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Tag: Fairfield County Council

  • Admin forum scheduled for Sept. 20

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County residents with a vested interest in an $11.5 million project that would repurpose the old Mt. Zion Institute into new county offices will have a chance to have their questions answered at an upcoming public forum.

    The forum is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 20 at the Fairfield County campus of Midland Technical College. It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., and residents are asked to submit written questions in advance.

    Thursday’s forum follows considerable debate on the proposed administration office project, which for the third meeting in a row, received considerable discussion among County Council members and residents alike.

    At least four supporters addressed the council Monday night, each saying repurposing the Mt. Zion property is exactly what the Town of Winnsboro needs.

    “It has sadly become a tragic site,” retired State newspaper columnist Bill McDonald said about the Mt. Zion property. “I can’t understand why a certain group of people oppose the reincarnation of the Mt. Zion Institute.”

    Donnie Laird, also speaking during public input, said the current proposal of seeking tax credits to help pay for the work is the only feasible option.

    “The county cannot borrow any more money,” Laird said.

    The strongest comments, however, came from Bill Haslett.

    “It’s very difficult to see a town dry up like Winnsboro has done. People don’t want to live in Winnsboro because it looks like the devil,” Haslett said.

    “I’m disappointed in the two council members who have sat on the fence,” Haslett continued. “I believe that’s a political move to get votes in the next election.”

    The latter remarks drew a response from Councilman Dan Ruff, one of two council members Haslett indirectly referenced. Ruff denied that he is on the fence.

    “It’s about trying to make the best decision you can make. If you don’t know and you’re not sure, you can’t vote,” Ruff said.

    Some candidates seeking office and other private residents opposed to the Mt. Zion plan took to the podium as well.

    “It’s a neighborhood that needs to stay a neighborhood,” local resident Pam Smith said. “We’ve spoken to an attorney to see what we would have to do to protect the properties.”

    As proposed, about half of the $11.5 million project would come from a series of state and federal historic tax credits totaling $5.4 million.

    Another $4.5 million would come in the form of a construction loan, as well as $1.1 million in equity from money the developer would raise.

    If built, the new administration building would more than double the square footage of the existing 21,000-square-foot space of the old one.

    Council members discussed the proposal in executive session later in the meeting, but took no action.

    In other business, the council unanimously approved second reading of an ordinance accepting the conveyance of 2.72 acres on Old Windmill Road near Ridgeway.

    Councilman Jimmy Ray Douglas, who’s spearheading the plan, said it’s his hope that a four-bay public safety building can be built on the property.

    Two bays would serve fire engines, one would serve the sheriff’s office and the final bay would be dedicated to EMS.

    Lake Wateree Presbyterian Church is providing the property. Land would revert back to the church if the station isn’t built.

  • Councilmen go to Washington

    Robinson, left, and Smith

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Fairfield County Council Chairman Billy Smith, fellow Councilman Neal Robinson and Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery were invited with a group of other South Carolina officials to tour the White House and meet with administration officials to discuss how national issues and the administration’s policies toward them affect our local communities.

    They also were able to network and get contact information for people in positions that might allow them to help the county with various matters now and in the future. Among other high level administration officials, Smith said they met with OMB Director Mulvaney and Special Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway.

    “We discussed a lot of issues, but trade and tariffs, the need for more and better infrastructure, and addressing the opioid crisis were the leading topics,” Smith said

  • Community forum set for admin building

    Forum Set For Sept. 20 At Fairfield Midlands

    WINNSBORO – A community forum and county council work session concerning the proposed new county administration building project will be held from 5 – 8 pm at the Midlands Technical College’s Fairfield Campus on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

    The forum will include a 5 p.m. reception where citizens can speak openly with the developers, council members and lead county administration staff, County Council Chairman Billy Smith said.

    The work session, which will include an updated presentation on the proposed project, will focus on addressing and discussing questions submitted by citizens prior to the meeting. Citizens may submit questions in any of the following ways:

    • Email question(s) to the Clerk to Council, Mrs. Patti Davis, via patti.locklair@fairfield.sc.gov. The clerk will reply to all questions received to provide confirmation. If you do not receive a response, in order to ensure that your question(s) have been received, please call the clerk directly at (803) 635-1620.
    • Turn in your written question(s) to the front desk receptionist at the Fairfield County Government Complex, 350 Columbia Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180.
    • Mail your written question(s) to P.O. Drawer 60, ATTN: Patti Davis, Winnsboro, SC 29180.
    • Or submit questions on the form found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/newadminbldg

    “We ask that those submitting questions provide their name, address and contact information along with the submission,” Smith said. “Submissions without this information will not be considered for discussion during the work session. All questions must be received by Friday, September 14, 2018. If you have any questions concerning this process, please do not hesitate to contact the Clerk.”

