Bell’s farewell address touts feats, prejudges new council

WINNSBORO – Moses Bell’s farewell address read more like a manifesto, praising his own leadership and what he saw as his many accomplishments.  He also aired his personal grievances and cast aspersions on those he perceived as as detrimental to his success. Bell, the outgoing Fairfield County Council chairman, who recently lost a reelection bid […]

Election tilts council’s balance of power

WINNSBORO – Voters sent a clear message to the Fairfield County Council Tuesday night as they turned out County Council Chairman Moses Bell (Dist.1) and long-time Councilman and Vice Chairman Mikel Trapp (Dist. 3), leaving council with a new majority vote. Voters returned Dist. 5 representative Douglas Pauley and Dist. 7 representative Clarence Gilbert to […]

Bright: New raises, hires are Bell’s ‘Election Miracle’

WINNSBORO – When Fairfield County approved the current budget this past spring, Fairfield County administration determined there wasn’t enough money for employee raises or additional hires to help alleviate severe staff shortages. Instead, county administration initiated 10 percent cuts in the budgets for all departments, resulting in the loss of many county employees who went […]

Council OKs 95% tax break for ‘village’

WINNSBORO – The majority five Fairfield Council members gave final approval Sept.12 for generous tax breaks to the “Teacher Village” a controversial housing project still lacking final approval from the Town of Winnsboro. The vote passed 5-2, with council members Doug Pauley and Clarence Gilbert opposing. Pauley noted Teacher Village plans have not been submitted […]

Gilbert debunks misleading info about Town, RW line

WINNSBORO – Moses Bell grew visibly upset with fellow Councilman Clarence Gilbert when Gilbert picked apart what he said was misinformation regarding the Town’s participation with the proposed Ridgeway sewer line. Bell, the county chairman, chastised Gilbert for disclosing what Bell said were private negotiations. However, most of what Gilbert talked about had already been […]

Fairfield County pays $50,000 to wife of county councilman in unorthodox settlement

Gilbert: Council Was Never Notified of Complaint WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Council has settled a complaint filed by a former county employee who is the wife of a sitting county councilman. The county signed an agreement on July 12 to pay $50,000 to Diana Robinson, former Director of the county’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act […]

Council passes 2nd vote to rezone Gum Springs property for industry

FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Again Monday night, for the second county council meeting in a row, a group of residents in the Gum Springs Road area addressed council members, begging them not to rezone a large tract of land on Gum Springs Road near their homes for industrial use. The 392-acre parcel, owned by Gum Springs, […]

Innes: Animal neglect becoming crisis in Fairfield; council needs ordinance changes

“This County Needs to Lead and Move Forward Doing the Right Thing.” – Bob Innes WINNSBORO – Fairfield Animal Control Director Bob Innes got a few things off his chest during Monday night’s council meeting when he addressed council. After stating that he wanted to let council know “what’s going on in this county right […]

Fairfield County Council holds 1st meeting in new government complex

WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Council held its first meeting in the new Fairfield County Government Complex on Monday, June 27. A reception was held at 5:30 p.m. for a number of dignitaries including the county’s state representatives, school board members and other officials.  A brief tour of the building was available prior to the 6 […]

Pauley: No documentation given before $50K settlement vote

WINNSBORO – After Fairfield County Council voted Monday night to award an unnamed former employee $50,000 to settle a claim against the county, Councilman Douglas Pauley informed The Voice that he plans to call for a motion to reconsider the vote at the next council meeting. “We were, basically, not given any information during executive […]

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