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  • Judge Rules for Chester in Mitford Case

    After more than two years of litigation and nearly $2 million in invoices from the Chester County School District, a Fifth Circuit Court judge handed down a ruling Monday afternoon in what has commonly become known as the “Mitford Case.”

    Judge J. Ernest Kinard ruled Monday in favor of Chester County Schools and against the Fairfield County School District in the two-year battle over who should pay for students living in the Mitford area of Fairfield County and attending schools in the Great Falls area of Chester County. Judge Kinard also authorized the Fairfield County Treasurer to release to Chester County Schools nearly $2 million in funds, for which Chester has invoiced Fairfield since the 2009-2010 school year and which had been held by the Treasurer by order of the Court.

    The lawsuit was brought by the Fairfield County School District in June of 2010 following an act of local legislation providing for the continued funding of the approximately 200 Mitford area students who attend Chester County Schools. The District’s lawsuit claimed the legislation, introduced and passed by Sen. Creighton Coleman and Rep. Boyd Brown in the spring of 2010, was unconstitutional in that it conflicted with general law as set forth by Article III, Section 34 of the S.C. State Constitution.

    In his ruling Judge Kinard noted that Article III “generally prohibits special legislation where a general law can be made to apply,” but also said that “the prohibition of special legislation is not absolute, and special legislation is not unconstitutional where the General Assembly has a logical basis and sound reason for resorting to special legislation.”

    Kinard’s ruling stated that the Fairfield County School District “presented no evidence” that the General Assembly had abused its discretion in enacting this special legislation. The ruling also stated that the General Assembly did, in fact, have “a logical basis and sound reason” for enacting the special law.

    “I think it’s a fair ruling,” Coleman said Tuesday afternoon. “It seems to me that the Fairfield County School District could have come to the table and could have resolved it a lot easier and a lot cheaper for the taxpayers, but they chose to litigate it.”

    The ruling details some of the circumstances that led up to the litigation, particularly that, for several decades between 100 and 200 students living in the Mitford area have attended Chester County Schools and, since at least 1973, the two districts had agreed upon a financial arrangement in order to cover the cost of educating those students. That agreement began breaking down in 2007, the Court document states, and finally ended in the 2009-2010 school year when no agreement was reached. Prior to that time, the Fairfield County School District had transferred $25,000 annually to Chester County Schools to help offset the cost of educating Mitford students.

    The ruling also notes that, on May 21, 2010, Annie McDaniel, then Chairwoman of the Fairfield County School Board, wrote to Sen. Coleman “and made clear (the Fairfield County School District) had no agreement with (Chester County Schools) for payments to educate the Mitford students and that (the Fairfield County School District) ‘does not pay tuition for students desiring to attend schools out of the District’.”

    Because of that stance by the Fairfield County School District, the court document states, the General Assembly enacted special legislation to provide for the Mitford students.

    Kinard’s ruling also stated that, based on Fairfield County’s local per student funding level of $8,875 versus Chester County’s local per student funding level of $3,452, Chester County Schools are “not unduly profiting” from the arrangement and Fairfield County Schools are not being “unreasonably burdened.”

    “(The Fairfield County School District) is actually spending over $5,000 less per student than its per student revenue,” the ruling states.

    Under the Coleman-Brown special legislation, the Chester County School District is to be reimbursed by Fairfield County Schools based on Chester County’s level of local per pupil funding.

    Andrea Harrison, current Chairwoman of the Fairfield County School Board, declined comment on the ruling at press time.

  • Lake Wateree celebrates the 4th with food, fireworks and fun

    Lake Wateree residents Peggy & Roy Lee taking orders at Dutchman Creek Volunteer Fire Department July 4 barbecue sale.

    All around Lake Wateree, residents, family and friends could be seen gathered together to celebrate our country’s Independence Day. Family members were swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing and jet skiing. The area was permeated with the wonderful odor of steaks on the grill, hamburgers and hotdogs. But not everyone wanted to spend the time cooking and those folks knew they could depend on the Dutchman Creek Volunteer Fire Department for exceptional barbecue. It is a busy time for the firefighters as the equipment and trucks must be moved from the bay, cleaning to be done and tables set up. The tables were decorated with white paper with a large flag hanging across the front, giving a patriotic flair to the firehouse.

