Year in Review: Government

Posted on Tuesday, January 3, 2017

[EDITOR’S NOTE: In our first paper of the New Year, we are looking back at some of the biggest stories from last year. We look at Government, Lifestyles, Crime, Notable Deaths and Recreation related stories.]

Jan 13
Gloria C. Hines takes office as Mayor of Darlington

History was made on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 as Gloria Cheeseboro Hines was elected mayor of the City of Darlington – making her the first woman and the first African American to hold this office.

The swearing in ceremony for Mayor Hines was presided over by Marvin I. Lawson, Judge of Probate for Darlington County.

“I, Gloria Cheeseboro Hines, do solemnly swear, that I am duly qualified, according to the constitution of this state, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been elected and I will to the best of my abilities discharge the duties that are and preserve, protect and defend the constitution of this state and of the United States as Mayor of this City of Darlington I will equally, fairly, and impartially to the best of my ability and skills exercise the trust proposed in me and will use my best endeavor to preserve the peace and carry into effect according to the law the purposes for which I have been elected so help me God.”

March 23
Lamar closes second well due to radium

The Town of Lamar held its monthly council meeting March 14, and council member Mike Lloyd revealed that the town has closed a second well after trace amounts of radium were detected by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). The town closed its #1 well last year for this same reason, and the closing of the #2 well leaves Lamar without an internally generated water source.

“We have shut our water system down and we are purchasing from Darlington County (Water and Sewer Authority) since about the middle of last month,” said Lloyd.
Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive alkaline earth metal, usually found in soil and seawater in trace amounts due to the decay of thorium or uranium isotopes. The amounts found in Lamar’s well water were very small, but town officials are hoping to drill another well – this one away from the trouble spots they’ve encountered with the western spur of the Middendorf Aquifer.

Lloyd said the town is applying for grants and loans to help finance the establishment of a new well on the eastern edge of town. Thus far, Lamar has applied for a Rural Infrastructure Association grant of $500,000, and an SRF (State Revolving Fund) grant of $800,000. Even if the town receives full funding from these requests, Lamar will still be on the hook for a substantial loan.

“That would leave us maybe having to borrow $200,000 to fund this project,” said Lloyd.

June 15
Darlington City Council vote fails to oust longtime city municipal judge

A motion failed during the June 7th meeting for the Darlington City Council to oust longtime city municipal judge with a 3 – 3 tie vote and one abstention.

In a list of 16 agenda items for the June monthly meeting, two revolved around the present municipal judge, a seat currently held by Daniel B. Causey, III.

Mayor Gloria Hines opened the discussion for the ordinance as follows:

“As you know if you look at your handbooks and look at the ordinance, the municipal judge the age is 72 for retirement, ….but there’s nothing set in place for the municipal judge. So we want to put that on out and get a First Reading and vote on it. Can I get a motion for that?

Council member Carolyn Bruce made a motion, which was seconded by fellow council member Elaine Reed.

Hines continued; “All in favor for voting on it by saying aye?”

Reed, Bruce, and Hines all said “Aye.”

“Nays have the same right,” continued Hines.

She was met by silence.

John Milling, member of Darlington City Council (who is a retired judge and a practicing attorney at law) spoke next.

“Madam Mayor, I just make one request.” said Milling. “That we consider asking Mr. James, the City Attorney to send the proposed ordinance simply to the Attorney General’s office. Uh, I understand the function, and…”

“You want to amend the motion?” said Hines.

“No, First Reading is fine, we would need a Second Reading,” said Milling. But I want to be sure that we do not step on any codes, and any violations or any stay of federal statutes …that say you can’t discriminate against people based on age. I don’t think that it would, but it wouldn’t hurt for the Attorney General’s office to take a look at it before…it’s a free service that is provided to…”

Mayor Hines said, “The only thing that we are doing is just starting the same that um, Magistrate Judge has.”

Milling continued. “Ah, we are, and I don’t think, I don’t that that we would run into a violation but I just do not see any real problem just having it reviewed to just be sure there are no age issues. And then we can come back to vote at the Second Reading.”