  • Admin building faces opposition

    Smith Pushes Back In 15-Minute Soliloquy

    WINNSBORO – Council members voted 4-0 to approve second reading of an ordinance authorizing development of a new administration building and a lease agreement and other contracts associated with the Mt. Zion site.

    But repurposing the old Mt. Zion institute into a new Fairfield County administration building is far from a slam dunk.

    Council members Dan Ruff and Douglas Pauley abstained as they did during first reading two weeks ago.

    Mikel Trapp was absent Monday, though he voted against first reading.

    Council members Cornelius Robinson, Ruff and Pauley called for public forums to be held before third reading, though Robinson ultimately voted in favor of second reading.

    “We need to have an open forum before we have third reading so everyone is aware of what’s going on,” Ruff said. “Also I would like to get written estimates for this building and other options. This is a big deal. We have to take time to make sure what we do is right.”

    “We still have some things with the contract to button up,” Smith conceded. He said the $11.4 million proposal relies heavily on selling tax credits, which is why he thinks it’s the best option. But if the deal falls through, the alternative is to demolish the building altogether, he said.

    “[Mt. Zion] is the only thing I see that we can do and afford to do,” he said. “It’s not the ideal situation, but when you’re $40 million plus in debt and unable to borrow any more, you have to dig out of those holes.”

    Fairfield County is working with a North Carolina developer proposed plans to redevelop the site.

    More than half of the estimated cost – about $6.5 million – would come from tax credits and private equity from the developer, with county lease payments covering the difference.

    County leaders say the 45,000-square-foot building would more than double the existing 21,000-square-foot building, which faces $3 million in repairs.

    Once again, the Mt. Zion issue drew several residents to the podium Monday night, including candidates for public office.

    Marie Rosborough, who opposes the site, said she fears it limits citizens’ access to law enforcement.

    “There’s no justification for putting the sheriff’s office there,” Rosborough said. “You’re not responsible for saving buildings. That’s not your role. Your job is to provide taxpayers the most for their money.”

    Randy Bright of Ridgeway cautioned the council against moving forward too quickly.

    “The reasons and details of the plan were poorly communicated. We don’t know the final cost,” Bright said. “That was clear in last week’s meeting and it was so clear, the numbers didn’t even add up. We’ve got to get a whole lot more details and better communication of this plan.”

    Dena Boorda said she and her husband had more at stake than anyone else because they live directly across the street from the teacherage.

    “It’s literally out our front door,” Boorda said. “We are not opposed to the project given certain criteria can be met. We are willing to hear the facts. We haven’t seen any documents so I’m respectfully requesting that we have an opportunity to get the facts and be able to ask questions.”

    Some Fairfield County residents propose looking at Wal-Mart instead of Mt. Zion for an administration building.

    Ordinarily reserved and guarded in his comments, Smith spoke from the heart during a 15-minute soliloquy during the council comments portion of the meeting, He systematically shot down the various populist arguments against repurposing Mt. Zion Institute property into a new county administration building.

    “If third reading were tonight, I’d vote no,” he said. “But I would ask those who are opposed to say where the money for an alternative[new administration building or renovation] is going to come from.”

    Smith touched on a variety of subjects, including economic development, public safety and fiscal responsibility. His rebuttals were candid.

    “If we want to take that asset[Walmart]  off the market, we can do that,” Smith said.

    But he said that the day after Element announced it may slash 126 jobs due to U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, an economic prospect representing up to 250 jobs toured the shuttered Wal-Mart building at 721 Highway 321 Bypass.

    The City of Aiken, for example, is following a similar route, spending $9.5 million from a 20-year bond to refurbish a former Food Lion into a new public safety headquarters.

    Smith said that wouldn’t work in Fairfield County because frivolous spending by the previous council has eroded the county’s borrowing capacity.