    The line began to form as early as 10 a.m. Early sales of Smithfield Boston butts and bulk barbecue started at 9:30. Many had telephoned to reserve the $30 butts in the week prior to July 4 knowing how quickly they sell out each year. The firefighters and volunteers in a period of just three hours had sold out the butts, barbecue and rice. The barbecue plates, in addition to the meat, consisted of rice with hash, coleslaw, pickle spear, bun and iced tea. The ever popular sandwich plate was also available. Hash and barbecue was sold in bulk. Once again the DCVFD was able to keep most of the prices down so they are affordable to all. Only the hash had a slight rise in price this year. By morning’s end 204 pounds of barbecue had been sold. This is equivalent to 34 butts. The amount of hash sold was 104 quarts (or 26 gallons), 100 plates of barbecue, 26 sandwiches and 51 butts. Since they ran out so early this year, the DCVFD hopes to add 10 more butts to the grill next year and make more hash.

    “This was the department’s most successful year so far,”’ said firefighter Bill McDonald.

    This annual event is the firefighters’ only fund raiser of the year. It is not yet known where the day’s proceeds will be used. Where it is most needed will be determined at a later date. In the meantime, the proceeds go to an operating account to purchase items not provided by the County, according to Chief Ned Gwin.

    The cookers of the barbecue this year were firefighters Jimmy Claxton, Jerry Martin, ‘Bug’ Jones and WHOA chairman Jerry Nealy. It is a joint effort on the part of all the men and women of the DCVFD. Not just the barbecue, but the rice, hash and tea as well. Jones recently returned from another ‘Builders for Christ’ trip last month in Mississippi, as he has previous years. Many of the volunteers serving the food are the same ones who volunteer each year. For those who had not yet purchased the reflective address sign, they were available for sale at the fire station also. These addresses are easily seen by the firefighters should they be called to your home in an emergency, when minutes count. A box for donations is always present and the people of Lake Wateree are very generous when it comes to those who protect their homes and property. This was the 27th year for the annual barbecue sale. The only year that was missed was during the time the three bridges were under construction.

    It was a very hot day with temperatures in the high 90s, but the line of satisfied customers who return year after year reached out to the parking lot. Folks came by auto, truck, motorcycle and golf cart, coming from all areas of the lake, the State Park and from as far away as Great Falls and Columbia. The fireworks display that has given pleasure to the lake residents and guests for so many years took place later in the evening. The site for this was at Island Eight, just above Clear Water Cove Marina and could be seen from any part of the lower lake. An earlier fireworks display was held at Dutchman Creek on June 30 by Mike Taylor.

    This barbecue sale requires the effort of many people, mostly firefighters, a number of volunteers, and required many hours to make it the success it is. It is good to see the people of Lake Wateree support the men and women of the DCVFD who risk their lives each and every time they attend a fire. They are ever ready to heed the call. With the new substation now open, the firefighters are spread a little thin and more volunteers are needed. If you feel this is something you could do, please contact Chief Ned Gwin at the fire station at 803-482-2636.

  • Fairfield County School District Welcomes New Faces

    Mary Combs-Bramlett
    J. Christopher DInkins
    Kathy Woodard
    Webster Anderson

    The School District of Fairfield County welcomes new principals and administrators. For the upcoming school year, the district has two new faces that will lead schools: Myra Combs-Bramlett at Geiger Elementary School and J. Christopher Dinkins at Fairfield Career and Technology Center. Two administrators whose faces aren’t quite new to the district have been placed in new positions. Kathy Woodard is the principal of Kelly Miller Elementary School and Webster Anderson is the Director of Student Services.

    Myra Combs-Bramlett received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Louisiana State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Education Administration and Supervision from Southern University. She has served as a classroom teacher, enrichment tutor, academic coach, and an academic advanced teacher.

    This past school year she served as Assistant Principal. Mrs. Combs-Bramlett is an astounding curriculum leader who has the ability to move Geiger Elementary forward. She will be an asset to Fairfield County School District, Geiger Elementary, and its students.