Mayor Hines replied, “Mr. Garland can take care of that.”

Vote to Open Application for Municipal Judge:

The agenda item was opened by Mayor Hines: “A Vote to Open Application for Municipal Judge. This is has been a discussion, some of you said you wanted to open up the application for a municipal judge, so at this time,”

John Milling turned his seat towards the back corner where Mayor Hines sits.

“I’m sorry I’m turning to I can see,” said Milling.

Hines continued. “So, I would ask for a motion at this time, or open for debate, whatever, do we have a motion?”

Reed said, “So moved.”

Bruce said, “Second.”

“There has been a proper second to accept the application for municipal judge, open up the application, let me know by saying Aye.” continued Mayor Hines.

Bruce, Reed and Hines all said, “Aye.”

John Milling said, “Are we going to have discussion on this?”

Council member Bryant Gardner said, “Yeah, why are we doing the motion before the discussion?”

Hines: “I mean, I’m sorry, go ahead, go ahead.”

Gardner said, “I’m just curious… I mean, it’s done, but… for clarity in the future?”

“What do we need to discuss?” said Hines.

“The majority just voted, so, it doesn’t matter.” said Gardner

Hines said, “We discuss…”

“I don’t think we voted,” said Milling.

Many members spoke at once at this point; on the recording, a voice said, “I didn’t vote” was heard.

“Go ahead,” said Hines.

“I, I just my concern is that we currently have that position filled. It is my understanding that there is some concern that it was not officially voted on by council in 2015,” said Milling. “…and then perhaps it was voted on in 2013, and in 2011, and then in 2009. …a sitting judge would not have the authority to require that this be put down so I am concerned that city council not having acted has created something of a problem. I don’t want us to be in a situation where we are doing things in a way that it makes it look like if we failed to do something, then we use it to our advantage. If somebody else fails to do something, we hold them accountable for that. A municipal judge is responsible for presiding over the terms of court that they place we need to sort of set an example for other people in the community that we are asking them to comply with ordinances, and we are asking the judge to rule on issues. Judgment based upon compliance and non-compliance that we ought to be the first one to set an example about how we do things. This city council, although many of us weren’t here, stubbed its toe last year I would still like to see the position remain at this time as it is and then in 2017 we move to do something with that position if that is what council wants to do. I also would like to see us before we simply open up the applications I think we if we don’t have it, I apologize for my ignorance but I think we need define what our expectations are for a city judge and outline the responsibilities we expect that city judge to fulfill so that anybody that is applying for it knows that they are doing something other than simply applying for the position as city judge but I think we are premature in dealing with the opening up of the application process for city municipal judge.”

Council member Elaine Reed said, “I hear what you say, but I also hear we were instructed that the municipal judge position had not been dealt with. And we don’t know what the terms are, but that it hadn’t been dealt with. And from our information, it said it ended June 2016. And I just felt like because of if council hadn’t done it in four years, hadn’t dealt with it then, we are new. I want to try to do the right thing. And that’s what I was saying. This was the information given to us and I thought we would be active in doing. There’s nothing to say but the city judge now can’t apply for it, we are just saying let’s open it up. Let’s follow the right procedure if that’s the procedure that we should have done, let’s just do it. I mean, I am not understanding- I don’t see what’s wrong about opening up the application because we understood there was no action taken from the council before. And it was brought to our attention that that was something that needed to be dealt with.”

Carolyn Bruce held up a sheet of paper and said, “ I received this letter in the mail, and I am sure all of you guys received it too. And as I was reading it, it talks about how the municipal judge section 26.5 provides this municipal judge should be appointed by the city council at it’s first meeting in July of each year to go for a period of two years. And according to Judge Causey, ‘when my term expired in June of 2015 I was approached about serving another term.’ Now, I wasn’t on the council. Most of us wasn’t on the council. So, where, who- who approached him? Where is there a contract in writing that he serves to 2017?”

Mayor Hines said, “We were not told about that. I don’t know who did that.”

“Did everyone get this letter?” said Bruce.

