The City’s Consent Order With DHEC and a Few Badly Chosen Words.

I need to address a couple of issues first. The title of my campaign post yesterday “Where Does the Truth Lie?” was taken by Mr. Scoville as me calling him a liar.  The title was meant to imply “the one who holds the purse strings is the one with the answers”, that was the intent of the title and I do apologize to him for taking that as a personal attack and to Debra Bivens if she found anything offensive. The word snarky was used to imply that our finance director should be addressing issues of budget. That our Mayor should not be inserting himself into a political campaign to affect the outcome. Mrs. Bivens, our finance director, told Council either directly or through the Administrator if we keep using our reserves to balance the budget we will not have any reserves left in 5 years (give or take), she spoke the truth while the Mayor was tip toeing around the question at hand, hence she wins the game of cat and mouse.  Mrs. Bivens is highly qualified for her job and she is where the truth lies when it comes to our money and I may have inappropriately worded praise for her. I hate that Mr. Scoville took personal offense to that and I also am embarrassed for engaging in a back and forth with him on my campaign facebook page.

The intent of the post, in case it was lost on anyone else, is “are we in financially good condition”? Did we need the tax increase that was pushed on council and us? Are we really spending more than we take in and if so, where is it going? I can work with anyone to get the job done for you and for our businesses. My reasons for running for council are simple; to make life easier and better for the people of this town, to redirect the focus of our Government to each and every person in town–not to a political party or ideology, but just good common sense Government that puts the people and businesses of this town first. To put personality differences aside for the betterment of our beautiful community.

Now to the topic at hand. Our Waste Water Treatment Plant

Quick definition of a consent order: it is governed by federal and state laws, which vary by jurisdiction. It is generally a voluntary agreement worked out between two or more parties to a dispute. It generally has the same effect as a court order and can be enforced by the court if anyone does not comply with the orders.

According to a New York Times article dated May 22, 2012 the City of Georgetown had 67 Waste Water Treatment regulatory violations. The City has paid a total of $25,850 in fines to date. The amounts paid to attorneys and engineers and studies is not readily available at this time.

We are now in the year 2015 and this issue has not been resolved. How much longer do we string out a problem that has existed since at least 2003? How much money do we continue to pour into this via fines and analyses? How much of our citizens’ hard earned money has to be spent before a solution is found and agreed upon with all the parties involved?

The City leadership says this issue basically was forced upon us by Georgetown County Water and Sewer district as the least expensive option for dealing with our waste water, that DHEC keeps changing their requirements of what we need to do. I am tired of casting blame. It is time for a solution. If the City would have listened to Jack Grimes and had sold the water department to them when they were interested we would not be having this discussion today.

We need to stop paying fines and attorney fees, we need to stop spinning wheels. We need a clear and concise fix and we need that now. DHEC needs to put in writing exactly what they want, we need to comply and move forward. Each passing day sees an increase in costs of this or any of our other projects that get deleted or delayed.

I have followed the workings of the City since 2008. I have attended the majority of Council meetings over the past 7 years. I have read and reread the various codes and ordinances, I have combed through the budget to the point that I discovered a $90,000 accounting error this year and reported it to a couple of council members. I care about what happens in this City and the direct effects it has on the citizens and businesses here.

Where Does the Truth “Lie?”

Yes the title is just a tad snarky. I, along with others, have been trying to get a complete and true picture of the financial health of the City for years and nothing that is talked makes any sense. NOTHING! Numbers change, figures change, past budgets change. Our campaigns have said we have a 36 million dollar budget this year. Our campaigns have said it is 8 million dollars more than 2012 and the Mayor decided we need to be taken to task, that there is misinformation being spread. Our campaigns have said the City has put quality of life issues off, has failed to get things done in a timely manner. Read for your selves! Determine the truth for yourselves. 

In 2010 we had a reassessment and housing values overall dropped and the City tried to implement the “revenue neutral” millage rate increase. In other words, those with depressed property values would pay pretty much the same amount and those that had an increase would pay more and the City would retain the same revenue. Mayor Scoville and Council member Barber predicted doom and gloom. The City was going to lose $400,000 a year until the next reassessment. This has been thrown up to the City Council members past and present. The argument was used to garner a 7 mils property tax increase just this year. 