    J. Christopher Dinkins received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of South Carolina-Aiken, and a Master in Arts in Education Leadership and Administration from Jones International University. Mr. Dinkins started his career in the public sector where he served as staff accountant, senior financial analyst, and an assistant manager. He entered the education field as a Career and Technology Business Education Teacher and taught for five years.

    Mr. Dinkins has served as an Assistant Principal, Assistant Director in a Career Center, and a Career and Technology Director. He is a curriculum and visionary leader who has innovative ideas that will bring a fresh perspective to Fairfield County School District and Fairfield Career and Technology Center. He brings a wealth of diverse experience.

    Mrs. Kathy Woodard received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Columbia College and Master of Arts Degree in Education Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has served the students in Fairfield County with excellence and pride since 2002.

    While serving as a teacher at Fairfield Magnet School, Ms. Woodard shined as a curriculum leader and as an “acting” administrator while the principal was out on extended leave.

    Mrs. Woodard’s excellent track record, was celebrated in 2010 when she was awarded District Teacher of the Year, contributing to a promotion as Assistant Principal at Fairfield Elementary School.

    She has served as Assistant Principal for the past two years and has performed superbly. Mrs. Woodard is ready for more responsibility, and will be great in the position of principal at Kelly Miller Elementary School.

    Webster Anderson received his Bachelor of Arts from University of South Carolina-Coastal and a Master of Arts in Administration from Regent University. He has served Fairfield County School District as a teacher at Fairfield Central High School Assistant Principal at Fairfield Middle School, Director at Gordon Odyssey Academy, and Assistant to the Director of Student Services.

    Mr. Anderson is extremely knowledgeable in special education and has an in depth understanding of student safety and discipline.

    Mr. Anderson is a collaborative leader who possesses the knowledge and talent to transform the Student Services Department.

    He has proven himself as a great administrator, and he will continue to be beneficial to Fairfield County School District.

  • Fairfield County Restaurant Reports

    29065

    Glenn’s Six to Ten, 10627 Monticello Road (June 5 – Routine) – B

    Glenn’s Six to Ten, 10627 Monticello Road (June 18 – Follow-Up) – A

    Monticello EZ Mart, 3888 Hwy. 215 S. (May 25 – Routine) – A

    Ride and Dine, 8150 Hwy. 215 (June 5 – Routine) – A

    Summer Café at V.C. Summer, Hwy. 215, Box 88, Brabham Road (June 5 – Routine) – A