    He also said Wal-Mart is ineligible for the tax credits for which Mt. Zion qualifies. And, Wal-Mart continues to pay property taxes and as it does, the building gets looks on a regular basis from prospective industries. The same is true of the Fairfield Memorial Hospital site, Smith said.

    “These alternatives would be no less expensive,” he said. “They would be the same, if not more. And we wouldn’t get tax credits to help pay for those.”

    He debunked an argument that the new building would attract vagrants, noting in recent weeks that homeless people were living in the structure and commonly loiter around it at present.

    Smith said the proposed facility would feature more parking, increased police presence and could lead to employees spending more money downtown.

    He said he’d support deed restrictions to prevent developers from using the administration building proposal as a launching pad to develop any residential properties, addressing the fears of low-income housing coming into the area.

    “If you have a better plan, bring it forward and we’ll consider it,” Smith said. “If this plan doesn’t go forward, my next move is to push demolishing the building so that we can solve its future, once and for all.”

    Blaming Fairfield County’s financial predicament on past council members who he said pushed for a $24 million bond issue in 2013, Smith said they banked on revenues from the failed V.C. Summer nuclear plant to repay the bond, revenues that never materialized.

    “Because of that $24 million bond, we can’t finance a thing,” he said.

  • Fairfield asks feds to exempt Element

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County leaders want the federal government to waive tariffs impacting Element Electronics, tariffs the TV assembler says will wipe out 126 jobs, essentially shuttering the Winnsboro plant.

    However, a nonprofit geared toward the manufacturing sector disputes whether tariffs and trade wars are even to blame.

    By unanimous vote, Fairfield County Council swiftly approved a resolution on Monday that asks the Trump Administration to spare Element from the 25 percent tax set to take effect.

    “Fairfield County is ill-equipped to withstand the further loss of jobs and economic investment due to the recent events surrounding the closure of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Plant expansion project which resulted in the loss of over 5,000 local jobs and billions of dollars in investment that would have positively impacted Fairfield County and its citizens,” the resolution states.

    Element initially accepted $1.3 million in tax credits and pledged to create up to 500 jobs by the end of 2018, according to an August 2013 news release from the S.C. Department of Commerce announcing Element’s plans to open a Winnsboro plant.

    This past spring, a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods took effect, prompting Element and Fairfield County to modify the incentive agreement by reducing incentive levels.

    If the 25 percent tariff takes effect, Element has said it would be forced to lay off most of its workforce. Although Element is based in the U.S., its televisions consist of components imported from China.

    President Donald J. Trump has taken aim at China, specifically, in tariff-related tweets to the commander in chief’s official Twitter page.

    His most recent tweet posted Aug. 5, two days before the Element announcement, said tariffs would build economic prosperity.

    “Tariffs are working big time. Every country on earth [sic] wants to take wealth out of the U.S., always to our detriment,” the tweet stated. “I say, as they come, Tax [sic] them. If they don’t want to be taxed, let them make or build the product in the U.S. In either event, it means jobs and great wealth.”

    While losing 126 jobs is regrettable, unfair trade with China has been much more punitive to South Carolina workers, according to the Alliance for American Manufacturing.

    The alliance further claims in an Aug. 8 op-ed to its website that the tariff announcement is merely a convenient way to shift blame.

    “Element says it is seeking to have ‘our parts removed from the tariff list’ in order to maintain its taxpayer-funded operations in South Carolina,” the alliance op-ed states. “But nothing has changed — Element still wants the government pick up the tab for its American facility while staying dependent on China.”

    In support of its position, the alliance cites a recent study by the Economic Policy Institute, an independent think tank many conservative websites criticize as affiliated with the labor movement and left-wing policies.

    According to the study, unfair trade with China displaced 50,700 South Carolina workers between 2001 and 2015.

    The study ranked South Carolina 13th in jobs lost by percentage of workforce (2.58 percent), though it didn’t break down job losses by county.

    “Growing U.S. trade deficits with China have reduced demand for goods produced in every region of the United States and led to job displacement in all 50 states and the District of Columbia,” the study states.

    This isn’t the first time the Alliance for American Manufacturing has clashed with Element.

    In 2014, the alliance filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, claiming Element was fraudulently stating its TVs were made in the U.S. when they were pre-assembled in China and shipped here.

    A settlement was later reached when Element agreed to change its labeling to “assembled in the U.S.,” a moniker prominently displayed today on its website.