Quote from minutes of June 2^nd 2015:

“Mayor Scoville stated five years ago there was a reassessment and property values decreased substantially. Georgetown County and the School Board raised their rates; there was no gain or loss of income. Council determined not to raise the millage rate to zero out the income, which resulted in a loss of $400,000 a year since then. That is $2 million the City would have had and it is catching up with us. He said good responsible financial stewardship requires Council to restore the tax base.”

In this same meeting Debra Bivens, Director of Finance, states the City has been using money from the Fund Balance or General Fund to “balance” the budget. “Mrs. Bivens stated the money lost over the last five years totaled $2 million. Positions, through attrition in most cases, were reduced as well as using fund balance. If we continue not to approve a revenue neutral millage increase as a result of reassessment, we will continue to use the fund balance, eventually depleting the reserves.”

Ms. Bivens also says after the City moved 3.3 Million from the General Fund that it leaves 3.3 Million in that fund of which 1.5 Million is required by law to be maintained for disasters and emergencies. In 2013 when the Mayoral race was up for a vote and candidate Scoville was facing questions of this fund balance he stated there was not 19 million as has been mentioned but 10.6 Million and the City was in good shape financially. My question: Where has the money gone if the numbers below are accurate? 

In two years’ time we are down to 6.6 million? And after the June budget was approved, we are down to 3.3 Million and our Mayor sends an email out after the debate challenging our mathematics skills. Perhaps this is Common Core or some new form of math that is beyond the comprehension of us. Below is the text of Scoville’s email in its entirety.  

“There has been a lot of misinformation about the city budget put out by some candidates in the city council campaign.  This is the correct information.

          Budget                           Actual

• 2010   $33,097,506              $31,657,233 
• 2011   $32,484,965              $30,815,249
• 2012   $30,892,126              $28,422,755
• 2013   $32,031,484              $28,026,318
• 2014   $31,071,960              $30,149,050
• 2015   $36,526,744              $27,400,531**
• 2016   $36,415,854

**Please note that the following capital projects totaling $8,000,000 were not completed in FY2015 and were either DELETED or DELAYED until FY2016:

1.  Foundation Repair to City Hall & Fire Station I  $    900,000
2.  Fire Station II                                                             $ 1,500,000
3.  Broad Street                                                              $    300,000
4.  Bicycle & Pedestrian Trail                                         $    800,000
5.  CNG Fuel Center                                                      $    200,000
6.  Peak Shaving Generation                                        $ 2,600,000
7.  Highway 17/701/521Utility Relocation                    $    450,000
8.  Park Improvements                                                   $    300,000
9.  Neighborhood Infrastructure                                    $    250,000
10. Wastewater Treatment Plant                                   $    700.000

There is no deficit. All capital improvements will be paid by  a bond or from the city’s savings.

Please note the actual spending for the 2014/15 fiscal year was 4 million dollars less than in 2010.”

If anyone wishes to view the actual email please contact me leeforcitycouncil@outlook.com and I will forward you a copy minus the numerous people to whom it was sent. A quick approximation shows 18.4 million under budget for the 6 years shown. Not a 2 Million dollar loss. Perhaps the Mayor would care to explain his system of addition and subtraction to us. I do not understand it. I do not see the justification for using a doomsday scenario to enact a 7mils property tax increase across the board. Unless this email was meant as a political ploy.

The simple truth is the City takes in about 28 Million a year in revenue. Anything over that has to come from reserves. So how long do we continue to spend more than we make? We have to curb the costs of a City with a declining population. We cannot afford to take more from our citizens and provide less. Budgeting 300,000 for parks, 800,000 for a bicycle trail and only 250,000 for infrastructure upgrades last year shows a lack of prioritizing. 

First he implicated Richard Powers, Tom Winslow and me, Lee Padgett, in a voter suppression scheme and now he challenges our ability to apply reason concerning the budget. If we could get a true and honest financial health statement from him then the voters could actually realize what he is doing. Manipulating the people to retain power, or more precisely, using fear to encourage people to vote his way.

Under our system of Government —Mayor/Council–the Mayor is “where the buck stops”. He is in charge of the budget. He dictates it. In  the game of cat and mouse I would hand the prize to Debra Bivens, she has been running the numbers of this City long enough to know the ins and outs. Instead of Council acting as adults and cutting from the budget to ensure revenues equal expenditures they chose the easy route-just spend, we can raise taxes. The Mayor was wrong–Good financial stewardship would not be to raise the tax base, rather it would be to reduce unnecessary spending, search out waste and eliminate it from the budget.