    29130

    B&B Seafood Mart, 235 S. Palmer St. (June 25 – Routine) – A

    Colonel Creek Grill & Parklane, 12143 River Road (June 14 – Routine) – A

    Colonel Creek Grill & Parklane, 12143 River Road (June 25 – Follow-Up) – A

    Colonel’s Creek Market, 12143 River Road (May 7 – Routine) – A

    Frank’s Bar-B-Que, 2421 Boney Road (June 27 – Routine) – A

    Longridge Camp & Retreat Center, 7456 Longtown Road (May 23 – Routine) – A

    Millie’s Place, 1643 Hwy. 21 (May 24 – Routine) – C

    Millie’s Place, 1643 Hwy. 21 (June 18 – Follow-Up) – A

    Retreat at Colonel’s Creek, 83 Doe Run Lane (June 14 – Routine) – A

    Retreat at Colonel’s Creek, 83 Doe Run Lane (June 25 – Follow-Up) – A

    Ridgeway Kwik Stop, 752 Hwy. 21 S. (June 25 – Routine) – A

    Sharpe Shoppe #205, 6145 Hwy. 34 E. (May 7 – Routine) – A

    Then and Now, 105 N. Palmer Street (May 24 – Routine) – A

    Waffle House #1382, 6169 Hwy. 34 E. (June 27 – Routine) – C

    Windmill Restaurant, 28 Old Windmill Road (June 14 – Routine) – A

    29180

    Bi-Lo #521 Deli/Bakery, 1126 Hwy. 321 Bus. S. (May 22 – Routine) – A

    Bi-Lo #521 Deli/Bakery, 1126 Hwy. 321 Bus. S. (June 1 – Follow-Up) – A

    Boone’s Barn, 1249 Hwy. 321 Bus. S. (June 21 – Routine) – A

    Byrd’s Grocery, 1682 Hwy. 213 (June 27 – Routine) – A

    Carolina Adventure World, 1713 Arrowhead Road (June 20 – Routine) – A

    China Wok, 721 Hwy. 321 Bypass Ste. 7 (June 27 – Routine) – A

    Corner Store, 253 Golf Course Road (June 21 – Routine) – A

    Dairy Queen #955, 10959 Hwy. 200 (June 20 – Routine) – A

    Drawdy Park Concession, Poplar Street (June 21 – Routine) – A

    Fairfield High School Stadium, 836 Hwy. 321 Bypass (May 7 – Routine) – A

    Garden Street Park, 400 S. Garden St. (June 21 – Routine) – A

    Grand Central Restaurant, 11351 Hwy. 200 (June 20 – Routine) – A

    Grand Central Restaurant, 11351 Hwy. 200 (June 27 – Follow-Up) – A

    House of Prayer Kitchen, 220 Hwy. 321 Bypass (June 21 – Routine) – A

    House of Prayer Kitchen, 220 Hwy. 321 Bypass (June 29 – Follow-Up) – A

    Jackie’s Hot Dogs, 405-B N. Congress St. (June 27 – Routine) – B

    Jackie’s II, 985 Hwy. 321 Bus. S. (June 27 – Routine) – A

    Lebanon Mart, 6058 Newberry Road (May 30 – Routine) – A

    Lebanon Mart, 6058 Newberry Road (June 7 – Follow-Up) – A

    McDonald’s, 23 Hwy. 321 Bypass S. (June 21 – Routine) – A

    Wal-Mart #2606 Deli, 721 Hwy. 321 Bypass (June 21 – Routine) – A

    Wendy’s #219, 725 Hwy. 321 Bypass S. (June 21 – Routine) – A

    Wendy’s #965, 10959 Hwy. 200 (June 20 – Routine) – A

    Wendy’s #965, 10959 Hwy. 200 (June 27 – Follow-Up) – A

    Wilco/Hess, 10959 Hwy. 200 (June 20 – Routine) – A

    Source: S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control.

  • Citizens looking for answers to nuclear plant’s wastewater plans

    It was a fairly positive atmosphere on Saturday afternoon at the Pentecostal Church on Golf Course Road. The Fairfield County Progressive Citizens (FCPC) met to discuss their concerns over the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (#SC0049131), issued to VC Summer Nuclear Station by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), which they claim authorizes the nuclear plant to dump contaminated wastewater into the Broad River.

    According to the DHEC Bureau of Water, “The permit regulates discharges of sanitary wastewater, low-volume waste, cooling tower blowdown, and alternate mixing water (Monticello Reservoir water) from one discharge point to the Broad River at the Parr Reservoir.”

    The FCPC, under the leadership of Dr. E. Sutton, allege the department failed to provide full public disclosure of the June 19 meeting with South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G). The group also claims DHEC made the decision to issue the permit to the nuclear power plant prior to meeting with the public and area residents to hear their concerns. The permit, as found on the DHEC Web site does not confirm the date of issue or expiration.

    Also a security employee at the nuclear plant, Sutton further explained that the wastewater discharge may contain traces of Tritium and could be a possible health risk to residents. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Exposure to tritium increases the risk of developing cancer.” The EPA further explains, “People who live near or work in nuclear fuel cycle facilities may have increased exposure. Because it emits very low energy radiation and leaves the body relatively quickly, for a given amount of activity ingested, tritium is one of the least dangerous radionuclides.”

    County Councilman Kamau Marcharia, who represents the Jenkinsville area, expressed his apprehension and concerns over unforeseen health risks to local residents, “this [Fairfield] is the dumping ground for whatever,” he shared to the room of nodding heads.

    According to the Councilman, the discharged water will be treated, then sold back to five water companies in the state — two private companies and three under federal regulation — and later sold to the area residents for consumption and use. Marcharia also expressed his frustration with DHEC’s communication and how little knowledge his district and county residents had of the June hearing.

