Johnson
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County administration has announced several staff changes regarding the vacant Deputy County Administrator position.
Laura Johnson, who has served the county as Comptroller since 2002, will assume the position of Interim Deputy County Administrator. Johnson’s responsibilities will include project management, operational and financial oversight.
Johnson is a Certified Public Accountant and has previously served in the State of South Carolina Auditor’s office as well as the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. Johnson is a graduate of Fairfield Central High and Winthrop University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
Bass
Anne Bass, who has served as Deputy Comptroller since 2011, replaces Johnson with the title of Interim Comptroller. Her responsibilities will include oversight of all financial operations as well as ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations.
Bass has previously served as the Director of Accounting and Director of Fiscal Services at Fairfield Memorial Hospital. Bass is a graduate of Richard Winn Academy and Winthrop University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Caulder
Brad Caulder, who most recently served the county as Public Works Director, will assume the position of Human Resources Director, providing oversight of all employment and risk management programs, and ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state and county labor regulations.
Caulder is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and County Risk Manager. He has previously served Fairfield County as Human Resources Manager and has been employed with the county since 2003. Caulder is a graduate of Richard Winn Academy and the University of South Carolina where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Fairfield county leadership would be wise to request a more deliberate approach to the permitting of the proposed Luck crusher quarry in Simpson. This application was submitted in March of 2021 with the final comments period ending Aug. 20. Barely 6 months from request to closing public input. In addition, essentially all of the technical reports used by DHEC were provided by Luchstone, through their paid consultant, S&ME. ( The same S&ME whose report on a similar proposed project near Chester was found to be fraudulent due to the intentional omission of an historical artifact, a cemetery)
Luckstone had a death at their Leesburg plant in 2015. 18 year old Daniel Potter was killed when a silo filled with gravel fell on him. That same silo had been sited in 2012 with an admonishment to repair the silo and inspect at least bi-annually. Neither of these procedures was followed, and it cost one of Luckstone’s
employees his life.
Whether Luckstone will ultimately be a good fit for Simpson remains to be seen. What I do know is that permitting a mine for 100 years with only 6 months discussion is shear folly. 460 acres 500 feet deep, crushing rocks, 70,000 pound truck hauling on 34- what could possibly go wrong?