About fifty fellow employees and friends said farewell with refreshments and gifts to Assistant County Administrator Laura Johnson, who is retiring, and former County Administrator Jason Taylor, who will take over as Winnsboro Town Manager next month.
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.
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.
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.
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County’s administrator and clerk to council are getting raises.
Following a lengthy executive session that included six discussion items, Fairfield County Council voted unanimously to extend County Administrator Jason Taylor’s contract for another year.
The council also voted to increase the period of compensation in the event of termination without cause to two years.
Lastly, council members approved a 3.44 percent pay raise, increasing Taylor’s salary from $123,997.60 to $129,297.52.
“Jason, I think you do a great job,” said Billy Smith, the council’s chairman.
Smith announced in June that he wouldn’t seek re-election when his seat expires in December.
“I’m going to miss you when I’m gone,” Smith said.
Smith had similar words of praise for Clerk to Council Patti Locklair. She received a pay raise of 4 percent by unanimous vote of the council.
“I’m going to miss working with you,” Smith said.
Both Taylor and Locklair received similar pay raises last year, with Taylor receiving a contract extension last year as well.
Taylor was hired as the county administrator in May 2016. He came to Fairfield County from Jasper County, where he was previously the town administrator for Ridgeland since 2002.
He also spent eight years with the S.C. Department of Social Services and four years as Saluda County’s economic development director.
Also discussed in executive session were items relating to the purchase of property at the Fairfield Memorial Hospital site.
In addition, council members discussed a contractual matter concerning “Discussion of Funding in Accordance with the County’s Contract on Emergency Room Services with Providence/LifePoint and Fairfield Memorial Hospital.”
No action, however, was taken on either item.
At the June 25 meeting, council members voted to present a memorandum of understanding to Fairfield Memorial to purchase “some or all” of the property. The council voted in May to open negotiations leading to a possible purchase agreement for two medical offices and the rehab facility.
The hospital property must be unencumbered by liens or other attachments to the title, according to the motion approved in June.
Hospital officials said following the board’s June meeting that those talks have been positive.
As to Providence Health, Fairfield County and the Columbia-based health provider have partnered to build a new emergency room, which is being built off U.S. 321 bypass across from Bi-Lo.
County Council has pledged $1 million annually for 10 years to Providence Health in support of the new ER.
At the Fairfield Memorial Hospital board meeting in June, Joseph Bernard with Providence Health told trustees the facility should be completed in November, with a grand opening of the ER possible by mid-December.
Advertising for jobs should begin sometime this month, Bernard said.
WINNSBORO – Despite setbacks this year, including the abandonment of two V.C. Summer nuclear units and the loss of that expected future revenue, the fiscal state of the County remains solid, County Administrator Jason Taylor reported Tuesday evening during Council’s second budget workshop for fiscal year 2018-19.
Taylor presented a total budget of $39,748,964, an increase of $991,779 (3%) over last year’s budget of $38,757,185.
While Taylor stated in his budget letter to Council that the County still has great potential, to maintain a strong fiscal position and realize future growth, it must focus its budgetary resources on its core function of public safety and on critical infrastructure needs – water and sewer – quality of life services and public facilities.
“These are all things that are necessary to reverse population loss and recruit new industry,” Taylor said.
Taylor reported that the County’s revenues exceeded expenditures by $2 million this fiscal year and that he is not recommending a millage increase in the 2018-19 budget.
Related stories: Council holds first of 3 budget workshops
WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County Commerce Center on Peach Road was the site of Governor Henry McMaster’s announcement last Friday of a federal program that proposes to give extra incentives to companies who invest in new jobs and business in impoverished areas throughout the state. These areas are designated as Opportunity Zones.
Accompanying McMaster were Senator Ralph Norman and S.C. Commerce Director Bobby Hitt.
McMaster made the announcement in Fairfield County where, last summer, the V.C. Summer nuclear plant abandoned the construction of two nuclear reactors, leaving 5,000 people without jobs.
McMaster said there will be 135 Opportunity Zones in the state, at least one in each of the 46 counties.
