BLYTHEWOOD – MPA Strategies, LLC has filed a reply to the Town’s counterclaims filed July 20, 2021, in response to a lawsuit filed by MPA Strategies against the town government on June 28, 2021. All the claims and responses were filed in the Court of Common Pleas Fifth Judicial Circuit in Richland County. MPA also […]
Town Hall mum on attorney contract, fees
August 19, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Since filing a countersuit against MPA Strategies marketing firm, its owner Ashley Hunter and the nonprofit State and Frink Foundation, the Town of Blythewood government has been less than open concerning its arrangements with outside counsel David Black, an attorney with Nexsen Pruet LLC out of Columbia, who is representing the Town in […]
Council OKs funding for outside agencies
July 29, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – During the FY2021-22 budget work session and discussions during Blythewood Town Council meetings, council identified specific outside agencies to receive funding. However, Town Administrator Carroll Williamson noted in a memo that council members approved the budget without a specific amount allocated to each agency. The total amount allocated for all the agencies was […]
MPA files lawsuit against Town after mayor fails to comply with FOI law
July 8, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The Town of Blythewood has been at risk of a legal action for almost two months after Mayor Bryan Franklin failed to submit responsive documents to a Freedom of Information request from MPA Strategies, the town’s newly contracted marketing and grant writing firm. On Tuesday, June 28, MPA filed that legal action against […]
Attorney: Franklin has not complied with MPA Strategies’ FOIA request
June 3, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Mayor Bryan Franklin has continued to publicly criticize two town council members for, according to Franklin, not complying with an FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request submitted by The County Chronicle. The request is for documents from all council members and the mayor that pertain to MPA Strategies dating back to Oct. 1, […]
Mayor Franklin says he’s besieged by council/media conspiracy
May 27, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – When an article in the April 29 issue of The Voice reported that Mayor Bryan Franklin unilaterally hired outside counsel – without town council’s consent – to represent the Town concerning MPA Strategies, Franklin, in a 19+ minute tirade against the newspaper’s account, said it was “absolutely fabricated and false.” He insisted that […]
Time change for May 24 Blythewood town council meeting
May 20, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The Blythewood town council meeting that was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 24, at the Manor, has been rescheduled to meet at 6 p.m. at the same location. Contact town hall at 803-754-0501 for information or with questions.
MPA Strategies’ Ashley Hunter wants to put the shine on Blythewood
May 13, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood’s new marketing effort kicked off May 1, the day Ashley Hunter started work at town hall. Hunter’s marketing firm, MPA Strategies, was selected by the Blythewood Town Council for marketing and grant writing by a competitive RFP process. “My job is listening to what citizens and businesses are saying, listening to what […]
Staff, council recommend 4-way stop
May 13, 2021 By
Public Meeting for Input on Issue set for May 26 BLYTHEWOOD – In a follow up to a discussion by council last month about the Richland County Penny Tax program’s plan to construct either a small roundabout or a 4-way stop at the corner of Boney Road and McNulty Street, town hall staff recommended to […]