    At Monday night’s council meeting, however, Fairfield County residents in attendance hardly cared about Trump tweets, trade wars or false advertisement claims.

    Their concern was simple. Jobs.

    In addition to Element, another 300 jobs evaporated when the Winnsboro Wal-Mart at 721 Highway 321 Bypass shut down in 2016.

    Fairfield Memorial Hospital is shutting down later this year. And, of course, there’s V.C. Summer.

    Clarence Gilbert of Winnsboro was among the dozen residents taking to the podium, urging council members to take action to save Element.

    “It is time for us to drop that ‘oh well’ attitude, to stand up for our county against the potential job losses,” Gilbert said. “You can only poke a cat so long before it can scratch you. Let’s start scratching. Let’s save Element.”

    Others used the Element news to lobby for the county to approve repurposing the Mt. Zion Institute building in Winnsboro into a new county administrative building to spur economic activity downtown.
    Terry Vickers, president and CEO of the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce, was among them.

    “I’ve been giving plenty of interviews too. It is poor Winnsboro, poor Winnsboro,” Vickers said. “We are not poor Winnsboro and we are not poor Fairfield County. Please don’t let one item [Mt. Zion] be divisive in this community.”

  • Council OKs first Mt. Zion vote

    Proposed Mt. Zion renovation

    WINNSBORO – With Fairfield County stung by massive job losses and another 120 positions expected to vanish, development of a new $11.4 million county administration building aims to ease some of that pain.

    Supporters also note tax credits would finance the majority of costs of renovating the Mt. Zion Institute site in Winnsboro, lowering the county’s costs to about $5M.

    But a large number some residents opposing the plans fear it will threaten the property’s historical character and turn the area into a traffic nightmare.

    “I applaud council finding alternative ways to funding this county council building. However this project is wrought with controversy,” said Ridgeway resident Shirley Green. “Let’s not court controversy. It’s the kind of controversy that pits our citizens against each other. An administrative building is not an economic driver.”

    Winnsboro resident Bill Haslett, however, said revitalizing the Mt. Zion property would unite the county, not divide it.

    “Fairfield County is not going to grow unless we take down the dividing line between Zion Hill and Mount Zion. Mt. Zion needs to be redeveloped,” he said. “We’ve had nothing but negative news in this county for the past six months and I’m tired of it. We need some positive news instead of people bickering back and forth.”

    On Monday, Fairfield County Council voted 4-1 for first reading of an ordinance authorizing development of a new administration building, as well as a lease agreement associated with the project.

    Councilman Mikel Trapp cast the lone dissenting vote. Council members Dan Ruff and Douglas Pauley abstained.

    Trapp didn’t specifically why he voted against the ordinance, though during discussion of the proposed measure, he raised concerns about revenue sources and costs, which are not finite.

    “Once that number changes, we’ll have to revote,” Trapp said.

    Council Chairman Billy Smith said the county is “in the driver’s seat,” noting that the builder faces the most risk.

    “I think the best way to structure it is to put the contractor at risk, not the county,” Smith said. “We’ve got two more readings to flush this out. We all know the first reading is procedural.”

    Both Ruff and Pauley said they wanted more information before casting a vote.

    “I just need a little more time to get information and feedback,” Ruff said.

    Pauley asked for a lot more.

    “The vote concerning the project is a very important vote and a vote I would not take lightly,” he said. “My reason for abstaining tonight, there are a few questions I’ll present to the county administrator before I make my decision.”

    Pauley requested detailed information about the county’s outstanding debts, as well as alternative sites for the administration building.

    “We can get that information together for you,” County Administrator Jason Taylor said.

    Two more readings are required before the deal becomes official.

    Rory Dowling with 1st & Main, a Durham, North Carolina firm working with the county, hopes that will be soon.

    Dowling said he hopes an agreement can be finalized within 30 days, and to apply for a building permit by early 2019. The goal, he said, is to begin construction within 10 months, with a grand opening by April 2020.

    As for spurring economic development, Dowling noted that the building would bring about 120 employees daily to downtown Winnsboro.

    “When you have 120 people within walking distance, it helps keep the lights on at some of these establishments,” he said.

    If constructed, the four-story structure would include 45,000 square feet of space, more than doubling the existing 21,000-square-foot administration building at 350 Columbia Road.

    The new structure would house administrative offices, the sheriff’s office, a daycare center, and parks and recreation with a new gym. County council chambers would also move to the new building, making use of the old auditorium.

