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 […]
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 […]
Fairfield council majority caves to request to give $4k to first responders
November 10, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County first responders are getting bigger bonuses from the American Rescue Plan after all. On Monday night, Fairfield County Council voted 7-0 to increase full time first responder bonuses from $1,200 to $4,000. But the unanimous vote doesn’t reflect the deep divisions among council members leading up to Monday night’s final reading. […]
Public input sought for rezoning 121 acres
November 10, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – County Councilman Derrek Pugh will hold an in-person town hall meeting Saturday, Nov. 13 to discuss a map amendment request for property on Farrow Road near Blythewood. The request seeks to rezone two parcels totaling 121 acres from heavy industrial (HI) to residential single-family medium density (RS-MD). Pugh, who represents Blythewood District 2, […]
Ft. Jackson requests $50K to build park
November 4, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood Town Council members balked at a proposal to spend $50,000 to help build Centennial Park at Ft. Jackson, a proposed park at the Columbia military base located approximately 14 miles from the Town of Blythewood limits. In October 2019, the council kicked in $15,000 toward the park, said Town Administrator Carroll Williamson. […]
Bell claims council members are county employees, eligible for ARP
November 4, 2021 By
Video Differs with Media Report on Bell’s Brush-Up with 1st Responders WINNSBORO – In a confrontation with Fairfield County first responders following last week’s county council meeting, a video showed Council Chairman Moses Bell, when asked whether he thought he was a county employee, responding, “Yes, I am.” During a council meeting earlier that evening, […]
Blythewood election results
November 2, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Current Town Councilman Sloan J. Griffin, III and Planning Commission Chair Rich McKenrick handily won the two open seats on Blythewood Town Council Tuesday night. Passed over for an endorsement by the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce and openly campaigned against on Facebook by former mayor Mike Ross, Griffin, with 364 votes (42.72%), was […]
Blythewood council meeting postponed to Nov. 1
October 28, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The Blythewood town council meeting scheduled for earlier this week was rescheduled for Monday, Nov. 1, as a joint council/planning commission meeting. Both meetings have long agendas, with a summary of the town’s comprehensive plan during the commission meeting. The council meeting will include an update on Richland County’s planned industrial park in […]
Chamber hosts council candidate forum
October 28, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Two of three candidates running for two town council seats showed up at Tuesday night’s candidate forum held at The Manor to answer questions first from the Blythewood chamber of commerce and later from members of the audience. Prior to the event, missing candidate Town Councilman Sloan Griffin, Jr. released a statement that […]
Fairfield’s majority 4 take heat over vote on rescue funds for first responders
October 26, 2021 By
WINNSBORO – “Thank you for slapping us in the face.” That’s what one first responder uttered after the majority four Fairfield County Council members voted to spend more taxpayer money on themselves and recreation in their districts than on first responders who face COVID-19 every day. On Monday, with the council chambers packed with about […]
