, 3rd degree in the Mountain Dew incident and released on a $275 bond to await a court date.
He was also charged with Resisting/Assault, beat or wound police officer while resisting arrest and released on a $3,000 bond in the Detention Center incident.
WINNSBORO – After 21 years of service to Winnsboro and Fairfield County, Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Director, Terry Vickers, announced during a Chamber board meeting last week that she is retiring.
“We owe her so much,” Chamber Chairman Harper Shull said about Vickers and her work with Chamber. “Obviously, I share with everyone in the county a great appreciation of Terry’s 21 years of service to our Chamber and our community. I certainly understand her wanting to retire to the next phase of her life, but finding someone to replace her, someone who loves Fairfield County as much as Terry does, will be difficult,” Shull said.
Vickers said, simply, “It was time. I have loved his town, this county, the people in it and the merchants who I have worked so closely with over the years. So it is difficult to say goodbye. But at this stage in my life, it is time for our family’s chapter.”
Vickers moved to Fairfield County in 1994 after retiring from 27 years with First Union Corporation in Gastonia where she worked in marketing, commercial, consumer and mortgage lending.
“My husband, Steve, and I moved to the Lake and joined Lake Wateree Presbyterian Church where we became friends with several Chamber of Commerce board members,” Vickers recalled. “I volunteered at several Chamber functions and then took a part time job in the Chamber office.”
In 1996, Vickers became full time Director of the Chamber where she began growing the membership through networking and adding benefits to make membership worth the investment. Under her guidance, the Chamber began working with the S.C. Chamber, Columbia Chamber and, for a time, the U.S. Chamber. Vickers became a member of the Carolina Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and was soon promoting Lunch & Learns, Business after Hours and brought merchants together to plan the first Rock Around the Clock street festival which has continued to grow and had its largest crowd ever earlier this month.
“When I first came to Winnsboro, I thought, what a charming town,” Vickers said. “And as I got to know people in our church and the different community groups, I felt a true love for our new community. And I still feel that love, even more so today. As much as I look forward to going home to North Carolina, it breaks my heart to leave Fairfield County.”
“I can’t say enough good things about Terry,” Shull said. She’s the reason I accepted the chairmanship of the Chamber. She has a heart of gold. And she is going to be greatly missed by all of us. We, at the Chamber and, I’m sure everyone in the community, wish her well.”
Vickers said she will be busy painting some rooms in her home for the next couple of weeks to get it ready for sale.
“Then Steve and I will be packing up and leaving for Gastonia, North Carolina, where we grew up,” Vickers said.
Vickers said her longtime Administrative Assistant and good friend, Susan Yenner, will continue in the Chamber office.
The Chamber board will host a farewell reception to honor Vickers is Thursday, Oct. 26 from 5:30 – 7:00 at 142 S. Congress Street, Winnsboro.
RIDGEWAY – Bending to the will of its merchants, Ridgeway Town Council voted last week to drop a three-hour parking limit from an ordinance regulating how long vehicles can park in the town.
“The three-hour limit, I understand, has always been in the ordinance,” store owner Dee Dee Ruff told Council, “but it has never been enforced, which is a good thing. For it to start being enforced would be a negative for the merchants,” Ruff said. “It takes more than three hours to eat in a restaurant and shop at the stores. We want people to stay more than three hours. And we don’t want them to go back to their cars and find a parking ticket,” Ruff said.
“We’ve heard from the merchants, “they don’t want it,” Councilman Don Prioleau said.
There was no unity, however, on prohibiting vehicles from parking overnight on Town property.
Mayor Charlene Herring who lives next to the Cotton Yard where a sod truck sometimes parks overnight across from her home, led the charge against overnight parking. Prioleau and Councilman Heath Cookendorfer said they had no problem with the occasional vehicle parking overnight in the Cotton Yard or on other Town-owned property.
“Ever since I’ve lived in this little town,” Prioleau said, “people have parked in the Cotton Yard, met other friends and family members and left their vehicles to go a couple of days to the beach, etc. I would say strike restricting overnight parking from the ordinance as well,” Prioleau said.
Cookendorfer agreed.
If the people are telling us they don’t feel its right to restrict overnight parking and to limit parking to three hours, then we shouldn’t do it. You can govern too much,” Cookendorfer said.
As the discussion drew out and became more heated between the mayor and two councilmen, Herring interrupted.
“Why should a person leave a trailer parked downtown overnight?” she asked.
“I think it’s a disservice to the community not to allow the citizens to use the Cotton Yard for parking,” Prioleau said.
“I cannot agree for tractor trailers to be parked out there,” Herring countered.
Finally, Herring called for a motion prohibiting overnight parking and nodded toward Councilwoman Angela Harrison who made the motion. Herring called for a second and looked to Councilman Doug Porter. Finally, Herring asked Hudspeth if she could second the motion herself.
“I don’t think there is a prohibition against it,” Hudspeth said.
And with that, Herring seconded the motion and Porter and Harrison voted with her to pass it by a narrow 3-2.
