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  • Taylor named Town Manager for Winnsboro

    A second vote will be taken on Tuesday at the regular monthly meeting of Town Council.

    Taylor

    WINNSBORO – The Town of Winnsboro has announced the hiring of Jason Taylor as its town manager effective July 5, 2021. The announcement was emailed to The Voice at noon on Friday, April 9. 

    Taylor, who currently serves as county administrator for Fairfield County, submitted his letter of resignation to the County on Thursday, April 8, effective June 7, 2021.

    The Voice had not received an agenda for the Thursday meeting, which was a scheduled budget meeting, nor did the agenda, which was posted on the town website, make mention that a vote would be taken on the hiring. 

    A town official said the vote was taken under the discussion of ‘Other Business,’ which, along with improper posting of the agenda and lack of notification to the public does not comply with the S.C. Freedom of Information statute. There was also no vote to add the item to the agenda, according to Mayor Roger Gaddy in an interview with The Voice on Friday.

    “Councilman Danny Miller said at the meeting that he thought we should wait and vote on it at our regular meeting on Tuesday, but I thought it was best to get it over with and clear the air. We certainly didn’t mean any harm,” Gaddy told The Voice.

    Learning that there were possible illegalities with the vote, Mayor Gaddy said he would ask Town Manager Don Woods to place the item on the agenda for a re-vote at the regular monthly town council meeting on Tuesday, at 6:15, at the Old Armory to make the hiring official.

    “I guess Danny was right,” Gaddy said. “I should have listened to him. We certainly want to do it right. We are very much looking forward to having Jason come over to the town and don’t want any missteps.” 

    Taylor was one of 28 applicants for the position.

    This is a breaking story and more information will be available.

  • County Admin Jason Taylor resigns

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Administrator Jason Taylor submitted his resignation to County Council earlier today, effective June 7, 2021.

    Taylor sent the short, to-the-point email to Chairman Moses Bell and the other six council members at noon, Thursday, April 8.

    Taylor

    “After careful consideration, it has become clear to me that it is time that I pursue other opportunities.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time serving as the County Administrator. Fairfield County still has many immediate challenges that must be addressed, but with record recent investments and jobs from new industry, along with the planning being done for needed infrastructure, the County is on a path to a bright future.  Please accept this letter as my official resignation to be effective June 7, 2021.”

    Taylor said he has not had a response from Bell at this time.

    Taylor’s resignation follows months of his beratement at public council meetings from new County Council Chairman Moses Bell and new council member Shirley Greene. Bell also brought pressure on the county’s attorney Tommy Morgan who resigned in January. During that time two other top employees left the county’s employ. Also in January, the county’s new leadership limited Taylor’s contract to five months, and last month Bell ordered Taylor to discontinue all advertising with The Voice and to instead place the ads in the county’s ads in a newspaper published out of Camden.

    Council hired Taylor in May, 2016, after the county had gone through a three year upheaval that included the resignation of the county administrator, two investigations by SLED and an election that turned over the majority of council.

    During his five year tenure, Taylor led the county to new heights in a number of areas. He oversaw an actual investment of over $100 million in the county, brought in six new industries and expansions that brought almost 1,000 high paying jobs and exhausted the entire industrial building inventory. During this time, the county sold the spec building and facilitated the sale of the Walmart building, the Fazio building, the Mack Truck building and the Qualex building.

    Taylor was instrumental in the development of the 1,200 acre megasite – now one of the top available industrial sites in the state.

    Comment received by The Voice from County Council Chairman Moses Bell after this story was posted: “We have received correspondence from Jason Taylor, resigning his position as Fairfield County Administrator, effective June 7, 2021. We are thankful to Jason for his efforts to improve the economic environment in Fairfield County and we look forward to continuing our growth as a community.  The County Council meets again on Monday, April 12, 2021, at which time we are likely to discuss this matter and take appropriate actions. This is a time for us all to work together.” –Moses Bell

    Related: Council abruptly reduces county administrator’s employment to 5 months

  • McMeekin wins big in Winnsboro mayor’s race

    From left: Bartell (Dist. 2), McMeekin, and Burroughs (Dist. 4). | Photos: Martha Ladd

    WINNSBORO – On a warm, sunny election day in Winnsboro, Town Councilman John McMeekin, with 469 votes, decisively won the mayoral election over Nocola Hemphill who received 265 votes.

    McMeekin took 63.90 percent of the vote. Hemphill took 36.10 percent. McMeekin carried four of the town’s five precincts.

    In the town council race, District 2 councilwoman and incumbent Janice Bartell was unopposed and took 128 votes (99.21 percent.) There was one write-in.

