Winnsboro Town Council voted 5-0 to adopt their 2012-2013 budget Tuesday night and put on hold an ordinance that would put County magistrate judges into municipal courtrooms.
The Council voted on a first reading of the ordinance, which would allow the Town to enter into a contract with Fairfield County for County magistrate judges to preside over hearings and dispose of municipal court cases, during their June 5 meting. According to the ordinance agreement, Fairfield County has agreed to provide Magistrate Judge William F. Pope to the Town of Winnsboro for a contracted sum of $6,000 plus FICA and retirement annually for each of six judges that will be contracted to the Town of Winnsboro.
Town Council also voted June 5 to accept a contract to purchase one acre of land at the corner of Highway 321 Business and State Road 200 from William Spencer McMaster for the Town’s eventual entryway sign. The cost was $5 with the understanding that, should the Town cease to use the property in the future, it would revert back to McMaster.
In other Town news, Fortune Springs Park swimming pool is now open for the summer. Hours are 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Town Council had previously discussed not opening the pool this summer due to the mandatory water restrictions, but because the Town was under contract with the company who operates the pool facility, the decision was made to use the pool.
Town Manager Don Wood said the Winnsboro Town Hall Annex renovations will be complete in six weeks. The Town’s Finance office will then be relocated to the facility located at the junction of Moultrie and W. Washington streets.
Town Electric Department Director William Medlin explained the reason and procedure that SCE&G is changing out the poles for transmission lines, many of which can be seen along Highway 34, between Winnsboro and Interstate 77.
“Due to the pending increase in capacity at the V.C. Summer nuclear facility, SCE&G is running a transmission line from Jenkinsville to Killian Road,” Medlin said. “Putting in more power lines requires new poles. Right now they are working from the substation at the (Fairfield Country Club) golf course to Highway 34, then on to Cook Road and then to Blythewood. It will be a 12 month process.”