Please vote November 3^rd. Vote for Tom Winslow, Richard Powers and Lee Padgett. We need your votes to put an end to the type of politics Scoville is engaging in. To get this City on a track to financial health and to unite us all in the future and not play the politics of division anymore. And then work to change the system of Government we operate under so a professional is making the day to day decisions “BUDGET and all” and this professional will be free of political expediency. Then we shall have a true and accurate accounting of the financial state of the City. 

The Politics of Division

Let’s talk party politics. Republican vs Democrat as it relates to the City of Georgetown.

Do you think this election can make a difference in your lives?

Are you happy with the way the City is run?

Are you happy with the rising cost of your utilities?

Has this City represented you well?

If you answered no to any of the questions then this election is time to make a change.

Now answer this:

Which political party has been in control of City Hall for 30 years?

Now I ask those in the Democrat party; why you would want to continue the path we have travelled?

Is it not worth it to you and your family to make a change this election? Is it not worth it to tell the status quo that it is time to go?

I advocate getting rid of partisan politics, yet those that are against that change have not affected any positive change in the years they have been in power. Why let this continue?

I had to choose one of the two party labels to run under. It is required in this City unless you want to go door to door to collect signatures which puts an independent or other party affiliated candidate at an unfair disadvantage. I chose Republican because running against the abysmal Democrat record was going to be an easy feat.

If you are happy that the City increases your utility costs and then fails to apply that cost to improvements in the utilities then by all means vote Democrat. If you are happy that the budget (now 36 million) has increased by 8 million dollars since 2012 (28 Million) then by all means vote Democrat. If you are happy paying more and getting less then by all means vote Democrat.

I am not a fan of using party politics to make a point. In fact, it sickens me as I watch people turn against each other because of political labels. I do not like to see people suggesting that party labels are the easiest way for people to vote. It is a condescending view that says our electorate is not capable of judging each individual, that we need to keep the party lines to keep it simple. Well, simply put, that view has failed every citizen in Georgetown and I am tired of watching leadership that insists on retaining its power while the citizens get nothing in return. It has grown tiring watching my fellow Georgetonians be manipulated and taken for granted by party labels.

If you are not happy with the way things are and the lack of progress in town then you have the option of changing your “party” vote this election. You can vote for a better future or you can vote to retain the status quo. The biggest point in those statements is that “you can vote”. It is your privilege. When you have cast your vote on Election Day, it is your vote. If you voted early via the absentee method, either mail/internet requested or in person at the Elections Office, it is your vote. If you choose not to vote that is your choice and by default, it is your vote. 

Please vote on November 3rd. If you have requested an absentee ballot, please complete it and mail it in. If you choose to vote party lines then do so, if you choose to evaluate each candidate and vote accordingly please do so. Of course I am going to close with “Please vote for Lee Padgett on November 3rd”. I will do everything I can to end the politics of division in Georgetown and unite our City.  

 

The Time For Change Is Now!

The Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce issued a questionnaire (you can read my responses HERE) to current Council members and to all the candidates for City Council on September 8, 2015. The Chamber listed their questions as key issues facing the city with some of those concerning Early Childhood education, educating Georgetown’s workforce, a hotel/convention center for Georgetown, tourism promotion and City beautification. Those are certainly interesting points to consider but at this stage in the City we need to focus on infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Our water system has long been ignored, our drainage system for the entire City is insufficient. There was massive flooding across all areas of town with some neighborhoods and businesses suffering greatly. We have got to get our house in order if we are going to preserve the 3rd oldest City in this state for generations to come.