    Also in attendance Saturday was Mel Jenkins, a member of the Sierra Club and Executive Director of two environment advocacy groups in Richland County. The Rosewood community resident gave insight into environmental justice and policy issues he believes South Carolinians face. According to Jenkins, as the Broad River runs from North Carolina, through Fairfield and Columbia, the wastewater discharge could not only affect Fairfield County residents, but also neighboring communities, including Richland County.

    Jenkins provided the group with the initial public notice dated May 18 (#12-063-H), where DHEC confirms a notification (March 30, #12-040-N), advising notifying the public of the June meeting “in response to public interest.” The document and an mp3 audio of the meeting can be found on the DHEC website.

    The last day for written public comment to the department was at the close of business on July 9. The Voice of Fairfield was unable to reach DHEC for comment.

  • Community Turns Out to Meet New Superintendent

    J.R. Green puts his name on the dotted line at a ceremony held last week at the Fairfield County School District Office.

    After more than seven months of interim leadership, the Fairfield County School District finally has some new blood at the top. Last week, just one day after America celebrated its independence, the District celebrated the arrival of their new superintendent and introduced J.R. Green to the community.

    More than 70 people turned out at the District Office to meet Green and hear his vision of what he hopes the School District can accomplish.

    “He’s a breath of fresh air,” Andrea Harrison, Board Chairwoman, said. “Hopefully, he can help us get things back on track. Now, if we (the School Board) can only do our job and stay out of the way . . .”

    Green shook a lot of hands during the informal meet-and-greet and said he has plans to shake up the culture of a school district that has earned a reputation of being a graveyard for superintendents.

    “My goal is to change that culture,” Green said. “I am committed to being here long-term and forging a new path for the Fairfield County School District.”

    Green said his first goal is to bring the entire community together to educate Fairfield County students.

    “I want to get everyone on board to change the culture and to meet the needs of students in Fairfield County,” Green said. “Everyone will have a part to play – the faith-based community, family, students, teachers – everybody will have to pull together. Through teamwork, and only through teamwork, can we achieve excellence.”

    Green said he plans to increase focus on early childhood education and, in addition to giving increased attention to students who are not performing up to standards, making sure students who are performing at or above grade level are adequately challenged.

    “One of the more frequent complaints I have heard is ‘My child is not being challenged’,” Green said. “We want to evaluate how we are challenging students who are prepared. Too often, we focus all of our attention on students who are not prepared and overlook those who are performing above grade level.”

    Green formally signed his contract with the District July 2. The Board voted 6-1 to authorize the hire June 27. Board member Annie McDaniel cast the lone dissenting vote.

    Green replaces Dr. Patrice Robinson, who was fired by the Board in December of 2011. Robinson was hired by the District in January 2010 and was placed on administrative leave in October of 2011. Dr. Floride Calvert, and later Dr. David E. Eubanks, helped lead the District in the interim.

    Green comes to Fairfield County from the Chesterfield County School District, where he has, since 2008, served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to that, he served a four-year stint as principal of Central High School in Pageland.

    In 2010, nine of the 16 Chesterfield County schools met No Child Left Behind standards. In 2011, the district had no schools rated lower than “Average.”

    During Green’s term at Central High, the school rose from “Unsatisfactory” to “Good” on S.C. Department of Education report cards and met their Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goals for three consecutive years. The school also earned three consecutive Palmetto Gold Awards and was twice named a Palmetto Finest finalist.

    Green began his career in education as a Business Education teacher, first at Wade Hampton High School in Hampton in 1994 and then at Spring Valley High School, from 1995 to 1996. In 1996, Green was named an assistant administrator at Spring Valley, where he implemented the District Strategy 18, an initiative to increase test scores among black males.

    Green was also an assistant principal at Keenan High School from 1998 to 2004 before moving on to Central High.

    Green earned a B.S. degree in Personnel Management from the University of South Carolina in 1991 and a M.A. in Teaching Business Education from USC in 1994. In 1999, he received his Master’s in Education Administration degree from USC and earned his School Superintendent Certification through the University of the Cumberland’s Williamsburg, Ky. program. Green is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education Leadership through USC.

