JENKINSVILLE—A controversial effort by the Town of Jenkinsville to annex 143 properties is drawing the ire of at least one Fairfield County Council member.
District 4 Councilwoman Bertha Goins, whose district includes Jenkinsville, issued a scathing indictment of the town’s government and the Jenkinsville Water Company, both of which are run by Greg Ginyard.
During the council comments portion of Tuesday night’s meeting, Goins urged residents to reject the annexation measure.
“Enemy and evil took it [Jenkinsville] over and took it down,” Goins said. “Twenty years of hate and bitterness should be enough for Fairfield County.”
Ginyard couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
The Voice did ask Ginyard about the annexation vote following the Jenkinsville Water Company meeting in May. His only response was, “It’s in your paper.”
If the annexation vote passes and is ratified, the town’s borders would grow by a factor of four and the value of taxable property would multiply fivefold, from $2,467,200 to $12.3 million, an analysis of public records found.
Goins didn’t identify any Jenkinsville officials by name Tuesday night, but her disdain for the JWC and town leadership was made perfectly clear.
“I’m going to stand against the annexation. I’m going to encourage people to vote against it. We’re divided enough by it,” Goins said. “I’m really ticked off about evil in the community.
“Twenty years ago a snake came in the community and poisoned the community. I’m going to leave it at that,” Goins continued.
Goins’ address comes on the eve of the June 5 vote.
The town is utilizing the “25 percent” method to attempt the annexation, requiring the least amount of public support. Under this method, the vote can proceed with only 25 percent of the 143 property owners petitioning town government.
In a prior interview, Ginyard declined to say why the town is utilizing the 25 percent method.
Ginyard did say he supports annexation because he thinks a larger town will make it easier for Jenkinsville to generate economic development.
The vote was originally scheduled for May 1, but was rescheduled to June 5 since state law mandates that annexation votes be taken within the boundaries of the municipality seeking annexation, said Debby Stidham, the county’s director of voter registration and elections.
Stidham said the May 1 vote was previously scheduled to be held at the town’s volunteer fire department. But, she said, the town’s traditional voting hub technically lies outside Jenkinsville town limits.
Now the election will be held at the old volunteer fire department and EMS station on S.C. 213. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Stidham said her office hasn’t received any complaints or concerns from voters. She said communications with town officials have been strictly logistical in nature.
“It’s actually been quiet. So far I’ve not had anybody calling and asking anything,” Stidham said. “I hope that means people are interested and know what they need to know.”
The deadline for voters to cast absentee ballots by mail expires June 1 at 5 p.m.
After that, voters can cast absentee ballots in person at the Fairfield County Voter and Registration Office through June 4.
Related articles: Jenkinsville prepares to annex 143 properties, Letter to the Editor: No to Annexation June 5, Notice of Annexation Election: Town of Jenkinsville,