    About half of the $11.5 project would come from a series of state and federal historic tax credits totaling $5.4 million.

    Another $4.5 million would come in the form of a construction loan, as well as $1.1 million in equity from money 1st and Main would raise itself.

    Dowling said he felt confident the tax credits would be awarded, but acknowledged there aren’t any guarantees.

    “This is a tax credit program that’s geared toward a low income tax tract, which this is,” he said. “We hope to know more in October when some of these [organizations] receive some feedback on a federal level on whether they can expect some level of credits.”

    This article was updated 8/20/18 at 3:06 p.m. to correct the county’s cost from $5K to $5M. 

  • Governor to attend airport unveiling

    WINNSBORO – It was so dark, a state plane carrying S.C. Department of Commerce Director Bobby Hitt couldn’t land at the Fairfield County Airport.

    Not exactly the impression Fairfield County, a county hungry to land new industry, wanted to leave.

    Now when Hitt and his boss, Gov. Henry McMaster, potentially return in a few weeks for a ribbon cutting on the refurbished airport, the sky and runway beneath it will be much friendlier.

    The Fairfield County Airport will unveil its new look during a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for Aug. 20. Airport Director Denise Bryan made the announcement at Monday night’s County Council meeting.

    “Everybody had a part in this project,” Bryan told council members. “For your investment and support of this community, I applaud you.”

    Work began in October 2017 and reached substantial completion in late June.

    The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, picked up 90 percent of the tab of the $780,000 total cost, spending $702,000.

    Fairfield County and the state each pitched in with 5 percent, leaving their portions at $39,000 each, Bryan said.

    “We got a $780,000 project done at our county airport for $39,000,” she said. “That’s a spectacular investment and I can’t wait to show you what we’ve got.”

    Bryan invited all council members to attend the Aug. 20 event, which starts at 7 p.m. She said she plans to invite state lawmakers and the governor as well.

    The airport upgrades have been a long time coming. Although signage and pads were refurbished, the absence of adequate lighting was the most pressing problem.

    All lights have been replaced with LED lights, which are more energy efficient. They will also be protected by a series of conduits, which Bryan said would greatly increase their life expectancy.

    During her presentation, Bryan noted poor lighting caused a state plane to be diverted.

    “We had a state plane come in one night, and the [runway] lights wouldn’t even come on,” she said.

    County Administrator Jason Taylor later noted that Hitt was among the passengers on board.

    “I had to hear quite a bit about it [the lights] from him, so I’m glad they’re working now,” Taylor said. “It was not good.”

    Council members were ecstatic to learn of the airport news, especially since the report followed a series of votes and presentations focusing on economic development.

    “When I first came on [council], I went to the airport and saw the conditions,” Goins said. “So I’m excited about what I’m about to see very soon. Very excited about it.”

    “I think it’s fantastic for our county to pay $39,000 and get almost $800,000 in value,” Councilman Dan Ruff added. “As an economic development deal, it’s outstanding. I compliment you on that.”

  • Providence has FMH rehab in strategic plan

    WINNSBORO – As Providence Health prepares to open a new emergency room in Winnsboro, its parent company is being sold.

    Tennessee-based LifePoint Health is being acquired by Apollo Global Management, a large venture capital firm, said Stephen Selzer, interim market chief executive officer of LifePoint.

    Selzer made the announcement during the Fairfield Memorial Hospital’s monthly board of trustees meeting July 24. Apollo disclosed news of the sale in a July 23 news release.

    “They [Apollo] are coming in basically to buy all of the stock of LifePoint and acquiring the company,” Selzer said.

    With the move, LifePoint will essentially switch from a publicly held company to a private corporation.

    According to the Apollo news release, LifePoint is merging with RCCH HealthCare Partners, which is owned by Apollo. Selzer said LifePoint would retain its name.

    As of March 31, Apollo listed nearly $3.2 billion in total investments, according to a quarterly report filed May 8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    “We are excited that LifePoint and RCCH are combining to create a national leader in community-based healthcare, and are looking forward to the next chapter of the combined company’s growth,” Matthew Nord, a senior partner at Apollo, said in a news release.

    Closer to home, hospital executives said the merger means only good things for Fairfield County health care.

    “The company will not have to make decisions on a quarter to quarter basis,” Selzer said. “That’s a trap sometimes that you can only make decisions that make you look best in terms of your next quarterly earnings report. It’s a little bit difficult to think bigger long-term.”

