Fairfield County Citizens, if you have seen recent County Council actions, you know that Council has extended County Administrator Jason Taylor’s contract by only five months.
This is to me a very foolhardy move for many reasons. The following are just a few of those reasons:
- For the first time since I retired in 2008 and returned home, my native county has been in an economically improving status. To wit, Element TV, Sea Pro Boats, MLily mattress plant, the sale of industrial site lands, the plans for the water treatment plant that will expand our industrial appeal, the new initiative to well various taxable properties that had weighed on the county, etc., etc., etc.Grants for various projects, including relocating county administrative offices at great cost avoidance to the county (and to your taxes and mine)
- improved collaboration between county and town governance
- Cost reduction on multiple fronts
- Long range economic development plans and initiatives
- Industrial leaders who are now closely aligned with our county administration
- State-of-the-art rural fire departments throughout the county
- A highly qualified and professional county staff
- Improved collaboration between county council and our legislative delegation (remember previous fiascos)
- Other indicators of growth, improvements, and the economic development of our county, in spite of the SCANA nuclear debacle and COVID 19 limitations.
- Improved collaboration with the state, including millions of $$ in financial assistance for projects
- Leverage with additional agencies and entities for financial support
Please help me understand why County Council is sending this strange message about Mr. Taylor’s contract when many counties would steal him in a minute. He has had such a deep commitment to us and his vision for Fairfield County.
Also, street talk says this is racial. If it truly is, it is a most sad day for Fairfield County. Having been raised here in the 1950s and early 60s, I remember what segregation was like. While we have in many ways seen a quantum leap in racial relations, we still have ongoing ways to improve.
To fail to extend appropriately Mr. Taylor’s contract , if indeed this strange vote has anything to do with race, disappointments me gravely. It is upsetting, counterproductive and must be detrimental to the morale of the very civil servants who have had a part in these manifold successes. Please let us forge ahead, not backwards.
Please contact your County Council member if you agree with me on this travesty and ask what the hell is going on.
Paul Dove
Winnsboro
