WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Council voted unanimously Wednesday evening to hire Clay Killian as its Interim Administrator, replacing Laura Johnson whose contract was not renewed last week. Killian is a principal with Parker Poe Consulting and, according to Parker Poe’s website, is retired after four decades serving in local government, including most recently as Aiken […]
Blythewood Town Council receives road project updates
January 25, 2024 By
BLYTHEWOOD – During town council’s Monday night meeting, it received updates on road construction projects related to the arrival of Scout Motors. The big industrial project will result in road changes impacting all of the major routes through Blythewood, including Interstate 77, Highway 21, and Blythewood Road, as well as numerous roads that these roads […]
Fairfield’s Interim administrator Laura Johnson’s contract not renewed
January 25, 2024 By
Deputy Admin Named as Acting Administrator for Two Weeks WINNSBORO – After 13 months and three tries, Fairfield County Council has failed to put a new county administrator in place. Instead, council members voted Monday night to name the county’s deputy administrator, Synithia Williams, to serve as acting administrator for only two weeks. Chairman Doug […]
Auditor: Town of Blythewood audit reasonable, accurate
January 25, 2024 By
Town Increased Total Assets by $4.7M From Previous Fiscal Year BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood’s audit for the most recent fiscal year revealed no problems, the accounting firm that performed the audit reported to the Blythewood Town Council at Monday night’s council meeting. “Everything was, in all material aspects, reasonable and accurate,” said Will Walls, certified public […]
File by Feb. 2 for RW council, mayor seats
January 25, 2024 By
RIDGEWAY – The General Election for the Town of Ridgeway will be held April 2, 2024. Voters will be electing a mayor and two council members. The person elected mayor will fill the last two years of former Mayor Heath Cookendorfer’s term. Cookendorfer resigned last month. Those wishing to throw their hat in the ring […]
Jenkinsville government election set for May 7
January 25, 2024 By
JENKINSVILLE – A general nonpartisan election is set for a mayor and two council seats in the Town of Jenkinsville to be held on May 7, 2024. Any person wishing to register to vote in this election must do so no later than Sunday, April 7. Voter registration by mail applications will be accepted if […]
Fairfield County Interim Admin’s husband accused of threatening two Fairfield elected officials
January 17, 2024 By
WINNSBORO – Two Fairfield County elected officials have filed incident reports against the Fairfield County Interim Administrator’s husband for posting what the two officials called threats against them and others. Fairfield County Treasurer Norma Branham and Fairfield County Councilwoman Peggy Swearingen both filed incident reports on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, against Otis Johnson, 53, the […]
After 13 months, Pauley calls surprise meeting to hire permanent administrator
January 17, 2024 By
Just minutes before press time Wednesday night during a special called meeting, Fairfield County Council failed to elect a new administrator. After two tie (failed) votes, one for Matt DeWitt, and the second for Laura Johnson, Johnson will continue to be the interim administrator, and a new search should begin, according to Councilwoman Shirley Greene. […]
Council facing financial emergencies: penalties, fines, late audit and more
January 11, 2024 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Council held off on hiring a new administrator Monday night as the county continues to grapple with fallout from IRS fines and penalties totaling about $1.4 million, and Interim Administrator Laura Johnson’s unauthorized payment of those penalties without informing council until more than six months later. The criticism continued Monday night, […]
Court to hear two motions on MPA/Town lawsuits
January 11, 2024 By
Brock: A Lawyer Arguing in Court on Behalf of a Client Who Fired Him Just Doesn’t Make Any Sense BLYTHEWOOD – The Town’s outside attorneys were fired on Dec. 11, 2023, and the Town’s new government signed a settlement agreement with MPA Strategies’ owner and CEO Ashley Hunter on Dec. 29, 2023. However, the almost […]
