County Council May Meeting

Park, Lawsuit Settlement
Highlight Council Meeting

  The Brooks and Roston Park and the settlement of a lawsuit brought by some elected officials highlighted Monday’s Saluda County Council meeting.
  Discussion of the Brooks and Roston Park started the proceedings, which featured an overflow audience of park supporters.
  Rev. Annette Mathis, representing the Concerned Citizens, read the following:
  1. Did the County Council consult with the community concerning the Brooks and Roston Park?
  2. Who does the County Council believe owns the Brooks and Roston park?
  3. Instead of a lease agreement, why did the County Council insist on a quick claim deed to give the Brooks and Roston Park to the County?
  4. Is the County Council responsible for cutting the timber of the brooks and Roston park property, and if so who authorized it?
  5. What future plans does the County Council have for the Brooks and Roston Park?
  6. Why did the County close the Brooks and Roston park and tear down the concession stand and the restrooms and remove some of the play ground equipment and it has no water/electric and it has now reopened to the public.
  7. When will the new concession stand, restrooms, water and electric be back up and running for the community?
  8. The Concerned Citizens developed the Brooks and Roston Park and some things are sentimental value and needs to stay as is the community have no desire to move the adult softball field and that is the reason it was developed to play softball.
  9. Is the County funding the Ward’s park and do they own that park?
  10. We are requesting a response in writing in a timely manner please and we thank all of the Councilmen in advance for your cooperation.
  Council Chairman Don Hancock said many of these questions could not be answered immediately, since some funds to build the park came from S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
  County is waiting to hear from both of those agencies to help determine the ownership of the park.
  Councilwoman Gwen Shealy said the lumber was not cut but the county, but the landowners, and the buildings on the park were condemned and torn down at the advice of the county’s insurance carriers.
  County Attorney Chis Spradley said the county cannot deed property to an organization that is not incorporated.
  This similar to the situation with the Emory School last month. County granted the school to the Emory Community Club years ago, but learned this was not legal. The club recently became incorporated as a non-profit organization and Council gave the building to the club.
  James Holloway and Obie Combs addressed ownership and safety concerns.
  Hancock said Council will answer all of Rev. Mathis’ questions as soon as possible.
  At the beginning of the new business section, Hancock read the following:
  “In October 2015, former Saluda County Auditor Jane Guy, current Saluda County Auditor Memmus Forrest, and current Saluda County Treasurer Tina Shealy filed a lawsuit against Saluda County that challenged a provision of Saluda County’s ordinance governing salaries of elected officials as contrary to state law. In the interest of working together for the good of the County, the parties sought to resolve the dispute out of court.
  In April 2017, Saluda County, Jane Guy, Memmus Forrest and Tina Shealy entered into a written settlement agreement that resolves the dispute without any admission of unlawful action or intent by any party. The Saluda County Council believes that incomplete implementation in the past of a comprehensive pay scale system for county employees in part contributed to low salaries for the elected positions of County Treasurer and Auditor,   While Ms. Guy, Mr. Forrest and Ms. Shealy lack personal knowledge of Council’s past intent, they do agree with the County that initiation of a new salary study for all county positions is in the best interest of the County.”
  After this council discussed three related items.
  First reading was given to an ordinance repealing the ordinance establishing minimum base salaries of certain elected/appointed officials.
  First reading was then given to an ordinance that will pay Guy, Forrest and Shealy $120,000 from the reserve fund in accordance to the settlement agreement.
  Council then repealed the longevity plan.
  Councilwoman Shealy said all this action will benefit the county employees in the long run.
  First reading was given to an ordinance that will transfer not more than $100,000 from the reserve fund to balance the General Operating budget for 2016-17.
  Approved was $6100 to A&W Glass Services to install a bullet/blast resistant security glass at the Department of Social Services. Council also gave Grants Coordinator Jill Warren permission to apply for a grant for the victims’ advocate. The grant would be sued to purchase a SUV that would be use to transport victims and their children. Total cost is $27,240 with the county match of $5448.
  Councilman D.J. Miller’s appointed of Bryan W. Rushton to the Tax Appeals Board.
  At the  beginning of the meeting, third and final reading was given to an ordinance lowering hangar lease rates at the Saluda County Airport.
  Jack Atkinson was the only person to speak at the public hearing. He said he had no problems with the ordinance, but as a pilot he would never house a plane in S.C.
  Atkinson said planes are taxed at 10 percent in S.C., so property taxes on a $100,000 plane would run $3200 a year.
  Second reading was given to an ordinance allowing the coroner to charge a fee for cremation services.
  Second readings were given to the county and school  budgets.
The local portion of the Saluda County School’s $17,642,762 budget is $4,227,646.
 The county budget currently stands at $12,677,963. The difference between revenue and expenditures is $1530,263.
  Council approved awarding the contract to conducting annual physicals for firefighters and EMS employees to Site Med at a cost of $270 each.