Hines shared that the issue was not voted on in council, and that she did not know who Judge Causey spoke with.

“I don’t’ know who Judge Causey talked to, it was not brought before council,” she said. “I don’t know where that part came from. All I know is I was approached in January and said this year we were to appoint a judge. That’s what I was told. That’s all.”

Council member John Segars said, ”I think to follow up with what Mr. Milling was speaking of, the term of the judge goes from 13 to 15, from 15 to 17; and since council maybe in inaction allowed him to start serving on June 15 so his term expires in 2017 and based on the council if they have any action or inaction we should allow him to go ahead and serve his term on out, which expires in 2017. And based on council, if they have any action or inaction, we should allow him to go ahead and serve that term on out in 2017 and then we can open this thing up for applications.”

Mayor Pro Tem Coleman Cannon added, “It said he was approached, now we didn’t vote on it last term. … I see two things there. First he was approached and council didn’t vote. The other thing I see is that whoever told him that dropped the ball on all of us. But I don’t know who told him. But council didn’t vote on it. So I don’t know how this is going to work.”

City Manager Howard Garland said, “It is my understanding that Mr. Causey was appointed by Mayor Ronnie Ward when he was strong mayor and had that right. The next time it came up was 2009 when applications opened. So it was brought to council for vote. The next vote was 2013. That is the only votes that we could find that were on record concerning the Municipal Judge position. And that goes back for almost 30 years.

This is a council decision; it’s not city manager or anybody else. This is up to y’all.”

Hines asked if their was any more discussion.

Bruce asked if there was not a contract would the city be held liable if they opened for applications.

“I don’t want to get into a discussion of legal matter that is more for council and city to do but you run into something by your actions or your inactions,” said Milling.. “… more the idea that is it a fair and appropriate thing to do to in essence dismiss him during mid term? … I would rather wait until the next 12 months and move into it the next 2017 with everything being explored.

After more banter, the issue was brought for a vote by Hines; she, Bruce and Reed all voted Aye.

Milling, Gardner and Segars voted “Nay.”

Mayor Pro Tem Coleman Cannon abstained.

The motion failed to pass due to tie.

August 10
County administrator quits

Reports indicate that Darlington County administrator Terence Arrington has resigned his position effective immediately.

Darlington County Council convened a special meeting the morning of Monday, August 6 and postponed a vote to renew Arrington’s employment contract. Following a discussion in closed executive session, council adjourned the meeting without taking any public action on the contract. By afternoon, reports began to surface that Arrington had decided to resign after council failed to renew his contract. Council chair Bobby Hudson confirmed for the News and Press that council had decided not to renew Arrington’s contract, which was set to expire in February of 2017. He said Arrington indicated a willingness to work the final six months of his term, but evidently changed his mind and decided to leave immediately. The remainder of his salary – approximately $50,000 after taxes – will be paid to him regardless.

Arrington served as administrator since February of 2015, initially hired with a two year contract paying $100,000 the first year and $105,000 the second year.

All eight County Council members were present for the contract deliberations, including Hudson, vice chair Robbin Brock, and council members David Coker, Wilhelmina Johnson, Bobby Kilgo, Le Flowers, Mozella “Pennie” Nicholson, and Dannie Douglas.

August 31
Sinkholes continue to plague city and county

It’s become a common sight around the City of Darlington and Darlington County – the orange cones surrounding ruptured asphalt and piles of rust-colored clay indicating another sinkhole has appeared, rendering some road either treacherous or impassable. Though work crews from the city and county (and sometimes from SCDOT) respond quickly and toil until the damage is patched, some days they can barely stay ahead of the problem. In July and August, more than 115 sinkholes opened up around Darlington County, indicating that this problem won’t be going away anytime soon.

Darlington city manager Howard Garland says that many of the sinkholes the city deals with are caused when old clay sewer pipes collapse, causing the double trouble of sinkhole repair and water/sewer service interruption.

“When a sinkhole appears, the first thing we do is check city maps to determine exactly where it is and who is responsible for repairing it. Depending on the location, it could be the city, it could be the county or DOT,” Garland says.

