Florence Citizens in Action

FLORENCE COUNTY COUNCIL TO SPEND $72,630 TO ROOF A LOCAL CHURCH

Ladies and Gentlemen and Members of the Florence County Citizens in Action:

On April 3rd, 2008 at the regularly scheduled Florence County Council meeting, the council members voted unanimously to spend $72,630 dollars of the taxpayers’ money for an expenditure that was not on the agenda.  With little discussion or explanation, Mitchell Kirby proposed that each councilman join him with monies from their separate discretionary Infrastructures Funds to finance a new roof for the Boys and Girls Club located in Timmonsville.

A CITZENS SPEAKS OUT IN SUPPORT OF RIGHT OF 11,000 PETITIONERS

At the May 15^th meeting of Florence County Council, Murray Jordan spoke in rebuttal to remarks made by Councilman James Schofield concerning the petition to lower the $30 Road Maintenance Fee.  Mr. Jordan, who is not a member of FCCIA, announced to Florence County Council that he was speaking for himself and on behalf of the thousands who signed the petition.

OPEN GOVERNMENT PLAYS NO PART IN DECISION

After six weeks, on May 1, 2008, Florence County Councilman James Schofield broke the silence surrounding the citizens’ petition to lower the countywide Road System Maintenance Fee.  The petition which had been signed by 11,000 citizens was submitted to the Clerk of County Council on March 20th.

In an address that lasted twenty-five minutes, Schofield announced that a court of law would have to decide the matter. Mr. Schofield stated that appropriations cannot be repealed by petition.

 At the April 17, 2008 meeting of Florence County Council, an ordinance (Ordinance 26-2007-207/8) to reduce the county’s interest rate on existing Certificates of Participation was introduced. But, this wasn’t the whole story. What was left out of the written ordinance was the fact that 4.5 million dollars was added on to the debt to fund optional projects favored by some of the councilmen.

Ladies and gentlemen and members of The Florence County Citizens In Action, thank you for being here today.

On March 20, 2008 petitions signed by over 11,000 citizens of Florence County were delivered to the Clerk of Florence County Council. That was three weeks ago and as far as we know, this mandate from the public has not been acknowledged or discussed by the members of council at an open meeting