    Political newcomer James Jae Burroughs also ran unopposed to win a first term on town council with 240 votes (97.96 percent.) He will represent District 4, replacing McMeekin on council. There were 5 write-ins for that seat.

    Of the 2,399 registered voters, there were 739 votes cast and an overall 30.80 percent turnout.

    “I’m extremely grateful to the friends who helped me win this election,” McMeekin said following the vote count. “I thank everyone who worked so hard for our campaign – and there were many – and all those who voted for me. It was their work and dedication that won the election.

    “Now I think we’re all ready to move on and get to work on Winnsboro, to implement and restructure. We have a lot to do and I’m very much looking forward to doing all I can to make life better for all the citizens of Winnsboro,” he said.

    For more on the election, see the Thursday edition of The Voice.

  • Improvements set for Hwy 321 S.

    SCODT lowered speed to 25 over rough patches on Hwy 321 S. | Barbara Ball

    FAIRFIELD COUNTY – A highway project in Fairfield causing angst for drivers is the recent patching of potholes on a stretch of U.S. Hwy 321, just south of where it intersects with Hwy 269.

    The roughness of the road caused by the patching has been the subject of conversations between Fairfield County Councilman Douglas Pauley and road officials.

    “The road is so badly patched in that stretch,” Pauley said, “that vehicles actually shake as they drive over it. SCDOT has even had to post a sign warning drivers that they need to slow down to 25 miles per hour.”

    While Pauley said he was told at one point by one road official not to expect the road to be repaired until 2022, it looks now like the project could be repaired sooner, he said.

    According to Poorer, the 6.5 mile stretch of patching on Hwy 321 is now scheduled for scraping and repaving all the way to the Richland County line.

    “The project will require the contractor to ground down the new patches, then re-patch and resurface with new asphalt and pave the shoulders as well,” Poorer said.

    The bidding process for the project is expected to begin in April.

    “We’re going to expect the successful bidder to have the project completed in the Fall of 2021,” he said.

    “That’s a long time to be driving on such a rough surface,” Pauley said. “But at least the completion is in sight.”

  • Hwy 34 bridge being rebuilt… again

    Reconstruction of bridge over Little River on Highway 34 between Winnsboro and Blair. | Barbara Ball

    FAIRFIELD COUNTY – So, what’s the deal with the seemingly never-ending construction project on the new bridge over the Little River on State Highway 34 in Fairfield County?

    Apparently, the engineering consultant procured by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to design the new 418 foot bridge really messed up – enough that the highway contractor building the bridge is having to demolish part of it and build it again.

    Due to a design flaw discovered during testing, constructions was stopped in November, 2019, and the new bridge is being partially demolished and rebuilt to better standards, said Pete Poorer, director of communications for SCDOT.

    “As the new bridge construction was nearing completion, SCDOT ran tests to confirm that it met design criteria. The testing revealed that though the bridge was built according to the plans, the design failed to meet stringent design criteria,” Poorer said in an emailed statement.

    “In an abundance of caution, the Department directed the consultant to redesign the bridge to proper standards at no cost. Currently the contractor is demolishing the substandard portions of the bridge and will begin reconstruction when completed.”

    Poorer said construction began in May, 2017, on the original replacement project which is taking place beside the existing bridge.

    According to the National Bridge Inventory, a federal database which compiles information about bridges nationwide, the original bridge at this location was built in 1929, and the current one was built in 1967.

    The existing bridge, which is being replaced, is a 395-foot concrete bridge consisting of three spans, about 11 miles west of Winnsboro.

    Poorer said the new bridge construction began after the highway department determined that building a new one would be a better deal than paying for increased maintenance costs on the old one.

    “The replacement of this bridge was identified as a priority of the Department due to the current structure nearing the end of its useful design life. The structure is in no danger to the public in its current state; however, the cost for maintaining the structure is no longer prudent,” Poorer said.

    The new bridge, as initially designed and constructed, likewise posed no threat to the motoring public, he said, but concerns arose with regard to increased future maintenance costs that would be required due to the design flaw that was discovered.

    The redesigned and reconstructed new bridge is expected to be open to traffic in summer 2022.

  • Blythewood in line to receive $1.55M from ARP

    BLYTHEWOOD – Town officials haven’t yet received official word, but the Town of Blythewood is estimated to be in line for $1.55 million from the recently signed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

    The Town of Winnsboro is estimated to receive $1.19 million; Ridgeway, $0.11 million and Jenkinsville, $0.02 million.

    While broad guidelines are available as to how towns can spend the money, the S.C. Municipal Association has cautioned against spending the money until more specific guidelines are in place. Misspending the funds could result in having to repay the funds.

    Grant allocations for towns under 50,000, including Winnsboro, Ridgeway and Jenkinsville, are based on population size.