If the sinkhole is caused by a clay pipe failure, the city deploys repair crews and replaces the clay pipes with durable plastic conduits. In severe cases like the July 13 collapse at the intersection of Pearl and Syracuse Streets, crews must dig up and replace the failed pipes from manhole to manhole – a costly project that eats up thousands of dollars in man hours and city resources.

While state and local governments have established routines for sinkhole repairs, little can be done to predict where they might occur. Around 20-percent of the U.S. is vulnerable to sinkholes because those areas rest over karst terrain where the subsurface rock is soluble, like limestone. These carbonate materials dissolve when groundwater circulates through them, causing susceptibility to sinkhole development. Darlington County is situated on a knot of karst terrain located beneath the Pee Dee, so when the weather pairs long dry stretches with sudden heavy rains, the earth can literally give way beneath our feet, our cars, even our houses.

Sept 14
Shelter raises concerns in Darlington

A proposed shelter for homeless people in Darlington has raised concerns by a daycare next door, and residents that live nearby.

Kim Bryant, is the Director the Kids Stop Daycare that has operated since 1988, spoke both at the September City Council meeting on Tuesday September 6, and to the News and Press Thursday September 8.

“We had noticed activity over there in August,” said Bryant. “One of our staff members forgot her phone and came back after hours and saw a man looking in the front windows. She kept going and circled back around, and saw him going into the building next door. The next morning we called the police and made a statement. They were already aware there were people there, but that was the first time they’d had an incident.”

Kids Stop has children from infants age 6 weeks to school aged children aged 8.

The building was the site of the former Coleman – Aimar Hospital. After it closed, it was purchased by Dr. Willis and reopened as a nursing home.

“They were great neighbors,” said Bryant. “They talked to the kids and all was well. After that, the Carriage House operated in the building, and when it closed, it’s been empty ever since.”

“No one introduced themselves to us,” continued Bryant. “One of our neighbors gave us a pamphlet that told what they were, the Flowers Ministry. They have never come over.”

Bryant said she called the corporate office in Charlotte to ask what it was going to be; she was told a homeless shelter. “I was a little stunned. I waited a couple of week and called back, and asked again, and was told it was to be a 90-day facility. I said, for the homeless? And she said ‘yes, ma’am’ and then I said, for drug offenders, sex offenders? And she said anyone that needs help in finding Christ. I have no problem with that, but I do not think it needs to be in a neighborhood with a daycare. All our neighbors have been living here for years and many are widows. It’s not just a problem for us, but for the whole neighborhood.”

A second incident was more troubling.

“A normal afternoon when the children were playing outside on the playground, one of our staff members saw a man on their property with a camera held up towards our children. Her assumption was he was videotaping our children. We came inside and called the police again. We can’t have that.”

One of fathers of her children spoke out at city Council meeting against the shelter operating next door.

“From what I understand they haven’t gotten the first license,” continued Bryant. “Listen, I’ve worked with daycares for a long time. We work with DHEC, the Fire Marshall, – we do what they say and comply. If they are truly trying to help people they need to do the same things that we all do.”

Bryant said that as a daycare, they constantly check the registered sex offenders’ list and was extremely upset to learn that one had been staying at the facility.

“As a pastor, how could you with good conscience have a sex offender as close to us as these two buildings are? We share a parking lot, basically.”

Bryant said that the daycare opens at 7 a.m., and her staff gets there early; they witnessed people shooing people out of the facility as early as 6:30 a.m.
“We want our children safe, and our staff members. We are all ladies. With the time change coming up, it’s dark in the mornings and when we close. This is just not a safe situation.”

The city’s contracted commercial building inspector, fire chief and police chief are all perplexed by the lack of cooperation by Flowers Ministries, Incorporated.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Edwin Hardee, Commercial Building Inspector with Safebuilt, who contracts with the City of Darlington. “We usually get cooperation with people to gain occupancy. The usually bend over backward to work with you so they can open. With this company, we have not had that.”