The past few decades of “democrat” rule in this City have shown a propensity to take funds from the Water and Electric Departments to “balance” the budget. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not balancing anything, making cost cuts to bring revenues in line with expenditures is the way one balances a budget. Families and businesses do it on a daily basis. Council members Jayroe and Kimbrough charged the City with having the Departments bring cuts to the table during the past budget discussions. What happened? Less than $20,000 was the total out of a 36 Million dollar budget. When the Government is faced with this type of dilemma, instead of making tough choices and decisions, the knee jerk reaction is to raise fees, take from savings, and/or raise taxes (usually the only resort when one fails to cut costs). These solutions add an increased burden on our residents living on fixed incomes in a City now known as the poorest City in this State. The aforementioned increase in costs also hurt our local businesses that struggle to keep their heads above water. Renters end up paying higher costs of living increases as property tax increases for rental property or second homes is nearly twice what a private property owner pays. If we are going to have affordable housing in this City we have to work with the County, the State and ourselves to have viable, proven rentals taxed at residential property rates. I am not talking about beach or river homes rented out for vacations or special events, but those people who have invested in properties that are specifically rentals for our low income residents, young people relocating here or just moving out on their own. We wonder why the population is shrinking! It costs at least a third more to rent inside the City limits than out of it (if you take subsidized public housing out of the equation). We have a 36 million dollar budget (up 8 million in 4 years) to run this City of 9164 people, contrast  this with the County which has 62,000 residents and a budget of 71 Million. We have a shrinking population and our infrastructure is in disrepair, what have the leaders of the past been doing? Where has the money been spent? 

The City does not have a local purchasing option. A code that allows the City to first procure needed items from our businesses that reside here instead of ordering from the outside. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen the halls in the administration office filled with boxes labeled Staples, an office supply company that is not located in this City much less the County. We have Custom Printing, Sam’s Office supplies and Wal Mart which can provide the City with its paper needs and ink needs and that pay the City in order to have these businesses here. What message does that send? How would that make you feel if you were a business owner here paying a huge license fee and then having the City not purchase from you? We need to buy local first, support local first and if not available look within the County next and if the needs cannot be met there, then order from Horry County or the state. The City has to start taking care of its own if it expects us to be able to continue to take care of it.

All the tourist promotions and attempts to increase our population are worth nothing if we do not get our house in order. If the next few years are spent focusing on solving our infrastructure problems and making sure our Electric, Water and Storm water Departments are running with no problems the City will be in great shape, will be a gleaming diamond to attract businesses, tourists, new residents; without proper cost effective and time efficient solutions to our problems we will continue to be viewed negatively and that will equate to negative growth. That is unacceptable to you, to me and most of all should be unacceptable to our elected leaders. Mayor Scoville, upon his election to Council in 2006, scolded Council for this very behavior, for kicking the can down the road and utilizing the utility funds to “balance” the budget. Of course Scoville was calling for higher utility rates and tax rates instead of saying “what can we cut” “what can we trim” “what is not a priority spending item”. Under his leadership projects have lagged, infrastructure has continued to deteriorate and we cannot allow this any longer. Yet, Council voted themselves a raise two years ago. Really? For doing what? Providing themselves unprecedented health coverage when average citizens are without? For continuously spending your money in inefficient ways?  We must change the mentality at City Hall. We need individuals on Council that have done and will do their homework and be prepared for meetings and be willing to make difficult choices that may not be politically or personally beneficial. Politics are not important–the people of this City are important.

I am an ordinary guy, one who works a 40 plus hour week, one who cares deeply and passionately about this City and everyone who resides here regardless of their situation. I am not afraid to speak the truth even when it hurts, I am not afraid to give praise where it is due and regardless of political affiliation. Partisan politics are crushing us and we have to get from under that mentality. I am neither Republican (even though I had to choose a party to run under in this City) nor Democrat. I hold no allegiance to anyone but the Citizens and Businesses of this town. I will listen to everyone’s point of view and vote accordingly. I will work hard to reduce the amounts of codes and ordinances that stifle our businesses and residents alike and strive to give everyone a level playing field. We are all equal under the law and the law should apply equally to everyone regardless of standing or race or situation. If one person can make an argument to be exempted from the City’s codes then it is an unfair and inequitably applied code and needs to be struck from the books. Otherwise, these codes pit neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend, business against business and that is not healthy, we need to stand as one.  

I am asking you to please vote on November 3^rd and to consider each candidate on their merits and not on party affiliation. There is a debate on October 26 at Winyah Auditorium, please attend and see the contrasts between those running for office. Most of the candidates have a website, please view them and read the various points of view, that should make your decision easy and one without personality coming into play.

Is the City Doing Its Part?

I have provided links in the blue capitalized words to support the text of this campaign response.

