WINNSBORO – In addition to bad news about the county’s audit during Monday night’s county council meeting, council members received disappointing and conflicting news about the county’s fund balance. In December, the previous council leadership claimed Fairfield had been regularly depositing money into the fund balance since mid-summer and that the finances were in good […]
County’s audit overdue; state withholding funds
January 19, 2023 By
WINNSBORO – The SC Comptroller General’s office notified the county’s financial department on Jan. 3, 2023, that the county’s audit was overdue and that the state would begin withholding funds from the county that day. While they were aware the audit was late, Council Chair Douglas Pauley, Vice Chair Clarence Gilbert and council members Peggy […]
Pauley to lead new council; Gilbert elected vice chair
January 12, 2023 By
WINNSBORO – Four county council members were sworn into office Monday evening during the regular council meeting. Douglas Pauley (District 5) and Clarence Gilbert (District 7) were re-elected to office, both serving their second full four-year terms. Also sworn in were newcomers Dan Ruff (District 1) and Peggy Swearingen (District 3). The four newly elected […]
Council votes 4-1 to adopt new policy for SAT, LAT, and H-Tax allocations
January 12, 2023 By
BLYTHEWOOD – On Jan, 6, 2023, town council voted 4-1 to adopt a new policy for administering the $1 million or so revenue the Town receives from state accommodations tax (SAT), local accommodations tax (LAT) and hospitality tax (HTAX) – taxes that are largely paid by visitors to the town who eat in the town’s […]
Council sets goals for 23-24
January 12, 2023 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood Town Council held a special called meeting Friday morning, Jan. 6, to discuss goals for the upcoming budget year and beyond. Charlie Barrineau, a field services manager with the South Carolina Municipal Association, coached the group on communication and cooperation in order to properly and effectively set goals. “The challenge is that […]
MPA attorney withdraws from case
January 12, 2023 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The attorney representing Ashley Hunter and her marketing firm MPA Strategies in a lawsuit against the Town of Blythewood and a countersuit filed by the Town, is withdrawing from the case. During a non-jury trial roster meeting in Richland County Common Pleas Court Monday morning, no attorneys were present to represent either the […]
Boykin resigns; council taps Morgan
January 12, 2023 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Attorney Charles J. Boykin emailed a notice to council members on Monday, Jan. 9, of his intentions to “withdraw my firm’s representation of the county as the county attorney, effective upon notification to us that the county has hired new council.” “We will take all steps reasonably practicable to protect the […]
Whitaker not present at swearing in
January 12, 2023 By
WINNSBORO – As four council members were seated Monday night and a new council convened before a larger than usual audience in council chambers, County Administrator Malik Whitaker was not present for the event. “We have no idea why he was not here,” said new Council Chairman Douglas Pauley. “I had no notification that he […]
New H-Tax, A-Tax policy up for vote Jan. 6
January 5, 2023 By
BLYTHWOOD – During a special called meeting on Dec. 19, Blythewood Town Councilmen Donald Brock and Rich McKenrick presented what they called a landmark recommendation for the overhaul of how council administers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year of state and local accommodations tax and hospitality tax revenue. Brock, McKenrick and Councilman Sloan Griffin […]
Smart water meters arrive for Winnsboro customers
January 5, 2023 By
WINNSBORO – After waiting more than a year for the much anticipated smart water and sewer meters for the town’s water customers, Winnsboro Town Manager Jason Taylor announced during the Monday night council meeting that the new meters have arrived and will be installed starting sometime in the next two weeks. Previously, Taylor had informed […]
