FLORENCE COUNTY CITIZENS IN ACTION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 25, 2005
1. The regular monthly meeting of FCCIA convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Venus Restaurant in Florence with 47 members and guests present. Murray Jordan led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. The minutes of the November meeting were read and approved with one correction.
3. Bette Cox introduced a guest, Roland Woodard, candidate for Florence City Council, who made some remarks.
4. The Treasurer�s Report was presented and accepted, showing a current balance of $931.22. The complete report is attached to the minutes.
5. Chairman Lou Vause then suspended further business and asked Licia Stone to introduce our guest speaker, Mr. Gordon Hartwig, Interim Florence County Administrator. After speaking briefly about the history of county government in South Carolina, and the form of county government in Florence County, the floor was opened for questions. Many questions were asked and opinions ex-changed regarding the search for a permanent county administrator. Following his presentation, Licia thanked Mr. Hartwig for being with us.
6. Regular business resumed with a report from Web Site Committee Chairman Walt Ranson.
7. Chairman Vause advised that she has spoken with Assistant South Carolina Attorney Gen-eral, Mr. Cook, regarding county discretionary funds. Various discussions have also been held re-garding making countywide offices non-partisan.
8. Ethics Committee Chairman Jack Nettles moved the following which was drafted by that committee:
WHEREAS, (1) It has been determined that Florence County Council currently has
no separate and/or local rules of ethics other than those prescribed by state law; and
WHEREAS,
(2) Florence County Council comprises nine members, each of whom
is elected from a separate district thereby creating in effect and essence nine separate sub-units
of government; and
WHEREAS,
(3) The citizens and electors of Florence County have no countywide represent-
atives to protect their collective interests, but only such representation as may be gained by a
majority of the nine disparate districts; and
WHEREAS,
(4) This scheme of representation has over the years evolved into one which
does not truly represent the best interests of the county as a whole, specifically a government
based upon a �good old boy� system of �I�ll scratch your back if you scratch mine� and the
creation of individual fund accounts for the personal political benefit of individual council members;
and
WHEREAS,
(5) This scheme of �Home Rule� government has proven to be additionally
expensive to the taxpayers of Florence County and has resulted in a political, vote-driven method
of infrastructure construction, road maintenance and improvement, and other expenditures of
tax revenue on a district basis rather than a system benefiting the county as a whole; and
WHEREAS,
(6) The only equitable remedy to this situation may require amendment of
current state law governing Home Rule; therefore be it
RESOLVED, (1) That Florence County Citizens In Action hereby urges the creation
of a three-member Florence County Ethics Commission appointed in a non-political, non-partisan
manner, for the purpose of monitoring the ethical conduct of county government in any and all
areas of activity; and,
RESOLVED, (2) That Florence County Council and/or the County Legislative Delegation
revise the method of electing members of Florence County Council in order to provide for the
election of at least three countywide, at-large, representatives; and,
RESOLVED, (3) That should Florence County Council deem such at-large representation
to be unconstitutional and/or barred by current general law, then the Florence County Council shall,
by appropriate resolution, ordinance, petition or other legal means request that the South Carolina
General Assembly make such changes necessary to remove any legal impediment to such at-large
representation; and,
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, (4) That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to each
member of Florence County Council and the Florence County State Legislative Delegation
and/or members of the General Assembly.
The motion was seconded and the floor opened for discussion. Due to the length and com-plexity of the motion, Chairman Vause suggested that further consideration of it be deferred until our next meeting, in order to give the membership an opportunity to familiarize themselves with its provi-sions, and by general assent it was so deferred.
9. Vice Chairman Lula Mims reported on next month�s meeting in Pamplico. We will again be meeting at Mr. D�s Restaurant, and our guest speaker will be Mr. Glenn Willis, Chairman of the Flor-ence County Planning Commission.
10. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael J. Young
Secretary
February 15, 2005 Minutes of the Florence County Citizens in Action
The February 15, 2005 regular business meeting of the Florence County Citizens in Action was held at Mr. D's BBQ Restaurant in Pamplico, SC. The dinner portion of the meeting began at 6:00 PM and Chairman Lou Vause opened the business meeting at 7:00 PM. There were 42 members and guest in attendance.
FCCIA member, Licia Stone read the minutes of the previous meeting which were approved as read. Mrs Stone also gave the Treasurer's report announcing a balance of $823.00. A full treasurers report is attached to the minutes.
Chariman Vause reminded those present that FCCIA is a nonpartisan group. She said that no partisan political speeches were allowed and campaign material could not be passed out. Licia Stone announced that e-mail addresses of members were not current. A sign-in list was passed and all present were asked to include a current e-mail address.
Chairman Lou Vause announced that racks for FCCIA brochures were being placed in various business locations. She asked for volunteers to replenish the brochures. Licia Stone volunteered to continue to distribute brochures at Southside Exxon. Dean Fowler volunteered to continue to place brochures at the treasurer's office.
Mrs. Vause thanked Lula Mims for the work she has done on the publicity committee. She thanked Wilbur Brown for his offer to donate an add in the Lake City News and Post. She said that Mrs. Mims had gotten free publicity for February, but with Mr. Browns's permission, an ad would be placed at a later date in the News and Post.
Chairman Vause thanked Mike Young, who was not able to attend the meeting, for the excellent job he has done in getting reminder cards to members. Mrs. Vause thanked the phone committee for its contribution. She reminded the members to update e-mail addresses and said in the future the phone committee would have the option of only calling members without e-mail.
Mrs. Vause asked for a report from Website Chairman, Walt Ranson. Mr. Ranson reported that the new webmaster (Susan) was updating the website. Mr. Ranson said that Lewis Foster will be taking responsibility of some duties of the website, including posting information.
Chairman Vause said that FCCIA needed to bring issues before the public by writing letters to the editor. Letter Committee Chairman, Bette Cox was not present, but Chairman Vause said she would contact Mrs. Cox concerning additional letters.
Licia Stone introduced guest speaker, Glynn Willis. Mr. Willis is Chairman of the City/County Planning Commission. Mr. Willis informed the group of the structure and duties of the commission. A question and answer session followed Mr. Willis' speech. A gift was presented to Mr. Willis at the conclusion of his presentation.
Chairman Vause asked for a report from the Radio Committee Chairman, Murray Jordan. Mr. Jordan commented that he had made several radio presentations since the last meeting. Mr. Jordan thanked Florence County Treasurer, Dean Fowler for assistance in obtaining information used on the radio programs.
Mrs. Vause announced that the Ethics Committee would make a report at the next meeting due to the absence of Committee Chairman, Jack Nettles.
Mrs. Vause announced the up coming council meetings and encouraged as many members as possible to attend. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Respectively Submitted,
Licia Stone, Acting Secretary
Florence County Citizens in Action
Financial Statement
February 15, 2005
Previous Balance: $931.22
Revenue:
Collection for Newspaper Ad $47.00
Renewals/New Members $40.00
Total: $87.00
Disbursements:
Speaker's gift $15.00
Speaker's meal $8.29
Website Hosting Fee $29.70
News Journal Ad $75.00
Post Card Mail Out $67.14
Total: $195.13
Balance This Statement: $823.10