SALUDA DUCK UNLIMITED CHAPTER RECOGNIZED - The Saluda County Chapter of Duck’s Unlimited received recognition  at the State Convention recently. The chapter was awarded  the Gold National Chapter Excellence Award, and the SCDU State Efficiency Award. Jesse Quattlebaum, Saluda County Chairman, was recognized for his leadership within SCDU and the Saluda County Chapter. Jesse was one of six SCDU members to receive the SCDU Leadership Award. Pictured L to R, are Tanner Quattlebaum of Saluda, Regional Director, Jess Quattlebaum. Josh Price, chapter committee member, and Dave Hemmingsen, SCDU state chairman.

Accident

Two Die In Head-on Collision

  Two people lost their lives Sunday afternoon, April 30, in a head-on collision on the Greenwood Highway.
  According to Saluda County Coroner Keith Turner, Evan Blair Campbell, 18, of Greenwood and Lexie Turner Rodgers, 66, of Ninety Six were both pronounced dead on the scene.
  Cpl. Bill Rhyne of the S.C. Highway Patrol said the accident happened at approximately 4:10 p.m. on U.S. Highway 178, near Fruit Hill Road, six miles from Saluda.
  A 1997 Nissan  Altima, driven by Campbell, was traveling east when it crossed the centerline into the path of a 2004 Ford Econoline van driven by Mrs. Rodgers. Both victims were wearing seatbelts.
  Campbell was just a few weeks away from graduating from Greenwood Christian Academy. Mrs. Turner was a former employee at Saluda Nursing Center.
  Turner and Chief Deputy Randy Simmons would like to thank The Mayson Fire Department, Saluda County EMS, Saluda County Dispatch,  and the SC Highway Patrol for all their help.

Community Concerned With Park Plans

  African American citizens in Saluda are upset with the condition of Brooks and Roston Park on East End Drive off Bauknight Ferry Road.
  A suggestion was made to County County to move the softball field from Brooks and Roston to the Recreation Complex.
  This idea has upset the community, and Almastine Butler wrote the following letter:
  “I am writing to tell your readers and the entire Saluda County the concerns and the deliberate discrimination of the African American Community when it involves who we are and what we have. As some know and some don’t Brooks and Roston Park, “The Field” has been on East End Drive off Bouknight Ferry Road since 1971. This is an area that is cherished and honored by the people that live in and around the area.
  “The Field” has been Saluda’s Big Bang for many years, being the home of Sunday Adult League Softball Games. The field is the only kid and family friendly park that has swings, sliding boards, picnic tables, basketball courts and a softball field.   However, within the recent months that has all been changed. For the last few months the park was blocked off by rope and cones that you couldn’t even step foot on the property or we would be trespassing.
  The park was reopened with a larger problem at hand after the trespassing was removed. The electricity had been disconnected, the water has been disconnected as well as the bathroom and concession stand where the water fountain existed have been removed. The amount of care that Saluda has for the African American Community doesn’t exist.
  With much controversy about Brooks and Roston Park the concerned citizens took it upon themselves to meet and bring forth information to others in the community of the happenings and the unexpected and unwanted changes to the park and to the community.
  Concerned citizens met on Sunday, April 30, 2017 to discuss their concerns and to take action. According to Google, it’s approximately 4.4 miles from East End Drive to the Recreation Field on Highway 178. There are approximately 50-60 kids from one end to the other of Bouknight Ferry Road alone. Why should the kids have to find a ride or wait for someone to pick them up when a park is right in the vicinity?
  Yes, there is some legal issues that are at hand, but in the end the African American Community is still coming up short. As of now, Saluda County claims that they are the owners of the Brooks and Roston Park. On April 14,2017 pictures of the landscaping work for the Saluda Recreation Department were posted   to Social Media by the Saluda County Recreation Director, Paul Ergle, who would also be in charge of Brooks and Roston if it was owned by the county. His picture showed the grass cut, trash cleaned up and not a single child playing. In addition, his hashtag was “#wedonttakedaysoff.”
  However, on April 30, 2017 at 6:52pm I went to Brooks and Roston there were 15-20 guys playing basketball on an unsurfaced basketball court, the grass in the softball field is grown up. Looks like the ten acres will be regrown inside the field instead of outside and there were two little girls which had to be under the age of 5 that were playing on the sliding boards where the grass is also grown up.
  What makes the Saluda Recreation Field more important than Brooks and Roston Park if they are all County facilities? These are a small few of the concerns we have. Yet, this is why we have the concerns. I can only commiserate with others who are irate with the treatment and the thoughts of the change!”
  (Recreation Director Paul Ergle and/ or County Council will be given the opportunity to respond to this in next week’s issue)