Hardee said that officials were told on Åug. 23 that the facility was now operating as a church. “Sanctuaries are not allowed to be a place of residence in the State of South Carolina,” said Hardee. “Yet, they were still trying to use it as a homeless shelter or a transitional housing location.”

City Fire Chief Pat Cavanaugh and City Police Chief Danny Watson agreed.

Both men concurred that they approached the staff at the facility on numerous occasions to learn more and were rebuffed. All officials state that they have full support of City Council and the Mayor.

The company is not related to Tonya Flowers that operates the House of Refuge in Darlington.

Flowers Ministries, Incorporated, was contacted by the News and Press and did not respond to questions by press time.

Flowers Ministries was not found on the S.C. Secretary of State website as an active charity; on the N.C. Secretary of State website, they were classified as non profit formed in 2007.

As found on their website, www.flowersincusa.org, the Flowers Ministries, Incorporated, has corporate offices in Charlotte, N.C. In addition to the Darlington location, they have offices in Charleston (Goose Creek) SC; Columbia SC (Irmo); August GA; Jacksonville, FL; Miami Fl; and Washington DC, Virginia (Arlington VA) They state that their programs include Shepherd Mission House, the Shepherd Financial Group; Shepherd Real Properties; FMI Charity Development; Disability Claims Assistance.

A timeline of the building from the building inspector is as follows:

July 29: Officials were sent to location at 109 Law Street; no certificate of occupancy, no inspection to allow use of building as residential

Aug. 1: detailed list of what must be done given to personnel

Aug. 5: contracted building inspector notes deficiencies that needed to be fixed to obtain a certification of occupancy.

Aug. 5. Temporary Certificate of Occupancy issued by Roni Jo Abdella. Occupancy given as Commercial

Aug. 23: Items still not resolved, including: emergency lighting not operational, exposed outlets, exposed fixtures, fire safety doors not functional. Personnel told inspector the facility was going to be church, and would house people as a transitional shelter.

August 23: Letter sent to Flowers Ministries, Inc. by Edwin Hardee, Commercial Building Inspector.

Aug. 23: Caution notice posted: It has been determined that the occupancy of this building is in fact, illegal. There has been no certificate of occupancy issued for this building for the purpose of which it is being used currently. Therefore it has been determined that under Section 110 of the International Fire Code you must vacate this building immediately. The building can no longer be occupied in any matter with the exception of daytime hours or for the purposes to bring the location up to code. Violation of this will carry with it punishment under law.

Aug. 23: Inspection Record at 11:00 a.m. given to Elizabeth Moseley;

A-3 Occupancy (church): Plans must be drawn by a design professional to bring building up to code.No person is allowed to sleep in this building unless change of use performed and building meets code that allow persons to sleep in building.

Sept. 1: Letter to Building Permits Office in Darlington from Orin G. Briggs of Lexington, S.C., Attorney for Shepard Ministries of the church located at 109 Law Street, requesting that the Fire Department allow church members to enter the church to supervise workers to make improvements.

City of Darlington Fire Department documents pertaining to 109 Law Street:

Jan. 21, 2014: Consultation for Work Needed – Pre-Occupancy Inspection

Name of Facility: Transitional Center for Veterans, 109 Law Street, Darlington
Tenant: Jimmy Williams
Mandated corrections:

• Head system shall be serviced and compliant
• Fire alarm shall be serviced and proper work order.
• All panel boxes shall be labeled.
• No exposed wiring shall be permitted.
• Exit sign shall be in working order.
• All emergency lighting shall be in operation.