  • With Sale of Country Club Final, What Comes Next?

    Barbara Franklin, Mission President for Christ Central Ministries; Dru Blair; Jimmy Burroughs, Good Samaritan House; and Jimmy Jones, Christ Central Ministries meet at the Fairfield Country Club to discuss the future of the facility.

    A project that could forever change the face of downtown Winnsboro took its first step last month with the closing of a deal that saw the Fairfield County Club change hands, from the Mount Zion Society to Christ Central Ministries (CCM), which has missions of community outreach in Clinton, Aiken, Allendale and other locations throughout the state. The $150,000 deal was finalized June 29 and Monday, members of Christ Central sat down in the lounge of their newly acquired asset to discuss the building’s future.

    “This was not an easy thing to work through, for (the Christ Central) membership or for the Mount Zion Society,” said Pastor Jimmy Jones, front man for CCM. “We’ve worked on many projects in Winnsboro. This one came up and we saw an opportunity here because of the dedicated membership. The Country Club is one of the prettiest things you see as you drive into Winnsboro, and it’s very hard to rejuvenate an economy once a major landmark like this closes. Our goal was to preserve this facility and the ability to play golf. Our hope is to stabilize this facility and the golf course.”

    But golf is only the tip of the iceberg for the future of the Country Club, which many hope will become the foothold for the downtown relocation efforts of the Dru Blair School of Art, currently housed in Blair.

    “The Dru Blair School of Art would like to locate in downtown Winnsboro,” Jones said, “with a vision similar to that of the Savannah College of Art and Design. In order to take it from five-day-a-week, three-week courses to a full semester will require infrastructure. We met with Dru about what that might look like and what facilities would be needed.”

    The Country Club, Blair agreed, would be an ideal jumping-off point.

    “It’s a long journey that has to be taken one step at a time,” Blair, a world-renowned realism artist and Fairfield County native, said. “Our goal is to have the most exceptional art college in the world right here.”

    Blair said there are already seven artists from around the world committed to joining his staff as instructors at a campus that would, eventually, stretch from one end of town to the other, culminating at a home campus in the old Mount Zion Institute building. From a small core of initial enrollees, the college would grow to 1,500 students who, Blair said, would have a $20-$30 million impact on the local economy every year, according to an as-yet unreleased economic impact study by the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

    “They (the students) would come right away if we had a place to put them,” Blair said.

    Ultimately, however, it will be up to the community to decide to what use the Country Club will be put, as Jones said the next step in the process is to invite citizens to join the effort and form teams to plot out the future of the facility. Invitations were sent out this week, Jones said, to dozens of community members, and phone calls will be made as well. And the list of players has not been finalized, Jones added.

    “There’s a lot of room for people in Fairfield County to get involved,” Jones said. “Anyone interested can call Jimmy Burroughs.”

    Burroughs, who heads up Winnsboro’s Good Samaritan House for CCM, can be reached at 803-309-9390.

  • Downtown Offers Fun Under the Stars

    Flashback: The Party Band will provide the soundtrack for Shaggin’ in the Street in downtown Winnsboro, Friday, July 13, starting at 8 p.m.

    Put your dancing shoes on and come downtown tonight, June 13, for the Town of Winnsboro’s second annual Shaggin’ in the Street, from 8:30 – 11 p.m. The street will be closed off in front of the Town Clock to make way for purveyors of the official State Dance who will swing to the sounds of the Flashback Party Band.

    Don’t know all the steps? Don’t worry. Spectators are welcome as well. Just be sure to bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the tunes under the stars.

    For more fun under the stars, come downtown next week for the Chamber of Commerce’s second Third Thursday event of the summer, July 19. This month’s outdoor movie feature is “E.T.: The Extraterrestrial,” Steven Spielberg’s 1982 smash hit that made Drew Barrymore a household name and sent the sales of Reese’s Pieces candy through the roof!

    The movie rolls at 8:40 p.m., but come early to shop, eat, shop some more and secure the best viewing spot next to the Town gazebo.  Again, bring lawn chairs.

