County to waive permit fees for storm victims
Pastor William Stephens asked Darlington County Council to support job training efforts through the U Pass It On program
Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Darlington County Council convened a regular meeting on Nov. 2 and voted unanimously to waive building permit fees for repairs associated with damages sustained during the recent flooding events.
Council also voted to carry over an amendment to the vacation accrual policy for county employees. This policy change would end the current practice of allotting a year’s worth of vacation days effective at the beginning of a calendar year and paying out all those vacation days even if the employee leaves their job in January.
“What we’re trying to do is set it up so that employees accrue time throughout the year,” said Terence Arrington, county administrator.
Under the new plan, employees would build vacation time as they put in hours of service, and when an employee leaves they would only be eligible for payment of whatever leave time they have earned. Council agreed that they needed more time to study the plan.
Darlington County Fire District received clearance to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus equipment from Newton’s Fire and Safety for $778,967, which will be paid from the DCFD’s 4 mill general obligation bond.
In other matters, Pastor William Stephens asked council to support job a training program he has founded, called “U Pass It On.” Stephens said he has run a Hartsville-based service business since 1992 and has trained several people in the household repair trade. Now he wants to expand those training efforts to help more job seekers learn valuable skills, even if they are unable to pursue training at a technical college or university.
“I meet many many people, young and old, who can’t do anything,” Stephens said, noting that a lack of practical knowledge hinders many job hunters in their quest for employment.
Council members Wilhelmina Johnson and Bobby Kilgo voiced their support for Stephens’ efforts to establish a training facility. Kilgo noted that in years past, high school students were taught skilled trades – like brick masonry – that helped them secure good paying jobs, sometimes even before graduation. Kilgo also shared an observation from a Florence Darlington Technical College instructor that some young students enter FDTC training programs with such low skill levels that they use up much of their student loan money taking remedial courses before their actual training begins.
Anita Dantzler of the S.C. Human Affairs Commission asked council to consider forming a community relations council, sponsored by her agency, to serve as a hearing body for local complaints of discrimination. Dantzler said the need for formal outlets to air such concerns has reignited since the tragic shootings in a Charleston church this past June, and her agency now seeks to establish community relations councils in all 46 South Carolina counties.
“We need the assistance of every county council and municipality to achieve this plan. Community relations councils play a vital role in promoting community understanding and open communication,” said Dantzler.
Local governments, chambers of commerce, and individual citizens are welcome to participate in the formation of their local volunteer council. Participants would receive free training from the state.
“All the Commission asks is that a diverse group of civic minded citizens agree to come together for the betterment of the community,” said Dantzler.
The SC Human Affairs Commission has been in existence since 1972. Dantzler described their mission as working to “prevent and eliminate discrimination in housing, employment, and in public accommodations, which includes people going to restaurants or beaches or hotels.”
County administrator Terence Arrington announced that two county employees – planning director Doug Reimold and building and codes director Randy Evans – will be retiring in January. Arrington also announced that Michelle Moore in now the permanent emergency services director and Mac McDonald is now the permanent emergency management director.