WINNSBORO – Fairfield County is facing a financial “mini crisis” after failing to timely file required financial statements. That failure has resulted in the county’s FY2021 audit being held up, according to emails obtained by The Voice. In an email to council members, County Administrator Malik Whitaker said the county is six months tardy in […]
Bell, Pauley spar over budget, agenda and stamp machine
January 27, 2022 By
WINNSBORO – Hardly a meeting passes without some back and forth between Fairfield County Council Chairman Moses Bell and Councilman Doug Pauley. But Monday night’s meeting was especially contentious, with the two council members sparing over county policy, budgetary matters and public comment policies. Things got off to a rocky start during discussion of how […]
Fairfield Council hires Assistant Administrator
January 27, 2022 By
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Fairfield County Administrator Malik Whitaker announced the hiring of Synithia Williams to be the Assistant County Administrator. Whitaker said her primary responsibility, however, will be to serve as the county’s public information officer. Williams is a nineteen year veteran of county and city government and currently works for the Richland County Public […]
Bell criticized for agenda faux pas
January 13, 2022 By
WINNSBORO – Audio glitches and continued issues of transparency marred an otherwise brisk Fairfield County Council meeting Monday night. In a series of votes, council members passed first reading of several ordinances with several glaring information gaps. Four ordinances related to economic development, including one that appropriated $500,000 to the county’s economic development department. A […]
Bell disregards citizens pleas to postpone vote finalizing redistricting
December 16, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County adopted a redistricting plan Monday night that some say is designed to preserve the current council voting majority. By a 5-2 vote, Neil Robinson joined the majority 4 to approve the new district lines. Councilman Douglas Pauley and Clarence Gilbert opposed. Pauley and Gilbert tried to amend the agenda to table […]
Council, residents accuse Bell of shutting them out, rushing redistricting
December 9, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County scheduled Monday night’s public hearing on redistricting hoping to quell recent complaints of secrecy and personal politics. Instead, more evidence arose illustrating that the proposed plan to redraw district lines may be politically motivated. One proposed change shifts the street of a potential challenger of Council Chairman Moses Bell, ceding it […]
Pushback over redistricting secrecy prompts public comment meeting
December 2, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – County council pushed through first and second readings (5-2) on a redistricting plan for Fairfield County in less than a week and without public discussion or a public forum on the plan. At the Nov. 22 council meeting, Councilman Douglas Pauley accused Chairman Moses Bell of unilaterally submitting a draft plan without informing […]
Bell pushing redistricting thru
November 24, 2021 By
Pauley: Mr. Bell’s Decisions Not In Best Interest of County WINNSBORO – Redistricting is an inherently political process, and that reality was on full display at Monday night’s Fairfield County Council meeting. After passing first reading of an ordinance adopting a redistricting plan by a 5-2 vote Thursday night, council members passed second reading of […]
Regional Transit Rodeo
November 24, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – County council recognized the Fairfield Transit department at Monday night’s council meeting for their award winning participation earlier this month in the Regional Transit Rodeo competition. Director of the county’s transit system, Diana White, center, introduced, from left, Darryl Stout and Stephon Willingham of the maintenance department which won second overall in the […]
Council hires new county admin
November 23, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – After six months and six unsuccessful tries to fill the vacancy left by former Fairfield County Administrator Jason Taylor, council voted to hire Columbia native Malik Whitaker during a special called meeting last week. Whitaker will assume his new duties with the county on Dec. 2. The vote was unanimous to offer Whitaker […]