Sept. 30, 2014: inspection

Name of Facility: Transitional Center for Veterans, 109 Law Street, Darlington
Tenant: Jimmy Williams

• Hood system shall be serviced and UL compliant 904.11 IEC
• Fire Alarm shall be serviced and proper working order 906 IFC
• All panel boxes shall be labeled 605 IFC
• No Exposed wiring shall be permitted 605 IFC
• Exit signs shall be in working order 1011.1 IFC
• All emergency lighting shall be in operation 1011.1 IFC

February 15, 2016: Inspection

Name of Facility: Families Engagement Program

B-8 Hood system shall be serviced and UL Compliant 904.11 IFC
B-5 Fire extinguishers shall be serviced and 1 in every hallway 904 IFC
EE-4 All electrical covers shall be on all electrical boxes 605 IFC
A-3 All exits shall have illuminated signs 1011.1
A-4 All emergency lighting shall be in working condition 1011.1 IFC

April 8, 2016: Inspection
Name of Facility: Flowers Ministries
Name of Owner: Fatherhood and Families Engagement Program
All ok

July 29, 2016: Report only, Not an inspection
Name of Facility: Flowers Ministries, Inc. (Shepard Mission House) Elizabeth Mosely
• Called to this location for homeless shelter in operation.
• No certificate of occupancy on file at City Bld. Office.
• No inspection performed by fire official for occupancy type.
• No working fire alarm system in place.
• Fire extinguishers are satisfactory.
• Due to extreme heat, staff and management advised to keep fire watch until Monday morning and meet with city officials on Sept. 2
• At this time, city officials will initiate proper paperwork and inspection procedures to obtain required certification of occupancy. Fire watch shall be maintained 24/7 until certification and inspection from building official. NO SMOKING NO COOKING to be performed on property! Fire alarm system shall be brought up to code.

Aug. 1, 2016: Notice by Fire Department

No trip test on Alarm System. Emergency light not operational, Outlets and fixgtures have not been fixed. Date of completion has been extended.

Aug. 1, 2016: Inspection

Shepard House Ministries (Flowers Ministries) Elizabeth Mosely

• Emergency Lights shall be operational
• Fire alarm shll be serviced and brought up to new standards, all smoke detectors and audible alarms shall be operational
• And alarm trip test shall be performed prior to clearance of system.
• All outlets and light fixtures in walls and ceilings shall have appropriate covers placed in junction boxes

Aug. 5, 2016 Inspection
Shepard House Ministries (Flowers Ministries) Elizabeth Mosely

• A6 Automatic closing devide shall be operational on fire doors upon activation of fire alarm system
• Automatic door closer near kitchen not working properly. Not closing all the way.

Aug. 25, 2016 Inspection
• All electrical covers shall be in place at all times
• Fire extinguishers shall be serviced and tagged
• All electrical wiring shall be up to code

Darlington Police Department Reports:

July 30, 2016: Incident Report

Complaint by a resident who filed a report that her 58 year old brother stayed at the homeless shelter at 109 Law Street on Saturday and Sunday. She took him back there on Monday to get money refunded. A staff member at the facility said since he had meals there he would have to pay for the week, which was $150.00. The woman reported that her brother said he was “locked in a night” and could not leave unless the resident asked someone., his ID and food stamp card was locked in a lock box. She reported that he told her he had to sign documents one being a power of attorney for emergency medical purposes. The room he was in had an open window with no air-conditioning or fan and it was extremely hot.

Aug. 3, 2016: incident report
A homeless woman, age 67, filed a complaint that she had seen individuals at the Darlington Dollar General collecting donations for the homeless. She approached them and asked for help. She reported to police that she stayed there and was asked to give her bank debit card and food stamp card. She was advised that she and the other residents were required to ask for donations, but the victim refused because she felt it was “panhandling.” She was later told to give a mandatory donation. $500 of her social security check was taken out of her bank account living her with $54.00. Groceries were purchased from her food stamp card, leaving her with $3.00 remaining. She stated to police that she was kicked out of the program for asking too many questions and for coming to the police. The City of Darlington paid for her to stay at a local motel and food.

Aug. 5, 2016: Incident Report
At request of City of Darlington Fire Department, officers assisted Fire Department and Building Inspector Ronni JKoe Abdella. The entrance was closed and locked, but several televisionsn and fans were operating. Flowers Ministries member Elizabeth Mosely and three elderly people arrived, and EMS was called to assist with one of the senior citizens. A building inspection was to be conducted later in the day.