Al Joseph, candidate for City Council, has released his position on Telecom and Technology services and how the City needs a plan to assist in this area, you can read that HERE. Mr. Joseph is subtly proposing the City get into the business of providing “free WiFi” and that creates a slippery slope. As it stands the City has more projects that affect true quality of life that are hanging in the wings and are over BUDGET and getting into the business of providing internet and phone services should not be on the radar. The Federal Government has a PROGRAM for low income individuals to receive basic phone services (including cell phones) to ensure everyone is able to report emergencies. Also, we have Frontier Communications, Time Warner and our locally owned Southern Coastal Cable, all of which provide internet and either landline phone service or phone service via the internet. These companies all pay a franchise fee (which is passed on to the subscribers as part of the bill) and pay a licensing agreement to have access to the public rights of way to spread their service throughout town. Do we want to take the chance of sending one of these companies running by delving into the very heart of what they provide to us?

********
The City has an ever growing budget–36 Million Dollars this year, an 8 million dollar increase from the 28 Million dollars in 2012. How much more can our shrinking population be asked to pay for basic Government services? A property tax millage increase was approved this year to assist in balancing the budget that the Democrat majority on Council refused to cut by ONE DOLLAR. We need to be streamlining the Government so that our citizens and businesses can flourish and not be penalized with more and more fees and taxes. In a Utopian view—free wifi for everyone sounds good, a nice platitude and voter enticement, in reality “it ain’t gonna happen”. Mayor Scoville proposed this very idea when he ran for Mayor in 2009 and it was never acted upon or approved by Council. We have many businesses that provide WiFi hotspots around town for their customers and that is a win win for everyone. You support a local establishment and they help you stay connected.

********
Mr. Joseph also says in this release that the City is derelict in not providing the following services:
• e-tax payments
• real property information with mapping
• register of deeds
• family court
• alarm registrations
• parks and recreation online registration`
• Government Information Systems, like Google Maps, but for land management and use

These services are provided by the County and the City does not need to duplicate them. The County WEBSITE provides etax payments (property taxes are billed by the County who then forwards to the City its portions of) the assessors’ office link provides a full spectrum of property information and GIS mapping of, Family Court is not a City issue, the City does not have organized sporting and outdoor events that need registration. The City has a GIS Mapping individual, MATT MILLWOOD, on staff who provides for the City what is needed for planning purposes and if a resident needs access they can utilize the County’s services, and the GIS page for the City provides a link to the County’s services. Could the City provide a link on its website that takes you to the County to access the other services, yes and it ends there.

**********
In short, Mr. Joseph is proposing expanding our Government but fails to lay out the details as to how we are going to pay for this. I believe issues like this should be addressed through foundations and private enterprise looking to give back to the community. City Hall, the Law Enforcement Complex and other City and County endeavors could provide hotspots yet they have chosen not to. A few places that come to mind that offer hotspots are Coffee Break Café, Thomas Café, McDonalds, Kudzu Bakery (I am sure there are others I am just not aware of them), if you need to avoid data charges on your phone, get a snack or lunch and make use of these businesses that graciously offer this convenience.

We need to focus on running the day to day operations of the City and not delve into “dangling carrots” to the voters, especially not using the programs that are already in place and are already being paid for through the taxpayer base. Please vote for Richard Powers, Tom Winslow and Lee Padgett on November 3rd. Together we can make a true difference in Georgetown.

Non Partisan Elections-Why I Believe It Is Time To Change

.

The City of Georgetown has operated under the partisan election system and Mayor Council (Strong Mayor) form of Government far too long. The City has had a significant decrease in population since the 1990’s. The projected US Census data for 2014 shows a decline of 1.2% in City residents while the State population has grown by 4.5%. We have to address this. We have to determine what is wrong and then formulate a plan to correct this negative growth into a positive. A stronger and more cohesive Council can deal with that and the over abundance of other top priority issues without the political divide creating chasms in voting and discussions. Individuals that seek the mayorship or a council seat should each have to be judged on their own merit, platform and the abiility to get things done. Too much time in office leads to an inability to see the basic problems–which then grow to insurmountable issues. The preceding is why, should the people decide to elect me, I will only run for a second term if significant progress is being made on the divides and tasks facing us. Public service was never meant to be a career, but the government has decided it should be complete with benefits.