    Pre-movie events will include a musical warm-up act, as well as a hopscotch contest for the kids. Downtown shops will be open late in the run-up to the film, and Abba’s Sweet Treats will have their popcorn machine on site and will also be serving sodas and snacks.

    If you can’t beat the heat, join it in downtown Winnsboro and have some fun before school starts back!

  • Mayor: Winnsboro Determined to Form County Water Authority

    The Mayor of Winnsboro had some strong words at the close of Monday night’s meeting of key county and neighboring players, who gathered at the Winnsboro Woman’s Club to consider the first steps toward forming a county-wide water authority, words that spelled out the hard facts regarding the future of water supply in Fairfield County.

    “The Town of Winnsboro is committed to forming this water authority. I can tell you that right now,” Winnsboro Mayor Roger Gaddy said. “If nobody else comes on board, what’s going to happen? Well, I don’t want to be ugly, but Mid-County gets their water from us on a contract basis every two or three years. The Town of Ridgeway does, too. If we don’t have the cooperation from everybody and don’t have the funding to do whatever needs to be done, to guarantee water for everybody, there’s a real possibility that, at some time in the future whenever you go to renew your contract, Winnsboro says ‘I’m sorry, we just don’t have the water capacity, you’re going to have to get it someplace else.’

    “That’s not being used as a threat,” Gaddy said. “That’s just the reality. We’ve done about all we can do by ourselves. We really need the authority to be formed.”

    Gaddy noted that changes and upgrades to the Town of Winnsboro’s aging water treatment plant have been funded by the Town of Winnsboro, which, because the water is sold on contract and the rates are locked into those contracts, cannot pass the costs on to those to whom the water is sold.

    “We’ve got to have a cooperative agency,” Gaddy said, “where we’re working toward the same goal, where we work on solutions together, instead of Ridgeway saying, ‘Gee, you know we’ve got this line that goes down to the gold mine and we can’t get it to pass the tests, so God knows we’re putting 20,000 gallons of water on the ground every week to purge the lines. Winnsboro, do you think you can switch from chlorine to chloramine?’ Sure, we’ll help you out on that. Guess what: That cost us $50,000, if not more. That cost can’t be passed on to Ridgeway because we’ve got a contract that says what we’ll sell them water for. So who picks up the $50,000 tab and who eats it?”

    Representatives from the Town of Ridgeway, Fairfield County Council, the Town of Winnsboro, the Town of Blythewood, Mid-County Water, the Jenkinsville Water Company and Mitford Water heard from representatives from Santee Cooper on what a water authority might look like and how it could help Fairfield County move forward. Santee Cooper has helped form two similar entities, in Lake Moultrie and Anderson County, and is exploring the possibility of another such entity in Hampton County, according to Margaret Pope, an attorney for the Pope Zeigler law firm, which represents the power company.

    Water authorities can be formed with a tremendous amount of flexibility built into their bylaws, Pope said, allowing the members (individual water distributors) to maintain much of their own autonomy while sharing some or all of the costs of system upgrades. The borrowing power of a single authority, she said, would also be much greater than that of any individual member on its own, which would allow for easier compliance with federally mandated upgrades, as well as expansion of the current water system. Expansion of the system, Pope said, leads to lower water rates for customers, as does the pooling of customers under the authority.

    “It is so important if you want your area to grow,” Pope said.

    But a central water authority is only one of the challenges facing customers of the Winnsboro water system. A severe drought and an overextension of water sales into neighboring Blythewood have put Winnsboro in the position of having to purchase water from the City of Columbia just to relieve some of that stress. While SCE&G has agreed to allow Winnsboro to draw 1 million gallons a day out of Lake Monticello, the infrastructure necessary to do so won’t be in place for at least a year. A study by the Army Corps of Engineers to assess other potential sources, such as the Broad River or Lake Wateree, is also two years away from completion.

    Nevertheless, a water authority is paramount, Gaddy said, particularly when it comes to funding the kind of infrastructure necessary to pull in the Lake Monticello water.