Aug. 28, 2016: Incident Report
Police called to assist Darlington Fire Department about trespassing at the 109 Law Street building. A fire alarm was going off at the time, with water pouring from the ceiling into the unit. The site was not supposed to be occupied by overnight residents due to various code violations and sanctions by the fire marshal. A member of the church that leases the building was there and was given a citation for trespassing after notice, and instructed to meet with the city judge on Aug. 31, 2016.

Sept. 2, 2016: Incident Report
Police responded to assist Darlington Fire Department with fire alarm call at 109 Law Street. Alarms were turned off, and after a sweep of the facility no one was found on the premises but multiple televisions were on suggesting occupancy.

October 12
Citizens protest Byrdtown solar farm

Several citizens addressed Darlington County Council at their October 3 regular meeting, asking for council to intercede and stop the construction of a 185-acre solar power farm in the Byrdtown community.

In April, solar power developer Innovative Solar LLC filed a permit request with the Darlington County Planning Commission to construct a facility on leased farmland in Byrdtown. The proposed large-scale solar farm would hold over 100,000 photovoltaic panels, changing the rural farming landscape so drastically that some residents would consider uprooting their families and moving away.

Resident William Griggs told council that he worried toxic chemicals like cadmium and mercury contained within the panels might leach into the soil, putting his family and others in danger. Griggs said he attended a September 6 meeting of the Planning Commission where Innovative Solar’s land development manager Lance Roddy and an environmental engineer working for the company tried to allay concerns.

“He used words like ‘probably not’ and ‘highly unlikely’ that it would affect the surrounding area. I can’t stake the health of my children on words such as that. For me and my family, if the solar panels come, we’ll be kicked out of our community. We’ll leave,” said Griggs.

Stephanie Howle said she grew up in the Byrdtown community and worries that the solar farm might negatively impact the environment and harm the peaceful landscape.

“It’s a quiet rural community where everybody knows everyone. You go on a Sunday afternoon drive to look at the farmland and see the crops growing. Now there’s a proposed solar farm. Many will sit on their porches with a cup of coffee to see the green groves and wildlife, but now their going to see the solar panels,” said Howle.

Nolan J. Johnson said the proposed farm would be located less than 700 feet from his front door.

“This is right in downtown Byrdtown, if there’s such a thing,” said Johnson, describing Byrdtown as a quiet community where families can raise children and crops. He worried that approving this solar farm might spark a trend where rural landowners lease their unused fields to energy development companies.
“One day, driving around the backroads of Darlington County… you’re not going to see cotton fields, corn fields, or soybean fields, but you’re going to see a hundred-thousand of these solar panels surrounded by chain link fence with barbed wire on it,” said Johnson.

Griggs wondered how durable the solar panels would be over time, whether they could withstand years of volatile weather, being pelted by hailstorms and rain and buffeted by wind. Howle voiced concerns over what sorts of chemicals the panels might release if they were damaged by a forest fire.

“They say these panels are sealed, but I don’t know if they can stand up to Mother Nature,” said Griggs. “Mother Nature is very abusive.”

At that September 6 Planning Commission meeting, Roddy said the photovoltaic panels used by Innovative Solar are designed within a sealed matrix built to endure hail, high winds, and lightning. Roddy said that his company, founded in 2011, has built over 30 similar solar farm projects over the past five years.

Innovative Solar’s business model – according to their website at www.innovativesolarsystemsllc.com– involves leasing land, developing a solar power collection site, and then selling that finished site to investors. Lionel Gilbert of Innovative Solar told the Planning Commission at a January 2016 meeting (regarding their Flinn’s Road solar project) that site owners are normally able to pay for all decommissioning costs by salvaging and selling panels, steel posts, and other construction components.

Citizen Hal Johnson showed council a petition signed by over 700 Darlington County residents who oppose the Byrdtown solar energy project. He noted that these signatures were collected in less than two months by going door to door and discussing the solar farm with community members. Johnson added that Innovative Solar is only the first solar energy developer to approach the county, and he worried that allowing this project to proceed without careful deliberation could lead to trouble in the future.