 

The following is a list of number of items that have been discussed for far too long and no action taken by those that have had the power for the past 20 plus years—Maryville Fire Station (9 years and counting), East Bay Park (since 2008 I have heard discussion after discussion and recently plan after plan reviewed but still no action), the issues with the Water Dept and DHEC, drainage problems in the West End and Maryville and so forth. Instead we have had leadership that tackled items such as repairs to the Harborwalk, which turned from a $100,000 repair to a $700,000 complete renovation of and then completed in less than a year’s time. Our water department and fire protection deserves that type of attention not endless discussions and no resolution. The electric lines, poles and other such Electric Department property in Willowbank are covered in vines that literally reach up the pole and then grow across the lines. All this is unacceptable. A resident of Willowbank took me on a walk while campaigning in that area and pointed out many things that are unsafe or unattractive. We are in the Electric business and make a tidy profit while providing residents the 2nd lowest rates in this State. If we cannot or will not maintain what we have then we need to do away with it. This also shows why we need elected officials that interact with the people instead of dismissing and ignoring them.

 
The past few years have brought us new council members who have identified problems and with calls to the City Administrator have brought resolutions to them, granted they are small but it shows a systemic lack of leadership. City employees should take pride in the City and their work and it takes leadership and a comfortable work environment to foster that sense of pride. When those in charge do not display respect for each other or the citizens, morale is low. If we have orange cones sitting off to the side of a building for eternity and no one can answer the question as to why they are there, that is evidence of lack of communication. Any of the street or water or electric department employees, or Council members etc, that encounter something like that should alert those in charge and find out if they are present for a reason and if not, take them away. That may seem like a small problem but the optics of it speak volumes. It is either evidence of a prolonged issue that is not being addressed, or once a problem is repaired those that performed the work failed to assess the scene and remove everything related to the warning of and repair of.

 
The reasons to switch the way our leaders are elected are numerous. The reasons to remain as we are, if any exist, escape me. Council member Brendon Barber argued nearly two years ago when this was being discussed that it disenfranchises people along racial and socio-economic lines. I think the recent Democrat primary showed that to not be true. It showed an electorate frustrated with the state of the City and their ability to clean house so to speak. If anyone has a valid argument to keep the non-partisan form of elections, please present that to me, I would like to hear all views and opinions. Remember this, when garbage is collected or water flows from the tap or the grass gets cut–none of that has anything to do with being a Republican or Democrat–it is just the City providing the needs that it should at a minimal cost to the people.

 

I will conclude with a perspective of the City in partisan terms. Are you happy with the way things are? Are you happy being the poorest City in the State? Are you happy with the amount of our people living below the poverty level? Are you happy with the lack of progress from those that are elected? If you answered NO to any of these questions then perhaps it is time to retire the party that has been in charge since the 1990’s–the Democrats and vote Republican and see the direction this City can take under proactive leadership. 

The Steel Mill and the City

There are several words in blue throughout this commentary that provide links to the information being discussed. Click on the words and you will open a new tab to view the websites and PDFs that are attached.

Al Joseph, candidate for City Council, has written a press release outlining a possible outcome for the Steel Mill. You can read that here.  Mr. Joseph identifies some key issues: being proactive and bringing the Government in to assist with the monumental task facing the city with that property. He also addresses the 700 Block and how it received much attention yet fizzled out like a sparkler on New Years Eve. The City had the guarantee of a Department of Commerce grant to assist with the exorbitant cost of complying with FEMA to rebuild. The City hired Vida Miller to organize and coordinate with the property owners to move everything forward. This imploded. The grant was applied for 15 months after the fact leaving no time to complete the process so it was cancelled when the realization of time needed was not there to meet the September 25th deadline. The development of a team to work with the property owners of the 700 block to assist in permits and conceptual designs fell apart at the seams. Can we risk that with the Steel Mill? Do we need the continued partisan divides that hinder any forward movement? NO! The people deserve better yet the people continually vote in the same party to run our local government.