“This gives us the extra punch, the extra opportunity, that will transform economic growth and development,” McMaster said. He said these Opportunity Zones will bring a new era of prosperity in South Carolina.
Hitt told Fairfield County officials that companies are lined-up to do business in the state. The zones are expected to be approved by the Department of Treasury in the next 30 days. The program is part of the tax reform Congress passed at the end of 2017.
When communities are classified as Opportunity Zones, more tax cuts are offered to businesses who open businesses in those zones.
WINNSBORO – Former Fairfield County Recreation Director, Lori Schaeffer, has filed a lawsuit against County Councilman Douglas Pauley and Fairfield County.
The complaint, filed with the Fairfield County Clerk of Court on Feb. 12, 2018, alleges that Pauley illegally interfered with Schaeffer’s employment and was involved in her termination last fall such that he either insisted upon her termination and/or was the source of the complaint used to justify her termination.
Schaeffer alleges that the County violated a “clear mandate of public policy such that Pauley could interfere and did interfere in her employment, which is prohibited by the letter and spirit” of the law. She states that because Fairfield County has a Council/Administrator form of government, its Council members are forbidden from meddling in the day-to-day affairs of that government and from supervising county employees other than the county administrator.
The suit also cites S.C. Code 4-9-660 which states: “Except for the purposes of inquiries and investigations, the council shall deal with county officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the county administrator solely through the administrator, and neither the council nor its members shall give orders or instructions to any such officers or employees.”
Schaeffer, who was hired by the County as Recreation Director in October, 2007, states that Pauley, immediately upon becoming a Council member in April, 2017, “began to nit-pick and micromanage” her work. She alleges that Pauley hassled her, “about miniscule items including an issue with baseball uniforms being late to arrive, the start time for the County’s baseball schedule, schedules generally, and later a wall at the County’s recreation center playground.”
The suit also cites the following and other ways that Schaeffer alleges Pauley interfered with her work.
– During the County’s 2017 budget meeting, Schaeffer alleges that she was disproportionately questioned by Pauley regarding the intricacies of her department budget in comparison to other department heads. The suit states that Pauley also asked Schaeffer, but not other department heads, questions that were not germane to the budget.
– During a meeting with Pauley in Deputy County Administrator Davis Anderson’s office, Schaeffer alleges that Pauley stated to her that “they want you [Schaeffer] and [another person] terminated from the County.”
– Schaeffer alleges that Pauley interjected himself into her employment when, she states, an unforeseen issue arose due to unpronounced changes in Little League Baseball Rules which precluded three boys from competing in state all-star competition for the 9-10 age bracket due to their age. Schaeffer’s lawsuit states that the boys were permitted to compete in the next bracket up. The suit states that Pauley specifically told Anderson that the issue was disgraceful and that something had to be done about Schaeffer and her department.
– Pauley, Schaeffer alleges, requested that one of her subordinates be terminated.
– Schaeffer alleges that when she secured bids that were approved by Anderson and Taylor for a grant-funded scoreboard, the purchase was put on hold when Pauley interjected himself, stating that he could get the scoreboard cheaper.
– On or around September 5, 2017, Pauley questioned whether proper hiring procedures had been followed in regard to a recreation employee, the suit alleges. Schaeffer states that her employment with the County was terminated on the basis that one of her subordinate employees had failed to perform background checks for a Little League football coach.
The suit states that the County is liable for Schaeffer’s termination which, it states, violates state law and that she is entitled to recover from the County all damages associated with her termination.
Schaeffer further states that Pauley is liable for tortious interference with her contract and that she is entitled to damages, from both Pauley and the County, for her diminished earning capacity, lost wages, lost benefits, embarrassment, shock, humiliation, pain and suffering, reputational loss and loss of good will.
The suit, which requests a jury trial, also states that Pauley’s actions were willful and intentional and asks for punitive damages.
Asked to comment on the lawsuit, County Administrator Jason Taylor said he had not yet met with the attorney yet.
“It’s an on-going lawsuit and I really can’t comment at this time,” Taylor said. “Our insurance through the County Association covers us in these kinds of actions.”
Fred Williams with the law firm Gignilliat, Sabitz and Bettis in Columbia has been assigned to represent the County.