    “Now is the time we all need to be sitting at the table,” Gaddy said. “We all need to know what the situation is, what challenges we have, what are we going to have to do to move forward, what are we going to have to do to be sure that we can guarantee that we’re able to supply the water that we have at the present time and what are we going to do make sure we can supply the future. Not so that everything stays status quo, but so that our communities can grow, and that if they put in a 600-acre industrial recruitment site, they can get water to it. There’s been very little communication. One of the things this authority does is it puts everybody around the table together.”

    Gaddy asked all of the potential joining entities to weigh their options and make contact with Town Manager Don Wood within the next two weeks. Once it is determined who will be on board, the group will meet again to being hashing out the details of a cooperative.

  • Fairfield County Incident Reports

    FCSO

    29015

    99 Road, 100 block, between 9:47 and 11:13 a.m. June 21. Someone broke into a truck parked at a boat ramp and stole tools and other items worth $250.

    99 Road, 100 block, between 11:13 and 11:15 a.m. June 21. Someone broke into a truck parked at a boat ramp causing $300 in damage and stole fishing supplies and other items worth $75.

    Meadowlake Road, 100 block, between 2:03 and 2:05 p.m. June 21. Someone broke into a truck parked at a boat ramp and stole tools and other items worth $63.

    Highway 215 N., 2300 block, between 8 and 9:07 a.m. June 25. Someone vandalized lawn equipment in the yard of a home causing $150 in damage.

    29130

    Rockbridge Road, 3900 block, at 10:47 a.m. June 22. Someone stole a riding lawn mower worth $200 from underneath the front porch of a home.

    Old 21, 4800 block, between 10:10 and 10:35 a.m. June 25. Someone stole farm equipment worth $4,000 from outside a hunting club. Some of the equipment, worth $1,500, was later recovered on some nearby property.

    Mood Harrison Road, 2800 block, between 8:51 and 9:45 p.m. June 25. Someone vandalized a home causing $825 in damage.

    29180

    Cherry Road, 200 block, between 10:03 and 10:05 p.m. June 20. Someone fired a gun through a window of a home causing an undetermined amount of damage.

    Golf Course Road, 200 block, between 3 and 3:05 p.m. June 21. Someone broke out a window of a home causing $500 in damage.

    Winnsboro Arms Drive, 100 block, at 10:05 a.m. June 22. Someone vandalized the front door of a home causing $100 in damage.

    Highway 200 and River Road, 100 block, between 11:38 a.m. and noon June 22. Someone broke into a hunting lodge and stole tools worth $250.

    Highway 321 Bypass, 1700 block, between 1 and 3:30 p.m. June 22. A man was arrested after someone stole scrap metal worth $100 from the yard of a home.

    Highway 321 S., 6900 block, at 9:24 a.m. June 23. Someone broke out a window on a home causing $100 in damage.

    Golf Course Road, 1000 block, between 3:28 and 4:12 p.m. June 25. Someone stole a 1998 Audi worth $10,000 from the front yard of a home.

    WDPS

    29180

    Russell Street, 100 block, between 10 a.m. June 1 and 7 p.m. June 20. Someone entered an unlocked home and stole a television set worth $100.

    Highway 321 Bypass, 700 block, between 2 and 10 p.m. June 17. Someone used a stolen ATM card to make purchases worth $179 from a business.

    Alexander Circle, 400 block, between 8 and 10:09 a.m. June 18. Someone vandalized the screen door of a home causing $200 in damage.

    N. Garden Street, 100 block, between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. June 18. Someone vandalized a home causing $900 in damage.

    E. College Street, 100 block, between 8:02 and 8:45 a.m. June 19. Someone broke into a business causing $400 in damage and stole tools worth $5,000.

    S. Congress Street, 100 block, between 12:30 a.m. June 24 and 4:50 p.m. June 25. Someone stole a collection of aluminum cans worth $7,500 from behind a business.

    Highway 321 Bypass, 600 block, between 8:15 and 8:46 p.m. June 25. Someone stole a bicycle worth $100 from outside a home.

    N. Zion Street, 500 block, between 9:30 p.m. June 25 and 8:30 a.m. June 26. Someone vandalized a truck parked outside a home causing $2,500 in damage.