BLYTHEWOOD – After months of contentious wrangling over who should receive 30 percent of the Town’s SAT (state accommodation tax) funds to market and brand the Town of Blythewood, town council voted 3-2 in favor of a Columbia firm, MPA Strategies. The Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce and MPA were the two finalists out of […]
Road to FY 21-22 budget outlined
February 25, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Town Hall staff has given notice of the 2021 budget calendar that began Monday with staff going over budget items with the town administrator. The budget discussions that lead to the final budget approval on June 28, are as follows: March 17 – meet with mayor, administrator and finance to review first draft […]
Monday night’s County Council meeting open to public
February 22, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – After an emergency ordinance proposed at Fairfield County Council’s last meeting failed to receive the votes required to pass, Council chambers will be open to citizen attendance at tonight’s meeting for the first time in nearly a year. Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:00 in council chambers at the County Government Complex, 350 Columbia […]
Doug Pauley’s ‘Rubber Stamp’ speech highlights Feb. 19 council meeting
February 19, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – In a contentious special called meeting Thursday night, county council voted 4-3 to hire an attorney to replace the county’s current attorney Tommy Morgan who resigned earlier this month after he was pressured to leave. In a speech to council Thursday night that Councilman Douglas Pauley said would be more transparent than some […]
Bell calls for review of Mt. Zion contract costs
February 18, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – Cancelling plans for a new county building would trigger litigation that could cost Fairfield County upwards of $13 million, some council members say. “If the ultimate goal is to tear down this project, we’re probably looking at a $13 million lawsuit we can’t afford,” Councilman Neil Robinson said during a special meeting Feb. […]
Council’s ‘passed’ 4-3 vote fails
February 18, 2021 By
Failed Vote Leaves County Without COVID Emergency Ordinance WINNSBORO – A 4-3 vote by council misfired at the Feb. 8 council meeting, leaving the county without a restrictive emergency ordinance that has required face masks, social distancing and other COVID-19 protections for Fairfield citizens for the last 11 months. Fairfield Councilman Douglas Pauley cautioned at […]
RC Council zoning public hearing for Rimer Pond Road set for Feb. 23
February 18, 2021 By
COLUMBIA – Richland County Council will hold a zoning public hearing on Tuesday night, Feb. 23, to hear what residents who live and travel along Rimer Pond Road have to say about a rezoning request that will bring more traffic to the already congested road. Those residents’ comments, however, will not be delivered with their […]
Governor eyes closing ethics loopholes
February 18, 2021 By
COLUMBIA – South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and at least four lawmakers are calling for more scrutiny and fewer ethics loopholes for the state’s many special purpose districts in the wake of a Post and Courier report that painted a portrait of free-spending agencies with little oversight. The moves came less than 72 hours after […]
Council Appoints McKenrich, Pickle to Town Boards
February 18, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The Blythewood Town Council made two appointments to town boards during the Feb. 1 Joint town council/planning commission meeting. Rich McKenrick, chairman of the Blythewood Planning Commission, was appointed to a five-year term on the Richland County TPAC (Transportation Penny Advisory Committee). He replaces planning commissioner Malcolm Gordge who recently finished a five-year […]
Bell likens community opposition to Jan. 6 insurrection at the nation’s capitol
February 10, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – Politicking and personal attacks permeated yet another contentious Fairfield County Council meeting. Following an announcement that county attorney Tommy Morgan was resigning, as well as efforts to shorten County Administrator Jason Taylor’s contract, Councilman Douglas Pauley placed the blame of the recent turmoil squarely on Council Chairman Moses Bell. “I had heard that […]