The City has been under Democrat rule, personally I am not in favor of using our two National parties to define our local Government, but it is where we are, and this party rule has showed us a lack of progress and forward movement. We also have another hindrance to progress–the form of Government we are under to operate the city– Mayor Council. The Mayor is the Chief Operating Officer, where the buck stops so to speak. He is in charge of the day to day operations, long term goals and plans and employees, and with a 36 Million dollar enterprise at his hands it would take someone full time to devote to the needs of this “business”. The Mayor is part-time, he has his own business that needs his attention and there simply are not enough hours in the day to devote to both. We can change that with your help, and move to a City Manager, who is in charge of running this City and free of political expediency. A voting majority on Council of like minded individuals will provide the momentum for true progress and change that Georgetown has lacked over the years. For more on this issue read here.

A young man from Pawleys Island, Sanders Chapman, graduated from Clemson with a degree in Landscape Architecture and he used a revitalization of the Steel Mill as his graduate project. You can see a pdf short version here. His vision falls similarly with mine. When a private developer is able to take this property and turn it into a Maritime College or a mixed use development the board walk could be extended to the area. Creating a walk behind the Kaminski and Stewart Parker houses (which would increase their visibility), a designated walk across Wood Street and then completing the Harborwalk to the port. This will provide a larger, vibrant area and revitalizing Fraser Street in one fell swoop.

Joseph mentioned Brownfields funds in his proposition for the Steel Mill. These are revolving loans, require a co-pay, are limited to use for 5 years and a maximum of $1,000,000.00 (click here for a powerpoint). This program also requires action from the City to apply–much like the economic development grant available from the State Dept of Commerce that was ignored for 15 months by those in charge here. Another alternative thrown out is the “Superfund” program. One that we need to tread carefully into. That EPA fund is fragmented and not stable. There are areas in this country the EPA took control of to clean up, ran out of money for the particular project and a decade later that site is still in a state of decay with no end in sight. Once the EPA takes control, the land cannot be reverted to another use til the project is over.

We need to open a dialogue with Arcelor Mittal/ISG (they still have that name in operation) concerning an environmental assessment of the property. We need to force this to happen, even if we have to fly to 4020 Kinross Lakes Parkway, Richfield OH ourselves and demand a meeting.. The Planning Commission cannot act for a year to change the zoning or property usage label, using eminent domain against them should be a last option, we do not need a reputation of snatching property away from anyone on a whim. We need to exhaust every avenue over the next year to engage the owners of the mill and come up with a viable solution that fits everybody and shows the State and the Country that we are proactive and imaginative and a place to relocate to. We need to draw together those in this State with deep pockets and track records of success and present several conceptual uses of the land to stir interest in the property. As we have seen with the 700 Block, when the Government gets involved and has to act, things falter. This is too important to let stagnate. We need action figures to get this done, not talking heads.

Richard Powers, Tom Winslow and I are running to effect positive changes, to ensure swift and cost effective solutions to our issues (not to spend 8-10 years in discussion before taking action). We truly love this City and want only the best for it and everyone that resides here.

Come Meet the Faces for Real Change Candidates

On Monday, August 17th, 2015, Richard Powers, Tom Winslow and I will be hosting a meet and greet at the Es’Dorn Reception room in Winyah Auditorium. The event is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 pm. We want to hear from the City’s business owners and their supporters.

Georgetown has a reputation of being “unfriendly” to businesses and that has to change. We need to hear what ordinances and regulations are stifling you or are counterproductive to having a successful business, what hidden fees and taxes are too much. We need to know what works. Write down your pros and cons of doing business here and bring to us and any suggestions you have to create an atmosphere locally to help you thrive. .

When elected, we plan to push for “council committees”. Committees that will engage the public and business owners in the conversations of running this town. Not just a blurb on the City’s website that everyone is expected to see, but actual face to face conversation and information of upcoming ordinances or changes to, any proposed utility or tax increases, and get feedback on issues before a vote. After all, this is the people’s and businesses’ City, not the Government’s.

We will be a voice on Council for business and for the people. We need your support and please join us on the 17th.

Form of Government and the Health of the City

I firmly believe the current form of Government for the City of Georgetown is now an impediment to growth. The City is too small for both a full time Mayor and an Administrator–whose sole job is to administer policies as set by the Mayor. The pay for Mayor is too low to warrant anyone quitting their full time job to manage the day to day activities of operating the City. . How do we resolve this? Council can have a vote and simply move us to a Council Manager form of leadership, placing the day to day operations under a professional Manager who then acts at the behest of Council and Mayor. All the employees would then be accountable to 7 people and not one.