“This is only one investor, one land developer. Once they get everything in and start moving, you’re just opening up the gates for all the rest of them to come in. If we don’t have a tougher ordinance or we don’t make a stand now, it’s never gonna stop,” said Johnson.

More than a dozen solar farms are currently proposed for location in Darlington County, including the latest – a 36,000-panel installation applied for September 30 by Sustainable Energy Solutions of Charleston, which would locate across from the Hartsville Walmart.

Some Byrdtown residents also mentioned concern over the potential noise generated by such large installations. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, power inverters used at facilities producing over 100mw of energy produce a hum of around 60db (equivalent to a large air conditioner) as they collect power during daylight hours. Solar energy inverters should be inactive and silent between sundown and sunrise.

After all citizens had their say, some council members voiced support for their concerns and vowed that no quick decisions would be made.

“We’re going to look into this and I promise you we will not take this lightly,” said council member David Coker. “We definitely have to look into a decommission plan because we can’t be stuck with a problem thirty years from now.”

Coker observed that by the time any problems arise from the aged photovoltaic panels, the original landowners who leased to the solar farm will likely have passed away, and Innovative Solar would have long since sold the installation to investors. He also broached the idea that the county should help protect rural communities from unwelcome industrial development.

“We need to put these things in industrial areas, probably, and not in people’s yards,” said Coker.

Darlington County currently has no comprehensive zoning ordinance, and therefore cannot forbid power plants, factory farms, or any other industries from locating in residential communities if those businesses obtain all the necessary permits and clearances from state authorities and the county’s Planning Commission.

The county can, however, place requirements on businesses that must be met prior to issuance of construction permits. To this end, council held a title-only first reading on Ordinance 16-19, amending some of the language in the county’s renewable energy systems development code.

Changes include requiring a solar farm applicant to submit a decommissioning plan detailing how all panels, buildings, cables, and electrical components will be disposed of; this decommissioning plan would kick in after six continuous months of no energy production, and the permit holder would have six months to completely clear and restore the site.

Additionally, solar farms are to be set back 100 feet from property lines, 50 feet from the right of way, and 500 feet from the nearest residence, unless given permission by adjoining property owners to locate closer.

The amendment also requires a “continuous vegetative buffer” be installed around the perimeter of solar or wind farms. The buffer must contain two staggered rows, measure at least three feet high at planting, and reach ten feet in height within three years.

Council member Le Flowers asked to convene a meeting between members of council and representatives from SC DHEC and/or the EPA to learn more about the potential long-term issues involved with solar farms. This work session should take place within the next two weeks, giving council and the Planning Commission time to make more informed deliberations before construction permits are issued for the Byrdtown solar farm project.

October 19
Hurricane Matthew damages top $4 million countywide

The Darlington County Emergency Operations Center held a meeting Thursday, October 13 to confer with municipal officials and representatives from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and share preliminary damage assessment data collected in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. FEMA officials were readying to head out into the field with county and municipal emergency workers to conduct first-hand damage assessments. Examination of the resulting data (and any subsequent updates) will determine what level of FEMA disaster recovery assistance Darlington County receives.

Two state roads in our county are currently closed: Bethea Road, which suffered a major break in an earthen dam, and Andrews Mill Road, where dam break repairs are currently underway. SCDOT assessments of Bethea Road are ongoing and no repairs are yet scheduled.

FEMA inspectors planned to visit government buildings to assess damage and see if county and city governments may qualify for aid through their Public Assistance Program. County and city governments can also qualify for FEMA reimbursement of disaster-related costs (including employee overtime pay) if the countywide footprint for these expenses exceeds $247,000.

Darlington County Emergency Management director Mike “Mac” McDonald said that the process of gathering damage assessments is moving much quicker this year than it did after the October 2015 floods. Preliminary figures estimate over $4 million in damages across the county.

Darlington city manager Howard Garland said the city’s current estimate stands at $1.16 million in damages, with 69 homes sustaining moderate to substantial damage.

As the assessment and recovery phase gets underway, officials warned that scammers are already on the prowl, searching for ways to exploit people already shaken by this disaster.