    Selzer added that Apollo has tremendous assets which he said would lead to greater investment in health care, though he didn’t say specifically how that would translate in Fairfield County.

    “Once it [the sale] does close, we’ll be able to look at capitalizing on opportunities of having fair market here,” he said. “What I think is going to come out of this is something that’s much better for everybody.”

    The one-level, 18,000-square-foot building, located off U.S. 321 bypass near across from Bi-Lo, will dedicate 12,000 square feet to emergency services and include 6,000 additional square feet of space for future expansion.

    Lindy White, chief executive officer for Providence Northeast in Columbia, said the 6,000-square-foot expansion is part of Providence’s strategic plan for 2019.

    Fairfield Memorial Hospital board members were pleased with the report.

    “It is so apparent that you guys as of late are a hospital on the move and are trying to be on the forefront in the latest and greatest in the health care field,” said trustee Randy Bright.

    “I’m encouraged to know that you are working on a strategic plan,” added trustee James McGraw. “You guys are working to get the word out. The test is going to be inform the people in the rural areas. It’s going to be a great benefit having you in this county.”

    White said the facility’s clinical director position has been posted for a few weeks. She said Providence hopes to fill it in September.

    “We’re charting down that path with hopes of having that person, the right person, who’s going to promote patient quality and experience,” White said. “We will begin interviewing once we find right candidate.

    Other positions should be posted soon, if not already, White said, adding that job fairs will be held in late August.

    Providence also recently toured the Fairfield rehab center, which is the subject of a pending real estate transaction between Fairfield County and Fairfield Memorial Hospital.

    FMH has accepted Fairfield County’s offer of $1.3 million to buy three parcels, with an option to acquire the rehab center for an additional $285,000.

    The county said it wants to see the rehab center remain where it is, but hopes a private buyer will operate it.

    White said she was impressed with the energy at the rehab center, but also said Providence is still evaluating the feasibility of potentially running it.

    “Hopefully with the size of our staff and the staff we have, we can operate the facility too at a little lower cost based on that scale,” White said. “We’re trying to incorporate those things and do that due diligence.

    “The facility shows well and the team is very engaged,” White continued. “I was excited by the engagement. The team takes ownership, which is evident in the patient comments you see.”

  • State donates $2M for megasite infrastructure

    WINNSBORO – Economic development discussions led a busy night at Monday’s Fairfield County Council meeting.

    Council members voted to accept a $2 million grant for infrastructure improvements to the county’s megasite at I-77 and S.C. 34, as well as a series of ordinances that expand the boundaries of a regional industrial park.

    Council members voted unanimously in favor of the measures.

    Awarded by the S.C. Department of Commerce, funds from the $2 million grant will subsidize the installation of infrastructure at the megasite, an approximately 1,000-acre site the county purchased with help from the state in 2016.

    Megasite on Highway 34 and I-77

    The $2 million grant is through the Department of Commerce’s LocateSC program. LocateSC is on online tool that showcases prospective industrial sites, according to the commerce department’s website.

    County Administrator Jason Taylor said the county has been working closely with the Department of Commerce on the megasite. He noted the county pitched in with $3 million and the state spent about $6 million to buy the mega site property.

    Getting infrastructure in place is critical to drawing large industries, such as auto manufacturers, Taylor said.

    “Without infrastructure, we just have a piece of raw land,” Taylor said. “This is the first step to make this a true industrial site that would attract an industry to Fairfield County.”

    Ridge Fletcher with the South Carolina I-77 Alliance com mended the county for its commitment to the megasite.

    “That site, while owned by Fairfield County, has the potential to benefit the entire I-77 corridor when you land the right industry,” Fletcher said. “We’re really excited about that. We’re hopeful it’ll give a good portrait of the Fairfield County megasite. It is a regional asset.”

    Fletcher added that the alliance soon plans to unveil a promotional video and website that targets Fairfield County, and the megasite, in particular.

    “We’ve spent upwards of six figures on this on behalf of Fairfield County and the region,” he said.

    Council Chairman Billy Smith asked about the potential impact of a possible trade war triggered by newly imposed tariffs might have on luring economic development prospects.

    “Is there anything you’re doing to make sure the impact on companies along the [I-77] corridor is mitigated and backup plan on where to go to next?” Smith asked.