The best arguments for this change were made in the January 26, 1995 edition of the Georgetown Times. While being interviewed, current Mayor, Jack Scoville, was more eloquent about the need to change than I ever could be. He was quoted as saying “….City council needs to move forward with changing the form of government from strong mayor/weak council to manager/council structure. We had been operating under that style de facto since 1976 until Rubillo decided to exert his rightful authority under the law. Georgetown is too big to have a strong council form and it is not big enough to pay a full time mayor like Charleston does. Changing the style to the manager form will give the city manager legal authority to run the city and remove the politics from the day to day operations of the City.”

Those words still hold true today. Council, with the show of hands, can easily move this city forward with such a vote. Tom Winslow, Richard Powers and I are in complete agreement with Mr. Scoville’s words and will move to enact such an ordinance, if elected, at our first meeting.

Non partisan elections are another subject we feel passionate about and will work to change as well, Georgetown is one of a handful of municipalities that still votes based on the two main political parties. National politics and party ideology do not matter when it comes to water from the faucet, garbage collection or whether or not our streets are clean. The cost, while seemingly minimal, is too much for the residents to bear. 6-7,000 dollars every two years brings to mind that old saying–a penny saved is a penny earned. The last two elections have shown an electorate that is waking up and asking for new blood and are evaluating each candidate instead of looking for name recognition and party affiliation.  The time is now. A complete overhaul of local Government is long overdue.

Vote November 3, 2015, every voice needs to heard.

It is Time to Stop Studying and Start Learning and Make Educated Decisions

The announcement of the recent “parking study” implemented by the City only shows the lack of vision and creativity on Council. When confronted with an issue, the City spends precious resources or “tax dollars” called grants on “studies”. We studied wages several years ago when it was thought that some pay scales were not inline with where they should have been, we have studied the Electric rates when it was shown there was a disparity in the Commercial rates vs the rest of the State (I believe that one cost of $74,000) and the list goes on over the years.

The City of Charleston has integrated parking structures in their historic downtown and once you are on them you realize what it is; however, they are cleverly disguised as appropriate buildings with shutters and other details to soften the hardness. With proper landscaping and other beautification efforts, a parking garage in the Orange Street Parking lot could triple the number of spaces there and blend into the streetscape. It is the only viable spot to place something of that nature on City property unless, as a friend suggested, we utilize the County and the Courthouse parking lot. There could be issues with the old oaks in place and prove difficult to work around them as well as engaging the County as part of it since they own the land.

The parking garages should not be a revenue stream for the City, just a reasonable charge to cover the building costs (of which some could come from the hospitality tax funds) and future maintenance issues. Parking meters are always tossed out as an option to create a revenue stream and prevent long term parking in areas with limited spaces and they provide neither. Resources are spent to monitor the meters to ensure compliance, they need maintenance and are a target for theft and vandalism. They are also an unfriendly welcome sign to tourists and visitors and are punitive to the very people who reside in an area by forcing them to pay in order to spend their money locally and the potential for fines if they spend too much time dining or getting their hair done. We are limited in what we have available and we must think outside the box and get creative.

The proposed location for the Hotel presents an even larger conundrum. There is no land suitable to house both structures to co-exist. The City’s lot off Screven along with the purchase of the Red Cross building and the County’s Board of Disabilities building and such could add up to enough space to provide an additional 75 plus spaces in a small 3 story garage. and roof top parking, complete with awnings over the openings and window box gardens or living walls to soften the visible sides to the street.

If the City and County could work together to build a municipal complex on Fraser Street in the areas of the sinkholes that could maximize space and provide a rejuvenation for that area., move Government operations from the tourist area and leave the beautiful Courthouse as an artists incubator and creative arts center or other use. These are just ideas to toss out and discuss in think tanks. Tom Winslow, my Republican running mate, spurred this idea when we were discussing the sinkhole area and how the City, and especially the engineering and technical firms that created that deadzone, need to step up and make things right with those property owners and he suggested a municipal complex since City Hall and Fire Station #1 are facing rebuilds or major supports.

We are in need of people with vision, with the ability to think outside the box, with the decisiveness and determination to get things done, elected to Council. This is why Richard Powers, Tom Winslow and I are running. We are decisive, determined and dependable. Help get us elected on November 3rd. After the past decades of stagnant growth and inaction, it is time to stop studying. It is time for forward movement and progress.