Burton Named Anderson
Male Athlete of Year

  ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson University women’s cross country and track standout Haylee Love and men’s track standout Christopher Burton, a Saluda High graduate,  were honored as the Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively, at AU Athletics’ Senior Awards Banquet Tuesday evening at the G. Ross Anderson Jr. Student Center.
  Love, a junior, became the first Trojan cross country runner to qualify for the NCAA National Championships since former All-American Whitney Bishoff earned back-to-back appearances in 2008 and 2009 and again during the 2011 campaign. She is also the first Anderson student-athlete to make an appearance at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships since Bishoff qualified for the 2011 NCAA Championships. Love was one of only two women’s competitors from the South Atlantic Conference to compete in the championships.
  She earned Second-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors this season in both cross country and track, while capturing All-Southeast Region accolades in cross country. The Lexington, S.C., native set a school record when she won the mile run at Clemson’s Last Chance Meet in mid-February and was named to the AFCU Gold Standard last November.
  Burton owns the second-fastest time in the 200 meter dash in the NCAA-Division II ranks this season, while qualifying for next month’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and earlier posted a provisional qualifying time in the 100 meter dash. He brought home first place in the 100 meter and 200 meter dash at both the Emory Classic and the Montreat Invitational last month.
  A native of Johnston, S.C., Burton earned back-to-back AstroTurf SAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors earlier this month and captured First-Team All-Conference honors when he won the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash at the South Atlantic Conference Championships in record time.

Library Staff

From left to right: Sarah Johnson, Geri Martin, and Lisa Lyon

Staff News from Saluda County Library

  Changes have taken place recently in staffing of the Saluda County Library.
  These include:
  Following 12 years of exemplary service, Library Assistant Sandra McAlister, has retired. Geri Martin is promoted to the position of Library Assistant.  New staff members include Lisa Lyon, Director, and Sarah Johnson, Library Aide.
  Lisa Lyon comes to Saluda from Tryon, NC where she served as director of the Lanier Library. Her past positions include many years working with children and young adults in the public library systems of Spartanburg and Laurens counties. Lisa earned her Master of Library Science degree from NCCU in Durham, North Carolina. As the library’s new director, she will focus on supporting early literacy, strengthening community partnerships, and continuing with existing plans for expansion of the library building.
  Sarah Johnson is a former sheriff’s deputy who holds a B.S. in Criminology from NC State who moved to the area four years ago from Florence, SC.  Her introduction to the library began when she attended story time with her young son.  She is responsible for running the circulation desk at the Saluda location, and helping to promote the library through social media. Sarah enjoys reading and crafts, and is interested in starting a knitting group at the library.
  Geri Martin has been with the library for four years and is the new Library Assistant. She will provide cataloging and technical services to help build and maintain the libraries collections, in addition to assisting with special projects. Geri is a painter, and likes to read non-fiction. She plans to develop more programs that celebrate art in our community.
  The Saluda County Library staff is committed to the library’s mission: providing equal access to technology and informational materials to all citizens, encouraging a lifelong interest in learning and reading, and working with other county agencies to inform and promote a strong community. The library works towards the fulfillment of these goals by providing accurate, useful information, materials, and services to all citizens of Saluda County.

Tri-County Teacher Forum
Holds 1st Annual “Chat N Chew”

Members of the Tri-County Teacher Forum, made up of Teachers of the Year from Saluda, Edgefield, and Batesburg-Leesville school districts, held their first annual “Chat N Chew” with their Superintendent’s and invited guests- local Legislators,  and  guest speaker State Superintendent, Molly Spearman at Batesburg-Leesville Middle School on July 19th.
  Teacher Forum membership is made up of the current school teachers of the year and immediate past school teachers of the year, along with a district liaison.  The purpose of a Teacher Forum is to give recognition to school teachers of the year, to develop teacher leadership among this outstanding group, to give the teachers a voice in educational issues that face teachers today at all levels, and to impact the professional development of other teachers by encouraging its members to facilitate the development of leadership skills among their peers. 
  The idea of a Tri-County Teacher Forum was formulated through collaboration of the three counties in providing professional development to teachers of the year while recognizing and developing their roles of leadership.  The “Chat N Chew” event was just one way to serve as a way for teachers to have a voice in educational issues. The event was coordinated by Dr. Ann Marie Taylor- Edgefield, Mary Alice Quattlebaum- Saluda, and Judy Turner-Fox, Lexington 3, district liaisons for the Tri-County Teacher Forum.
  Superintendent Molly Spearman addressed the Forum sharing the importance of celebrating the profession and leading the way towards excellence in education.  Her focus was on the changes and challenges that educator’s face today.  She gave helpful suggestions on how teachers can advocate for their profession.
  Representative Cal Forrest and Representative Bill Clyburn were in attendance and provided information and updates on current bills that were recently passed by the House and is currently up for discussion in the Senate.  Both Legislators praised the work that is being done through the leadership of Superintendent Molly Spearman and through the hard work of local districts and schools.  “It’s all about the children, and what is best for them” they said.
The Tri-County Forum is appreciative of everyone who attended the event, especially our Legislators and Superintendent Molly Spearman who took time out of their busy schedule to show their support and give encouragement to our teachers.

AMANDA CROUCH

SHS Teacher Gets
State Honor

  Saluda High School teacher, Mrs. Amanda Crouch was selected as the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators (SCAAE) Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
  The award recognizes leadership in civic, community, agriculture/agribusiness, and professional activities. Outstanding agricultural educators are innovators and catalysts for student success in agricultural education.
  Mrs. Crouch will go on to compete next at the national level, and the winner will be announced this summer.  The District extends its congratulations to Mrs. Crouch!