    Fletcher responded by saying it wouldn’t have much impact on domestic companies and international companies looking to establish a footprint in South Carolina. The main impact, he said, is on international companies looking to export to the U.S.

    “We don’t deal with the existing business side,” Fletcher said. “With us marketing toward the domestic side, it helps balance the fear sometimes. A lot of people are fearful about what the tariffs will do. In the international marketplace, fewer companies are thinking about coming to the U.S. to export.”

    Ridgeway resident Randy Bright, a frequent speaker at council meetings, said during the public comments section that he’s also impressed by the county’s commitment of infrastructure improvements.

    But he also noted the county needs a long-term plan to land permanent industry.

    “Residential builders won’t come here without water and sewer,” Bright said. “With industry it’s the same thing.”

    Another speaker, though, was critical of economic development efforts.

    Jackie Workman of Blair said she’s concerned about high unemployment and job losses associated with reactor projects shutting down at the VC Summer Nuclear Plant.

    Workman also questioned salaries paid in the county economic development office versus jobs created.
    In related business, council members approved third reading of an ordinance that expands the I-77 Corridor Regional Industrial Park by 10.31 acres. The properties are located in the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Shop Road, according to council documents.

    Council members also approved second reading of a second ordinance to add another 5.8 acres at 3800 West Ave. in Columbia, documents state.

    The companion ordinances were similar to measures already passed by Richland County Council.

    A third ordinance relating to the I-77 industrial corridor authorized the execution of the amended and restated master agreement, which involves the corridor.

  • County taps into water authority

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County is looking to tap into the water and sewer business.

    The county, though, says it’s merely looking to work with other water providers, such as the Jenkinsville Water Company, and has no plans to force the JWC and other water companies into any agreements.

    At its regular meeting Monday, County Council voted unanimously on a resolution authorizing it to proceed with creating a joint water and sewer system.

    “It doesn’t immediately affect the water companies that are in the county,” County Administrator Jason Taylor said in response to a question from Councilman Mikel Trapp.

    “What it does is it sets up the framework that the county can provide water and sewer services,” Taylor continued. “We can work with these companies. Once we get into the creation of it, we’ll look at various engineering.”

    Taylor said toward that end, the resolution references a memorandum of understanding the county recently reached with the Town of Winnsboro, the county’s largest water provider.

    State law authorizes two or more cities or counties to develop a joint water and sewer system. In the case of Fairfield County and Winnsboro, it would be called the Fairfield Joint Water and Sewer System.

    According to the resolution, the commission would start with at least seven members. If additional partners join the commission, Fairfield County and Winnsboro would maintain equal membership and represent a majority of votes on the commission.

    The county and town would be empowered to appoint commissioners by resolution. In the event of a disagreement over an appointee, “the decision shall be resolved by the flip of a coin,” the resolution states.

    “There’s a lot of ability now with this new ordinance to reach out to the individual companies and offer to assist them or work with them in providing water services more comprehensively than in the past,” Taylor said. “It doesn’t force anything upon anybody. It gives us the ability to move forward and provide water and sewer services.”

    Monday ’s vote follows a discussion of the agreement the county’s public works committee held last Thursday. At that meeting, Taylor said the purpose of the agreement is to establish a foundation that would allow the county and town to solicit grant money to help subsidize startup costs.

    “This is just to set up the legal framework so we can have an authority that has the authority to execute these kinds of agreements and then accept money,” Taylor said.

    In related business, the council also approved a new sewage disposal agreement with the Town of Great Falls, replacing the previous one county officials say was never entirely fulfilled.

    Per the agreement, the county agrees to purchase 250,000 gallons of sewage capacity for $517,000. Plus the county pledged to spend $52,800 in engineering services for a new sewer line.

    Taylor said Great Falls and the county previously had an agreement to provide sewer services in the Mitford area in the vicinity of I-77 and S.C. 200.

    “It was anticipated there was going to be a lot of development in that area so we wanted to bring in sewer [services] to facilitate that development,” Taylor said. “Unfortunately the growth in that area never occurred. It never was fully realized. Great Falls took essentially a big hit on this thing because they only got like 11 customers.”

    The $517,000 spent on added sewer capacity covers about $234,000 in costs that Great Falls incurred in providing sewer services, and buys out $230,000 that Taylor said the county should have paid the town, but never did.