    The full bill, signed into law by President Joe Biden earlier this month, totals $1.9 trillion in spending. About $45 million of that is earmarked for larger cities, but those with a population of under 50,000, will pull from an allocation of almost $20 billion.

    “I have asked the council to be prepared to discuss the money during our budget session so we can prioritize our needs,” Blythewood Mayor Bryan Franklin said. “Right now, my input will be park security upgrades, fencing over the I-77 bridge and land acquisition for the expanded park and green space.”

    What are the allowable uses of the funds?

    COVID-19 public health emergencies and the economic impact they cause can be addressed with the funds, as is assistance for households, small businesses and non-profits. Aid can be offered to industries impacted by the pandemic (specifically the tourism and hospitality industries). The funds can help support extra pay for essential workers, though the extra funds will have a cap of around $25,000. Grants can be given out of the money to companies with employees that perform essential duties. Cities themselves can offset their losses from the pandemic, including lost funds from property taxes and hospitality and accommodations revenue. Improving infrastructure, including water, sewer and broadband are also allowed.

    Funds may not be used to cut taxes.

    Blythewood is slated to receive half its allocation within the next 60 days and another half within a year.

    The money will be administered by the State of South Carolina. Neither the town’s administrator nor the mayor have received official word from the federal government about the town’s payout, but the total cited is an estimate provided by the Municipal and County Associations.

    Funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2024.

  • Camera is watching criminals, not citizens

    BLYTHEWOOD – After a police camera was installed by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at the corner of McNulty and Blythewood Road, some residents called town hall and The Voice to ask who it’s taking pictures of.

    The answer is, according to Blythewood’s RCSD Region Six Commander, Lt. Chris Duke, ‘the criminals.’

    “This is not a surveillance camera,” he said. “We aren’t surveilling the community, checking to see if someone is running a light or to capture accidents on film,” Duke said. “This camera has four lenses in four directions, and it’s a tool we use to identify stolen plates, stolen cars, suspects, things that go on in the parking lots that shouldn’t be going on,” Duke said.

    “We have several hotels here and the busy intersection. There are a lot of vehicle break-ins in this area,” he said. “We aren’t photographing citizens who are doing everything right. We use it for when good citizens become victims. “

    Duke gave an example of the cameras making a difference. One was instrumental, he said, in the capture of Brian Chase Haas, formerly of Blythewood, who was being recently being sought by law enforcement in three counties – Kershaw, Richland and Fairfield – for steeling catalytic converters and lawn care trailers from family, friends and strangers.

    “The cameras are installed throughout the county by Statewide Security Systems,” Duke said, “with only one in Blythewood. Blythewood was always a quiet place, and that’s how we want it to remain.”

    But with the buildup of growth in the community, Duke said the cameras are helping keep it that way. The cameras follow crime trends, he said.

  • Planned power outage for Winnsboro Electric customers

    WINNSBORO – Dominion Energy South Carolina will be making some electrical system upgrades to the transmission system that feeds the Town of Winnsboro’s electrical substation. This will require a 3-to-4-hour power outage, the primary outage date is Sat, April 17th with backup dates scheduled for May 15th and May 22nd. The outage is scheduled to begin at 11:00 pm.

    This outage will increase the reliability of Dominion Energy South Carolina transmission system to feed the Town of Winnsboro.

  • Man killed in crash on Langford Rd.

    BLYTHEWOOD – Stanley D. Fisher, 68, of Elgin, SC, was traveling north on Langford Road in a 2001 Dodge pickup truck when he was involved in a collision about 6:40 a.m.

    According to the incident report, Joseph Gaither, 69, the driver of a 2005 Freightliner tractor-trailer, was traveling south and attempted to make a U-turn in the roadway when it struck Fisher’s truck. The freightliner tractor-trailer then left the scene of the accident.

    Fisher was transported from the scene to an area hospital where he later died.

    Officials with the South Carolina Highway Patrol say Gaither, the driver of the Freightliner, was taken into custody and charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

    The accident is being investigated by the SC Highway Patrol and the Richland County Coroner’s Office.

  • 18-year-old FCHS graduate killed in shooting

    An early morning shooting has been reported at the Dogwood Apartments in Ridgeway

    RIDGEWAY – An early Wednesday morning shooting resulting in the death of one person is being investigated by the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office.

    Charlie Cason, III, age 18, a graduate of Fairfield Central High School was found deceased about 3 a.m., inside of his residence in Ridgeway, according to Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill. 

    The Sheriff’s office said Cason had been shot multiple times.

    SLED and the Fairfield Coroners office are investigating along with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office.

    No further details are available at this time. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.